Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

Main

Date: 05 Sep 2007 08:34:05
From: samsloan
Subject: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

Take a look at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0923891889

Date: 11 Sep 2007 09:12:42
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 11, 10:34 am, "[email protected]"
> I trust that with Sam's connection to the USCF, the USCF's connection
> to Chess Life, and Chess Life's connection to Pal Benko, that he
> couldn't be up to too many shenanigans with Benko's columns-into-book.
> My guess is that Benko owns reprint rights of his columns (or got them
> easily) and that Sam wouldn't publish without the GM's ok. (I hope he
> has PB's ok.)
>
> Rick

Rick, don't you think it would be an easy task for those 'men'
screaming about copyright violation to contact GM Benko, rather than
assume their usual poseur-role as defender of chess? Sloan stated he
was publishing the book on Benko's behalf and with his permission.

Date: 11 Sep 2007 08:34:20
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

Rob,

Yeah, "work for hire" can be quite a grab, although I suspect you have
it even tougher in the music business.

In the late '70s I did a truck load of writing for the community
mental health center I was working for at the time, including a good
number of scripts for psycho-social dramas (I remember "Jane Doe,
Attorney at Law" -- a soapy series of episodes with bogus commercials
interspersed, that we presented at local, regional and national
conferences, and eventually filmed -- quite fondly) only to learn that
the whole opus was "worke for hire" and not mine. Live and learn.

I trust that with Sam's connection to the USCF, the USCF's connection
to Chess Life, and Chess Life's connection to Pal Benko, that he
couldn't be up to too many shenanigans with Benko's columns-into-book.
My guess is that Benko owns reprint rights of his columns (or got them
easily) and that Sam wouldn't publish without the GM's ok. (I hope he
has PB's ok.)

Rick

Date: 11 Sep 2007 04:22:40
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 11, 6:06 am, The Historian <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Sep 11, 5:38 am, "[email protected]"
>
>
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Doesn't the USCF and CHess Life own those articles since they were
> > > work for hire? If they do, then isn't Sloan in violation of copyright?
>
> > Rob,
>
> > Just curious -- what makes you think Benko's articles were "work for
> > hire" (a technical term regarding ownership of copyright of produced
> > work)?
>
> > As far as I know, during the time the "Endgame Laboratory" articles
> > were published in Chess Life, the usualy arrangement for magazines was
> > the publication of "first North American serial rights" or somesuch.
> > If so, Benko would have retained rights for further publication.
>
> > Or did CL columnists have a different kind of arrangement?
>
> > Chess Life occasionally published a story of mine (and School Mates, a
> > lot of stories, interviews and miscellanea) and republication was
> > never an issue.
>
> > If I recall correctly, a few (5?) years ago CL changed its acquisition
> > policy and began buying all rights. Still, I'd bet they'd ok
> > republication if asked to add something like "first published in Chess
> > Life on such-and-such a date".
>
> > Rick
>
> I agree, Rick. I don't see this as work for hire at all. Material from
> Chess Life often is reprinted under covers - Soltis, Evans, and Keres,
> to name three writers, have had column collections available. And
> Benko's columns have already been reprinted at least once.

Rick and Neil,
I really don't know what arrangements the USCF had at that time. I am
only familiar with work for hire. It can fall under a broad umbrella..
The "for hire" has been found to include work in exchange for any
thing of value( free memberships, ect)

In the song publishing business the author retains some rights(unless
signed away) but the publisher retains control of the work. If it is
somehow different with books, I dont know. I will yeild to someone
with greater knowledge on this than myself.
Rob

