The $100,000 Frankfurt
eBook AwardsReader’s
E-Book Primer
An Introduction and Guide to the World of Electronic Books
By Jamie Engle
eBook Connections, Inc.
Your connection for everything eBook related!
We are pleased to offer you this free eBook courtesy of Scribes World, fiction and nonfiction in all shapes and forms. Nonfiction, Children and Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery and everything in between. Reviews are updated monthly.
Reader's E-Book Primer
© Copyright 2000 by
Jamie Engle
First Edition—February, 2000
Second Edition—May, 2000
Third Edition - September, 2000
Fourth Edition - October, 2000
E-Book design and formatting by
Gemini Books, http://www.gemini-books.com
Published by
eBC Press, Inc.
Post Office Box 850296
Richardson, Texas 75085-0296
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher.
Printed in the United States
Garland, Texas
How Do You Keep Current on E-Books?
E-Book Web Sites: Information, Reviews and News
Reader’s E-Book Primer
Books with soundtracks? One-touch large print editions? Live hyperlinks and video? Ordering books over your mobile phone? Are we still talking about books? You bet! Welcome to the world of electronic books!
Electronic books, or e-books, are books in computer file format and read on all types of computers, including handheld devices designed specifically for reading e-books.
E-Books can be as familiar as their print counterparts or as unique as the electronic medium itself, containing audio, video or live hyperlinks.
E-Books can be delivered by download or email file attachment. E-Books on diskette or CD-ROM are sent by postal mail or sold in bookstores.
"On its simplest level, an e-book is a book just like any other book," says Phyllis Rossiter Modeland, former editor of the e-book reader electronic magazine The RunningRiver Reader™. "It has ‘cover’ art, a title page, an ISBN, a copyright notice, an editor and publisher for whom it was a labor of love—and an author who wrote it because she or he had to."
Imagine an historical novel accompanied by music from the period—all from your computer. Or reading a children’s book with sound effects, animation or video...or a reference book with the most current information, live hyperlinks and simulation capabilities. With e-books, all this—and more—is possible.
Electronic formatting reduces warehousing and shipping costs, removes limits on number of pages or graphics and requirements for broad audience appeal.
E-Books give writers and publishers freedom to explore small niche markets and to step outside the mold to bring readers original creative books, unlimited by genre lines, market size or print capabilities. "That, to me, is the e-book’s greatest advantage and its most compelling attraction. The e-books I have read and sampled are original, creative and refreshingly exciting," enthuses Modeland.
E-Books are highly portable and lightweight. You can store multiple books for the weight and space of one print book. Dedicated handheld reading devices weigh in starting at 17 ounces and can store up to twenty books—more if the memory is upgraded. Storing e-books on computer drives or diskettes and CD-ROMs take up much less shelf space than print books.
Storage capabilities and the ability to update and download documents immediately make e-book reading devices appealing to businesses, government personnel, colleges, universities and schools. Many professionals such as doctors, lawyers and pharmacists are already using e-books and e-book reading devices.
Schools, colleges and universities hope to use e-books to get students the most current textbooks—without weighting down backpacks. Schools and libraries are piloting programs using e-book reading devices and portable and desktop computers.
If you’re physically challenged or sight-impaired, e-books can fill your special reading needs. A simple font size change will turn your e-book into a large print edition, and e-books are less tiring on the hands. Some file formats are compatible with screen reading technology.
Evolving on-screen technology and exciting new handheld devices designed for reading electronic materials make e-books appealing to readers. Improved on-screen reading quality, portability, storage capabilities, more current content and speedy delivery are just a few of the benefits bringing readers to e-books.
WHO PUBLISHES and WRITES E-BOOKS?
Many print publishers publish electronic editions in addition to hardcover, paperback and audio-books. Electronic publishers (e-publishers) publish primarily electronic editions; some also publish print and audio editions. You can find the New York Times best-selling books in electronic format, or the backlists of popular authors. You can find the latest best-selling e-books and titles from newly discovered authors
As in print, there are large and small commercial publishers, subsidy, trade and self-publishers. Now there are more publishers offering more books from new and well-known authors, bringing you an abundance of original stories from familiar and new talent.
