Comments on: Walter Jon Williams uses pirate ebooks to rescue his backlist http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1112066 travtastic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1112066 Well, yeah. That's one of the things that makes it a job. Well, yeah. That’s one of the things that makes it a job.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111045 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111045 I like the idea. I, myself was happy to find flac rips of my music on soulseek, of records I've made years ago and lost any master or find my cdr copies not working anymore. So filesharing save my work. I like the idea.
I, myself was happy to find flac rips of my music on soulseek, of records I’ve made years ago and lost any master or find my cdr copies not working anymore. So filesharing save my work.

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1112071 travtastic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1112071 True, rarely, but the one book here has 90-some available copies between the different formats. http://www.amazon.com/Days-Atonement-Walter-Jon-Williams/dp/0812501802/ True, rarely, but the one book here has 90-some available copies between the different formats.

http://www.amazon.com/Days-Atonement-Walter-Jon-Williams/dp/0812501802/

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1112074 travtastic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1112074 None. I also don't receive income from them. If he has some hardcore fans willing to do it, more power to him. But he clearly states that he's going to be selling these. I'm pretty sure that his time is not so valuable that he can't spare a few days to a week to proof-read three books. Or hell, two weeks. Maybe three. It's an investment. None. I also don’t receive income from them.

If he has some hardcore fans willing to do it, more power to him. But he clearly states that he’s going to be selling these. I’m pretty sure that his time is not so valuable that he can’t spare a few days to a week to proof-read three books. Or hell, two weeks. Maybe three. It’s an investment.

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111060 travtastic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111060 What are his views on people 'stealing' his books in general, though, not just when he wants free help? What are his views on people ‘stealing’ his books in general, though, not just when he wants free help?

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111065 travtastic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111065 The reason I'm curious is that twenty seconds on Amazon shows me that I could pick up all three of those books in hardcopy for $12.67, shipping included. Add in a scanner and free OCR software for another $30, and it seems sort of like he's just too lazy to do the work necessary for him to make money off of the ebook versions. The reason I’m curious is that twenty seconds on Amazon shows me that I could pick up all three of those books in hardcopy for $12.67, shipping included. Add in a scanner and free OCR software for another $30, and it seems sort of like he’s just too lazy to do the work necessary for him to make money off of the ebook versions.

]]> By: NatWu http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111338 NatWu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111338 His middle name is really Jon. I've read Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, Metropolitan and City on Fire. I thought they were all really good, and when I think about cyberpunk, I equally envision William Gibson's Neuromancer and Walter Jon Williams' Hardwired. @travtastic Lazy is probably not an apt description. He is a writer, and assuming that his time has value he probably doesn't feel that the value of buying the books and scanning them is equal to the value of writing new ones (because presumably sales of the back catalog wouldn't equal new works). Whereas if he has someone else do the work for free, he reaps all the benefits with no cost to himself in either time (which is money) or money. I think that's the definition of hard work in a capitalist society. His middle name is really Jon.

I’ve read Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, Metropolitan and City on Fire. I thought they were all really good, and when I think about cyberpunk, I equally envision William Gibson’s Neuromancer and Walter Jon Williams’ Hardwired.

@travtastic Lazy is probably not an apt description. He is a writer, and assuming that his time has value he probably doesn’t feel that the value of buying the books and scanning them is equal to the value of writing new ones (because presumably sales of the back catalog wouldn’t equal new works). Whereas if he has someone else do the work for free, he reaps all the benefits with no cost to himself in either time (which is money) or money. I think that’s the definition of hard work in a capitalist society.

]]> By: Kleinzeit http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111091 Kleinzeit Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111091 Cf. Frank Zappa's 'Beat The Boots' initiative: FZ obtained bootleg recordings of his gigs, repackaged and then released them officially on his own label, thus diverting the income back to its source. Cf. Frank Zappa’s ‘Beat The Boots’ initiative: FZ obtained bootleg recordings of his gigs, repackaged and then released them officially on his own label, thus diverting the income back to its source.

