Well-said, Brian Keene

[yendi]

I'd been mostly out of the loop regarding the situation with Bad Moon Press and the homophobic comments made by their publisher (mainly because I enjoy reading Shocklines about as much as I enjoy the Asimov's boards), but Brian Keene's response is a damned fine one (and links to some of the original posts on the subject, for those needing to catch up).

Comments

[drewshi.livejournal.com]

You might want to edit that as I definitely have a problem with anyone who is "hobophobic". I mean, what has a hobo ever done to anyone?

[boutell.livejournal.com]

Oh absolutely, I meant to comment on that too until I got distracted... or I guess it's un-distracted... by the actual issue. Two ADDs make an attention span!

[yendi]

Ack! Yeah, I've been playing too much Kingdom of Loathing.

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Damn hobos, always refusing to give enough items!

[boutell.livejournal.com]

This is my first exposure to this particular tempest.

What I find odd is that Keene is in such a hurry to emphasize that this is not a call for a boycott. I understand the distinction he's making— "we're not saying that other people can't or shouldn't buy stuff, we're just saying that we are not buying stuff." But really, what's wrong with calling for a boycott? It's not as if you're putting a gun to anybody's head when you tell them not to buy something.

Some people confuse passionate moral suasion with something... big-brotherly... and there's no reason to. OMG I am being persuaded!

[yendi]

I suspect that part of the problem with calling for a boycott -- as was the case with Sanders and the Helix situation -- is that many fine and good authors are already under contract at Bad Moon, and were under contract long before they had any idea that their publisher was a loon. Calling for a boycott is effectively telling fans to not only take money out of the publisher's pocket, but the pockets of the authors as well.

[boutell.livejournal.com]

I see what you're saying. By boycotting without "boycotting," they are taking a more measured step, something that gives the publisher a chance to consider apologizing before he creates a bad situation both for himself and for others.

[lovingboth]

Hmm, how much do the authors make on royalties rather than the advance? US royalty payments on books are awful...

The odd bit to me is the 'x won't anthologise anything published by the bigot'. Aren't the authors on 'first publication' contracts, so they get the cash when someone else publishes the work?

[stevietee.livejournal.com]

BREAKING NEWS: Orson Scott Card Signs Lifetime Contract With Bad Moon Press; Publisher 'Just Makes Sense,' Says Author

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

Well, Bad Moon's door will not be darkened by the likes of my work, for what little that's worth. I appreciate hearing about these things, because, at the end of the day, I want to sell words, but I do not want my words to be linked with fools.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

Other than the fool that is my own damned, foolish self.