Is Salacious Content Driving E-Book Sales? 215
narramissic writes "Having already abandoned ebooks once, Barnes & Noble is jumping back into ebooks with the purchase this week of ebook seller Fictionwise. Why is the format suddenly hot? Look no further than the top 10 Fictionwise bestsellers, says blogger Peter Smith. Once again it seems like 'porn is blazing a path to a new media format. Of the top 10 bestsellers under the 'Multiformat' category, nine are tagged 'erotica' and the last is 'dark fantasy.' Need more proof that folks (let's take a leap and call them women) who read 'bodice rippers' like the privacy of ebooks? Author Samantha Lucas (who writes for publishers like Cobblestone Press and Siren Publishing) tells Smith that she sells almost all of her novels in ebook format."
Somewhat off-topic (Score:4, Informative)
If she likes the Wizard's Rule series by Goodkind, I think she'll really enjoy the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. If she likes dark fiction with a strong tragic-hero element, I think she'll also enjoy the Eternal Champion series by Michael Moorcock, particularly the Elric books.
Re:alt.stories.erotica (Score:2, Informative)
http://storiesonline.net/ [storiesonline.net] (Free registration required, but I've never received spam on the throwaway email address I generated 5 years ago or so. There are some *really* good novels to be found, check out Al Steiner under Authors for example. And if you're into heavy fun, check out Samantha K.)
http://literotica.com/ [literotica.com]
porn myth (Score:5, Informative)
"Once again it seems like 'porn is blazing a path to a new media format"
Again the myth that porn has decided the formatwars is called upon again.
"Many theories regarding why Sony's Betamax failed have arisen over the years. One of the more amusing (and false) is that Sony refused to allow pornographic material on their system. A quick perusal of the Betamax library reveals that adult entertainment was readily available. For example, Playboy Industries released their videos in a dual format, both Betamax and VHS, for most of the 1970s and 80s (and can be confirmed with a quick search through Ebay's adult section, or other used video markets). Second, the adult industry is too small to have any lasting impact on standards selection. According to Forbes.com, adult video income is approximately $1 billion. "The industry is tiny next to broadcast television ($32.3 billion in 1999), cable television ($45.5 billion), the newspaper business ($27.5 billion), Hollywood ($31 billion), even to professional and educational publishing ($14.8 billion). When one really examines the numbers, the porn industry--while a subject of fascination--is every bit as marginal as it seems at first glance." (Link - http://www.forbes.com/2001/05/25/0524porn.html [forbes.com] )"
There, it should be over now.
Re:Why women? (Score:3, Informative)
I think there might be some misconception about what sort of book it's assumed women are reading. "Bodice rippers" as a genre are written to appeal to 'romantic' fantasies: Strong but possibly oppressed heroine, tall dark stranger, forbidden love affair, etc. Always sexual, rarely graphic.
Credentials:I worked in a bookstore, and we sold the hell out of garbage like danielle steele, always to women, mainly to older women. I'd guess the younger generation just get porn on the internet.
Slashdot - News-Porn For Geeks (Score:4, Informative)
Fictionwise's own lists of Best Sellers/HIghest Rated [fictionwise.com] titles tells a different story.
Entries in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series rank 1st, 2nd, 3d, and 4th as best sellers the past six month.
Joe Halderman's "The Accidental Time Machine," came in fifth.
No erotica title made it into the top 25.
You will find YA "Twilight" on the Fictionwise "Dark Fantasy" shelf.
Which means were looking at more blogger BS on the front page of Slashdot.