Here's the latest headline in the world of disinformation, half truths, and sales pitches:
The Literary Darknet of Independent Publishing
What is a DARKNET? And what the hell does it have to do with erotica? Well, that's like asking "what is a separatist?"
Answer: Its a word used by those with an agenda, a dangerous sounding word to label things as BAD, EVIL, WICKED.
Now, the word of the day is DARKNET, reminiscent of wicked Darth Vader, who tells you he is your father, and you must join him in the literary DARKNET.
You don't know the power of the DARKNET!
Digital Book World, and the Book Genome Project, has likened-compared-associated self-published erotic/romantic fiction to the nasty underground DARKNET of illicit internet activity operating through highly secretive DARKNET websites that governments routinely hunt down, shut down and prosecute.
How does this have anything to do with self-published erotic/romantic fiction on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or Kobo?
We are supposed to assume that somehow there's a connection.
Even though there is absolutely no evidence that self-published fiction has any connection with illicit DARKNET websites.
That is only the first of several misconceptions created by this editorial-sensational sales pitch.
The Book Genome Project (BGP) has purportedly analyzed gazillions of books across all genres in order to catalog content. Why? Because they want to sell their software-service to book retailers. The wake of the tabloid clickbait erotica scare, started by THE KERNEL in the UK, is the perfect platform for BGP to take the podium and sell the world their badly needed services.
Here's BGP's horrifying statistics of self-published erotica:
(This is a screen shot from the Digital Book World's blog post)
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| Beware the power of the piechart |
The problem with these jaw-dropping, shocking statistics, there are no sales numbers.
HERE'S THE DISCLAIMER found towards the bottom, hidden beneath all the neon-colored pie charts: (emphasis added by me)
"There are no sales numbers in this data. As with any long tail, it’s likely irrelevant how many books on a topic are available compared to how many people are reading them. After all, does it matter that there is really objectionable content in the long tail of the book market if no one ever sees or purchases it? As a percentage of sales volume, they could be virtually invisible."
"There are no sales numbers in this data. As with any long tail, it’s likely irrelevant how many books on a topic are available compared to how many people are reading them. After all, does it matter that there is really objectionable content in the long tail of the book market if no one ever sees or purchases it? As a percentage of sales volume, they could be virtually invisible."
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| THE DARKNET DOES NOT LIKE BEING INVISIBLE! |
So, all this data, all these bright neon charts, all the worldwide media scare, all this worldwide book banning and ridiculous posturing, is for books that could be virtually invisible. Books that no one ever sees or purchases.
Thanks to sensationalist clickbait tabloids filled with misdirection and derogatory lies, ALL SELF-PUBLISHED EROTICA is now suspect, and a target for removal worldwide. I guess the DARKNET will be relegated to Young Adult fiction in the near future....
Thanks to sensationalist clickbait tabloids filled with misdirection and derogatory lies, ALL SELF-PUBLISHED EROTICA is now suspect, and a target for removal worldwide. I guess the DARKNET will be relegated to Young Adult fiction in the near future....
Here's the sensationalized headline that rocked the UK and spawned a massive ban on self-published erotic ebooks:
Unless you've been hiding under a rock and have no clue about what's been taking place in the world of publishing, you have probably heard or seen news headlines like this:
Here's a somewhat slanted view of this highly editorialized-sensationalized media scare:
Now, it is interesting to look at the heated debates on The Digital Reader, mostly from Indies, Author-Publishers. And then take a look at Joe Garde's writeup, which raises all kinds of valid questions about the slippery slope of censorship, but completely misses the mark on other issues.
What isn't really clear is the fact that ALL SELF PUBLISHED EROTICA is now suspect, and a target for removal in the UK, and the US, regardless of whether or not it touches on taboo subject matter like incest or bestiality (that's what the scare was all about to begin with).
Well, if online booksellers are afraid of selling smut, and the issue is erotic content, which is what they targeted by removing ALL SELF-PUBLISHED erotic content, then why does WH Smith have all these books available from major publishers:
WH Smith still carries....
LOLITA
50 SHADES OF GREY
STORY OF O
An ENTIRE SECTION OF EROTICA
An ENTIRE SECTION OF EROTIC ROMANCE
There's not a single self-published title left in their website to compete with any of the hundreds of erotic fiction novels available from major publishing companies. That's quite a convenient boon to major publishers whose erotic fiction market was being steadily eroded away by a large number of popular self-published titles. I imagine they are very pleased to have all their competition removed, and just in time for the holiday internet book buying craze valued in HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
There's nothing remotely suspicious about that, is there?
According to The Guardian and Library Journal, major publishers are selling erotic fiction hand over fist, and scrambling to get long dead back-lists of erotica back into circulation.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/02/erotic-fiction-ebook-bestseller-chart-rowling
http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/02/books/genre-fiction/erotica-full-frontal-shelving-genre-spotlight/
And Kobo claims, "We want to protect the reputation of self-publishing as a whole." The company moved lightning fast to accomodate WH Smith's demands for self-published erotica removal. ALL OF KOBO'S SELF-PUBLISHED EROTICA HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR UK WEBSITE. It seems the only thing they have "protected" is their retail relationship with WH Smith.
But, Kobo UK still carries....
(Only people in the UK can see the Kobo UK site--so I have provided the screenshots)
50 SHADES OF GREY