Baen Books goes Woo

[Graham2001]

In March of 2010, Baen Books, one of my favorite Science Fiction publishers is going to release a book entitled 'The Science Behind the Secret' by one Travis Taylor.

I had been waiting for the sample chapters to come up to see if this was going to some of spoof.

They are now up it would seem that the author is taking the material seriously.

I think a serious emailing campaign is in order, it may be too late to stop this travesty, but perhaps something can be done to stop another book due out in July 2010, 'The Taxpayers Tea Party: A Manual for Reclaiming our Country'...

See: http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1439133395/1439133395.htm?blurb

 

[Alice Shortcake]

I enjoy science fiction but I can't take Baen Books seriously. A publisher capable of inflicting such laughably bad cover art on the world is capable of anything.

 

[TheDaver]

This amounts to book burning.

Don’t worry, though. It works both ways. Books can’t be surreptitiously edited like websites can, so when it comes to debunking, you’ve pretty much got the author nailed down.

 

[ScannerHead]

I think a serious emailing campaign is in order, it may be too late to stop this travesty, but perhaps something can be done to stop another book due out in July 2010, 'The Taxpayers Tea Party: A Manual for Reclaiming our Country'...

Why is it your, mine, or anybody's business to tell a book publisher what he can or can't publish?

If you don't like what a book has to say, don't read it; but stop trying to censor material YOU don't personally agree with.

 

[Fnord]

Baen Books has a free online library:

http://www.baen.com/library/

They still support a lot of real literature, as well. And I'm with scannerhead on this one - if you don't like the book, the author or the topic, then don't buy the book!

A Free Press does not impose itself on the reading public, nor should any member of the public think otherwise.

 

[Ysidro]

Why is it your, mine, or anybody's business to tell a book publisher what he can or can't publish?

If you don't like what a book has to say, don't read it; but stop trying to censor material YOU don't personally agree with.

I kept trying to write stuff, but I couldn't get past my laughter. Suggesting one is going to write a book publisher and complain is now censorship? Get real!

 

[novaphile]

I've bought a lot of Baen books and downloaded a lot for my e-book reader.

I think they're doing a lot to promote a more appropriate (for this century) publishing paradigm.

Since everything I've read from Baen is science fiction, I can't really see a book of woo being much different.

I have a lot of science fiction novels, but it's only fiction.

 

[bookitty]

Perhaps they are following in the tradition of Maurice Girodias? His Olympia Press was the first to publish many controversial works of classic literature. If it weren't for him, the world might not have Lolita or Naked Lunch. But sadly, the income from these fine works wasn't enough so Girodias also published erotica. "Traveler's Companion" books with pink wraps. This porn was popular enough to keep him afloat.

Dirty books pay the bills.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

I kept trying to write stuff, but I couldn't get past my laughter. Suggesting one is going to write a book publisher and complain is now censorship? Get real!

Yes. Freedom of speech now means you no longer have the right to speak your mind. Makes perfect sense.

 

[catsmate]

There does seem to have been a shift in Baen's policies since Jim Baen died, and not for the better. It appears that some of their most popular authors (e.g. David Weber) are looking for pastures new.

I don't think much of Taylor's books in general anyway.

I enjoy science fiction but I can't take Baen Books seriously. A publisher capable of inflicting such laughably bad cover art on the world is capable of anything.

Several authors have apologisied for the cover art; it's even been used as a point by Eric Flint in his 1632 novels.

 

[Fnord]

Perhaps they are following in the tradition of Maurice Girodias? His Olympia Press was the first to publish many controversial works of classic literature. If it weren't for him, the world might not have Lolita or Naked Lunch. But sadly, the income from these fine works wasn't enough so Girodias also published erotica. "Traveler's Companion" books with pink wraps. This porn was popular enough to keep him afloat.

Dirty books pay the bills.

If it weren't for on-line porn, the Internet would be the most poorly-financed boondoggle in telecommunications history.

 

[NWO Sentryman]

well, the Drakaverse was one of the most (in)famous products of baen.

I mean, C'mon, a slave based economy being so efficient?