E-Books can be read on desktop computers, laptop and handheld computers, personal device assistants (PDAs) and handheld e-book reading devices, such as the REB1100™ or REB1200™. In some formats, you can even print out a few pages or chapters to read.
E-Books come in many file formats, such as HTML, PDF, RTF, Windows CE, or files specifically for reading devices or reading software. E-Book reading software is often available as a free download. The advantage to e-book reading software is better on-screen reading quality, "library" management of your books, and features such as searches, bookmarking, annotating and adjustable font sizes.
Because you can find the same type of books in print and original e-books, you’ll find the same people reading e-books as you do print books. Because of the unique nature of electronic books, e-books create opportunities for new readers and new types of books.
Chances are no matter what kind of books you enjoy, you’ll find an e-book to suit you.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND E-BOOKS, and HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
E-Books are sold from e-publisher and online bookseller sites. Downloads range from $3 on the low end and upwards of $24.95 on the high end. They are delivered either by download or email file attachment.
E-Books on diskette or CD-ROM are sold from the e-publisher web sites, online booksellers, and at physical bookstores. Some public libraries carry diskettes and CD-ROMs, and a few are testing downloads using e-book reading devices or digital libraries (online access through the Internet.)
Check the Resource section for URLs.
HOW DO YOU KEEP CURRENT ON E-BOOKS?
Reader and bookseller web sites, book reviews, electronic magazines (e-zines), e-newsletters, best seller lists, discussion lists and forums are all ways to keep up with what’s available in e-books. You’ll find web sites dedicated to e-books, such as eBook Connections <http://www.ebookconnections.com>, and e-zines for e-book readers, such as The RunningRiver Reader <http://www.runningriver. com>. You’ll find web sites that combine print and e-books, such as Just Views <http://www.justviews.com>.
Check the Resource section for e-book web sites and e-zines.
Whether you pick an e-bookseller, publisher, or reading software web site, you’ll find all the information you need to start reading e-books.
You can read e-books on your desktop or laptop computer using Adobe's Acrobat Reader, and Internet Browser, or any of the downloadable reading software.
If you’d like to start reading on the computer you have now, without downloading software, look for e-books in compatible file formats.
In general, TXT and RTF files can be read by most computers. PDF and HTML files can be read on most computers because Acrobat Reader (for PDF files) and an Internet browser (for HTML files) are usually pre-installed on computers.
Although you’ll find HTML and PDF books at BarnesandNoble.com, they won’t be in the E-Book section. All the e-books in the E-Book section require reading software download or a reading device.
The best places to find HTML, PDF, RTF or TXT e-books are the independent e-bookseller sites (such as eBook Shoppe), at the e-publisher web sites, or one of the free e-book web sites. URLs are in the Resource section.
DESKTOPS and LAPTOPS
E-BOOK READING SOFTWARE
If you’d like to download and try some of the new e-book reading software, you’ll find free downloads of the software at the company web sites. Each has a selection of free e-books you can read using their software.
In addition, you can usually import other file formats to the reading software, then use the reading software to read the file. For example, once you download Glassbook Reader™, you can import and read any PDF file and enjoy all the benefits of the reading software.
Adobe Acrobat Reader™ (http://www.adobe.com)
Adobe's Acrobat Reader ™ is free downloadable software that allows you to read PDF files. Acrobat Reader is widely used and it comes pre-installed on most computers, making PDF a popular e-book format. By end of year 2000, Acrobat Reader will incorporate Glassbook Reader™ software for enhanced e-book reading. Palm will begin integrating PDF files into their computer products during the year 2000.
Glassbook Reader™ (http://www.glassbook.com)
Glassbook Reader™ is a free downloadable software program that enables you to read electronic books on your laptop, notebook, or desktop PC. It provides easy buying and downloading of e-books at the Glassbook Bookstore or other online booksellers such as BarnesandNoble.com.
Other features include high-fidelity, full-color display of e-book pages, including Adobe PDF e-books, searching, bookmarks, and annotations, and rotating display and controls for use on notebook computers.
The Glassbook Reader runs on Windows 95, 98, and NT 4.0. It requires Internet Explorer or Netscape version 4 or later.
Microsoft Reader™ (http://www.microsoft.com/reader)
Microsoft released its e-book reading software, Microsoft Reader™, in July, 2000. It's available as a free download from the Microsoft web site and at BarnesandNoble.com.
