More on ebooks

Last November we discussed whether Arthur Ransome's books would be released as ebooks. It looks as though Random House is planning to do that soon.

See http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/33585

Yes, that's right: all twelve Swallows and Amazons novels are being released as e-books.  At this stage we're expecting that they'll come out in two tranches during the (Northern Hemisphere) summer, but the final arrangements, dates, etc, are currently being finalised. I'm just waiting to hear those details from Random House so that we can dovetail the news from the AR Lit Estate in with the publisher's publicity - hopefully this will be before the TARS AGM at the end of this month.

Excellent news. I welcome this as an extremely positive step for children's ebooks. A shame you can't get them for free by proving you've already purchased at least 2 copies of all the print editions!

Seems like you need the advanced search to hunt through just ebooks (pick from the 'format' list): http://www.rbooks.co.uk/advanced_search.aspx 

I see they are also embracing print on demand.

To update this thread, we're now anticipating that all twelve books will be published at the end of June. IE one tranche, rather than two. I've posted more details on the Arthur Ransome Trust website, here. Random House's detailed announcement should follow soon.

ITunes downloads have arrived earlier today!!  Six together including Swallows and Amazons but no Secret Water.

I've just been informed by Random House that they have discovered some minor problems with the e-books released to retailers on 30 June. As a result they are withdrawing these pending correction. New versions should be available next week. Apologies for the rushed notice here, but I've posted more details on the Arthur Ransome Trust for anyone interested

Geraint
(Executor, Arthur Ransome Literary Estate) 

Just a quick update to say that the Swallows and Amazons series e-books are now back on sale.