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| Books (Photo credit: henry…) |
Almost daily, we’re bombarded with attacks on Amazon by publishers and
attacks on Publishers by Amazon and writers. Many can see that neither Amazon
nor the major publishers are doing the book world a lot of good. In fact, it’s
been suggested that the current war on books, and its major antagonists, will
soon effectively destroy literature as we know it.
Amazon has other interests as a retail outlet, but it’s the book side
that engages writers and readers. Major publishers long ago stopped pretending
they had any concern for authors other than those who are already celebrities.
The bean counters took control of reading choice decades ago.
Whilst these two large parties slog it out to the detriment of both
creators and consumers, the world of books slowly drowns in the conflict.
It seems to me there must be another way. Self-publishing appeared a
likely alternative for many authors, but Amazon took control there as well,
devouring or disabling all major opposition in its rush to rule the game and satisfy
its investors.
The major publishers, of course, continue to refuse to come to terms with
the modern world and, in spite of the very clear example of inaction in the
music industry, take a wait and see approach, which has left them floundering
and at the mercy of the giant in the field.
Another way?
Seems obvious to me, but then I’m neither businessman nor accountant; I’m
just someone who loves reading, books, and writing, so what do I know?
Obvious?
If the major publishers, together with the multitude of small independents,
could get around the table, bury their idiotic jealousies and petty squabbling
for celebrity crap, and set up their own online sales and retail-based distribution
company, they could out-Amazon Amazon. The current situation is dangerous for
books and readers: any industry in which an effective monopoly governs the
market is doomed to dictatorship by that giant. But a co-operative of
publishers, acting in concert, could act as an effective modifier in the
marketplace and undo the damage currently being done to the world of books.
Of course, I realise this is a pipe dream: the publishers have demonstrated
their idiocy, their ‘head-in-the-sand’ attitude, their total lack of concern
for developing the very talent that supplies them with new products, and their
petty rivalries over shelf-space etc.
But this is a war unlike any other. This is a battle for the very
survival of literature. Do we want to lose a whole generation to games and social
networks, or will publishers actually do something to stop the rot and return
to doing what they once did so well? Are they going to get back into the
business of developing and selling books, or will they allow inaction and
misplaced self-interest to destroy a world so many of us hold dear?
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