Microsoft Reader is for desktops and laptops computers and will be packaged with Pocket PC and other Microsoft products. It also gives users the ability to hear spoken-word content with integrated Audible.com technology.
BarnesandNoble.com carries a large selection of e-books in Microsoft Reader (.LIT) format. Amazon.com will be opening their Microsoft Reader eBook store soon.
Publishing software is available at Readerworks.com (http://www.readerworks.com), and supports Word, html, ASCII and OeB files. Free and professional versions are available.
PALM OS or WINDOWS CE COMPUTERS
Downloadable e-book reading software is available for your PalmOS or Windows CE computer. You can also find palm-formatted e-books and software to import files and convert them to compatible file formats.
Palm PCs with Windows CE can read Windows CE compatible e-books, or you can use the pre-installed Pocket Word to read e-books in Word, RTF or TXT format.
PeanutPress.com™ (http://www.peanutpress.com)
Peanutpress.com publishes books in PalmOS and WinCE format, plus has PeanutReader™ e-book reading software and Peanut MakeBook publishing software available as free downloads.
PeanutReader is reading software for the Palm family of PDAs and is installed with a HotSync operation. It enables searches, bookmarking, and annotating of Palm-formatted e-books. You can change the screen orientation and toggle between two fonts.
Microsoft Reader™ (http://www.microsoft.com/reader)
Microsoft's Pocket PC, a Windows CE-based palm-size PC, features Microsoft Reader™ software for e-book reading. BarnesandNoble.com carries a large selection of e-books in Microsoft Reader (.LIT) format. Amazon.com will be opening their Microsoft Reader eBook store soon.
Publishing software is available at Readerworks.com (http://www.readerworks.com), and supports Word, html, ASCII and OeB files. Free and professional versions are available.
MobiPocket Reader (http://www.mobipocket.com)
MobiPocket Reader™ is reading software for PalmOS and Windows CE computers and can be used to convert e-books to compatible file formats. It supports TXT, PalmDoc (.pdb and .prc) and HTML. MobiPocket Reader features touch-screen page turning. Available as a free download, along with other free companion software.
Memoware.com (http://www.memoware.com)
Memoware.com has a large selection of software to convert e-books for PalmOS and Windows CE computers and has software for other types of PDAs.
E-book reading devices are designed specifically for reading books and emulate the print book experience. Screens are backlit and usually about the size of a large paperback book. The devices use page-turning systems rather than scrolling, and use touch screen technology for searching, bookmarking, highlighting, annotating and font size changes.
You can store approximately twenty books, more if you upgrade the memory. Dedicated e-book reading devices need specific file formats.
Gemstar-TV Guide International plans to bring their e-book reading devices, the REB1100 and REB1200, to consumers' attention with a high profile campaign the last quarter of 2000. The REBs require only a phone line to download e-books.
The REB1100 and REB1200 will initially be available at Best Buy, Circuit City and OfficeMax around Thanksgiving. They will also be available for purchase at the www.rca.com web site and at other online retailers to be announced. You can find more information on the REBs at the Gemstar eBook web site, http://www.gemstarebook.com.
Simultaneously searching the full content of thousands of books, periodicals and other reference materials at one time and in minutes being given a list of related passages, accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sounds like paradise? Welcome to a slice of virtual paradise—the digital research library.
Access to digital libraries is direct from the Internet or through your library’s web site (if available). Publishers have thousands of titles converted to electronic format and ready for access, and it’s estimated hundreds of thousands will be available in the next few years. You’ll find nonfiction books, journals, periodicals, annuals, maps and other research materials on a wide variety of topics.
Full text search and retrieval of copyrighted material is a giant step forward for information quality on the Internet. Digital research libraries help realize the full potential of the information access and availability on the Internet.
Bartleby.com (http://www.bartleby.com)
Comprehensive, searchable database of reference, verse and classic literature. Summaries of each book, author biographies. Enhanced navigational tools and extensive cross-referencing. No access fees.
ebrary.com (http://www.ebrary.com)
Authoritative research library and information resource. Powerful InfoTools® to perform searches and provide definitions, translations, biographies and more. No access fees.
netLibrary (http://www.netlibrary.com)
Comprehensive collection of electronic books. Full-text searches of single or multiple e-books. Online check-out limited to one patron per book. Printing and copying limited to one page, enforced electronically.
