Brush up your Microsoft SQL Server Skills

Several free offerings from Microsoft or other authors that will help you to bring your SQL Server skills up to date.

Free copy of SQL Server 2008 (a fully licensed copy of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition with one client access license (CAL)) with select training classes. Of course, you still have to pay for the training class, but this gets you a full copy of the software to use as you wish, plus the training can make you more marketable in today's job market. To get the most of this bargain: convince your employer to send you to the class.

Want a better deal on training? How about entirely free?

Clinic 6258: New Features Of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services is a short, online course. Sign up and you get a year to complete it.

From Microsoft Press, Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 by Peter DeBetta, Greg Low, and Mark Whitehorn. After signing up, you get the entire book for free. There is a button to click and view the book online, but if you'll right click the button and choose Save Link As, then change the name of the download to have a PDF extension, you'll be able to save the book locally and read offline. I've saved this on in my folder to try on the Kindle DX when it arrives.

The Art of XSD - SQL Server XML Schema Collections by Jacob Sebastian and courtesy of Red Gate Software. You have to sign up with info on how to contact you and where you work (make something up if you don't want follow up calls). The download also includes Simple Talk Crib Sheet Compendium, The Art of High Performance SQL by Grant Fritchey and Two Minute SQL Server Stumpers Vol. 5. You can get trial samples of their software as well, or scroll down to the bottom of the page once you have the book and grab up these ebooks as well: Mastering SQL Server Profiler, Brad's Sure Guide to SQL Server 2008, Brad McGehee's DBA Best Practices, How to Become an Exceptional DBA and The Best of Simple Talk .NET – Jit N’ Run vol.2.

Amazon Kindle DX to be released June 10, 2009

Amazon has posted a release date for the Kindle DX: June 10th. Those who pre-ordered should get their Kindle's first, as they are still promoting a first ordered, first delivered policy on the web page. Those who haven't ordered you can do so now to make sure they get a place in the first batch (with all previous versions, once the manufacturing batch sells out, Amazon has either stopped taking orders to changed the text on the order page to show a long backlog, so the initial shipment doesn't appear to be sold out, yet). Remember, you have 30 days after it is shipped to decide if you like it and send it back for a full refund, if you don't.

I would go ahead and order a DX Cover at the same time, as you don't want to use it naked for very long; the cover really does protect the screen when not in use or in the event of a fall. You may also want an extended warranty; in addition to the 2-Year Extended Warranty for Kindle DXsold by (but not serviced by) Amazon, you might want to check with Squaretrade.com (and look for a discount code, as
they almost always have those available). Either can be ordered anytime in the first 30 days after the DX ships to you (and only work after that 30 day period).

$1.99 Romances from Warner Forever

Warner Forever is bringing you four sizzlin' summer reads for $1.99 each (they are already marked down on Kindle, but not at other e-tailers, some of which don't even have all of them listed yet). I don't know how long they will be marked down, but you might want to stock up on your beach reads now.

A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore is a new release (June 1, 2009).

CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE . . .

Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his cousin and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul. . . until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife.

TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS . . .

Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love . . . but life and death.

My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel

A desire that can't be controlled...Carson Philips is a witch on the run. For years, the notorious mage, Alvaro Magellan, has held her as his psychological prisoner. But once Carson gets a glimpse of the true extent of his evil, she flees Magellan's mansion--stealing a stone talisman of unimaginable power on the way. Her only hope for survival is a demon who ignites a voracious hunger in her she can't deny, a longing she can't resist...

A hunger that can't be sated...Nikodemus is a warlord with a mission: Kill Magellan and his green-eyed witch at any cost. But when he meets the desperate Carson, the pull of her magic takes his breathe away. He's not sure he can trust this tantalizing woman--she is his enemy--and less sure he can keep his hands off her. But Magellan will stop at nothing to reclaim what belongs to him. Can Nikodemus stop him before his desire for Carson destroys them both?

Between the Sheets by Robin Wells looks to be a fairly funny story, in addition to everything else.

How do you have a life when everyone in America thinks you gave the president-elect a fatal heart attack during an illicit sex romp?
Emma Jamison never thought she'd have to answer that question, but here she is, smack dab in the middle of a political scandal that would make Monica Lewinsky blush. Trouble is, nobody believes that Emma wasn't the call-girl who killed the president-to-be with her, uh, carnal skills.
So Emma packs up and moves to small-town Chartreuse, LA, to escape her infamy and to start over. But when her grandmother starts dating the grandfather of district attorney Max Duval, the quiet life she was seeking blows up in smoke.

Too Far Gone by Marliss Melton is the sixth in her Navy Seals series.

Ellie Stuart's life ended the day her children were stolen from her. Driving on a Virginia backroad, Ellie was ambushed by two men who violently pulled her from her car and drove off with her three sons inside. Devastated, Ellie begs the police to bring her babies home. But the authorities wonder if this stressed-out single mom may not be telling the whole truth about what happened that day...


Navy SEAL Sean Harlan agrees to help Ellie find her children, but vows to keep their relationship professional. He's got no room in his life for a woman and her kids--no matter how beautiful she is, or how desperate their situation. But when a sinister organization begins pulling strings behind the scenes, the investigation suddenly targets Sean. Can he and Ellie rescue her children and save themselves? Or are they already...

