Free Dragon Keeper ebook

[redchild]

What can I say... America is #1!!!

[Image: americanworld.gif]

LOL

Sadly, I think that is generally the case for the average American.

[Nuytsia]

I am revising my above rant just a little after re-reading ChriSchaeffer's point about it not being Amazon who gives the free books away...possibly it is also a stipulation from the publishing company or RH herself (or whoever makes the offer) then, that it be the US readership who receives the advantage of this generosity. The publishers and author, after all, are from the US.
While I would still like to be able access everything (!!) and there are a LOT of ebooks out there that still aren't availbale for purchase yet here in Australia, let alone free ebooks (the Kindle itself has only been available to us since November last year), I do see that it possibly isn't that different to book releases (or CDs, music etc)...an Australian author would tend to release their book in Australia first, possibly in conjunction with or followed by the UK, and thereby looks after his home readership as a priority.

Well it's not so bad - the printed books often come out here long before the US!!! (eg Dragon Haven......)
But I do agree with your rant in that there seems little point to electronic technology when things are only available in certain areas and not others. Complete waste of the technological possibilities!

[chriSchaeffer]

UPDATE: I'm sad to report that the "bonus" material on the Amazon ebook is only a preview of the upcoming US release of Dragon Haven.

Intro to bonus material states:
Continue reading for a free excerpt of Robin Hobb's Dragon Haven.... will be available in hardcover and ebook in May 2010.

I guess we don't get a glimpse of The Fool yelling proudly, "I told you it was destiny!"

[Nuytsia]

I guess we don't get a glimpse of The Fool yelling proudly, "I told you it was destiny!"

Wha?? Do you know something we don't????

Hehee what a thing to joke about!

[Farseer]

Ahem...well, there's one Amercian who can find the US on a map ! Sorry Chris, but there was no way I could let that pass me by, even though Australia got off lightly (which is probably why I thought it was hilarious !).

You make a good point, Nuytsia re "the printed books often come out here long before the US!!! (eg Dragon Haven......)"

[Nuytsia]

i liked 'uninhabited'

[Farseer]

I know this is off-topic to Free Dragon Keeper ebook but I don't want to start yet another new thread and have this hanging out by itself, especially when it does flow on from the other off-topic posts we've made. I hope nobody minds but please say so if you do!

While narcissistic and possibly offensive to some, it is interesting to note that the viewpoints placed here on the map of The World According to Americans do parallel the different thoughts shared with us by various characters in the RotE books on ocassion eg

Spoiler

The Bingtowner-held belief that those who live in the northern regions, such as the Six Duchies, are barbarians (Fitz witnessed this first-hand when he visited Bingtown with Nighteyes); the world-wide fascination with the 'strangeness' of the Rain Wilder folk; the opinions that SD residents have of those living in the Out Islands etc.

Of course, once these groups of people mingle and become acquainted with each other, opinions change and everyone realises how alike they all are, despite the differences. That the Rain Wilders feel that they can begin walking around unveiled by the end of the LST books, is telling...and proves that barriers can be broken down with familiarity and understanding.

The same could be said for relationships between humans and dragons, humans and serpents etc, and may prove to be the case even with these beings they call 'Abominations'.

***These spoilers are for the Farseer, LST and Tawny Man books***

[Nuytsia]

Geeeeees I'm psychic!
Not free books but cheap books anyway.....

Bah they're trying to get us all to buy kindles, then the free books will stop coming!

[Mervi]

Just a note re: the topic - the book isn't free anymore. It was a really limited time offer, and I've actually seen a few complaints about the current price already, it seems that it's actually more expensive now than most ebooks?

[Farseer]

I paid $16.58 AUS for my ebook copy of DK from Amazon, but only paid $8.39 AUS for all other RotE ebooks.

Being new to ebooks, I just assumed that DK was more expensive because it was published fairly recently? Is this not how it works?