Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: ryanjm on June 10, 2009, 12:47:49 AM
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I have to say I'm impressed with his blog and the way he's handled the release of Warbreaker. I don't follow the blog religiously, and honestly didn't know he had a book about to be released, but as soon as I read his post on Warbreaker I printed out my Border's coupon and walked over to the store and bought it. I didn't read any of the book online to see whether I might like it, but I figure I haven't read a bad Sanderson book yet. That, combined with his well written post respectfully suggesting people to buy the book if they like it, struck me as exactly the right kind of thing to say to win people's respect.
I also really like the idea of showing people the writing process and releasing the book electronically for free. I think it shows a level of respect for his fans in trusting them to buy the book if they want to support him. If they think it sucks, and don't want to support him, well then they got to read something for free and it didn't cost Brandon anything. I can't really say if this will make Brandon more money or not, but from a consumer's point of view, I love it.
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I love it too. And honestly, I didn't even read the free online copy. But just knowing it was available makes me want to buy the book. At least in hardback. I have all his books, but I usually get it from the library and wait for paperback to buy it.
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Yes, I was very impressed by Brandon making the book freely available. I've long been partial to the Creative Commons philosophy, and am just generally thrilled to see experimentation with the new dynamics and possibilities of the "information age". (Brandon's annotations are another example of this.) I'm especially impressed that Brandon would experiment with something so important to his career -- that took courage, and more than a little trust in his readers and fans.
I'm another one who didn't read the book online, despite being tempted from time to time. I did make a point of buying the hardcover the day it was released, something I don't think I've ever done before. I really hope the book sells well -- if it doesn't, I worry that Tor (and the rest of the publishing world) may come to see experimentation of this sort as a threat.
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I'll throw in my two cents:
I think releasing the book online was a good move. I read it, found it great and now intend to buy it as soon as I get some money (poor college student getting married leaves little room for books, sadly). I really enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy (currently, I think it is my favorite series) and Elantris. When I discovered that Mr. Sanderson was releasing Warbreaker as he wrote it, my respect for him increased greatly. In a time when copyrights are a subject of huge debate and publishing companies are yelling about piracy, Mr. Sanderson has the respect for his fans to release his work into the public with no guarantee of return. I'm sold on buying his books from now one (unless something horrid happens to his writing ;)).
I haven't seen any figures for how Warbreaker is selling, but I hope its doing well. I have bough copies of all the other books, and I will get Warbreaker too as soon as I can.
Can't wait for WoT and The Way of Kings.
-Pieces
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Brandon posted on Twitter today about Warbreaker! "Warbreaker is #24 on the NYT hardcover fiction list. Woohoo! Thank you all for being awesome." Woohoo!
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Personally i think that him realising it online for free was a bad idea that probabally hurt sales. he should of put sample chapters up
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I wonder if putting on Kindle for free would have been a good or bad thing. People who read on Kindle might not by the print copy, but how many people have Kindle? (or whichever e-reader.)
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Maybe this is just me, and i'm still not sure why it bugs me so much but the tiny little "a Sci-fi Essentials" book thing kinda screwed up the whole cover. It's probably just me sorry for my randomness, but thats what i think.
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Personally i think that him realising it online for free was a bad idea that probabally hurt sales. he should of put sample chapters up
I've yet to hear from a single person who's read it online, enjoyed it, and not bought the book. Maybe I talk to incredibly honest people or something, but that's my experience. I'll be joining them once it finds its way into a bookstore here.
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I'll be honest ... I read it on line and loved it. And promptly figured I would be waiting until it comes out in paperback to purchase it. I buy very, very few hardcover books ... I just can't afford them. I'm too poor for hardcovers most of the time.
But today I got an $85 amazon gift certificate from amazon. I have no idea why (my web site usually sells about $7 or $8 a month, I have no idea where $85 came from), but I will not object. Among the things ordered, HC Scrivner's, HC Warbreaker, plus the third Alcatraz and the Wheel of Time book.
Which means, once these arrive (a couple will obviously take a few months) I will have all of Brandon's books. Cool.
And I heartily approve of the Warbreaker on-line version. I think it will help bring more people to his materials. It took me less than a month between reading the first book of his that I picked up, and reaching a point where I have everything that has been published either read, or on order.
(Now if I can just talk him into sharing the early drafts of the Scribbler story that looks so cool!)
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(Now if I can just talk him into sharing the early drafts of the Scribbler story that looks so cool!)
Have you read Scribbler?
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There was a sample chapter or two online somewhere (either his web site, or in the forum here) that I read. It convinced me that I was desperate to read the rest of it.
I know from messages I have read here that there are others here who have read them. I read something (again, either here or on the web site) that indicated more or less "ask and ye shall receive," but then read something else that kind of indicated that 'ask and ye shall receive' was only for the original members of the forum, who have a whole lot of history with Brandon.