June Orbit Dollar Book: Midnight Never Come

Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan

Book Description
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs.

But a great light casts a great shadow.

In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected only by a few.

Two courtiers, both struggling for royal favor, are about to uncover the secrets that lie behind these two thrones. When the faerie lady Lune is sent to monitor and manipulate Elizabeth's spymaster, Walsingham, her path crosses that of Michael Deven, a mortal gentleman and agent of Walsingham's. His discovery of the "hidden player" in English politics will test Lune's loyalty and Deven's courage alike. Will she betray her Queen for the sake of a world that is not hers? And can he survive in the alien and Machiavellian world of the fae? For only together will they be able to find the source of Invidiana's power -- find it, and break it . . . .

A breathtaking novel of intrigue and betrayal set in Elizabethan England; Midnight Never Come seamlessly weaves together history and the fantastic to dazzling effect.

So far, the pricing has come down at Booksonboard (MS Reader and EReader formats only; you actually get paid 67 cents to buy the book) and Sony and Amazon. So far, Fictionwise doesn't even list the book for sale, but they may get caught up when they post new books later today or tomorrow. If not, it may be next week, as they seldom post new books except Monday evenings/Tuesday mornings.

SciFi Friday, Part 3: The Rest of the Universe

It's not really fair to all the other authors out there. After all, they outnumber the Star Wars and Star Trek authors by a large majority (although most of the series authors also write other science fiction titles that are unrelated to their series titles) and the rest of the SciFi universe is large indeed. But for most people, Star Wars and Star Trek define the category of Science Fiction. For those that haven't ventured outside that realm (and I'll include Stargate in that grouping), here are a few bargain titles to get you started.

James Somers has several bargain books in this category. First up is The Chronicles of Soone - Rise of Lucin, ($0.80) the sequel to The Chronicles of Soone--Heir to the King ($7.99). I'd prefer the first in the series be discounted and you would think authors would prefer it as well - get more readers hooked, while extending the income stream from the author's backlist.

WAR RAGES
Lucin, the Fallen One, is victorious on planet Castai and the reign of the king has ended in a savage coup. The final days of mankind's hope are fading with the rise of a sinister foe.

THE MIGHTY FALL
King Tiet Soone and a small band of warriors have barely escaped planet Castai with their lives. No place is safe for them with Lucin on the hunt.

A FINAL PROPHECY
A mysterious prophet has come to direct the king towards his destiny—a second confrontation with Lucin and his army of assimilated humans. But with the reconciliation of Lucin's Mithrial brethren, the Agonotti, the odds for success are worse than ever. Outnumbered and outmatched, the king must risk all he has left or witness the end of mankind.

Two other titles are on Kindle: PERDITION'S GATE and HALLOWED BE THY NAME, both listed at the bargain basement price of $0.80. Both in the SciFi realm, they are stand-alone titles.

If you prefer more classic SciFi, then many of the SciFi pulp magazines of the past have fallen out of copyright and the short stories, novellas and serials they contained are now being republished on the Kindle, often at bargain prices. One collection that has a great cover is Planet of the Damned and Other Stories: A Science Fiction Anthology (Five Books in One Volume!) by ($0.80) Harry Harrison. Of course, you can pick up free copies of the individual stories from Feedbooks or ManyBooks.

If you want more contemporary authors, there is a wealth of free material to choose from, with more posted each week than most of us can hope to keep up with. Some of it gets posted at ManyBooks (Deviations: Appetite by Elissa Malcohn) or Feedbooks (several by Peter Watts). Others are posted on authors blogs and websites all over the world. Jeffrey Carver has listed Eternity's End as a free download (and Sunborn is still free, although I don't know for how long). In addition, he has listed the StarRigger series and several stand-alone novels at Fictionwise as a DRM-free multiformat downloads. All of his books can be read on the Kindle or most other readers. Best of all, they are all in the Anniversary Sale currently going on at Fictionwise (they also sell secure mobipocket books, which do not work with the Kindle, but everything in the store is on sale right now, for those who read on their PC or other readers; multiformat books are a straight discount, while secure DRM'd books require up-front purchase by CC/Paypal and do a store credit rebate). If you are a member of the FW club, it works out to about 57% off Carver's titles (and about 1/2 off if not a member).

There are also several free SF magazines online. Arkham Tales has just released a new issue and you can still download the first two. Frankly, I'm not sure that this magazine fits the SciFi category or even fully into Fantasy. It describes itself as Weird Fiction, so I'll leave it at that, but include it here, since I found out about it on a SF site. Plots with Ray Guns is also out and you can be amongst the first to read the Spring 2509 issue!

In fact, there are numerous SF sites that try to post just the free content each week. Two of the best are Futurismic and SF Signal. Both post a new list of free fiction on Fridays, so you'll always have something to read on the weekends. Just search for "free fiction" in their archives and you'll find more to read than you can keep up with.

Finally, for those that prefer Science Fact (or in this case, history) to Fiction, be sure to check out the history of the Apollo Space Program at NASA over at mobileread. Where No Man Has Gone Before, by W. David Compton is now available in mobi/prc format and is entirely free.