|
Source: (consider it)
|
Thread: kindle box-sets; getting lots of words for your buck.
|
luvanddaisies
the'fun'in'fundie'™
# 5761
|
Posted
I'm about to go off to start a new job . As I'll be on the ship from probably the end of this month/start of next until the end of October, I'm thinking about filling up my kindle with reading matter (likelyhood of getting much time to read, er, variable).
Anyway, I'm thinking that a good way to get quite a lot of words for my money, that are good switch-off reading is whatever one calls a box-set when it's on a kindle.
Searching the kindle store yields a plethora of stuff that looks, er, well, not my style. Who knew there could be that many versions of erotica or that many dubious-looking vampire/sci-fi/paranormal/fantasy things.
However, I have found some interesting things I'm going to try;
The Barbershop Seven - I read the first one of these, and as the set of seven was less than two quid, I bought that afterwards. It's not great literature, but it's quirky, darkly funny, and set in Glasgow (hooray!). Currently reading the second one (which I think is actually better than the first), and it's good switch off whodunntish-but-not really stuff.
Song of Ice & Fire / Game of Thrones . I've not seen it on the telly, and I'm told it's well-written, so I thought the £7.99 I paid for it a couple of days ago (it's now nearly £19) was worth it for the 5 books.
The Girl in the Box series was free, and I have no idea what it might be like. If it turns out to be rubbish, it won't have cost me anything. Apparently it's the first three in a series where a teenage girl develops powers beyond those of a human. It might be good (or it might be awful, meh, it didn't cost me anything).
So - any recommendations for other good box sets or Omnibuses (I already have the Hornblower ones. They're good, I like historical naval fiction a lot).
I'll give anything a go (ok, I probably wouldn't give anything from the plethora of dubious eroica stuff a go), but I am a bit of a book snob. If it's badly written I'll probably give it up as a bad job.
There must be some good little series hiding away amongst the dross... any pointers appreciated.
--------------------
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)
Posts: 3711 | From: all at sea. | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
|
Posted
You can search "complete series" within kindle store on amazon. They have the complete Father Brown mysteries for 49 pence at the moment.
--------------------
All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
|
Posted
If you like folklore, you can get all 12 volumes of Andrew Lang.
--------------------
All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772
|
Posted
You might want to check out the Project Gutenberg web site for a large collection of public domain books. While they discourage you from using a Kindle Fire, it can be done.
Oddly enough, some books in Kindle form are cheaper individually rather than as an omnibus. Check prices carefully. If you have a prime membership, look for free kindle e-books; typically one or two of a series that is only published online but gives you a chance to sample.
You mentioned Hornblower, but not the Patrick O'Brian books. There's no omnibus, but they are perhaps the best nautical historical fiction ever done. There's is nautical fiction by C. Northcote Parkinson. I'd probably pay $3 for Moby Dick but there are free editions as well. Mark Twain: Collection of 51 Classic Works and Sherlock Holmes are all worth reading. There are free or close to free kindle editions and anthologies of Jane Austen.
If you like Science Fiction and want to escape the 19th century classics look at Baen Books which has a bunch of free books some of which are good.
Posts: 2990 | From: Seattle WA. US | Registered: Nov 2011
| IP: Logged
|
|
Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
|
Posted
Be aware that Game of Thrones is violent and intense; my husband was unable to read more than a volume or two and I have prudently never begun it and never watched it on TV.
For pure re-reading pleasure in fantasy/SF you could hardly go wrong with the Vorkosigan novels of Lois McMaster Bujold. There are 12 or 14 of them, all of them a delight, and if you have not read them I warn you to ration yourself to one a week, otherwise you will devour them all in one sitting and be left lamenting. She has three volumes in her Chalion series as well, and the first novel THE CURSE OF CHALION is possibly the best fantasy novel ever written.
I am a member of a publishing cooperative, Book View Cafe, which also has many e-books.
--------------------
Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
| IP: Logged
|
|
Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
|
Posted
Diana Gabaldon, the Outlander series. It's time travel/historical fiction set in 18th century Scotland, France and America. There are eight huge volumes already and the fans panting for more (next comes out in June). Supposed to be a TV series soon too.
--------------------
Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
|
Posted
The complete Sherlock Holmes is free. As most of the stories are short it is good commuting read.
--------------------
Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Freelance Monotheist
Shipmate
# 8990
|
Posted
Robin Hobb's books are excellent. The ones about dragon carers are ace, and there's a 'Ship' series too. There are 4-6 books (maybe more!) in both series, and there are series too.
Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown story collections are also good value for money.
--------------------
Denial: a very effective coping mechanism
Posts: 1239 | From: Paris, France | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Sparrow
Shipmate
# 2458
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
While they discourage you from using a Kindle Fire, it can be done.
Why not the Kindle Fire???
--------------------
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Posts: 3149 | From: Bottom right hand corner of the UK | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sparrow:
quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
While they discourage you from using a Kindle Fire, it can be done.
Why not the Kindle Fire???
Read the website for details. But basically, they make it hard to import and read a vanilla e-pub such as Project Gutenberg uses and not Amazon's proprietary variant.
Posts: 2990 | From: Seattle WA. US | Registered: Nov 2011
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view
