Literature Encyclopedias still speak volumes
Printed encyclopedias they seem to be enjoying a modest revival. After a four-year hiatus, Encyclopaedia Britannica, based in Chicago, has almost sold out the new edition it released this year and is planning a revision for next year. Libraries remain the best customers, but there is still a core of people who want that row of books at home. A 2002 study of research habits by Outsell Inc., a market research company based in San Francisco, found that while people will use the Internet for a fast information search, they tend to place more trust in a book.
· In Books We Trust [Boston Globe]
Platform on Cold River
Literary Agent Rafe Sagalyn provides the theme for a Washington Post article: The dreadful buzzword of the last two or three years is platform. Does the author have a platform to promote his or her book? As Hyperion's Bob Miller notes, there is a temptation toward publishing a personality who has a regular following but the important question is, Will that audience want that book? BTW, according to my favourite paper the Sydney Morning Herald, JK Rowling was the UK's highest-earning woman in 2002, earning £48 million through the phenomenal success of her creation in book sales and the subsequent cinema box office hits. That's about six times more than Queen Elizabeth.
· How loudly would the phones be ringing [Washington Post]
· The Deviant's Advantage: How Fringe Ideas Create Mass Markets [First Matter]
The ring and the cross
I think the beauty of Tolkien is that he's not explicitly Christian. I think I would be turned off if we had Jesus running around the story. Tolkien avoided that, but quite a few devout Christians are nevertheless claiming his story as their own. The question is whether this could be a turn-off to everybody else.
· Crushing the hearts of hippies everywhere. [Boston Globe]
Irony of Science Oscars
It’s time to pay homage to the year’s outstanding science performances. Without further ado, the envelope, please…
Most embarrassing performance by “reputable” experts. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced in July that no amounts of margarine, vegetable shortening, dairy products, pastries, crackers, fried foods and breast milk are safe to eat.
· Swedish Meatballs [Fox]
