Re: Social Contract

On Fri, Apr 28, 2006 at 05:45:06PM -0700, Steve Lamb wrote:

However when an author had the audacity to actually test the theory that
releasing the books for free would increase sales that is exactly what
happened. That author was Eric Flynt published by Baen. Since that day Baen
has published books online, for free, because it makes them money. In fact,
every book that David Weber (arguably their top author) puts out in hardcover
includes a CD which contains, in four formats, every book he's published.
I've bought 4 of his books in hardcover in the past few years. You think if
they were taking a loss they'd continue to do it? In fact it has been so
successful that they have recorded case where an author who consented to
releasing a Baen book saw the sales of her books under other publishers go up.
They've even published a book from an author who retained the electronic
publishing rights though her print rights are still locked up with another
pulp publisher.

If I recall correctly when I looked at the Baen site last year, they usually
release on book in a series online. Those that read the first book and like it
will have to buy the rest of the series. Has this changed?

I didn't know about the David Weber CD, though.

Agreed on both points. Though I am always hopeful because of Baen's
example and always cite it loudly when people say that it might not work.
There's one example of it working now.

--
Steve C. Lamb | But who decides what they dream?
PGP Key: 8B6E99C5 | And dream I do...
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