In an effort to introduce the new multi-author nine-book string of adventures starring beloved Star Wars familiars like the Solos and the Skywalkers, Del Rey decided to release the first volume of the series Star Wars: Legacy of the Force as a free e-book download (http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/sw_legacy.html).

As a special gift to STAR WARS fans, Del Rey will be offering Book One in the series, STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: BETRAYAL, as a free downloadable PDF, audio book, and eBook. This promotional offer will run for two weeks, from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, until midnight on Tuesday, May 13. The free download, which can be shared, e-mailed or printed, will be available on http://www.legacyoftheforce.com/.

Del Rey has partnered with booksellers to provide the free download. A1Books.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Booksense.com, Borders.com, Deepdiscount.com, the eBook Store from Sony, Overstock.com, and Powells.com are making the file available to their customers.

[via Pat's Fantasy Hotlist (http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-download-of-star-wars-book-from.html)]

Thanks. Searched for it in the Sony eBook Store, found it (eBooks List Price: $ 0.00), downloaded it. ;)

http://ebookstore.sony.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/083/841/400000000000000083841.html

Thanks Tad. Here is a link to the free Kindle edition:

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Legacy-Force-Betrayal/dp/B0018C6Y36/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209453663&sr=8-15

There is also a link to a free 64 kbps 163 MB mp3 audio book on the free e-book download page (http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/sw_legacy.html).

But I never was a Star Wars fan. :poke:

Did anybody notice that they distinguish eBooks from PDF files. Interesting.

Dale

Did anybody notice that they distinguish eBooks from PDF files. Interesting.

Dale
It's "Amazon Kindle e-book". "e" stands for e-commerce. Non kindle users can't download it. :p

It's "Amazon Kindle e-book". "e" stands for e-commerce. Non kindle users can't download it. :p

sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the original quote. I should have made that clear. In the original quote from the announcement they distinguish pdf and eBook as different like audio was different.

Dale

What if you don't have a Sony connect account? To tell the truth, and page usually doesn't even load inside the Sony software with my internet connection. Are there other ways to get the lrf?

Got it - THANKS! Now I'll start to wreck it by trying to un-pdf it and get it onto my reader....... Note to self: Remember to keep a clean copy for when you totally wreck the original.....

I see that you've got an ebookwise... any chance you could send me a copy once you're done with conversion? I'd really appreciate that.

There's a link there for Kindle users. Nice

It's a smart move. Give away the first book & hopefully some folks will like it enough to buy the other seven in the series. Something Baen's been doing for years of course. It's a good way for publishers to pick up readers for long series. Kinda the same as when they sell the first paperback in a series for $3.99 to get folks to try it.


To bad Tor didn't figure it out with the freebies they're doing. I've talked to folks that were ready to buy the next book(s) in those series only to find out they aren't available (not legally anyway).

Hmm... Clearvue PDF doesn't seem to be able to open the file on my PDA (I get an error message). I'll have to download Adobe's Acrobat for PDA and try that instead...

dang.. gonna have to actually install the connect software and register my ebook.

Great idea, wish they'd provided one non-device bound reflowable eBook format. I'd take mobi, lit or ereader if they didn't want HTML.

It's this sort of thing that drives me so far against PDF.

I've never read any of the Star Wars books. Should I? I'm pretty hardcore about any science content in what I read. I can suspend disbelief about certain things, such as light sabers and so on, but not basic physics. I'm afraid I ruined Star Wars for my kids by pointing out how in this galaxy, "far, far away", every ship, planet, even asteroid, had Earth-normal gravity.

What are the books like in terms of basic physics?

What are the books like in terms of basic physics?About the same, some have a bit more than others. :shrug:

It's the stories that drive the books, in fact I really find that the movies are the weakest part of the "Star Wars Universe" for me, story-wise. The books by Zahn and Stackpole (I particularly liked I, Jedi) are much stronger tales. Of course it's going to come down to a matter of taste for each person. :shrug:

I've never read any of the Star Wars books. Should I? I'm pretty hardcore about any science content in what I read. I can suspend disbelief about certain things, such as light sabers and so on, but not basic physics. I'm afraid I ruined Star Wars for my kids by pointing out how in this galaxy, "far, far away", every ship, planet, even asteroid, had Earth-normal gravity.

What are the books like in terms of basic physics?


This wouldn't be a very good book to start with in the Star Wars universe, anyway. It depends quite a bit on a lot of back information from other books. For example, Luke is married to a woman named Mara Jade from Timothy Zahn's books, and they have a son named Ben. Ben is the padawan of Jacen, who is Han and Leia's son. Also, this particular series begins by pulling a lot of information from Marvel and Dark Horse's comic book franchises, so it can be really confusing to someone who's only seen the movies.

The science is not very rigorous, either. I personally consider the Star Wars novels to be more of a fantasy set in a highly technological era rather than pure science fiction.

But anyway, I'm glad they did this. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm glad to see more publishers doing this type of thing. I wish there was an html, version, though.

I see that you've got an ebookwise... any chance you could send me a copy once you're done with conversion? I'd really appreciate that.

