Cryoburn

[baratron]

I am reading the electronic ARC of Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's the new Vorkosigan book, and not officially out until November.

I don't quite understand what an ARC is - the modern version of the old galley proofs that authors used to receive, made available electronically by the publisher because fans want to read books as early as possible and can live with typos - but it is official and the author will be getting royalties, which is all I care about. 5 chapters are available for free and the rest of the book costs US $15.

Anyway, I know most people are far more bothered about spoilers than I am, so all I'm going to say is that the middle of Chapter 11 has me crying my eyes out. Damn, but I wasn't expecting that!

May post a few random snippets - single sentences that are totally unspoilery. So far, my favourite of those has to be Jin wondered who Gregor was. Miles-san’s insurance boss? Which will make no sense whatsoever until you read the book, so I feel thoroughly justified in posting it! I'm also quite amused by Ptah-hotep is a louse!

I need to go to bed. I was resisting buying this electronic version of the book until I'd got some more work done, but who am I kidding? New Vorkosigan book (ok, with typos, formatting issues and a few corrections needed), and I am like putty. Sod sorting out my sleep pattern, that'll have to wait another day.

Comments

[jinian.livejournal.com]

OMG, why must I find this out at 12:30am my time?

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Sorry about that, but I need people to get it and read it so I have someone to talk about it with!

Some more not-spoilers:
* Miles and Ekaterin now have 4 children of their own - a boy and three girls.
* The main characters other than Miles and Roic are, with the exception of one familiar face, all people we've never met before on a planet we've never seen before - and it doesn't matter, you'll still be rooting for them.
* Unexpected Mark action! Doing what Mark does best!
* Have tissues handy for the middle of Chapter 11 and the end of Chapter 20.
* Chapter 21 is told entirely in drabbles.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Actually, those count as things I would prefer not to know, as surprise details are one of the fun parts of reading things myself.

[ailbhe]

"the end of Chapter 20."

Holy shit.

[ailbhe]

Advance Reading Copy?

(OMG)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Or Advanced Review Copy, either one.

[ailbhe]

I feel like Ramona when she said "Drop Everything And Run."

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, they're both correct, and yours is a bit more common.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

I need people to get it and read it so I have someone to talk about it with!

Some more not-spoilers:
* Miles and Ekaterin now have 4 children of their own - a boy and three girls.
* The main characters other than Miles and Roic are, with the exception of one familiar face, all people we've never met before on a planet we've never seen before - and it doesn't matter, you'll still be rooting for them.
* Unexpected Mark action! Doing what Mark does best!
* Have tissues handy for the middle of Chapter 11 and the end of Chapter 20.
* Chapter 21 is told entirely in drabbles.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

ARCs are to be sent out to critics, so that reviews of the book can be available when the book hits the shelves.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Aha. So they're being sold directly to fans to prevent the bootleg trade in review copies of books? That makes sense.

The impression I had was that they were the version of the book given to the author to proof and review, which didn't seem quite right.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

They're sold directly to fans because fans want them. And because fans will do what you're doing: review them. You're not giving spoilers, but you ARE telling us, who are all potential buyers of the book, that it's worth us spending our money on, too.