Why Michael Chabon, new Nebula winner, should love e-books—even if his Alaska book isn’t even out in E yet

By David Rothman

Congratulations to Michael Chabon, author of The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, for nominations for the Edgar, Hugo and Nebula within relevant categories. In fact, as noted in Media Bistro’s Galley Cat blog, he’s already a Nebula winner.

Now here’s the e-book angle. TYPU fits not just within the mystery genre (the Edgar) but also the SF-and-fantasy area (the Hugo and Nubla). It is, after all, alternate history. During World War II, the U.S. donates land for a temporary Jewish settlement in the then-territory of Alaska; and within the settlement, a murder takes place. Couldn’t e-help, since it’s a lot easier to juggle around electrons than the atoms of a multi-genre book?

E-stores vs. p-stores

At an old-fashioned paper bookstore or library, just where do you put TYPU? On the mystery shelf? The SF-and-fantasy-one? Perhaps both, but then you’re taking away space from other books.

But at an online e-book store? TYPU can show up in a number of categories without this problem. Of course, there might be less space for other titles on the Web pages for most-featured titles, but the hassles are fewer—you would not be reducing the number of titles carried. Same for e-libraries.

The medium for hyphenated books

E-books, in fact, as shown by the abundance of vampire-romances, SF-thrillers and so on, are the medium to think about for hyphenated genres.

HarperCollins, Chabon’s publisher, should be making hay with E, right?

Now the kicker–no e-book of TYPU, apparently.

And now the kicker: So far I can’t find an e-book edition of TYPU, not even in the Kindle format. Am I missing something? What’s taking HarperCollins so long? Is Chabon or his agent resisting, or the problem in-house? Strange. Isn’t HarperCollins supposed to be open to experimentation? In fact, timely releases of e-books at this point are hardly just an experiment at many publishers. Come on, HarperCollins. Get with it or at least explain the apparent delay in releasing Chabon’s TYPU in E.

A reminder: Nothing against old-fashioned p-stores. Or p-libraries. But the cross-genre area is one place where E shines.

Related: Chabon’s Minimal Presence Web site (plus earlier version), Google news roundup on Cabon, Technoratti blog roundup, and the Nebula home page. The Nebula ceremony happened on Saturday.