Absolute Gadget: How is the Sony Reader going to change the way people read books?
Toby Young: I'm not sure it'll change the way people read books but it may change the way books are published. I think that authors should get on board with ebooks because in future established authors will be able to simply publish their work themselves. They can upload ebooks onto their websites and charge people to download them onto their electronic book readers. And instead of taking 10 to 15 per cent of the purchase price, which is the position authors are in at the moment, they'll be able to take 100 per cent of the retail price and cut publishers and agents out of the equation completely. Their only costs will be paying someone to convert their book into something which is downloadable in ebook form, or perhaps to type it into their computers if they haven't done so already. There might be a few marketing costs, but they'll be negligible. And there are first time authors as well…

AG: Will it have a YouTube aspect where anybody can upload stuff?
Assuming ebooks catch on, I imagine it'll have the same effect on the world of publishing that blogging has had on the world of journalism. Essentially you're cutting out the filtering device whereby only established voices are able to speak and first time authors will simply be able to make their books available to anyone with an ebook reader without having to first get an agent and a publishing deal.

AG: And if it's easy to get your stuff out there and it's good, it should rise to the top?
Exactly.

AG: Does the device make it look like you're turning the page?
The Reader is about the size of a mass market paperback book and after you switch it on there are two buttons on the right hand side for turning the pages – forwards and backwards.

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