Reverse The Polarity Of The eBook Flow

Written by Kris Griffin Sunday, 14 August 2011

Digital Jazz - by Kris Griffin

The end of the printed book is nigh. The electronic book has arrived. Long live the eBook. Hurrah. Of course I don't believe this wholeheartedly but it does appear that within the genre of fantasy horror & science fiction there is much scope in these words. It is interesting to note that we are already seeing prestigious magazines such as Asimov's Science Fiction available for download on the Amazon Kindle (@amazonkindle). How long until we have the entire back catalogue, since 1977, available to download and read at our pleasure?

If the future of Starburst takes a magazine format then surely the answer would be an ezine rather than a printed magazine. It is rumoured that the next version of the Kindle will be using the new colourised E Ink, making it very hard for magazine publishers and editors not to switch or at the very least offer both versions to customers. Allowing us to interact with the publication like never before is something that would tempt the editor who wants to engage more with an audience. The reader could comment, share links, enter competitions immediately and order from adverts at the touch of a button. The publisher could update content, correct inaccuracies, offer video and personalise content. A little like what we have all been doing in the world of social media for some time now, is the book world just starting to catch up?

Newspapers are certainly catching on but we aren't as precious about our newspapers as we are about our hardback and paperback books. Quite frankly you'll prise the last paperback from my cold dead hands, it'll probably be The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, but I'm happy to adapt. I wrote in a previous column I've recently purchased a Kindle and received some pretty vitriotic comments on Twitter when I announced the new addition. My Kindle is to read film scripts, I can carry hundreds around with me now rather than just one bulky paper version. I use it to read sample chapters of books, pdf guides and the odd book I probably wouldn't purchase in paper. In effect I want to, and can have, the best of both worlds. As a writer I don't want to be left behind in this new world of digital publishing. Writers are getting their big breaks nowadays using social media and with an eBook could now quite happily write and publicise in the virtual world. In essence we are seeing the eWriter.

The Big Break of the eWriter

It was a watershed moment earlier this year when British-based New Zealander Adam Christopher who tweets as @ghostfinder was signed to a publishing deal with Angry Robot (@angryrobotbooks). It was through reading his posts that Angry Robot first became aware of him. When they found out he had ambitions to have his debut full-length novels see print they dove at the chance to check them out. Loving what they read Adam signed to Angry Robot for at least two novels, starting with Empire State which will be published in January 2012. A second superhero-themed fantasy, Seven Wonders will be released before the end of the year too. In a press statement Adam commented, “I’ve been following Angry Robot ever since their mothership landed in 2009, and they quickly became one of my favourite imprints. Over the last couple of years they’ve built a brilliant list of authors and titles, and to be part of it all really is a dream come true.”

Twitter discovery: author Adam Christopher

Adam would be crazy not to continue to promote his work through Twitter and we will continue to follow his progress here at Digital Jazz. For all of the writers, and publishers, trawling through Twitter, me included, documenting their life and pimping their wares this is a defining moment. One of us made it. Congratulations to Angry Robot for having faith and congratulations to Adam for breaking down a barrier.

Publishers and talent spotters clearly know when they are on to a good thing and I'm sure the search is on for the next Adam Christopher. Nothing sells books like a good background story. How many times was JK Rowling (@jk_rowling) rejected before she hit the big time with Harry Potter? Publishers and authors are starting to realise the importance of using social media to promote their work.

British writer Peter James (@peterjamesuk) is a fabulous devotee of Twitter and uses it well to engage with his audience. He is currently helping one of his fans revise for an appearance on Mastermind; the subject Roy Grace, the character from Peter's recent detective novels. My wife is a huge fan of his early thriller/horror books and was delighted when she received a Tweet from him one day in response to a question. There is no doubt in my mind she will continue to buy his books, not just because they are good but also because he is approachable and happy to share his Twitter thoughts. For those of you thinking about reading one of his books you won't go far wrong with The Truth.

Peter James - The Truth: a fantastic read in print AND digital.