Date: 11 Sep 2007 15:35:24
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

"Rob" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sep 11, 6:06 am, The Historian <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Sep 11, 5:38 am, "[email protected]"
>>
>>
>>
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > > Doesn't the USCF and CHess Life own those articles since they were
>> > > work for hire? If they do, then isn't Sloan in violation of
>> > > copyright?
>>
>> > Rob,
>>
>> > Just curious -- what makes you think Benko's articles were "work for
>> > hire" (a technical term regarding ownership of copyright of produced
>> > work)?
>>
>> > As far as I know, during the time the "Endgame Laboratory" articles
>> > were published in Chess Life, the usualy arrangement for magazines was
>> > the publication of "first North American serial rights" or somesuch.
>> > If so, Benko would have retained rights for further publication.
>>
>> > Or did CL columnists have a different kind of arrangement?
>>
>> > Chess Life occasionally published a story of mine (and School Mates, a
>> > lot of stories, interviews and miscellanea) and republication was
>> > never an issue.
>>
>> > If I recall correctly, a few (5?) years ago CL changed its acquisition
>> > policy and began buying all rights. Still, I'd bet they'd ok
>> > republication if asked to add something like "first published in Chess
>> > Life on such-and-such a date".
>>
>> > Rick
>>
>> I agree, Rick. I don't see this as work for hire at all. Material from
>> Chess Life often is reprinted under covers - Soltis, Evans, and Keres,
>> to name three writers, have had column collections available. And
>> Benko's columns have already been reprinted at least once.
>
> Rick and Neil,
> I really don't know what arrangements the USCF had at that time. I am
> only familiar with work for hire. It can fall under a broad umbrella..
> The "for hire" has been found to include work in exchange for any
> thing of value( free memberships, ect)

Also about 5 years ago NY Times instituted the controversial claim to
copyright all contents of the newspaper, without exception. Thereby all
contributions by staff or freelance writers became work for hire.

The only issue here is who owns the copyright, and who protects the
copyright? If Benko owns it, does USCF protect it? I believe the first is
true, but don't know about the second. If Benko gives permissions in advance
to use his work, then USCF merely need to note reprints are authorised.

As to the matter of CL's format, this is far harder to claim as
copyrightable, since there is nothing particularly original about the
format. I think CL probably /could/ successfully sue to prevent facsimile
editions being produced, but of what worth is that to anyone? it would also,
imo, have to argue that CL lost something of value by others using it's
format as facsilimile - but i don't think USCF have published a book for
yonks, and have no current plans to do so

> In the song publishing business the author retains some rights(unless
> signed away) but the publisher retains control of the work. If it is
> somehow different with books, I dont know. I will yeild to someone
> with greater knowledge on this than myself.

Things have changed a bit in these digital times. It usally makes little
difference to the writer who owns copyright unless the work is to be further
reproduced; either anthologised, serialised, or can be recombined with the
work of others without the originator's permission or even knowledge! [that
was the journalistic beef at NY Times.]

eg: if you want to take all your columns and extract in part or entirely for
a book, then you cannot do this under work-for-hire arrangements, but the
publisher could! and besides, since publisher already paid you, you don't
get a cent more! now that chess authors are going digital they naturally
want to recycle material in new formats to represent them

so: bottom line here is really only if advanced permssion has been gained
from estate-of-Benko for in-copyright material?

phil innes

> Rob
>

Date: 11 Sep 2007 04:06:05
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 11, 5:38 am, "[email protected]"
<[email protected] > wrote:
> > Doesn't the USCF and CHess Life own those articles since they were
> > work for hire? If they do, then isn't Sloan in violation of copyright?
>
> Rob,
>
> Just curious -- what makes you think Benko's articles were "work for
> hire" (a technical term regarding ownership of copyright of produced
> work)?
>
> As far as I know, during the time the "Endgame Laboratory" articles
> were published in Chess Life, the usualy arrangement for magazines was
> the publication of "first North American serial rights" or somesuch.
> If so, Benko would have retained rights for further publication.
>
> Or did CL columnists have a different kind of arrangement?
>
> Chess Life occasionally published a story of mine (and School Mates, a
> lot of stories, interviews and miscellanea) and republication was
> never an issue.
>
> If I recall correctly, a few (5?) years ago CL changed its acquisition
> policy and began buying all rights. Still, I'd bet they'd ok
> republication if asked to add something like "first published in Chess
> Life on such-and-such a date".
>
> Rick

I agree, Rick. I don't see this as work for hire at all. Material from
Chess Life often is reprinted under covers - Soltis, Evans, and Keres,
to name three writers, have had column collections available. And
Benko's columns have already been reprinted at least once.

