11-01-2011, 01:27 PM | #1 |
eWanderer
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What is the best free (public domain) sci-fi book you have read?
What is the best free (public domain) sci-fi book you have ever read?
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11-01-2011, 01:44 PM | #2 |
Wizard
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Accelerando by Charlie Stross. It was free but not, if I recall correctly, public domain.
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11-01-2011, 02:53 PM | #3 | |
Wizard
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My vote for best PD Science Fiction (strict definition which disallows Fantasy) would be Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus. |
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11-01-2011, 02:56 PM | #4 |
eWanderer
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Yeah.. should have included CC books too.... Thanks!
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11-01-2011, 03:44 PM | #5 |
Wizard
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Sci Fi? H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds or E.R. Burroughs' "John Carter of Mars" books, probably. I am not a huge Sci Fi person, though. I love The Light Princess and The Day Boy and the Night Girl, both by George MacDonald but they are Fantasy.
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11-01-2011, 04:19 PM | #6 |
Wizard
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WotW was going to be my choice as well. I also listened to it on cassette tape (yes, really) on a car trip way back in the day. However, Lovecraft remains my all-time favorite author in PD.
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11-01-2011, 11:54 PM | #7 |
Star Gawker
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Two of the best free (public domain) books I have read are:
Philip Wylie - Gladiator Harry Harrison - DeathWorld Gladiator is a long time favourite of mine, so I was glad to find it in ebook format. It is the story of a boy who grows to manhood with superhuman strength and invincibility. This book predates Superman and may have been an influence on Superman's creators. The story has great characters and is very evocative of an era. |
11-02-2011, 12:35 AM | #8 |
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Four Day Planet by H. Beam Piper. He's a favorite author of mine, so hard to pick which is my favorite.
http://www.manybooks.net/titles/piperh1947819478-8.html I think only PD in the US though... |
11-02-2011, 12:55 AM | #9 |
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Great topic! The only PD sci-fi I've read was H.G. Well's The Time Machine. I liked it well enough. I've twice started and stopped The Invisible Man. I might have to skip it and move on.
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11-02-2011, 05:24 AM | #10 | |
Readaholic
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11-02-2011, 06:53 AM | #11 |
The Dank Side of the Moon
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I loved the Mars books! Burroughs was a hellofa adventure writer.
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11-02-2011, 09:52 AM | #12 | |
Wizard
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11-02-2011, 12:44 PM | #13 |
Chocolate Grasshopper ...
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War of the Worlds ....
Books by Lovecraft - though one could argue they aren't science fiction as such ... The Oolite saga (Drew Wagar) - last book expected in time for xmas ... |
11-02-2011, 02:43 PM | #14 |
Cannon Fodder
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It's fantasy, not sci-fi, but Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson is an excellent read. There is an HTML version available for free on his website.
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11-02-2011, 02:48 PM | #15 |
Cannon Fodder
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Cory Doctorow also makes his books available for free download.
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