Disclaimer: I have no affilation with them except as a customer.
_________________________

I would like to take the opportunity to recognize Fictionwise as a leader in the digital format for ebooks.

This is a company that really seems to be concerned about their customers and (wonder of wonders!) about the software that fronts the purchasing of their ebooks. Buying from them - an exchange of money for services rendered - is a pleasant exercise in negotiation.

They are responsive and attentive to their customers. (However, I have yet to see them correct the spelling on a book I purchased from them, where the word "weird" is misspelled as "wierd," even though I sent them an email on this and they responded by thanking me.)

I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I added $40 to my micropay account, preparatory to buying about 12 books. They flagged this amount and offered me a $5 discount on any 1 or 2 year membership. Additionally, I recieved 15% off from the 25% already off store-wide sale celebrating their 8 years of existence (and the Sale ends today, by the way). They also offer up to $10 off an ebook if you rejoin. I imagine this is available toward the end of my one year memebership.

Again, I have no affiliation with them. I recognize, of course, that they are in the business of selling ebooks to make a profit. Yet, I have this sense, also, that they geunuinely care about the health of the industry and about thier customers.

I am proud to be a customer of Fictionwise.


Don

Fictionwise are my favourite "general" bookstore by far. I've been using them for a couple of years now, and buy all sorts there. Excellent selection, good prices, and good service.

Personally i do not want to spend the time to handle discount or memberships so every shop that is dependent on that to have a reasonable price is a bad shop. I seems here that people always mentions discounts and similar thing in connection with Fictionwise but maybe they are resonable if you do not want to bother with these kinde of things.

Wish they carried more .lrf books

Personally i do not want to spend the time to handle discount or memberships so every shop that is dependent on that to have a reasonable price is a bad shop. I seems here that people always mentions discounts and similar thing in connection with Fictionwise but maybe they are resonable if you do not want to bother with these kinde of things.

Sign up for their weekly newsletters to be informed of all discounts. Fictionwise is a class act all the way.

I'm also thankful for what Fictionwise has brought to the e-book market. And with their acquisition of eReader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18706), I'm hopeful that we will see new life breathed into it as well.

There may not be any "perfect seller" out there with everyone's favorite pricing structure and format choices. But I think Fictionwise does a great job and consumer options wouldn't be the same without them.

BTW, at the Fictionwise-associated site Filament Books, it claims that if you join their club for $199, you get the reader + 2 free books per month. I've not used Filament, but just reporting what they say at http://www.filamentbooks.com/ebcontent/devices/1150_monthly.asp

I'm no mathemagician, but I think it comes out to about $3 per book after subtracting $139 for the device.

BTW, at the Fictionwise-associated site Filament Books, it claims that if you join their club for $199, you get the reader + 2 free books per month.

When I was looking at buying the eBookwise (which is a rebranded ETI-2, same as sold by Filament), I thought this sounded like a very good deal. I still think it is a good deal, but you should take a look at their selection of books before you pay your money. Filament specializes in an unusual selection -- interesting, certainly, but a bit off the beaten track. For myself, the eBookwise was a better deal, but if Filament's selection fits your taste, it is a nice offer.

Caveat lector.

Jack

P.S. For comparison's sake, I should also mention that the $139 package at eBookwise includes a memory card, which I do not see mentioned at Filament (but I could have missed it). If it does not have the card, the comparable eBookwise unit sells for $109.

I'm also thankful for what Fictionwise has brought to the e-book market. And with their acquisition of eReader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18706), I'm hopeful that we will see new life breathed into it as well.

There may not be any "perfect seller" out there with everyone's favorite pricing structure and format choices. But I think Fictionwise does a great job and consumer options wouldn't be the same without them.

They also have a very active mailing list, on which the store's owner actively participates.

Even without the buywise discount, I find Fictionwise prices are still reasonable for what I buy. I also find the fact that they actually understand that the reading public does not want DRM and so make a point of offering books without it is a huge plus.

Overall they're my favorite place to buy, Books On Board being a close second.

I do wish they'd do a better job with their Genre classifications though. Sometimes various books from the same series will be listed under 3 or 4 different Genre's. Also half the time their search engine misses things, especially if they've just been added, I don't know if it's an indexing problem or what. I've brought both issues up, but get the standard thanks for letting us know response, and nothing changes. :shrugs:

Like I said overall, they're still my favorite place to buy.

Overall they're my favorite place to buy, Books On Board being a close second.

Yep, same here.

Has anyone bought any of the Dell Magazines through Fictionwise? How's the LRF version? I've been thinking of getting Analog and/or Asimov through them because I don't have room for the actual magazines anymore.

