RIP Jim Baen
On a visit to Baen's Bar this evening, I learned that Jim Baen has passed away, as a result of a terrible stroke he suffered earlier this month.
Mr. Baen, the founder of Baen Books, was a visionary on so many levels. He had quite the eye for talent and he made a little publisher grow into a highly respected science fiction/fantasy press. So many of the Baen books have found their way onto my electronic and physical bookshelves.
Yes...electronic shelves as well. Back in '99 there were only a few electronic publishers in town. I'd been aware of Dreams Unlimited (now defunct) NCP and Hard Shell Word Factory, but I had always hoped for more...
Then, I discovered Baen's "Webscriptions", where electronic versions of their paper books were made for sale, in a grouping of 4 a month for the bargain price of 10.00. 10.00 for *FOUR* books (This was later raised to five books)? I was so excited! I could purchase the books, download them in html, rtf, Palm or Rocket format. I had just purchased my first PDA, a Handspring Visor model, and the fact that they had the Palm format made loading the books onto my machine a one click operation.
The books I bought the first month were Change Of Command, Rules Of Engagement, and Once a Hero by Elizabeth Moon and Minds, Machines and Evolution by James P. Hogan. By the second and third months, books from SF/Fantasy greats like David Weber,S.M. Stirling, Eric Flint, Losi McMaster Bujold, Roberta Gellis, and Mercedes Lackey resided on my PDA and computer.
I had always been a casual science fiction and fantasy fan, but the ease of reading these ebooks helped my interest grow.
I'd often take advantage of the gradual release of Webscription books. Baen released parts of each book a couple of months before the book's release, so someone who had sbscribed to the month's books could have 2/3 or so read before the book released.
Then, the Baen free library became active. Here was a place where the publisher was releasing FREE coopies of books, in the hopes that it would entice the reader to purchase an entire series. And it seems to have worked!
More recently, Baen created electronic ARCs for purchase. Releasing months before the actual book released, these EARCs were for sale for a predetermined time. They're a great way for die-hards to read an unproofed copy of the book.
They also enclosed CD roms in first edition hardcovers of some of their books. These Cd roms contained Baen Ebooks and were, for many, their first introduction to electronic books.
Just this month, Baen's Universe, a short story magazine debuted. This electronic magazine features stories from a "who's who" of the greats of science fiction and fantasy as well as many new authors.
I may have found a love for science fiction and fantasy without Baen and I may have found my way into electronic publishing without discovering Baen and devouring the Webscription books...who can tell? But I do know that Baen Books helped nurture my love of ebooks, of science fiction and fantasy among many other things, and for that, I offer my deepest thanks to Jim Baen.
Author David Drake has a eulogy to Mr. Baen up on his website. It is definitely worth the read. It can be found here.
Mr. Baen, the founder of Baen Books, was a visionary on so many levels. He had quite the eye for talent and he made a little publisher grow into a highly respected science fiction/fantasy press. So many of the Baen books have found their way onto my electronic and physical bookshelves.
Yes...electronic shelves as well. Back in '99 there were only a few electronic publishers in town. I'd been aware of Dreams Unlimited (now defunct) NCP and Hard Shell Word Factory, but I had always hoped for more...
Then, I discovered Baen's "Webscriptions", where electronic versions of their paper books were made for sale, in a grouping of 4 a month for the bargain price of 10.00. 10.00 for *FOUR* books (This was later raised to five books)? I was so excited! I could purchase the books, download them in html, rtf, Palm or Rocket format. I had just purchased my first PDA, a Handspring Visor model, and the fact that they had the Palm format made loading the books onto my machine a one click operation.
The books I bought the first month were Change Of Command, Rules Of Engagement, and Once a Hero by Elizabeth Moon and Minds, Machines and Evolution by James P. Hogan. By the second and third months, books from SF/Fantasy greats like David Weber,S.M. Stirling, Eric Flint, Losi McMaster Bujold, Roberta Gellis, and Mercedes Lackey resided on my PDA and computer.
I had always been a casual science fiction and fantasy fan, but the ease of reading these ebooks helped my interest grow.
I'd often take advantage of the gradual release of Webscription books. Baen released parts of each book a couple of months before the book's release, so someone who had sbscribed to the month's books could have 2/3 or so read before the book released.
Then, the Baen free library became active. Here was a place where the publisher was releasing FREE coopies of books, in the hopes that it would entice the reader to purchase an entire series. And it seems to have worked!
More recently, Baen created electronic ARCs for purchase. Releasing months before the actual book released, these EARCs were for sale for a predetermined time. They're a great way for die-hards to read an unproofed copy of the book.
They also enclosed CD roms in first edition hardcovers of some of their books. These Cd roms contained Baen Ebooks and were, for many, their first introduction to electronic books.
Just this month, Baen's Universe, a short story magazine debuted. This electronic magazine features stories from a "who's who" of the greats of science fiction and fantasy as well as many new authors.
I may have found a love for science fiction and fantasy without Baen and I may have found my way into electronic publishing without discovering Baen and devouring the Webscription books...who can tell? But I do know that Baen Books helped nurture my love of ebooks, of science fiction and fantasy among many other things, and for that, I offer my deepest thanks to Jim Baen.
Author David Drake has a eulogy to Mr. Baen up on his website. It is definitely worth the read. It can be found here.
posted by Breezy at 6:05 PM
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