Comments on: Half Share http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/ News from the Staff of Podiobooks.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:41:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: PaulH http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-334688 PaulH Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:20:25 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-334688 I came across Quarter Share through an Amazon recommendation and read it in one day. Then I read the back and realized the existence of the audiobooks and just listened to almost the whole of Half Share. I enjoy good fiction and especially good science fiction and just wanted to say how captivating I found the characters and situation - great fun and very enjoyable. Thanks very much for doing the audiobooks - I will be buying all the books. I came across Quarter Share through an Amazon recommendation and read it in one day. Then I read the back and realized the existence of the audiobooks and just listened to almost the whole of Half Share. I enjoy good fiction and especially good science fiction and just wanted to say how captivating I found the characters and situation – great fun and very enjoyable. Thanks very much for doing the audiobooks – I will be buying all the books.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-328004 Nathan Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:40:25 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-328004 @Ethan - I actually wrote the books to be released as podiobooks. That's why I created them. I wanted to see if there was an audience for this kind of story. Turns out there is. In 2008 and 2009 I shopped the first books around a bit and found no interest from mainstream publishing. As I was getting ready to put the books out on my own, Ridan Publishing found me and convinced me to work with them to produce the books in text formats. I've been very happy with that decision. @Ethan – I actually wrote the books to be released as podiobooks. That’s why I created them. I wanted to see if there was an audience for this kind of story. Turns out there is. In 2008 and 2009 I shopped the first books around a bit and found no interest from mainstream publishing. As I was getting ready to put the books out on my own, Ridan Publishing found me and convinced me to work with them to produce the books in text formats. I’ve been very happy with that decision.

]]> By: Ethan ridger http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-328001 Ethan ridger Fri, 22 Apr 2011 04:31:09 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-328001 @Evo - Oh yeah, I know that. But I what I meant was that I wonder why Nathan chose to put up the books under Creative Commons at all. And if by 'we' you're implying that you're a member of the Podiobooks team, then thank you all (or just you, if there's only one person behind it all!) for your awesome work! @Evo – Oh yeah, I know that. But I what I meant was that I wonder why Nathan chose to put up the books under Creative Commons at all.

And if by ‘we’ you’re implying that you’re a member of the Podiobooks team, then thank you all (or just you, if there’s only one person behind it all!) for your awesome work!

]]> By: Evo http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-327987 Evo Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:55:53 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-327987 @Ethan - All 500+ of the books on our site are made available as serialized free audio books under Creative Commons license. That's what we do. :) @Ethan – All 500+ of the books on our site are made available as serialized free audio books under Creative Commons license. That’s what we do. :)

]]> By: Ethan ridger http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-327981 Ethan ridger Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:40:40 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-327981 I've just finished the first book and half of book 2 in one night already. Your writing style is enthralling, to say the least. I'd put it on par with (the good bits of) The Mote in God's Eye, I think. The fact that you've put the audiobook up for free - under Creative Commons, even! - is quite gracious, for lack of a better word. I'd like to know why you've decided to do that, if you don't mind and haven't said why before. If you have, I'm sure I can dig around and look for the information. Anyways, your work is amazing, and you're able to do what I think other artists find so hard: write a compelling story /without/ a lot of action. Most sci-fi stories I've read anyways end up falling back to that old standard. But you give just the right amount of detail that the story is both expansive and interesting without needing firefights, explosions, etc,. I think you might have even given me enough inspiration to try again to work through my year-long writer's block. I’ve just finished the first book and half of book 2 in one night already. Your writing style is enthralling, to say the least. I’d put it on par with (the good bits of) The Mote in God’s Eye, I think. The fact that you’ve put the audiobook up for free – under Creative Commons, even! – is quite gracious, for lack of a better word. I’d like to know why you’ve decided to do that, if you don’t mind and haven’t said why before. If you have, I’m sure I can dig around and look for the information.

Anyways, your work is amazing, and you’re able to do what I think other artists find so hard: write a compelling story /without/ a lot of action. Most sci-fi stories I’ve read anyways end up falling back to that old standard. But you give just the right amount of detail that the story is both expansive and interesting without needing firefights, explosions, etc,. I think you might have even given me enough inspiration to try again to work through my year-long writer’s block.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-327627 Nathan Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:24:39 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-327627 Thanks, Mat. All contributions are gratefully accepted. If we're ever in the same town, look me up and I'll buy ya lunch. :D Thanks, Mat.

