AI companies are buying up books and then shredding them. This could be the biggest ever destruction of a key component of the developed world, going on right underneath us. How is this even allowed to happen?
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
July 29, 2026
September 01, 2020
Bonus Free Kindle Reads
Two more of my books are now available as free Kindle reads over the next couple of days.
Dana Point https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FP5DLJ1
And for those interested in everything New Zealand:
Snob's Guide to New Zealand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9XRCWK
Dana Point https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FP5DLJ1
And for those interested in everything New Zealand:
Snob's Guide to New Zealand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9XRCWK
August 08, 2018
New Zealand Guide Book
I've started writing my guide book for people considering moving to live in New Zealand. It is not intended to be a detailed resource with all the forms to fill in and wotnot, but a guide to how the locals think and how to negotiate your way through NZ society.
I am the main author, and I have one other contributor to side bars with the book. If anyone else wants to submit material then I'm happy to discuss your inclusion and the type of material being sought. You'll get credit for the work but no payment.
You must have intimate knowledge of NZ to qualify, hold strong opinions and be able to write about them. I'd prefer it if the material is funny. I'm looking for humorous and thoughtful rants. There is probably only room for another two contributors at most so be in early. The work will published before the end of the year.
Contact me from the contact form on this site.
I am the main author, and I have one other contributor to side bars with the book. If anyone else wants to submit material then I'm happy to discuss your inclusion and the type of material being sought. You'll get credit for the work but no payment.
You must have intimate knowledge of NZ to qualify, hold strong opinions and be able to write about them. I'd prefer it if the material is funny. I'm looking for humorous and thoughtful rants. There is probably only room for another two contributors at most so be in early. The work will published before the end of the year.
Contact me from the contact form on this site.
July 19, 2018
Dana Point - The Latest Novel from Ken Horlor
My third novel has now been released. It's a science fiction story, and the first in a series. What we learn is we are not alone in the Universe and that there has been regular contact with aliens. Revealed is the origins of civilization on Earth and some of the science enabling long distance space travel.
It's also a personal story: On the run from the authorities, Augustus flees his place of refuge as it is about to be destroyed. Now in need of fuel, he heads to Earth with his only son. Augustus expects to find the Roman Empire when he gets there, only to discover it's now 2016 and the Romans aren't around anymore.
To buy a paperback copy please follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1723249610
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FP5DLJ1/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Dana Point cover:
It's also a personal story: On the run from the authorities, Augustus flees his place of refuge as it is about to be destroyed. Now in need of fuel, he heads to Earth with his only son. Augustus expects to find the Roman Empire when he gets there, only to discover it's now 2016 and the Romans aren't around anymore.
To buy a paperback copy please follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1723249610
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FP5DLJ1/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Dana Point cover:
February 07, 2017
Buying a book through Amazon
I gave this a go and I won't be going through the exercise again unless the title is completely unavailable locally, either new or secondhand, and I'd have to really want it as well.
I bought a book from SuperBookSellers-- Turns out they're untrustworthy. What happened is I bought a book but realised I didn't need it and cancelled within the hour of placing an order. I followed up a few hours after that. NO response from SuperBookSellers--
Then I got confirmation the order was being processed. Days later they replied to my two cancellation requests by saying the order had been processed already so they could do nothing. The arrival time for this book shows as April 6, and it was shipped February 3. The very same book is sitting in bookshops all over town.
I don't believe a word of it. SuperBookSellers-- just don't want to cancel anything and are forcing through the order. They don't even have the damn book, they must be procuring it, hence the long lead time, meanwhile real retailers have the book in stock.
Will anything actually show up? That's the next question. It would be pointless returning the goods as you can see what they're like, they can't be trusted. So I'll sell the book on Trade Me in New Zealand or something instead, for whatever I can get for it. That is, if it actually shows up.
Warning: SuperBookSellers-- are not to be recommended, they're sharp, don't say you weren't warned.
[Edit to add: the book showed up. I still won't be dealing with them.]
I bought a book from SuperBookSellers-- Turns out they're untrustworthy. What happened is I bought a book but realised I didn't need it and cancelled within the hour of placing an order. I followed up a few hours after that. NO response from SuperBookSellers--
Then I got confirmation the order was being processed. Days later they replied to my two cancellation requests by saying the order had been processed already so they could do nothing. The arrival time for this book shows as April 6, and it was shipped February 3. The very same book is sitting in bookshops all over town.
I don't believe a word of it. SuperBookSellers-- just don't want to cancel anything and are forcing through the order. They don't even have the damn book, they must be procuring it, hence the long lead time, meanwhile real retailers have the book in stock.
Will anything actually show up? That's the next question. It would be pointless returning the goods as you can see what they're like, they can't be trusted. So I'll sell the book on Trade Me in New Zealand or something instead, for whatever I can get for it. That is, if it actually shows up.
Warning: SuperBookSellers-- are not to be recommended, they're sharp, don't say you weren't warned.
[Edit to add: the book showed up. I still won't be dealing with them.]
January 03, 2016
Great Books Never Mentioned
Found this page >>Click Here<< which lists great books you never hear about. From the list I've read two of them and flicked through a third, so I'm going to trust the list and say they're all good.
A fantastic read is The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker by David Boyer. I found it in a secondhand bookshop and bought it for a few cents. What a bargain. It's right up there with the best.
Cassell's Dictionary of Slang is the other one I've read and it's good too.
The Black Book by Lawrence Durell, I now regret simply skimming through this while visiting a friend. He's dead now so I won't be able to go around to his place to borrow it. Look out for this one.
One book missing from the list but worth a mention is The Red House by Else Jerusalem. It was published in Vienna about 1907/08 and translated into English in the 1930's. Good luck finding a copy, but it too needs to be credited.
A fantastic read is The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker by David Boyer. I found it in a secondhand bookshop and bought it for a few cents. What a bargain. It's right up there with the best.
Cassell's Dictionary of Slang is the other one I've read and it's good too.
The Black Book by Lawrence Durell, I now regret simply skimming through this while visiting a friend. He's dead now so I won't be able to go around to his place to borrow it. Look out for this one.
One book missing from the list but worth a mention is The Red House by Else Jerusalem. It was published in Vienna about 1907/08 and translated into English in the 1930's. Good luck finding a copy, but it too needs to be credited.