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2 years ago ::
Sep 05, 2011 - 9:56AM
#41
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Some enterprising person will sell custom bound versions of the book for 30 or 40 bucks. There will be many people to line up and buy these black market books.
As much as I like the ever growing rack bays of novel spines proudly displaying their FR logo decorating my flat, I just wouldn't start to buy "black market" paperbacks. I'd rather simply stop reading FR novels and use my newly won freetime for one of the thousands of other things vying for my freetime.
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2 years ago ::
Oct 19, 2011 - 4:20AM
#42
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Date Joined:
Oct 18, 2011
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Just wanted to voice my complaint about the ebook only format for Shadowbane. I love Mr. de Bie's work but will not purchase the ebook format. I enjoy reading the print form of books since I have to sit in front of a computer all day and the last thing I want to do is sit in front of it to read a book. Even the e-readers are good only in small doeses so as I don't mind reading short stories every now and then, I can sit there reading a full length novel. Even if Mr. Salvatore's new book came out as an ebook only, I would not have purchased that, so please WotC, publish a print version of Shadowbane so I can read and enjoy the story as I know I will. Thank you.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 09, 2011 - 2:44PM
#43
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Date Joined:
Mar 15, 2010
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There's another issue with the novels going ebook only. The vast majority of the ebook catalog is only available in the US. To most of you it's not a problem, but there're a lot of fans all over the world that won't be able to read the new novels if this isn't addressed.
While I'm able to import "regular" books to my country and read them that way, I can't import an ebook. Amazon, B&N and the rest of the ebook stores just won't let me buy them.
If this is how it's going to be from now on, you're gonna have at least one very unhappy fan.
Hi there - just adding my voice here and echoing the above point; I live in the UK, and right now I can't buy Shadowbane at all. I preordered a print copy from Amazon UK (only available due to some confusion, apparently) which was subsequently cancelled. I have a Kindle, but can't buy US titles, and Shadowbane isn't available on the Kindle UK catalogue. Even though I can download the Nook PC app, the Nook system requires a US billing address.
So, essentially, even though I am absolutely happy to buy an e-book version, and Kindle is available in the UK, there is no way for me to do so. I'm sat here with money to burn, and I can't buy this book.
Now, I understand there can be licensing complications and the like, but it's a pretty frustrating experience, especially when the Wizards website assumes you're from the US and just directs you to Amazon.com and Nook websites.
I can understand people having personal preferences between ebooks and physical books and favouring one or the other, but I don't even have that choice - it's essentially a lost sale.
I shall continue to wait optimistically... 
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2 years ago ::
Dec 07, 2011 - 3:01PM
#44
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Date Joined:
Jun 25, 2009
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I have a computer, could get the book through that however wotc is being foolish and will regret not putting this out on paperback because us old school folk ......would rather have a choice of ebook or paperback and alot would and do enjoy paper still even in todays E-world. I was really looking forward to reading this book,....guess I'll spend my money elsewhere. As a side note I feel bad for Erik he had no say in the format and although I really really like the character (Shadowbane) I can't see going and getting a Kindle or such at this time or the foreseeable future. (sorry Erik  )
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2 years ago ::
Dec 10, 2011 - 12:00PM
#45
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Date Joined:
Jul 31, 2004
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I was browsing through Amazon to see the latest novels in the D&D line, and I kept coming across eBook after eBook thinking,"Where are the print editions?" A little googling clued me in that WOTC is gradually moving away from print... even with releases by some of their better-known authors that tie-in to major events, it seems they have given up on print and gone eBook only.
I guess at 31 years old I am officially an old fogey... I love holding a physical book in my hands. I don't think I'm going to change with the times... no matter how great the device, I just don't find it comfortable to stare at a screen for the amount of time it takes to read a novel (not to mention the health risks... any electronic device gives off a certain amount of radiation, which is not a problem if you use it intermittently, but if you're staring at it for hours at a time...), so I guess I just won't be able to read the WOTC books I wanted to.
I apologize to the talented authors here whose works I really wanted to read... if for some reason WOTC decides to print these stories, please let us know... I, for one, would definitely pick them up.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 14, 2011 - 4:29AM
#46
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Date Joined:
Jul 25, 2008
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Last year, approximately 1/3 of the bookstore shelf space in the United States went away. Publisher, writers, and readers are faced with necessary adjustments. As much as I love traditional books, I suspect that they will become more of a luxury than the norm.
I also think that POD will become more common, and I really hope WotC will consider this option. This would be a boon to collectors who want to replace a tattered or lost copy of, say, Azure Bonds, as well as readers who prefer hard copies to digital versions. The problem there, of course, is price. Readers will end up paying more for a paper copy, and/or publishers and authors will receive less. But if there is a significant number of readers who would not otherwise purchase the book, a POD format might be a viable option.
I've started looking into this sort of thing, as it's my intention to release the first Tales of Sevrin trilogy as a print omnibus in trade paperback. Traditionally published trade paperback usually sell in the $14.99 neighborhood, and as it turns out, I can probably match that price and still earn a little bit per sale. But CreateSpace is for independant authors, not publishers. I have no idea of the terms a publisher such as WotC would receive from a POD arrangement, or what price they'd have to set to make it economically viable.
