Fahrenheit 451 becomes e-book despite Bradburys feelings

[Deberg_1990]

Oh the irony.....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15968500

The science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 has been published as an e-book despite its author's dislike of the format.

Ray Bradbury previously claimed electronic books "smell like burned fuel".

Mr Bradbury's agent said the rights for the author's book had been close to expiring and the publisher had insisted the new contract include e-book rights.

Experts said the news reflected the growing importance of e-formats.

Fahrenheit 451, first published in 1953, describes a dystopian future in which the US has outlawed reading and firemen burn books.

It has sold more than 10 million copies since publication.

'Too many machines'

As late as last year, Mr Bradbury remained firmly opposed to the idea of his book appearing as a digital title.

"I was approached three times during the last year by internet companies wanting to put my books on an electronic reading device," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2010.

"I said to Yahoo: 'Prick up your ears and go to hell.'"

He also complained about the spread of modern technology.

"We have too many cellphones. We've got too many internets. We have got to get rid of those machines. We have too many machines now," he said.

However, Mr Bradbury's agent said the deal had become unavoidable.

"We explained the situation to him that a new contract wouldn't be possible without e-book rights," Michael Congdon said.

"He understood and gave us the right to go ahead."

'A good thing'

The US publisher Simon & Schuster has released Fahrenheit 451 and is selling it at a list price of $9.99 (£6.35).

The company described the e-book as "a rare and wonderful opportunity to continue our relationship with this beloved and canonical author and to bring his works to a new generation of readers".

A spokeswoman for HarperCollins, which publishes Mr Bradbury's books in the UK, said the firm was still in talks with his agent.

Book industry insiders said it was ironic that a science fiction writer should have been so opposed to the idea of electronic reading devices, suggesting strong sales might have changed Mr Bradbury's mind.

"The facts have changed, and so has his opinion," said Neill Denny, editor of the Bookseller magazine.

"My view is good publishing is format-neutral, and so long as publishers control copyright and suppress piracy, then e-books are a good thing for publishers and authors in general.

"However, the e-book is a format that excludes the traditional bookshop and the book trade needs to find a way urgently to support their presence, otherwise there is a danger books drop out of sight permanently for many consumers."

[Saulbadguy]

There are never too many internets.

[whoman69]

Hmm, a science fiction writer that is worried about technology.

Writers have very little control over their product.

[Backwards Masking]

hey Ray, at least you hasn't been censored like that filth peddler Mark Twain.

at least not yet. capitalism really is freedom.

[Rain Man]

The three rules of Internetics:

The Internet may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless it entertains others.

The Internet must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would prevent humiliation of third parties or block pornographic images.

The Internet must protect its own existence as long as it contains pornographic imagery.

[Bugeater]

We do have too god damn many cell phones.

[splatbass]

The book is about a society in the future where books are banned and the job of firemen is to burn books. He couldn't foresee in 1953 that in the real future there would be no books to burn because they will all be e-books. :) That is probably what pissed him off about it.

[Rain Man]

We do have too god damn many cell phones.

The funny thing about cell phones is that I'm less accessible now than I was in the old days. I'll leave the phone somewhere and not hear it ring, or my battery will be low so I'll shut if off. It was easier to reach me when the house reverberated with three land phones ringing all at once.

[Bugeater]

The funny thing about cell phones is that I'm less accessible now than I was in the old days. I'll leave the phone somewhere and not hear it ring, or my battery will be low so I'll shut if off. It was easier to reach me when the house reverberated with three land phones ringing all at once.
Speaking of that, answer your damn phone. I've been trying to call for the past two hours.

[teedubya]

We've got too many internets.

[Hammock Parties]

The book is about a society in the future where books are banned and the job of firemen is to burn books. He couldn't foresee in 1953 that in the real future there would be no books to burn because they will all be e-books. :) That is probably what pissed him off about it.

If all the books become e-books they would be easier to destroy.

However, they would also be easier to hide.

Interesting. :hmmm:

[Huffmeister]

What surprised me most about this article was to learn that Ray Bradbury is still alive.

[Rain Man]

What surprised me most about this article was to learn that Ray Bradbury is still alive.

He's not. He's a robot.

[Rain Man]

Speaking of that, answer your damn phone. I've been trying to call for the past two hours.

I actually just gave you a made-up phone number. Sorry about that.

[evenfall]

I've been meaning to read this, I just bought an ebook copy.

Personally, I think the ebook innovation is fantastic. I read many times more today than I ever did before. The only part of it I regret is that I don't have the physical book to give away to someone else when I'm done, though Amazon is allowing books to be lent now (if the publisher approves)

Some publishers are rebelling against ebooks, Penguin yanked some books recently all the big publishing houses insist on DRM (which backfires, really, because it funnels anyone who wants to read their books to Amazon), and prices should be a little lower than they are, but overall, it's great.

Interesting that a scifi writer would be scared of technology like this.

[KcMizzou]

There are never too many internets.I still don't even own one.

[rico]

Ugh, I'm definitely not a fan of Bradbury. I'm glad his wishes are not being granted.

[listopencil]

The problem is that Ray Bradbury is prissy. His self loathing comes across clearly in the characters he creates. He is creative and poetic, I find his ideas interesting for the most part, but slogging through a Bradbury book can become a tedious examination of the faults of mankind-real and imagined.

[listopencil]

The book is about a society in the future where books are banned and the job of firemen is to burn books. He couldn't foresee in 1953 that in the real future there would be no books to burn because they will all be e-books. :) That is probably what pissed him off about it.

