Interesting news today from the world of mystery publishing: Otto Penzler, bookseller (Mysterious Bookshop), publisher (Mysterious Press), writer, editor, anthologist and just overall mystery enthusiast has launched a new version of the Mysterious Press online. Called MysteriousPress.com, it will publish electronic editions ONLY of books by mystery authors of all genres.
It's the kind of electronic backlist project that many mystery readers have hoped for in an age of eBooks. Many of the books Penzler will be publishing are still under copyright - yet most are long out of print. This will make the books available again, in a variety of electronic formats. As most of the eBook formats are readable on a regular laptop or desktop computer, I suppose you don't even need an eBook reader - though, given the way the prices have come down, why not?
I'm excited to see that at least a couple of Ellery Queen titles are among the first to be released. We're also promised - soon - other classic authors such as Christianna Brand. But no matter what genre you like - traditional, hard-boiled, private eye, noir, suspense, espionage, you name it - we are told that hundreds of these titles will be availabe from the Mysterious Press before the end of the year.
Here is the press release from Mysterious Press outlining the scope of the project. And here's a welcoming statement from Otto Penzler.
While this is great news, I'm somewhat saddened that this will only be done in electronic formats. I'm probably just being an old-fashioned sort of feller here, but I don't like the two electronic readers I've tried using to date. They took forever to load up, drained batteries like mad, and were a lot harder for me to use than regular books, although I'm a tech kind of person!
I recognize the advantages these e-books offer (like lower costs), but at the same time, I think I will stick with regular books for now myself. But If I ever find an affordable and user-friendly e-reader that I like using, and if endeavours like this reprint authors I love for electronic formats, I can see myself using e-readers in the future.
But nothing will replace my book collection. :) Oh, it's nothing particularly impressive, but it's the hard work of a lover who for the longest time ever could only track these titles down in physical bookstores. I can order online now, but I have only taken advantage of this with Paul Halter titles, impossible to get my usual way in Canada.
Goodness, I've been going on so!
Posted by: Patrick | October 25, 2011 at 10:33 PM
I think this is wonderful news. It deservrs a quick note on the GAD list!
I never thought I would be an "e-reader" person, but once I saw the Kindle, I was hooked, and now own a Kindle and a Sony 950 :) I have not read a "paper" book in over a year, but I have purchased quite a few.
Patrick, both my e-readers go for a 3 weeks or so on batteries, and that is reading every day...
Posted by: Monica | October 26, 2011 at 02:30 AM
This is a very good news for GAD lovers like me who live hundreds of miles from the easy sources of getting GAD books. I don't have to pay exorbitant shipping prices just to get GAD books!
I bought my Kindle earlier this year and I was hooked ever since.It's very easy to use and it definitely solves the problem of silverfish and other bugs that damaging the books!
We all have to live with new technology and to all books publishers, you will get more sales by producing e-books for people like me as well as producing physical books.
Posted by: Ann | October 26, 2011 at 03:35 AM
Patrick, I still prefer hard-copy, paper books, but I must say I find my Kindle easy to read and easy to use. Loading and purchasing, at least for me, is virtually instantaneous, and the battery will last for weeks between charges. I also like the ability to put bookmarks where I like and to "underline" and/or make notes without permanently damaging the book - and my Kindle does all that. (Self-promotion: if you or any reader gets a Kindle through my Amazon search box on the upper right, I get a remarkably small percentage without costing you any more.)
Posted by: Les Blatt | October 26, 2011 at 08:29 AM
Monica and Ann, agreed. I enjoy my Kindle. When I travel, it's a lot easier than packing a suitcase full of books. I still buy paper (and, to be honest, prefer them - not surprising in someone my age), but the Kindle is a useful, quick way to access books that are no longer available new in paper.
Posted by: Les Blatt | October 26, 2011 at 08:32 AM