Free Science Fiction from Asimov's Magazine

This year, Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine once again has several nominees for both the Nebula and the Hugo Awards in various short fiction categories. They have made DRM-free PDF copies available to download (the podcast nominees can be listened to online), including Nancy Kress' Act One, which was also free on Kindle recently.

Get the free downloads from The Hugo Awards nominees.
Get the free downloads from Nebula Award Nominees.

With both, you'll have to use Right Click and Save As to get them downloaded, as just clicking the link often displays an error (looks like a coding error at their end, as the browser thinks it is opening a directory, rather than downloading a file). I generally buy this and Analog SF magazine at Fictionwise, but both are also available on the Kindle.

If you are interested in getting a copy of all the Hugo Award nominee's works, you can still join Chicon as a supporting member (it costs $50/year) and get copies of the nominated novels, novellas, novelettes and many "related works" as seen on this page (scroll about half way down). Of course, you are expected to then read them and vote by July 31st (done online), in at least one category, if not all of them.

Today's Deals

Kobo has a few of new coupons this weekend, the first couple of which are for Canada Day and all of which expire at midnight July 2, 2012: dandm30 for 30% off (selected list only), canadaday20 for 20% off, PanMac30Jun29 for 30% off select MacMillan titles (UK only?), ac3auto35 for 35% off, and ac4auto45 for 45% off.

This weekend's Fictionwise coupon is 062912 for 35% off.

Sony has one of their rare coupons this weekend, good for 30% off. In the US, use 4THOFJULY30, and in Canada, CANADADAY30. Add the coupon to the account first; it should be good thru July 4th.

At DecalGirl, save 25% on all skins, until July 4th, using code FIREWORKS.

Today's Kindle Deal of the Day is The Vegas Knockout ($1.99), by Tom Schreck.

Book Description
Duffy Dombrowski just accepted a dream job: chief sparring partner for Russian heavyweight contender Boris Rusakov in Vegas. His obstinate basset hound, Al, and a few friends join Duffy for the ride—but before Duffy knows it, his trip turns into a nightmare. Someone’s killing local Mexican workers, friends and relatives of Duffy’s gym buddies. And to make matters worse, Duffy’s got Boris’s Russian mobster pals chasing him with murder on their minds.

Quirky characters, rapid-fire dialogue, and nonstop action propel The Vegas Knockout into the sphere of gritty thrillers that hit with astonishing power.

Inside Job ($2.09 / £1.29 UK), by Charles Ferguson, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (no US edition).

Book Description
The definitive big picture on the financial crisis, from the man behind the Oscar-winning documentary that exposed the workings of the new economic elite.

Based on explosive interviews conducted personally by award-winning filmmaker Charles Ferguson, as well as newly released court documents and information buried in archives, Inside Job traces in gripping detail how the financial industry and its enablers went rogue. Ferguson shows how three decades of deregulation created a “predator nation” and invited the crisis, particularly as key players cycled through positions of power in government, “independent” academia, and big-ticket finance. With clarity, toughness, and stunning freshness, he delivers an unrivaled accounting of how the new economic oligarchy have wrested control of our politics – and our prospects for eventual recovery.

So, You Want to Be Canadian: All About the Most Fascinating People in the World and the Magical Place They Call Home ($0.99 Kindle, B&N), by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorenson, is the Nook Daily Find, price matched on Kindle.

Book Description
So, you want to be Canadian? Who doesn't these days? Canucks are enjoying a major renaissance in attention, from their enlightened social policies to their wild and wooly pop culture. This playful, trivia-packed book is a long-overdue celebration of all things Canadian, from the mysteries of "eh?" to the difference between an Ogo Pogo and a Windingo to how to prepare moose stroganoff (mmm!). Featuring a dreamy list of Canadian hotties, a toe-tapping roundup of Canadian smash hit songs, a handy Canadian-American translator, and pointers on how to eat, dress, and apologize like a Canadian if you weren't lucky enough to be born a Canuck, So, You Want to Be Canadian demonstrates once and for all why Canada is so cool (formerly just cold).

