Free/Bargain Science Fiction & Fantasy in May 2014

[Ginwen]

If i can get copies at the library, i'll give them a fair shot, but I'm not going to vote based on excerpts, and not going to buy books i'm only reading for voting purposes.

Certainly it is voluntary to include them, but i'm less likely to vote for a book that isn't in the packet (or that's only in pdf with annoying passwords).

[DrNefario]

It's entirely up to orbit if they don't want to give away some of their best books for nothing. People sure get whiny if they are denied their rightful free stuff. Surely a preview is going to be enough to tell if you like it enough to buy?

I'm not all that bothered, myself. I already own Ancillary Justice - it's great and in a sane world would win the award - I have learned from previous Hugo packets that I can't stand Mira Grant, and I've never really got on with anything of Stross's I've read (plus Neptune's Brood seems to be a follow-up to Saturn's Children, so I might have to buy something anyway.)

I admit I've treated the supporting membership as a book purchase in the past, but it was always only on sufferance.

The dramatic presentations have never been included. I don't see any whining about that.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

It's entirely up to orbit if they don't want to give away some of their best books for nothing. People sure get whiny if they are denied their rightful free stuff. Surely a preview is going to be enough to tell if you like it enough to buy?

Most people aren't "whining" because they won't get free stuff. I have actually failed to see a single comment in this thread suggesting that. And really, I've not seen many of that nature elsewhere either. Most people are taking the same stance: this is a horrible move by Orbit that will hurt their own authors, against those author's express wishes. This is how I feel about the situation as well.

[odo]

Originally Posted by Manabi

Most people aren't "whining" because they won't get free stuff. I have actually failed to see a single comment in this thread suggesting that. And really, I've not seen many of that nature elsewhere either. Most people are taking the same stance: this is a horrible move by Orbit that will hurt their own authors, against those author's express wishes. This is how I feel about the situation as well.

Not only that. In my case, for example, the Hugo Voter Packet was THE reason I started voting in the Hugos. I live in Spain and I seldom have the chance to attend a WorldCon (this year being the exception, since it will be in London, which is "near" home). Thus, I had never had any interest in buying a membership. But the Hugo Voter Packet was an excellent opportunity for voting while getting something for your money (50$ for just voting rights is a bit too much, imho). I've also been talking my friends into buying supporting memberships for some time now (and convinced maybe a dozen people or so).

I think that I am not alone in that: the Hugo Voter Packet was very attractive
for people like me, that usually are unable to attend a WorldCon because of travel expenses. Now, it is suddenly much less attractive. Next year, I, for one, will be waiting until the Hugo Voter Packet is released to decide whether I buy a supporting membership or not (even though I *love* voting in the Hugos).

[DrNefario]

Originally Posted by Manabi

Most people aren't "whining" because they won't get free stuff. I have actually failed to see a single comment in this thread suggesting that. And really, I've not seen many of that nature elsewhere either. Most people are taking the same stance: this is a horrible move by Orbit that will hurt their own authors, against those author's express wishes. This is how I feel about the situation as well.

I should have been clear, I wasn't talking about this thread, but the comments on the Orbit post linked earlier on.

"Hey, man, would you like to participate in our totally voluntary Hugo voter packet? No pressure. Just don't refuse."

Of course, the three Orbit books might be considered the three legitimate books on the shortlist (I have my doubts about Mira Grant, but I'm willing to accept that other people might actually like her stuff), so where does that leave the people who want to "protest"? No Award?

[jscarbo]

Orbit made a stupid decision. When they made their announcement yesterday, I sent them the following email. I think it speaks for itself and have nothing further to add.

“You’ve made an extremely poor decision by not including your Hugo-nominated novels in this years’ Hugo Voters Packet. I don’t suppose at this late date that you’ll reconsider but hope it doesn’t hurt the chances of your nominees. All are excellent and deserve serious consideration.

“I’ve already purchased all three of them so your decision doesn’t affect me personally but I think it does a disservice to the authors and reflects a poor understanding on your part of the role of sci-fi fandom and will end up costing you much more as publishers than any lost sales that might have resulted from their inclusion.

“What you fail to understand is that Hugo voters are serious fans and serious readers. We buy a lot more books and share our opinions much more widely than the average reader. Gaining the attention and support of the sci-fi/fantasy fan community should be very important to you and you’ve completely blown a great opportunity to promote not only the nominated books but the Orbit brand in general.

“You’ve certainly lost some measure of my good will and will have to work hard to regain it.”

[Ginwen]

No award is an option. Not one I'll take unless it's my only option for the books I don't get a chance to read (which is hopefully none of them, but we'll see).

It's not just giving away free books. You have voters, and if you want them to vote for your book, presumably you'd like them to read it (and it's a lot more than just the novels, there are also the Campbell award nominees, and the retro nominees). An excerpt is ok for something like the Campbell award, where you are voting on the author rather than a specific work, but doesn't make much sense for best novel (I guess I might end up deciding excerpt is enough for wheel of time, since I don't think I can possibly read all 17 in time to vote, but I'll do my best).

Orbit doesn't owe me anything. These authors don't owe me anything. But I can only vote based on what I actually read--it's not fair to do otherwise.

[Rbneader]

Quick post here because I know some people hang out in specific threads. There's a Humble Bundle of DRM-free Dr. Who comics. I put a separate thread up with more details.

[hwlester]

Originally Posted by Rbneader

Quick post here because I know some people hang out in specific threads. There's a Humble Bundle of DRM-free Dr. Who comics. I put a separate thread up with more details.

I was coming here to post if it wasn't already posted.

[Little.Egret]

UK daily deal, 15 minutes to go, £0.99 each

Terms of Enlistment (Frontlines) by Marko Kloos
Lines of Departure (Frontlines) by Marko Kloos

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terms-Enlist...dp/B00CIXX144/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lines-Depart...dp/B00ELN0KB6/

[Rbneader]

Originally Posted by hwlester

I was coming here to post if it wasn't already posted.

Achievement Unlocked: Deal Ninja

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

It does seems that Orbit doesn't care too much about the Hugos. Unfortunately one of the books in the shortlist is going to get my vote.

That said, Orbit has lost a regular customer. Their loss.

As Orbit also publishes the Wheel of Time in the UK, they may have been upset about Tor unilaterally deciding to make all 14 volumes available to the voters. I don't know how many UK voters would be interested in buying ebook editions of WoT, but potentially they could be losing sales of up to 38k ebooks (my guess is that it's probably more likely to be 10k or less).

Previous Orbit nominees in the packets were password protected PDFs which look like they were formatted for A4 with huge margins and printer registration marks, and were unreadable on 7" ereaders like the Kindle or Nook. I can only hope that Orbit will include the excerpts as DRM-free Kindle and ePub, or they will really be pissing off the voters.

[HarryT]

Moderator Notice
This thread is for reporting deals in SF and fantasy. Please take discussions of publishers, Hugos, and anything else, to another thread.

Thanks.

[DrNefario]

The Illuminatus Trilogy is 99p at Amazon UK today, in the Daily Deal.

This was the greatest book in the world when I was about 19, but I'm a bit worried about how it would hold up now.

There's also another of the Mammoth Books anthologies at the same price.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

There's also another of the Mammoth Books anthologies at the same price.

There seem to be a whole shedload of "Mammoth Book" anthologies on sale at 84p on Amazon UK today.