Free Books - SciFi and Fantasy/Horror by Randolph Lalonde

Christine over at Finding Free Books has been having problems downloading from Smashwords*. Funny that one of her examples was a book by Randolph Lalonde, as I've been working on a post of his SciFi books for the last couple of days, since he stopped by Ebookgab.com. I picked up Freeground ($0.49 Kindle), the first in the First Light Chronicles trilogy, some time ago, when he first offered it for free (it's still on his website, in PDF and PRC/MOBI format). Now, you can get the entire trilogy free at Smashwords, along with several of his other books. For the non-free titles, prices are comparable to the Kindle store, all are DRM free and several formats are available.

The First Light Chronicles Omnibus ($7.99 Kindle) contains the entire First Light Chronicles Trilogy: Freeground ($0.49 Kindle), Limbo ($5.59 Kindle) and Starfree Port ($6.39 Kindle). This entire trilogy serves as a prequel to his Spinward Fringe series.

Book Description
In the middle of the darkest region of explored space sits one bright beacon; Freeground Station. Serving as a supply and trading post it is home to a select number of human beings that will take an unlikely chance to make a difference in their end of the galaxy.

Jonas and his friends spent their spare time in tactical simulations and drew the attention of Freeground Fleet Command when they hacked into restricted combat scenarios for elite trainees and defeated all comers.

Instead of punishing Jonas and his friends they offered them an opportunity to undertake a dangerous and exciting mission. They were to go out into the Galaxy and acquire any advantages that would improve life for Freegrounders.

This series is about their first voyage together, the challenges they face, and the relationships they forge with each other and the beings they meet along the way.

Dark Arts: Rising ($3.99 Kindle) is shorter than most of his other novels (about 16,000 words or 160K in size) and is also the only I see that doesn't fit into his Spinward Fringe series in some way.

Book Description
The resurrection of Zachary Ellison has brought on a series of events that are changing the world forever. Maxwell, one of the last surviving members of a secret Order of occultists, has failed to catch him in time and is tasked to begin reviving the Order while attempting to minimize the damage his old foe is set to cause. Terrors unseen for thousands of years threaten to emerge if he fails.

Spinward Fringe: Strange Horizons and Close Encounters is only available at Smashwords or on Lalonde's website. It's basically a guide to the characters and events of the universe for the series and is periodically updated, something that isn't possible in the Kindle store.

Book Description
This book chronicles events that take place in the universe first developed in the Spinward Fringe series and focuses on characters that deal with problems from a perspective separate from the characters central to the Spinward Fringe books. This is a living document and stories are added to the anthology regularly. It's suggested that readers engage in this anthology after reading the regular Spinward Fringe series.

For the free Smashwords versions:
Click HERE to get First Light Chronicles: Omnibus.
Click HERE to get Dark Arts: Rising .
Click HERE to get Spinward Fringe: Strange Horizons and Close Encounters.

Once you've finished the free titles, you can continue with the Spinward Fringe series on Kindle or at Smashwords. If you want to try his fantasy series, The Fate Cycle, that one is only in the Kindle store, for now. Here's the reading order for the Spinward Fringe series (the first two are available as a combined volume):

Spinward Fringe: Resurrection
Captain Jacob Valance has no memory. Left on a strange ship on the fringe of the galaxy, he was forced to begin a new life. Years pass. He’s been joined by a ragtag crew of fringers and become a man who can recover lost property, hunt down hardened criminals and go where others fear to tread. Little does he know his search for clues to his past is about to bear fruit.

Spinward Fringe: Awakening
The Samson crew are caught in their Captain’s problems as his past catches up with him. As new allies start to fall in line old enemies come out of the shadows. While they struggle to deal with their own problems, Regent Galactic starts putting a plan in motion that could bring about the fourth fall of man and position themselves as the saviors. Their ambition could spell disaster for the entire galactic fringe.

Spinward Fringe: Triton
After narrowly escaping a brush with an old enemy Captain Valance and his crew reach out to their allies for help. Meanwhile, allies and enemies from his past are set to reveal themselves in unexpected ways, changing his life and the galaxy forever.

Spinward Fringe: Frontline
Captain Valance and his crew are finally learning to work as a unit. Oblivious to the grander designs of the Order of Eden, they are drawn into a brutal conflict over a planet the Order is depopulating so they can use it for themselves. Who will survive the Front line?

Spinward Fringe: Fracture
Part One Of The Rogue Element Trilogy
The crew of the Triton is making their way to Ossimi Station, a safe haven for independent ships and traders. In a galaxy gripped by conflict and teetering on the verge of chaos, Captain Jacob Valance and his crew will be faced with the unexpected, the unknown, and an opportunity to save thousands of lives. Will their sympathy be their undoing?


*All fixed now: she has an older download manager that interfered with site and has some side effects with others; now that she knows, she can disable it when it causes problems.