Abstract :
What, if anything, will be the role of publishers in a world in which books are formatted by their authors, distributed electronically, and read online? The success of e-books has spawned a boom in self-publishing, with the possibility that just as musicians now depend not on recording contracts but self-promotion for concert revenues, authors will depend on direct sales to readers rather than having their books packaged by publishers. Readers can expect more choice and lower prices, but writers will face a continued struggle.
