Thousands of SF classics return to earth as ebooks

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Thousands of SF classics return to earth as ebooks
July 2011
Guardian.co.uk

I have mentioned before that one of my favourite occupations is trawling secondhand bookshops, and that my favourite section within those bookshops is the science fiction and fantasy shelves. Sometimes I strike gold: The Jewel in the Skull by Michael Moorcock. Sometimes not so much: The White Plague by Frank Herbert in no way met my Dune-heightened expectations. As someone who adores the classics of SFF but knows little about them, this has been my main way of discovering forgotten gems.

Until now. I come back from holiday to learn about one of the most exciting developments for ages: from Arthur C Clarke to Philip K Dick, Marion Zimmer Bradley to Robert Silverberg, Gollancz is making thousands of classic out-of-print SFF titles available as ebooks. The SF Gateway launches this autumn with more than 1,000 titles by almost 100 authors, with plans to increase this to 3,000 titles by the end of 2012 and 5,000 by 2014. Wow. "Wherever possible, the SF Gateway will offer the complete backlist of the authors included," says Gollancz in its announcement.

A complete list of the authors already signed up – they're negotiating with many more – is here (warning: PDF). Tanith Lee is there, and deservedly so – I wrote here about how I couldn't believe she was out of print. Harry Harrison, James P Blaylock, Theodore Sturgeon, EE "Doc" Smith, my beloved Tim Powers – it's basically the great and the good of science fiction and fantasy, and they're all going to be available at the click of a button (pricing is yet to be revealed, but will be "in line with prevailing market trend, but competitive and value for money", apparently).

"This is exactly what I've been hoping for now that the digital book is becoming more widespread," says Arthur C Clarke award-winner Pat Cadigan in the announcement. "I have always said that the ebook will not be the death of the physical book – the ebook will save so many wonderful books from being lost. We have to remember that what we read is the book – what we read it on, whether ink and paper or pixels on a screen, is just the interface. I'm honestly thrilled about this new project and delighted to be on the list."

In a video on the site (embedded above), various authors are recommending their favourites: Joe Abercrombie goes for Fritz Leiber and his Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories, Alastair Reynolds for Rogue Moon , Justina Robson for Robert Holdstock's Lavondyss and Peter F Hamilton for Lord Valentine's Castle. It's the straw, I think, that will finally break this camel's back and turn me to ebooks. Now I just have to work out which e-reader to buy ... and where to start in this cornucopia of riches come September . It's a hard life ...