So I will continue asking, occasionally, but won't be all that confident that I shall receive. <ggg>
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I'm not an original member, and I've only met Brandon once....Needless to say, Scribbler was fantastic. Read it one sitting, when I really should've been working on homework for finals the next week...
Basically, just ask really nicely. Odds are, you'll get it. Of course, it may take a while. Last I heard, Brandon was WAY behind on his e-mail (through his site).
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With the amount he has on his plate, I can understand being behind on e-mail. I will continue to wait, and hope I eventually see it ... or that it gets rewritten and published.
(I'm still considering trying to do the whole inter-library loan thing. ;D )
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I would never have read any sandersen books if it wasnt for the warbreaker ebook. now I buy them all without worrying if they gonna be good... loved all his work so far
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I think this may have been a better move if he writes a sequel to the book. I like the fact that the reader can be perfectly comfortable with having the series end the how it did. In a way, the book was like a movie in which their would only be a sequel if the movie did well. You are fine walking away, but there are some loose ends and new direction to take it.
People won't feel like they are being "tricked" by getting the first book for free, then having to read the next few. They can walk away from the series if they wanted.
However, if he does write more books, then the people who loved Warbreaker will buy them (and probably go back and buy the first of the series as well). Personally, I read the book online, because when I found out about it, I wanted to read it straight away (they didn't have it at the book stores and I didn't want to wait for it to be shipped).
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I just finished reading the free version yesterday. Since I have a Kindle, it was a simple task of copying it over and reading it like I read any other book. However, since I was able to read it easily, I have not purchased it and, unless TOR starts releasing his stuff on the kindle as well, I doubt I will. I have, however, convinced my brothers to start buying Sanderson's books, so maybe, in the long run, it works.
I have bought his other books in dead-tree form... but mainly just due to availability.
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... unless TOR starts releasing his stuff on the kindle as well...
As far as I can tell, the Kindle edition (http://www.amazon.com/Warbreaker/dp/B002KYHZHA/) was released the same day as the hardcover.
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Wow, I didn't notice that. I guess that's a risk you take with releasing it for free is that sometimes people don't notice it. I have now, however, purchased it to support Sanderson. However, typing in Sanderson's name, I only see Warbreaker and the Mistborn series... both which I've already purchased. They don't have his other books like Elantris or Alcatraz.
Anyone know how much he makes when he sells a kindle/ebook version vs a dead tree version. (Since I paid $10, and there were no real production costs past the usual copyediting, I'm hoping that he and TOR get a good portion of this. Anyone know numbers?
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Anyone know how much he makes when he sells a kindle/ebook version vs a dead tree version. (Since I paid $10, and there were no real production costs past the usual copyediting, I'm hoping that he and TOR get a good portion of this. Anyone know numbers?
Orson Scott Card has a weekly column in his local news paper and he covers it. http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2009-04-05.shtml
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Wow, good read but that's shitty. Sanderson should have a 'Tip" button on his webpage... that way I can download the ebook, read it for free, and tip the $10.00 that the Kindle costs... that way he'll get all 100% of the cost.
Maybe I'll take him out for dinner or something when he comes down to the bay area. :/
Edit: Ok, I looked closer at Brandon's site and did, in fact, find a 'tip jar.' Go figure.
Kindle book canx, $10 tip paid. I feel better already.
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so, I did read the book as it was being released online. I now own two copies, one personalized and signed and the other that I have only seen for maybe a day or two since I've been lending it to all of my friends to read. I now have several friends hooked on his books. One is now reading the mistborn series and the other will get Elantris tomorrow if I remember to bring it to work.
I think this was a great idea! Even though he didn't like any of my suggestions I still feel like I was part of the writing process. I used to refresh the page every wednesday night until he posted the next chapter so I could read it as soon as he posted it. Now my screen name is in the book and I've told everyone I've talked to about books to read it.
People could already get it for free from the library so if you were going to buy it you would buy it anyway even if you could get it online.
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I saw the free version, but I didn't read it, mostly because I'm a "sit on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with a book in one hand and coffee in the other", kind of reader. But even so I was tempted because I was pretty much broke when it came out, but I managed to scrounge up enough money to get the book (and only succeeded at that because someone was late picking up a reserved copy-thank you Jesus!).
Anyway, I actually gained a LOT of respect for him for doing it. It showed how much he believed in his fans and in his own ability to write a book compelling enough that people would actually want to own it, not just read it.
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While I didnt read Warbreaker for free (didnt know it until this thread).
I read Mistborn 1 for free (TOR did give some ebooks away for free).
I didnt bought Mistborn 1 afterward, but I bought all his other books (except for some reason Eleantris, but I think its only a matter of time before I do that).
