How Much is "Mormon Interpreter" Worth?

[_Doctor Scratch]

Just when you thought things in the world of Mopologetics couldn't get any more exciting, we now come to learn that the "journal" produced by the folks at the Mormon Interpreter is now being sold as a print edition! Just imagine, you can now hold a copy of the very journal that houses Louis Midgley's piece on C. L. Hanson! As someone noted on another thread, these may very well become collector's editions at some point. (Will the same one day be true of old editions of the FARMS Review?)

And get this: the issue is only five dollars and sixty-two cents! Dirt cheap! Scott Lloyd could forgo a combo meal at Chik-Fil-A to afford bargain-basement prices like these! Of course, my first concern would be the quality of the binding at such a price: was it stuck together using the kind of glue that killed off George's wife on Seinfeld? Will the pages fall out if you so much as thumb through the volume? I guess the only way to find out is to shell out your $5.62 for a copy! How exciting!

Here, by the way, is the MI's announcement of this exciting development:

The Board of The Interpreter Foundation is delighted to announce the availability of Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, Volume 1, as a professionally bound hard copy print. The 210 page volume is now available for ordering online at Amazon.com for only $5.62, plus shipping. This price reflects the cost of printing only, with no markup or royalties. This bound volume includes all of the peer-reviewed articles that have been published to date on MormonInterpreter.com. Various formats of e-book editions of the volume will also be available soon.

You hear that? Professionally bound. Peer-reviewed. All the things we've come to expect from the top-tier Mopologists. And yet, I can't help but wonder about a possible flaw in their business model--i.e., why buy the print edition when you can read the "peer-reviewed articles" for free?

Fans of the MI will no doubt take a special interest in the "journal's" Amazon.com page (though beware of being labeled a "stalker" if you dare accept their invitation to look at it):

http://www.amazon.com/Interpreter-Journ ... 1479266388

Cool! In the past, people were unable to post responses to the FARMS Review, but now that they've switched over to Amazon, all of us will be able to contribute our thoughts to the "Customer Reviews" section! Dr. Peterson's most recent article--about the need for charity and truth in reviewing--seems more prophetic than ever.

All that said, I was a little disappointed to see this vaguely untrue announcement from the MI team:

We would like to take this moment to publicly express our deep appreciation and gratitude to all those who have contributed to the production of this first volume of Interpreter. This feat was accomplished in a short two months because of the dedication of dozens of volunteers who have assisted along the way in many different capacities.

Oh, come on, now. Many of these pieces--or at least decent-sized chunks of them--had been written close to a year ago.

Apart from that, I hope that everyone here at MDB will join me in congratulating the Interpreter Foundation on this exciting accomplishment!

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Thanks for the information, Dr. Scratch.

I really believe that this will someday be a collector's item. I plan on purchasing a couple of copies myself for posterity's sake.

[_Kishkumen]

How much are the tears of the last unicorn worth?

They are priceless.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Who will be the first person to post a Customer Review on Amazon? I don't think I need to remind you that this is your chance to make Mopologetic history....

[_Kishkumen]

Who will be the first person to post a Customer Review on Amazon? I don't think I need to remind you that this is your chance to make Mopologetic history....

Why, Doctor, who other than you could post a review worthy of such a historic opportunity?

[_Gadianton]

You hear that? Professionally bound. Peer-reviewed. All the things we've come to expect from the top-tier Mopologists. And yet, I can't help but wonder about a possible flaw in their business model--i.e., why buy the print edition when you can read the "peer-reviewed articles" for free?

There is real value here that you are not considering. It has been noted time and time again that apologists' internet activity is just fun and games, and in the real world they are immersed in real scholarship, going to academic conferences and reading and publishing in scholarly periodicals all the while critics are quoting Wikipedia. By having a hard-bound book made available, they've established a sense of legitimacy to their work that we critics do not enjoy in ours. The one thing I missed though is the reference to Oxford Press, surely this wasn't printed anywhere else -- was it?

In the past I considered taking some of your work, Rev. K's, and others and creating a hard-bound book of some kind, a tome related to the dynamics of Mopologetics, well, this should be done. I'm thinking if it is one day, it should be an ultra-high quality binding and paper, it should look super scholarly.

[_Kishkumen]

In the past I considered taking some of your work, Rev. K's, and others and creating a hard-bound book of some kind, a tome related to the dynamics of Mopologetics, well, this should be done. I'm thinking if it is one day, it should be an ultra-high quality binding and paper, it should look super scholarly.

What a splendid idea, Dean Robbers! Maybe we can get it published by an outfit that has the word "Oxford" or "Cambridge" in its name.

That would certainly add heft to our contribution to the field of Mopologetic Studies.

[_Gadianton]

Maybe we can get it published by an outfit that has the word "Oxford" or "Cambridge" in its name.

Maybe? It would be unthinkable to publish it through any other outfit. Perhaps even a leather-bound version with onion skin pages and numbered verses is in order.

[_Kishkumen]

Maybe? It would be unthinkable to publish it through any other outfit. Perhaps even a leather-bound version with onion skin pages and numbered verses is in order.

Well, I'm holding out for gilded-edged pages. I refuse to settle for less.

Oh, and a secret compartment for my pepper box.

[_Sethbag]

In the past I considered taking some of your work, Rev. K's, and others and creating a hard-bound book of some kind, a tome related to the dynamics of Mopologetics, well, this should be done. I'm thinking if it is one day, it should be an ultra-high quality binding and paper, it should look super scholarly.

Have it hand-copied on velum by ascetic monks in a secret monastery at the top of a cliff on an island in Greece, bound in the white leather made from an albino cape buffalo. Oxford Press? Pfft!