Date: 11 Sep 2007 03:38:06
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

> Doesn't the USCF and CHess Life own those articles since they were
> work for hire? If they do, then isn't Sloan in violation of copyright?

Rob,

Just curious -- what makes you think Benko's articles were "work for
hire" (a technical term regarding ownership of copyright of produced
work)?

As far as I know, during the time the "Endgame Laboratory" articles
were published in Chess Life, the usualy arrangement for magazines was
the publication of "first North American serial rights" or somesuch.
If so, Benko would have retained rights for further publication.

Or did CL columnists have a different kind of arrangement?

Chess Life occasionally published a story of mine (and School Mates, a
lot of stories, interviews and miscellanea) and republication was
never an issue.

If I recall correctly, a few (5?) years ago CL changed its acquisition
policy and began buying all rights. Still, I'd bet they'd ok
republication if asked to add something like "first published in Chess
Life on such-and-such a date".

Rick

Date: 10 Sep 2007 22:19:11
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 10, 4:44 pm, Rob <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Sep 7, 9:35 am, The Historian <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Sep 7, 9:25 am, help bot <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > On Sep 7, 5:30 am, The Historian <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > > > > The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> > > > > > at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> > > > > > perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> > > > > > no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> > > > > > Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> > > > > > ISBN number and a barcode.
>
> > > > > Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
> > > > > photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
> > > > > bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
> > > > > figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds
>
> > > > > http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp
>
> > > > > in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
> > > > > 1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
> > > > > that's with no shopping or anything.
>
> > > > I don't think the goal here was to make a collection of photocopies,
> > > > Paul.
>
> > > Like, duh!
>
> > > > > > The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> > > > > > was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> > > > > > high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> > > > > > is mass produced.
>
> > > > > > However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> > > > > > had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9.
>
> > > If you just shrink the text from full size down to 6x9
> > > it seems to me that everything will get smaller, more
> > > difficult for oldsters like me to read. That is, unless
> > > you are using a text-recognition program and doing
> > > a complete reformat, which increases the number of
> > > pages significantly.
>
> > > > > > So the question of whether
> > > > > > I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> > > > > > depend on the success of this volume.
>
> > > > > Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.
>
> > > Too easy. That would be like climbing Mt. Everest by
> > > being dropped near the top via helicopter. OTOH, you
> > > still need to get back down... scratch that analogy!
>
> > > > 6 by 9 is a common size for books, Paul.
>
> > > > I don't understand the venom Mr. Sloan is drawing for his publishing
> > > > efforts. His chess books get attacked on the newsgroups without being
> > > > seen. I understand being leery of ordering one because of Sloan's
> > > > reputation, but he's publishing, or republishing, interesting titles
> > > > at reasonable prices.
>
> > > I don't know, but aside from the negativity toward Mr.
> > > Sloan himself there is the fact that these things are
> > > just re-hashes of other people's work, where Mr. Sloan
> > > gets his name on the cover as "editor", right?
>
> > I don't know. None of the posters in this thread have seen the book.
>
> > > > Has anyone purchased any of Sloan's chess books? I believe there's
> > > > another collection of endgames and a Weaver Adams title. Comments by
> > > > someone who has seen the books are welcome.
>
> > > One of the things a self-publisher type can do is
> > > get a print-on-demand service, which only cranks
> > > out the books as needed. In that setup, if no books
> > > sell you are not stuck with say, a thousand copies
> > > which cost five bucks apiece to print. But the cost
> > > is higher, so I would go with the normal, cheaper
> > > method and just be a bit conservative in how many
> > > you print.
>
> > > -- help bot- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Neil,
> Doesn't the USCF and CHess Life own those articles since they were
> work for hire? If they do, then isn't Sloan in violation of copyright?
>
> Rob

You know, when I saw that it was Chess Life material being reprinted,
I was thinking of asking about that possibility, but I thought better
of even bringing it up. I figured the flame wars around here didn't
need any more fuel. Mr. Sloan does claim to have the backing of the
original author on this project, so I can only hope that Mr. Benko has
already addressed this with USCF beforehand.

