History Creator / BaenBooks

In addition to the Free Library, Baen also has included [=CDs=] bound into the hardback first editions of certain books (usually from popular series like the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' or ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' novels) which feature the complete collection of novels from that series to date, along with (often) several other novels by the same author. Each CD prominently displays the license "This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights reserved." As such, several websites have collected archives of the Baen [=CDs=]; the most famous is [[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ BaenCD at The Fifth Imperium]]. Beware: the sheer number of different novels available for free on that site can cause an ArchiveBinge ''worse than discovering Wiki/TVTropes for the first time''. Yes, you read that right.

Among SF fans, the company's book covers are notorious -- they're often lurid, sometimes going so far as to be [[ContemptibleCover contemptible]], and frequently belie intelligent and well-written contents. Apparently they sell really well, though.

* ContemptibleCover: A full list would triple the size of this page, so just head over there.

* PromotedFanboy: Baen sometimes hosts slush panels at science fiction conventions such as Cary, NC's [=IllogiCon=] so amateur writers can show off their works to the audience and Baen editors and authors. Particularly good stories sometimes get publishing offers.

Baen is also known for engaging with the customer base online, and was an early pioneer in social marketing and e-book publishing. First through the internet forum Baen's Bar, then through starting a regular and profitable e-book business. It started as "Webscriptions", but is now under the [[http://www.baen.com/baenebooks Baen Ebooks]] brand. A few other small publishers also use or have used it as their e-book outlet.

In addition to the Free Library, Baen also has included [=CDs=] bound into the hardback first editions of certain books (usually from popular series like the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' or ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' novels) which feature the complete collection of novels from that series to date, along with (often) several other novels by the same author. Each CD prominently displays the license "This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights reserved." As such, several websites have collected archives of the Baen [=CDs=]; the most famous is [[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ BaenCD at The Fifth Imperium]]. Beware: the sheer number of different novels available for free on that site can cause an ArchiveBinge ''worse than discovering TVTropes for the first time''. Yes, you read that right.

In addition to new works the company has regularly re-released classic older SF works. Some of the earlier re-issues of the works by Creator/RandallGarrett and Creator/JamesHSchmitz caused a huge furor, in large part because Creator/EricFlint, as the editor, publicly described his editing policy around 2000, earning him the nickname "Eric the Butcher". (In fact, many of the edits were to change characters into [[NoSmoking non-smokers]].) It was probably no worse than any other editing policy, but it might have shown the inside of the sausage machine too closely.

In addition to new works the company has regularly re-released classic older SF works. Some of the earlier re-issues of the works by Creator/RandallGarrett and Creator/JamesHSchmitz caused a huge furor, in large part because Creator/EricFlint, as the editor, publicly described his editing policy around 2000, earning him the nickname "Eric the Butcher". It was probably no worse than any other editing policy, but it might have shown the inside of the sausage machine too closely.

Baen is also known for engaging with the customer base online, and was an early pioneer in social marketing and e-book publishing. First through the internet forum Baen's Bar, then through starting a regular and profitable e-book business. It started as "Webscriptions", but is now under the [[http://www.baenebooks.com Baen Ebooks]] brand. A few other small publishers also use or have used it as their e-book outlet.

* DesignatedVictim: Joe Buckley (maintainer of the abovementioned "The Fifth Imperium" website) has and continues to die in the course of books published by Baen by many of their regular authors, and in some very inventive ways.

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* Creator/EstherFriesner--especially the ''Chicks in Chainmail'' anthologies

In addition to new works the company has regularly re-released classic older SF works. Some of the earlier re-issues of the works by Creator/RandallGarrett and Creator/JamesHSchmitz caused a huge furor, in large part because of that Creator/EricFlint, as the editor, publicly described his editing policy around 2000, earning him the nickname "Eric the Butcher". It was probably no worse than any other editing policy, but it might have shown the inside of the sausage machine too closely.

* CatherineAsaro

In addition to the Free Library, Baen also has included [=CDs=] bound into the hardback first editions of certain books (usually from popular series like the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' or ''Literature/VorkosiganSage'' novels) which feature the complete collection of novels from that series to date, along with (often) several other novels by the same author. Each CD prominently displays the license "This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights reserved." As such, several websites have collected archives of the Baen [=CDs=]; the most famous is [[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ BaenCD at The Fifth Imperium]]. Beware: the sheer number of different novels available for free on that site can cause an ArchiveBinge ''worse than discovering TVTropes for the first time''. Yes, you read that right.