]]> By: Chevan http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111093 Chevan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111093 Sometimes Amazon dealers don't actually have a book, even if they have it listed. They figure they can pick it up dirt cheap somewhere else and resell it to you on the rare day someone actually wants a copy. Sometimes Amazon dealers don’t actually have a book, even if they have it listed. They figure they can pick it up dirt cheap somewhere else and resell it to you on the rare day someone actually wants a copy.

]]> By: johnnyaction http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111104 johnnyaction Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111104 I love "Days of atonement" I've read that a few times at least. It stayed in my don't sell back to bookstore pile more than a few times. My take on this is that a writer makes money by writing or pimping. This call for help gets free publicity, saves him money and exposes some people to his work that haven't heard of it before. There is probably a venn diagram intersection between fans of his work and book pirates so why not use that to his advantage? Pirates gonna pirate. Aaarrrrr. I love “Days of atonement” I’ve read that a few times at least. It stayed in my don’t sell back to bookstore pile more than a few times.

My take on this is that a writer makes money by writing or pimping. This call for help gets free publicity, saves him money and exposes some people to his work that haven’t heard of it before.

There is probably a venn diagram intersection between fans of his work and book pirates so why not use that to his advantage?

Pirates gonna pirate.

Aaarrrrr.

]]> By: icarusflu http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111114 icarusflu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111114 F Paul Wilson did the same thing a while ago to get all his old novels onto e-readers F Paul Wilson did the same thing a while ago to get all his old novels onto e-readers

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111123 Gilbert Wham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111123 Gah. I have all three of these as *ahem* 'scans', but that particular goddamn drive is dead. Gah. I have all three of these as *ahem* ‘scans’, but that particular goddamn drive is dead.

]]> By: mjd http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1113950 mjd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1113950 I have "a couple problems" (in fact, I can probably find more than two of them, including the omission of "of") with a professional writer who in all apparent sincerity can condemn anybody who would "steal" from somebody capable of "So I downloaded my own work from thence". I'm going to stick with proofreading scans of "Wide Open Beavers" for Kilgore Trout. I have “a couple problems” (in fact, I can probably find more than two of them, including the omission of “of”) with a professional writer who in all apparent sincerity can condemn anybody who would “steal” from somebody capable of “So I downloaded my own work from thence”.

I’m going to stick with proofreading scans of “Wide Open Beavers” for Kilgore Trout.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111154 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111154 All three are available in the WorldCat system for interlibrary loan, if anyone has a scanner and some spare time. (see Worldcat.org, but U Washington is a member). All three are available in the WorldCat system for interlibrary loan, if anyone has a scanner and some spare time. (see Worldcat.org, but U Washington is a member).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1110904 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110904 obligatory: "it's a trap!" obligatory: “it’s a trap!”

]]> By: emmdeeaych http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111949 emmdeeaych Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111949 All the clear explanation up front (RTFA) and you need to make it about your perception of someone else's laziness. How many novels have you written that need to be scanned? All the clear explanation up front (RTFA) and you need to make it about your perception of someone else’s laziness. How many novels have you written that need to be scanned?

]]> By: the Other michael http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111443 the Other michael Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111443 Scanned + OCRd != text.proofread The time investment in proofreading is not minimal. Scanned + OCRd != text.proofread

The time investment in proofreading is not minimal.

]]> By: holtt http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1110937 holtt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110937 I love the "outlaw server dens of former Marxist countries" part I love the “outlaw server dens of former Marxist countries” part

]]> By: BrendanBabbage http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1110938 BrendanBabbage Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110938 "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need!" Think about it; He'd end up scalped (or have to go to dozens of used bookstores and scalped in time) to find his books again, then he'd either spend hours crouched over a computer, drive himself batty with scanning or pay out the A-- for someone else to do it. BUT, a big enough net someone who liked his work spent the time to do it and it's up there. And, yes, SHARING does work both ways! He should thank the "Thieves" and just ask them to promote his work for a while, sold at a sane price and in a nice to read format since they removed the tedious part of the work for him and also NOT sue them. Myself, getting a Nook recently I sometimes convert old Pulp stories into a good e-reader format. I make long "Scroll" pages so you don't have to re-load after a few words at a comfortable magnification. In part it's practice for an epublication I'm working on, but I'm converting stuff I like. Too much out there is "Dumped" or "Crude Scanned" but sold at the same price. “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need!”

