What fantasy/science fiction book are you reading RIGHT NOW?

[Orlion]

...you could just get a Kindle...

Or literally any other tablet that's not locked into the Amazon ecosystem. The prices aren't any different. I hear the Kindle Fire tablets don't even let you use the regular Android app store...

(Ditto Apple, but the prices there are significantly higher.)

Bah!

[aliantha]

...you could just get a Kindle...

Or literally any other tablet that's not locked into the Amazon ecosystem. The prices aren't any different. I hear the Kindle Fire tablets don't even let you use the regular Android app store...

(Ditto Apple, but the prices there are significantly higher.)

Ditto B&N for the Nook, and their selection is pretty limited.

But you don't need to get a tablet. I've got an extremely basic eInk Kindle that cost me less than $100 and works just fine, if you're okay with a device that does nothing but let you read books on it.

And if you've got a smartphone, you don't even need to buy another device. Amazon has free software that lets you read Kindle ebooks pretty much anywhere (including your PC or Mac, assuming you don't mind sitting at your computer while you read a book...).

[I'm Murrin]

Personally I'm go for the whole "why get an ereader when you can get a tablet?" thing, for the sake of flexibility.

Also, there you go with all the Amazon-locked stuff again. For the sake of freedom to use your device as you wish, at least, Amazon should be avoided.

[aliantha]

Sorry. I'm not an Amazon hater. They let me publish my stuff for free and they pay me money when people buy it.

There are plenty of indies who agree with you, though. Lots of people subscribe to the "don't put your eggs in one basket because who knows when Amazon will pull the rug out from under us?" school of thought. And to be fair, I've got most of my books at Smashwords, too, which means they're also at iBooks, B&N, Kobo, and I forget where else.

And anyhow, Calibre is freeware, and you can use it to convert a .mobi file to an .epub, so you can read it on whatever device you want.

[sgt.null]

Ali - the cheap reader, please send details. does it have a wide selection of books? I can give some titles if you like. it sounds perfect for a Christmas request. send details on how it works. do I need wifi to make it work?

remember I have no idea how basic tech works. I can't even make my own avatars. john Duncan taught me how to make links with my own wording. I had to read his instructions on how to do it every day for two weeks before I could do it from memory.

thank you!

[I'm Murrin]

Sorry. I'm not an Amazon hater. They let me publish my stuff for free and they pay me money when people buy it.

There are plenty of indies who agree with you, though. Lots of people subscribe to the "don't put your eggs in one basket because who knows when Amazon will pull the rug out from under us?" school of thought. And to be fair, I've got most of my books at Smashwords, too, which means they're also at iBooks, B&N, Kobo, and I forget where else.

And anyhow, Calibre is freeware, and you can use it to convert a .mobi file to an .epub, so you can read it on whatever device you want.

It's not about hating Amazon - although I have stopped shopping with them - but about disliking companies that make you jump through hoops to use what should be yours to use freely. Such as needing to strip DRM from a file, or use conversion software, to be able to move it around and use it as you prefer. It's blatantly a strategy to lock you in to their own systems, so that you feel like you have to get everything from that one company because it's easier than the hassle that same company has (deliberately) created for anyone using other sources.

[aliantha]

Murrin, I *never* use DRM on my books. That's a trad-publisher thing.

True, Amazon makes it very easy to buy all your Kindle books from them. It's in their best interest to do so. But you can buy .mobi versions at Smashwords (of indie books, at least...) and sideload them by emailing them to your Kindle. It ain't that hard to do.

Sarge, here's the model I have. It's $69 if you don't mind Amazon using the screensaver to try to sell you stuff. Or you can get an ad-free version for $89, which is what I did. With either one, you can buy and read anything in the Kindle store. It works most seamlessly with wi-fi, but I'm pretty sure you can also get books by plugging the Kindle into your computer with the USB cord.

(Amazon ought to be sending me payola for this post. )

[sgt.null]

ali - thank you. putting it on my Christmas list.

