Publishers

I am sure all of these terrible things are true of Amazon, but I also have very little sympathy for publishers.

Publishing has been historically and still is one of the most hidebound, exploitative, decrepit businesses in the world, right behind the clowns at (and members of) the RIAA and MPAA.

A hardback book at $40, with the paperback to be released a year later – or maybe never – at an also-exorbitant price?

Great idea. How is that of any value to me when I can read a 400 page book in a few hours?

Amazon being able to seize so much power is a direct consequence of the publishers being so shitty. Doesn’t make Amazon some sort of savior, but is still true.