Monday, October 14, 2013

Neil Gaiman : the future of books, reading and libraries

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/14/neil-gaiman-children-books-reading-lecture

Gaiman said most of the publishing industry was trying to figure out what is going to happen in five or 10 years. "None of them know. All of the rules have changed … they are just making it up as they go along."
Gaiman said physical books were here to stay. He recalled a conversation with Douglas Adams more than 20 years ago in which Adams said a real book was like a shark. "Sharks are old, there were sharks in the ocean before the dinosaurs and the reason there are still sharks around is that sharks are better at being sharks than anything else is. Physical books are tough, hard to destroy, bath-resistant, solar operated, feel good in your hand – they are good at being books and there will always be a place for them.