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.

[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.