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  1. Opinion

Frankenbooks: new term for e-books

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  • Published Jul 26, 2010 3:13 pm KST
  • Updated Jul 26, 2010 3:13 pm KST

Dear editor,

As someone who enjoys reading on paper, whether it be a newspaper or a magazine or a book, I have coined the term ``frankenbooks" as a new word for e-books and e-readers.

I am using the term with humor, but also in a serious manner, and also as part of what we might call a cautionary tale, since device readers and e-books are here to stay, like them or not. I just hope ``frankenbooks" do not replace paper books completely. If that happens, we've lost the game.

At the same time, I like reading the news on screens, and using our screen technology to post letters like this one. I am not an anti-Internet Luddite.

In fact, I like both paper and screens, and we need a balance.

Hopefully, the term ``frankenbooks" will make readers pause and think in which direction we are going. Toward the light, or toward the darkness, I'm still not sure.

Danny Bloom Taiwan danbloom@gmail.com