Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, by Cory Doctorow

[direstraits]

Heeeelo people!

Cory Doctorow has released his third novel, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. Here's synopsis:
"It's only natural that Alan, the broadminded hero of Doctorow's fresh, unconventional SF novel, is willing to help everybody he meets. After all, he's the product of a mixed marriage (his father is a mountain and his mother is a washing machine), so he knows how much being an outcast can hurt. Alan tries desperately to behave like a human being--or at least like his idealized version of one. He joins a cyber-anarchist's plot to spread a free wireless Internet through Toronto at the same time he agrees to protect his youngest brothers (members of a set of Russian nesting dolls) from their dead brother who's now resurrected and bent on revenge."

Uhm. Yes.

You can purchase it from bookstores, or download it free from Cory's website. In fact, his first and second novel (Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom and Eastern Standard Tribe) can also be downloaded for free there as well.

ds

 

[Halo]

After all, he's the product of a mixed marriage (his father is a mountain and his mother is a washing machine)

What?! *checks date just to make sure it's not April 1st*

 

[Kookamoor]

What the... ?

ds, if I didn't know you or see that you'd made nearly 1500 posts, I'd swear you were just screwing with us.

 

[direstraits]

Okay, rereading my post I realize now why nobody jumped on the chance to try Doctorow out and post their comments - I forgot to post a link! I just thought people just didn't give a toss what I said - whew!

Oh wait. Maybe they still don't give a toss, link or no link.

Anyways, here is the link to his website, and a direct link to his novel page which is also on his website.

I'm interested also to hear what you think of his very unconventional distribution methods and his rationale, and if you think it will work.

Plus, Kook, I'm not nearly at 1500 posts yet.

ds

 

[pwilson]

I'm interested also to hear what you think of his very unconventional distribution methods and his rationale, and if you think it will work.
ds

Good to hear from you "live", ds. I think we've been working opposite shifts. That is quite a unique way of doing it! I really respect what he's doing there as far as trying to contribute in a small way to some of the "up and coming" countries. Maybe his logic is that the high income countries would contain consumers most likely to have the disposable income necessary to buy the book anyway? I guess from his own selfish pov, any distribution is good distribution in that the book's popularity may grow through word of mouth and eventually reach the ears of people in the high income countries?
It would be interesting to track the success of the book. Are you a fan based on his first two books?

 

[direstraits]

Good to hear from you "live", ds. I think we've been working opposite shifts. That is quite a unique way of doing it! I really respect what he's doing there as far as trying to contribute in a small way to some of the "up and coming" countries. Maybe his logic is that the high income countries would contain consumers most likely to have the disposable income necessary to buy the book anyway? I guess from his own selfish pov, any distribution is good distribution in that the book's popularity may grow through word of mouth and eventually reach the ears of people in the high income countries?
It would be interesting to track the success of the book. Are you a fan based on his first two books?

I just typed a whole long reply to you, and it got lost because I wrote it in Quick Reply! Arrrrrrrgh!

Ahem. Here's what I said (roughly):

Hello Prof Tolkien! Great to talk to you too, though I'd expect to pay for it tomorrow, as it's bloody late at present. But I can't help myself...

Doctorow is one of these new breed of writers who see through the eyes of their targetted audience - the new generation of highly IT-literate readers who enjoy scifi and fantasy. He's brave enough to try and spread his name and works through online file sharing, knowing that the can't really beat the system.

Also, my intepretation of his permissions on his books are as follows: you can download his novels for free wherever you are in the world, first world country or not. No problems. The perks are for those not in the high-income countries as defined by World Bank - the novels then can be printed to hardcopy and adapted or whatever. They become public domain books.

This public domain perks stop at high-income countries, because his rationale is you can buy the book if you want it in hardcopy.

Apparently his model of distribution is working well for him.

I must admit: I've never read his novels. I'm familiar with his articles and works (he blogs and contributes to a website I frequent), but never tried his works first hand. I do know that they get acclaim, though...

ds

 

[pwilson]

Oops. After looking at his site again I think you're right. Like you said, he does seem to be targeting a certain audience and I actually think it could work pretty well. He's braver than I am to even attempt it.

Also, thanks for rewriting your reply! Hopefully you won't be too bleary eyed tomorrow!

 

[pwilson]

Oops. After looking at his site again I think you're right. Like you said, he does seem to be targeting a certain audience and I actually think it could work pretty well. He's braver than I am to even attempt it.

Also, thanks for rewriting your reply! Hopefully you won't be too bleary eyed tomorrow from feeding your forum addiction!

 

[direstraits]

Too late! But then I'm pretty good at sleeping with my eyes open, so it shouldn't be too different tomorrow.

Well, if you think about it, if he doesn't do something like this, what else could he do to stand out from a crowd, and not be swallowed by the sheer number of books that come out every year? He is making his work available out there for everyone who wants it just so he can put his foot in the door.

I'd think that if I wanted to be a break out writer, and get my name out there, this may not be such a bad idea. After all, big name publishers cannot guarantee that your novel wouldn't be circling around on the internet, with or without your permission...

ds

 

[pwilson]

Too late! But then I'm pretty good at sleeping with my eyes open, so it shouldn't be too different tomorrow.

A very important skill!

Well, if you think about it, if he doesn't do something like this, what else could he do to stand out from a crowd, and not be swallowed by the sheer number of books that come out every year? He is making his work available out there for everyone who wants it just so he can put his foot in the door.

I'd think that if I wanted to be a break out writer, and get my name out there, this may not be such a bad idea. After all, big name publishers cannot guarantee that your novel wouldn't be circling around on the internet, with or without your permission...
ds

That's a really good point. His work is being exposed to far more potential readers than it would be otherwise and if he gets enough of a following, he could eventually try more conventional methods with a built-in fan base already established.