Peter James is a traditional author, with an agent and books available in print and in digital form. The trend that must worry publishers is that authors can now bypass them completely by promoting the work themselves AND publishing digitally.

US author Jamie Livingston (@jamie_ld) published her detective agency novel Let Us Prey under the name Jamie Lee Scott. It is available from Amazon Kindle store and Smashwords (@smashwords). By her own admission she has done very little marketing but, “I self-published. So far my sales have exceeded my expectations.” Coupled with a good read and some firm marketing plans anything is possible for Jamie and her compositions.

Independent publisher and author Michael Allen put some figures to publishing options in a recent copy of Writers' News magazine. “Example: you publish an eBook at £3 through Amazon. Each books sold via that retailer can generate a top royalty of 70%, which on £3 is £2.10. A hardback edition of the same book, selling at an RRP of £18.99, would typically generate a 10% royalty of £1.89. A paperback edition, retailing at £7.99, might bring in only 8%, ie 64p.” When you consider the size of the digital marketplace compared to the printed one it really doesn't need a comment from me on how huge this new world is becoming.

It's not only authors that will benefit. The casual reader can be a huge winner. A quick search of the Amazon Kindle website will result in many excellent genre books at very competitive prices. Books by well known authors or perhaps the next big thing. Without doubt the best value comes in books that are out of copyright. A quick look over the best seller list will bring you with Dracula, Frankenstein and Alice In Wonderland all for nothing, not a penny. A free download right into your Kindle or eBook reader. It's hard to compete with that.

Literary agents are certainly fighting back and 2 of my favourites on Twitter are Carole Blake (@caroleagent) and Sheila Crowley (@SheilaCrowley). They both offer an amazing insight into the world of the agent. The glitz and glamour, the long hours and longer trips away and constant promotion of clients. They certainly work hard but more importantly they realise how important social media is to their profession.

For some more interesting genre Twitter accounts I'd also recommend:

Julie Crisp (@julieacrisp) The senior editor at Tor UK, with a list of talented science fiction, fantasy including China Mieville, Mark Charan Newton, Adam Neville and Neal Asher.

Orbit Books (@orbitbooks) The UK's leading science fiction and fantasy imprint, publishing as part of the Little, Brown Book Group.

Anne Clarke (@annepub) Editorial director at Orbit.

For a really comprehensive list The Bookseller has an amazing resource that lists publishers, authors, booksellers, agents, editors, bloggers and many more. It can be found at www.thebookseller.com/twitter.

Before some of you condemn me and start writing vitriolic notes in defence of the defenceless paperback consider this. In September Gollancz (@gollancz) will launch The Gateway. Thousands of out-of-print science fiction titles will be available digitally. Launch authors include the likes of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Philip K Dick, Frank Herbert and Arthur C Clarke. Gollancz will build the list to 3,000 titles by the end of 2012 and 5,000 or more by 2014. The books will be available through all major e-retailers but pricing has yet to be determined. In a Gollancz press release double Arthur C Clarke award-winner Pat Cadigan said: "This is exactly what I've been hoping for now that the digital book is becoming more widespread. I have always said that the eBook will not be the death of the physical book—the eBook will save so many wonderful books from being lost”.

The Science Fiction Archive

Changing the subject to an equally, if not more, important revolution that won't be so polarising in opinion. The Science Fiction Oral History Association (SFOHA) maintains an archive of audio and video recordings of historic people and events related to science fiction and fantasy. It is hard to underestimate the importance of this not-for-profit organisation who are dedicated to preserving the history of science fiction and fantasy.

Their Articles of Incorporation define their goals as:

1. To search for recordings in the area of science fiction oral history made in the past and re-engineer them when necessary.

2. To record current events in science fiction oral history.

3. To arrange special interviews and events of historical interest in the area of science fiction and record them.

4. To donate copies of all of said recordings to official depositories at universities in the United States and foreign countries where they will be available for study and preserved for historical purposes.

