Free beginnings in Project Gutenberg.
Wake by Robert J. Sawyer
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/33374
Watch by Robert J. Sawyer
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/33375
It makes sense to me. I hate spending money on a book and then can't stand it in 30 pages or so.
psik
Don't think it's particularly new, psik, unless its new to Gutenberg. It's certainly been around during the time I've been on the Internet (good ol' dial up!)
Do people think it's a good way of getting interest in new books?
Must admit, I enjoyed the first part of Bujold's Cryoburn, (HERE) though I was going to read that one anyway.
Mark
Mark
I wish I would've read a sample chapter from some of the books I've bought that turned out to be crap. I think with new writers, or writers you perhaps don't know very well, reading a complete chapter is a great way to see if you like the style of writing... I suppose for those folks who delight in skimming or skipping through the story, they could offer the final chapter?
That is what I meant, new to Project Gutenberg.Originally Posted by Hobbit
Baen books has been doing it for two or three years. I did a search through their database by authors. Those two entries say "(first 25,000 words)" There are no other entries that have that.
But still, when there are 100,000 books all using this method how do you filter out the junk. We are approaching drek overload.
psik
Yes, and older ones if they're still available or in print. It's true that a book with a good first chapter can go wrong as the story progresses, but usually if the characters, action, and tone suit my tastes at the beginning, it's worth my time to pick the book up.
I didn't know about the Gutenberg stuff, but I think Baen books is playing it very smart by making backlist books available as free e-books.
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