Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Issuu goes Android! iPhone coming soon!


Just got notice that Issuu, the online publication tool for pdf, has gone mobile! According to their release...
Introducing Issuu Mobile for Android phones. You can now access your favorite magazines, newspapers, catalogs and more everywhere you go. Enjoy the best mobile reading experience and share it with your friends. Choose from over 1 million free publications from Bauer Media, Penguin Books, Random House and more including the web's best indie publishers. Or publish your very own today!

Scratch for easy reading

With our groundbreaking EasyRead technology you can finally enjoy reading, yes reading, the text of magazines, newspapers, books and more on any small screen device.

It's social too

All the popular features of Issuu have gone mobile: get notified of the latest editions, subscribe to your favorite publishers, see what your friends are reading, keep up with your groups, synchronize with My Library, and much much more.

Without even lifting a finger, the books and 'zines published by L'Stok Press will now be available as true eBooks that you can read on the go! Issuu is also promising that they will soon be available on the iPhone, and by extension the iTouch.

This is going to make the dividing line between eBook reader and the new large, clear screen phones much more fuzzy! Competition? I don't think so. It will boil down to how much reading you intend doing on the device - the ePaper screens of the dedicated readers win hands down for clarity and legibility. However for convenience, the ability to snatch a few pages of the book you are reading on one of the new smartphones between phone calls, music and emails, would be magic!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Simon & Schuster get Scribd?

I don't know how long they've been there, but I noticed today that Simon & Schuster, the publishers of licensed Star Trek fiction, are publishing teaser copies of their works on Scribd. Have a look at the latest in their Star Trek: Enterprise line ...



Just out of curiosity, what exactly is the title? Most of the advance publicity says this is "Star Trek: Enterprise: The Romulan War", so what is, "Beneath The Raptor's Wing"? Is it just me or does it sound like the first of a new series? Surely they're not going to fit the whole of the Romulan War in one volume?

And, not wanting to be critical but... two colons in the same sentence?

All niggles aside, I will be buying this since I believe Enterprise has a lot of story potential and not just because of curiosity as to how they will unfold the Romulan War to us. My only caveat is what media to get it in. I recently lost my beloved iPaq >sniff< and I mostly miss its scheduling and eBook functions. I have a eeePC - called "Mini Me" - that is very handy but the Linux installation that it came with has no serious eBook reader (and the media player sucks too!). I'm trying to teach myself the arcane rituals of downloading and installing software in Linux to put one on there. (^V^)

I could get it from Scribd as a pdf download but pdf looses a lot of the eBook functionality, keeping your page, dictionary and note-taking for example. I haven't read an eBook in a while, can I get this in MobiPocket? Does MobiPocket still exist now that it has been bought by Amazon and they are pushing the Kindle?

I'll get back to you shortly.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Star Trek: Heritage - A Break With Tradition

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Star Trek: Heritage - A Break With Tradition
By T.L.Shull
Created by our friends at

ShadowKnight Productions


In 2413 the United Federation of Planets and its allies are once again at war. Exploration is on the backburner as Starfleet concentrates on defending the Federation's heart from a blood-thirsty and violent species from the Gamma Quadrant as well as a growing threat from a well-organized militia trying to disrupt a Romulan-Reman accord.

Now odd occurrences at its back door begin to cause the UFP alarm, right on the eve of the budding peace initiative in the region. Something or someone is murdering supply-ship commanders near the remote and normally calm edges of the Romulan Neutral Zone. The only eye-witness accounts describe the attackers as being ghosts.

Fresh off her fiery stint as the captain of a small Starfleet defense ship, the newly ordained commanding officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise-G, along with a tenacious band of defense ship commanders, are burdened with a task that will either bring peace to the region or will let the enemy run unabated through the galaxy, destroying everything the UFP holds dear...

