Website for finding great public domain/self-published books

[ficbot]

I've set up a little site for those of us who are rebelling against the high prices MacMillian and Big Publishing are foisting upon us. I wouldn't want us to run out of stuff to read just because *they* seem disinclined to supply it! I will be listing both free/public domain stuff (that still has appeal, imho, for modern readers) and also purchaseable content so long as it costs $10 or less and is free of DRM or other restrictions.

I am a bit of a speed reader so I anticipate being able to add to this page substantially. What is up right now is just a first pass

What do you think?

Link

[dreams]

Nice site, ficbot. I took note of an interesting series to try..

Doan and Carstairs Series by Norbert Davis

* A hilarious trio of detective stories featuring a wry sleuth and his pony-sized dog.

Thank you.

[Guns4Hire]

Thanks, I'll be keeping an eye on your site.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by ficbot

I've set up a little site for those of us who are rebelling against the high prices MacMillian and Big Publishing are foisting upon us. I wouldn't want us to run out of stuff to read just because *they* seem disinclined to supply it! I will be listing both free/public domain stuff (that still has appeal, imho, for modern readers) and also purchaseable content so long as it costs $10 or less and is free of DRM or other restrictions.

I am a bit of a speed reader so I anticipate being able to add to this page substantially. What is up right now is just a first pass

What do you think?

Link

Just as an FYI some of the works on Smashwords.com have a restrictive 'don't share' policy at the beginning. I believe some are more official than others. I don't know if this changes your criteria for inclusion, but I know it changes my criteria for whether I read a book or not (not in the cases of such outright stupid policies) regardless of price.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy at www.smashwords.com Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes



This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

[Richard Herley]

Great, ficbot, and thanks! I'd be very pleased to have my site added to your "Creative Commons" category. I'll link to your site on my blog. And if there are any other authors out there offering their work directly, please let me know and we can swap links.

[ficbot]

Thanks, guys! If you keep an eye on my blog I will post updates (and more detailed reviews of the books I read) there.

[Bremen Cole]

Below is a link to a list of some DRM free sellers....

http://blog.threepress.org/2009/11/1...ee-publishers/

[kennyc]

Interesting, but I think it would be a ton of work to keep updated. Thus the search engines for finding free/cheap books.

[JoeD]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Just as an FYI some of the works on Smashwords.com have a restrictive 'don't share' policy at the beginning. I believe some are more official than others. I don't know if this changes your criteria for inclusion, but I know it changes my criteria for whether I read a book or not (not in the cases of such outright stupid policies) regardless of price.

So long as they have no DRM and just a note asking you to not share the book I see no problem. Whether the author chooses to sell their book or give it away doesn't remove their right to say where it's distributed from.

I like the idea of the site, hopefully you'll add links to the author's websites too for those who provide a direct purchase option.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by JoeD

So long as they have no DRM and just a note asking you to not share the book I see no problem. Whether the author chooses to sell their book or give it away doesn't remove their right to say where it's distributed from.

I like the idea of the site, hopefully you'll add links to the author's websites too for those who provide a direct purchase option.

Of course, and it's a personal thing with me, that's why I prefaced it with an FYI. I find the terms of such 'don't share' agreements insulting and presumptuous, also ludicrous as they're unenforceable.

[ficbot]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Below is a link to a list of some DRM free sellers....

http://blog.threepress.org/2009/11/1...ee-publishers/

Thanks, I have linked it.

I have also updated the welcome page to provide a bit more information about my goal for the site. I am not planning to link to every free book out there. Rather, it will be a personal list of books I have read and can vouch for---an attempt to help people winnow through the massive pile of slush out there with some tried and true (at least by me, for whatever that is worth) recommendations.

If anyone else sets up a similar site with their own recommendations, I am more than happy to link to it. I would love for the publishers to realize that if they don't start catering to readers a little bit more, they will lose them (and their money) to alternate channels.

[ficbot]

I have done a major update on the website! I now have a section for non-English books, and a new activism page where I am listing any reader initiatives to affect change.