Hey! Baen’s Updated Its Web Site!
Posted on December 15, 2010 Posted by John Scalzi 14 Comments
And it’s celebrating its new look by offering you a free story: “Space Hero” by Patrick Lundrigan, which by its very title alone you can tell is going to be perfectly Baen-tastic. Check out the new look and enjoy the free fiction, right there on the front page of the site.
According to postings in the Bar they’re going to be rolling out a lot of neat stuff. Free fiction every month, free nonfiction article every month starting next month. Discussion guides for YA-appropriate SF novels for teachers. Proof that not all change is bad.
Would it be entirely too cliché to say that one of the best just got better? It would? OK, then I won’t say that.
The site redesign looks great, and I like the new stuff they’re going to roll out. Thanks for the notice!
I love Baen’s work for the most part, but … argh. Flash on the main page? Bah. Humbug.
probably off topic, but can someone point to a series or a book similiar to mark l van names jon & lobo series?
Josh@3, there is a non-flash version of the page, but I don’t know how to bring it up other than by running a browser without flash support . But you can see it by using an iphone to hit it (or in my case ipod touch).
One of the things I enjoy the most about using an ebook reader is that I can happily read a Baen book without the exquisite embarrassment of displaying a Baen cover to all and sundry. I really wish they’d adopt a more mature house style.
John@6, eh, changing the cover style would have huge risks. Right now, Baen has an editorial ‘style’ that appeals to a certain percentage of the population, and those folks can instantly identify those books. Including probably a fair number who never actually noticed who the publisher was.
That would be like having a new urban fantasy/romance novel where there wasn’t a picture of the female protagonist on the cover, with a weapon, and (usually) a tramp stamp. It just isn’t done, and for more or less good reasons.
It is going to be interesting in a few years though, to see what new methods of finding books come up, because honestly almost all of the current ones for ebooks stink.
Great, so when are they going to re-activate the link so I can purchase an e-book of Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded?
Never, because the eBook rights for it are owned by Tor now. They keep it there so the people who purchased it when it was available can download it again if they need to. There are eBook editions for the Kindle and the Nook, however (and I would imagine in the iBookStore too, although I haven’t checked).
New Miles novel!
…must Christmas shop…
BUT NEW MILES NOVEL!!
I wonder if the child will blame me or Santa if that shows up in her stocking.
@KD Sarge
Nonono, you keep the book and tell the girl that Cetagandan agents stole her presents. It’s by far the most practical solution!
I ditto Josh’s “Arg” re Flash on the main page.
As far as I’m concerned, Flash is like a blink tag, only shinier.
Also, you kids get off my lawn.
I’ve already got Cryoburn! I’m rereading Civil Campaign and Diplomatic Immunity (already reread Memory) before I open it!
John — Also got 2 of your books in the same Amazon box. They’re on the docket right after Cryoburn.
It’s going to be a space opera Christmas!
Vorishly yours,
TK Vorkenyon
John@6 – Some of their covers have changes. The cover for Sharon Lee’s contemporary fantasy (it’s not urban if it is set in Maine) Carousel Tides is very much not in Baen’s typical style.
Said cover is visible here : http://baen.com/author_catalog.asp?author=slee
So the cover style may depend on the novel content (a different look for “urban fantasy”)?
I do like the site redesign. No longer straight out of the 90’s!