Angry Robot Clonefiles

[Stephan]

Introducing: Angry Robot Clonefiles

As part of Independent Booksellers’ Week, award-winning SF & fantasy publisher Angry Robot have announced they are going to start giving away the digital version of each of their novels free with the physical paperback, in selected indie bookstores.

The Angry Robot Clonefiles, as they are whimsically calling them, will first be trialled with Mostly Books of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, starting Wednesday July 4th. Angry Robot will then be rolling out the scheme through other independent bookshops. Customers purchasing an Angry Robot novel will be emailed the digital version of the book in the format of their choice.

I think it's a wonderful idea, combining the best of both worlds. This way, both modern and old-fashioned readers can buy physical books and ebooks together, while supporting those bookstores that need the support so much.

I've seen the music industry doing this for years, what with offering mp3 downloads when buying a record. It's good to see the publishing industry following suit. I hope more publishers will do this, and I'm very curious to see how the trial turns out.

Thoughts?

[BearMountainBooks]

Meh. Doesn't matter to me either way. I honestly prefer the ebook for the instant download and portability, but I'll buy whichever is cheaper. If you sell me both, I'm likely to donate, giveaway or sell the paperback. I can only keep so many of them. I've found Angry Robot's ebook prices very reasonable, especially compared to other publishers so I just buy the ebook.

[Stephan]

That's a fair point. Those that would buy digital copies for their convenience anyway wouldn't go to the store for these. Personally, I like both having a book on my shelves for display, as well as the convenience of being able to read it on my Kindle, so I would grab this opportunity with both hands.

I do wonder, though, how it would work to get the digital version mailed. Do you give the bookstore your email address? It seems needlessly complicated to me. Why not just provide some kind of code with which to easily download the book from the Angry Robot website?

Ps. Welcome Maria, great to see you here!

[Rebecca]

I think it's a pretty cool idea; there are definitely some books I'd love to have in both formats! As to having a code, I remember hearing Sanderson considering ways to bundle ebooks with physical books, and there were a number of problems and reasons that could be complicated. For example, if the code is within the book, someone could browse the bookstore, swipe the code, and claim the free ebook without buying the book, and then when someone does buy it, their claim code would already be used. Stuff like that.

[Stephan]

Not if the book is packaged in plastic. Just like they do with CDs, basically.

[Rebecca]

That would work to protect the code, true. However, when I'm in a bookstore, I like browsing, I like being able to flip through the book, maybe read the first chapter or so, to see if I like it. If I am just looking for a specific book and already know I want to buy it, I'd just shop online rather than go to a bookstore in the first place.