Free (DRM-free) The Just City by Jo Walton [Award-Nom Sci-Fi Philosophy Time Travel]

ATDrake · 08-01-2016, 04:07 AM

The Just City by Hugo & Nebula Award-winning Welsh-born Canadian author Jo Walton (ISFDB, Wikipedia, Science Fiction Encyclopedia), is the 1st novel in her eponymous Just City series of science fiction novels set in an alternate reality created via time-travelling Greek gods experimenting with Plato's ideas (Wikipedia), this installment setting up the premise with a cast of gods and mortals from various historical eras settling into life inside the supposedly ideal city, which is slated for an upheaval, free courtesy of Tor Books.

This is their featured free eBook of the Month club selection for August, and was nominated for the Prometheus Award for Best Libertarian SF Novel (Walton has previously won a Prometheus for her alternate history novel Ha'Penny).

Currently free, just through August 7th, directly @ the publisher's dedicated promo page (DRM-free ePub & Mobi bundle in return for valid email address, officially available to Canada & the US only due to publisher geo-restrictions)

Description
"Here in the Just City you will become your best selves. You will learn and grow and strive to be excellent."

Created as an experiment by the time-traveling goddess Pallas Athene, the Just City is a planned community, populated by over ten thousand children and a few hundred adult teachers from all eras of history, along with some handy robots from the far human future—all set down together on a Mediterranean island in the distant past.

The student Simmea, born an Egyptian farmer's daughter sometime between 500 and 1000 A.D, is a brilliant child, eager for knowledge, ready to strive to be her best self. The teacher Maia was once Ethel, a young Victorian lady of much learning and few prospects, who prayed to Pallas Athene in an ungaurded moment during a trip to Rome—and, in an instant, found herself in the Just City with grey-eyed Athene standing unmistakably before her.

Meanwhile, Apollo—stunned by the realization that there are things mortals understand better than he does—has arranged to live a human life, and has come to the City as one of the children. He knows his true identity, and conceals it from his peers. For this lifetime, he is prone to all the troubles of being human.

Then, a few years in, Sokrates arrives—the same Sokrates recorded by Plato himself—to ask all the troublesome questions you would expect. What happens next is a tale only the brilliant Jo Walton could tell.

JSWolf · 08-01-2016, 05:27 AM

Thanks. Got it.

pdurrant · 08-01-2016, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

The Just City by Hugo & Nebula Award-winning Welsh-born Canadian author Jo Walton (ISFDB, Wikipedia, Science Fiction Encyclopedia), is the 1st novel in her eponymous Just City series of science fiction novels set in an alternate reality created via time-travelling Greek gods experimenting with Plato's ideas (Wikipedia), this installment setting up the premise with a cast of gods and mortals from various historical eras settling into life inside the supposedly ideal city, which is slated for an upheaval, free courtesy of Tor Books.

Wow. Splendid deal. This is on my wish list, but alas, US & Canada only. (And I don't bother 'travelling' any more.)

Dr. Drib · 08-01-2016, 08:04 AM

Got it.

Thank you!

Manabi · 08-01-2016, 05:32 PM

Man, their system is strange. I actually followed the link from the newsletter I received from them. But when I put in my E-mail to "Confirm Details," it insisted I wasn't signed up and made me sign up again. And indeed, it sent me another welcome to Tor.com's Free eBook club E-mail after that. (Last one is from July 11th.)

Still, it's free, so I'm not complaining all that much. I just find it strange.

cromag · 08-01-2016, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manabi

Man, their system is strange. I actually followed the link from the newsletter I received from them. But when I put in my E-mail to "Confirm Details," it insisted I wasn't signed up and made me sign up again. And indeed, it sent me another welcome to Tor.com's Free eBook club E-mail after that. (Last one is from July 11th.)

Still, it's free, so I'm not complaining all that much. I just find it strange.

Yep, the exact same thing happened to me. I wonder if this will be a monthly routine.

JSWolf · 08-01-2016, 08:08 PM

I was able to use my email address from my registration in July.

Froide · 08-01-2016, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Yep, the exact same thing happened to me. I wonder if this will be a monthly routine.

Me three. And ditto RE: monthly routine.

BenG · 08-03-2016, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manabi

Man, their system is strange. I actually followed the link from the newsletter I received from them. But when I put in my E-mail to "Confirm Details," it insisted I wasn't signed up and made me sign up again. And indeed, it sent me another welcome to Tor.com's Free eBook club E-mail after that. (Last one is from July 11th.)

Still, it's free, so I'm not complaining all that much. I just find it strange.

Sounds like for some reason you had to register with the book club again. Did you get last month's book? All I had to do was "Confirm details."
Also, registering for the book club is separate from joining the website.

