The Jim Butcher Files: Dresden . Codex Alera . Cinder Spires & More

[JSWolf]

I have a major issue with Jim's novella Warriorborn. It's available on Kindle Unlimited with DRM. That means a lot of people who do not use a Kindle can get it. If they need ePub, then it may not be available.

It should never have been put on Kindle Unlimited. It should also be available in ePub.

If I was to email Micheal Curry, would I be able to get it in ePub? The Questions About Jim or the Books FAQ is useless. It says all book should be available in Kindle format. It does not say they should all be available in ePub.

This (IMHO) is despicable.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have a major issue with Jim's novella Warriorborn. It's available on Kindle Unlimited with DRM. That means a lot of people who do not use a Kindle can get it. If they need ePub, then it may not be available.

It should never have been put on Kindle Unlimited. It should also be available in ePub.

If I was to email Micheal Curry, would I be able to get it in ePub? The Questions About Jim or the Books FAQ is useless. It says all book should be available in Kindle format. It does not say they should all be available in ePub.

This (IMHO) is despicable.

All KU books are available for sale, not just borrow. Just buy it, remove DRM and read it on your Kobo. There is very few people that care that much as they can either read on a phone or tablet, know how to remove DRM or have an ereader for Amazon and for epub.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

All KU books are available for sale, not just borrow. Just buy it, remove DRM and read it on your Kobo. There is very few people that care that much as they can either read on a phone or tablet, know how to remove DRM or have an ereader for Amazon and for epub.

I tend to think that people who own Kobos, want to read on a Kobo. And Many don't own multiple brands of ereaders. I would guess that they don't want to fiddle (strip DRM, change payment loacations, ...) or read on their phone/tablet. Looking at the UK Kobo store, Warriorborn isn't listed. So that seems like a relatively large number of eink users who won't bother with Warriorborn.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

All KU books are available for sale, not just borrow. Just buy it, remove DRM and read it on your Kobo. There is very few people that care that much as they can either read on a phone or tablet, know how to remove DRM or have an ereader for Amazon and for epub.

Warriorborn is only available on Amazon because it's on Kindle Unlimited. The rest of the series is available in ePub. So people who bought the ePub versions and then want to get Warriorborn who do not strip DRM and convert won't be able to read it.

Not everyone has Kindle Readers or apps. Not everyone wants them. Not everyone strips DRM and converts. So those people who read the rest of the series are out-of-luck because it was made Amazon only.

So where's the ePub version?

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Warriorborn is only available on Amazon because it's on Kindle Unlimited. The rest of the series is available in ePub. So people who bought the ePub versions and then want to get Warriorborn who do not strip DRM and convert won't be able to read it.

Not everyone has Kindle Readers or apps. Not everyone wants them. Not everyone strips DRM and converts. So those people who read the rest of the series are out-of-luck because it was made Amazon only.

So where's the ePub version?

Yes, a tiny, insignificant minority of people that must have the ebook version won't be able to read it on an epub eink reader unless they are willing to format shift.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Yes, a tiny, insignificant minority of people that must have the ebook version won't be able to read it on an epub eink reader unless they are willing to format shift.

Personally, I would have purchased it if it easily format shifted. But I currently don't feel like installing new tools, or sure if it is possible. Maybe someday when there really is a must instead of a want.

[John F]

I started The Olympian Affair. I'm just curious, but for the chapter titles when reading, the decorations around the chapter titles are 3 grey squares on each side of the chapter title. Is this what everyone sees? This is on a Kobo.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

I started The Olympian Affair. I'm just curious, but for the chapter titles when reading, the decorations around the chapter titles are 3 grey squares on each side of the chapter title. Is this what everyone sees? This is on a Kobo.

I see the same thing in ADE. It's not yet on my Kobo.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Yes, a tiny, insignificant minority of people that must have the ebook version won't be able to read it on an epub eink reader unless they are willing to format shift.

Can you be sure it's a tiny insignificant minority of people? Do you have proof? Remember, the Kindle is not as popular outside the US as it in the US.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by John F

I started The Olympian Affair. I'm just curious, but for the chapter titles when reading, the decorations around the chapter titles are 3 grey squares on each side of the chapter title. Is this what everyone sees? This is on a Kobo.

Yep, that's what my chapter titles look like on both my Kindle Eink reader and my windows 11 PC using the Kindle for PC app.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I see the same thing in ADE. It's not yet on my Kobo.

It seems like a change styling choice. My first reaction was that some glyphs were missing from some font(s).

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by John F

I started The Olympian Affair. I'm just curious, but for the chapter titles when reading, the decorations around the chapter titles are 3 grey squares on each side of the chapter title. Is this what everyone sees? This is on a Kobo.

The first book is exactly the same, at least on Amazon. While it may look nicer with images, I prefer the simpler approach with using the font. Advantages are when using non-white backgrounds or inverse/dark mode.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you be sure it's a tiny insignificant minority of people? Do you have proof? Remember, the Kindle is not as popular outside the US as it in the US.

No, I cannot be sure. And neither can you be sure that the opposite is true. Think of it as a lost chapter from The Olympian Affair that got edited out (that is literally what it is). Putting it in KU allows it to generate revenue without charging. Free advertisement.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

No, I cannot be sure. And neither can you be sure that the opposite is true. Think of it as a lost chapter from The Olympian Affair that got edited out (that is literally what it is). Putting it in KU allows it to generate revenue without charging. Free advertisement.

And pissed off fans.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And pissed off fans.

Unhappy, maybe, that it is an Amazon exclusive like The Law is. I looked and there isn't much of an uproar to be found. Novellas don't sell well, never have. So using a traditional publisher, even for a best selling author of novels, is not economical. Solution? Self publishing. Amazon only, especially also in KU, is a quick and easy way to do it.