Simply because I like when I purchase classics (not covered by copyright any longer) that I have the ability to choose the book based on criteria I cannot usually factor in.
I can opt for quality paper, for a nice and well-spaced font, for good-binding, for a nicer jacket, for a specific translation.
I like that there is the potential that I could purchase this book and be able to choose such things, that I could say "I'll pay this guy over here a little more as he's invested in the quality of the medium.".
I was very happy with the contents of Coders at Work for example, but disappointed with the paper selection and choice of font. I would have happily paid more to have a nicer package, so I love authors who would permit multiple companies to do this.
Just to be clear, translations are themselves protected by copyright. So, for example, if you want to read the Edith Grossman translation of Don Quixote, first published in 2003, you do not have the freedom to select from a wide variety of editions, as described in the parent comment.
Comments
You know, I love this.
Simply because I like when I purchase classics (not covered by copyright any longer) that I have the ability to choose the book based on criteria I cannot usually factor in.
I can opt for quality paper, for a nice and well-spaced font, for good-binding, for a nicer jacket, for a specific translation.
I like that there is the potential that I could purchase this book and be able to choose such things, that I could say "I'll pay this guy over here a little more as he's invested in the quality of the medium.".
I was very happy with the contents of Coders at Work for example, but disappointed with the paper selection and choice of font. I would have happily paid more to have a nicer package, so I love authors who would permit multiple companies to do this.
Just to be clear, translations are themselves protected by copyright. So, for example, if you want to read the Edith Grossman translation of Don Quixote, first published in 2003, you do not have the freedom to select from a wide variety of editions, as described in the parent comment.
Personally I love Faber Finds for their dynamically generated covers http://www.faber.co.uk/faberfinds/