UK residents: write to your MP and to the Business Secretary to
condemn
the push
for repression on sharing copies of e-books.
What you say is up to you, but if I were in the UK, I would say that I
would choose to buy authorized copies if I could do so anonymously,
without DRM, and without signing a contract. I buy printed books that
way, and I'd buy e-books the same way, if they let me. However,
today's commercially published ebooks generally carry all those
oppressive characteristics, and even one of them is unacceptable. I'd
suggest they
read https://gnu.org/philosophy/ebooks.html.
I would say that sharing is good, and they should stop insulting
sharers with the smear of "pirate".
I would also say that all else being equal I would like to support
authors with money; but I suspect that most of the money goes to other
parties, and I have no wish to donate to those others. Would they
please set up a system for anonymous donations, of which at least 90%
goes to whichever author we select?
Finally I would say that Pullman's prediction of the disappearance of
all art is an exaggeration, obviously intended to encourage unjust
laws, and they should put a sock in it.
Because of Pullman's antagonism towards sharing, I have never read any
of his books. There are lots of other authors whose books are worth
reading — why choose his? But if you feel you need to read
some, borrow them from a friend.