...and really, what would that do to the family name?


~~~<>~~~

T.L. Shull resides in The Land of Enchantment, in the hub of the American Southwest. When not working in the blindingly exciting world of insurance, she spends most of her free time frolicking in the realms of Star Trek. She is currently working on the remainder of the Heritage series and is also the author of the "pre-Nemesis" tale entitled Star Trek: The Next Generation - Retribution as well as other short stories and works that revolve around Next Gen and Enterprise. Her work can be found at the TrekUnited forums, The Omega Sector BBS or on your hard drive at your request. She can be reached at terilynn@dragonox.com.

A Break With Tradition is a ShadowKnight Production by Steff Watson and the author would like to thank her for her personal support, advise and production skills, without which this book would not have reached it's full potential.

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TO BROWSE THE BOOK:
Click on the book cover above to go to the 12 Days Book Page where you can flick through the pages on the mini-viewer (Choose full screen for easy viewing).

TO DOWNLOAD IN ADOBE ACROBAT FORMAT:
Click on the Issuu site and choose 'Download' to read a copy offline using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Membership to Issuu needed for download.

Star Trek: Dominion

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Star Trek: Dominion
By Charlotte Kebbell
A TrekUnited Fan Press production


Krang gestured towards the rear of the ship. "The enemy is that way. I'm going after them." He paused, "Are you with me?"

Kargan stared at the captain for a moment, then seeing the enquiring look the helm officer was giving him, he confirmed the captain's order. "Turn the ship around. Today we go hunting!"

Krang returned to the captain's chair and sat down. "Send a message to the Endeavour" he said, "Tell them what we are doing and order them to return to Federation space." The message sent, the bird-of-prey began to turn around, its crew ready and eager to hunt Jem'Hadar.

Moments later a return message came from the captain of the Endeavour. "nIteb Qob qwaD jup 'e' chaw'be' SuvwI - A warrior does not let a friend face danger alone!" As Krang read out the message, the bridge erupted in cheers and the two ships, Endeavour and Hegh'Ta, flew side by side, back into Dominion controlled space.


~~~<>~~~

New alliances are formed as old enemies fight side by side against an enemy that threatens both the the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets ... from inside as well as outside. Will love and honour triumph over treachery and deceit?

Charlotte Kebbell is a mainstay of The Federation / Klingon Rapid Response Fleet, a large and active Role Play Gaming forum and fan fiction community.

This edition of Star Trek: Dominion is a production of TrekUnited Fan Press

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TO BROWSE THE BOOK:
Click on the Issuu viewer above and flick through the pages (Choose full screen for easy viewing).

TO DOWNLOAD IN ADOBE ACROBAT FORMAT:
Click on the Issuu site and choose 'Download' to read a copy offline using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Membership to Issuu needed for download.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Star Trek: Aldrin - The Enemy Within

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Star Trek: Aldrin - The Enemy Within
Written & edited by Derek Kessler


After several years of war with the allied powers of the Alpha Quadrant, in 2375 the Dominion was defeated and surrendered unconditionally. Not all in the Dominion were on board with the surrender and soon after their retreat to the Gamma Quadrant, the Dominion isolated itself. But before they retreated, they left something behind.

Five years later, the Federation launches its newest Starfleet ship, the advanced U.S.S. Aldrin, equipped with the latest futuristic weapons and defense systems. The ship is sent to explore the Gamma Quadrant, but before they can even leave Earth, the Dominion's plot is set into motion and threatens to reignite the war with devastating consequences.


~~~<>~~~

Derek Kessler lives in Cincinnati, Ohio where he is studying engineering and serving in the Ohio Army National Guard. He is also the forum administrator and news editor of the Star Trek news and community website Trek United. In addition to The Enemy Within, Derek has written two other Star Trek: Aldrin novels: Diplomatic Protocol and Shadows in the Darkness, and is currently working on book four: The Other Shoe. All three works can be found on the Trek United forums.

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TO BROWSE THE BOOK:
Click on the book cover above to go to the 12 Days Book Page where you can flick through the pages on the mini-viewer (Choose full screen for easy viewing).

TO DOWNLOAD IN ADOBE ACROBAT FORMAT:
Click on the Issuu site and choose 'Download' to read a copy offline using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Membership to Issuu needed for download.

A Leap of Faith

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A Leap of Faith
By House Abukoff
A TrekUnited Fan Press production


These are three episodes from a new Star Trek: Enterprise, Virtual Season 5 ...

...Continuing from the tragic ending of the fourth season episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, "Terra Prime", two babies of mixed Vulcan and human parentage face a deadly threat. The lives of two families are linked across the centuries in a race that will decide the fate of the Romulan Empire!

...A rescue mission to repair a colony's biodome is made more complicated by the "help" of the trickster from the Q Continuum. Starring Porthos!

...Of all the starships named Enterprise one has been shrouded in mystery. Of all the captains of the Enterprise one has stood out above all. Before the NCC-1701 was built there was another Enterprise - and another Kirk!


~~~<>~~~

These are the first three episodes in a planned Virtual Season 5 for Star Trek: Enterprise, continuing the adventures without the restrictions of networks, ratings and production costs. A group project, headed up by Kapact of House Abukoff, you can read more about it at their website.

