FREE/BARGAIN - Science Fiction, Fantasy - 2016

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by datcha

If the only change is the watermark, why does it bother you?

It's more then just adding in the watermark. It's done a Calibre conversion and the stylesheet has Calibre classes. Also, the left/right margins are increased by 5pt. So yes, there are changes beyond the watermarks. For example, the font size is different in these free versions then the paid for versions because of the Calibre conversion.

BTW I am not sure I understand the purpose of this site instafreebie that gives a lot of freebies, though apparently very variable in value.

The use of the site is to be able to give away eBooks because there is no DRM other than the watermarks.

[datcha]

Storybundle is currently offering what they call "The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-off Bundle". There is the usual blurb on how these 8 books have been selected.

But when I look in details, I can see that every single one is the first volume of a series, the kind of book that one often gets for free, or for $0.99 (one of them can actually be found for free).

The second point is that, thouh they are all delivered DRM-free in epub, mobi and pdf, most of them are otherwise available only from Amazon. That means that readers looking for sequels (recall they are all series) will most likely have to go to Amazon, who sells only mobi versions, unusable on any ereader other than Amazon's Kindle.

I may be mistaken (where ?), but I wonder whether there is much value in this bundle for readers who do not own a kindle, when one is considering the 10 books for $15, or even only the first 5 for $5.

What do you think? Do you have an opinion on this book bundle?

Here is the offer (I have added the names of the series)

For $5 or more:

• Shattered Sands by W. G. Saraband -- Yaasarian Tales #1
• The Weight of a Crown by Tavish Kaeden -- Azhaion Saga #1
• Priest by Matthew Colville -- Ratcatchers #1
• What Remains of Heroes by David Benem -- A Requiem for Heroes #1
• A Soul for Trouble by Crista McHugh -- Soulbearer #1

For $15 or more, you also get (in addition to the first five):

• Sins of a Sovereignty by Plague Jack -- Amernia Fallen #1
• The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung -- Amra Thetys #1
• Under a Colder Sun by Greg James Khale == the Wanderer #1
• Bloodrush by Ben Galley -- Scarlet Star Trilogy #1
• City of Burning Shadows by Barbara J. Webb -- The Dying World #1

[badgoodDeb]

Well, kindle for PC or for Mac can be run for free, without owning any kindle. Or kindle books can be read directly from the cloud, online. (I forget amazon's term for it).

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by datcha

Storybundle is currently offering what they call "The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-off Bundle". There is the usual blurb on how these 8 books have been selected.

But when I look in details, I can see that every single one is the first volume of a series, the kind of book that one often gets for free, or for $0.99 (one of them can actually be found for free).

The second point is that, thouh they are all delivered DRM-free in epub, mobi and pdf, most of them are otherwise available only from Amazon. That means that readers looking for sequels (recall they are all series) will most likely have to go to Amazon, who sells only mobi versions, unusable on any ereader other than Amazon's Kindle.

I may be mistaken (where ?), but I wonder whether there is much value in this bundle for readers who do not own a kindle, when one is considering the 10 books for $15, or even only the first 5 for $5.

What do you think? Do you have an opinion on this book bundle?

Here is the offer (I have added the names of the series)

For $5 or more:

• Shattered Sands by W. G. Saraband -- Yaasarian Tales #1
• The Weight of a Crown by Tavish Kaeden -- Azhaion Saga #1
• Priest by Matthew Colville -- Ratcatchers #1
• What Remains of Heroes by David Benem -- A Requiem for Heroes #1
• A Soul for Trouble by Crista McHugh -- Soulbearer #1

For $15 or more, you also get (in addition to the first five):

• Sins of a Sovereignty by Plague Jack -- Amernia Fallen #1
• The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung -- Amra Thetys #1
• Under a Colder Sun by Greg James Khale == the Wanderer #1
• Bloodrush by Ben Galley -- Scarlet Star Trilogy #1
• City of Burning Shadows by Barbara J. Webb -- The Dying World #1

I'm NOT impressed by this promotion at all.

I reported earlier that ONE of the BONUS books is actually free at Amazon.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I'm NOT impressed by this promotion at all.

I reported earlier that ONE of the BONUS books is actually free at Amazon.