--Richard

Date: 10 Sep 2007 13:59:19
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Sam Sloan publishes new book

On Sep 10, 4:34 pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> I'm getting a 50% cut from Benko's book so please buy 3 copies each.

This posting by the Fake Sam Sloan uses
NNTP-Posting-Host: 207.200.116.7

That is the same IP address that is being used by the Fake Ray Gordon.

The Real Sam Sloan

Date: 10 Sep 2007 13:53:26
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Sam Sloan publishes new book

On Sep 10, 4:34 pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> I'm getting a 50% cut from Benko's book so please buy 3 copies each.

The above of course is by The Fake Sam Sloan, so please ignore it.

The Real Sam Sloan

Date: 10 Sep 2007 13:44:09
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 7, 9:35 am, The Historian <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Sep 7, 9:25 am, help bot <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Sep 7, 5:30 am, The Historian <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > > > The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> > > > > at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> > > > > perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> > > > > no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> > > > > Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> > > > > ISBN number and a barcode.
>
> > > > Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
> > > > photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
> > > > bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
> > > > figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds
>
> > > > http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp
>
> > > > in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
> > > > 1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
> > > > that's with no shopping or anything.
>
> > > I don't think the goal here was to make a collection of photocopies,
> > > Paul.
>
> > Like, duh!
>
> > > > > The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> > > > > was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> > > > > high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> > > > > is mass produced.
>
> > > > > However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> > > > > had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9.
>
> > If you just shrink the text from full size down to 6x9
> > it seems to me that everything will get smaller, more
> > difficult for oldsters like me to read. That is, unless
> > you are using a text-recognition program and doing
> > a complete reformat, which increases the number of
> > pages significantly.
>
> > > > > So the question of whether
> > > > > I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> > > > > depend on the success of this volume.
>
> > > > Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.
>
> > Too easy. That would be like climbing Mt. Everest by
> > being dropped near the top via helicopter. OTOH, you
> > still need to get back down... scratch that analogy!
>
> > > 6 by 9 is a common size for books, Paul.
>
> > > I don't understand the venom Mr. Sloan is drawing for his publishing
> > > efforts. His chess books get attacked on the newsgroups without being
> > > seen. I understand being leery of ordering one because of Sloan's
> > > reputation, but he's publishing, or republishing, interesting titles
> > > at reasonable prices.
>
> > I don't know, but aside from the negativity toward Mr.
> > Sloan himself there is the fact that these things are
> > just re-hashes of other people's work, where Mr. Sloan
> > gets his name on the cover as "editor", right?
>
> I don't know. None of the posters in this thread have seen the book.
>
>
>
> > > Has anyone purchased any of Sloan's chess books? I believe there's
> > > another collection of endgames and a Weaver Adams title. Comments by
> > > someone who has seen the books are welcome.
>
> > One of the things a self-publisher type can do is
> > get a print-on-demand service, which only cranks
> > out the books as needed. In that setup, if no books
> > sell you are not stuck with say, a thousand copies
> > which cost five bucks apiece to print. But the cost
> > is higher, so I would go with the normal, cheaper
> > method and just be a bit conservative in how many
> > you print.
>
> > -- help bot- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Neil,
Doesn't the USCF and CHess Life own those articles since they were
work for hire? If they do, then isn't Sloan in violation of copyright?

Rob

Date: 10 Sep 2007 13:34:57
From: samsloan
Subject: Sam Sloan publishes new book

I'm getting a 50% cut from Benko's book so please buy 3 copies each.

Date: 10 Sep 2007 07:03:51
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 7, 6:30 am, The Historian <[email protected] > wrote:
> I don't understand the venom Mr. Sloan is drawing for his publishing
> efforts. His chess books get attacked on the newsgroups without being
> seen. I understand being leery of ordering one because of Sloan's
> reputation, but he's publishing, or republishing, interesting titles
> at reasonable prices.
>
> Has anyone purchased any of Sloan's chess books? I believe there's
> another collection of endgames and a Weaver Adams title. Comments by
> someone who has seen the books are welcome.

