Chapter 78

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After writing down the contact information of the few publishing houses on a piece of paper, Lin Han began to feel troubled. He sighed, resignedly added them as friends, and started sending emails and messages one by one.

What he needed to do now was to first understand the general conditions of these publishing houses, then keep them engaged, and wait until the seventh day of the first lunar month to formally negotiate.

Doing business was not Lin Han's forte, but he started to gather information online, at least to know where the five publishing companies were located, their scale, reputation, outstanding performance in recent years, and whether they had been penalized.

He didn't know until he started to investigate, and what he found was quite surprising.

Penguin Publishing Group is one of the world's largest mass-market book publishers, ranking 10th in the global media industry. It is most famous for its English-language publications, including novels and non-fiction books, ranging from history to science to reference books, covering a wide variety of genres.

The most interesting part is that Penguin Publishing Group acquired Random House, but they still operate separately, which surprised Lin Han a bit.

As for the American publishing house, its original name is "Farrar, Straus and Giroux," which has published works by 25 Nobel Prize winners in literature, making it a cradle of Nobel laureates.

The other publishing houses are no less impressive, all being world-renowned. This left Lin Han in a dilemma of choice.

He didn't expect that after waiting for so long, he only got the attention of Random House, and just by publishing two short stories in the Mirror, he attracted even more attention.

The result of his efforts not bearing fruit, while his unintentional actions brought success, was truly frustrating.

"Hello, I am Alex Williams, an editor at Penguin UK headquarters. I recently saw the novel 'I, Robot' (English version) you published on Amazon. I would like to ask if the English print edition rights have already been sold?"

Having lived two lives, Lin Han's English was quite good. Otherwise, he wouldn't have read the original English versions of those science fiction novels. Therefore, there was no significant barrier in communication.

Lin Han replied, "Mr. Williams, the rights are still in my hands, but I don't want to hand them over blindly. This is a rare masterpiece, and I want the world to see it."

"Of course, I know this is definitely a novel science fiction. If it were just an ordinary novel, I wouldn't be the one talking to you; it would be a Penguin Asia-Pacific regional editor. We are from the UK headquarters."

In fact, Alex Williams had been investigating for a long time. He was not just an editor but also the head of Penguin Publishing Group's most famous publishing line.

From the first few sentences of their chat, Lin Han sensed the importance placed on him. As a heavyweight in the publishing industry, the weight of a Penguin UK headquarters editor was significant.

Previously, most contemporary Chinese authors' works could only be published by Penguin Asia-Pacific. Very few could attract the attention of the headquarters.

"Hearing you say that, I feel a bit embarrassed, but this book is indeed worth it," Lin Han said, not exaggerating but filled with confidence.

Asians rarely show such confidence, so Alex also sent a series of laughter: "I believe in the potential of this book. It's not just a bestseller but will leave a significant mark in the history of science fiction. You have subverted our traditional impression of Chinese authors. We didn't expect China to have such an author.

The science fiction genre you write is global, and there's something in your work that particularly catches my attention, making me feel that this book must be published. This novel brings a fresh experience, immersing readers in a strange world, feeling the culture of robots, and the history of their development. It's amazing!"

This wasn't the first time Lin Han had seen foreigners praise "I, Robot," but it was the first time he heard it in person.

The feeling of being affirmed was wonderful, like finding a soulmate. The Penguin editor didn't throw conditions at him like Random House but instead built a relationship, making Lin Han understand that they genuinely wanted to do a good job with the book, not just for profit.

"Sounds great, thank you for contributing to my sales on Amazon. I hope we can work together well in the future."

When Alex felt the timing was right, he said, "Now, listen carefully to our terms, which are very generous. First, the royalty rate is 15%, a level typically reserved for best-selling authors in Europe and America. We all believe this book should be at this level. Additionally, it will be included in our prestigious Penguin Classics series."

Lin Han's first reaction wasn't surprise but suspicion. He hadn't even received a 15% royalty rate domestically, so he was sure it would be even less abroad.

For the editor to offer a sky-high 15% royalty rate without even needing an agent to negotiate was extremely strange.

Most Chinese authors' royalties for overseas publications were between 5% and 8%, with 10% being rare, and 15% reserved for best-selling authors.

In fact, the price Qin Jun from Random House offered was the true rate for new authors in the English publishing world.

The surprise came too suddenly, and now he couldn't believe it. If the offer was 10%, Lin Han would have felt that Penguin Publishing was recognizing his potential, but 15% left him confused. He didn't think he was worth that much, and a sense of panic crept in.

It's like someone who can only do a job for 5,000 yuan a month suddenly receiving an offer for 50,000 yuan a month. Anyone would hesitate.

Moreover, the "Penguin Classics" series mentioned by Alex was also an honor.

Being included in the "Penguin Classics" series, which symbolizes honor and excellence, is extremely difficult. Since its inception in 1935, it has been one of the most important book brands and industry standard-setters in international literature.

Books selected for this series are the most classic, distinctive, and captivating works worldwide. They must have both intellectual and artistic value, as well as readability and commercial appeal. Every detail, from the edition and translation to the introduction, design, and annotations, must be meticulously crafted.

The most direct evidence is that the series has only included Lu Xun's "A Madman's Diary" and Qian Zhongshu's "Fortress Besieged," with no other domestic authors making the cut.

The authority and influence of "Penguin Classics" are evident. Works like Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" and "The Sun Also Rises," García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and "Love in the Time of Cholera," Dumas's "La Dame aux Camélias," Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," Verne's science fiction trilogy, and Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" are all part of this series.

Now, the other party was telling him that "I, Robot" had the chance to join this prestigious series, standing alongside so many important works.

"Are you crazy? rr?"

Lin Han bluntly expressed his thoughts, without even trying to be tactful.

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