I was sure that SK was wrong last week, but now I'm sure he's right.

[Emilie.Bush]

After reading this past week's EW, I was sure that Uncle Stevie was on an old man rant - "Taint no quality in dem moo-vin pitchers no more!"
I argued with my husband about how quality will rise, and that people in the digital age will be able to diseminate good literature and film without the ONE thing that a good publisher of film company provides - ready distribution. My thoughts were bolstered by Nathan Bransford's blog yesterday - where he , a literary agent, debated the need for authors to have publishers in the future.
I was all - Take that Steven King. Until, however my library contacted me. It went something like this:
Library: Despite search attempts via Interlibrary Loan, we are unable to obtain The Glass Coffin, a Reginald Sterling Adventure: scientific romance in Victorian New England (Reeves).
me: Perhaps you could buy it (and I provided a link to AMAZON)
Library: Attempts were made to purchase this title without success.
me: Is this a case where the book is only available at Amazon, and you are only allowed to buy from certain vendors? If so, I will happily purchase the book as a gift to the library if you are willing to catalog it.
Is that arrangement possible?
Library: I’m sorry, but the library does not accept donations of individual titles.
The selector who initially handled your request as a potential purchase consideration has indicated that the title is not available from vendors and may have limited availability as it appears to be a print-on-demand title. The selector then forwarded your request to me in Interlibrary Loan in an attempt for us to obtain it for you. Unfortunately, the title is not listed on the Interlibrary Loan database which confirms limited availability. I attempted to obtain the title via Interlibrary Loan by requesting it from a number of larger library systems but all responded that they did not own the title.
Please telephone me at ... if you should have further questions regarding your request.

So - the short and the long of it is this: I can't get a book from my library unless another library has it and is willing to share it. Did I read that right? When I was a reporter, I more than once heard "Is another network covering it? They are? Oh we should be there." Sickening.
Perhaps Uncle Stevie is right. Quality is dead. I wanted this book because it was highly recommended. I want my library to have it, because I think Steampunk is a great genre. I offer to pay and they still say no. Libraries are supposed to be the final bastion of intellectual equality, but it seems that it's more like the Studio 54 - can't get past the velvet ropes unless you are on the list.
Thanks for a most stimulating article.

[rjt65]

i am doing reading of both neil Gaimen and Robert Mccammon---

WE have 2 libray's very local-- one I use has a few titles but nowhere near all-- thankfully my County will ship books and loan them withn the county so i go online reserve it and within a week or so i get it!

both these authors books IMO are spectacular.... they should be in every library!

So g'luck!

[staropeace]

Quality is,indeed, dead. Creativity and imagination went pretty well out the window,also.
I wouldnt consider Uncle Steve an "old man" but he may remember a time when there were higher standards. Before the advent of reality TV,folks had to be artistic and make up stuff.
For someone with his abilities....it must be hard to watch all this stryofoam filler when it comes to media and fiction and anything creative.

[Ebdim9th]

Everybody wants the product of hard work for free now, as well..... The worker is not worthy of his wage if he's a musician or author or filmmakeer, apparently he's just worthy of the unemployment line. So, still needing a paycheck, he 'writes' for "unscripted" reality tv to pay the bills, and creativity suffers that way too. When a musician works again, at a live performance, which is separate from his performance recorded in a studio, he should get paid for that too. Wonder if any reality shows need a musician? Kinda broke and starving out here.....

[jlessl]

I had a similar reaction to this particular column from SK in EW. It seemed to me out-of-character, in a way, because SK had previously touted the advent of the Amazon Kindle. Yet, here he was criticizing new technology, or so I thought. I have to admit I was more than a bit confused as to his point and his concern. The EW website does not have this column available yet or I would try to link to it for those of you who have not read it.

[Manxkitti]

I might be one of the last hold outs when it comes to the Kindle format books. I saw a woman yesterday who had a kindle, and still like regular books. But I guess one day I'll break down and buy one. LOL.:laugh:

[Ebdim9th]

I dunno if I drop a book on a sidewalk or something, I'm not as likely to break it and lose the data on it. A hassle, for sure....

[NathanStrickland]

I can't go Kindle. I would miss the smell of books. New paper, old paper, doesn't matter. It's just an extra sensory topping on the whole experience. Besides, nothing beats having books on your shelves. It feels good to be surrounded by old friends.

[Kim L.]

I dunno if I drop a book on a sidewalk or something, I'm not as likely to break it and lose the data on it. A hassle, for sure....

And a book isn't run on a battery, as a Kindle is. When the battery dies--time to buy a new Kindle. No, thanks.

[jlessl]

I agree Nathan. I received a Kindle as a gift and returned it to Amazon. I love holding a book in my hands and I love keeping hardcover books on my bookshelves. What a great pleasure receiving a new book. And, please, I can't imagine laying in bed reading off of a electronic device. Call me old school, call me what you will (cue the Bob Seger song). I guess the Kindle would be good for someone that travels by plane; it would be less cumbersome to take that along with you. Or, perhaps on vacation.

[Doc Wilson]

I have no problem with the technology but I'm not going to pay 3 bills for a reader that can't do anything else. You could buy a netbook for that much.

I think SK was wrong in that article, on almost every count, and I'm of his generation. To take music as an example. It may appear that quality is dead if you depend on FM radio to bring you new music, but if you do a little searching through modern outlets like the internet or satellite radio you discover that there is more great music being made than ever before, in almost every genre you can name. Its just that FM radio has gone to ****.

The same is true of books. Some of my favorite books of all time have been written since 2000, SK's included.

