Douglas Borton [horror writer] - Where are the ebooks?

[Dr. Drib]

We who love horror fiction need to have Douglas Borton's work in ebook format. He also writes as Brian Harper.

Where the hell are they?

Check this out for further information:

http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot...n-1988-if.html

And from Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/615932.Manstopper

And from Fantastic Fiction:

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/douglas-borton/

I remember these titles from the late '80s'.

[Paperbackstash]

Never heard of these or the author. I hate when books don't transfer over. Finally we are getting Ruby Jean Jensen's the past few years thanks to her estate, but hopefully we get more of the 80s and 90s republished for these gems.

[ZodWallop]

There's a bunch of second and third tier writers from the horror boom that do not (yet) have ebooks available. I was looking at John Tigges yesterday.

But then I am glad when I do find that an author has made their work available.
Owl Goingback
Stephen Gresham
R. Carl Largent
Matthew Costello
Rick Hautala
Stephen R. George
Ronald Kelly

And so many others.

[Critteranne]

Too often, the authors die without setting up a literary estate (and often ages before ebooks were an option). Sometimes, their families don't want or allow the work to be reprinted, so it ends up in legal limbo. (That happened with J. N. Williamson, I think, and possibly John Steakley.) Sometimes, there are simply no heirs. (In the case of Ruby Jean Jensen, people thought she had no living heirs, and the reprints came out once they realized she did have living heirs.)

There was an episode of The Horror Show with Brian Keene about that. If this is the one with the story about J. N. Williamson in the nursing home, it's both sad and rage-inducing.

https://thehorrorshowbk.libsyn.com/t...n-keene-ep-163

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

Too often, the authors die without setting up a literary estate (and often ages before ebooks were an option). Sometimes, their families don't want or allow the work to be reprinted, so it ends up in legal limbo. (That happened with J. N. Williamson, I think, and possibly John Steakley.) Sometimes, there are simply no heirs. (In the case of Ruby Jean Jensen, people thought she had no living heirs, and the reprints came out once they realized she did have living heirs.)

Steakley's Armor is available (though that may due to the contract rather than successfully finding an heir). Vampire$ is notably unavailable, so I'm pretty sure you are correct on him.

The lack of heirs/lack of anyone to contact for reprints is incredibly frustrating.

There's another writer, Angus Wells, who has some fantasy novels available as ebooks. But his most famous work, a couple of series of Western novels with a cult following, remain unavailable due to lack of clearance for reprint rights.

Sometimes I wish there were Abandonware site for books.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

Too often, the authors die without setting up a literary estate (and often ages before ebooks were an option). Sometimes, their families don't want or allow the work to be reprinted, so it ends up in legal limbo. (That happened with J. N. Williamson, I think, and possibly John Steakley.) Sometimes, there are simply no heirs. (In the case of Ruby Jean Jensen, people thought she had no living heirs, and the reprints came out once they realized she did have living heirs.)

There was an episode of The Horror Show with Brian Keene about that. If this is the one with the story about J. N. Williamson in the nursing home, it's both sad and rage-inducing.

https://thehorrorshowbk.libsyn.com/t...n-keene-ep-163

Although David B. Silva and Ruby Jean Jensen's literary estates are no longer 'lost'.

Let us keep hoping that more 'lost' literary estates are made available through diligent work, legal endeavors, and happy circumstance.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

Too often, the authors die without setting up a literary estate (and often ages before ebooks were an option). Sometimes, their families don't want or allow the work to be reprinted, so it ends up in legal limbo. (That happened with J. N. Williamson, I think, and possibly John Steakley.) ...

That doesn't sound like legal limbo, that sounds like the way copyright is supposed to work?
The families own the copyright, they don't want it published, so it isn't published?

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by John F

That doesn't sound like legal limbo, that sounds like the way copyright is supposed to work?
The families own the copyright, they don't want it published, so it isn't published?

But their wishes probably contradict the wishes of the author. If the authors want their work to disappear, that's one thing. If the family is embarrassed because the author wrote something they find "objectionable," that's another thing. That has happened to authors of genre fiction.

For example, let's say an author wrote horror fiction -- but with a strong sense of morality. His deeply religious family saw the word "horror" and looked down on him, believing that his books were not "pro-Satan" or whatever and refusing to understand otherwise. After his death, they refused to put the books back into print because they thought his books were "evil." (This is not entirely hypothetical. ) Technically, that is their right as the heirs, but it's a huge shame.

But the family does not have to be the heir the author chooses. The problem is that authors often don't think of this ahead of time.

There is also the case of John M. Ford, discussed by Neil Gaiman. Works left out of print for years because he had no will. Gaiman includes information so that other writers have the knowledge to keep this from happening in their case.

That's why some recommend that authors set up a literary estate. That way, the author can leave the control of their books and stories in the hands of someone they trust -- someone who "gets" the work and doesn't cast stones and so forth.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

For example, let's say an author wrote horror fiction -- but with a strong sense of morality. His deeply religious family saw the word "horror" and looked down on him, believing that his books were not "pro-Satan" or whatever and refusing to understand otherwise. After his death, they refused to put the books back into print because they thought his books were "evil." (This is not entirely hypothetical. ) Technically, that is their right as the heirs, but it's a huge shame.

That sounds a bit like William Johnstone, though the Johnstone family never met a penny they didn't like. So much so that he continues to publish novels a decade plus after his death

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I remember these titles from the late '80s'.

Seeing those images makes me want to read those books. But the title Manstopper seems weak. Like instead of calling it Star Wars the name was Star Skirmishes.

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That sounds a bit like William Johnstone, though the Johnstone family never met a penny they didn't like. So much so that he continues to publish novels a decade plus after his death

I’m pretty sure this is what happened to J. N. Williamson. I don’t remember all the specific details, but I remember a lot from the Horror Show episode. When he was in assisted living with Alzheimer’s, I believe he was also inflicted by a minister in the establishment that disapproved of his books.

And I’m sure this has happened to authors of romance, mystery, SF and fantasy, etc.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

Too often, the authors die without setting up a literary estate (and often ages before ebooks were an option). Sometimes, their families don't want or allow the work to be reprinted, so it ends up in legal limbo. (That happened with J. N. Williamson, I think, and possibly John Steakley.) Sometimes, there are simply no heirs. (In the case of Ruby Jean Jensen, people thought she had no living heirs, and the reprints came out once they realized she did have living heirs.)

There was an episode of The Horror Show with Brian Keene about that. If this is the one with the story about J. N. Williamson in the nursing home, it's both sad and rage-inducing.

https://thehorrorshowbk.libsyn.com/t...n-keene-ep-163

And then there's the mysterious Aaron Fletcher, who concentrated on Australia. His historical fiction was wonderful. (Years ago I had a thread on this guy.)

Only 4-6 books are available as ebooks. I have everything legally available in ebook format. But that's all I've got.

Aaron Fletcher, if you're dead, let us know!

[John F]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

But their wishes probably contradict the wishes of the author. If the authors want their work to disappear, that's one thing. If the family is embarrassed because the author wrote something they find "objectionable," that's another thing. That has happened to authors of genre fiction.

...

The knife cuts both ways. If something is important to an author, seek legal help.