> > >>For the record, I heartily approve of used book stores, and buying > > >>used books. > > >Thats a refreshing attitude. Too bad many of your fellow authors > > >disgree (not me, though). > >I'm sure some do, but I must say I've never actually noticed one > >disapproving of the used book trade. > > Michael A. Stackpole comes immediately to mind: > http://www.stormwolf.com/essays/msused.htm > > He seems a decent guy other than that, and he writes okay (not great, but > perfectly readable and fun) fantasy novels in addition to his BattleTech > and Star Wars stuff. > The differenence was that Stackpole was not against used book sales because they hurt his pocket book (though he does point out that writers don't make that much money, and after FASA screwed him on his royalties he does deserve it), but because of his publishers who were not printing more than a few thousand copies of his stuff. Stackpole discouraged people buying his original fiction novels (not necessarily his Battletech or Star Wars stuff) because his publishers didn't believe that his audience would crossover to original works. However, with the help of his fans the publishers were "convinced" that they were in error, and the works are being republished. And though I don't really want to start another author debate, I think Stackpole deserves more than just an "okay." Admittedly he lacks the sort of unique flair that makes Brust's stuff so great, but everything I've read of Stackpole's has been very solid and very good, with a healthy dash of one of the most important factors of story-writing, coolness. AkodoBob -Stackpole Rocks