The Sword and Laser discussion

If this has been discussed elsewhere on the forums, forgive me, but why on earth did Tor books not release the ebook edition at the same time as the print edition?

This is a decision that makes no sense to me.

I picked up my copy at Costco on Tuesday. Just finished. I have to say that it was worth the wait. I don't know that all the strings were tied up, but the major ones were. I'm going to re-mourn Jordan's death though. I'd like to ask him a question or two about the futures of some of the characters.

Terez wrote: "If this has been discussed elsewhere on the forums, forgive me, but why on earth did Tor books not release the ebook edition at the same time as the print edition?

This is a decision that makes no..."

Israel gave the reason but consider that if Harriet had her way the e-book wouldn't be out until January of 2013. It took a lot of coaxing by Sanderson, who is extremely e-book friendly, to get her to agree to April.

Finished the book. Loved it, and sad to see the series over. Would love to see some 4th age books written. Maybe his estate can open it up for other authors to play in.
Seems like most story threads got tied up. Only real complaint I have is the epilogue. Can see why the 1st part was necessary, it's the way the ending, ending ended. Seems unnecessarily cruel for some characters, and vaguely up in the air for others. Don't want to say too much, don't want to spoil it. But I really want some 4th age books to further explore what some characters did after. Was mostly satisfied with the book until the final few paragraphs.

Snokat wrote: "Finished the book. Loved it, and sad to see the series over. Would love to see some 4th age books written. Maybe his estate can open it up for other authors to play in.
Seems like most story thre..."

Doubt there will ever be any more books.

Harriet gets final say in everything and she is adamant that there will be no sequels because she wants it to remain wholly RJ's vision, especially since he didn't lay out any plans for sequels. He had mentioned that he thought he would do some but Sanderson has said the only thing committed to paper was two sentences about an idea. Sanderson agrees that there should be no sequels.

There could be prequels though. In the same interview where Sanderson said there absolutely would never be sequels he basically said they weren't planning any prequels. Thats obviously a much less emphatic no. Prequels would be different because Sanderson or some author would have a basic outline based on things that RJ wrote about. You know a Tam prequel will be about his time in Aiel War and finding baby Rand. You know a Lews Therin prequel would be about the original war against the shadow, etc.

As to the ending I think Sanderson was sort of stuck not explaining what characters did after since RJ didn't specify and Sanderson and Team Jordan didn't want to make up things on their own. Still though its not that bad. Of the major characters we know who lived, we know who died, and of the secondary characters we also know most of their fates.

Rik wrote: "Terez wrote: "If this has been discussed elsewhere on the forums, forgive me, but why on earth did Tor books not release the ebook edition at the same time as the print edition?

This is a decision..."

You mean 2014 right? If it was 2013, it would have already been out.

I feel the same about ebooks as Harriet does.

My arm hurts a little from holding up such a big book for so many hours today as I finished. It's a good hurt and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I can't wait to have Mr. Sanderson sign my copy (hopefully). I'd feel silly asking him to sign my tablet and just signing a piece of paper wouldn't be the same.

Then again, I'm not a big fan of ebooks.