Australian Kindle users will have to pay at least 20 per cent more than Americans for books on the Amazon e-book readers and the local publishing industry has expressed serious reservations about supporting the gizmo.

International users already have to pay $US20 ($22) more for the device itself, which begins shipping on October 19 for $US279.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shows off his baby. Credit:Reuters

And despite promising on its website that there are "no additional charges" for delivering books to overseas users, an Amazon spokesman told The Guardian that the average e-book would cost $US13.99 for foreign customers, 40 per cent more than the American price of $US9.99.

(UPDATE - Amazon has clarified that while EU customers will pay $US13.99 for major book releases, Australians will be offered a lower $US11.99 price - a 20 per cent increase on the price Americans pay. Some books, however, will sell to Australians at a premium higher than this.)