AAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!! Limnos missing paragraphs

In a brand-new sort of errata, it turns out that most of the "chapters" in the new novella, "The Prisoner of Limnos", lost their final paragraphs somewhere in the formatting process.

We will be producing and uploading a corrected file just as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, for those who have already purchased, I know Amazon has a way of giving one new editions, which someone else here is going to have to explain -- I've never been able to make it work, myself, but maybe together we can figure it out.

I don't know what Nook and iTunes have in that mode.

Argh, L.

(E-helper says new files just went up; we'll see if it got fixed. Please do report.)

For a quick check to see which edition you have: the proper ending of Ch. 1 should be:

“Oh”—Pen exhaled—“nothing of importance now. Let’s go find Duke Jurgo.”
They exited the bookroom together, Nikys’s shorter steps for once outpacing Penric’s leggy stride.


***

Meanwhile, a reader advises: "When you are logged in on Amazon, look for 'Account & Lists' in the upper
right-hand corner. Hover the mouse over it and choose the option 'Your
Content and Devices.' That should give you a list of of your e-book
purchases.

The ones that have new files to get have a little button 'Update available'
at the very last column. Click that."


LMB comments, 5:30 PM Saturday: I can get to my content & devices page, but there is no such button yet in the last column. It may surface within an hour or so; if not, I'll be back to wailing for help.

Later still: E-helper advises that the correction button may take up to 24 hours to appear on Amazon's "Manage your content and devices" page. I still don't know what Nook and iTunes offer, if anything. (If anyone out there does know, please shout out.)

As a last resort, people may have to return the book and re-purchase.

DO NOT do this. Amazon just reloads the bad file on you. While simultaneously selling the good one to new purchasers. Which I think is insane. There is something very, very wrong deep in the bowels of their sales computers to manage this trick.

If anyone successfully manages to obtain the corrected version, let us know, and know how. (Later: see comments from posters below and under my next post about successes with the Kindle chat line.)

Later still: a reader below advises that the iTunes update button is working already -- if only people know to go check it, sigh. (Later: a Nook reader also reports victory. So that's 2 out of 3.)

7:20 PM: As an experiment, I tried downloading the Amazon file to a different device. Still got the bad one. This is not heartening.

Are new purchasers getting the good one or still the bad one? Inquiring mind wants to know.

8:30 PM. Any word from Nook users?

This is starting to read like "Dogs In Elk", only not as hilarious.

(Later: it occurs to me some people might not know the reference to dogs in elk, which you can get just by Googling the phrase, where the first link is this:

https://www.jerrypournelle.com/report... )
7 likes ·   •  69 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on October 28, 2017 14:16
Comments Showing 1-50 of 69 (69 new)    post a comment »

message 1: by Ed (new)

Ed Bear Can you identify which chapters to check, please? I didn't notice anything in the first three chapters. Thank you.


message 2: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Ed wrote: "Can you identify which chapters to check, please? I didn't notice anything in the first three chapters. Thank you."

Every chapter except 3, 17, and 18 were missing their final paragraphs. Formatting glitch, apparently, when the chapters were separated for the table of contents.

See my added note in the body of my post, above, for the quick-check.

It should be corrected in the re-upload, and going forward for anyone making purchase after this afternoon, but I'm not sure what to do about fixing it for the early adopters.

Ta, L.


message 3: by Ed (last edited Oct 28, 2017 03:39PM) (new)

Ed Bear I found the following page on Amazon's site: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/top...

I followed the instructions, and my KindlePC isn't updating.


message 4: by Jerri (new)

Jerri Well, I was one of the early purchasers on Amazon and am missing the test paragraphs. And the "update" box isn't available for Prisoner yet, but I did find an update box for Penric's Mission, which I hadn't been able to get way back when, although I gave up on that one as the changes seemed to me to be more minor, as I recall. But I will keep trying on this one. I want those final paragraphs! By the way, I have finished the first read of the novella and enjoyed it, although I do remember feeling that the transitions between chapters seemed a bit rough. Now I know why.


message 5: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Jerri wrote: "Well, I was one of the early purchasers on Amazon and am missing the test paragraphs. And the "update" box isn't available for Prisoner yet, but I did find an update box for Penric's Mission, which..."

Ed wrote: "I found the following page on Amazon's site: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/top...

I followed the instructions, and my KindlePC isn't updating."


My e-person just informed me that the update button may take up to 24 hours to appear. :-( I'll keep checking, and report when/if it does.

New purchasers should be OK; if not, I need to know ASAP.

I still don't know what Nook or iTunes have for this sort of dilemma. As a last resort, I suppose one could return the e-book and repurchase, but one would need to have heard about the glitch.