I know that in the case of his reprint of a Russian book from the
Soviet era, there was a debate about whether or not Mr. Sloan was
violating a copyright. Sloan contended that Soviet copyrights are no
longer binding or something like that. I don't know the letter of the
law or all the details, but if you have to look for a loophole to
publish something, I'd say that you're definitely violating the spirit
of the law, if not the letter. I would think he should have talked to
the original writer/publisher before reprinting that one.

In this case, it sounds like GM Benko asked Mr. Sloan to publish these
books for him. This was probably because of Sloan's experience as a
publisher, knowledge of how to get books listed on amazon.com, etc.
Since this one is fully endorsed by the original author, I can only
imagine that everyone's complaining because they don't like Sloan, and
not because of the details of this particular book.

As for whether or not I own any of Sloan's books, I actually have his
"Chinese Chess for Beginners", which is one of the few books that he
wrote himself. The syntax is out of date, but it's a very good
introduction to the game of XiangQi for anyone who's interested.

--Richard

Date: 07 Sep 2007 07:35:13
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 7, 9:25 am, help bot <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Sep 7, 5:30 am, The Historian <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > > > The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> > > > at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> > > > perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> > > > no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> > > > Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> > > > ISBN number and a barcode.
>
> > > Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
> > > photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
> > > bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
> > > figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds
>
> > > http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp
>
> > > in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
> > > 1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
> > > that's with no shopping or anything.
>
> > I don't think the goal here was to make a collection of photocopies,
> > Paul.
>
> Like, duh!
>
> > > > The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> > > > was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> > > > high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> > > > is mass produced.
>
> > > > However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> > > > had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9.
>
> If you just shrink the text from full size down to 6x9
> it seems to me that everything will get smaller, more
> difficult for oldsters like me to read. That is, unless
> you are using a text-recognition program and doing
> a complete reformat, which increases the number of
> pages significantly.
>
> > > > So the question of whether
> > > > I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> > > > depend on the success of this volume.
>
> > > Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.
>
> Too easy. That would be like climbing Mt. Everest by
> being dropped near the top via helicopter. OTOH, you
> still need to get back down... scratch that analogy!
>
> > 6 by 9 is a common size for books, Paul.
>
> > I don't understand the venom Mr. Sloan is drawing for his publishing
> > efforts. His chess books get attacked on the newsgroups without being
> > seen. I understand being leery of ordering one because of Sloan's
> > reputation, but he's publishing, or republishing, interesting titles
> > at reasonable prices.
>
> I don't know, but aside from the negativity toward Mr.
> Sloan himself there is the fact that these things are
> just re-hashes of other people's work, where Mr. Sloan
> gets his name on the cover as "editor", right?

I don't know. None of the posters in this thread have seen the book.

> > Has anyone purchased any of Sloan's chess books? I believe there's
> > another collection of endgames and a Weaver Adams title. Comments by
> > someone who has seen the books are welcome.
>
> One of the things a self-publisher type can do is
> get a print-on-demand service, which only cranks
> out the books as needed. In that setup, if no books
> sell you are not stuck with say, a thousand copies
> which cost five bucks apiece to print. But the cost
> is higher, so I would go with the normal, cheaper
> method and just be a bit conservative in how many
> you print.
>
> -- help bot

Date: 07 Sep 2007 07:25:20
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 7, 5:30 am, The Historian <[email protected] > wrote:

> > > The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> > > at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> > > perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> > > no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> > > Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> > > ISBN number and a barcode.
>
> > Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
> > photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
> > bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
> > figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds
>
> > http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp
>
> > in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
> > 1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
> > that's with no shopping or anything.
>
> I don't think the goal here was to make a collection of photocopies,
> Paul.

Like, duh!

> > > The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> > > was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> > > high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> > > is mass produced.
>
> > > However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> > > had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9.