QUESTIA (http://www.questia.com)
Searchable books and journals most needed by college students. Does not include textbooks. Ability to view, copy and paste text from any page of a book. Monthly subscription fee. Footnotes and bibliographies hyperlinked to books and journals.
Versaware (http://www.versaware.com)
Versaware enhance books with the electronic medium, bringing them to life with video, sound and other special effects. Special attention is giving to preserving the book’s original presentation.
You can also take related books and connect them into a new Versabook edition. For example, related passages in different books can be hyperlinked, making them easier to find.
No matter what type of books you like, the advantages of e-books are clear: original creative books, more current content, enhanced reading experiences and less storage. Whether you read e-books on a computer or on a reading device, you’ll find electronic books open up a whole new world of reading.
Thank you for reading the E-Book Primer! We hope you’ll enjoy this new innovation in reading!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email eBook Connections at info@ebookconnections.
E-Book Web Sites: Information, Reviews and News
Keep up with the latest in e-books with news, reviews and author and publisher interviews at these e-book web sites and electronic magazines (e-zines).
eBook Connections, Inc. (http://www.ebookconnections.com)
Featuring monthly best seller and new release lists and links to eBook-related sites, e-zines, newsletters and e-book reviews. Visit our web site or subscribe to our free bi-weekly newsletter by sending a blank email to <RunningRiverReader-subscribe@egroups.com>.
eBookNet.com (http://www.ebooknet.com)
eBookNet has a section on Reading Devices, listings of Things to Read, advice for those Writing eBooks, updates from the E-Book Business, and lively community message boards. Free weekly newsletter. To subscribe, go to: <http://ebooknetnewz.listbot.com>.
Just Views (http://www.justviews.com)
Learn more about your favorite and upcoming authors with reviews, exclusive interviews, bios and new release lists. Just Views - where print books meet e-books!
The RunningRiver Reader™ (http://www.runningriver.com)
Besides the breaking news of the e-book world,
this free newsletter celebrates e-books, advises where to find them
and how to enjoy them. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to <RunningRiverReader-subscribe@egroups.com>
or visit our web site.
Scribes World Reviews (http://scribesworld.com/reviews/)
Fiction and non-fiction in all shapes and forms. Non-fiction, Childrens and Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery, and everything in between. Reviews are updated mid-month.
Sharpwriter.com (http://www.sharpwriter.com)
Provides a review service for both e-books and traditionally published books. Read the review then buy the book via the Amazon link.
BarnesandNoble.com (http://www.bn.com)
Largest seller of RocketEditions™. Also carries Glassbook Reader™ e-books and Microsoft Reader™ e-books in their E-Book section. CD-ROM and diskette e-books are available in the general book section.
Booklocker.com (http://www.booklocker.com)
Nonfiction and fiction e-books available by download, email attachment or on CD-ROM.
CyberRead (http://www.cyberread.com)
Offers customers an easy to use bookstore with instant download digital books, forums, e-book club, public domain classics, and links for information on e-book news and technology.
eBook Shoppe (http://www.ebookshoppe.com)
One-stop shopping place for downloadable electronic books. Customers browse at their convenience and receive the title within twenty-four hours of purchase. A disk version is also available for many titles.
Electronic Bookseller (http://www.electronicbookseller.com)
Hundreds of e-books in stock with more arriving daily. A user-friendly online catalog with search features, monthly specials, e-book reviews, exclusive author profiles, contests and more.
M-Pro Bookstore (http://www.m-pro.demon.co.uk/)
Fiction and nonfiction e-books.
Powells.com (http://www.powells.com)
"The largest new and used bookstore," carries a large
selection of RocketEditions.
Word Wrangler (http://www.wordwrangler.com)
Fiction and nonfiction e-books.
Note: Amazon.com will begin selling e-books in Microsoft Reader format late 2000.
eBook Clubs
eBooksonthe.net Book Club
(http://www.ebooksonthe.net/bookclub)
The eBook Club is designed to offer a
wide range of both entertaining and informative titles that are currently being
put forth by the e-book industry's most innovative publishers.
