Showing posts with label ebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebook. Show all posts

Sunday, March 03, 2013

Review: Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road


Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road
by Sassy Brit and Goodreads author editor Clayton Bye
p/b 312 pages

Couple of heads up with this collection.  First it really can not be described as science fiction and in most cases not even speculative fiction.  Then again, some are.

Each story has to be approached on it's own merits because the stories are so eclectic a mix that one bears little in common with others in the book.  

Eighteen stories varying in length from several pages to a full novelette length.

The best way maybe to describe this experiment is maybe to recall a series of story collections edited by Harlan Ellison called "Dangerous Visions" 

Now Ellison's collections were stories that often were collections of stories that in most cases could not find an outlet in the general media because of content.  

In that, we have stories many times stronger than Ellison's works, so it is likely these will only be available in this tome.  

They are explicit, no holds barred stories, from the most unusual love story Malpas at the end of the book, to Hold Up at the start, there will always be something that will push the point to strange new heights.  

If you are looking for science fiction here, forget it.  But if you want stories that you will not likely find anywhere else period, but entertaining none the leas, even if disturbing!

Available on Amazon and you will not feel cheated!!!

check it out!   Here is the Amazon Kindle version link, you can search out some really good deals.
















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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Texas Gets a BiblioTech

No it is not some high tech baby bib but a very special library - a bookless library.   

By the fall of 2013,  San Antonio's Bexar County library will be the country's first book-less public library.  Well, paper books that is - the library or biblioTech will contain only e-books.  

The 4,989 square-foot space will be given over to rows of computer terminals, with which the library will augment with 100 e-readers for onsite and outside rentals.  The plan then is to provide 50 e-readers for children, 50 computer stations, 25 laptops and 25 tablets on site.

 Bexar County is still waffling on who will provide the e-readers and associated equipment.  

read complete article here 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Speculative Fiction an e-book from Amazon,

David Scholes, whom we have had on the program several times, writes with some good news:



  • I've just published a new e-book on Amazon - here's the link:

  • New E-book on Amazon Link


  • I'm also in the process of getting it published by Lulu as a paperback.

  • There are some familiar stories such as: Trath, The Intervention, Equalisation, and OdinForce plus some alternate history stories and a bunch of other stories.


Cheers  Dave

Thanks for the heads up Dave!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

News From Nancy Fulda


Nancy Fulda is a wildly talented writer whom I have read on BMU in the past.

Mz. Fulda just sent in this update on the story title that I read starting on episode 248 of the podcast/radio program.
  • I thought your listeners might like to know that "Knowing Neither Kin Nor Foe", which you read on Beam Me Up some time ago, is now available as part of an ebook collection.

  • The collection is called "The Breath of Heaven and Other Stories". In addition to "Knowing Neither Kin Nor Foe", it also includes "The Breath of Heaven" (A story compared by one reviewer to the work of Asimov and Clarke) and "In the Halls of the Sky-Palace", a fantasy tale originally published in Jim Baen's Universe. Interested readers can find links to the book at http://www.nancyfulda.com.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Check out Scales by Anthony Williams




I just got a heads up from Quazar Dragon and SF Signals about a new ebook called Scales by Anthony Williams. To read the book you can download an ebook free or buy a paperback from the publishers or from Amazon.com by clicking Scales

From the book's site is a short synopses of the story....it does sound interesting

  • Englishman Matthew Johnson suffers massive burns in a mysterious explosion and fire at his home. Recovering after months in hospital, he is greatly changed: his skin and hair have been replaced by reptilian scales, and he has acquired an acute sensitivity to other people's nervous systems, plus the ability to affect them. After initially spending time using his new ability to cure patients of nervous diseases, he is drawn into the dangerous world of counter-terrorism with tragic results. On restarting his life, he discovers the startling truth about his transformation – which includes parallel worlds, non-human societies and a threat to the existence of human civilisation. Only he can avert disaster, but time is running out.


Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Free eBook: The Infinite Sea by Jeffrey A. Carver

SF Signal has posted a message that:
  • Jeffrey A. Carver has just posted a freely downloadable copy of The Infinite Sea, the third book in The Chaos Chronicles.
  • They are all available in multiple formats.
The download area of Jeff Carver's web page "The Science Fiction Worlds of Jeffery Carver

Friday, July 18, 2008

Last Free Tor ebook is Darkness of Light by Peter David


Tor Books' newest message contains news about the newest selection and news on the upcoming opening of their news online area. Here is the basic gist of the message:

This week’s free book mailing is Darkness of the Light by Peter David. Once the full Tor.com site opens on Sunday, July 20, we'll be making all the books in this program briefly available one last time, so be sure to stop by for our launch!

