Here in the last three days of the last Duthie bookstore with the sad staff diaspora and the final dispersal of effects, discussions often turn to the future of the book, sparking messianic futurisms, dogmatisms and ‘anti-new’ ‘we will never switch!’ attitudes. Relax, no-one is going to take away or burn your books; reading will not cease. Though Duthies is now gone there are still a few independents left, and librairies and book clubs and the amazing internet -- global public access to almost everything and much of it free!
Books will not stop being published though maybe publishers will become more discerning about what is published in hard copy. Millions of units of books are shredded every year, textbooks are quickly out-dated, read-once-only magazines go to recycling and papers for firestarter.
There will be lots of very cheap remainders soon.
The Kindle is becoming more noticeably ubiquitous but I am waiting for the ipad. The Kindle’s grey background looks grubby, even if they do say it’s easier on the eyes. I read some Proust, Dumas, and even Lucy Maud Montgomery, on the iphone while travelling last year; they were instantly downloaded, completely legible, read-in-the-dark, saves-your-place, complete books with classic Apple fine design for page layout and navigation tools. The pages actually turn and rustle!!! The ipad will be the book killer app. I embrace it enthusiastically.
Max and the White Phagocytes by R.B. Kitaj 1932
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