Similar to some of the world's greatest museums, this organisation is preserving our heritage. We would undoubtedly lose recordings such as the "Utopian Change” speech by Isaac Asimov recorded in 1974 at John Hopkins University USA, the Robert Silverberg interview at the 1982 WorldCon in Chicago and 2000 Worldcon speech by Ben Bova. These are just 3 of the recordings featured on the podcasts from SFOHA. The website can be found at www.sfoha.org and the podcasts offered from www.spacedogpodcast.com. I'd urge you to engage with them, join the lists, donate material and spread the good word.

Isaac Asimov circa 1974.

I honestly can't recommend the 1974 Asimov recording enough. A giant of science fiction at the very top of his game with an audience in the palm of his hand. Pure bliss.

To Restore and Recon

From revolution and remembrance to restoration and reconstruction, the saga of the missing Doctor Who episodes is well documented. In short there are 27 incomplete Doctor Who serials, with 108 of 253 episodes from the first six years of the programme missing. It is interesting to note that the show is unique in that there are audio recordings for all missing episodes, mainly made by fans at home during transmission. There are also photos and short video clips for many episodes.

Over the years there have been many efforts to recreate the missing episodes, the most successful being the Loose Canon Productions Recons which used a combination of the surviving soundtracks, surviving footage, photographs and still images by John Cura. The Loose Canon Recons can be found at www.recons.com and are tolerated by the BBC, provided they are not sold for profit and are only distributed in degradable, non-digital formats such as VHS. Well worth checking out.

With home processing power much increased the fans are using the technology at their fingertips to recreate missing episodes themselves. I think the most interesting is WhoSprites. This is a collection of high quality digital artwork for the animation of lost episodes. The artwork website can be found at www.orangecow.org/who-sprites2/1guide and the forum community site here at www.who3d.co.uk/forum. Take a look at the play-list: www.tinyurl.com/3oodjhl. I found it inspiring and I know that if I had the skills I'd be downloading and reconstructing The Web of Fear right now. If you want some more inspirational clips just type 'Moonbase animation' into YouTube and see the results. The animated talking telesnaps are particularly impressive. It is sad to think that this may be the only way we will ever get to see these episodes.

WhoSprites: almost as good as the real thing!

In 2006 The Invasion, the Second Doctor serial of which six of 8 episodes survive, was released on DVD with the missing Episodes 1 and 4 animated by Cosgrove Hall. The release was very well received and the animation done with dignity and skill. Unfortunately the costly animation process prohibited any more official animated reconstructions until now. Doctor Who has routinely been one of the top money earners for the BBC and it is nice to see a little money being invested back into the original series. Just last month 2|Entertain announced on its @classicdw Twitter page that the missing episodes 4 and 5 of The Reign of Terror would be animated for its late 2012 DVD release. The company announced the animators to be Big Finish (@bigfinish) and animation company Theta Sigma, whose Thetamation (@Thetamation) is described as "a totally new style of animation, a hybrid of the classic anime styles of the 80s and high-technology". Initial test shots of Thetamation look very promising.

An example of the Thetamation animation technique.

Of course whilst all of this is going on fans, including Ian Levine, are working hard at home doing their own thing. Ian Levine (@ianlevine) is currently reconstructing Mission To The Unknown and Shada using his own money. We expect to see some results later in the year. Finally the amazing people at the Doctor Who Restoration Team (@Rtnewsfeed), including Peter Crocker @CrocmanSnappy, are working hard on the official BBC Classic Who releases making them a must have item for every Doctor Who fan. Special mention must go to Mark Ayres (@MarkAyresRWS) who carries with him the legacy of the incomparable BBC Radiophonic Workshop as well as being a talented composer and audio restorer for the Restoration Team.

If you like your Doctor Who a little more surreal look no further than Doctor Stew (@DoctorStew). This unofficial Family Guy/Doctor Who mash up is outstanding but with lawyers on the case check it out before it is taken down. You can find the official website here at www.doctorstew.com. Personally I'd start with the Series 5 parody: pure genius.

Anyway I've given you polarised opinion, Raiders of the Lost Sci-Fi Archive and reconstruction on a grand scale. I'm done.

Until next time.

FONASHEK!

@kristhescript

kris.griffin@starburstmagazine.com