Ray has explained – as much as he can – the publishing process. You’ve
simplified it to a point of irrelevance. Its far more convoluted and involved
than even the author can control, and as Ray has mentioned here numerous times
since ACI, in many cases the author really isn’t in the loop at all!
While most here will appreciate your point, it has been done to death, and
pretty much not shared.
As for Neil Diamond – you paid to see an old man sing! What did you expect a
60s/70s album quality rendition of ‘Love on the Rocks’!
Because you have paid for the book it does not ‘give you the right to be
critical’. That’s just arrogant.
S
From: Mark Pulsipher
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 8:31 AM
To: feistfans-l
Subject: Re: Was: Picked up my copy of Magicians End
Sorry, guys. I hold to my assertion. Sure, HC can shoulder some of the
blame for their proofreading, but in the end, there is one name on the cover in
big letters. If my name was the big thing married to a document or some peice
of work, I would take it upon myself to make sure my name was only associated
with the best product possible. Is it too much to ask to have people own their
s**t and care about what is being sold to us?
I write this as a fan, and as a fan I have been made to expect a certain
level of excellence. This time the bar dropped too far and we need to be
realistic. It is not my fault there are gross errors and to say I am 'not doing
it right' is ridiculous. I am a reader, and I do it at a high level. I have an
will continue to do it right.
I had the chance to see Neil Diamond in concert a couple of years ago. I
am young enough to have never had the chance to see him when he was at his
prime, but when this tour happened, I just had to take the opportunity.. come
on, this is Neil Diamond! I was so excited, and then the show began. He is too
old, too tired, and his voice is shot. He could not sing, could not keep up
with the tempo and talked through most of his lyrics. I was severely
disappointed. But then I saw everyone else around me jumping around and singing
along, just so happy to hear Neil Diamond singing (of course, being hella-drunk
likely helped their disposition). I was, however, the one guy who could not
enjoy the show, because I know what this guy has been capable of. I paid an
armload of cash and got a really crappy show. I cannot sit through garbage
simply because someone of a legendary history is the one shoveling it out. We
are paying for this, we have a right to expect more.
I understand if you want to spend the money and it does not matter to
you, that is your right. But I also have the right to say this is just not good
enough. I have a grip of books on my shelf with Ray's picture inside the dust
jacket. I have earned the right to be critical. Praise where it is deserved,
jeers where it is needed.
You will never win me over by telling me it is too expensive to do it
right.
On another note, I would like to say that nothing in my opinion will ever
compare to what he produced with The King's Buccaneer, truly a book that
inspired me.
Ray, with all due respect, I assume you at least must see I have a valid
point.
M
--- On Fri, 5/10/13, John <[email protected]> wrote:
From: John <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Was: Picked up my copy of Magicians End
To: [email protected]
Date: Friday, May 10, 2013, 11:11 PM
[email protected] writes
>
> I have to agree with Chris on this, typos would not and have not
stopped me from buying or reading any book. As with ACI, I voiced my concern
over the typos to Ray, BUT I still read it and loved it! My grip is really
with Harper Collins because its their job to produce a flawless product. You
can tell most typos in ACI are "auto-correct" typos and that if someone had
read it afterwards would have been found. I mean we all found them and we're
not the professional editors as they are.
>
Part of the issue from my point of view is cost.
A simple example
Magician 1982 @$20
Magician's End 2013 @$30
That is only a 50% increase
Now using actual inflation rates @141% Magician's End should be @$50
So the $20 saving has to be made somewhere To read a book thoroughly it
can take a person a week, and still no guarantee they won't miss something. In
fact most costs have increased , the only thing going down is the price of the
book
For the UK Magician was originally @10GBP Magicians End should be
nearer 32GBP.
Remember paying someone to read a book is not the only cost. They need
office space and other items. A person earning 10 can be charged out at over
200 and that may just be a lowly employee.
-- John
The Official Raymond E Feist Website
http://www.crydee.com/
Books to read, and shelves to fill,
Ray's great books, just fit the bill.