The new issue goes up on the 10th of each month. There is no cost to join and members save $1.00 off each title.
Inscriptions Electronic Book Club
(http://www.inscriptionsmagazine.com)
Each month, the Inscriptions editors choose one electronic book, and then discuss the plot, characters and writing style on our eBook club mailing list. Comments will be included in the eZine on a monthly basis. eBook suggestions are always welcome.
To subscribe, send a blank eMail to I-BookClub-subscribe@egroups.com or go to http://www.egroups.com/community/I-BookClub.
The $100,000 Frankfurt
eBook Awards
The International eBook Award Foundation (IeBAF) is sponsoring a total of six awards to be presented annually for several categories, including a Grand Prize of $100,000 for the best-published eBook. Recipients will be announced this year at the Frankfurt Book Fair (October, 2000). Finalists and winners will be posted at eBook Connections (http://www.ebookconnections.com).
IeBAF is sponsored by NuvoMedia, Softbook Press, Microsoft Corporation, Glassbook, Contentville, and other organizations dedicated to promoting excellence in, and advancement of, eBooks. More information is at <http://www.iebaf.org>.
The Eppies
Winners of the first annual Eppie Awards, given by Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC, http://www.eclectics.com/epic) to the best electronic books (e-books) in fifteen categories were announced in August, 2000. All e-books published prior to January 1, 2000 were eligible for the award.
A complete listing of the winners and finalists is at eBook Connections, <http://www.ebookconnections.com>.
The largest selections of e-books from e-publishers are at their web sites. You’ll find book summaries, excerpts, author information, secure shopping carts and speedy delivery. Many publishers also have free e-books available at their site.
Note: Glassbook, Microsoft Reader, RocketEditions™ and SoftBook™ editions are only available by download.
Alexandria Digital Literature (http://www.alexlit.com)
Alexandria Digital Literature offers two services to readers--personalized reading recommendations and downloadable fiction available for sale. They specialize in out-of-print science fiction (SF), fantasy, and horror in all lengths.
Avid Press, LLC (http://www.avidpress.com)
Avid Press publishes fresh fiction and nonfiction for avid readers, available in paperback or e-book. HTML, PDF or RTF e-books are delivered by download or on diskette.
Awe-Struck E-Books (http://www.awe-struck.net)
Offering romance and SF novels, including subgenres such as Native American, paranormal, western, suspense, historical, and the Ennoble Series (featuring heroes with disabilities). Available as HTML downloads, disks, RocketEdition, and PalmPilot™ editions.
Bookmice.com (http://www.bookmice.com)
Fiction and nonfiction for women and unique personalized and interactive children's books in PDF, HTML, RocketEditions or Palm Pilot formats. Delivered by email attachment or on CD-ROM.
Book-On-Disc (http://www.book-on-disc.com)
Offering all genres of fiction including mystery, intrigue, romance and children's. Available in HTML, RTF and PDF on CD-ROMs, diskettes or by email file attachment.
Books OnScreen (http://www.booksonscreen.com)
Books OnScreen™ Virtual Books bring you the combined creative efforts of the finest authors, illustrators, musicians, graphic artists, animators and more to offer you an enhanced reading experience.
Crossroads Publishing Company (http://www.crossroadspub.com)
Specializing in the unusual. Book catalog is arranged by expected audience age, not genre: Children, General Audience, Adult. Books are available in HTML by download or on CD-ROM.
Dark Star Publications (http://www.darkstarpublications.com)
Online publishers of speculative fiction. Titles are available in PDF by download or on CD-ROM, or in HTML by download.
Dead End Street Publishing (http://www.deadendstreet.com)
Fiction, nonfiction, children's books, comics and e-zines available in PDF, RTF, HTML, and RocketEdition as downloads or on diskettes, and in printed form.
DiskUs Publishing (http://www.diskuspublishing.com)
Offering every genre including children's multimedia and classics. Books are available in PDF, HTML, PRC (Palm Pilot), RocketEdition and SoftBook Reader™ formats on diskette or by download. Audio-book and print editions are available of some titles.
DLSIJ Press (http://www.dlsijpress.com)
Quality fiction and nonfiction by women authors. Available for download in PDF, RocketEdition, and a format for the sight-impaired.
