INTERACTION

Many of you have missed the e book versions of our magazines and let's admit our attempts to resolve the matter have been less than speedy. I don't have good news for you yet but we have made some progress and now your feedback is welcome.

Andy established TTA's presence on the Smashwords e book-publishing site and I have uploaded some material. Aside from the obsolete story I used to teach myself how to prepare, format and upload files onto the site, there's also the TTA Press Template, a protomagazine I used to check my expertise. This seemed successful so up went Interzone 230 and, later, a version without interior illustrations: Interzone 230 w/o graphics.

That first file is free and the two versions of IZ 230 are set up to allow a free sample download of 90% of the magazines. The IZ 230s aren't fully free as that may cause legal complications with F'wise. Anyone can download 90% of eIZ 230 for free. Ignore the Template.

At first Smashwords seemed slow on the upload, and re-upload (I had to correct errors before re uploading) as each attempt took a few days. After that they were available, from Smashwords only, for around two weeks while their systems converted the files to suit other ebook sites such as iTunes. Once converted it took a further 2 to 4 weeks before they began to appear on the other sites. As yet they don't appear on Amazon but Kindle versions are available from Smashwords. Initial uploading is faster now as queues have diminished.

Andy will have to set up a separate account at Amazon for our magazines to appear on the 'official' Kindle site.
If you don't have an e reader but would like to have a look you can download a Kindle and/or an Epub emulator from these links. Adobe Digital Editions
Kindle for PC (Mobi) There are other emulator links on the Smashwords FAQ.

I've asked a few people to look at our efforts and had some feedback but we would like more before uploading further issues. One comment from George Berger was that he couldn't download from iTunes as the screen flashed up copyright restrictions. George lives in Sweden, which might explain that. He can get the files direct from Smashwords though.
We'd be interested to know if others find similar problems.

One IZ 230 file has colour images the other no graphics. Does that matter or is there a preference for no images to reduce file size or phone bills? Obviously the images will not show colour on Kindles, yet, but they should on iPads or iPhones. Alternately we can always put the art for each issue on the TTA website.

The Epub emulator shows page numbers (which aren't in the files afaik) in odd places but does that continue on devices like the iPod or Nook?

The Interzone 230 w/o Graphics ebook lacks its own ISBN and is on fewer sites than its illustrated twin.
TTA on Smashwords here
TTA on Barnes and Noble here
IZ 230 on itunes
Keyword searches on the iTunes site did not find 'Interzone' and 'TTA Press'.
On Diesel or search for 'TTA Press' on the site.

The initial test file also ended up on iTunes but don't expect a classic.

Thanks to multiple Interzone contributor Keith Brooke of Infinity+ for his advice with setting this up.
Sorry this is so long.

Good news that there is some progress on e-versions of TTA titles. I have put the smashworld sample epub versions of interzone with and without graphics on to my sony reader (a prs-300). There are no page number issues, but when I bring up the 'table of contents' there are only 3 or 4 items listed. The only graphics I could find was one picture, which looked fine on my monochrome screen.

I would not mind the absence of graphics, though that would doubtless change if I ever upgrade to an ipad.

Recently Amazon promoted a free sample version of F&SF magazine, which got me interested. I do not have a kindle but have the emulator on my pc and have bought and read a few amazon ebooks on it. However, the F&SF sample is not available for the pc version of kindle. No specific reason has been given for this, it can't be technical (since the pc display is better than a kindle's). Things are not transparent on the kindle site.

ajohn
Leeds

Thanks aJohn, there seems to be a limit on how much free sample is allowed.
I've made them free now, not sure how long I'll be allowed to do that for but please try again and see what you think.

I should say that the sample files I have downloaded are as advertised in terms of being a significant portion of interzone 230. However, something about their structure means that the 'table of contents' feature on my sony reader only shows 3 items, even though more than that are actually present.

ajohn
Leeds

I've just downloaded the Smashwords epub version of IZ 230 onto the emulator aJohn and the TOC works both the links in the text and the auto links to the left set up by Epub.

I have no Sony reader to check it on. Epub is supposed to be system though. Have you tried downloading it from one of the other sites? assuming my making them free is reflected in these now.

Looks fine in mobipocket reader, I'll try it via kindle next time I use it.

Actually has the movie etc. stuff too!

_________________
Not Free SF Reader - Not Free SF Fiction Ratings
Free SF Reader - Free SF Fiction Ratings

I have now looked at the interzone epub files on my pc using adobe digital additions. The contents are listed near the beginning of each file, with each item shown as a link, in underlined blue script, but only the first 3 items are 'live', in that clicking on them takes you to the item. It is these that the sony reader picks up for its table of contents feature.

ajohn
leeds

Thanks aJohn and Blue T
I've just downloaded both versions onto the PC using adobe digital editions, ADE, and every link works and all the links are there.
One problem is that there are little numbers on the right of each page at the end of a text line. Not all at the same point. Afaik these are page numbers but I deliberately removed these from the original files and they don't appear on Kindle PC emulator.
Another problem is I can't force page breaks with ADE so titles appear at the end of the prior story/article but the first sentence may appear on the next page. I can force breaks on on Kindle PC emulator.

Over 300 downloads of the illustrated version of Iz 230 and 100 plus of the plain vanilla version so the latter has just overtaken downloads of my test sample story.

The link to the free issue etc for those of you who don't want read upthread.

No votes yet.

My apologies if anyone used the non Smashwords sources and found they were charged. I'm afraid my switch to free on Smashwords takes a few days to percolate to other sites.