Theos-Talk Archives (June 2012 Message tt00004)

It is good to see the publication. However, it is list priced at $50.00 and
I do not know how many copies will be sold at this price, say in next one
year. The sales in developing countries is going to be very little since
most students coming from middle class background cannot afford it.

The recent anti trust litigation in US revealed that publishers sell to
wholesalers and retailers at 50% discount. I am sure TPH is also offering
the same discount to wholesalers and retailers. I do not know if any long
time dues paying theosophist was able to buy TPH publications at this
discount. More often one has to go to online book sellers to get a better
price break than you can get from the publisher.

Putting out a pdf version is a snap. Already the original is in electronic
format and converting it to a searchable pdf can be done within 30 minutes
by running it through Acrobat. Traditionally publishers (including
theosophical publishers) are not interested in putting out a pdf file. Even
if one buys a hard copy, it can be converted to a pdf file in a couple of
hours.

The pdf file has several advantages. Firstly, it can be searchable by word
or sequence of words which is a great facility. No need for warehousing and
shipping and handling. Hosting for download is quite inexpensive. It is
easily portable. Does not take much space in a thumb drive and you can
carry it with you. The font size in display can be increased helping those
with poor vision. (We have many very old theosophist pioneers who will
benefit by it.). The blind can use it by programs which convert text to
audio. There are even automatic translation programs which can translate to
other languages, even though the translation is not going to be average.
The upcoming generation is used to digital medium more than print medium
and the future is with the current young generation and within a couple of
decades most of us will be gone to bardo.

Many of the movers and shakers who are responsible for theosophical
publication decisions belong to pre-computer era and are still firmly
wedded to print business model, even though it is crumbling as can be seen
in what is happening in print industry. I do know know how to open up their
eyes so that they can see the reality of what is going on in the print
industry. If they do not move fast enough, today's inexpensive scanners is
going to do the job of making material available to digital aficionados.

Let us wait and see.


On Sat, Jun 2, 2012 at 5:39 PM, Daniel <danielhcaldwell@AwvD6li4GyLrY3Fas8oAe4AGycb_FM7TuYSRAyeBkfLzBDOdK-YqfOuq5gHbUCyWdNH1xoKy6pDbgZaxHhjlCZI.yahoo.invalid> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Theosophical Encyclopedia on the Web
>
> The print edition of the Theosophical Encyclopedia was published in 2006
> (Philip S. Harris, Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr., and Richard W. Brooks, eds.
> Theosophical Encyclopedia. Quezon City, Philippines: Theosophical
> Publishing House, 2006. Pp. vii + 729). It was greeted with praise as "the
> most comprehensive single source of Theosophical knowledge ever published,"
> with articles covering "a vast array of
> different topics in useful depth." Another reviewer recommended, "It would
> be good to see this available online."
>
> The good news is that the recommended online version is now under
> preparation. A new, expanded and even more improved version of the
> Theosophical Encyclopedia is being edited by John Algeo (General Editor),
> Vicente Hao Chin Jr. (Associate Editor), and Robert Ellwood (Consulting
> Editor). The expanded online edition will contain both
> totally new articles and updates of those in the print edition. The print
> Theosophical Encyclopedia is a compilation of 1,200 articles by 110
> authors. The online version will greatly exceed that, adding many new
> articles, all with sharp focus on Theosophical relevance and comprehensive
> coverage.
>
> See: http://theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Main_Page
>
> The print version can still be bought at:
>
> Quest Books, Wheaton, Illinois, USA
> http://www.questbooks.net/title.cfm?bookid=1895
>
> OR AT
>
> The Theosophical Society in the Philipines
> http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo.html
>
> Daniel
> Blavatsky Study Center
> http://hpb.cc
>
>  
>


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