Dreams Unlimited (http://www.dreams-unlimited.com)
Specializes in SF, fantasy, historical, western, new age and paranormal romances. Also carries a section for gay/lesbian romances and erotic romances that focus on quality. PDF format available as download or on diskette, other file formats available on request.
Eastgate Systems (http://www.eastgate.com)
Eastgate Systems creates new hypertext technologies and publishes serious hypertext fiction and nonfiction: serious interactive writing, nonlinear reading.
EBooksOnThe.Net (http://www.ebooksonthe.net)
Offering fiction and nonfiction in print and electronic formats. E-Books are available by download in PDF or HTML.
E-Pulp (http://www.e-pulp.com)
Mystery, science fiction and pop fiction offered by download in PDF format. Some titles available in RocketEdition.
The Fiction Works (http://www.fictionworks.com)
Fiction and nonfiction available by download or on diskette in HTML format. The Fiction Works also produces audio-books.
Gemini Books (http://www.gemini-books.com)
Offering fiction and nonfiction for all interest groups in HTML, PDF, PRC and RTF formats on CD-ROM, diskette, or by download. Some titles are also available as audio-books.
GLB Publications (http://www.glbpubs.com)
Publishing both printed and e-books by and for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. E-Books are available by download in PDF or TXT format.
Hard Shell Word Factory (http://www.hardshell.com)
Offering fiction and nonfiction for all interest groups in HTML, PDF, PRC, WinCE and RTF formats on diskette or by download. SoftBook Reader editions and RocketEditions also available.
iPublish at Time Warner Books (http://www.ipublish.com)
The electronic publishing division launched by Time Warner Trade Publishing. Features new works, original e-books and exclusive content by best-selling, celebrated and new authors. Available in Glassbook, Microsoft Reader, peanutpress, RocketEdition and SoftBook Reader Editions.
Lionhearted Publishing (http://www.lionhearted.com)
Publishing romance fiction in print and e-book. E-Books are available on diskette in PDF format.
LTDBooks (http://www.ltdbooks.com)
Publishing fresh fiction in PDF and HTML format, available on diskette or by download, also in RocketEdition.
MightyWords (http://www.mightywords.com)
E-books, white papers, novellas and manuals available as secure PDF documents.
MountainView Publishing (http://www.whidbey.com/mountainview/)
Offering Christian fiction in all genres, occasionally traditional romance or mysteries. Available in HTML on diskette or by download, also in RocketEdition.
New Concepts Publishing (http://www.newconceptspublishing.com)
Primarily romance but also other genres. Books are available in RTF, WORD and WPWIN by download or on diskette; also RocketEditions. Some titles available in HTML.
Orpheus Romance (http://www.orpheusromance.com)
Offering romance fiction in PDF by download or in RocketEdition format.
Peanut Press (http://www.peanutpress.com)
Offering e-books from a large variety of large and small publishers in Palm OS and Windows CE compatible format.
Pulsar Books (http://www.pulsarbooks.com)
Publishing adventure, horror, espionage and SF books in PDF and HTML formats. Available on CD-ROM or by download.
Starlight Writer Publications (http://www.starpublications.com)
Offering romance fiction in PDF and HTML by download or on CD-ROM.
Street Saint Publications (http://www.streetsaint.com)
Fiction, nonfiction, children's books, comics and e-zines available in PDF, RTF, HTML, and RocketEditions as downloads or on diskettes, and in printed form.
Wordbeams (http://www.wordbeams.com)
Fiction and nonfiction e-books for adults and children. Books are available on disks or by download in PDF and HTML formats.
Word Wrangler Publishing (http://www.wordwrangler.com)
Publishing fiction and nonfiction in HTML format. Delivered by email attachment or on diskette.
The Internet is a treasure chest full of free e-books,
mostly public domain literature. These books have been transcribed
from their original text and are presented in various file formats.