If you just shrink the text from full size down to 6x9
it seems to me that everything will get smaller, more
difficult for oldsters like me to read. That is, unless
you are using a text-recognition program and doing
a complete reformat, which increases the number of
pages significantly.

> > > So the question of whether
> > > I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> > > depend on the success of this volume.
>
> > Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.

Too easy. That would be like climbing Mt. Everest by
being dropped near the top via helicopter. OTOH, you
still need to get back down... scratch that analogy!

> 6 by 9 is a common size for books, Paul.
>
> I don't understand the venom Mr. Sloan is drawing for his publishing
> efforts. His chess books get attacked on the newsgroups without being
> seen. I understand being leery of ordering one because of Sloan's
> reputation, but he's publishing, or republishing, interesting titles
> at reasonable prices.

I don't know, but aside from the negativity toward Mr.
Sloan himself there is the fact that these things are
just re-hashes of other people's work, where Mr. Sloan
gets his name on the cover as "editor", right?

> Has anyone purchased any of Sloan's chess books? I believe there's
> another collection of endgames and a Weaver Adams title. Comments by
> someone who has seen the books are welcome.

One of the things a self-publisher type can do is
get a print-on-demand service, which only cranks
out the books as needed. In that setup, if no books
sell you are not stuck with say, a thousand copies
which cost five bucks apiece to print. But the cost
is higher, so I would go with the normal, cheaper
method and just be a bit conservative in how many
you print.

-- help bot

Date: 07 Sep 2007 03:30:04
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 6, 12:15 pm, Paul Rubin <http://[email protected] > wrote:
> samsloan <[email protected]> writes:
> > > > Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> > > > obtained yours.
>
> > > > Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> > > > who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> > > > any more.
>
> > > That guy had the only xerox machine in the world? I doubt it.
>
> > The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> > at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> > perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> > no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> > Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> > ISBN number and a barcode.
>
> Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
> photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
> bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
> figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds
>
> http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp
>
> in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
> 1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
> that's with no shopping or anything.

I don't think the goal here was to make a collection of photocopies,
Paul.

> > The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> > was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> > high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> > is mass produced.
>
> > However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> > had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9. So the question of whether
> > I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> > depend on the success of this volume.
>
> Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.

6 by 9 is a common size for books, Paul.

I don't understand the venom Mr. Sloan is drawing for his publishing
efforts. His chess books get attacked on the newsgroups without being
seen. I understand being leery of ordering one because of Sloan's
reputation, but he's publishing, or republishing, interesting titles
at reasonable prices.

Has anyone purchased any of Sloan's chess books? I believe there's
another collection of endgames and a Weaver Adams title. Comments by
someone who has seen the books are welcome.

Date: 06 Sep 2007 12:43:59
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 6, 12:15 pm, Paul Rubin <http://[email protected] > wrote:
> samsloan <[email protected]> writes:
> > > > Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> > > > obtained yours.
>
> > > > Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> > > > who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> > > > any more.
>
> > > That guy had the only xerox machine in the world? I doubt it.
>
> > The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> > at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> > perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> > no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> > Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> > ISBN number and a barcode.
>
> Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
> photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
> bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
> figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds
>
> http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp
>
> in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
> 1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
> that's with no shopping or anything.
>
> > The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> > was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> > high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> > is mass produced.
>
> > However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> > had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9. So the question of whether
> > I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> > depend on the success of this volume.
>
> Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

This way Paul he can claim to have "reinvented" the wheel!

Date: 06 Sep 2007 05:44:27
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 6, 4:16 am, Paul Rubin <http://[email protected] > wrote:
> samsloan <[email protected]> writes:
> > I believe that you are probably referring to the 8.5 x 11 bound
> > photocopies of his old columns. These are referred to as the "Gray
> > Book" and the "Green Book".
>
> > Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> > obtained yours.
>
> > Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> > who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> > any more.
>
> That guy had the only xerox machine in the world? I doubt it.

The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.

Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
ISBN number and a barcode.

In short, it would have made no economic sense to try to reproduce the
Gray Book.

The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
is mass produced.

However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9. So the question of whether
I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
depend on the success of this volume.