Of course, I'd be happy to. Assuming I can do it. I'm not good at that sort of thing, so we shall see what happens. I've got some sort of pdf "unlocker" around here somewhere. Maybe that will start the process.

Looks like it's number one on the download list at Amazon. Glad to see a major publishing house using this strategy. Also, if you check the top 10 list on Amazon, there's another free SF book also.

The article blurb says the file can be printed. However when looking at the PDF it's completely locked down except for accessibility options. I'd be curious to know how well DixieGal's unlocking efforts go since I also use an EB-1150.

A Mobipocket version can be downloaded free at Books On Board...
http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=227930

The article blurb says the file can be printed. However when looking at the PDF it's completely locked down except for accessibility options. I'd be curious to know how well DixieGal's unlocking efforts go since I also use an EB-1150.

I've managed to save a copy by right clicking on the link and choosing "save as", this way you don't actually open the file.

Of course, I'd be happy to. Assuming I can do it. I'm not good at that sort of thing, so we shall see what happens. I've got some sort of pdf "unlocker" around here somewhere. Maybe that will start the process.

Well you seem to know more about this than I do. Best of luck!

Nice! I've downloaded in BBeB for my PRS, audiobook for my iPod and PDF for storage. :D

Hey, I think it worked. Maybe - after 4 months of messing up books - I'm starting to get the hang of this. Enjoy!

Hey, I think it worked. Maybe - after 4 months of messing up books - I'm starting to get the hang of this. Enjoy!Sorry, DixieGal, but this book is very definitely under copyright. Unfortunately, their giving it away for free doesn't automatically mean that others can re-post it for distribution, and that's one of the things our forum policy (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Policy#Policy) respects, so I've removed the attachment.

Also, everyone else will please note that openly requesting that copies of this file be emailed to you would also be against forum policy.

NatCH:

No problem. I wondered about the copyright dealies and fully expected it to be unlinked.

Here is how I did the conversion, in case anyone wonders. It is pretty simple to do, which is about all my low-tech brain can deal with.

1. Saved as pdf
2. Opened as unrestricted version with a-pdf (google it)
3. Re-saved as rtf
4. Created imp version in eBookwise Librarian (download at eBookwise site)

Thanks for sharing the info.

A Mobipocket version can be downloaded free at Books On Board...
http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=227930

This one should be even easier to convert to the Ebookwise-1150 using mobi2imp.

Dale

This one should be even easier to convert to the Ebookwise-1150 using mobi2imp.

Dale
Actually, I cannot remove the DRM. This one is different. When I go to read it woith Mobipocket Reader, it asks for my my username/password. Can this be read on a Gen3?

Do you need a signed-up Sony Connect account to download the LRF?

Actually, I cannot remove the DRM. This one is different. When I go to read it woith Mobipocket Reader, it asks for my my username/password.

You should have had to set up an account at Books On Board, if you got it from them, and that would be where you'd generate the name and password that would in turn be entered into the e-book. (If you got it from someone else, you might need their name and password...)

I downloaded the file at work and tried to upload it directly into my PDA, but I was told it was un unauthorized account (or something). When I downloaded it from home and imported it into Mobipocket on my PC, I was then able to shift it to the PDA (and give my BoB name and password).

Actually, I cannot remove the DRM. This one is different. When I go to read it woith Mobipocket Reader, it asks for my my username/password. Can this be read on a Gen3?

Once you've done the username password deal once the Mobi files from BoB will un-DRM just fine, at least they do for me (I did have to re-download the first file after I did the un/pass). I was able to remove the DRM on this free Star Wars file just fine.

Do you need a signed-up Sony Connect account to download the LRF?Yes, you will, and you'll need to register your Reader to the account if you want to read the book on it.

I'll observe here that the installation and registration processes do not ask for an actual address, for any who might have that question.

I used Mobipocket Desktop to send it to my SD card and after that it became a normal Mobipocket formated eBook without the need for a username/password. Thank for the help.

Yes, you will, and you'll need to register your Reader to the account if you want to read the book on it.

I'll observe here that the installation and registration processes do not ask for an actual address, for any who might have that question.

No, it does not ask for an address. But here you really have to tick that checkbox telling you're currently resident in the U.S. And if you're installing the 2.1 version of the software you have the choice between US and Canada.

If you don't tick the checkbox the software won't allow you to continue the registration.

have this in paperback, but love my Sony Reader (and Star Wars) so much I downloaded it straight away.

I'll also be downloading the rest of the books in this series just as soon as I get my hands on some more Sony Connect Credit :rolleyes:

if they re-issued all my other Star Wars paperbacks for my Sony REader I'd buy them too :bookworm:

This one should be even easier to convert to the Ebookwise-1150 using mobi2imp.

Dale
This one cannot be converted using mobi2imp. It's huffdic compressed and mobi2html does not handle that. I would love for mobi2html to handle huffdoc. If Tompe can read Python code, then he can look at mobihuff.py and add that ability into his Mobi tools.

This one cannot be converted using mobi2imp. It's huffdic compressed and mobi2html does not handle that. I would love for mobi2html to handle huffdoc. If Tompe can read Python code, then he can look at mobihuff.py and add that ability into his Mobi tools.

