Standard Ebooks (standardebooks.org)

Article summary

The article discusses Standard Ebooks, a project that produces high-quality ebooks of public domain works. The ebooks are created with a focus on readability and are available in various formats, including advanced epubs. The project's editor-in-chief is available to answer questions and provide information about the project. The discussion reveals that the project has a specific set of guidelines and principles, including a policy of not including decorative illustrations in the ebooks.

Main themes

• ebook formatting
• readability
• public domain works
• typography
• illustrations
• language support
• project goals and principles
• collaboration and endorsement

What commenters say

• The project's advanced epubs are designed to be rendered with modern web rendering engines, but may not be compatible with all ereading platforms.
• The use of the Flesch-Kincaid scale to calculate reading difficulty is not suitable for non-native speakers, as it does not account for the complexity of language.
• The project's policy of not including decorative illustrations is seen as a limitation by some, who argue that illustrations are an important part of the reading experience.
• The project is seen as complementary to Project Gutenberg, with a focus on readability rather than digital preservation.
• The lack of support for non-English books is a limitation of the project, but it is not seen as a priority due to the complexity of typography across languages.
• Some argue that the project should include illustrations that are critical to the narrative, such as maps or diagrams, while others believe that this would be inconsistent with the project's principles.
• The project's focus on English typography is seen as a strength, but also limits its ability to support other languages.
• The possibility of endorsing or supporting similar projects for other languages is seen as a potential area for growth and collaboration.