Download your eBook in:

>> PDF format >> HTML format >> Mobi format

Once the full Tor.com site opens on Sunday, July 20, we'll be making all the books in this program briefly available one last time, so be sure to stop by for our launch!

go to Tor.com for complete info

Friday, July 11, 2008

Tor's current free book Soul by Tobsha Learner.


Among the other goodies that Tor books is giving away this week is another free ebook. This week's selection is Soul by Tobsha Learner.

The available formats for the book are HTML, MobiPocket, and PDF.

If you haven's signed up yet, go to Tor.com and once signed up, they will notify you when and what is new.



Thursday, July 10, 2008

Did Tor’s free ebooks affect sales?


Simon Owens asks a very interesting question. As background, you know that I have been listing the free books that Tor has been releasing in preparation for the unveiling of their new site that will have news, reviews, books and a host of other material. Well it seems Owens stepped behind the curtain and speak to the wizard as it concerns just what kind of impact Tor's efforts had. Simon spoke to Tobias Buckell and John Scalzi among others to get their reaction to Tor giving away their books. The results were telling, since we have so many very vocal nay sayers in the industry that would say that giving away material is pandering to those that would steal it and the only ones that benifit is the freeloaders and the authors get the dirty end of the stick. Well, pleasantly enough both Buckell and Scalzi report that while Tor was featuring one of their books, sales of these same titles experienced a sharp increase. Other authors did not see any significant results, but in my mind I wonder if that says something about how the work was promoted initially or maybe it reflects on the prevailing tastes. For me, I think the creative commons and free releases are a brilliant stratergy. Vertually any other product has a way to "test drive" it. From food court pass outs to automobile test drives, its a way for the customer to see if they like the product, and of course get a feel for "owning" the product. But they want you to buy a book with virtually no idea of what is inside?! Almost self defeating in today's market.

But I am degressing some. Click on the article's title to go to Simon's post on the background and reaction to Tor's program. Its very interesting.

Pic Simon Owens from Blogasm

Free Eos eBook: City of Pearl by Karen Traviss


I read on the SF Signal blog:

ok that being said, because I love the idea that there is a good novel available for free, I have to say that I went through the whole Harper Collins rigmarole to download the book. And I was more than slightly agrevated by the end of the process. First off, you have to sign up for an account. Yes Tor has the same thing, but Harper takes it to a whole new level. Not just email and password, you want the book be prepaired to do the complete info gathering song and dance. First / last etc etc. Then you get your book? Nope, select type of media Adobe, Microsoft etc Ok, then you get it? Nope, next you have to download more software to view the book, Now I had Adobe pdf but they wanted me to download and install something a bit different live version so after 15 minutes of trying, I still don't have the book , I am begining to think that you read the book online or something....not sure now and I am agrevated enough to chuck the idea. But that aside, if you are a bit patient and don't mind jumping through a few hoops give it a go. Tor was much easier.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Tor's Newest Free E-book: Book: Battlestar Galactica by Jeffrey A. Carver

Thanks to SF Signal's for this update, I totally spaced it. Tor Books newest free ebook is

Battlestar Galactica by Jeffrey A. Carver. If your already signed up you can get the book in a variety of formats. (Available in HTML, MobiPocket, and PDF versions.) If you haven't signed up yet to be notified when the newest free book is available, you can go to Tor.com and get a free account.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Tor's current free book is In the Midnight Hour by Patti O'Shea.


Tor reports that: Our current free book is In the Midnight Hour by Patti O'Shea.

Go to Tor.com to sign up for the free book - They should send you one every week or so until their new site is up. They offer the book in HTML PDF and MOBI

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Friday, May 30, 2008

A Shadow in Summer Tor's newest free E-Book



Tor's current free e-book is A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham.

here is a really good review by Aaron Hughes

If you haven't as yet (and if you haven't what is wrong with your head?!!!) signed up for the introductory free ebook notification, go to tor.com and fill out the app. No cost, just FREE E-BOOKS!!!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Touch of Evil - Tor Book's newest free Ebook


Tor's current free e-book is Touch of Evil by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. As always, if your interested in this free ebook or would like to be notified of newer upcoming offerings, you can log to tor.com and fill out the online form.




Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Starfish by Peter Watts, Tor's newest free ebook.

Tor's current free book is Starfish by Peter Watts. and I can not give this a strong enough recommendation. I have read this novel as well as many other woks of Watts and I have always found his fiction extremely entertaining. I have read his shorter works on the podcast (Niche, Ambassador etc. ) that you might want to look up. Go get this one, you will not be disappointed!
Fyi if you didn't already know, Starfish is part of Watt's "Rifters" universe as was the story Niche that I read in episode 61 - 63 and also available in the archives.

If you have not yet signed up for the notification Tor sends out when new books are available to to Tor.com to sign up or get the newest entry in Tor's series of introductory free ebooks.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Tor's newest ebook is Spirit Gate by Kate Elliott

Tor Books current free book is Spirit Gate by Kate Elliott (web site http://www.sff.net/people/kate.elliott/news.html_). Those of you that have already signed up for the free ebook email should have or be getting a notice shortly. However if you have not yet take advantage of Tor's offer of complete electronic version of top quality fiction should go to Tor.com and sign up to be notified each time a new book is released. No commitment and no cost. Tor is simple getting everyone familiar with the new web service that they will be rolling out shortly that will offer, amongst other services, low cost e-books.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

All Escape Velocity Issues Now Free Downloads!


Robert Blevins editor of the truly excellent magazine Escape Velocity has just sent out a release stating that Escape Velocity can now be downloaded for free. In his release he states:

Geoff Nelder and I decided to release all issues of Escape Velocity as a free download, and this decision is more or less permanent. There are no strings, no forms to fill out, no baloney. Just point and click. The eBook version is very nice and contains all the same content as the print, including the cover images. Issue Three has more than 90 hi-res images and photos, a bunch of sci-fi stories, and great articles. In one article we investigate the so-called 'Mars Statue' with 1200dpi blow-ups from the original NASA image from 'Spirit'. There is also a memorial article in #3 to Sir Arthur C Clarke I'm sure you'll enjoy.

They will only be charging now for the print versions. I have the print version and they are excellent. Well laid out and on high quality stock. As good as the e-book versions are, the print versions blow them out of the water. It would be my suggestion that you take a look at the e-book version and if you like it, get it, they are worth it.

The link to the e-book version is http://www.escapevelocitymagazine.com/freedownloads.htm

Friday, April 25, 2008

Sun of Suns is Tor's newest free E-book


Tor's current free book is Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder. Here is a short synopsis of the story from Schroeder's website: Imagine sky above, sky below, infinite blue to all sides peppered with cloud, randomly floating spheres of water and chunks of soil - and you flying free of gravity. This world is Virga, a tale of revenge, betrayal, treasure maps, sword-fights and boarding parties, yet set in a world where fish fly and where young, bitter Hayden Griffin zips around on a wingless jet engine mounted with a saddle and handlebars. Hayden’s bent on revenge for the deaths of his parents, but the man he’s targeted is a prominent admiral who hires Hayden as a flyer on a dangerous and possibly illegal trip into the darkened corners of Virga–the empty places collectively known as Winter.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Tor's newest free ebook The Disunited States of America by Harry Turtledove


Tor Book's current free E-book is The Disunited States of America by Harry Turtledove. As you must know by now, Tor Books is in the process of ramping up their newest site that will be offering news, web services (news and the like) and reasonably priced e-books. To promote the startup Tor has been giving away ebooks. The will notify you by email each time a new book is available.
Click here to sign up

For those who missed out on last week’s mailing, download links for Through Wolf’s Eyes by Jane Lindskold

Friday, March 28, 2008

Lord of the Isles by David Drake -TOR's newest free download

Lord of the Isles by David Drake is Tor Book's newest downloadable free ebook. For those of you not in the know yet, Tor is in the process of starting a new site that will mix news, commentary, original stories and art. To promote the site they are giving away a free ebook weekly until the site is in full swing.

You can get the PDF here
The HTML version here

You must sign up first at Tor to get on the mailing list, and they will send you all the links.

or if your so inclined, you can purchase the hard copy here.