From: Lee Daniel Crocker (lee@piclab.com)
Date: Wed Dec 18 2002 - 22:43:07 MST
> Robert's point about Fictionwise being a `commercial marketing site'
> speaks to Lee Crocker's rant about the evils of not providing plain text
> that's easily disseminated to all & sundry free of charge. When the rest
> of us can come by Piclab and get our image processing done for nothing,
(1) I made no mention of the re-distributability of the works; only
the ability to read them on my Linux box. As it turns out, the files
they call "Acrobat" format are actually PDF, so they can be read (I
bought "Valencies".
(2) I charge good money for my time, as I would expect anyone to.
But I have never, and will never, seek to exercise control over
what anyone else does with the information that might result from
it. Please try to understand the difference.
I should also point out that the classic distribution system for
your work isn't as peachy as you might think. Your words have
value because people like me enjoy reading interesting things.
When I first heard about "The Spike", I looked for it every time
I went into a bookstore (which is frequently--I have a very large
collection), but couldn't find it because it wasn't distributed
here. The system failed you: I was eager and willing to spend my
money for a copy, but I could not. Later, after reading more of
you here and meeting you on your trip to California, I happened
across a copy of "White Abacus" at a used bookstore and bought it.
Unfortunately, you received none of that $3, which is what I was
willing to spend on a random chance I might like a book (it wasn't
bad, but I wouldn't recommend spending $20 on a hardcover), so
the system failed you again.
I did finally find a copy of The Spike, and as I mentioned I just
boought "Valencies". You mention that you get better royalties
from the latter, and I'm not surprized. So at least you get
something for your efforts. But please don't think I repudiate
the notion of copyright because I have something against
authors making money--that couldn't be further from the truth.
-- Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> <http://www.piclab.com/lee/> "All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past, are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification."--LDC
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