In addition to new works the company has regularly re-released classic older SF works. Some of the earlier re-issues of the works by Creator/RandallGarrett and Creator/JamesHSchmitz caused a huge furor, in large part because of that Creator/EricFlint, as the editor, publicly described his editing policy around 2000, earning him the nickname ''Eric the Butcher''. It was probably no worse than any other editing policy, but it might have shown the inside of the sausage machine too closely.

Baen is also known for engaging with the customer base online, and was an early pioneer in social marketing and e-book publishing. First through the internet forum Baen's Bar, then through starting a regular and profitable e-book business. It started as [[http://www.webscription.net Webscriptions]], but is now under the [[http://www.baenebooks.com Baen Ebooks]] brand. A few other small publishers also use or has used it as their e-book outlet.

In addition to the Free Library, Baen also has included [=CDs=] bound into the hardback first editions of certain books (usually from popular series like the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' or ''MilesVorkosigan'' novels) which feature the complete collection of novels from that series to date, along with (often) several other novels by the same author. Each CD prominently displays the license "This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights reserved." As such, several websites have collected archives of the Baen [=CDs=]; the most famous is [[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ BaenCD at The Fifth Imperium]]. Beware: the sheer number of different novels available for free on that site can cause an ArchiveBinge ''worse than discovering TVTropes for the first time''. Yes, you read that right.

* PC Hodgell

* DesignatedVictim: Joe Buckley (maintainer of the abovementioned "The Fifth Imperium" website). By most of the above authors, and in some very inventive ways.

* Creator/Creator/PoulAnderson (re-issues)

* [[Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath PC Hodgell]

In addition to new works by authors the company has regularly re-released classic older SF works. Some of the earlier re-issues of the works by Creator/RandallGarrett and Creator/JamesHSchmitz caused a huge furor, in large part because of that Creator/EricFlint, as the editor, publicly described his editing policy around 2000, earning him the nickname ''Eric the Butcher''. It was probably no worse than any other editing policy, but it might have shown the inside of the sausage machine too closely.

In addition to new works by authors the company has regularly re-released classic older SF works. The re-release of some of the earlier re-issues of the works by Creator/RandallGarrett and Creator/JamesHSchmitz caused a huge furor, in large part because of that Creator/EricFlint, as the editor, publicly described his editing policy around 2000, earning him the nickname ''Eric the Butcher''. It was probably no worse than any other editing policy, but it might have shown the inside of the sausage machine too closely.

*

Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by Jim Baen. It publishes science fiction (largely SpaceOpera and MilitaryScienceFiction) and fantasy.

In addition to new works by authors including Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold, Creator/EricFlint, Creator/DavidDrake, Creator/JohnRingo, Creator/RykESpoor, Creator/SMStirling, and Creator/DavidWeber, the company occasionally re-releases classic older SF works, by authors including Creator/AndreNorton, Creator/JamesHSchmitz, and Creator/ManlyWadeWellman.

Baen is also known for engaging with the customer base online, through the internet forum Baen's Bar, and through an extensive e-book catalogue, available at [[http://www.webscription.net Webscriptions]]. Baen e-books are available in a variety of formats, all free of DRM copy restrictions. Over 100 titles (mostly first volumes of series) are also [[http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?FreeAsInBeer free as in beer]] in the [[http://www.baen.com/library Baen Free Library]], updated as the writing schedule of Mr. Flint (who maintains the collection) allows.

In addition to the Free Library, Baen also has the habit of including [=CDs=] bound into the hardback first editions of certain books (usually from popular series like the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' or ''MilesVorkosigan'' novels) which feature the complete collection of novels from that series to date, along with (often) several other novels by the same author. Each CD prominently displays the license "This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights reserved." As such, several websites have collected archives of the Baen [=CDs=]; the most famous is [[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ BaenCD at The Fifth Imperium]]. Beware: the sheer number of different novels available for free on that site can cause an ArchiveBinge ''worse than discovering TVTropes for the first time''. Yes, you read that right.

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Tropes related to this publisher:

* DesignatedVictim: Joe Buckley. By most of the above authors, and in some very inventive ways.

In addition to new works by authors including LoisMcMasterBujold, EricFlint, DavidDrake, Creator/JohnRingo, RykESpoor, SMStirling, and DavidWeber, the company occasionally re-releases classic older SF works, by authors including AndreNorton, JamesHSchmitz, and ManlyWadeWellman.