On-line Book Publishing

Last updated by Roedy Green roedy@mindprod.com 1996 June 29 07:30

Introduction

Book publishers are having a tough time attracting new Java authors. Here is a scheme that will draw them irresistably and provide a new global market for existing titles.

Why Authors Are Reluctant

Four book publishers approached me about writing books on Java. Initially the idea was very exciting, but quickly soured, why?

The Solution

I propose something radically different from traditional book publishing -- pay per view on-line books.

Books are written on-line on the Internet. People can come and view the on-going work in progress, much as they might watch a sidewalk artist. They can make comments, offer criticism, ask questions, and make suggestions for future directions of the work. It becomes a collaborative process.

I have already done a miniature project of this form called "Roedy's Java Glossary For Novices" which has become popular. Any time a new Java-relevant term appears, within hours there is a definition for it and a URL reference in the glossary.

How do traditional book publishers fit in?

Benefits to Book Publishers

Technical Details

Customers need Java and an Internet connection to view your on-line books. The Java applet acts like super HTML, giving full PostScript or Acrobat displays, and all the hypertext linking ability. Books can be decorated with animations and little programs that run themselves when you click them.

The Java applet ensures people can't read without paying the modest pay-per-view fee. You may let people come in for 5 minutes at a time without fees, or whatever other rules turn out to work optimally.

The Java applet may also control whether the customer is permitted to keep a permanent copy of what she views.

Summary

If Mike Nichols were to remake The Graduate, instead of "plastics", "subpenny royalties" would be whispered into Benjamin's ear.

If you don't surf the Java/Internet wave, it will bury you.

On the other hand, we all should re-read Orwell's 1984 ISBN ?? to see the consequences of failing to maintain an adequate change log. The other consequences are legal. Without hard copy, digital signatures, or a permanent change log, what does slander mean?


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