SF/F :: Bull Spec: Year 1 online as PDF (pay-what-you-want pricing!)

Vintage Season · 01-15-2011, 08:30 PM

Science fiction, fantasy and weird-literature readers, if you visit the Bull Spec website you'll see that the magazine is currently available either in print or as a PDF. (The publisher, Samuel Montgomery-Blinn, tells me that a Kindle version is "in the works," but not quite ready to release yet.)

If you go through the website, you'll also notice that Bull Spec uses an innovative "pay what you want" system. The newsstand price is ~$8 per issue, but online orders are charged $3.75 per issue, plus shipping (if applicable) and any gift amount that you would like to include.

If you select the PDF option*, there is no charge for the file or for shipping (in other words, free), but you are still allowed the option of including a gift amount.

* The PDF version CAN be read on the Kindle, but doing so involves a lot of zoom-and-scrolling. The PDF works best on laptops or LCD devices, but is still an excellent way to preview the magazine!

• • • • • • • •

Interested in spreading the word on other eBook sites? There are two versions of the "Bull Spec: Year 1" banner ad available. If you use one of them, please link it to "http://www.bullspec.com" (the home page for Bull Spec):

Click image for larger version

Name: Bull Spec, Year 1 (white).png
Views: 186
Size: 54.2 KB
ID: 64866

Click image for larger version

Name: Bull Spec, Year 1 (black).png
Views: 194
Size: 54.4 KB
ID: 64867

• • • • • • • •

... and one last thing: I'll have a new story included in the next issue, which should be out late March/early April.

— M. David Blake

AprilHare · 01-15-2011, 11:16 PM

If the magazine PDF supports PDF reflow, it won't look too bad on later Sony Readers?

Vintage Season · 01-15-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AprilHare

If the magazine PDF supports PDF reflow, it won't look too bad on later Sony Readers?

AprilHare, the PDF supplied by Bull Spec is a print-ready layout, with fixed pagination (it matches the paper version available on newsstands and via subscription)... which means sorry, but no reflow. Still a good way to get to know the magazine though!

— M. David Blake

Dr. Drib · 01-16-2011, 06:58 AM

Are you the publisher?

Are you affiliated with the publisher?

Don
(Moderator)

Vintage Season · 01-16-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Are you the publisher?

Are you affiliated with the publisher?

Don
(Moderator)

Hi Don. To answer your questions: No, and no.

The magazine is published by Samuel Montgomery-Blinn, and full disclosure requires me to state that he bought one of my stories for an upcoming issue, but I have no formal association with Bull Spec... I just like the magazine, would like to see it do well and receive good exposure, and thought MobileRead users might like to know about the "pay-what-you-want" pricing. (In other words, this is NOT self-promotion.)

— M. David Blake

Dr. Drib · 01-16-2011, 10:26 AM

Mr. Blake:

Thank you for responding.

Don
(Moderator)

SkyDream · 01-16-2011, 10:35 AM

Tried but didn't work.
Once you get to the download site, right click- save will always save a 2k file. Clicking on the PDF to open it in the browser will load forever...

koland · 01-16-2011, 10:56 AM

With Nuance, the 2K file just yields an error (got same thing here). So, the PDF file at their end appears to be bad (or the link is).

Vintage Season · 01-16-2011, 12:11 PM

Must be a temporary error... or possibly something in your browser settings? I checked that all four of the downloads were working yesterday, before I posted this, and they seem to be fine now.

Here are the exact steps that work for me, if you would like to try again:

Click on the "PDF" link at the top of the page (in the line that says "ORDER BULL SPEC #4 in PRINT OR PDF OR SUBSCRIBE")
Select an issue to download from the drop-down. Issue #4 is selected by default. (Next to the "$" you should see "0" for the amount.)
There should be be something in the gift amount... don't leave it empty. (Although the default gift amount is a suggested three dollars, if you click on the "0" link, the gift amount will be entered as "0.00")
Click the "Check out with Paypal" button. (A total of $0.00 bypasses Paypal, and simply gives you the download link.)
Download your PDF from the link supplied. (Each order generates a unique e-order key, which is part of the download link. The link does not work without that long string of letters and numbers, and each key can only be used once... but if you tried and it didn't work, simply try ordering again with "0" amounts to generate a new link.)

— M. David Blake

koland · 01-16-2011, 12:16 PM

Did all that. got a key. followed directions to right click and save. got tiny, bad file. So, tried just clicking instead - same result. deleted page.

Vintage Season · 01-16-2011, 12:27 PM

Hmm... what browser and operating system are you using, so I can try under similar conditions? On my system, it still works just fine.

(DNS-related issues could also be messing with Bull Spec's file hosting, I suppose. If that's the case, it should self-correct soon.)

