"Commodore: a Company on the Edge" released! (fwd)
"Commodore: a Company on the Edge" released! (fwd)
----------------Original message----------------
From: Brian Bagnall
Date: 29-Nov-2010
Hi everyone.
I’m happy to report that my new book, Commodore: a Company on the Edge, is now available from VariantPress.com. This is a heavily reworked edition with about 40% new material. Before starting this project I made a list of everything that I would have liked to include in the first edition. The main areas I wanted to work on were: more interviews to fill in gaps in the story, reorder the material chronologically, and add more period photographs. It was very important to me to put all this material in the right order so readers could read a coherent, chronological retelling of Commodore history. This time you can relive the Commodore experience in real-time.
Originally, the goal was to keep the same page count as the first edition. That turned out to be overly optimistic. After 15 new interviews and a lot of new stories, plus numerous pictures, there was no way to make it all fit. As a result, the story has been split in two. The first book ends in 1984 when Jack Tramiel is forced out of the company and the next book will focus on the Amiga years and Commodore’s eventual demise.
There are many new firsthand interviews:
Brian Dougherty – GEOS developer
John Feagans – PET developer
Andy Finkel – Commodore game developer
Bill Gardei – C65 systems engineer
Neil Harris – Commodore game developer and marketing
Manfred Kapp – Commodore cofounder
Dale Luck – Amiga developer
Bill Mensch – 6502 and 65816 designer
Dick Sanford – Chief Financial Officer of Commodore
Bill Seiler – PET, VIC-20 systems engineer/surfer
Kit Spencer – Commodore’s marketing guru
Yash Terakura – Commodore Japan engineer
Michael Tomczyk – VIC product manager and marketing
Plus additional fact-checking interviews with Chuck Peddle, Bil Herd and Bob Yannes. I did get a chance to talk with Jack Tramiel briefly but didn't get any new material from him unfortunately.
I don't want to ruin too many surprises, but I will mention a few things. First, thanks to John Feagans, an avid photographer, the book is populated with outstanding period photographs. One of the biggest surprises for me was finding out that current Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata started his career programming VIC-20 games for Commodore Japan. The book digs deeper into actor William Shatner’s association with Commodore and reveals some interesting tidbits. There is also a firsthand account of the horrifying PET Jet disaster. Lots of new changes like that.
The book will be available in stores in about a month. If you need it for Christmas, you can get it immediately from my publisher, Variant Press, which distributes signed copies from its website.
http://www.variantpress.com
From: Brian Bagnall
Date: 29-Nov-2010
Hi everyone.
I’m happy to report that my new book, Commodore: a Company on the Edge, is now available from VariantPress.com. This is a heavily reworked edition with about 40% new material. Before starting this project I made a list of everything that I would have liked to include in the first edition. The main areas I wanted to work on were: more interviews to fill in gaps in the story, reorder the material chronologically, and add more period photographs. It was very important to me to put all this material in the right order so readers could read a coherent, chronological retelling of Commodore history. This time you can relive the Commodore experience in real-time.
Originally, the goal was to keep the same page count as the first edition. That turned out to be overly optimistic. After 15 new interviews and a lot of new stories, plus numerous pictures, there was no way to make it all fit. As a result, the story has been split in two. The first book ends in 1984 when Jack Tramiel is forced out of the company and the next book will focus on the Amiga years and Commodore’s eventual demise.
There are many new firsthand interviews:
Brian Dougherty – GEOS developer
John Feagans – PET developer
Andy Finkel – Commodore game developer
Bill Gardei – C65 systems engineer
Neil Harris – Commodore game developer and marketing
Manfred Kapp – Commodore cofounder
Dale Luck – Amiga developer
Bill Mensch – 6502 and 65816 designer
Dick Sanford – Chief Financial Officer of Commodore
Bill Seiler – PET, VIC-20 systems engineer/surfer
Kit Spencer – Commodore’s marketing guru
Yash Terakura – Commodore Japan engineer
Michael Tomczyk – VIC product manager and marketing
Plus additional fact-checking interviews with Chuck Peddle, Bil Herd and Bob Yannes. I did get a chance to talk with Jack Tramiel briefly but didn't get any new material from him unfortunately.
I don't want to ruin too many surprises, but I will mention a few things. First, thanks to John Feagans, an avid photographer, the book is populated with outstanding period photographs. One of the biggest surprises for me was finding out that current Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata started his career programming VIC-20 games for Commodore Japan. The book digs deeper into actor William Shatner’s association with Commodore and reveals some interesting tidbits. There is also a firsthand account of the horrifying PET Jet disaster. Lots of new changes like that.
The book will be available in stores in about a month. If you need it for Christmas, you can get it immediately from my publisher, Variant Press, which distributes signed copies from its website.
http://www.variantpress.com
Amazing. What's even more amazing is that this must mean there are people willing to pay that much for itBarney wrote:Finally.....to Hell with all those shmucks charging over $100 bucks for this book on Amazon.
Bacon
-------------------------------------------------------
Das rubbernecken Sichtseeren keepen das cotton-pickenen Hands in die Pockets muss; relaxen und watschen die Blinkenlichten.
-------------------------------------------------------
Das rubbernecken Sichtseeren keepen das cotton-pickenen Hands in die Pockets muss; relaxen und watschen die Blinkenlichten.
-
- Vic 20 Scientist
- Posts: 1193
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:51 pm
At the moment, I'm not even sure if I'm willing to pay £28 inc. shipping for it.Bacon wrote:Amazing. What's even more amazing is that this must mean there are people willing to pay that much for itBarney wrote:Finally.....to Hell with all those shmucks charging over $100 bucks for this book on Amazon.
It's a book that appeals to me, but there's still something that's stopping me from clicking on the Pay Now icon.
-
- Pinballer
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:26 am
Maybe if the author took his time the first time around to plan out what he wanted to achieve before jumping into writing the first book, then later putting earlier chapters like on the KIM-1 on his website for readers to download and having a poorly edited version go to print and now have the reader pay another cost in 2 volumes again to make up for the above, one wouldn't be hesitant to buy a copy (I know I am and I loved the first book minus the poor editing)...English Invader wrote:At the moment, I'm not even sure if I'm willing to pay £28 inc. shipping for it.
It's a book that appeals to me, but there's still something that's stopping me from clicking on the Pay Now icon.
Should of have been done right the first time and both the writer (in time and effort) and readers (in costs) wouldn't be paying for it all over again....
- orion70
- VICtalian
- Posts: 4341
- Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:45 am
- Location: Piacenza, Italy
- Occupation: Biologist
I'm eagerly waiting for it, especially for the new sections, interviews, and pictures .
Just received a mail:
Just received a mail:
I chose airmail - it's a Xmas gift for myself...Thank you for ordering "Commodore: a Company on the Edge". Your order
shipped on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 (sorry for the late notification).
Approximate shipping times are as follows:
USA and Canada: 5 to 10 days
International (Ground): 2 to 6 weeks (Australia takes longer)
International (Air): 6 to 10 days
Tell all your friends about the book!
Best wishes,
Variant Press