Froide · 08-03-2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

Sounds like for some reason you had to register with the book club again. Did you get last month's book? All I had to do was "Confirm details."
Also, registering for the book club is separate from joining the website.

I got last month's book and this month clicked "Confirm details"; nevertheless, I was directed to re-register.

tubemonkey · 08-03-2016, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froide

I got last month's book and this month clicked "Confirm details"; nevertheless, I was directed to re-register.

Same here. The next day I tried it again to see if I had to re-register and it said I needed to do so. So I kept trying. On my third attempt, I was finally allowed to confirm. Go figure.

eschwartz · 08-03-2016, 11:51 PM

It confirmed my already-registered email without problems.

Manabi · 08-04-2016, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

Sounds like for some reason you had to register with the book club again. Did you get last month's book? All I had to do was "Confirm details."
Also, registering for the book club is separate from joining the website.

Like Froide and tubemonkey I was already registered and got last month's book. Also got an E-mail about this month's freebie and used the link in it to go to the site. Wouldn't let me confirm, said I wasn't registered. So I signed up again, got the exact same welcome E-mail I got last month and it let me have the book.

Something's obviously screwy with their system.

hardcastle · 08-04-2016, 06:49 PM

Worked for me a few days ago. Read the whole book. Really good.

Alohamora · 08-04-2016, 07:22 PM

I couldn't get the book to download to my phone, but I finally tried from my Fire tablet and it downloade fine. Looking forward to reading it.

08-01-2016, 04:07 AM	#1
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Free (DRM-free) The Just City by Jo Walton [Award-Nom Sci-Fi Philosophy Time Travel] The Just City by Hugo & Nebula Award-winning Welsh-born Canadian author Jo Walton (ISFDB, Wikipedia, Science Fiction Encyclopedia), is the 1st novel in her eponymous Just City series of science fiction novels set in an alternate reality created via time-travelling Greek gods experimenting with Plato's ideas (Wikipedia), this installment setting up the premise with a cast of gods and mortals from various historical eras settling into life inside the supposedly ideal city, which is slated for an upheaval, free courtesy of Tor Books. This is their featured free eBook of the Month club selection for August, and was nominated for the Prometheus Award for Best Libertarian SF Novel (Walton has previously won a Prometheus for her alternate history novel Ha'Penny). Currently free, just through August 7th, directly @ the publisher's dedicated promo page (DRM-free ePub & Mobi bundle in return for valid email address, officially available to Canada & the US only due to publisher geo-restrictions) Description "Here in the Just City you will become your best selves. You will learn and grow and strive to be excellent." Created as an experiment by the time-traveling goddess Pallas Athene, the Just City is a planned community, populated by over ten thousand children and a few hundred adult teachers from all eras of history, along with some handy robots from the far human future—all set down together on a Mediterranean island in the distant past. The student Simmea, born an Egyptian farmer's daughter sometime between 500 and 1000 A.D, is a brilliant child, eager for knowledge, ready to strive to be her best self. The teacher Maia was once Ethel, a young Victorian lady of much learning and few prospects, who prayed to Pallas Athene in an ungaurded moment during a trip to Rome—and, in an instant, found herself in the Just City with grey-eyed Athene standing unmistakably before her. Meanwhile, Apollo—stunned by the realization that there are things mortals understand better than he does—has arranged to live a human life, and has come to the City as one of the children. He knows his true identity, and conceals it from his peers. For this lifetime, he is prone to all the troubles of being human. Then, a few years in, Sokrates arrives—the same Sokrates recorded by Plato himself—to ask all the troublesome questions you would expect. What happens next is a tale only the brilliant Jo Walton could tell.

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08-01-2016, 05:27 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Thanks. Got it.

08-01-2016, 08:04 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,747 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Got it. Thank you!

08-01-2016, 05:32 PM	#5
Manabi Wizard Posts: 1,359 Karma: 18451873 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Paperwhite, Galaxy S22	Man, their system is strange. I actually followed the link from the newsletter I received from them. But when I put in my E-mail to "Confirm Details," it insisted I wasn't signed up and made me sign up again. And indeed, it sent me another welcome to Tor.com's Free eBook club E-mail after that. (Last one is from July 11th.) Still, it's free, so I'm not complaining all that much. I just find it strange.

08-01-2016, 08:08 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I was able to use my email address from my registration in July.

08-03-2016, 11:51 PM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	It confirmed my already-registered email without problems.

08-04-2016, 06:49 PM	#14
hardcastle Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 3651501 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Gray Kindle Basic	Worked for me a few days ago. Read the whole book. Really good.

08-04-2016, 07:22 PM	#15
Alohamora Evangelist Posts: 446 Karma: 8897438 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: USA Device: Android phone, Fire tablet, ios phone	I couldn't get the book to download to my phone, but I finally tried from my Fire tablet and it downloade fine. Looking forward to reading it.

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