— M. David Blake

koland · 01-16-2011, 12:28 PM

Firefox, W7-64

I can try it again in a bit

koland · 01-16-2011, 12:34 PM

OK, didn't reboot, restart FF or anything else and it is now working. Perhaps they just overdid their allowed traffic yesterday or had another issue at their end.

wizzard · 01-16-2011, 12:40 PM

right click and save didn't work for me. however i was able to open the pdf in firefox and save it.

Vintage Season · 01-16-2011, 12:56 PM

Okay... glad that's cleared up, then!

— M. David Blake

01-15-2011, 08:30 PM	#1
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	SF/F :: Bull Spec: Year 1 online as PDF (pay-what-you-want pricing!) Science fiction, fantasy and weird-literature readers, if you visit the Bull Spec website you'll see that the magazine is currently available either in print or as a PDF. (The publisher, Samuel Montgomery-Blinn, tells me that a Kindle version is "in the works," but not quite ready to release yet.) If you go through the website, you'll also notice that Bull Spec uses an innovative "pay what you want" system. The newsstand price is ~$8 per issue, but online orders are charged $3.75 per issue, plus shipping (if applicable) and any gift amount that you would like to include. *If you select the PDF option, there is no charge for the file or for shipping (in other words, free), but you are still allowed the option of including a gift amount.** * The PDF version CAN be read on the Kindle, but doing so involves a lot of zoom-and-scrolling. The PDF works best on laptops or LCD devices, but is still an excellent way to preview the magazine! • • • • • • • • Interested in spreading the word on other eBook sites? There are two versions of the "Bull Spec: Year 1" banner ad available. If you use one of them, please link it to "http://www.bullspec.com" (the home page for Bull Spec): • • • • • • • • ... and one last thing: I'll have a new story included in the next issue, which should be out late March/early April. — M. David Blake

01-16-2011, 12:11 PM	#9
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	Must be a temporary error... or possibly something in your browser settings? I checked that all four of the downloads were working yesterday, before I posted this, and they seem to be fine now. Here are the exact steps that work for me, if you would like to try again: Click on the "PDF" link at the top of the page (in the line that says "ORDER BULL SPEC #4 in PRINT OR PDF OR SUBSCRIBE") Select an issue to download from the drop-down. Issue #4 is selected by default. (Next to the "$" you should see "0" for the amount.) There should be be something in the gift amount... don't leave it empty. (Although the default gift amount is a suggested three dollars, if you click on the "0" link, the gift amount will be entered as "0.00") Click the "Check out with Paypal" button. (A total of $0.00 bypasses Paypal, and simply gives you the download link.) Download your PDF from the link supplied. (Each order generates a unique e-order key, which is part of the download link. The link does not work without that long string of letters and numbers, and each key can only be used once... but if you tried and it didn't work, simply try ordering again with "0" amounts to generate a new link.) — M. David Blake

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01-15-2011, 11:16 PM	#2
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	If the magazine PDF supports PDF reflow, it won't look too bad on later Sony Readers?

01-16-2011, 06:58 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Are you the publisher? Are you affiliated with the publisher? Don (Moderator)

01-16-2011, 10:26 AM	#6
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Mr. Blake: Thank you for responding. Don (Moderator)

01-16-2011, 10:35 AM	#7
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	Tried but didn't work. Once you get to the download site, right click- save will always save a 2k file. Clicking on the PDF to open it in the browser will load forever...

01-16-2011, 10:56 AM	#8
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	With Nuance, the 2K file just yields an error (got same thing here). So, the PDF file at their end appears to be bad (or the link is).

01-16-2011, 12:16 PM	#10
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	Did all that. got a key. followed directions to right click and save. got tiny, bad file. So, tried just clicking instead - same result. deleted page.

01-16-2011, 12:27 PM	#11
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	Hmm... what browser and operating system are you using, so I can try under similar conditions? On my system, it still works just fine. (DNS-related issues could also be messing with Bull Spec's file hosting, I suppose. If that's the case, it should self-correct soon.) — M. David Blake

01-16-2011, 12:28 PM	#12
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	Firefox, W7-64 I can try it again in a bit

01-16-2011, 12:34 PM	#13
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	OK, didn't reboot, restart FF or anything else and it is now working. Perhaps they just overdid their allowed traffic yesterday or had another issue at their end.

01-16-2011, 12:40 PM	#14
wizzard The Reader Posts: 52 Karma: 10714 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA Device: Aura HD	right click and save didn't work for me. however i was able to open the pdf in firefox and save it.

01-16-2011, 12:56 PM	#15
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	Okay... glad that's cleared up, then! — M. David Blake