Bah! A book by an author I like (John Scalzi)  has just been released in the US, but not the UK. Sure, it’s only a month different, but why? What makes people think this kind of split is a good idea?

And why don’t they immediately release the e-book at the same time as the paperback. I know some people might say it would cannibalize the sales, but that’s hardly a good reason. It’s not like the price for the e-book can’t be, initially, set to the same as the hardback, then dropped when the paperback is released. Yes, it will impact book stores. All I can say there is: buggy whip manufacturers. Some people will want books. That’s what print on demand is for.

I honestly don’t mind variable e-book pricing. Hell, I buy ARCs from Baen, where they’re more than double the final release price. Sure, it generally won’t be from an author I don’t know, but that’s the same with a hardback. Admittedly, a book that’s been out a few years? You’ve probably amortized the fixed costs. Drop the price (increasing the author percentage, of course.) You’ve paid for the editor’s time, the proof readers time and so on.

I can’t stand it, when an ebook is available in one country, but not another. It’s incredible annoying, especially when the first is, but the rest aren’t. Yes, I understand there are rights that people sold to publishers in other countries, but make sure it’s covered. It’s just sloppy looking. There’s no good reason for any book to be unavailable now.