And then Seanan made a request.

[seanan_mcguire]

This is not an anti-piracy post. I want to get that out there right up front. I am anti-piracy, but I don't really want to argue the situation right now, and I understand that it's complicated and all that. So this is not an anti-piracy post.

So here's the thing.

As is always the case when a new book is released, the illegal downloads for Sparrow Hill Road are popping up like mushrooms after the rain. They seem to be quite healthy, too. Swell; hopefully that means sales will be good. It definitely means that people are reporting them to me, because that's part of the circle of piracy. Which also means that some...other...links are getting reported to me.

Including the downloads for the original Edge of Propinquity stories.

I am aware that some people, on seeing me type that, will go "oh yay I can read them." And I am begging you: please don't. Please do not download these stories. Please do not save these stories. If you have them as historical artifacts, well, I can't stop you from doing that, but I would be much happier if you deleted them.

"Silly author, not understanding that the internet is forever!" No, I understand completely that the internet is forever. There's nothing in those stories that I'm ashamed of. The bulk of them have been preserved in the new volume, cleaned up and edited and improved by additional material. I'm not trying to hide anything. But those stories are out of canon, and I've been fielding emails and comments for the last two weeks about "but this contradicts..." or "but this story that isn't collected here says...". They've picked up in volume in the last two days.

So this isn't an anti-piracy post: it's a "please stop downloading what is essentially an early draft, and is out of canon, and is making me tear my hair out" post. You're not missing anything good by leaving it alone. You're just missing a lot of confusion about what year Rose actually died. And you're missing out on Mary and Amy entirely.

Really.

Comments

[juglore.livejournal.com]

I read the ebook on ibooks on my iPad because English didn't have enough words starting with vowels. Then I see mention of the earlier version and I am all 'ooh must go see.' But Seanan said not to. I will try to be good. It is all I can promise.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I would really, really, really appreciate it if you didn't. I knew that this was a human impulse that would be triggered by this post, but as I've already had three people tell me they didn't know I didn't want the old stories floating around out there, I thought it was worth it.

Please. You are literally missing nothing.

[dragonsally.livejournal.com]

It amazes me how quickly this happens. I guess it shouldn't, but it does.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

It just makes me tired.

[dragonsally.livejournal.com]

I am incredibly frustrated by the fact that I can't get it for my Kindle yet, at least here in Australia. Stupid geo-restrictions. Doesn't make me want to pirate it though, because I believe authors should be paid for their books.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I agree re: stupid geo-restrictions. But this isn't about pirating the book, it's about "please don't download the old, outdated short stories."

[libris-leonis.livejournal.com]

"This isn't about piracy, it's about having a continuity and a canon that's less messy than Batman's, please. Please let me have that. Please."

Seems more than reasonable to me!

[ginger]

How does the song "Pretty Little Dead Girl" fit in? Or, I suppose I should ask, does it fit in, or is it more of an alternative universe thing?

[kyrielle]

I loved those stories when they first came out, but I'm thrilled to have Rose's story told as you want it told, slowly and happily reading thru my book.

To those who didn't see the old stories already, I'd say that so far I recommend doing what Seanan suggests. The book has the shiny bits, and more. Rose is awesome - meet her at her best. :)

[archangelbeth]

On Twitter, IIRC, "Pretty Little Dead Girl" is the "Lies, All Lies" version. (Mind, I happen to think that version is also awesome, but then I hold just about the entire Tenchi Muyo-verse in my head at once as well, so multiple continuities/AUs is something I can totally accept. Especially when things are marked as canon/non-canon.)

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

I paid the real moneys for this book.
I barely do that any more because of my evil connections and many obligations.
This book is worth the real moneys.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

if one downloads pirated edtions of books by authors that we adore, then said authors do not get paid for their work, and have to sleep in their cars with their pets. So, I am all for your cats to live in the style that they demand.. grin.

[jennifer-brozek.livejournal.com]

I deleted them off The Edge of Propinquity back when it was necessary. I'm really sorry the old stories are popping up. The new Sparrow Hill Road book is fabulous and should be read.

[harvey-rrit.livejournal.com]

"But it's canon from Ringworld that the Earth turns from east to west!"

(Gott helfen.)

[marcmurphy.livejournal.com]

I agree

[jenk]

I think of it as the "Urban legends that grew up around Rose." Which, again, "Lies, all lies."

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

Oh dear god that is terrible, I'm so sorry.

[lazzchan.livejournal.com]

D: You asked and asked and asked for people to delete the old stories, because of how you've expanded her stories in Sparrow Hill Road. This is quite disheartening. I loved every bit of Sparrow Hill road and have no urge to go hunting for stories that you've asked to be forgotten. The only 'canon' I giggle and wonder about is the Fran-and-Johnny/Alice storyline in Buckley Township (cause as soon as you mentioned /that/ town, I stared at my book in glee) and the Bourbon Street, cause Rose can get yoinked from one end to another. With cheeseburgers.

But it's not a "oh, this must be right and this must be wrong and oh what are you doing Seanan with all this wibbly wobbly timeline stuff" cause y'know-- it's her storyline and her timeline and what is in Sparrow Hill Road goes for Rose.

*hugs and gives you a fresh batch of pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies and the heads of those that have wronged you on a silver platter. Well... separate platters. No blood in the cookies*

[ginger]

ah! Thanks for the clarification :)

[anne_d]

I enjoy seeing the creative process in action, watching the story evolve. But at the same time, I understand why you don't need people reading the finished work and wanting to know why this or that changed.

Bottom line is, it's your work, your rules. I respect you, and I respect your wishes, and I'll do exactly as you asked.

By the way, I am in the middle of Sparrow Hill Road, and enjoying it immensely, in that "so good it makes me want to cry" sort of way.

[jesslynh.livejournal.com]

No piracy here. I am proud to say that I'm enjoying both the audio and Kindle versions of Sparrow Hill Road. I do have to say that someone needs to kick the person who decided NOT to use the book cover for the audio version in the shin. I passed that sucker up twice when looking to buy it. It's pretty bad but the contents make up for it.

[museclio]

I've read both. I didn't go back and re-read and I certainly didn't go poking for inconsitency. And Mary and Amy are *awesome*.

[dragondances.livejournal.com]

I am sorry. I feel that I was probably one of the ones contributing to your stress on this point, and that was completely in no way my intention. I loved Rose already because of the initial stories, and specifically hadn't re-read them since I found out that you didn't want us to (they're just stuck in my brain). But of course I recognize that the published universe is REAL canon and anything you cut was done because it was what was right for the book and for Rose and that you obviously know what you're doing.

I didn't realize bringing up the other stories would make you sad. I love the book. I'm sorry. :(

[tikiera.livejournal.com]

I can understand not wanting people confused about canon.

And this post had an unintended side effect. I hadn't realize how different the book was from the stories, so this was on my 'buy eventually' not my 'buy as soon as possible' list.

Knowing there are changes means it's on my 'buy as soon as possible' list.

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've read the previous stories, but I wouldn't go looking for them unless I really really really needed a Seanan McGuire fix because I had read everything else, the author was dead, and I wanted every precious word. And, luckily, that is in no way the case, and I can (once I hie my tush to the bookstore for the week) buy the new book and luxuriate in all the awesome. I really enjoyed Rose's appearance in the InCryptid series, and if there's more of that, then woo hoo!