The book business has changed forever. Here's how it happened.

Got a minute? Check out the book trailer here.

In 1998, Richard Curtis--an old-school literary agent famous for his work on behalf of science-fiction, fantasy, thriller, and other genre authors--attended the first meeting of the Electronic Book Workshop. He listened to a roomful of geeks rapturously describing how they’d make the world’s great literature freely available on screens . . . until he finally stood up to break the bad news: “Have any of you ever heard of something called copyright?” 

Sound familiar? The collision between high-tech visioneering and the age-old world of authors scratching out words on paper to enthrall audiences continues with today's battles over A.I. The enduring question: Will we find a way to take full advantage of the amazing powers of technology . . . while defending the rights of authors and the power of human creativity?

Richard Curtis wasn't just an observer of this battle. He helped shape it. He founded one of the first e-book publishers (even before Kindle had been developed) and fought for years with publishers and tech titans to make sure authors got a full share of the benefits.

In DIGITAL INC., which Rivertowns Books will publish on January 6, 2026, Richard tells the whole story, against the colorful backdrop of a book business in upheaval (from conglomeratization, consolidation, digitization, and more). I can tell you that, as a participant in publishing since the 1980s, I learned a hell of a lot that I didn't know from Richard's account. And I laughed out loud more than once at his descriptions of the crazy conflicts that erupt when nerds and scribblers go to war over a 500-year-old industry.

If you care about books, bookselling, or publishing, you will get a kick out of DIGITAL INC.