Free ebooks and online texts

**anti** · 7 Jan 2005, 3:24 PM

I'm not sure how many of you are aware of the existence of ebooks and free online texts. The concept is that the copyright has run out on these books, they were never copyrighted, or they have been made available for public consumption. This includes the classics and some more recent books (see: Matthew Reilly).

This is a list of sites which provide free access to texts online. Please assist this endeavour by posting links to sites with free ebooks or alerting me when a link moves or is taken down.

Happy reading

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http://nightmare.org/ebooks/
Literature Network: http://www.online-literature.com/
Coradella Collegiate Bookshelf: http://www.literature-online.net/
Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/
http://www.ditext.com/etexts.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/

**malkin86** · 20 Feb 2005, 10:12 AM

http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/
http://www.textfiles.com
http://www.blakeneymanor.com/series.html

**overthaedge** · 4 Jun 2005, 8:38 PM

ahhh im a self confessed geek, so its ok for me to say i love you guys.

**santaslayer** · 4 Jun 2005, 9:42 PM

Sorry, just a question: Do people actually read these e-books online? Printing every sheet isn't financially viable, whilst reading dead straight from the computer isn't really a healthy option as well?

**overthaedge** · 5 Jun 2005, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by santaslayer

Sorry, just a question: Do people actually read these e-books online? Printing every sheet isn't financially viable, whilst reading dead straight from the computer isn't really a healthy option as well?

i always just read them straight off the screen

**666_blessings** · 5 Jun 2005, 9:03 PM

The best option is to shrink the font so you can fit two pages per sheet of paper and print it back to back. Having said that, your eyes would stand a better chance against a computer monitor

**Enlightened_One** · 30 Jun 2005, 1:29 PM

Originally Posted by santaslayer

Sorry, just a question: Do people actually read these e-books online? Printing every sheet isn't financially viable, whilst reading dead straight from the computer isn't really a healthy option as well?

Now you have me worried. I read a lot of classic novels of the internet when I can't find them anywhere. What is the health you speak of?

**pisa1** · 19 Jul 2005, 5:22 PM

awesome, thanks. google also offers some service of ebooks.

the health would prolly refer to the eyes/back right? staring at a computer is supposed to be bad for your eyes and sitting in front of one for too long always makes my back ache.

absolution* · 19 Jul 2005, 5:28 PM

http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp

NOOBS

**Abraxus** · 29 Jul 2005, 9:49 AM

i've always thought ebooks kill the whole purpose of reading books, cause you're restricted to staying in front of the computer screen as opposed to bringing it where you go and reading it at an opportunity (waiting rooms, uni breaks etc). but then i've found more books in ebook format than in the library .. so i just make it a notepad file and put it in my ipod (in the Notes folder where you can read them on the ipod screen). or if you have one of the good phones you can put pdfs on it and read it off your phone .. i got a friend that does that.

**theone3** · 1 Aug 2005, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by Abraxus

i've always thought ebooks kill the whole purpose of reading books, cause you're restricted to staying in front of the computer screen as opposed to bringing it where you go and reading it at an opportunity (waiting rooms, uni breaks etc). but then i've found more books in ebook format than in the library .. so i just make it a notepad file and put it in my ipod (in the Notes folder where you can read them on the ipod screen). or if you have one of the good phones you can put pdfs on it and read it off your phone .. i got a friend that does that.

Pdas are good

There's an AUSSIE Project Gutenberg, because (Bless you, John Howard) we have less restrictive copyright laws, so we're allowed access to more books.

http://gutenberg.net.au/

**kami** · 23 Aug 2005, 6:57 PM

This website contains a short story written by Robin Hobb's other pseudonym: http://www.asimovs.com/Nebulas03/cut.shtml

**Always** · 8 Oct 2005, 1:48 PM

http://www.classicbookshelf.com/library/

This site allows you to change the font size and colour of the text so it's really easy to read. I just make the font really big so it's not harsh on the eye at all.