They also have a very active mailing list, on which the store's owner actively participates.
Do you have a link to join the mailing list? I'm too lazy to go look for it.

Do you have a link to join the mailing list? I'm too lazy to go look for it.

It's a Yahoo Group and can be found here (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fictionwise/).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fictionwise/

Has anyone bought any of the Dell Magazines through Fictionwise? How's the LRF version? I've been thinking of getting Analog and/or Asimov through them because I don't have room for the actual magazines anymore.

I've bought them. Love love love scifi short stories! It seems to work OK for me on my EB-1150.

Has anyone bought any of the Dell Magazines through Fictionwise? How's the LRF version? I've been thinking of getting Analog and/or Asimov through them because I don't have room for the actual magazines anymore.

They have the complete text, book reviews, etc, but none of the adverts or pictures. Why not buy a sample copy and see for yourself?

I'm planning on it, just been a bit busy this week. Thanks for the feedback.

Now I just need to find time to read everything that's available.

One of the better stores for the layout of their books, though I must admit the site looks a little 'dated' and clumsy.
But their service standard is excellent...and that means more than anything else, discounts or no discounts...

Has anyone bought any of the Dell Magazines through Fictionwise? How's the LRF version? I've been thinking of getting Analog and/or Asimov through them because I don't have room for the actual magazines anymore.
I dropped my printed version subscription in favor of the electronic version. Sure the graphics are a bit small (except for the cover page) but that is not the real reason I read Analog.

Fictionwise is one of the best bookstores going. pbook or ebook.

I've subscribed to the electronic version of Analog since 2005, and have been reading it for almost 30 years now. Fictionwise does a great job with it.

Does anyone know how to get the books that you download from Fictionwise to save as opposed to just open? They have a guide for it (https://www.fictionwise.com/help/MSReader-Overview.htm#savingpc) but I have Vista and when you open folder options there is no files tab or advanced.

The book I downloaded from them opens fine into the MS reader, but I can't find it anywhere on my computer. (Which is making it hard to convert the file that doesn't seem to exist.)

The book I downloaded from them opens fine into the MS reader, but I can't find it anywhere on my computer. (Which is making it hard to convert the file that doesn't seem to exist.)

Should be in your Documents folder in the My Library folder.

The book I downloaded from them opens fine into the MS reader, but I can't find it anywhere on my computer. (Which is making it hard to convert the file that doesn't seem to exist.)

Is it not in "My Documents\My Library"? That's where it should be!

Should be in your Documents folder in the My Library folder.

Aha! Thank you. Funny thing is that I did a search on my computer and the file doesn't come up.

Yeah, the Asimov's, Analog, FSF, etc. are fine. So is Interzone, too, for that matter.

Thanks, I'm going to buy one of each during lunch to try them out before buying a subscription.

Think of this as a sub to the main thread.:)

HOW MUCH DID YOU SPEND ON THE RECENT FICTIONWISE SALE?

I spent $85, but $25 of that was for joining the bookclub. The membership is already paying for itself and Fictionwise continues to get money from me, which is as it should be for such great service.

Note: One book collection I bought was missing the Contents Page, although the novel in this collection did have working chapter links. I emailed them about this before the weekend and just now got a reply. They fixed the links for the short stories and now the entire ebook is perfect. GREAT SERVICE!

Don

Too much but not enough.

HOW MUCH DID YOU SPEND ON THE RECENT FICTIONWISE SALE?


Being a new owner, and wanting to build up my stock of books, and being amazed at what was available, (books I have not seen for years in the book shops I frequent), I therefore spent over US $400 plus my membership costs. Still have $85 in micropay rebates. :)

Most of the books I bought are ones I own or have owned before and want/will read again.

I work in different countries and spend most of the year away from home, and usually away from any decent book shop, so ebooks and a reader are the way to go.

My only problem, and it is a little one, is that most ebooks are available from US sellers and I find US spelling irritating. I would imagine the irritation is reciprocated by US educated people.

Craig

Being a new owner, and wanting to build up my stock of books, and being amazed at what was available, (books I have not seen for years in the book shops I frequent), I therefore spent over US $400 plus my membership costs. Still have $85 in micropay rebates. :)

Most of the books I bought are ones I own or have owned before and want/will read again.

I work in different countries and spend most of the year away from home, and usually away from any decent book shop, so ebooks and a reader are the way to go.

My only problem, and it is a little one, is that most ebooks are available from US sellers and I find US spelling irritating. I would imagine the irritation is reciprocated by US educated people.

