You know, the guy who only posts about how ebooks are changing the world for the better and in the future all writers will poop gold bricks.

Here are two articles I came across today that articulate the two sides of the Amazon argument better than I can (or want to):

Is Amazon Short-Changing Authors?

It’s a fascinating article. Contrast the tone of the headline and the copy with the actual content. The tone is one of fear and mistrust, even though the quotes are overwhelmingly positive about Amazon and e-publishing. I would almost suspect that this was a propaganda piece by Big Publishing except that it’s from PBS, and I’ve heard very similar fear-laced concerns from other established authors.

This post on Konrath’s blog almost seems like a direct response to the above:

The Bogeyman and the Axe Murderer

I am watching this paradigm shift in writing and distribution and publishing with much curiosity. I am very optimistic about the new opportunities for writers, though wary of the hyperbole, and sad to see the paper-based book trade that I’ve known my whole life disappear. (For those who say that books will never go away, I agree, but it will be more like how vinyl has never gone away–in ten years, I predict that paper books will only exist as fetish items for people like me who love the feel and smell of the “real” thing. Normal people will read their books on Kindles and iPads, and think I’m weird for paying $50 for dead trees.) So no, I haven’t drank the kool-aid, but I see the writing on the wall. And this change could be very beneficial for writers–if we can seize the moment.