**anti** · 20 Dec 2005, 10:13 AM

God's Debris
Synopsis
Imagine that you meet a very old man who—you eventually realize—knows literally everything. Imagine that he explains for you the great mysteries of life—quantum physics, evolution, God, gravity, light, psychic phenomenon, and probability—in a way so simple, so novel, and so compelling that it all fits together and makes perfect sense. What does it feel like to suddenly understand everything? God's Debris isn’t the final answer to the Big Questions. But it might be the most compelling vision of reality you will ever read. The thought experiment is this: Try to figure out what’s wrong with the old man’s explanation of reality. Share the book with your smart friends then discuss it later while enjoying a beverage.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
I'm not sure if this is actually a valid e-text, but I was provided with a .doc version of it so I assume it's freely available. Worth a read.

**mel871** · 24 Dec 2005, 7:39 PM

http://www.literaturepage.com/

**joyeeta** · 4 Jan 2006, 10:24 PM

tell u what i hate, those caseete books and stuff. like okay i undertand if u r blind, or cant read thats fine. but people with healthy i balls and no rpoblems what so ever, down loading books on to their ipod and LISTENING to it!! a book was written with one very clear purpose with other sub purposes attatched to it. they were made to be READ! i dont understand, does anyone else agree?

**Lainee** · 4 Jan 2006, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by joyeeta

tell u what i hate, those caseete books and stuff. like okay i undertand if u r blind, or cant read thats fine. but people with healthy i balls and no rpoblems what so ever, down loading books on to their ipod and LISTENING to it!! a book was written with one very clear purpose with other sub purposes attatched to it. they were made to be READ! i dont understand, does anyone else agree?

I have to disagree with you. People who don't have time to sit still for X amount of hrs and read the written word will find audio books a lifesaver. I've recently taken up listening to them in my car on the way to uni, or while I'm doing chores around the house.

A book was written with the purpose of being read, yep. But there's more to it. It's comforting having someone read to you, a book can be shared and enjoyed by many at the same time through audio books.

**joyeeta** · 6 Jan 2006, 4:21 PM

yeah i understand what ur saying Lainee but i mean all those people who arent students. i hate it how people consuming magazines like cosmo are encouraging people to download their books. dont u feel it takes the magic out of reading and books in general?

**aurelia jejune** · 1 Feb 2006, 10:06 PM

Project Gutenberg is excellent - I certainly prefer reading the good old-fashioned way, but it's great for when I either desperately need to read something; or something to read. Generally I compromise by going on the Internet by candelight.

**Enlightened_One** · 2 Feb 2006, 3:43 PM

Yeah, reading online books does lack something, but unfortunately a lot of the classics that are available on many websites (since their copyright has expired) are not to be found in any library.

**olchik** · 3 Mar 2006, 8:41 PM

digital.library.upenn.edu/books/

**BronwynKate** · 9 Apr 2006, 10:11 AM

Here is an alternative to taped books you might enjoy:

Librivox.

A very good site with digital files full of your favourite books, as well as ones you may never have heard of.

The only trouble with Librivox - it needs more Australian literature!

Why don't you read a chapter or two of The Getting of Wisdom or another favourite book?

There's lots of short stories and poetry if you want to get your feet wet.

I only got in this January and there are many wonderful things.

You can put Librivox on your I-Pod if you want to.

http://www.librivox.org

**phatinc** · 17 Jun 2006, 8:19 PM

http://fictionbook.ru/en/

this is the place where you can find a range of books (they boast a library of over 9000 books (including russian unfortunatly)and where i found davinci code green mile forrest gump etc,

mostly russian which can get quite annoying, but its still a gold mine for people too poor/cheap/actual library's copy keeps on getting reserved/prefer reading it on ipods or palms etc

**glitter burns** · 7 Aug 2006, 4:41 PM

Originally Posted by phatinc

http://fictionbook.ru/en/

this is the place where you can find a range of books (they boast a library of over 9000 books (including russian unfortunatly)and where i found davinci code green mile forrest gump etc,

That's a totally great site (ok, so 98% of it's in Russian) but I found Chuck Pahalaniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Nick Hornby, Douglas Adams, Hunter S. Thompson and more there!

Thanks for the link.

**Melzy** · 25 Aug 2006, 10:36 PM

ebooks open alot of doors for people with busy timetables...you can read them anywhere. you also can get textbooks and study helps. which become extremely helpful in hectic exam times.