Ta, L.


message 6: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Jerri wrote: "Well, I was one of the early purchasers on Amazon and am missing the test paragraphs. And the "update" box isn't available for Prisoner yet, but I did find an update box for Penric's Mission, which... By the way, I have finished the first read of the novella and enjoyed it, although I do remember feeling that the transitions between chapters seemed a bit rough. Now I know why. "

Oh boy howdy, I'll bet they did! There are some extremely story-critical things in those missing paragraphs.

sigh, L.


message 7: by Ed (new)

Ed Bear My e-person just informed me that the update button may take up to 24 hours to appear. :-( I'll keep checking, and report when/if it does.

Thank you, ma'am. I can haz wait.


message 8: by Michael (new)

Michael Also in “Books by Lois McMaster Bujold Bujold” the second series listed is “The Challion Series” even though you say a few pages earlier that you prefer “World of the Five Gods” as a series title.


message 9: by DebL (new)

DebL I still don't know what Nook or iTunes have for this sort of dilemma. As a last resort, I suppose one could return the e-book and repurchase, but one would need to have heard about the glitch.

iTunes has the new version in Updates. I just downloaded it.


message 10: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold DebL wrote: "I still don't know what Nook or iTunes have for this sort of dilemma. As a last resort, I suppose one could return the e-book and repurchase, but one would need to have heard about the glitch.

iTunes has the new version in Updates. I just downloaded it.."


Oh, I'm so relieved! (You did check to see if it has the new (actually, original) chapter endings, yes?) I wish there were some more sure way of letting the early purchasers know to check.

Well, time will plow all of this kerfluffle under in due course. But it is very aggravating for the moment.

thanks, Lois.


message 11: by Softness (new)

Softness I purchased mine from Amazon. I haven't started reading yet because I'm waiting for the right moment. I'll go and check out the updated version.

It'll be okay. *warm thoughts* ^^


message 12: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Softness wrote: "I purchased mine from Amazon. I haven't started reading yet because I'm waiting for the right moment. I'll go and check out the updated version.

It'll be okay. *warm thoughts* ^^"


You may not be able to get at the update till that dratted update button deigns to appear. At any rate, do let us know when/if/how you succeed in getting the correct file.

Ta, L.


message 13: by Softness (new)

Softness I tried re-downloading it, but I don't have the correct version yet.

I'm patient. ^^


message 14: by Softness (new)

Softness Lois wrote: "You may not be able to get at the update till that dratted update button deigns to appear. At any rate, do let us know when/if/how you succeed in getting the correct file."

I will definitely let you know! ^^


message 15: by Softness (last edited Oct 28, 2017 05:34PM) (new)

Softness This is what my Manage Devices section looks like on Amazon. And there's no "update" button yet. ^^




message 16: by Lois (last edited Oct 28, 2017 05:31PM) (new)

Lois Bujold DebL wrote: "I still don't know what Nook or iTunes have for this sort of dilemma. As a last resort, I suppose one could return the e-book and repurchase, but one would need to have heard about the glitch.

iTunes has the new version in Updates. I just downloaded it."


Reassure me, please -- did you indeed get the corrected file, or are they fooling us again?

(15 out of 18 chapter endings should have additional paragraphs, if we managed to get it right.)

Note that I can't check myself, because no update button yet, grr.

fretting, L.


message 17: by DebL (new)

DebL Oh, I'm so relieved! (You did check to see if it has the new (actually, original) chapter endings, yes?) I wish there were some more sure way of letting the early purchasers know to check.

Yes, I checked. All present and accounted for.


message 18: by DebL (last edited Oct 28, 2017 05:37PM) (new)

DebL I had only made it to chapter 6 when I read about the snafu, but I checked that corrections were made to chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5. I can't check the rest because the update erases the original.


message 19: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold DebL wrote: "Oh, I'm so relieved! (You did check to see if it has the new (actually, original) chapter endings, yes?) I wish there were some more sure way of letting the early purchasers know to check.

Yes, I ..."


If the last lines of Ch. 7 read

Nikys nodded, satisfied. Everyone else kept staring.
“Dyes,” said Tanar after a moment. “Now that is something I might help with!”

you are probably good throughout.

So iTunes is fixed for sure, whew. One-third of the problem solved.

Ta and thanks, L.


message 20: by DebL (new)

DebL Yes, that’s what chapter 7 ends on.


message 21: by Bebe (new)

Bebe I just bought--8:50 pm on the east coast--and it isn't downloading. But I'm watching the Astros game so no problem!


message 22: by Softness (new)

Softness I tried a return and re-purchase on Amazon and that didn't update it. ^^


message 23: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Softness wrote: "I tried a return and re-purchase on Amazon and that didn't update it. ^^"

Huh. That's what I was going to try next. Thanks...

I wonder why that didn't work?

Puzzled, L.


message 24: by Bebe (new)

Bebe Bebe wrote: "I just bought--8:50 pm on the east coast--and it isn't downloading. But I'm watching the Astros game so no problem!"