So I agree its a very effective marketing strategy.
There are some other autors who do/did that. John Scalzi has one on his HP (The storie with the aliens and the marketing guy).
And there is the Free Library (http://www.webscription.net/c-1-free-library.aspx) from Webscription.
(liked books from: Eric Flint, John Ringo, David Drake, David Weber, Michael Z. Williamson, David Friedman, Chris Dolley, Elizabeth Moon, Linda Evans, John Dalmas, etc)
not all most are not in top category like BS, but some are.
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Any recs Korwin?
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My first free
drug sample was An Oblique Approach (http://www.webscription.net/p-300-an-oblique-approach.aspx)
The series is finished.
In the last book it got imho a little to easy for the good guys.
Anything from David Weber (beware he can't keep it short. But I like massive books).
Oath of Swords (http://www.webscription.net/p-297-oath-of-swords.aspx)
Is his fantasy series (I think the world is based/was used in an RPG-Game with David Weber as GM. But dont quote me on this. I'm not shure in this case.)
On Basilisk Station (http://www.webscription.net/p-304-on-basilisk-station.aspx)
The beginning of his Honor Harrington Series.
Its his most sucesful serie. Around 10? book in the main series and 2 spin-offs with other authors.
Harald (http://www.webscription.net/p-196-harald.aspx)
Liked it, would buy the next book from him (David Friedman). (Hmm, looks at amazon... No seems to be his only [fantasy] book. Dont want a history of the penis (http://www.amazon.de/Mind-Its-Own-Cultural-History/dp/0709074751/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books-intl-de&qid=1257493720&sr=1-8), hope this is another author with the same name...).
The books is very amusing.
Since I am to lazy to write more I'll quote the blurbs:
An Oblique Approach
ALIEN MINDS BATTLE FOR BYZANTIUM
In northern India the Malwa have created an empire of unexampled evil. Guided or possessed by an intelligence from beyond time, with new weapons, old treachery, and an implacable will to power, the Malwa will sweep over the whole Earth. Only three things stand between the Malwa and their plan of eternal domination: the empire of Rome in the East, Byzantium; a crystal with vision; and a man named Belisarius, the greatest commander Earth has ever know. .
Oath of Swords
Bahzell Bahnakson of the hrandani is no knight in shining armor and doesn't want to mix with anybody else's problems, let alone the War God's. Unfortunately, he isn't going to have any choice...
On Basilisk Station
INTRODUCING
HONOR HARRINGTON
Having made him look a fool, she's been exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by a superior who hates her.
Her demoralized crew blames her for their ship's humiliating posting to an out-of-the-way picket station.
The aborigines of the system's only habitable planet are smoking homicide-inducing hallucinogens.
Parliament isn't sure it wants to keep the place; the major local industry is smuggling; the merchant cartels want her head; the star-conquering, so-called "Republic" of Haven is Up To Something; and Honor Harrington has a single, over-age light cruiser with an armament that doesn't work to police the entire star system.
But the people out to get her have made one mistake. They've made her mad.
Harald
He Didn’t Get the Surrender Memo!
It’s the perfect storm for conquest: a dysfunctional kingdom reels under a weak monarch. A powerful order of warrior maidens turns to infighting after suddenly losing its charismatic leader. Worst of all, a disciplined and blooded imperial army stands ready to invade and dominate. If ever a moment called for grit, competence, and an utter lack of wishful thinking it is now. Enter Harald of the Vales. Family man and teller of tales. Warrior’s warrior. It’s time the Empire got one thing straight: the land of Kaerlia will never be its for the taking.
An intricate and thrilling debut fantasy novel from libertarian prof (and son of economist Milton Friedman) and Society for Creative Anachronism grandee, David D. Friedman.
Btw. David Weber has more than two series (alone and collaborations), I only picket two examples.
If you want more rec's, just ask ;)
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I'm glad Korwin liked reading Harald; I enjoyed writing it. I've written a number of nonfiction books as well, but A History of the Penis is not one of them--that's another author with the same name.
I've also written another novel, not connected to Harald, but I haven't yet found a publisher for it; you can find the first two chapters at http://www.daviddfriedman.com/salamander/Salamander_First_2_Chapters.html. I've done some work on a sequel to Harald, but am not currently working on it.
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I tried to write a little better why I liked Harald, but
- I suck at writing reviews
- even in German (first language)
- The book was published in April 08, and I think I read only the eARC, which was even earlier
So I'll reread the book and maybe write something more afterwards ;)
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I like this marketing strategy. I usually only read books now on mobipocket on a PDA.
So nice to be able to download a good book without DRM on it.
I read the note about the best way to support is by buying from an online store but none of them offer it as a non DRM mobipocket format, so downloaded and $10 direct via the paypal tip.