That would certainly be nice. Or maybe Nick could do it.

Dale

That would certainly be nice. Or maybe Nick could do it.

Dale
Either would be fine. Would make it easier for all of us in the long run.

Man!

As if I needed another reason to be angry at SONY for such a despicably klugey software application.

Would be interested to read this on my PRS-500. We will see if the Connect store ever logs me in so that I may do so.

Seriously need to purchase a card reader so that I may circumvent the only program to give me more trouble than Adobe Acrobat. Absolutely loathe that little 'ying-yang' arrow icon.

Any thoughts on the actual book from anyone?

I've started listening to the audiobook, and it's very well done. But to be honest, it doesn't really grab me and make me want to listen more yet. Everything seems so artificial and contrived. Maybe I just haven't gotten far enough. Plus the characters and names are hard to keep track of. I guess I'm not very familiar with the whole Star Wars scenario and context. I enjoyed the movies, but apparently didn't get much out of the plot and background story that goes with it.

So the big question is - should I keep going, or is the whole book less than thrilling unless you already love the Star Wars setting?

That's a tough question, Bob. This series is one I've been listening to as audiobooks for my monthly travels since ... October I think. I do think that the first one is the weakest of the lot so far (I'm about to start "Fury" which is #7, I believe), but since I have been reading a lot of the "expanded" SW universe (ESWU) books, I can't really tell if it would be as interesting if I hadn't. I suspect not, but I don't really have an idea as to how much difference it would make.

I suspect that the main grab of the series is just how much of a betrayal the main character's ... choices (trying to avoid spoilers here) are, given his history in the ESWU, and who he is ... and whose he is.

I really enjoyed this book and the rest of the series so far.

But I can very much imagine that If I hadnt read every book beetween The original trilogy and this one I would not rate it as highly.

Jacens motives and history are such a big driver in what he is doing that it makes the charecter and his choices very real, without knowing his background it would make his choices seem... odd!?

Esapecially what happend to Jacen during the yuzhev-Vong war that for me is so KEY to his charecters developmetn and present situation.

I would say if you enjoy star wars or sci fi/adventure novels start reading at least at the start of the Vong series.

without knowing his background it would make his choices seem... odd!?I'd say "empty," but same idea. :yes:

I would say if you enjoy star wars or sci fi/adventure novels start reading at least at the start of the Vong series.I'd also agree that Vector Prime (the first of the YV books) would be a good place to jump back in ... well, less bad than most. :shrug:

Does one have to have read the comic books as well as the novels in order to understand Star Wars?

I've been reading it, without the history, and yes, there are some moments when you can tell you're missing out on some past history that helps to explain a character's actions. On the other hand, the book goes out of its way to give the reader at least an outline of most of this backstory, so you're not left going "What! Why the $%$*%&!! did he do that?" too often.

Part of me is into the story, which is well-written and thought out. But another part is hung up on the fact that it seems every new character is a direct descendant from the original movie characters, and into pretty much the same activities as their parents (how convenient... none of them just wanted to be a gardener when they grew up?), plus a bad guy who just happens to be Han Solo's cousin... I have a hard time getting past coincidences like that. And there is a lot of material thrown in seemingly to remind the reader of how nauseatingly knowledgeable the author is about the entire Star Wars universe (many Star Trek writers exhibit this habit, too).

But really, most of that is nit-picking. The book has a very Star Wars flavor, and it's an enjoyable read. Haven't decided whether I'll keep reading the series yet, though (I yearn for something new, these days).

I've been reading it, without the history, and yes, there are some moments when you can tell you're missing out on some past history that helps to explain a character's actions. On the other hand, the book goes out of its way to give the reader at least an outline of most of this backstory, so you're not left going "What! Why the $%$*%&!! did he do that?" too often.

Part of me is into the story, which is well-written and thought out. But another part is hung up on the fact that it seems every new character is a direct descendant from the original movie characters, and into pretty much the same activities as their parents (how convenient... none of them just wanted to be a gardener when they grew up?), plus a bad guy who just happens to be Han Solo's cousin... I have a hard time getting past coincidences like that. And there is a lot of material thrown in seemingly to remind the reader of how nauseatingly knowledgeable the author is about the entire Star Wars universe (many Star Trek writers exhibit this habit, too).

But really, most of that is nit-picking. The book has a very Star Wars flavor, and it's an enjoyable read. Haven't decided whether I'll keep reading the series yet, though (I yearn for something new, these days).

I do agree in part, however it would be amusing If the son of the greatest living Jedi who was also powerful in the force decided to become a gardner rather than a superpowered lightsaber wielding Macdaddy.

For what its worth earlier in the series Jacen Solo was very much commited to not being a jedi and went 'travelling' for many years before being dragged back into it due to the war.

but yes small points and they are enjoyable the later books/story get very good.

I do agree in part, however it would be amusing If the son of the greatest living Jedi who was also powerful in the force decided to become a gardner rather than a superpowered lightsaber wielding Macdaddy.

"No thanks, pop. Just give me my light-trowel, and I'm happy." Yeah, okay, it's a stretch... :rolleyes: