The worst thing is that it's entirely possible his contract with the publisher is structured in a way that if he makes the book available as a free download or sells it on Lulu.com, the publisher will unleash their lawyers upon him.
No it isn't. The book has been available since much prior to the notice about royalties being put up.
I have a single correspondence with the author about compensating him for his effort (I used the online edition) to learn lisp and he refused -- as the publisher has first rights to collect monies on the book -- , I am inclined not to even fleetingly question his judgment in posting the book online.