I just sent it to my iPhone, and the first chapter does end with the words in your post. So there's that!


message 25: by Laura (new)

Laura Oh no! I'm sorry all this is going on. :( I'd be fretting too! (Or rather, supremely agitated indeed!)

I know I'm only one in a bunch, but I'm patient and will definitely hold off reading until I'm sure I have the correct version, per your example above. <3 I hope this gets straightened out quickly so you can settle into the joy of having it out there and knowing people are reading/loving the right copy!


message 26: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Bebe wrote: "Bebe wrote: "I just bought--8:50 pm on the east coast--and it isn't downloading. But I'm watching the Astros game so no problem!"

I just sent it to my iPhone, and the first chapter does end with t..."


Which vendor did you purchase from?

Ta, L.


message 27: by Bebe (new)

Bebe Lois wrote: "Bebe wrote: "Bebe wrote: "I just bought--8:50 pm on the east coast--and it isn't downloading. But I'm watching the Astros game so no problem!"

I just sent it to my iPhone, and the first chapter do..."


Yes, I realized I didn't say! I bought on Amazon, and got the complete chapters.


message 28: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Bebe wrote: "Lois wrote: "Bebe wrote: "Bebe wrote: "I just bought--8:50 pm on the east coast--and it isn't downloading. But I'm watching the Astros game so no problem!"

I just sent it to my iPhone, and the fir..."


Huh! I wonder why you got the good one, and Softness did not? This is very baffling.

(Still no update button, but I was told not to expect it till maybe tomorrow.)

Ta, L.


message 29: by Softness (new)

Softness Lois wrote: "Huh! I wonder why you got the good one, and Softness did not? This is very baffling."

I have all my "auto update" settings clicked on. I'll probably receive it when Amazon is good and ready. Whenever that may be.

In the meantime, I have my chocolate stash! ^^


message 30: by Ed (new)

Ed Bear I had to spend quite a while with Amazon support. They finally moved the corrected version into my account and I'm loading it into my reader even as I type.


message 31: by Lee (new)

Lee I bought it earlier today for Nook but hadn't looked at it yet. I checked now and it does have the correct end to chapter 1.


message 32: by Kathy (new)

Kathy Martin I'll check for the Update button at Amazon tomorrow. My chapter ends are missing. Note: After checking my Settings I see I have auto-update enabled but haven't received the new version yet.


message 33: by Lmmcintire (new)

Lmmcintire I purchased my copy from Amazon at about 10 am this morning but wasn't able to download until noon on my device. The first chapter has the appropriate ending and all subsequent chapters seemed complete. Sorry this worry has taken away some of the celebratory feeling of a new release. For me, it was a great way to spend a cozy Saturday. Thanks for once again a great story.


message 34: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Lmmcintire wrote: "I purchased my copy from Amazon at about 10 am this morning but wasn't able to download until noon on my device. The first chapter has the appropriate ending and all subsequent chapters seemed comp..."

Mm, I suppose I'd need to know what time zone you are in. It got corrected around 4 PM Central US, so something had at noon eastern-ish US should not have been fixed yet. *Most* of the early readers apparently thought it was complete, since nothing actually broke off in the middle of a sentence.

I owe a big, big thanks to the poster over on Facebook who was the only one to say, "Huh, that looks funny..." and caused me to buy an Amazon copy and start checking. Everyone else seemed to have blipped right over... that which was not there. Missing bits are a very hard sort of glitch to spot, if one hasn't read the thing before. Which means I won't be able to know for sure if they've all been caught till Amazon starts disgorging update files, sigh.

Ta, L.


message 35: by Ed (new)

Ed Bear Missing bits are a very hard sort of glitch to spot, if one hasn't read the thing before.

Missing anything, I fear. "The dog did nothing in the night. That was the strange thing."


message 36: by David (new)

David Larsen Little to add to what others have said above -- bought my copy on Amazon about an hour after you announced it was up, had the "Huh, that's odd" chapter end response multiple times, moved on, forgot it, loved the novella overall. Update button not visible yet.

But: while we're waiting for Amazon's servers to turn over in bed, I also notice that there are updates for several of the earlier P&D novellas, but not for Penric's Fox. Should there be one for that? I recall there were some minor glitches on the initial upload of that one too, though nothing on this scale.

(Thanks for these stories. Everything about the experience, from the stories themselves to the way they turn up every so often to getting to post feedback here in real time, is deeply satisfying.)


message 37: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Amazon Australia has the version with the correct ending to Chapter 1 :)

(Note: this was a new purchase, not me trying to update an older file...)


message 38: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold David wrote: "Little to add to what others have said above -- bought my copy on Amazon about an hour after you announced it was up, had the "Huh, that's odd" chapter end response multiple times, moved on, forgot..."

