Standard Ebooks (standardebooks.org)

Article summary

The article discusses Standard Ebooks, a project that produces high-quality ebooks of public domain works. The discussion revolves around the project's goals, methods, and potential for monetization. Some commenters appreciate the project's attention to typography and styling, while others debate the pricing of ebooks and the value of physical copies. The project's approach to editing and updating classic works is also a topic of discussion.

Main themes

• ebook pricing
• physical copy quality
• editing and updating classic works
• typography and styling
• monetization and value
• preserving original intent
• readability and accessibility

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that ebooks of public domain works should be priced lower, around $3-5, due to their age and lack of copyright.
• Others argue that the price of an ebook is not directly related to the age of the work, and that instant gratification may be worth a higher price.
• The quality of physical copies of classic works is a concern, with some commenters preferring high-quality hardcovers over print-on-demand copies.
• There is debate over the project's approach to editing and updating classic works, with some arguing that changes to language and capitalization can harm the original work.
• Some commenters appreciate the project's attention to typography and styling, and believe it adds value to the ebooks.
• The potential for Standard Ebooks to offer print copies of their works is discussed, with some commenters suggesting that it could be a valuable service, while others believe the market is already saturated.
• The project's policy on editing and updating classic works is defended as being careful to preserve the original intent and meaning of the work, while also making it more readable for modern audiences.
• Others argue that even with careful editing, changes to language and capitalization can still erase the author's original intent and style.