My Kindle Stuff

Well it seems that the dust has settled in the aftermath of the inception of the agency model pricing on ebooks.  There were calls (from customers) for boycotts, tagging efforts on Amazon, claims of the end of Amazon monopolies (by publishers/authors) and conflicting ‘fact reports’ by all.

I have to admit, the whole thing just pissed me off.  I viewed it as a targeted attack on Amazon specifically and to me, the customer, in general.  With the decline of reading as a whole, I just don’t get not embracing a technology that has increased readership.  I don’t buy the “Amazon monopoly” view since there was and is nothing to keep competitors out of the market; in fact, Barnes & Noble created the nook™ to directly compete against the Kindle–other vendors took advantage of the emerging ebook market as well–just look at the Cooler reader and Kobo.  There are now too many viable ereading devices to list in a single comparison list.

Let’s not overlook the ridiculous claim that the $9.99 pricing that Amazon touted (for bestsellers) would devalue books as a whole. Why?  If the consumer doesn’t have the same rights on an ebook as a physical book (loaning, selling or giving it away), why would it hold the same monetary value? We also cannot access it on anything other than the devices or applications from the vendors; a physical book is independent of any restrictions after you pay for it; ebooks are not via DRM, licensing restrictions, hardware and software requirements.

While I haven’t seen any ebooks priced higher than the hardcover (although I’m sure there are some), it is an insult to the consumer to price them higher than the least expensive physical book on the market.

So what has the agency model done for me?

I notice the publisher now.  Prior to the model, I think the only publishers that I even paid attention to were Random House-who turned off all text-to-speech on ebooks and Orbit-who seemed to have the best new writers in the fantasy genre.  Now I note who is setting their own prices and how much they charge.  The ones that are (in my view) overcharging for ebooks are no longer insulated against a (my) negative company image.  Prior to the agency model, I was just mad at Amazon for a higher price.

I actively look for publishers (higher price or not) that don’t have a agency model.  This means Random House (out of the Big 6) and smaller, independent publishers and authors.  Prior to the new model, if two books looked good to me, I’d pick the one I was most interested in; now, I pick the one that isn’t on the agency model.

Finally, I always notice price. In the past, I would sometimes pick up a new release if it was above the $9.99 price point, now I just wait for it to come down.  Even if the book is not on agency pricing, I don’t pay more than $9.99.  I’ll either wait for the price to come down, or I’ll skip it altogether.  For example, I waited over a year for Imager: The First Book of the Imager Portfolio by Modesitt.  It’s now $7.99 for the Kindle version, but I waited so long that I’m not that interested anymore.  Since this was a series, unfortunately the publisher missed out on multiple sales since it’s on my 3rd (in importance) TBR wish list.

Some may say that in time these feelings will change–I don’t think so.  It’s been 5 years since I saw WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE and I still refuse to set foot in their stores; I feel much the same about the agency model for ebooks.  I think the only thing that will change my mind is if publishers implement the same model for physical books. Mainly because then the savvy authors will go independent and set their own prices.

You’ll notice that I not once mentioned increased piracy, DRM removal or library use, yes?

Want an alternative to the Amazon Kindle store?  Head on over to the Fictionwise Kindle store and click away.  All you have to do is register on the site. Once you’ve done so you can elect to have the books sent wirelessly to your Kindle–remember Amazon charges $ .15/MB, or you can move your purchases to your device using the USB.  Currently, you are limited to their non-DRM’d books, unless you use the KindlePID script that Amazon forced MobiPocket to remove from their site.  Fictionwise in no way recommends use of the script, but if you’ve been doing that up to now, this announcement won’t really affect you.

Makes me wonder…Amazon bought Stanza and has owned MobiPocket for awhile; B&N owns Fictionwise.  Whose move is it now?

(Update 12/17/2009 – Thanks to KindleVixen, I was informed the Fictionwise will not accept your KindlePID. See tools here for additional Kindle Tools info)

(Updated: 12/15/2009 – Kindle Book Deletion has been confirmed.  You can delete books from your account on the Manage Your Kindle page.  Also, you can add Kindle books to your Wish List via the Kindle store on your device or online.)

Thanks to Anarel on Kindleboards who noticed the new feature on the Kindle’s Manage Your Kindle pages.  Amazon is  quietly adding or testing the ability to permanently delete items in your Kindle archive.  Nice!  Well, I’m off to make a list of nook features that would require backend or software updates only.  Bet we see them soon!

This feature is not yet enabled on my account, but I am looking forward to it.

Additions So far

• International Device
• Native PDF
• Screen Rotation
• Longer Battery Life
• Kindle Wish Lists (available online/device)
• Book Deletion
• Kindle for PC (Mac announced sign-up here/Blackberry coming)
• Content Management (Coming Soon)

Possibly next?

• Custom screensavers
• Add’l fonts
• Add’l file types
• Maybe another DRM format?