Check out these classic
literature sites:
Project Gutenberg™ (http://www.gutenberg.net/)
An effort to digitalize public domain books into a universal format known as E-text (.TXT files). E-text is designed to make the public domain books available in just about any software on any computer in the world.
eText Explorer™ (http://www.gutenbergstation.com/)
eText Explorer™ works in tandem with the Project Gutenberg™ FTP E-text sites all over the world and makes it easy to search for, retrieve and convert into e-book format any one of the thousands of books in the Project Gutenberg™ collection. The software incorporates Intellisplore™ Technology (patent pending), which enables eText Explorer to convert and enhance the E-text so that it imports cleanly into e-book reading devices. eText Explorer software can be downloaded from <http://www.gutenbergstation.com/>.
Hypertexts, from Virginia University (http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/hypertex.html)
Ongoing hypertext projects in classic literature from noted authors such as D.H. Lawrence, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry David Thoreau and Mark Twain.
ElectricBook (http://www.electricbook.com/books/index.html)
You can search the ElectricBook database of links to books online by an alphabetical listing of book titles.
Bookmice.com (http://www.bookmice.com)
Bookmice.com lists over 50 free e-book web sites.
AUSTRALIA
Plastizine (http://plastizine.com)
Zeus Publications (http://www.zeuspublications.com)
CANADA
LTDBooks (http://www.ltdbooks.com)
Orpheus Romance (http://www.orpheusromance.com)
France
Enssib (http://www.enssib.fr/bibliotheque/dossthem/ebkint.html)
Links to industry leaders, as well as to press stories and technical papers.
The Liberation (http://www.liberation.fr/ebook/)
The newspaper's extensive online tech coverage includes a section dedicated to e-books.
ZaZieWeb (http://www.zazieweb.com/)
The link "l'Annuaire des sites" on the first line of the home page takes you to archived links that include online publishers and e-books, as well as links to print publishing.
Germany
eBookNet.de (http://www.ebooknet.de)
E-Book Know-How: Hardware, Software, Content.
U.K.
Crowsnest Books (http://www.crowsnestbooks.com)
Dreams Unlimited (US also) (http://www.dreams-unlimited.com)
M-Pro Bookstore (http://www.m-pro.demon.co.uk/)
Online Originals (http://www.onlineoriginals.com)
In 1998 they became the first e-publisher to have an e-book nominated for the Booker Award, a top literary award in Great Britain.
Project Gutenberg (US also) (http://www.gutenberg.net/)
Virtual Volumes
(http://virtualvolumes.com)
.DOC files are read with Microsoft Word or WordPad.
HTML files are read with Internet Browser software, which is pre-installed on most computers and available as a free download. HTML files are compatible with the Rocket eBook™ reading device.
.LIT files are read with Microsoft Reader.
OeB is the Open eBook Standard format.
.PDF files are read with Adobe’s Acrobat Reader or the Glassbook Reader, both available as a free download.
.RTF is considered the "universal" file format because it works with any word processing program, PCs and Macs. You’ll need WordPad or a word processing software package to read .RTF files.
.TXT files are called "Plain" ASCII text. You need Windows or DOS to read them.
WinCE files are for portable computers. It is used with Windows CE-based PDAs and Palm PCs.
.WPD files are read with Corel’s Word Perfect™.
About eBook Connections, ePublishing Connections and eBC Press
eBook Connections™ and ePublishing Connections™ are dedicated to educating people about e-publishing and e-books. We are information and resource centers for readers, writers, publishers, booksellers, journalists, media, educators, librarians--anyone with an interest in books.
eBook Connections (eBC) opened in February, 1999 and focuses on readers and books. eBC maintains a directory of reader information and resources, including e-book review sites, discussion lists and newsletters. We compile the monthly E-Book Best Seller list from sales figures sent directly by the publishers and review e-books. We have two free newsletters: The RunningRiver Reader, and eBC's ePub Market Update for writers, about the e-publishing industry.
ePublishing Connections (ePC) opened in February, 2000. It focuses on the industry side and maintains a directory of writer and publisher information and resources. Our free ePublishing Connections newsletter will keep you updated on site additions and changes.
eBC Press opened its doors in February, 2000, publishing e-book and e-publishing information booklets for readers and writers.
Thank you for reading the Reader's E-Book Primer! We hope you'll visit our web site soon, <http://www.ebookconnections.com>.
Jamie Engle
eBook Connections
ePublishing Connections
eBC Press
PO Box 850296
Richardson, TX 75085-0296
Email: editor@ebookconnections.com
URL: http://www.ebookconnections.com
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