But before I get to that...Well, this will be a long post! So I just want to go off topic by going on topic and remind all of you (especially anyone who might have missed the last few blog posts) that there are two new stories! So if you haven't done so yet, please check out Perspectives II (v. 2.0): The Least You Could Do by Jason Bertovich, and To Conquer the World: The Cabin in the Woods – A Quest for Money and Power, by Martha Wadley.
Now, where was I?
These days, everyone has their Kindles, and Nooks, and what have you. And yes, I suppose those can be rather convenient. And heck, since the beginning, Boy Scouts ½ has been available primarily in an electronic format. Its home was on the web, and that is where most people read it.
But you know what? I come from an older time. I don't own a Nook or Kindle. When I read books, I prefer the tactile experience of paper in my hands. The turn of the pages. The smell of the ink and paper.
The original Star Trek, while it certainly had some fantastical elements, did have a lot to it that came true. Sure, they may not make cool "sssssht!" noises, but automatic, electronic doors are now an everyday thing. The cel phone owes a lot to the communicator. And libraries of information, available on personal data displays at the touch of a button.
But in one episode, Kirk, in need of a lawyer, meets a man named Samuel T. Cogley. And Mr. Cogley preseted a point of view I cannot help but agree with.
KIRK (Noticing the piles of books everywhere): What is all this?
COGLEY: I figure we'll be spending some time together, so I moved in.
KIRK: I hope I'm not crowding you.
COGLEY: What's the matter? Don't you like books?
KIRK: Oh, I like them fine, but a computer takes less space.
COGLEY: A computer, huh? I got one of these in my office. Contains all the precedents. The synthesis of all the great legal decisions written throughout time. I never use it.
KIRK: Why not?
COGLEY: I've got my own system. Books, young man, books. Thousands of them. If time wasn't so important,
I'd show you something. My library. Thousands of books.
KIRK: And what would be the point?
COGLEY: This is where the law is. Not in that homogenised, pasteurised, synthesiser. Do you want to know the law, the ancient concepts in their own language, Learn the intent of the men who wrote them, from Moses to the tribunal of Alpha 3? Books.
KIRK: You have to be either an obsessive crackpot who's escaped from his keeper or Samuel T. Cogley, attorney at law.
COGLEY: Right on both counts. Need a lawyer?
KIRK: I'm afraid so.
But wait, what is that in the middle? Let us take a closer look.
The first of these I made back in 2010. There are only eight copies in existence, most of which I gave away as gifts. Although, three of them are still in my apartment. One, because I ended up living with who I gave it to, the other because I just still had an extra one on hand.
The second one I worked on last month, and published it towards the beginning of this month. There are only two of this one in existence, and since the recipient of the second got his in the mail today, I can now post about it here without spoiling the surprise. (I suppose if she wanted one, I'd make her one... but since we live together now, Rachel doesn't really need her own copy!)
Since the last Perspectives story had an unexpected Sunday package delivery, it is quite an odd (and mysterious) coincidence that Jason received his copy today!
Anyway, there is something quite special to me about having these in book form. Part of me wishes I could share these with anyone who wanted them.
Trouble is... Well, I ain't giving them away for free to everyone! And, what with the plethora of, shall we say, elements inspired from other sources, I had vowed to never sell Boy Scouts ½ for profit.
Well... I suppose, if these were made available for a limited time, and I didn't personally profit from them... Hopefully that won't cause any litigious trouble!
Now, the hardcover versions would probably be a bit much for most people. (If I sold them at cost, they'd be a decent price... but for reasons I'll get into at a moment, even though I will not personally profit, I wish to sell them above cost.) But, I suppose, if I took some time and reformatted them to be available in paperback, I could make them available at a reasonable price.
"Wait," you say, "what is this about selling them above cost, but not making a personal profit?" Well, I was thinking... As I recently mentioned, I'm working on a new Sci-Fi convention. (See this blog post for further info.) Now, cons are expensive business. So, I thought, if I do sell any books, I will donate any proceeds towards the startup costs of the con. (We need money! Money for guests, for advertising, for facilities, etc...) "But," you then say, "won't you jus profit on the back end of the con?" Yeah, right. If there is anything left afterword, and that is a big "if," that money will go right back into the following year. Any prospect of personal profit from the convention is years off!
So there it is. Now, I'm not going to just go and reformat the books for paperback without any hope of anything coming from it. So here's the deal. Not many people comment on my blog posts. Usually, no one does. And if anyone does, it's usually just Jason. (No offence, Jason! I love when you do!) If I am going to do this, I first want ten responses to this blog post from people saying they would be interested in buying these books if they are made.
That's it. Just interested. You don't even have to promise to do so. Just say you're interested, and hopefully once they are available, you'll still be interested and give it proper consideration. And in the process, you'll be helping out a cool new convention.
Thanks!