It is ironic. Meanwhile writers like Heinlein just assumed that Man's indomitable will to advance would eventually make books all but obsolete.

[Valiant]

Seriously.. Why couldn't he self publish?? His name and book recognition would stand on their own to sell copies.. I just think he does not want to say.. show me the money outloud..

[Discuss Thrower]

I was surprised last year to hear he hates the internet and that was without consideration for e-book stuff.

[MoreLemonPledge]

I HAVE ALL THE INTERNETS

(insert jpg/gif from www.thechive.com)

[Radar Chief]

The problem is that Ray Bradbury is prissy. His self loathing comes across clearly in the characters he creates. He is creative and poetic, I find his ideas interesting for the most part, but slogging through a Bradbury book can become a tedious examination of the faults of mankind-real and imagined.

The Illustrated Man is shocked and disappointed.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Why does an ebook cost 9.99?

How much does it cost to "publish" an ebook?

[Royal Fanatic]

The three rules of Internetics:

The Internet may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless it entertains others.

The Internet must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would prevent humiliation of third parties or block pornographic images.

The Internet must protect its own existence as long as it contains pornographic imagery.

He's not. He's a robot.
Isaac Asimov is spinning in his grave at the way you keep confusing Ray Bradbury with him.

[Discuss Thrower]

Why does an ebook cost 9.99?

How much does it cost to "publish" an ebook?

Authors and editors gotta eat, yo.

[Bugeater]

Why does an ebook cost 9.99?

How much does it cost to "publish" an ebook?
Probably about the same as it costs to "publish" an mp3 that costs $1.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Authors and editors gotta eat, yo.

Sure but if the same book costs $12 in print shouldn't it be substantially less than 10 leaving out printing and shipping costs?

[Demonpenz]

what the fuck does the cost to make something have to do with how much it sells for. It's all about the price point people will buy the shit for. If people don't buy it then it will go down.

[L.A. Chieffan]

what the fuck does the cost to make something have to do with how much it sells for. It's all about the price point people will buy the shit for. If people don't buy it then it will go down.

That's why I refuse to read penz, costs too much...

[Demonpenz]

Fuck you know I don't read shit, you ever see me try to spell tencholigy? I fucking suck at reading.

[Jenson71]

Sure but if the same book costs $12 in print shouldn't it be substantially less than 10 leaving out printing and shipping costs?

Not if only cost 2 to print and ship

[L.A. Chieffan]

Not if only cost 2 to print and ship

Lol, is it written on a sticky note?

[Macroach]

There are never too many internets.

I need them all to listen to email and eBay.

[listopencil]

The Illustrated Man is shocked and disappointed.

The Martian Chronicles will settle him down...or put him to sleep every night for a month.

[Bob Dole]

Probably about the same as it costs to "publish" an mp3 that costs $1.

Have you looked at recording studio rates?

[vailpass]

The three rules of Internetics:

The Internet may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless it entertains others.

The Internet must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would prevent humiliation of third parties or block pornographic images.

The Internet must protect its own existence as long as it contains pornographic imagery.

LMAO It was a pleasure to watch you burn.

[vailpass]

Sure but if the same book costs $12 in print shouldn't it be substantially less than 10 leaving out printing and shipping costs?

The price of a good is not limited by production cost but by what the market will bear.
How much do you think the materials and labor cost to create the Mona Lisa?

[L.A. Chieffan]

The price of a good is not limited by production cost but by what the market will bear.
How much do you think the materials and labor cost to create the Mona Lisa?

the market needs to pull its head out of its ass. if the money is going to the author its one thing but its not

[Graystoke]

"I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense."

[vailpass]

the market needs to pull its head out of its ass. if the money is going to the author its one thing but its not

The market doesn't "need" to do anything. It is without emotion one way or the other.
You (not you personally but people in general) don't like the price? Don't buy it. If enough people act in the same manner the price will be reduced or the product will no longer be on offer.
Why people get mad at businesses for mazimizing profit I will never know.

[L.A. Chieffan]

The market doesn't "need" to do anything. It is without emotion one way or the other.
You (not you personally but people in general) don't like the price? Don't buy it. If enough people act in the same manner the price will be reduced or the product will no longer be on offer.
Why people get mad at businesses for mazimizing profit I will never know.

whats a matter vailpass? no shiatsu this morning?

[vailpass]

whats a matter vailpass? no shiatsu this morning?

I took a very good shiatsu this morning right after my post bike ride cigarette. Thanks for asking.

[Fish]

Without so many internets, we'd never have stuff like this....

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[L.A. Chieffan]

nice rack

[Dragonocho]

I always thought it was titled after the temperature that books burn at so the irony is with both the subject and title of the book moving to e-book. Why not rename the book after measuring what temperature a kindle burns at?

[vailpass]

Without so many internets, we'd never have stuff like this....

<iframe src="http://www.funnyordie.com/embed/70bf2e4f05" frameborder="0" height="400" width="640"></iframe>F*ck Me, Ray Bradbury (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/70bf2e4f05/****-me-ray-bradbury) - watch more funny videos (http://www.funnyordie.com/) <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?app_id=138711277798&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funnyordie.com%2Fvideos%2F70bf2e4f05%2F****-me-ray-bradbury&send=false&layout=button_count&width=150&show_faces=false&action=like&height=21" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:90px; height:21px; vertical-align:middle;" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>


LMAO "Houston we have a throblem"

[Rausch]

Without so many internets, we'd never have stuff like this....

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Fuck that Perry chick and GaGa.

I just went a big rubbery one...