E-book pricing is another difficult issue. Selling an e-riginal book for close to paperback prices makes sense to me. You have many of the same costs: editing, formatting, art, cover design, advances and royalties, and distribution. Distribution is a significant expense, as electronic bookstores take a big cut of the purchase price. That said, I'd love to see the price of electronic "reprints" of back list books drop significantly. There are still costs involved--formatting, distribution, royalties--but certain costs such as editing, art, and author advances were paid long ago. Lower prices of back list books would encourage long-time readers to build an electronic library of FR books and give new readers another reason to enter the Realms.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 14, 2011 - 7:13AM
#47
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Date Joined:
Jul 12, 2009
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Thank you for your enlightening insight, Elaine!
Cheers
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2 years ago ::
Dec 15, 2011 - 10:24AM
#48
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I didn't realize we had lost so much shelf space, and that's saddening. I really dislike e-reading, it just doesn't feel right. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I love to stretch out on my couch with a book, and 12 hours later come back to the real world and be hungry for the next book in the series (I actually read an entire Robert Jordan Wheel Of Time book in one sitting, 14 hours on a flight to Korea).
e-readers...just don't get it done for me. I certainly understand the economics of the situation, but I don't have to like it. that said, I do appreciate authors such as yourself and Ms Cunningham (I am still saddened you had to kill off Fyodor BTW) taking the time to address concerns like these. It's awfully easy for us as consumers to stamp our feet and cry "this is terrible", and it makes it easier to understand and accept when we know that it's the only way for the stories to be told.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 02, 2012 - 5:42PM
#49
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While some time ago I was also against eBooks, prefering to read on paper after a long day in front of corporate computer screens, the real eReaders like Kindle have convinced me that for me eBooks are an equal option to paper books. Not better, not worse.
So far so good, now here's the problem:
I bought a Kindle in the US, because I love reading Forgotten Realms novels and I wanted to read more often and without the logistics hassle (I live outside the US).
Connect to Kindle Store and what do I see? Almost no Forgotten Realms eBooks available! Why? Because they are basically only available in the US! Why? No idea!
So, I can ship any physical Forgotten Realms book around half the globe without any constraints (it is more expensive and loathsome, but no one prevents me from doing so). But when in the 21st century I want to download the very same book as an eBook on my Kindle, I can't, because I don't live in the US and it cannot be "delivered" electronically to countries due to legal issues. But there are no legal issues on physical books.
Without wanting to detail out here more explicitly, how I feel about that, here comes the next problem:
As it does not serve me for what I bought it for (downloading FR novels), I could use the Kindle as a kitchen board, frisbee or whatever else, and simply order books like "Shadowbane" from Erik Scott de Bie as paper book. But hey guess what: WotC does not only not allow me to purchase that book as an eBook outside the US, I cannot buy it as a paper book neither because there is none!
So, what is an Forgotten Realms fan who lives outside the US going to do when he cannot access eContent and there is no paper content available?
WotC, whatever your motives for the eBook restrictions outside the US may be.... if you do not give me at least the alternative to blast more CO2 to the atmosphere by moving a physical book around half the globe instead of downloading an eBook which also provides you a way better margin, then where am I supposed to spend my money on your products?
This is a lost sale, and a lost fan. Why? For what? I don't get it.... Please explain it to me! I am really open to make an effort to understand whatever reason you might have.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 08, 2012 - 6:39PM
#50
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Date Joined:
Aug 29, 2009
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Is WotC being "foolish" for only publishing "Shadowbane" as an ebook? No. Please don't confuse your personal preferences for the reality on the ground. WotC realizes that publishing, as an industry, is moving faster and faster to the digital model, and they are (rightfully) experimenting in the market. While Erik and his fans might prefer they experiment with some other author's novel, somebody's got to be the guinea pig, and it won't be Salvatore.
I'm fairly certain that "Shadowbane" is the only D&D novel published digitally only (so far, excepting backlist titles), so WotC is not currently "abandoning" the print market as someone claimed upthread. However, IMO, that's where things are headed eventually.
Personally, I used to collect "physical" D&D novels like others in this thread, but roughly a year ago I sold my entire collection to the used bookstore and have been purchasing both new and backlist titles for my Kindle. And I love it! I purchased "Shadowbane" (also "Downshadow") and thoroughly enjoyed both the novel and the "DVD extras" included. Now, are my preferences superior to those who dislike ebooks? Of course not. Are my tastes more in line with the majority of D&D novel fans? Eh, maybe, maybe not. That, of course, is part of WotC's experiments in the digital publishing market.
I am incredibly happy that WotC is releasing an ever-growing back catalog of classic novels as ebooks. I am incredibly happy that all of WotC's new novels are being released as ebooks. I'm interested in seeing how things play out with novels released "only" as ebooks, although I don't object to print versions being released at some point.
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