Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Recently, Hikoki Publ. (now owned by Crécy) published a book on Latin American Air Wars & Aircraft, by Dan Hagedorn. Hardback, c. 192 pages, c. 400/500 rare b/w and colour photos and beautiful colour artwork, but... no narrative text!

The text can apparently be downloaded, in PDF format, from the publisher's web site.

Is this the future of aviation (and not only) book publishing? :confused:

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Only the future if we buy it...

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

I have already deciced to boycott this book for that very reason!

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

It's a great renovation to reduce "unnecessary" cost. Anyone who has a high-end laser printer and high-end quality papers can product a superior book! If only he has.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

on the other hand, the new WEKUSTA book is really great.
it features great informative text, some interesting profiles and a good selection of pictures.

does anyone own the I-400 book from Classic btw.?
if so, how do you rate it?

cheers
phil

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Will the laser printed page be as durable as a page printed by a real printer? Does this really reduce cost as the cost is simply transferred to the reader directly? I have seen some books done etraro´s way and they were horrible.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

A searchable pdf file would be good to have as an "extra" to a book (very useful for reference purposes) but not instead of the real thing, I think.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

I am not a big submarine fan but I was impressed by the I-400 (aircraft carrying submarine) book. The introduction by one of the Japanese pilots was very interesting. All I can say is that it was well done for the average reader who is relatively interested in submarines.

The future of publishing in general is simply about what people will buy. New technology is fine, but even if an inexpensive electronic book reader was developed, I would still have to pay for the basic unit, buy the individual books and would need a source of power or batteries. I would not want to drop it or get it wet. An inexpensive paperback needs no power source, can be dropped without breaking and is much easier on the eyes than a computer screen and, for now, more portable and convenient.



Ed

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

. . . and you can read it on the beach while holding it with sunscreen fingers, not worry about spilling your beer on it, and toss it in the trash if it's boring.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Hey, I am interested in this book. Is the PDF download still available for the text?

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Separate graphic content from text.... strange idea but who knows...

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

I hear you but asking if the text is still available from the publisher.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

​As someone who works within military and history publishing, I do see the advantages of digital publishing in the future. It's cost effective and easy to do; however, I can only suggest digital growth presently with trade paperbacks. With regards to specialist publishing, this is completely different. Readers like to see a hardback on their shelves with plenty of images, maps and diagrams. This cannot be replaced by the Kindle or Ipad, for example. That said, pay your money and take your choice, but I know what I would buy and it's not digital.

Jay

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Hi Jay,


First, one example, or even two, does not represent the future of aviation publishing. The reality faced by all publishers is this: what do I pay to the following and where is that money coming from?

Writers
Editors
Proofreader(s)
Payment for photographs (even a one-time use fee)
Artwork (including maps)
Internal typesetting
Cover layout and design (covers do sell books)
My printer
Myself



Now, we have used volunteers in the past who worked in some capacity for free, but as the saying goes: you get what you pay for. And yes, I'm sure there are a few people with time on their hands who after the great Wall Street engineered, global mess of 2008, lost their jobs and/or their companies, and are chomping at the bit to get back into the business in some capacity in their spare time, but that is likely to be a small pool.

However, a few new companies have sprung up in the aviation field. And I encourage everyone to ignore what I call "The Internet Forum Effect" where instead of looking at the positive and imagining ways and means to not only continue selling books, but expanding the market and expanding awareness, there are the sad, dour predictions of what some would imagine is the "inevitable."

With all due respect to the owner/moderator here, a name like 12 O'Clock High does not immediately lead me to conclude that this site is what it is, and thank you, Ruy, for your hard work and dedication.

The same, I think, can be said, for the Luftwaffe Experten Message Board. While I salute Peter Evans for his dedication and obvious hard work, it too, lacks, in my view, an easy connection to the subject matter.

Finally, how do we increase awareness? In my own attempts to increase awareness here, regardless of publisher, most book titles do not lend themselves to easy recognition either. Take "In the Heavens Above." To a novice, what does that mean? Even if a connection to aviation can be assumed, is it about World War II, the Vietnam War, something else, like post-war aircraft testing? Or take "Orange is the Color of the Day." Anyone?

Yes, our first market is the specialists and enthusiasts, but as Axel Urbanke pointed out in his excellent Luftwaffe im Focus, where will future readers and enthusiasts come from? And this is history we are talking about, not fiction. History that needs to be presented with all the earmarks of professionalism, including presentation and checkable, reliable and sourced contents. Though not an official Luftwaffe historian myself, every new image and any scrap of information brings the puzzle closer to completion, and provides data that other researchers can and do expand on.

I propose that we pool our resources and use our minds and increase our level of morale. In my fiction book publishing business, almost every competitor of ours cites high advertising costs in print magazines as a barrier to using them, and from turning a profit or turning a greater profit. Or, "I have no time." What? You will print them and the buyers will just magically appear? You cannot use the global internet more effectively? I have even seen book descriptions on publishers' web sites that were so badly written that (a) I really came away with no comprehensive information regarding the contents, and (b) I was not sold on the book because the publisher neglected key selling points, like "contains never before published photos," which most of the time, will convince me to get the book.



Best,
Ed

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Regarding publishers' sites, I'd say that there should be readable sample pages of each book available.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Well, I wrote Crecy to ask if the data was still available and it is. So we can have the photos in the volume and anyone with a high quality laser printer can print and bind their own softcover book to go with the illustrations.

Re: Is this the future of aviation book publishing?
 

Final users will make judgment...