The Guardian writes: “Several of Britain's leading authors reacted with dismay yesterday after the way was cleared for HMV, the books and music group which owns the high street chain Waterstone's, to take over Ottakar's, the specialist books company. … Philip Pullman said he 'lamented the loss of a genuine bookseller like Ottakar's … Little bookshops in country towns rely on bestsellers at Christmas and other exciting times to pay their rent.'” Read more.