Osmar Schindler’s “David und Goliath” (Wikipedia)

There has been a lot of buzz spilled over the purported “David vs. Goliath” battle between publisher Hachette and sales amazon Amazon, as well as how Amazon’s sales tactics affect not only the book publishing industry but readers as well. So this week we explain it in the appropriate biblical terms by presenting:

The Book of Bezos of Amazon

I. Genesis

In the beginning, there were Books. And those who thirsted for knowledge, or even a light summer read, thought that they were Good.

And there was much turning of pages in the land, and folding down of little corners to keep their places; the people did enjoy their Books, even unto the underlining of racy passages in pencil when no one was looking.

And the two tribes known as the Authors and the Publishers prospered, and there was happiness in the land.

II. The Magician, Bezos of Amazon, Cometh Upon the Scene

It came to pass that the Magician, Bezos of Amazon, did come upon the world, and he began to supply the people with a goodly number of Books through a form of witchcraft called Mail Order.

The people became entranced by the speed at which Bezos of Amazon did deliver the Books forthwith; and the people rejoiced in the pricing structure, which saved them shekels hand over fist when compared with brick-and-mortar Book merchants.

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(Wikipedia)

But, lo, even as the people cheered the delivery speed and the One-Click Ordering that Bezos of Amazon had conjured, they cried out for more.

The people of the land did beat their chests, and gnash their teeth, and wail, “If only we had a way to have a Book in our hands the very second it occurs to us that we want to read it.”

Bezos of Amazon heard the cries of the people and he did roll his eyes and say, “Really? Overnight delivery isn’t fast enough for you? M’k.”

So the Magician brought forth the talisman known as the Kindle and, more importantly, the eBook, which did live inside the Kindle.

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(Wikipedia.de)

And the people, who were bewitched by the unlimited number of eBooks that they could now read at once, rejoiced further that they no longer had to sacrifice the lamb or the stoat to be able to afford the newest James Patterson page-turner in hardcover.

And an evil plan did hatch in Bezos’ mind.