Comments on: Sean Williams's Darwinian religion novel CROOKED LETTER now free download http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 08:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: A New Challenger http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425496 A New Challenger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425496 #7 Gramiq: Why stop there? One could be a book, and the other might be a rock at the bottom of the Marianas Trench ;P I missed the quote at the beginning and for a second had thought that Cory wrote the novelization of The Force Unleashed. That was a fun couple of seconds. #7 Gramiq: Why stop there? One could be a book, and the other might be a rock at the bottom of the Marianas Trench ;P

I missed the quote at the beginning and for a second had thought that Cory wrote the novelization of The Force Unleashed. That was a fun couple of seconds.

]]> By: Master Mahan http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425499 Master Mahan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425499 From a purely business-savvy standpoint, making the first book of a series available for free after it's been available for a couple of years sounds like an excellent business plan. The premise sounds interesting as well, so I'll give it a shot. From a purely business-savvy standpoint, making the first book of a series available for free after it’s been available for a couple of years sounds like an excellent business plan. The premise sounds interesting as well, so I’ll give it a shot.

]]> By: pilcrow http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425520 pilcrow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425520 Major kudos to Mr. Williams for doing this. I will give his book a read. Major kudos to Mr. Williams for doing this. I will give his book a read.

]]> By: KidDork http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425575 KidDork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425575 Very nice. I'll start reading it tonight. Cheers, Pyr and Sean! Very nice. I’ll start reading it tonight. Cheers, Pyr and Sean!

]]> By: Keeper of the Lantern http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425324 Keeper of the Lantern Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425324 Actually, releasing this novel online for free is not so crazy. This is the first I've heard of this guy, so if I like it I might start reading his newer works. Actually, it turns out that most books go out of print, so if a book has outlived its cash flow potentials, why not re-harvest it as a way to drive people to the newest stuff? Seems a natural extension of a books' lifecycle these days: Hardback-->Trade Paper-->Paperback-->Internet. Actually, releasing this novel online for free is not so crazy. This is the first I’ve heard of this guy, so if I like it I might start reading his newer works.

Actually, it turns out that most books go out of print, so if a book has outlived its cash flow potentials, why not re-harvest it as a way to drive people to the newest stuff?

Seems a natural extension of a books’ lifecycle these days:

Hardback–>Trade Paper–>Paperback–>Internet.

]]> By: Blue Tyson http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425329 Blue Tyson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425329 This one is definitely good. That goes for pretty much all his stuff though. This one is definitely good. That goes for pretty much all his stuff though.

]]> By: thequickbrownfox http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425331 thequickbrownfox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425331 I started reading it but it is very tiresome and uninviting. I started reading it but it is very tiresome and uninviting.

]]> By: Ranessin http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425342 Ranessin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425342 Pyr is more and more becoming a favourite publisher of mine. Having Ian McDonald in their program does help though. :-D Pyr is more and more becoming a favourite publisher of mine. Having Ian McDonald in their program does help though. :-D

]]> By: Carbonfish http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425624 Carbonfish Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425624 Trying to download while having the servers slammed by happy mutants did take me back to the days of my 28.8 modem though. I did the same thing that I did back then. Went in and made a cup of tea, checked the mail and gave the dogs a cookie, and when I came back... all done! This is nice. Thanks Sean, and bOINGbOING for the linkage. Trying to download while having the servers slammed by happy mutants did take me back to the days of my 28.8 modem though.

I did the same thing that I did back then. Went in and made a cup of tea, checked the mail and gave the dogs a cookie, and when I came back…

all done!

This is nice. Thanks Sean, and bOINGbOING for the linkage.

]]> By: koichan http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425384 koichan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425384 I think the website got boingboinged a little, currently downloading the PDF at a mighty 5kb/sec :P I think the website got boingboinged a little, currently downloading the PDF at a mighty 5kb/sec :P

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425657 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425657 thank you for a lovely day spent curled up in my favorite chair with a great read. <3's bOINGbOING thank you for a lovely day spent curled up in my favorite chair with a great read. <3′s bOINGbOING

]]> By: dekonstruktr http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-426182 dekonstruktr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-426182 boingboing effect made this impossible for me to d/l so i ended up buying a used copy on Amazon for really cheap heh.. sounds very interesting! Seemed very Mieville-esque, so it piqued my interest boingboing effect made this impossible for me to d/l so i ended up buying a used copy on Amazon for really cheap heh.. sounds very interesting! Seemed very Mieville-esque, so it piqued my interest

]]> By: Keith Olwell http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425418 Keith Olwell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425418 Sounds perfect for the Kindle. Reading a pdf off of a computer will make you eyes bleed. Sounds perfect for the Kindle. Reading a pdf off of a computer will make you eyes bleed.

]]> By: gramiq http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425432 gramiq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425432 Couldn't the two novels be more different if one had been written in a different language? Perhaps using a different alphabet? I'm just sayin' ... /hyperbolepolice Anyway, I like the idea of releasing things free to interest people in new work, as well as to perhaps jump-start sales of old work. I have no problem buying media online, but I've grown to really hate buying-before-trying. This kind of trick is perfect for me! (I'll wait till it's not boingboing'ed though. Perhaps a torrent? Anyone?) Couldn’t the two novels be more different if one had been written in a different language? Perhaps using a different alphabet? I’m just sayin’ …

/hyperbolepolice

Anyway, I like the idea of releasing things free to interest people in new work, as well as to perhaps jump-start sales of old work. I have no problem buying media online, but I’ve grown to really hate buying-before-trying. This kind of trick is perfect for me!

(I’ll wait till it’s not boingboing’ed though. Perhaps a torrent? Anyone?)

]]> By: Razzabeth http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425696 Razzabeth Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425696 Thank you! I really like when you guys post free books. Thank you! I really like when you guys post free books.

]]> By: dragonfrog http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425445 dragonfrog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425445 If the download remains overwhelmed for bandwidth, you could try downloading through the <a href="http://www.coralcdn.org/">Coral distributed cache</a> Use the URL: http://www.pyrsf.com.nyud.net/chapters/CrookedLetterSmall.pdf If the download remains overwhelmed for bandwidth, you could try downloading through the Coral distributed cache

Use the URL: http://www.pyrsf.com.nyud.net/chapters/CrookedLetterSmall.pdf

]]> By: girasol369 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-426474 girasol369 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-426474 Hm. I rarely read whole books on the computer (read a friend's draft of a novel once...), but I'm not going to waste paper printing it out either. I stare at a screen all day - not any harder on the eyes if it's the draft of my book, someone else book, news sites, research, etc. Downloaded this one because it has a religious twist, which intrigues me. Took a look at the first chapter over breakfast, and had to force myself to stop reading well into chapter 2 - an engaging story, even though it's not a genre I read often. Giving me a taste of one book only makes me interested in reading others in the series - and I will pay to read them. I'm one of those people who buys the hardback out of sheer impatience sometimes. Hm. I rarely read whole books on the computer (read a friend’s draft of a novel once…), but I’m not going to waste paper printing it out either. I stare at a screen all day – not any harder on the eyes if it’s the draft of my book, someone else book, news sites, research, etc.

Downloaded this one because it has a religious twist, which intrigues me. Took a look at the first chapter over breakfast, and had to force myself to stop reading well into chapter 2 – an engaging story, even though it’s not a genre I read often.

Giving me a taste of one book only makes me interested in reading others in the series – and I will pay to read them. I’m one of those people who buys the hardback out of sheer impatience sometimes.

]]> By: Opspin http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-429291 Opspin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-429291 This trick sure seems to have worked, I just saw that the Amazon Sales Rank went from #700,000ish to #109,221(!) This trick sure seems to have worked, I just saw that the Amazon Sales Rank went from #700,000ish to #109,221(!)

]]> By: Tenn http://boingboing.net/2009/02/28/sean-williamss-darwi.html#comment-425457 Tenn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-425457 Pretty spiffy. Thanks! Pretty spiffy. Thanks!

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