[Velswab]

I will buy paper books forever.
i will boycott, by refusing to spend money on,
things that detract from the ability for the market to produce paper books.
I buy paper books online,
and in local stores.
With my favorite authors,
I will buy two copies of their best work;
the first- a used paperback to see if I like them.
The second- I buy new hardback, and when they release new books: i buy the first ed/first print,
to HONOR their WORK!

I expect no less if I were to be a writer,
or journalist,
or musician.

The cream rises to the top,
the rest... well- the rest does not.

Can I get an amen?

[Mookie]

I can't go Kindle. I would miss the smell of books. New paper, old paper, doesn't matter. It's just an extra sensory topping on the whole experience. Besides, nothing beats having books on your shelves. It feels good to be surrounded by old friends.

I agree with you about the Kindle. To me it would be boring, not the same as holding an actual book. It would be a nightmare if it all went digital and you could no longer find books... real actual books.

[Mr Nobody]

On top of everything else others have said, the eco-impact of a book is a one-time deal. The eco-impact of a Kindle is easily as great, if not greater, in the first instance and then you need to keep charging the battery.
Besides, these days you sometimes just want a break from screens and gizmos to just relax a little.
It's paper books all the way for this lad, and if they ever stop being printed...well, I have plenty on my shelves. I'm sure they'll do.

[Ebdim9th]

I find after a few years of constant use, that computer screens are starting to leave those shimmering imprints on my eyes like you get from staring at the sun too long. I'm afraid if I went all digital, and I do understand the 'shorthand' appeal of a Kindle, it certainly has its uses, I would soon lose my eyesight and have to wear coke-bottle glasses.... (and yes i have lamps and lights on close by, but sometimes it still doesnt seem enough more or less 'natural' light)

[scarywriter]

I love my Kindle. I use it a lot and have found that I actually buy more "real" books since I bought it. I am also a big fan of eBooks in general.

[tillyn]

I've got to say i have the Sony version of Kindle, e-book, and i quite like it. Eyes are starting to suck. Has lights on side, 300 books i can download ( site keeps them for you in your library in case something happens.) I went on vacation and brought it instead of my books. I damage the hard covers when traveling. I still buy hard cover of my favorite authors. I did not think i would enjoy it but since buying one, i've got to recommend it. As for quality in music, books , tv etc. Things are not as good as they use to be, you really got to look for quality these day. ( CBC radio, and some sirius programing is good.)

[Velswab]

of course,
reading the common-sense reasons others have purchased and enjoy their kindles gives me pause,
but i resist!

i did not use the internet until 2004,

because i boycotted slow loading times for web browsing..

which was a mistake...

I could have been somebody!
lol

But yeah:
i understand the value of this kindle thing,
but not the heart.

[Sugar Marie]

On top of everything else others have said, the eco-impact of a book is a one-time deal. The eco-impact of a Kindle is easily as great, if not greater, in the first instance and then you need to keep charging the battery.
Besides, these days you sometimes just want a break from screens and gizmos to just relax a little.
It's paper books all the way for this lad, and if they ever stop being printed...well, I have plenty on my shelves. I'm sure they'll do.

I have nothing against e-books, I plan to have one myself one of these days, but the ecology argument against real books is just rediculous! I mean, you can go anywhere in the world and find things made from trees that are superfluous: paper bags, paper plates, paper cups, junk mail, MAD Magazine( :biggrin2: ), etc.

Just as long as books and toilet paper stay in production, most of the rest of it can go to save the trees -imo.

[Ebdim9th]

As far as ultimately having to buy all new products like books, music, movies, etc online, one might do well to remember that the Pentagon was, in the last year, hacked, and vital secrets stolen. The Veteran's association also was hacked, by a completely different hacker, and the social security numbers and personal information of every living member, retired and active, of the US military was stolen. Yes, a true Darwin Awards moment followed when the hacker tried to sell it back to the US Government and was promptly apprehended, but not all such hackers are as smart/stupid as he.
I dont put any of my personal or financial information on the internet. Period.

[bookslinger]

The Kindle, and devices like, are obviously a boon for those who have space constraints, a limited budget, and so on. They are also a great help for those who have vision problems such as King's macular degeneration. But for us old schoolers, we can always hope for the "everything old is new again" senario. A new fangled gadget that prints words on paper. I've heard it's called a book. : )

p.s. Don't tell my laptop.

[Ebdim9th]

My grandmother had macular degeneration and she needed large print books for reading... a Kindle would only have room for so many of these large letters on one screen page. I'd think it would be impractical.

[HayleyDiva]

It's true. There is a lot of amazing stuff in all sorts of mediums; music, movies, and literature. The only problem is that you have to go off the mainstream to find it. I hardly ever watch or listen to anything mainstream anymore. To me, it's about as appetizing as regurgitated crap. I try to keep up with what's going on, just so I can handle pop-cultural conversations with all the brainwash victims in my environment. Mainstream is a closed club. Originality is frowned upon. Talent is welcome but not required. You just need to know a member.
:blush:

[jcadams]

I don't have a Kindle, and never really wanted one. I have an mp4 that stores e-books. I love that I can take this one gadget with me and be able to read a book, watch a movie or listen to the radio while I'm waiting, but when I'm at home, I much prefer a book I can hold. Especially since I like to read in the tub. I'd rather get the pages wet than have to buy a new device.

[davemelnick]

in the late 1980s or early '90s, that's when real acting began to decline (IMHO). That is due to those controls that tv shows & movies have that automatically give boos & cheers,etc. Given, special fx increased a good deal. That obviously is the cause for all those "Shallow Hal" shows & movies.:sad: