Tor/Forge Goes DRM-Free - Bravo!

I received a copy of the press release announcing that Tor/Forge is going DRM-free for their ebooks starting in July.

Tom Doherty Associates, publishers of Tor, Forge, Orb, Starscape, and Tor Teen, today announced that by early July 2012, their entire list of e-books will be available DRM-free.

“Our authors and readers have been asking for this for a long time,” said president and publisher Tom Doherty. “They’re a technically sophisticated bunch, and DRM is a constant annoyance to them. It prevents them from using legitimately-purchased e-books in perfectly legal ways, like moving them from one kind of e-reader to another.”

DRM-free titles from Tom Doherty Associates will be available from the same range of retailers that currently sell their e-books. In addition, the company expects to begin selling titles through retailers that sell only DRM-free books.

Bravo!

I'm very excited to see this - the DRM limiting what I can do with an ebook and where I can read it has been one of the biggest reasons I haven't yet bought an ereader and started reading ebooks. Seeing this move by one of the biggest SFF publishers is hopefully a step towards this being a standard in the industry. Tor - good job, I am now much more likely to buy digital books from you. Other publishers - if you go DRM-free, I'll be more likely to buy digital books from you too.

In case your curious on how some of Tor's published authors are reacting, here are links to a few that I've seen: John Scalzi, Tobias Buckell, Charlie Stross

UPDATE: Tor UK is going DRM-free too. Awesome!

The eBook-Haters Meme

Back before life kicked me in the balls I had flagged this as good blog content for while I was away. Well, now I’m back and I’m going to resurrect this post. I’m not truly and eBook hater, just someone who thinks that the way they are going about it right now is the wrong way.

  1.   Have you ever tried reading an eBook? If so, on what device?

Yes, I’ve read a few relatively short eBooks on my computer.

  2.  What's your single main reason for not reading eBooks?

I think if I’m completely honest it’s that I simply like the feel of a real book in my hands because that’s what I’m used to and comfortable with.

  3.  Are there any other reasons you don't usually read eBooks?

Yes, the biggest of which is DRM. When I buy something, I want to actually own it and be able to do with it as I please. Transfer it from one format to another, from one device to another, etc. I’m no rampant file-sharer, I just want the flexibility to do with it as I please. Also the proprietary format that so many e-readers have is wrong. I want to be able to buy an eBook from Amazon and read it on an Apple product. Or the Nook, or whatever. All eBooks should be in the same format and fully transferable between devices.

  4.  What would it take to get you to read eBooks?

Eliminate DRM and proprietary formatting. Make all eBooks in a single, universal format that is fully transferable. Also, someone would need to buy me an e-reader (I’m probably too lazy and cheap to do it myself).

  5.  What do you think is a fair price for an eBook?

I’m not someone who is hung up on the price issue like so many others. I think a fair price for an eBook is a price that allows a publisher to recover their costs and make a reasonable profit. I don’t know what that price is, but I agree with the idea that it probably varies with time. Related to price, publishers should consider a way for people who purchase the hard copy of a book to get a free (or at least very much reduced price) eBook version. And perhaps vice-versa.

So, what about you?

Via SF Signal and World in a Satin Bag

Lord of Chaos E-Book Cover Art

I love what Tor is doing by having different artist do new and original covers for each Wheel of Time novel for the e-book release (links to all here). So far the art has been great and I’ve really enjoyed the commentary about each release. But with the Lord of Chaos cover by Greg Manchess Tor stepped out and went beyond. They embraced technology and created something new with the cover art. And it’s awesome. Way to go Tor. Way to go Irene. And make sure you watch the video – it’s overlaid with music and audio from the audio book.

Now if I can only figure out a way to post the animated cover art here. (edit: thanks Kevin)

Scourge of the International Pixel-Stained Technopeasants!

Ok, I’m not a writer and certainly not a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA), so I’ve been mostly apathetic with slight amusement over the contested and controversial election going on. However, Howard V. Hendrix made a bit of an idiot of himself with this diatribe – I’m guessing he just pissed his chance away. On a side note – these webcomics are pretty amusing.

Well, there have been a few responses that I’ll not bother to look up, but the most notable is the rise of the International Pixel-Stained Technopeasants. What does this mean for the average reader – well, it’s a good place to find some free on-line fiction. Remember, if you enjoy what you read, consider buying the hard copy if available.