Amazon!Fail, Le Guin!Win

[dolorosa_12]

It's odd when you return from an internet-free weekend to find out that Epic Drama of Epicness has been unfolding online. But that's what happened with the latest round of Amazon vs the Publishers/Authors/Readers/People Who Are Dubious About the Kindle.

I'm not really sure of my opinion about the matter, and I think there's blame on both sides, but I'll let you all make up your own minds with a series of posts by John Scalzi about the fight between Amazon and Macmillan over the price of ebooks. As usual, half the good stuff takes place in the comments of the posts. Scalzi is as erudite as ever, summing up the situation (as he sees it) with wit and knowledge. Charles Stross sums up matters as he sees it, while Tobias Buckell gives us his take. Of course, the Tor editors are all over it. Scott Westerfeld's take on the matter contains the hilarious observation that Amazon should've known that 'when cutting off publishers, don’t start with the one that has the most science fiction writers. We will blog you dead!' I couldn't agree more!

[ETA: I knew that Hal Duncan wouldn't disappoint.]

And now for something completely different! Jo Walton's written some great posts on the first three Earthsea books, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore. She (and her commenters) make some really interesting points about Le Guin's fabulous series. I, for one, have been saying for years that Le Guin's work is cold; she's not a comforting or consoling writer, and yet somehow that's a far greater consolation than a more 'cozy' book might be. Earthsea never talks down to its readers, and as the series progresses, you can see Le Guin seriously engaging with, reflecting on and realising the limitations of her own philosophy. She saw the flaws in her own books (especially in regard to feminism) and corrected them accordingly. It's a brave author who can do that!

Okay, over and out!

Comments

[romen-dreamer.livejournal.com]

Ooh, Earthsea posts. /me heads over thataway
One of us needs to remind the other to discuss this, next time we're both in chat.

[dolorosa-12.livejournal.com]

Jo Walton is one of my favourite human beings, and her commentary on Le Guin really chimes with me. I'd love to discuss this with you in chat at a time when I can afford to be distracted for hours...

[cereswunderkind.livejournal.com]

As usual Charlie Stross has got his head into the way business works. It ain't pretty. I've mentally dabbled with the idea of publishing via Kindle, but the whole set-up smells really fishy to me. 65% to Amazon? Walk on! The iPad isn't going to be any better, alas.

And yay! Le Guin. Someone else who has her head screwed on straight.

[dolorosa-12.livejournal.com]

It's a shame that the entire publishing model, whether it's old-school publisher-->distributor--->bookshop--->reader or newfangled Amazon-dictates-terms-to-everyone seems to benefit everyone except for the authors. It's a shame that you can't publish via Kindle.

As always, I'm hanging out for Hal Duncan's (http://notesfromthegeekshow.blogspot.com/) response to the matter, which should be verbose but excellent.

And yes, another yay! for Ursula Le Guin. Have you read any of her works besides Earthsea. I've only dabbled in her SF (I've read The Dispossessed) but keep meaning to read more.

Amazon!Fail, Le Guin!Win

[cereswunderkind.livejournal.com]

The Left Hand of Darkness is brilliant and a well-deserved Hugo and Nebula winner. I've also enjoyed Four Ways to Forgiveness and A Fisherman of the Inland Sea.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank-you for the Wizard of Earthsea links! It's true what you say, they are cold books, and I think that's linked to something in the review which says they read like legends, they have that kind of distance to them. This is least noticeable in The Tombs of Atuan, which is warmer and closer than the others I think. So anyway, really liked hearing those perspectives, which made a lot of sense to me.

- Catie

[dolorosa-12.livejournal.com]

You think The Tombs of Atuan is warmer? I think it's the coldest of the bunch (except perhaps The Farthest Shore).

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's warmer because it's the closest viewpoint of them all, the ending is kinda happy, you feel closer to the action. The others are more distancing. If that works as a definition of warmer...
Warm or cold I love them all.

-Catie

[dolorosa-12.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're right about the viewpoint thing. A Wizard of Earthsea and The Farthest Shore are told from a sort of mythological distance, and Tehanu jumps perspective quite a bit. It's interesting that the one told from a girl's point of view is the most personal and the closest to the reader, in terms of viewpoint.