I have just uploaded the cover to Amazon this morning so you can take
another look now to see what it looks like.

Sam Sloan

Date: 06 Sep 2007 10:15:55
From: Paul Rubin
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

samsloan <[email protected] > writes:
> > > Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> > > obtained yours.
> >
> > > Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> > > who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> > > any more.
> >
> > That guy had the only xerox machine in the world? I doubt it.
>
> The "Gray Book" of Benko columns had 254 pages. Just to photocopy that
> at five cents a page would cost $12.70. Plus it had a basic cover and
> perfect binding but no introduction, no index, no table of contents,
> no pictures, no biography of Benko, no ISBN number and no barcode.
>
> Nowadays, most bookstores will not accept a book for sales without an
> ISBN number and a barcode.

Benko gave all of his lectures in bookstores? I doubt that. Anyway,
photocopying would have been around 2 cents a page with the tiniest
bit of shopping, and even a dork like you has got the ISBN thing
figured out. There is even something called "teh Google" which finds

http://booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/requestestimate.asp

in about 15 seconds. That quotes $6.93/copy for 500 copies, $4.03 for
1000 copies, 8.5" by 11", 256 pages perfect bound, 1-color cover. And
that's with no shopping or anything.

> The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
> was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
> high resolution 600 dpi scanner. It is also cheaper to produce as it
> is mass produced.
>
> However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
> had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9. So the question of whether
> I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
> depend on the success of this volume.

Why not print it at full size then. Sheesh.

Date: 06 Sep 2007 18:30:43
From: J�rgen R.
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

[...]
>
>The Gray Book also did not have a very attractive appearance. My book
>was created by scanning the original Chess Life articles with a very
>high resolution 600 dpi scanner.

LOL - very high resolution? Would you like to know why the result
looks so shoddy?

> It is also cheaper to produce as it
>is mass produced.
>
>However, it took a massive amount of work to get it done as every page
>had to be re-formatted to get it onto 6x9. So the question of whether
>I will do volume 2 which would cover the years 1987 through 1993 will
>depend on the success of this volume.
>
>I have just uploaded the cover to Amazon this morning so you can take
>another look now to see what it looks like.
>
>Sam Sloan

Date: 06 Sep 2007 04:52:20
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 6, 3:16 am, Paul Rubin <http://[email protected] > wrote:
> samsloan <[email protected]> writes:
> > I believe that you are probably referring to the 8.5 x 11 bound
> > photocopies of his old columns. These are referred to as the "Gray
> > Book" and the "Green Book".
>
> > Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> > obtained yours.
>
> > Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> > who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> > any more.
>
> That guy had the only xerox machine in the world? I doubt it.

Paul, don't shine the light of truth too closely on Mohamed's
freakishly stupid claims. It might scare the bats in his belfry and we
would have more guano from him that is usual!

LOL

Rob (Which-Mitch)

Date: 05 Sep 2007 18:09:04
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 5, 5:42 pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Sep 5, 1:37 pm, SBD <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > On Sep 5, 10:34 am, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today
>
> > > Take a look athttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0923891889
>
> > Sam, is this a new collection of updated columns or the one some of us
> > purchased some years ago?
>
> > I would buy either, since my old copies fell apart some years ago and
> > are preserved in a loose-leaf notebook, but more description of the
> > product would be nice.
>
> I believe that you are probably referring to the 8.5 x 11 bound
> photocopies of his old columns. These are referred to as the "Gray
> Book" and the "Green Book".
>
> Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> obtained yours.
>
> Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> any more.
>
> My book just printed today is re-formatted into a 6x9 book plus it has
> a table of contents and an index which the Gray Book and the Green
> Book did not have. The Gray Book covered the years 1981 to 1990 so
> every column in my book is also in the Gray Book but I feel that you
> will find my book to be much more useful because it will fit on a
> normal bookshelf and it is better bound, has a much better cover, has
> a brief biography and pictures of Benko, has a table of contents and
> an index and will not fall apart over time as you report has happened
> to your copy of the Gray Book.
>
> Sam Sloan

Point #1:

I defended Louis Blairs censureship of Sams postings on WIkipedia..

