Comments on: The Worth of a Man (8/6/2010) http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/ The Dragons Are Coming Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:45:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Paul Graham Raven http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5379 Paul Graham Raven Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:39:21 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5379 I'm pretty much with Cory Doctorow on the matter of piracy (i.e. obscurity is a far greater enemy), but then I'm not a published author... I’m pretty much with Cory Doctorow on the matter of piracy (i.e. obscurity is a far greater enemy), but then I’m not a published author…

]]> By: Stephen Deas http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5298 Stephen Deas Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:22:49 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5298 Sharon, Adele: Personally I still don't see any problem with selling & signing ARCs AFTER the book is in the shops. I have been conviced that selling them beforehand is deserving of some finger-wagging because of the possible piracy issue (althuogh I suspect on for authors with a bigger name than mine...) Sharon, Adele: Personally I still don’t see any problem with selling & signing ARCs AFTER the book is in the shops. I have been conviced that selling them beforehand is deserving of some finger-wagging because of the possible piracy issue (althuogh I suspect on for authors with a bigger name than mine…)

]]> By: Sharon http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5296 Sharon Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:05:00 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5296 It is a shame because this casts genuine collector's in a bad light. Those who are lucky enough to recieve a proof to review and then want it signed will be reviewed as an Ebay seller! This parasite clearly has no interest in literature of any kind. Stephen there are genuine fans out there. I have a considerable collection of signed first editions which I would not dream of selling and yes I have read and reviewed them all! It is a shame because this casts genuine collector’s in a bad light.
Those who are lucky enough to recieve a proof to review and then want it signed will be reviewed as an Ebay seller!
This parasite clearly has no interest in literature of any kind.
Stephen there are genuine fans out there. I have a considerable collection of signed first editions which I would not dream of selling and yes I have read and reviewed them all!

]]> By: Gavin http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5272 Gavin Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:06:51 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5272 I think its a rather fundamental betrayal of trust to sell before publishing and cynical to ask for a signed copy with the view of not reading it and just selling it. The biggest worry I think is a scanned copy appearing on the net before its published. I think its a rather fundamental betrayal of trust to sell before publishing and cynical to ask for a signed copy with the view of not reading it and just selling it. The biggest worry I think is a scanned copy appearing on the net before its published.

]]> By: Ian Sales http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5270 Ian Sales Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:23:29 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5270 An alternative to selling or donating ARCs would be to list them on a site like readitswapit.co.uk or bookmooch.com. Someone else could then read it - and you know they will, or they wouldn't have swapped/mooched the book from you. An alternative to selling or donating ARCs would be to list them on a site like readitswapit.co.uk or bookmooch.com. Someone else could then read it – and you know they will, or they wouldn’t have swapped/mooched the book from you.

]]> By: Adele http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5269 Adele Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:06:16 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5269 The alternative to an embargo is to only sign pre release if it is dedicated to a name. If niching else narrows the market but means genuine reviewer and fans can still get their signed copy to treasure. I only get books signed for contests which I am entirely open about or for my 'precious' shelf so there is no reason not to dedicate it to someone. The alternative to an embargo is to only sign pre release if it is dedicated to a name. If niching else narrows the market but means genuine reviewer and fans can still get their signed copy to treasure. I only get books signed for contests which I am entirely open about or for my ‘precious’ shelf so there is no reason not to dedicate it to someone.

]]> By: Paul Graham Raven http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5263 Paul Graham Raven Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:07:20 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5263 I've sold ARCs (but not signed ones - I keep those, because I'm a fanboy, and I'd not be able to ask for the autograph with clear conscience otherwise), but I never sell until well after the edition for which it is promotional material has been out, and I only sell ARCs that charity shops look at and say "I think this may be a bit obscure for us". I used to donate to libraries, until I worked for libraries and found out what happens to most donated books (i.e. they get pulped, because the library doesn't have the shelf space for obscure sf that won't be read either. Selling before release date is a bit cheeky, and also a bit vampiric, as you suggest... but speaking as a fan and a small press publicist, i really can't see any moral issue with selling an ARC once the finished book is out. I’ve sold ARCs (but not signed ones – I keep those, because I’m a fanboy, and I’d not be able to ask for the autograph with clear conscience otherwise), but I never sell until well after the edition for which it is promotional material has been out, and I only sell ARCs that charity shops look at and say “I think this may be a bit obscure for us”. I used to donate to libraries, until I worked for libraries and found out what happens to most donated books (i.e. they get pulped, because the library doesn’t have the shelf space for obscure sf that won’t be read either.

Selling before release date is a bit cheeky, and also a bit vampiric, as you suggest… but speaking as a fan and a small press publicist, i really can’t see any moral issue with selling an ARC once the finished book is out.

]]> By: Philip Athans http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5262 Philip Athans Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:06:10 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5262 The unwritten feeling among most of the people I know in the publishing biz is that a few copies of an ARC on eBay, especially for a new author, is a swell bit of guerilla marketing that has some potential to create positive buzz, and in ones and twos, poses no threat to actual sales. Why it's unwritten is that a few here and there are good, but every single ARC up on eBay or at you local used book store could cannibalize real sales. That's why, as a publishing professional, I did not write this, and so it has remained unwritten. The unwritten feeling among most of the people I know in the publishing biz is that a few copies of an ARC on eBay, especially for a new author, is a swell bit of guerilla marketing that has some potential to create positive buzz, and in ones and twos, poses no threat to actual sales. Why it’s unwritten is that a few here and there are good, but every single ARC up on eBay or at you local used book store could cannibalize real sales. That’s why, as a publishing professional, I did not write this, and so it has remained unwritten.

]]> By: Stephen Deas http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5261 Stephen Deas Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:04:19 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5261 Mark, Adele: In a way it's flattering. Nevertheless, am considering an embargo on signing ARCs prior to publication day. Mark, Adele: In a way it’s flattering. Nevertheless, am considering an embargo on signing ARCs prior to publication day.

]]> By: Adele / hagelrat http://www.stephendeas.com/the-worth-of-a-man-862010/comment-page-1/#comment-5260 Adele / hagelrat Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:52:07 +0000 http://www.stephendeas.com/?p=1156#comment-5260 I have two issues, one is this person presumably got something for free and is now profiting having not delivered their end of the deal. The second is, hello, 3 months before publication date? If you want to sell the book (as opposed to using it for a contest which still provides some publicity, or giving it to charity shops) then I really do think you ought to have provided a review, a well considered one. You are after all profitting from the deal and so should the publisher/author. I also think that selling ARC's before the book is available in the shops is a pretty shitty way to behave frankly. If the book is out and the ARC has served it's stated purpose, being read and reviewed then I have no issue with it entering the second hand market like any other book. I ranted at length on this a while ago. I have two issues, one is this person presumably got something for free and is now profiting having not delivered their end of the deal.
The second is, hello, 3 months before publication date?
If you want to sell the book (as opposed to using it for a contest which still provides some publicity, or giving it to charity shops) then I really do think you ought to have provided a review, a well considered one. You are after all profitting from the deal and so should the publisher/author. I also think that selling ARC’s before the book is available in the shops is a pretty shitty way to behave frankly.
If the book is out and the ARC has served it’s stated purpose, being read and reviewed then I have no issue with it entering the second hand market like any other book.
I ranted at length on this a while ago.

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