Craig

I believe that I read on their website that when one spends a substantial amount of money - and to me, $500 is indeed a substantial amount - that one gets an extra discount above and beyond the membership discount. Or perhaps that's only for the Micropay account? I always use Micropay, which is essentially giving them capital to work with - advance money - because I've always used my prescribed amount. When I have more books than Micropay will cover, I just up the Micropay amount.

Did you get any extra discount above the membership discount for spending about $500 ?

Don

My only problem, and it is a little one, is that most ebooks are available from US sellers and I find US spelling irritating. I would imagine the irritation is reciprocated by US educated people.

Craig

It's the publishers fault, not the sellers.

Dr. Drib,

Did you get any extra discount above the membership discount for spending about $500 ?


If you spend $100 to $199.99 you get an additional 10% rebate in to your micropay account. If you spend $200 and over you get an additional 15% into the micropay account. Yes I got the additional rebate, spent most of it already.

GeoffC

It's the publishers fault, not the sellers.

I was not blaming anyone, just bemoaning the fact. It would be nice if "both languages" :) were available from the same seller.

I was not blaming anyone, just bemoaning the fact. It would be nice if "both languages" :) were available from the same seller.

It depends on the publisher.

I've recently bought a lot (in fact all the 57 currently available :) ) Agatha Christie books from FictionWise and they are all the British HarperCollins editions.

I've recently bought a lot (in fact all the 57 currently available :) ) Agatha Christie books from FictionWise and they are all the British HarperCollins editions.

Are they good ebook editions (no mistakes, proper formatting, etc.)?

Can anyone comment on the P.G. Wodehouse works available?

They're very nicely done, with all the figures, etc., from the printed book (maps of the house, illustrations of hand-writing - that kind of thing). In addition, each book has an interesting essay about the writing of that book from Christie's biographer.

There are a small number of mistakes, yes, but not at the level where it becomes objectionable. Mainly things like additional spaces before punctuation marks. I've not spotted any actual "typos" in the text.

I just wish that they were all available. It's irritating that, for example, 39 out of the 40 "Poirot" books are available, but one's missing ("Hickory Dickory Dock"). Not FictionWise's fault - it's not available from the publisher apparently. Hopefully the 20 or so Christie books not currently available as eBooks will appear at some point in the not too distant future. Still, the 57 books I have should keep me going for a while :D. If I run out, I can always buy the "missing" ones as pBooks.

HarryT,

It depends on the publisher.

I've recently bought a lot (in fact all the 57 currently available ) Agatha Christie books from FictionWise and they are all the British HarperCollins editions

That is interesting to know, unfortunately one complete set I bought from the same source, Terry Pratchett's Disk World, are all American editions. At least the ones I have opend are, the cover pictures certainly are American editions not the ones seen on British/Australian.

Seems like it is a case of pot luck!

Craig.

I have to throw my hat into the ring here...

Fictionwise is going out of their way to try to repair my broken lit file of Perdido Street Station, I've never experienced such a high level of customer support...Their "tech support specialist", Lynn, truly deserves praise.

And even more kudos if she can finally find my missing chapter 5.

To quote:

Hi,

I am sorry about all the trouble with this ebook file. I have
contacted the provider once again informing them that the file is
still incorrect.

As soon as I hear from them I will let you know.

Thanks!

Best Regards,

Lynn
Fictionwise Support Team

================================================== ==========
You wrote:
The original issue was not resolved.

Several weeks ago I advised you that my Microsoft LIT file
was missing all of Chapter 5. You confirmed this through
your versions and told me you fixed the error. I then
attempted to download the complete repaired file and found
that it was a PDF version, which I downloaded.

So, I opened another ticket and you replaced my PDF with
the original LIT file I purchased.

However, this "updated LIT" file that you claim to have
restored is not the updated file. It is the original one
that I complained about several weeks ago.

I compared the PDF version that I downloaded from you last
week with the newest LIT file.

My LIT file still completely skips over chapter 5.

There are 12 pages unaccounted for from the PDF to the LIT
file, that I know of.

My PDF File lists chapter 5 starting with:

"Isaac waited, facing his guest. The garuda stood silent.
Isaac could see it was concentrating. It was preparing to
speak."

This is page 38/55.

My LIT file starts Chapter 5 with:

"In this city, those who look like me are not like me. I
made the mistake once (tired and afraid and desperate for
help) of doubting that."

This is page 55/67 on the PDF.

Where are those missing pages? Could you try to get with
Del Ray again and get this issue resolved?

I appreciate your continued support and patience."

Well, I just spent some more money on Fictionwise!:)

Seems like they're having a Father's Day special on their Science Fiction.

I have no affiliation with them, but they sure do have an affiliation with my Checking Account!!!:rofl:


Don