Point#2:

I questioned SLoansactions and HIPPA and EEOC violations leading him
to be censured and pubically reprimanded by the board.

Point#3:

I questioned SLoan about the material on his website and pointed out
how tastless and offensive it is to many people and degrading to women
and children.

Sloan then banned me from posting in his newsgroup yet he still sends
me emails from his newsgroup! I have requested he cease many times. If
I get any more solicitations from his group without an opportunity to
respond I will contact YAHOO and begim actions to having his group
disolved.

Below is the latest email from his group.
###############################################################
To: [email protected]
From: "samhsloan" <[email protected] > Add to Address BookAdd to
Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by
yahoogroups.com. Learn more
Date: Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:44:15 -0000
Subject: [fide-chess] Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has
just been
published

On Sep 5, 1:37 pm, SBD <DrD...@gmail. com > wrote:

> On Sep 5, 10:34 am, samsloan <samhsl...@gmail. com> wrote:

> > Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

> > Take a look athttp://www. amazon.com/ dp/0923891889

> Sam, is this a new collection of updated columns or the one some of us
> purchased some years ago?

> I would buy either, since my old copies fell apart some years ago and
> are preserved in a loose-leaf notebook, but more description of the
> product would be nice.

I believe that you are probably referring to the 8.5 x 11 bound
photocopies of his old columns. These are referred to as the "Gray
Book" and the "Green Book".

Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
obtained yours.

Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
any more.

My book just printed today is re-formatted into a 6x9 book plus it has
a table of contents and an index which the Gray Book and the Green
Book did not have. The Gray Book covered the years 1981 to 1990 so
every column in my book is also in the Gray Book but I feel that you
will find my book to be much more useful because it will fit on a
normal bookshelf and it is better bound, has a much better cover, has
a brief biography and pictures of Benko, has a table of contents and
an index and will not fall apart over time as you report has happened
to your copy of the Gray Book.

Sam Sloan

__._,_.___

Date: 05 Sep 2007 15:42:41
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 5, 1:37 pm, SBD <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Sep 5, 10:34 am, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today
>
> > Take a look athttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0923891889
>
> Sam, is this a new collection of updated columns or the one some of us
> purchased some years ago?
>
> I would buy either, since my old copies fell apart some years ago and
> are preserved in a loose-leaf notebook, but more description of the
> product would be nice.

I believe that you are probably referring to the 8.5 x 11 bound
photocopies of his old columns. These are referred to as the "Gray
Book" and the "Green Book".

Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
obtained yours.

Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
any more.

My book just printed today is re-formatted into a 6x9 book plus it has
a table of contents and an index which the Gray Book and the Green
Book did not have. The Gray Book covered the years 1981 to 1990 so
every column in my book is also in the Gray Book but I feel that you
will find my book to be much more useful because it will fit on a
normal bookshelf and it is better bound, has a much better cover, has
a brief biography and pictures of Benko, has a table of contents and
an index and will not fall apart over time as you report has happened
to your copy of the Gray Book.

Sam Sloan

Date: 06 Sep 2007 01:16:28
From: Paul Rubin
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

samsloan <[email protected] > writes:
> I believe that you are probably referring to the 8.5 x 11 bound
> photocopies of his old columns. These are referred to as the "Gray
> Book" and the "Green Book".
>
> Benko used to sell these at his lectures which is probably where you
> obtained yours.
>
> Unfortunately, Benko sold out of these several years ago and the man
> who made them for him has changed jobs and lacks the capacity to make
> any more.

That guy had the only xerox machine in the world? I doubt it.

Date: 05 Sep 2007 20:08:54
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

Date: 05 Sep 2007 17:37:37
From: SBD
Subject: Re: Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today

On Sep 5, 10:34 am, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> Pal Benko's Endgame Laboratory has just been published today
>
> Take a look athttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0923891889

Sam, is this a new collection of updated columns or the one some of us
purchased some years ago?

I would buy either, since my old copies fell apart some years ago and
are preserved in a loose-leaf notebook, but more description of the
product would be nice.