I don't recall as we got around to "Fox"; I'll have to cross-check later in the week when I've calmed down. There were a couple of significant errata, iirc.

I'm glad you are enjoying Pen & Des! I am too.

Ta, L.


message 39: by Judy (new)

Judy Keys That certainly explains a dangling question or two! Which I'd forgotten, in the excitement of the ending, so somehow it escaped me that something must be wrong.


message 40: by Agg (new)

Agg Tried returning the book to Amazon and purchasing it again. Still getting the wrong file.


message 41: by Kosigan (last edited Oct 29, 2017 03:22AM) (new)

Kosigan Just checked the copy I bought from Amazon UK at about 12:45 BST yesterday and it has the end of chapter 1 missing. I was going to start it today too. Ah well. I can wait for the update to get through - I know it'll be worth it.


message 42: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Kosigan wrote: "Just checked the copy I bought from Amazon UK at about 12:45 BST yesterday and it has the end of chapter 1 missing. I was going to start it today too. Ah well. I can wait for the update to get thro..."

6 AM here, still no update button on the Amazon "manage your content and devices" page from this end either.

If the paragraph at the end of the first chapter is missing, so are 14 others. A few are utilitarian transitions, but most contain some very key information or dialogue or event, because one wants to end a scene with a snap, so yeah, the corrected file is worth waiting for.

*So* frustrating, when I'd spent the past two weeks about going blind combing over the thing trying to make it as near transparently perfect for y'all as I could...

Ta, L.


message 43: by Anne (new)

Anne I have the correct ending for Chapter 1 but not for Chapter 7. I also don't have an update button (yet) for LIMNOS. This is very strange, to have one chapter correct and no correction for another. Can you let us know what should be the proper endings for each chapter so we can cross check and perhaps work with Amazon help to get a properly and thoroughly updated version?

Anne in Virginia


message 44: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Anne wrote: "I have the correct ending for Chapter 1 but not for Chapter 7. I also don't have an update button (yet) for LIMNOS. This is very strange, to have one chapter correct and no correction for another. ..."

That is deeply weird. If one is right, they all should be. I don't have the update button yet either, which means *I can't check if all the corrections got in*, which is driving me spare right now.

Here are three more to spot-check --

Ch. 2 should end:

That was Desdemona, without question.

Even Jurgo caught it, by the wry smile that turned his mouth. “Let us all hope so.”

Ch. 4 should end:

The coach-hire the next morning seemed to care only that their coin was good, which thanks to Jurgo’s generous purse it was, and to get them on their way as efficiently and lucratively as possible. They would reach the hinterlands of Thasalon by sundown. Still unremarked.

While not having to stop and let Penric steal them funds from local temples was certainly a boon, this round, Nikys suspected the return journey might not run so smoothly.

Ch. 5 should end:

Nor are you, Pen dear, but it seems the position is taken.

Pen was too exhausted to fret further tonight. Judging that they were both about as sincere as two strange cats, he exchanged polite nods with Bosha and withdrew.

***

Darn it, readers shouldn't have to assemble the story themselves like something from a box without the batteries included!

Please report back as to what you turn out to have. (I hope we don't have to go another round!)

Ta, L.


message 45: by Mary (new)

Mary Berg I still don't see the update button. I devoured the story yesterday, not knowing about the glitch. I did catch a typo in one sentance (a "his" that pretty clearly should have been a "he"). Don't know if those should be reported or not.


message 46: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Mary wrote: "I still don't see the update button. I devoured the story yesterday, not knowing about the glitch. I did catch a typo in one sentance (a "his" that pretty clearly should have been a "he"). Don't kn..."

Oh, sure, report it. I don't know if we'll have endurance for another pass on this one, but at least I'll have a record if we do.

I am going to start a fresh post with all the missing-paragraph corrections listed, because not being able to check is driving me nuts. Back soon...

Ta, L.


message 47: by Lm (new)

Lm Just purchased from Amazon and all is fine, every chapter ending matching those you have listed.


message 48: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Lm wrote: "Just purchased from Amazon and all is fine, every chapter ending matching those you have listed."

Yay! That's very reassuring.

Now all I have to do is somehow take care of the faithful folks who bought on the first day. Most of whom don't read this blog, so I'm not sure how to reach them. I considered putting up a note via Amazon reviews for the title, but (perhaps wisely) it doesn't let authors review their own books, so I may have to find a shill to do it for me, if it seems necessary.

Ta, L.


message 49: by Softness (new)

Softness *yawns* 7am here in the mountains. No update. Hope you got some sleep. ^^


message 50: by Rachel (new)

Rachel I purchased from Amazon Saturday morning and chapter 1 had the correct ending, but not the others, I have automatic book updates enabled, but it's not showing an update for Limnos as of this morning. I will try the various suggestions I've seen here to get the updated version.


« previous 1
back to top