UC Santa Cruz puts Heinlein archives online! (and RIP: Robert Jordan)

[thewayne]

But apparently they are not free, they seem to be about $3 a pop. They'll contain not only Heinein's writing, but also notes and correspondence.

http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_6945542

http://www.heinleinarchives.net/upload/

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/21/0227240


And while we're on the topic of dead authors, Robert Jordan (AKA James Rigney), has died. I've always wanted to read the Wheel of Time series, just haven't gotten around to it. Apparently he died of a condition (Amyloidosis) with similarities to Alzheimer's, only it forms in other parts of your body. In Rigney's case, it seemed to be is heart.

http://www.tarvalon.net/news.asp?article=501

http://www.tarvalonforums.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60407&sid=d12773238f558096982d6de6369b58e8

Comments

[vaudy.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever seen a digital collection that charged for items in the collection, but I suppose it makes a big difference that you're actually downloading items to your computer, not just viewing them on the website, which is how most digital collections work (that I've seen or heard of). And since Heinlein's published work isn't public domain, they couldn't allow people to freely download manuscripts.

At any rate, considering the size of the files (the one I looked at was over 1,000 pages), $3 is a steal compared to what it would cost to photocopy the same documents if you visited the digital collection (a pretty common practice for scholars, so they have something to refer to--and take notes on--when they no longer have access to the physical collection).

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good thing overall. People interested in source documents have access, and reasonable fees are charged to help defray costs. Researchers generally have some fundage, so they're covered.

People who own web sites know the internet is not free and your $20-$50ish a month only pays your ISP, it doesn't go to the sites.

[ateji.livejournal.com]

Given that he's dictated the rest of the story to his wife, cousin, and probably half of Tor books... might as well give it a read. ;)

It's been my favorite fantasy series since high school.

(And every time I think of it now, I get sad. I'm never going to be able to see the guy at a signing again and there's no way I can express how much the series has done for me, in terms of keeping my friends together over the years.)

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

I'm certain that he knew that he touched a lot of lives.