Sounds like this one is more of a StoryBungle.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Manabi

Sounds like this one is more of a StoryBungle.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by datcha

Storybundle is currently offering what they call "The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-off Bundle". There is the usual blurb on how these 8 books have been selected.

But when I look in details, I can see that every single one is the first volume of a series, the kind of book that one often gets for free, or for $0.99 (one of them can actually be found for free).

The second point is that, thouh they are all delivered DRM-free in epub, mobi and pdf, most of them are otherwise available only from Amazon. That means that readers looking for sequels (recall they are all series) will most likely have to go to Amazon, who sells only mobi versions, unusable on any ereader other than Amazon's Kindle.

I may be mistaken (where ?), but I wonder whether there is much value in this bundle for readers who do not own a kindle, when one is considering the 10 books for $15, or even only the first 5 for $5.

What do you think? Do you have an opinion on this book bundle?

Here is the offer (I have added the names of the series)

For $5 or more:

• Shattered Sands by W. G. Saraband -- Yaasarian Tales #1
• The Weight of a Crown by Tavish Kaeden -- Azhaion Saga #1
• Priest by Matthew Colville -- Ratcatchers #1
• What Remains of Heroes by David Benem -- A Requiem for Heroes #1
• A Soul for Trouble by Crista McHugh -- Soulbearer #1

For $15 or more, you also get (in addition to the first five):

• Sins of a Sovereignty by Plague Jack -- Amernia Fallen #1
• The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung -- Amra Thetys #1
• Under a Colder Sun by Greg James Khale == the Wanderer #1
• Bloodrush by Ben Galley -- Scarlet Star Trilogy #1
• City of Burning Shadows by Barbara J. Webb -- The Dying World #1

Datcha: if a book not in public domain is permanently free at Amazon, it has to also be at either Kobo, Google Play or B&N. Amazon price matches to free but an author cannot set to free. How to tell: if it has an unlimited button it is a promotion. No button means price matched.
Hope this information helps.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Datcha: if a book not in public domain is permanently free at Amazon, it has to also be at either Kobo, Google Play or B&N. Amazon price matches to free but an author cannot set to free. How to tell: if it has an unlimited button it is a promotion. No button means price matched.
Hope this information helps.

A publisher can set to Free

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...publisher=Baen

And these were free before Kobo, Google Play or B&N

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

A publisher can set to Free

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...publisher=Baen

And these were free before Kobo, Google Play or B&N

A self-published book cannot be set to free.
You said publisher. I said author.
Again we are back to contracts.
Though that is cool to know and double thanks for the free sci-fi.

[Dngrsone]

If you haven't picked this up before, Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillian can be got for free at Amazon.

I guess it's aimed more at the tween crowd, but I enjoyed it and the sequels immensely.

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

If you haven't picked this up before, Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillian can be got for free at Amazon.

I guess it's aimed more at the tween crowd, but I enjoyed it and the sequels immensely.

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

Grabbed it.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

A self-published book cannot be set to free.
You said publisher. I said author.
Again we are back to contracts.
Though that is cool to know and double thanks for the free sci-fi.

So the author publishes though "Cinnabar Submarine" and can set to free ?

Lots of self-published authors have a single author small "press".

[DrNefario]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I'm NOT impressed by this promotion at all.

I reported earlier that ONE of the BONUS books is actually free at Amazon.

I think the point of this bundle might be to support the idea of the contest rather than to get the books cheap.

I picked up six of them for nothing during the event, and read a further three through the kindle owners' lending library via my prime sub. (I've only actually read the three loaners, and I enjoyed them all.)

[vsalvaggio]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

If you haven't picked this up before, Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillian can be got for free at Amazon.

I guess it's aimed more at the tween crowd, but I enjoyed it and the sequels immensely.

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

I'll 2nd this recommendation. Books 1 & 3 were great! Book 2 only OK. My 12 year old enjoyed them as well.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

So the author publishes though "Cinnabar Submarine" and can set to free ?

Lots of self-published authors have a single author small "press".

No, because Cinnabar Submarine would get the standard very small press contract as a single author.
Only the bigger publishers get better terms.
Baen can do free, Steel Magnolia Press is treated the same as a self published author.
So no free for I think it is called vanity publishers unless they are very well established.