Think about it; He’d end up scalped (or have to go to dozens of used bookstores and scalped in time) to find his books again, then he’d either spend hours crouched over a computer, drive himself batty with scanning or pay out the A– for someone else to do it.

BUT, a big enough net someone who liked his work spent the time to do it and it’s up there. And, yes, SHARING does work both ways! He should thank the “Thieves” and just ask them to promote his work for a while, sold at a sane price and in a nice to read format since they removed the tedious part of the work for him and also NOT sue them.

Myself, getting a Nook recently I sometimes convert old Pulp stories into a good e-reader format. I make long “Scroll” pages so you don’t have to re-load after a few words at a comfortable magnification. In part it’s practice for an epublication I’m working on, but I’m converting stuff I like. Too much out there is “Dumped” or “Crude Scanned” but sold at the same price.

]]> By: osmo http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1110946 osmo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110946 I don't know who he is - should I download his books and read it to find out? Is it any good? Don't worry about the morals of it or anything I'm a marxist in a country who may not ever have been marxist... well ok it has, it is. We still use Keynes don't we? We still use his system as an alternative system of history studies. We still refer to social classes. But then again, so does the US :) (oh well according to that authors logic its probably not capitalist but "post-feudal" or something) I don’t know who he is – should I download his books and read it to find out? Is it any good? Don’t worry about the morals of it or anything I’m a marxist in a country who may not ever have been marxist… well ok it has, it is. We still use Keynes don’t we? We still use his system as an alternative system of history studies. We still refer to social classes. But then again, so does the US :)
(oh well according to that authors logic its probably not capitalist but “post-feudal” or something)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111210 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111210 I can't believe you guys. WJW's Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, Metropolitan, City on Fire, and Aristoi should be required reading before you're allowed to call yourself a Science Fiction fan. Of these three, Days of Atonement and Knight Moves are extremely good, and Angel Station is only the weak link here because the rest of his work is so strong. I can’t believe you guys. WJW’s Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, Metropolitan, City on Fire, and Aristoi should be required reading before you’re allowed to call yourself a Science Fiction fan.

Of these three, Days of Atonement and Knight Moves are extremely good, and Angel Station is only the weak link here because the rest of his work is so strong.

]]> By: jtegnell http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1110971 jtegnell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110971 Either both Krid and Cory have spelled his middle name wrong, or his publisher has. Either both Krid and Cory have spelled his middle name wrong, or his publisher has.

]]> By: UniversalCitizen http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1110987 UniversalCitizen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110987 I LOVED his Dread Empire's Fall series, with the Praxis. Interesting worlds, believable tech, good alien races, lots of fun IMHO. I LOVED his Dread Empire’s Fall series, with the Praxis. Interesting worlds, believable tech, good alien races, lots of fun IMHO.

]]> By: Halloween Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111001 Halloween Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111001 He's good--he's probably touched on just about any flavor of SF that you prefer, at one time or another. I'm reading <i>Deep State</i> right now, and have another one of his books cued up. He’s good–he’s probably touched on just about any flavor of SF that you prefer, at one time or another. I’m reading Deep State right now, and have another one of his books cued up.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111270 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111270 Meh, I appreciated some of the New Mexico and NM Tech cultural references in Days of Atonement, because i live there, but the Rambo-esque ending just made me roll my eyes. "I yam the sword and arm of the lord..." Oh puh-lea-uzz. Meh, I appreciated some of the New Mexico and NM Tech cultural references in Days of Atonement, because i live there, but the Rambo-esque ending just made me roll my eyes.

“I yam the sword and arm of the lord…” Oh puh-lea-uzz.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/05/15/walter-john-williams.html#comment-1111277 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111277 Kinda liked Hardwired, as it seems more in tune with my own feel of cyberpunk then what Gibson wrote. Kinda liked Hardwired, as it seems more in tune with my own feel of cyberpunk then what Gibson wrote.

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