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane ($5.24 Kindle, $1.99 B&N), the second title in the Underland Chronicles series by Suzanne Collins, is the Nook Daily Find for Families.

Book Description
The action and adventure continue for Gregor in this stunning fantasy from a rising literary star.Gregor learns of his role in another Underland prophecy, yet he swears he will never return to that place. But his vow crumbles when his little sister, Boots, is snatched. Gregor knows it is a ploy to lure him to the subterranean world, but he gives in and heads back underground, where he is reunited with his bat, Ares, the princess Luxa, and new allies. Together, they descend into the deadly Waterway in search of an ominous rat known as Bane. But Gregor must face the possibility of his greatest loss yet, and make life and death choices that will determine the future of the Underland.

Managing My Kindle Libraries

This is a good time to mention my new strategy with my Kindle Library, which (as most of you know) is so large it causes all the Kindle 3's on the account to constantly reboot, if wireless is left on (apparently only in WiFi areas, from my experimentation). I have set up second account (some of you may want more than one) and I am "repurchasing" all the zero cost books there, as they pop back up as repeats, and deleting them from my main account. You might even want one for "free - indie author" and "free - commercial publisher", although I don't think I'll go that far. Those with kids may want to set up a separate account just for their books, as that is the best parental control method I've seen for Kindle - only have kids books in that account (paid or free, since there aren't that many free books in this category, from what I've seen).

It'll take a while to fix my main account, to be sure (it appears I need to get to around 3,000 books or less to fix both the rebooting issue and the inability to access the full archive from my Kindle). Another thing I'm doing to get there faster is that I've backed up all my Kindles to my hard drive, then imported all the AZW books into Calibre (using a new, labeled Library for this purpose). I then set it to convert to MOBI - those with DRM will fail, those without will succeed; I then deleted (from Calibre only) those that ended up without MOBI editions - what's left is all DRM-free books, which I'm removing, a few at a time, from my main Kindle account (to make it go faster, open up several tabs on your library - delete a book, switch to another tab while it refreshes).

Amazon lets you move your Kindle freely between accounts - you first deregister from the account it is on, then register to the new account. Make sure you do this with a wireless connection on - you Kindle must see that it has been deregistered or it won't properly register to the new account. It is often easiest to do this from the Kindle itself (at least, with a K3 or the Touch). Nothing gets wiped from the Kindle when you do this (unlike the nook tablets, which must be wiped clean to change accounts), so you can move your Kindle, grab a book or two, then move back to the "default" account. While you have no physical Kindles attached to an account, purchases just go to the CloudReader, so you don't even have to worry about this process when buying from the web. To make it easier for me to remember which account I'm buying in, I use two different browsers, with my default browser on my main account and a second browser (Chrome, in my case) logged into my "free books" account and that account has no payment methods, so it can't buy something by mistake (the only downside is that I can't add free pre-orders on this account, until they actually release).

You can also register your Kindle to the account from the web page - this is handy if you just want to download a book to your computer and transfer via USB (emailing might work, since it will have that Kindle's serial number in the DRM, but I haven't tested this yet). You do still have to deregister from the first account to start (it won't let a Kindle be registered to two accounts at once), but you can cut/paste the serial number from the first Manage Your Kindle Page and the entire process of de-register/register to 2nd account/send book/deregister/register to 1st account only takes about 1-2 minutes, with two browsers and a bit of practice. Amazon remembers all your settings for email and Kindle name on the first account and I haven't seen that this even impacts subscriptions (although all I have are a few blogs).

Today's Deals

Today's Kindle Deal of the Day is Five CJ Lyons Romantic Thrillers for $0.99 each. I checked my library and I found three of her books that I've picked up for free in the last year, starting with Snake Skin (Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers, Book #1), which was free last July; now might be a good time to pick up a few more and say "thank you" with a paid purchase.

