The Friday Project
is a small, UK based imprint of Harper Collins and specializes in finding content on the web and bringing it to print. That content may be blog posts (or just the blogger), serialized works published via the web and book released under a Creative Commons license. Their books are now available in the Kindle store, despite their disparagement of the Kindle when it first released a couple of years ago, when Scott Pack said "It's not an iPod moment" and said he thought that most readers have no need to store their books as they might music tracks (guess he should take a look at my Kindle, sometime) and several are currently bargain priced. I'll highlight a few here (mostly young adult/children's titles), but you can see all their Kindle offerings by clicking
HERE (a few are marked as not available in the US).
The Third Pig Detective Agency (
$1.13), by Bob Burke, is one I was tempted to pick up when it was released in the UK, but I didn't want to have to set up a new account and deal with the exchange rate on my credit card for such a small purchase.
Book DescriptionHarry Pigg, the only surviving brother from the Big Bad Wolf attacks, has set up business as a private detective in Grimmtown, only things aren't going too well. Down on his luck, with bills to pay and no clients in sight the outlook is poor. But then in walks local businessman Aladdin who needs someone to help him track down an old lamp.What follows is a case of nursery rhyme-noir. Funny, thrilling and always entertaining, Harry Pigg is an old breed of hero for a new generation. It's as if Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney had walked into the middle of a bedtime story. A comedy caper for all ages.
Shadowmagic (
$3.40), by John Lenahan, is one I see recommended by several who have already read it. Who can resist an author whose bio says he is "a magician who became the first person in 85 years to be expelled from the Magic Circle for explaining the Three-card Monte on television. He was the voice of the toaster in Red Dwarf."
Book DescriptionConor thought he was an average teenager. OK, so his father only had one hand, spoke to him in ancient languages and was a bit on the eccentric side but, other than that, life was fairly normal. Until, that is, two Celtic warriors on horseback and wearing full armour appear at his front door and try to kill him. After that, things get pretty weird. Shadowmagic is a fantasy adventure for young adults (although grown ups will like it too). Written by one of the most popular magicians in the country it brings a fresh approach to the genre and will have a broad appeal beyond the fantasy sections.
An A-Z of Harry Potter (
$3.40), by Aubrey Malone, billed as The Ultimate Guide to the Whole Series. Perhaps with this one, you won't miss having the actual Harry Potter books on your Kindle (or any other ereader).
Book DescriptionHarry Potter is, without doubt, the publishing sensation of the past decade. Here for the first time in dictionary form is an unofficial readers' guide to all seven books. From 'Animagus' (a wizard that can transform into an animal) to 'Zonkos' (the joke and gift shop in Hogsmeade), Aubrey Malone explores the characters, creatures, places and spells that JK Rowling has brought to life so successfully. This is a must-have for all true Harry Potter fans, and the perfect way to celebrate the series that has captured the imagination of millions.
Montegue Blister's Strange Games (
$3.40), by Montegue Blister, should appeal to the little boy in some of you (but I'm not sure if it really is the perfect Christmas gift, as it claims).
Book DescriptionTaken from the brilliant website strange-games.blogspot.com, Montegue Blister's Strange Games is a pocket-sized compendium of the most hilarious, noisy, messy, and often vomit-inducing games ever written.Finally, the official rules for all the games you played at school as a kid, such as Finger Jousting, Peanuts, Slapsies and Thumb Wrestling. But that's not all! Montegue Blister's Strange Games includes dangerous variations on old classics such as Extreme Rock Paper Scissors, Bloody Knuckles, Shin Kicking and Toe Wrestling, plus a whole host of new, weird and wonderful games like Face Ball, Crazy Stair Climbing, Watermelon Skiing and Mosquito Squashing. Some games are violent, some are downright savage - and most involve a tiny bit of blood. But one thing's for sure - they're great fun! Montegue Blister's Strange Games is the perfect gift for Christmas and beyond. Chapters in Strange Games in include:Hand and feet games; Urban Games; Festivals; Party Games; Trick Games; Playground Games; Throwing & Propulsion; Sports; Stand off Games; Animal Games.
The Equivoque Principle (
$3.40), by Darren Craske
Book DescriptionPrometheus the strongman winds up behind bars and it falls to ringmaster and master conjuror Cornelius Quaint, ably assisted by his Eskimo valet Butter, to investigate the killings and to clear his name. But Quaint, an irresistible mix of Sherlock Holmes and Harry Houdini, soon finds that these seemingly random killings are actually linked to dark secrets from his own past. Secrets that he may not be prepared to face. The Equivoque Principle is a fantastic adventure inspired by the penny dreadfuls and newspaper serials of the Victorian age.
The Atheist's Guide to Christmas (
$5.09), by Ariane Sherine, is said to be the UK’s first atheist charity book (despite a subtitle that's more agnostic than athiest).
Book Description... Ariane and dozens of other atheist writers, comedians and scientists are joining together to raise money for (charity).... The Atheist's Guide to Christmas is a funny, thoughtful handbook all about enjoying Christmas, from 42 of the world's most entertaining atheists. It features everything from an atheist Christmas miracle to a guide to the best Christmas pop hits, and contributors include Richard Dawkins, Charlie Brooker, Ben Goldacre, Jenny Colgan, David Baddiel, Simon Singh, AC Grayling, Brian Cox and Richard Herring. The full book advance and all royalties will go to the UK HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust.
Some of you may have been reading the serialized version of Makers ($16.49 Hardcover), by Cory Doctorow (author of Little Brother
and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, amongst others). I always forget to find the new chapters of books released this way, so I wait until they are released in full. If you are like me, you need wait no longer, as the full version of Makers has now been published on his web site. It's free and under a Creative Commons license -- you own the book you download and can do with it pretty much as you wish (which he covers on his download page).
