Peter James's Host, published on two disks, was an early example – but exactly where the medium started life is surprisingly tricky to identifyWhat was the first ebook? Debate rages … When Peter James published his thriller Host on two floppy disks, in 1993, it was billed as the "world's first electronic novel", and attacked as a harbinger of the apocalypse which would destroy literature as we knew it. Now it has been accepted into the Science Museum's collection as one of the earliest examples of the form, as the spotlight of academia begins to shine on the history of digital publishing."I got absolutely pilloried," says James. "I was on Today accused of killing the novel, I was a front-page headline on papers in Italy – 99% of the press was negative … one journalist even took his computer on a wheelbarrow to the beach, along with a generator, to read Host in his deckchair."The digital version of the novel (it was also published physically) went on to sell 12,000 copies, according to James, and two years later, he was speaking on a panel on the future of the novel at the University of Southern California, together with Apple founder Steve Jobs. "I said ebooks would catch on when they became more convenient to read than the printed novel," said James. "It was astonishing the amount of outrage it caused."And Host – about a scientist who downloads his brain into a computer and has his body frozen – has now become a historical artefact, accepted into the Science Museum's... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The new imprint of the online bookseller has already released works by authors including William Lashner and Rebecca Adams Wright. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What's the best device if you want to embrace a post-paper reading world? That all depends on whether you want a dedicated reading device or a more versatile tablet. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2013-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Figures from world's biggest bookseller trumpeted as sign of how self-publishing and smaller labels are changing the industryAs many as a quarter of the top 100 Kindle books on Amazon.com are from indie publishers, according to data revealed at a trade presentation by the retailer.A chart... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2013-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing has launched a new digital short story imprint in the US called StoryFront.... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As a member of Hollywood royalty, a fashion icon and an Academy Award-winning actress, Anjelica Huston has led a full life -- so much so that she's taking two books to tell her story.As a member of Hollywood royalty, a fashion icon and an Academy Award-winning actress, Anjelica Huston has led a... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite being digitally savvy Taiwanese readers are dedicated to print and ebooks remain just 2% of the market — though change is afoot. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random House India has released the first Hindi ebook by any international publisher in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Virgin Books has bought a book that goes behind the scenes of the digital gaming phenomenon... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Survey finds that 62% of 16 to 24-year-olds prefer traditional books over their digital equivalentsSixteen to 24-year-olds are known as the super-connected generation, obsessed with snapping selfies or downloading the latest mobile apps, so it comes as a surprise to learn that 62% prefer print... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2013-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookmate, a Russian ebook subscription service, wants to attract English language publishers to its platform to cater to developing markets. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The industry is supposedly embracing a digital future, but too scant attention is too often paid to the basics of organising ebooksThe bright hopes of digital publishing are gathered in London for the latest FutureBook conference and the future looks, well, familiar. As the new boss of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2013-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Germany, where fixed price laws demand a level playing field, Amazon's KDP gave its self-published authors an edge when it came to ebooks. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This summer a judge ruled that Apple arranged a conspiracy with major publishers to raise ebook prices. Now Apple faces a class action lawsuit from plaintiff states and a consumer class. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Aurum Press has signed a book on cyclist Dieter Wiedermann, an East German sports star who... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penelope Lively's recent short ebook for Penguin drew criticism for its brevity – but readers should not be put off the genre as a whole"Overpriced", "ridiculous", I feel cheated". Amazon reviewers haven't been wholly positive about a digital short Penelope Lively has written for Penguin... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2013-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon will begin delivering packages in the US on Sundays for the first time through the US... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Constable & Robinson (C&R) and pay-as-you-go ebook service ValoBox have partnered to... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Just as Kobo has cozied up to physical booksellers, so too does Amazon have a plan to smother them in e-ink kisses. Under the company's new "Amazon Source" program, any independent bookstore that sells a Kindle tablet or e-reader will be rewarded with ten percent of future book purchases made on ... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Closures were up 42% over the previous year, according to the Guardian. The companies that folded included the 26-year-old healthcare publisher Panos London and Evans Brothers.Ninety-eight British publishers closed their doors in the year ending August 2013. The cause? E-books and online discounts. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Neil Gaiman is revealed as the final short story author of the Doctor Who stories. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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