[MsMary]

Actually, I have no idea. How does one find out if a given site has legal permission? Or if it's ok for everyone?

As far as I can tell, though, the books aren't in print, and aren't available as ebooks from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

I'm seeing copies of Zindell's books on Amazon, including a Kindle edition of one of them.[/i]

[Fist and Faith]

Really? I must be losing it! Not entirely a surprise, I guess. So yeah, there it is. The final book on kindle. I wonder why only that one. All the other books are there. Used (Even though it says new for some.), which is how I originally got them online.

[aliantha]

Depends on the publisher and the terms of the contract, Fist.

A lot of trad-pubbed authors whose books were published in the last several decades are trying to secure their electronic rights from their publishers, so they can publish the books themselves. (Which is a far, far cry from the self-pub snobbery I was seeing at WFC, even five years ago. )

[Avatar]

So, quite enjoyed the Broken Empire series I just finished, although the end was a little disappointing.

Think I'm going to do a WOT re-read. So...Jordan's New Spring up next.

--A

[Orlion]

Sorry. I'm not an Amazon hater. They let me publish my stuff for free and they pay me money when people buy it.

There are plenty of indies who agree with you, though. Lots of people subscribe to the "don't put your eggs in one basket because who knows when Amazon will pull the rug out from under us?" school of thought. And to be fair, I've got most of my books at Smashwords, too, which means they're also at iBooks, B&N, Kobo, and I forget where else.

And anyhow, Calibre is freeware, and you can use it to convert a .mobi file to an .epub, so you can read it on whatever device you want.

It's not about hating Amazon - although I have stopped shopping with them - but about disliking companies that make you jump through hoops to use what should be yours to use freely. Such as needing to strip DRM from a file, or use conversion software, to be able to move it around and use it as you prefer. It's blatantly a strategy to lock you in to their own systems, so that you feel like you have to get everything from that one company because it's easier than the hassle that same company has (deliberately) created for anyone using other sources.

That's pretty much why I mostly avoid Apple.

[I'm Murrin]

I am now reading Acceptance, the final book in Jeff VanderMeer's exceptional Southern Reach trilogy. It comes out in September.

[Sorus]

I am now reading Acceptance, the final book in Jeff VanderMeer's exceptional Southern Reach trilogy. It comes out in September.

I'm trying to read over your shoulder, but technology has failed me yet again.

[I'm Murrin]

It is so, so good. I'm about halfway through, had to force myself to put it down.

[Sorus]

It is so, so good. I'm about halfway through, had to force myself to put it down.

I have it preordered. I almost never do that, because I check my bank balance every day and tend to freak out if random charges appear.

[I'm Murrin]

And I just finished it. Really great book, really great series.

I was going to wait until the release date to push it in the new recommendation thread, but I'll say right now, if you've not started this series, go buy these books!

Annihilation
Authority
Acceptance (out next week)
by Jeff VanderMeer

[[Syl]]

I finished Magician's Land. It was about as good as I expected, so basically just alright. It's probably as successful as a combination of high fantasy and modern voice can be. It's funny, though, the more Quinn becomes a decent character throughout the series, the more boring he becomes. And really, this is probably the biggest failing of the book: there aren't any likable or compelling characters. Interesting ones, perhaps, but that's not the same.

I also finished the Neverness books. I liked them, but... there's something about the Requiem books that just doesn't hold up to Neverness. They're well written, deeply philosophical in a way that really jives with my understanding of the universe, and have a good plot. But Danlo is just too good. He's all-powerful when the plot needs it but passive and almost helpless when it doesn't. It also sometimes feels like Zindell is being condescending to his readers when he re-explains certain concepts or devices well outside of the first couple of chapters of each book where you usually find this kind of thing. There were actually a few times where I found myself saying "Yeah, yeah. That's great. But what happens?" and skimming a bit. Also, they needed more Bardo. Ede just didn't cut it.

I was debating between starting Wool or the Gentleman Bastard books, but I think Murrin's convinced me.

[Avatar]

The Eye of the World. I know.

--A