If you love sensual, suspense-filled reads, CJ Lyons will not disappoint. A pediatric ER doctor turned best-selling author, Lyons expertly writes what she knows and consistently creates riveting, fast-paced stories filled with engaging characters. Today only, these five novels are up to 80% off yesterday's price.

Chasing Shadows: Shadow Ops Book #1
New York Times Bestseller CJ Lyons has been praised as a "Master of the Genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) for her romantic thrillers.Join CJ as she starts a sexy, fun-filled, adrenalin rush of a new series: Shadow Ops.

Following a group of covert operatives, men and women who risk their lives to protect our country--but are they ready to risk their hearts?

Going undercover, playing the part of a disgraced former Marine, is easy for Chase Westin--until a Christmas Eve mission takes him back to his hometown and face to face with his estranged brother.

When KC, an undercover FBI agent, flies into Chase's life with her Doc Martens, purple, punk-rock hair, and Hollywood-hype leather and chains, Chase realizes that falling in love is more dangerous than catching bullets.

Lost in Shadows: Shadow Ops, Book #2
A West Virginia mountain, the middle of a blizzard, killers on his trail...no place for a city boy like Lucky Cavanaugh, an ATF explosives specialist. Out-manned, out-gunned and shot, he takes Forest Service Wildlife Biologist Vinnie Ryan hostage until he convinces her that he's one of the good guys.

Vinnie heals not only his injuries but also his broken heart. But when they uncover a terrorist plot, Lucky is forced to choose between duty and passion, risking the life of the woman he loves in order to save the lives of thousands.

Nerves of Steel (Hart and Drake #1)
Cassie's Pittsburgh ER has been deluged by young patients who have overdosed on a new drug, FX. After Cassie discovers that the source of the FX on the streets is her own hospital, her best friend is killed, and Cassie's life is threatened. She is forced to place her trust in Detective Mickey Drake.

Drake's irascible charm eventually penetrates the barriers Cassie has built around herself, and their relationship progresses from professional to passionate. After Cassie discovers the truth behind the thefts, she and Drake must confront a killer. In the end, their only weapons are their new-found love and the courage it gives them.

Written by a pediatric ER physician, NERVES OF STEEL combines gritty realism with the adrenalin rush of the ER. New York Times Bestseller CJ Lyons uses her insider's knowledge of life behind the scenes to reveal the hidden truth of the medical world: No one is immune to danger.

Sleight of Hand (Hart and Drake #2)
Two months ago Dr. Cassandra Hart was forced to kill a man. The man who murdered her best friend, almost killed Drake and seriously wounded her. Now she's back at work in her Pittsburgh ER, but nothing seems the same.

When she fears that a young boy is being abused by his "perfect" mother, her friends and colleagues worry that she's returned to work too soon, imagining dangers that don't exist. Others accuse her of trying to cover up her own alleged mistakes in the boy's treatment by making a false report of abuse.

Drake's facing problems of his own, trying to cope with the aftermath of the night two months ago when his passion for Cassie led to a confrontation with a killer. He's on desk duty, reviewing cold cases, and delves into the homicide case that killed his father seven years ago. But after so long, what good can he do, a cop without a gun?

The stakes escalate when Cassie is almost killed and Drake finds evidence that the killer his father was tracking might be planning to strike again--this time targeting a young boy.

With the lives of two children at stake, how can they walk away?

Face to Face (Hart and Drake #3)
In the second book, SLEIGHT OF HAND, you saw Hart and Drake risk everything to save a child and you knew they were meant to be together.

Now, see what happens when they lose it all...

Drake hunts a stalker with deadly intentions. Hart fights for justice for one special victim while also fending off her ex and his family as they try to destroy everything she holds dear.

Neither realizes the real danger lies with an old enemy whose fury has grown and will not be satisfied with anything less than Hart and Drake's blood.

Meltwater ($1.54 / £0.99 UK), the third and most recent title in the Fire and Ice series by Michael Ridpath, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (no US edition; this series is just starting to be released in the US, at >$10 each). In fact, if you've missed the series (Main/UK) so far, it's the perfect time to grab the entire thing, as all titles, including the short story (Edge of Nowhere), are on sale in the £1 range.

