I think that most people working in publishing think they’re involved in some giant role playing game. Rather than simply running around muddy fields on a Saturday, dressed in tin foil, they’ve decided that their nine-to-five is in the grip of a massive capitalist conspiracy.
On one side, traditional publishers and retailers form the Rebel Alliance, our only hope against the Galactic Empire’s evil totalitarian rule (AKA Amazon with Apple and Google as understudies). Jeff Bezos, of course, stars as the evil and mysterious Emperor Palpatine, whose methods of deceit are infinite. Anakin Skywalker’s betrayal pales alongside James Daunt’s. Rather than the stomach-clenching revelation “I am your father”, Daunt’s shocker was “I’m going to stock the Kindle”. Which, last week, Waterstones did.
News of the prospective merger of Penguin and Random House initially provoked murmurs of outrage, whispers of lay offs and howls that quality would be affected.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in