Then, they’ll add stuff that nook doesn’t have that they’ve been holding on to FOREVER – like folders/tagging and other user-requested features.  The nook will be fixing performance for the next couple of months, then they’ll have to do something.  Hopefully this will go on until they have maxed out features on the current hardware.

I’m hoping I can add one or two more books to this list before the end of the
year, but am really pleased that I discovered these. Thank you VERY much to all
the authors!

I don’t include any spoilers, nor are the books in any best-of order.  As always
for me, they’re both in the Fantasy genre & available in ebook format. As I finished
this post, I realized that all of the books are series which pleases me for a reason
I can’t place my finger on.  Last, but not least, they weren’t all published
in 2009, but that’s when I got to them!

Flesh and Fire: Book One of The Vineart War by Laura Anne Gilman- This book was
so unexpected. New magic is really hard to find. Nothing against our current world
that builds on the ‘Tolkien-esque’ magic-verse–its just nice to get something new.
And when it comes accompanied by solid world-building and sublime & descriptive
writing, you can’t ask for more. I am very much looking forward to subsequent books
in this series. My only complaint about this (as well as other series books) is
that it is not a stand-alone book; the ending makes it clear that there is much
more to follow.

 

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett – This book started off as a good and fast-paced
Epic Fantasy. The plot and characterization seemed pretty straightforward. Somewhere
along the line a darker element along with unusual plot twists elevated this out
of the good book and into the great book category.

Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund – I have to admit, there is tons of good YA Fantasy out there, many
times better than some of the stuff pushed in the ‘adult’ aisles. This was one of
them. Comparing it to some of my other reads–this seemed like Percy Jackson for
smart people. That’s really snobbish and I should probably come up with something
else, but not being as gifted as any of the writers on this list–I’ll just leave
it and hope you take it in the spirit its given.

Back to the book–it was just fun. I didn’t expect most of what happened here, and
at one pointI had to go look at the page count (608) because a LOT of stuff waas
going on in this book. Don’t get me wrong, its not a air-quotes-happy book; there
is plenty of conflict–this was just a fast and fun read and I encountered a few
familiar but mostly brand new characters.

The Casting Trilogy by Pamela Freeman- Oh we love our Aussie brothers and sisters!
Such good stuff comes out of them. I picked up this book as a sample, but never
quite got to it. The only good that I consider to come out of that sorry fact is
that it meant when I was done with the 1st book it was a little closer to the release
date of the second installment. This book has a lot of classic elements in the cultures–enough
to make you settle in comfortably before taking off on tangents and around unexpected
corners. It has a classical Fantasy feel too it in a very classy, not old way. 
The third installment is due out for the Kindle on 11/12/09.

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – This was the last paperback that I purchased before I got my
1st Kindle. Since I hadn’t started the book yet, it got given away with my other
DTB. That may have been my lamest move ever because it kept me from reading the
book til this year. There are so many accolades for this book and it’s successors,
that if I was the author the pressure would keep me from ever writing again. He
deserves every bit of it though. I got the same feeling reading this one as I did
the 1st time reading The Belgariad, Interview with a Vampire or The Gunslinger.
As I pause to calm down, don’t just take my word for it–google it.

The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks – This book reminded me of the Pirates of the Caribbean
movie. It’s raucous, rough and surprisingly entertaining. The action never stopped,
some obvious plot twists but still enjoyable. Deep enough to stay out of the trash
category and fun enough to last thru 3 (or more) books. When I was done all I could
think about was how much I had just enjoyed it. The writing got a little rough in
spots, but I always consider some of that to be the fault of the publisher/editor.

Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire – I must say, this is the best urban fantasy book I’ve read this
year-hands down.

It is a true Urban Fantasy despite a female protagonist, which many times indicates
a Paranormal Romance. Much to my relief, the main character, October Daye, while
flawed, does not exhibit the stupid, single-minded aggressiveness that passes as
‘I’m a bad-ass’ in so many other Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance characters.

Just a moment for my soapbox–Why are so many female characters in these books so
one dimensional? They don’t seem to think anything out, stay angry for the sake
of anger, never compromise even when they see the wiser course and seem to be slaves
to their libido or a perennial victim of a ‘shattered past’–bleh… October is the
antithesis of those characters, while still remaining a flawed, funny and very likable
character. She remains true to herself throughout the book. Seanan McGuire writes
a clean, well written, very enjoyable book that I hope is the 1st of many.

My October Reads and Recommends

With the exception of one nostalgic item (Valley of the Dolls), all are in the Fantasy genre

The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers) by Suzanne McLeod Rating:
Friday Night Bites: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel by Chloe Neill Rating:
Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 1) by Karen Hancock Rating:
Valley of the Dolls – by Jacqueline Susann Rating:
Fire – by Kristin Cashore Rating:
Flesh and Fire: Book One of The Vineart War Rating:
In Great Waters by Kit Whitfield Rating:
Night Runner: A Novel Rating: