What are you reading right now? (possible RotE spoilers)

[Valarya]

About Fevre Dream:

Oh yeah, that's a really good book. It's probably my favorite of GRRM's non-ASOIAF work.

I like it a LOT but nothing can top Windhaven for me when it comes to George's non ASOIAF work. That tale stays with me always. *dreamy glazed look*

Look, 'thul, I appreciate your offer. But I prefer to get my stuff legally, and considering that...

1. The book is available second hand (at reasonable prices... I think)
2. The book is still available new at GRRM's personal internet store
3. The book is getting a reprint in 2013

...I don't need to mess around with shady PDFs. (The book currently resides on my Sinterklaas wishlist.

Now, now. Settle down. Some of us PURCHASE copies of books several times and still download PDFs because we enjoy reading them at work where having a book in one's face would be considered inappropriate. I usually buy a paperback AND an ebook copy of each book (unless it's the rare hardcover I select). I also get a pdf copy of every book I've purchased.

['thul]

These beings believe that the legality qualms that are made major noise over are not the ones about acquiring products that are available illegally so much as it is (re)distributing them. These beings have also got a lot of books in digital and paper formats. (robin hobb books are a good example of this. cant get enough of them...)

[Farseer]

I do apologise to you all. I did respond to this as soon as I saw it but then my #@*&%^$ computer froze just as I was about to post my reply (and when I was looking forward to sharing some other RotE things that I thought were exciting!) and it took so much more time to get back up than I had available to wait around for it to restart, let alone rewrite my post. By the time it did come back up, I was in the car and have been driving almost non-stop to various locations around the state ever since. So, so tired... .

Actually, if we recall correctly, the post spoke especially of linking to such files and of directing people to places where they can download such things (aside from the odd and occasional free download campaigns by publishers)

Now, let me try posting this for the second time. Yes, you beings are quite correct, we have actually had a number of posts placed throughout the forums relating to the linking of such files, and an outline regarding these is also included in the Forum rulesthread:

4. No uploading of illegal copies of books/short stories or links to them.
Robin's publishers sometimes give away free samples or even whole books to download for a limited time, and linking to these is very much okay as long as the offer stands. Some short stories, such as Cut, have been published online and are free to read. If you're not sure whether an online copy is legal, ask the moderators before posting a link. Please support your favourite author and don't steal. (Try searching your local library for the book instead. If they don't have it, ask if it's available as an interlibrary loan or if they would consider buying a copy. Also, a lot of the older titles are still available in used books stores, both online and in real shops.)

As far as I can tell, Mervi doesn't only include files that may be considered 'illegal' here in this missive but she also adds those 'legal' ones that may have expired or run their course but are still able to be viewed via the link. Despite the fact that it is not so clear, I also believe that she also includes in this the forwarding of any files that have been/haven't been purchased on to others. From memory, this rule #4 was amended/placed there earlier last year after I had directed a new member, Lady Laura, to a link available right here within thePlenty. The link was to a free download of Assassin's Apprentice that had been on offer from Robin's publishers.

I posted it in the introductions thread as Lady Laura had mentioned there that she'd been able to source the second and third Farseer trilogy books but not the first, and so wouldn’t be able to begin reading it anytime soon. As the link to the free download had been placed here within the site for some time, I had simply assumed it was okay to direct Lady Laura to it but Mervi felt that we could be seen to be taking advantage of the publisher’s offer which had apparently kind of run its course. Following this, I deleted the link in my post and Mervi then disabled the link in the original post. These actions were taken despite the fact that Lady Laura would have no doubt later purchased the book also, if only to complete the trilogy for her bookshelf. Hence, I believe that in this rule, Mervi does not only include files that are 'illegal' in the true sense but any files that are not part of a direct publisher offer or that are passed on to someone who hasn't purchased them themselves.

However...

but it is indeed a gray area. The sole reason we even mentioned that we had such file as the one previously mentioned, is so that Albertosaurus might be able to read the book he was missing.

...it actually isn't those posts, or even the ‘rule’ that I quoted above, that I was referring to so much in my earlier post but another post that Mervi had made after someone had very kindly and well-intentionally made me an offer to send pdf files of a series that they had (or so I assume) purchased and I had not yet read. I have a feeling it was also last year sometime and I also had a thought that it may have been the Pern books that were offered to me but no search for 'pdf' or 'Pern' has brought up the post so possibly it was another series altogether.

Either way, I am certain that Mervi stressed very firmly at the time that such offers should not be made here on thePlenty, even if the files have first been purchased by the person making the offer (and are thus considered ‘legal’, if they have come from a legal source), particularly as it placed the person on the receiving end of the offer in an awkward position.

In this, it really is a case of not only should the buyer beware when purchasing or downloading pdf files but so too should the recipient of them as gifts. Though I did not want the files, neither did I want to offend the person who made the offer so I know that I had absolutely no idea what to do about rejecting it without bringing my concerns for the legaltiies of it all to light, and neither did I want to do something that Mervi considered inappropriate for this site...and so I was more than a little relieved when she stepped in and let me know her position on it.

We would not encourage him or anyone else, to download books from the non-store sites out there.

I know...

...but I still had to raise the issue of ‘borrowing’ or ‘offering’ (or whatever I should call it...ah, ‘re-distributing’ is what I was groping for, thanks ‘thul!) pdf files as it has been raised before, and I am quite sure that Mervi was specific on the matter. At the time, as it is now, it was a reminder not only for the benefit of we regulars but for lurkers or new/future members as well...and that’s why I responded, as she had done, within the thread and not just in a PM or something.

If I still can’t find the conversation anytime in the next day or so, I will certainly ask for Mervi to consider adding something to the rules to clearly state it, if she feels it’s warranted. Ah, I also do want to double-check with her on all of this as I’d hate to be placing words in her mouth. I say that realising that I should possibly have checked with her first before jumping in but she is busy and I'd be happier stopping something now rather than later, and then I can apologise/beg forgiveness/give the green light if I have made an error.

I don’t frequent too many other sites so am not sure of ‘the standard’ of such rules regarding pdf files out there in the wider community (maybe it is widely acceptable?) but if Mervi says that we can’t offer them here for whatever reason, I would want to ensure that we refrain from it...it’s much nicer here with all of you than within Lady Patience’s chamber (where I honestly thought Mervi had sent me after my little offer of AA last year, when I suddenly found that I couldn’t log on to thePlenty for many, many weeks...I was horrified...and very glad to discover it was just a glitch with my computer! ).

Feel free to keep chatting about it in the meantime but, to make me feel a little better for having hijacked the thread , I will get back on topic now by announcing that I am still stuck in 'The Secret River' and imagine that I will remain so until the school holidays at the end of next week. Looking forward to those!

I also never really considered the fact that GRRR may actually have non-ASOIAF works out there. I will have to look into some of those.

['thul]

Very much fact in that post...

Anyways, time to return and stay on topic.

These beings finished fevre dream yesterday (or perhaps it should be "today" since it was around 0300)

Interesting take on vampires.

having them be a different species, rather than a changed form of humans. GRRM also covered one hole that pops up in the vampire mythos on occasion. The problem of overpopulation.

[Albertosaurus Rex]

If you liked GRRM's vampires, I think you're going to love those of Peter Watts. In his SF novel Blindsight, he tries to give a scientific rationale for vampires, including the bit about possible overpopulation. (They don't figure very heavily in the book, though; only one minor character is a vampire.) And in the spirit of the PDF discussion: Peter Watts' books can be read for free on his own website. (Although I still went out and bought a copy because I like to hold an actual book and to financially support the author.)

['thul]

These beings generally like vampires. Mainly when the vampirism is well-designed and played through.
For reasons that are hard to explain, they particularly like books that cover how PoV characters change from human to vampire. Not quite as interesting when its not given in first-person view, though interesting there too.

anyways.... These beings are now reading "Inheritance" By Cristopher Paolini.
They just got back from picking it up at the mailbox (about 2km away)
They are most pleased with The Book Depository, since the book was sent from them on monday and arrived today, whereas expected delivery was around monday-thursday.

[Farseer]

That's terrific 'thul beings! I also like TBD and have used it far more than I should have this year (!!), but I actually ordered Inheritance from my daughter's school Book Club as it was surprisingly so much cheaper (that doesn't happen often!). A far longer wait though...

I also ordered Brotherband (an off-shoot of The Ranger's Apprentice series, kind of like LST and RWC being set in the same world as F and TM), the first in a new series by John Flanagan.

What I like most about TBD is the condition that my books always arrive in - I've never had any problems like I seem to have with so many other companies when I order them in via the post.

[fool-ish]

Another one for the wish list then. A book by Mr. Martin about vampires has got to be a must read for me!

Wolfblade isn't really gripping me. I'll finish it because I have to, but not sure I'll be bothering with the next two in the series. The author has clearly been influenced by George Martin (at one point 'seven hells' was quoted during a conversation!) and other authors also. This book's not a patch on ASOIAF, however. Off to peruse the wish list again..

['thul]

These beings were most gripped by inheritance. finished it this morning at around 0500.
Far too short at only 800something pages.

Good ending though.

These beings will be nice and avoid giving spoilers.

['thul]

These beings are now reading a series called "The Strain" co-authored by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
Once again Vampire fiction, only this time with a heavy medical view.
First book (of three) is about an outbreak of a vampirism-inducing virus in New york city.
Fairly decent book so far.