Book Description
Operation Meltwater: FreeFlow, a group of internet activists committed to the freedom of information have video evidence of a military atrocity in the Middle East and have chosen Iceland as their HQ while they prepare to unleash their greatest coup on the world's media. On the glacial rim of erupting volcano Eyjafjallajokull, they christen their endeavour Operation Meltwater. Minutes later, in the steam and mist, one of them is murdered. The list of people Freeflow has antagonized is long - the Chinese government, Israeli military, a German Bank, Italian politicians, even American College Fraternities. Magnus Jonson has a long list of suspects but he's getting precious little help from FreeFlow - for an organization dedicated to the transparency of information, they're a secretive bunch.

But they are not the only ones with secrets. Asta, a newly qualified priest, has contacted FreeFlow with information about a scandal in the church. Her involvement with FreeFlow will cost her dear.

And with the return of Magnus's brother Ollie to Iceland, the feud that has haunted their family for three generations is about to reignite.

The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily ($1.24 Kindle, $3.99 B&N), by Nancy Goldstone, is the Nook Daily Find, much better than price matched on Kindle, as it's down in the impulse buy range (and looks to be a must buy for those who love period fiction and non-fiction, including authors who write in the same time period).

Book Description
On March 15, 1348, Joanna I, the queen of Naples, stood trial for her life before the Pope and his court in Avignon. She was 20, and accused of murdering her cousin and husband, Hungarian prince Andrew. That she won her acquittal--arguing her own case in Latin--was remarkable in its own right; that she would go on to rule over one of Europe's most glittering courts for more than 30 years was extraordinary.

For the first time, Nancy Goldstone tells the full story of one of the most courageous and accomplished women in history, who challenged the powers of her time, and whose life highlights the dynastic rivalries and alliances across Europe in the dramatic 14th century. She was the only woman in her time to rule in her own name. Dedicated to the welfare of her subjects and realm, Joanna reduced crime, built hospitals and churches, encouraged the licensing of women physicians, and lured some of the most important writers and artists of the century to her glamorous, elegant court, which rivaled that of Elizabeth I of England in power and scope. Around her also swirled war, plague, and the intrigue and treachery that would ultimately be her downfall. As Nancy Goldstone reveals, in Joanna's legacy are found the seeds of both the Renaissance and the Reformation. For anyone who has enjoyed the works of Alison Weir, Amanda Foreman, and Antonia Fraser, The Lady Queen will be must reading.

The Journey ($4.61 Kindle, $1.99 B&N), the second title in Kathryn Lasky's Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, is the Nook Daily Find for Families. Although this title isn't price matched on Kindle, both Amazon and B&N have the first title, The Capture (Kindle, B&N), marked at $1.99.

Book Description
The second book in the GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOLE series continues this classic hero mythology about the battle between good and evil. This book chronicles Soren's quest for nobility.In the second book in the GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOLE series, Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger travel to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, a mythical place where an order of owls rises each night to perform noble deeds. Soren and his group are seeking help to fight the evil they discovered in the owl world (in GUARDIANS #1). After a harrowing journey, they arrive at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree and learn they will need to stay to receive training from the Ga'Hoolian elders. During his time at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, Soren finds (and then loses) a great mentor and he is reunited with his beloved sister.

Grade Level: 4 and up

Free Audiobook - A Hunger for the Infinite

A Hunger for the Infinite, by Gregory Benford and Robin Sachs, is free to download from Audible. This is a novella in Benford's Galactic Center series, which originally appeared in Robert Silverberg's Far Horizons anthology.

Book Description
A Hunger for the Infinite details a galactic war between mechanical and biological life. Here, the pilots had made it to True Center in order to destroy something, anything, important to the Mechs, but Paris had something else on his mind. A story of the Mantis, and the decline of humans beginning in 3600 AD.

Get the free audiobook from Audible.