Expanded Universe: Volume One by the late science fiction grandmaster Robert A. Heinlein, whom I'm not going to bother to wiki-link you for since if you've any familiarity whatsoever with the field, you should already know who he is, is the 1st half (this one goes to
eleven The Slopes of Vesuvius) of a vintage collection of some of his early and later science fiction tales as well as non-fiction essays, with retrospective notes, free courtesy of publisher Phoenix Pick Press, who are partially e-printing it from its original 1980 Grosset & Dunlap edition.
This is their featured Free Book of the Month for October, and comes with a discounted offer to complete the set with Volume Two (apparently the e-book has been split up to mirror some sort of trade paperback reprint, as this was a cockroach-squashing doorstopper in the old mass-market edition I have from the used bookshop).
Currently free throughout October directly @
the publisher's special promotion page (DRM-free ePub/Mobi bundle available worldwide in exchange for your valid email address).
The tie-in bundle deal for Volume Two is priced at just $3.99. NB: this has been offered in a one-volume edition from Baen in the past, which you might have already picked up in some bundle or other, although it is no longer available to purchase or even download from their website, so I hope you all have good backups.
And this has been the selected 3rd (non-repeat) free ebook thread of the day.
Because even though I already own this twice over, it's incredibly nifty to have offered for free even part of a work by one of the highly influential founding writers in the field, and also have it be one of the more interesting ones that demonstrates the change in style and themes in his stories and thoughts over time, with explanatory author's notes as well.
Enjoy!
Description
Robert A. Heinlein has been hailed as one of the most forward-thinking science fiction writers of all time, and Expanded Universe (presented in two volumes) offers the perfect collection of his works to provide readers with true insights into his uniquely creative mind.
Heinlein personally selected each story or essay for inclusion in this collection, which is ordered chronologically, starting with his first sale in 1939 of “Life-Line” to Astounding (for seventy dollars).This remarkable collection highlights the development of Heinlein’s writing style and his philosophy on life throughout his career.
More importantly, this collection is as close to an autobiography as anything Heinlein wrote during his life. Heinlein was an extremely private person who never wrote much about himself. In this exclusive collection, he offers forewords to most of his stories and essays (and an occasional afterword), giving readers a rare glimpse into the inner mind of the master.
Expanded Universe is a must-have for any Heinlein enthusiast and any fan of science fiction.