If you are following the news in the publishing industry, then you know it's bad for science fiction authors and readers. Consolidation of the industry continues, and that usually means a loss of diversity. Many "mid-list" books have been discontinued. Writers are being pressured to write the Marketing Department's "Flavor of the Week" instead of writing about the subjects and themes that interest them and give their books authenticity. I'm writing because I think I can do something about all this, and I think fans and pros should know what I intend to do.

Here are the facts:

Recent advances in laser printers have created new high speed electronic printing presses. These presses take an electronic pre-press file and turn it into a finished print productóa book, a comic book, a posterówhatever item was available before in print is available from these presses at the same quality as an offset press, or better.

Then what's the difference between the old offset way and the new electronic presses? Printing on demand (POD).

Here's what that means:

Because the new presses make it possible to print as few or as many of an item as you like, immediately, on demand, there is no longer any need to create an item for sale before the sale is made. There is no need to warehouse thousands of pre-sale copies of an item while trying to stimulate demand. By marrying POD with 800 inbound sales; Web sales; and direct mail, all items can be created on demand in a supply exactly equal to the demand.

In addition, no item is ever "out of print." Electronic pre-press files can be stored virtually forever, and an item can be printed as easily 20 years from now as it can be today. This makes it possible to recover production costs over longer times, and it increases aftermarket sales to new readers (someone reading #5 of a series can get #1-4 immediately).

It also means publishers can afford to take risks on works that "push back the envelope" because they don't have to sell a specific book, they just have to sell books. Publishers can afford the time it takes for a book to find its readers because they don't print a book until the book is sold.

Here's what I'm doing:

I'm starting a publishing companyóStone Dragon Pressóthat will increase the quality and range of speculative fiction by using POD and direct sales to return creative control to authors and creators; disconnect availability from number of units sold; and increase aftermarket sales to new readers. I will be the partners of creators and readers, letting creators work according to their vision and providing readers with significantly more than "me too" fiction. Stone Dragon Press will become a nationally recognized name in speculative fiction, known for fairness with creators; for excellence of product and service; and for bringing new and exciting books and comic books to the marketplace.

What do I want from you?

If you're a "old pro," I want you to honestly evaluate your situation and think about properties you could license to me. Think like your agent would think: what are your chances of writing a real blockbuster that will make your earlier works so valuable that your current publisher would reprint them? Now think like yourself: do you have a book you just can't sell to a publisher or a good book you haven't written because you know it just won't sell? I can take a risk on your new books, and I can take a risk on your old books.

If you're a "new pro," someone who's sold some short stories but is having trouble selling that first novel, then think of me. I can afford to collect your short stories into a book. I can afford to print your first novel even if it isn't a best-seller, the first book of a 12-part trilogy, or the leading edge of a brand new universe that can be licensed to other authors. I can afford to give you a start.

If you're a "pro wannabee," I'm interested in your book. I don't have to have a book that can be brokered into a film, a t-shirt, a sound track, and a poseable action figure to make money. I have to have a good book that sells. I can afford to give you a start, too.

If you're a fan, I want you to help me out. I need some money to make this work, and I'm talking about as little as $50 US. For your money, you stand to get more serious work; better, less sexual art; more short fiction; and more work that "pushes back the envelope." I can't say more here about the financial results of investingóthe lawyer-thing says that will get me into troubleóbut the documents are available. I'm asking you to invest $50 and change the face of publishing.

What's wrong with this picture?

Well, in all honesty, it makes me sound like a snake-oil salesman. "Y'see, friends, right here in this laser printer, with this tiny little computer and its chips, I can ease the grippe, relieve baldness, and cure the ills of the publishing industry! Would I lie to you? Only $50 a bottle! Step right up, and don't push." I say we got trouble! Right here in sci-fi! With a capital T and that rhymes with B and it stands for Buyout! Can you imagine some mega-corp permanently licensing the work of ol' Mark Twain in all forms? No sir!

Unfortunately, it's true. There are a lot of things happening in publishing right now that are very, very bad for authors, new and used, and it probably won't get better. Existing publishers have picked up on the idea that POD will let them keep the rights to a book in perpetuity, even when they have no real intention of doing anything with the book. See, when it gets close to the out-of-print/reversion of rights deadline, why, they whip off 30 copies, and your book is back in print! Instead of instigating a change that helps everybody, builds real book readership, and makes books a thing of the future, it's business as usual.

That's exactly what I'm all NOT about: business as usual. If that makes me a revolutionary, viva la revolucion! If that makes me a snake oil salesman, this little bottle can get your book in print! If that makes me a savvy guy with a great idea, maybe you should find out more.

Now what?

Find out more. Call, write, email, or go through the Stone Dragon web site. You can see the official plan, the FAQ, the submission style sheets for books and comic books, and some talk about investments. You'll also see our model contract. We have nothing to hide, and we want to make speculative fiction better in every way. If you have any questions, send them along.

There's a lot more room in the speculative fiction ecosystem than "The Bigs" would have you believe, and you can make a difference.

CJ Stone
Publisher and Editor

Stone Dragon Press 3418 Morgan Ave N. Minneapolis, MN USA 55412-2336 Phone: 612-521-5915 E-Mail: