What's the best source for public domain ebooks?

sweevo · 08-30-2010, 04:51 PM

We all have at least a few classics we've somehow neglected to read.

What's the best place to get public domain classics? Why are different versions available even on the same store? How different is the formatting, and is there a way to tell which versions are best without actually trying them out?

Mild OCD + love of collecting + hundreds of thousands of PD books = not a very nice combination, I'm afraid.

TGS · 08-30-2010, 05:01 PM

There are some really nice versions of PD books here on Mobileread in all sorts of formats. Have a look here.

AnemicOak · 08-30-2010, 05:30 PM

My sources in order are...

MobileRead
Feedbooks
Manybooks
PG
Archive.org
Google

frquixote · 08-30-2010, 06:40 PM

I'd also add epubbooks.com to the list.

Elfwreck · 08-30-2010, 06:48 PM

The best formatting is here at Mobileread; the books are hand-crafted with consideration of the features of each file format and abilities of ebook devices in mind.

The selection is limited (for, um, internet values of "limited") to only a few thousand books (over 10k when you count all file formats) but excellent. And in many cases, the book designer is available for requests--if you really want a particular PD book without the pictures, they might be willing to provide that for you. And they take requests.

Next best is probably feedbooks, most of which are Gutenberg productions with somewhat better formatting.

I wouldn't recommend ever paying for a public domain book from one of the mainstream publishers (unless you had some need for a particular version's commentary or annotations); they are often either using the Gutenberg edition as a base, or scanning-and-OCR'ing a paper copy, with less error correction than Gutenberg.

GA Russell · 08-30-2010, 08:29 PM

I like hard-boiled mysteries, and I've downloaded a number of titles from munseys.com which I plan to get to soon.

Jaime_Astorga · 09-05-2010, 01:30 AM

Project Gutenberg, Feedbooks, Planet eBook, ManyBooks, and MobileRead itself all come to mind as good potential sources of public domain books. Which one is best is something you will have to decide on your own.

JeremyR · 09-05-2010, 04:01 AM

Honestly, after downloading a lot of free books from all the recommended sites, I would suggest start with here first.

Then try Manybooks.net, then Feedbooks.

After that, I guess you are better just going to Gutenberg and doing it yourself. I tried a bunch of freebies from Amazon itself for my new Kindle, but they were all really slapped together productions, worse than anything I could do. Why they allow that is beyond me...

jeffcobb · 09-08-2010, 11:32 PM

While not a general place for free ebooks, if you are a Firefly fan then you should download and read the book "My Kind Of Freedom" by Steven Brust. It is not public domain but it is released under the creative commons license so it is still "free". The site is here:
http://dreamcafe.com/firefly.html

Really good book by a scifi author who is also a fan.

Jaime_Astorga · 09-09-2010, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffcobb

While not a general place for free ebooks, if you are a Firefly fan then you should download and read the book "My Kind Of Freedom" by Steven Brust. It is not public domain but it is released under the creative commons license so it is still "free". The site is here:
http://dreamcafe.com/firefly.html

That novel is a self-admitted unauthorized derivative work. I don't think the CC license written on it is properly used.

jeffcobb · 09-09-2010, 12:49 AM

Derivative of what exactly? In any event, it is free and well-written. If you are a Browncoat you would love it.

jharker · 09-09-2010, 11:28 AM

Going back to the original topic, I also would say that MobileRead is the first place to look for good public domain books. If you have a Kindle, I highly recommend putting the MobiPocket Download Guide on it. Using this, you can easily find and download any book from MobileRead.

If you have an iPad, I'll point out that the iBookstore offers free previews of every book, even the non-free ones. Project Gutenberg books are available for free on the iBookstore, but are frequently badly formatted. On the other hand, most priced public domain titles are also badly formatted.

So when I want a particular public domain title on my iPad, I do this:

Search for the book. Download previews of every version.
Flip through each preview and identify the best.
Pick the one I like, buy it (if necessary), and delete the rest.

The Kindle offers a similar "preview" feature, so this approach should work there too. I don't have experience with Sony.

Hope this helps!

Cyclops · 09-11-2010, 12:01 PM

In order of discovery
Project Gutenburg
Baen
Manybooks
Here!

desertgrandma · 09-11-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweevo

We all have at least a few classics we've somehow neglected to read.

What's the best place to get public domain classics? Why are different versions available even on the same store? How different is the formatting, and is there a way to tell which versions are best without actually trying them out?

Mild OCD + love of collecting + hundreds of thousands of PD books = not a very nice combination, I'm afraid.

Try HERE. click on my link, you can sort by device, author, and genre.

08-30-2010, 04:51 PM	#1
sweevo Groupie Posts: 197 Karma: 6848 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650, Kindle Touch	What's the best source for public domain ebooks? We all have at least a few classics we've somehow neglected to read. What's the best place to get public domain classics? Why are different versions available even on the same store? How different is the formatting, and is there a way to tell which versions are best without actually trying them out? Mild OCD + love of collecting + hundreds of thousands of PD books = not a very nice combination, I'm afraid.

09-09-2010, 11:28 AM	#12
jharker Developer Posts: 345 Karma: 3473 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Device: iRex iLiad v1, Blackberry Tour, Kindle DX, iPad.	Going back to the original topic, I also would say that MobileRead is the first place to look for good public domain books. If you have a Kindle, I highly recommend putting the MobiPocket Download Guide on it. Using this, you can easily find and download any book from MobileRead. If you have an iPad, I'll point out that the iBookstore offers free previews of every book, even the non-free ones. Project Gutenberg books are available for free on the iBookstore, but are frequently badly formatted. On the other hand, most priced public domain titles are also badly formatted. So when I want a particular public domain title on my iPad, I do this: Search for the book. Download previews of every version. Flip through each preview and identify the best. Pick the one I like, buy it (if necessary), and delete the rest. The Kindle offers a similar "preview" feature, so this approach should work there too. I don't have experience with Sony. Hope this helps!

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08-30-2010, 05:01 PM	#2
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	There are some really nice versions of PD books here on Mobileread in all sorts of formats. Have a look here.

08-30-2010, 05:30 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	My sources in order are... MobileRead Feedbooks Manybooks PG Archive.org Google

08-30-2010, 06:40 PM	#4
frquixote Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 2448688 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kapolei, Oahu, HI Device: KOBO Libra 2, Kindle PW3, Samsung 8A Tablet, Samsung S10e Phone	I'd also add epubbooks.com to the list.

08-30-2010, 06:48 PM	#5
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	The best formatting is here at Mobileread; the books are hand-crafted with consideration of the features of each file format and abilities of ebook devices in mind. The selection is limited (for, um, internet values of "limited") to only a few thousand books (over 10k when you count all file formats) but excellent. And in many cases, the book designer is available for requests--if you really want a particular PD book without the pictures, they might be willing to provide that for you. And they take requests. Next best is probably feedbooks, most of which are Gutenberg productions with somewhat better formatting. I wouldn't recommend ever paying for a public domain book from one of the mainstream publishers (unless you had some need for a particular version's commentary or annotations); they are often either using the Gutenberg edition as a base, or scanning-and-OCR'ing a paper copy, with less error correction than Gutenberg.

08-30-2010, 08:29 PM	#6
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	I like hard-boiled mysteries, and I've downloaded a number of titles from munseys.com which I plan to get to soon.

09-05-2010, 01:30 AM	#7
Jaime_Astorga Member Retired Posts: 274 Karma: 4446 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Device: PRS-350-SC: Sony Reader Pocket Edition	Project Gutenberg, Feedbooks, Planet eBook, ManyBooks, and MobileRead itself all come to mind as good potential sources of public domain books. Which one is best is something you will have to decide on your own.

09-05-2010, 04:01 AM	#8
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Honestly, after downloading a lot of free books from all the recommended sites, I would suggest start with here first. Then try Manybooks.net, then Feedbooks. After that, I guess you are better just going to Gutenberg and doing it yourself. I tried a bunch of freebies from Amazon itself for my new Kindle, but they were all really slapped together productions, worse than anything I could do. Why they allow that is beyond me...

09-08-2010, 11:32 PM	#9
jeffcobb Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 700 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Las Vegas Device: Nook, CoolER	While not a general place for free ebooks, if you are a Firefly fan then you should download and read the book "My Kind Of Freedom" by Steven Brust. It is not public domain but it is released under the creative commons license so it is still "free". The site is here: http://dreamcafe.com/firefly.html Really good book by a scifi author who is also a fan.

09-09-2010, 12:49 AM	#11
jeffcobb Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 700 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Las Vegas Device: Nook, CoolER	Derivative of what exactly? In any event, it is free and well-written. If you are a Browncoat you would love it.

09-11-2010, 12:01 PM	#13
Cyclops Only need one eye to read Posts: 796 Karma: 6277024 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Darlington, England Device: Kobo Touch N905C, Sony PRS-300, Nintendo DSi XL,	In order of discovery Project Gutenburg Baen Manybooks Here!

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