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TO BROWSE THE BOOK:
Click on the book cover above to go to the 12 Days Book Page where you can flick through the pages on the mini-viewer (Choose full screen for easy viewing).

TO DOWNLOAD IN ADOBE ACROBAT FORMAT:
Click on the Issuu site and choose 'Download' to read a copy offline using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Membership to Issuu needed for download.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Embers Of The Fire

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Embers Of The Fire
By Sam Redfeather
Created by our friends at

ShadowKnight Productions


The Constitution-class starship Gibraltar was mothballed by Starfleet in the late 23rd century, and has now been resurrected in the first months following the devastating Dominion War. Though upgraded significantly, the vessel is still ninety years old and easily outmatched by most modern ships. This once proud heavy cruiser has now been relegated to escort duties, helping to safeguard relief convoys to the shattered worlds of the Cardassian Union that now languish under Federation and Klingon stewardship.

Command of the Gibraltar has been given to a reluctant and inexperienced new captain who finds his crew comprised mostly of the castoffs from the rest of the Fleet. Though they are not the best and the brightest ever assembled, they will have to learn to function as a team in the dangerous and uncertain times ahead as the Federation and their allies attempt to pick up the shards of the past and forge a new future for the quadrant.

On their first mission, the crew quickly discovers not everyone shares the Federation's vision for Cardassia's future. Gibraltar becomes embroiled in a fight-or-flight engagement over a beleaguered Cardassian colony, where Starfleet's allies may prove as dangerous as the insurgents struggling to expel the Federation presence from their territory.


~~~<>~~~

Embers of the Fire is the first volume of Sam Redfeather's Star Trek: Gibralter series, which currently has over a half-dozen works ranging from full-length novels to vignettes. His homebase is United Trek, a website and forum of ten authors writing in twelve series that share the same continuity and represents an amazingly broad and rich body of work. He is also active on the TrekBBS and HopeStation.net.

Sam welcomes feedack on his home forum at United Trek. He owns and uses a Sony PRS-505 eBook reader.

This edition of Embers of the Fire is a ShadowKnight Production.

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"A gut-wrenching, socially relevant tale that is a wonderful introduction to the Star Trek Gibraltar series and the United Trek universe."
DarKush, creator of the Dark Territory series

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TO BROWSE THE BOOK:
Click on the book cover above to go to the 12 Days Book Page where you can flick through the pages on the mini-viewer (Choose full screen for easy viewing).

TO DOWNLOAD IN ADOBE ACROBAT FORMAT:
Click on the Issuu site and choose 'Download' to read a copy offline using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Membership to Issuu needed for download.

Arc Of The Wolf - On The Nature Of Wind

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Arc Of The Wolf - On The Nature Of Wind

By S.L.Watson

Created by our friends at

ShadowKnight Productions


The miracle worker. His name rings true throughout Federation history. When a problem arose his captain would call engineering and he would answer ever dilligently, "Aye." His name was Scotty. A more down to Earth, gutsy and all round honest engineer could never be found. He is the standard for all Starfleet engineers. He helped develop countless new technologies and served aboard the most famous starship of all.

Yet Scotty is a mystery to most. His origins are unknown as is his life before the Enterprise. Before that he was Montomery Scott, a quiet young man in a loud world. He had few friends and felt no personal connection to anyone. He was smart but alone. That's when he found his polar opposite and began a journey that would shape his life forever. A journey that would test his mind, body and soul. A journey that would endager his life.

A journey that would make him the miracle worker.

You can never predict which way the wind will blow.


Stephanie Watson (mostly known as Steff) primarily posts her fanfiction to her LiveJournal, but has been known to also hang around the Omega Sector BBS, Trek United and the TrekBBS. She primarily writes fanfiction for the Original Series, as well as occasionally tries her hand at fanart. She is an unabashed Scotty fan, and it probably shows. You can find her at http://slwatson.livejournal.com, or you can look for her penname SLWatson just about anywhere you go.

On the Nature of Wind is a ShadowKnight Production, SL Watson's personal imprint.

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"A heartwarming and rollicking adventure across classrooms and the high seas. If you download one Star Trek fanfic, make it this one!"

R.Shelkey, Davisville Village Media Review-O-Rama.

~~~<>~~~



TO BROWSE THE BOOK:
Click on the book cover above to go to the 12 Days Book Page where you can flick through the pages on the mini-viewer (Choose full screen for easy viewing).

TO DOWNLOAD IN ADOBE ACROBAT FORMAT:
Click on the Issuu site and choose 'Download' to read a copy offline using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Membership to Issuu needed for download.