All contributions are gratefully accepted. If we’re ever in the same town, look me up and I’ll buy ya lunch. :D

]]> By: MatWeller http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-327622 MatWeller Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:43:42 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-327622 I'm sending $5 for this book instead or $10 like last time. I want you to know that it has nothing to do with my enjoyment, it's purely due to my poverty. I haven't been able to pay for many podiobooks before now, but going forward I've decided to make it my policy to give $1 per star as my way of voting support. That way you get something, my conscience is satisfied, and I can have a soda with my lunch. That aside, this book would not quite stand alone despite the author's attempts at covering old information, but I don't think that's all bad. The main reason is that the first book makes you love Ishmael, this one lets you explore him more deeply. As before, the reading is perfectly suited to the novel, the writing is high-quality and engaging, and the community of podiobook authors can be proud that Lowell helps to elevate them all. I'm looking forward to more! I’m sending $5 for this book instead or $10 like last time. I want you to know that it has nothing to do with my enjoyment, it’s purely due to my poverty. I haven’t been able to pay for many podiobooks before now, but going forward I’ve decided to make it my policy to give $1 per star as my way of voting support. That way you get something, my conscience is satisfied, and I can have a soda with my lunch.

That aside, this book would not quite stand alone despite the author’s attempts at covering old information, but I don’t think that’s all bad. The main reason is that the first book makes you love Ishmael, this one lets you explore him more deeply.

As before, the reading is perfectly suited to the novel, the writing is high-quality and engaging, and the community of podiobook authors can be proud that Lowell helps to elevate them all.

I’m looking forward to more!

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-326534 Nathan Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:56:35 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-326534 Joe, you're gonna be happier jumping up to Double Share. You're bringing too much expectation to the story, if you're looking for "rising action." No. It doesn't pick up. Remember it's a first person narrative and you're being told the story of a kid. The real story isn't what he says as much as what he doesn't say. Whether it succeeds or not is up to the listener but if you're not liking it, please, don't continue. This is a tough story for a lot of people to listen to. There's a reason it's the lowest rated one. Joe, you’re gonna be happier jumping up to Double Share. You’re bringing too much expectation to the story, if you’re looking for “rising action.” No. It doesn’t pick up.

Remember it’s a first person narrative and you’re being told the story of a kid. The real story isn’t what he says as much as what he doesn’t say. Whether it succeeds or not is up to the listener but if you’re not liking it, please, don’t continue.

This is a tough story for a lot of people to listen to. There’s a reason it’s the lowest rated one.

]]> By: Joe http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-326528 Joe Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:11:36 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-326528 I've tried multiple times to get into this series. It is so popular and so many people obviously love it. I generally like all of the popular titles on Podiobooks. For whatever reason I can't get into it. It just feels like I'm reading the "Leave it to Beaver" version of the events. The scenes and stories take me back to my Navy days of being underway, but I just find the characters and actions to be so unrealistic. People just don't act like this. I keep waiting for rising action...that never comes. I'm halfway through HalfShare and ready to give up. I actually use the book to help me fall asleep when my mind is racing. Does it start to pick up .... ever? Not bashing the author, book, or fans. The audio quality is great. Obviously this is a minority opinion. I’ve tried multiple times to get into this series. It is so popular and so many people obviously love it. I generally like all of the popular titles on Podiobooks.

For whatever reason I can’t get into it. It just feels like I’m reading the “Leave it to Beaver” version of the events. The scenes and stories take me back to my Navy days of being underway, but I just find the characters and actions to be so unrealistic. People just don’t act like this.

I keep waiting for rising action…that never comes.

I’m halfway through HalfShare and ready to give up. I actually use the book to help me fall asleep when my mind is racing. Does it start to pick up …. ever?

Not bashing the author, book, or fans. The audio quality is great. Obviously this is a minority opinion.

]]> By: Ben http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-321922 Ben Sat, 16 Oct 2010 17:07:54 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-321922 Love your work Nathan. Just finished reading QS and, in a bit of a depression over having to wait for the rest to be published, I found I could listen to them on here. Absolutely made my day. They'll not stop me from adding your books to my collection as they are released though! Nothing against your reading - it's great! - but nothing beats a wicked story artfully laid out amongst the pages of a book. Love your work Nathan. Just finished reading QS and, in a bit of a depression over having to wait for the rest to be published, I found I could listen to them on here. Absolutely made my day. They’ll not stop me from adding your books to my collection as they are released though! Nothing against your reading – it’s great! – but nothing beats a wicked story artfully laid out amongst the pages of a book.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-321395 Nathan Sat, 02 Oct 2010 03:53:39 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-321395 Funny! I have the Ashley myself. I've spent whole days engrossed in that sucker! I hope there are a lot of new listeners, but with the files on alt.binaries, I won't see them ... so, with any luck they'll come visit here or at SolarClipper.com :) Funny! I have the Ashley myself. I’ve spent whole days engrossed in that sucker!

I hope there are a lot of new listeners, but with the files on alt.binaries, I won’t see them … so, with any luck they’ll come visit here or at SolarClipper.com :)

]]> By: Jerome http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-321391 Jerome Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:07:05 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-321391 You may well have picked up quite a few new readers as the books have just gone up a few days ago on the newsgroup alt.binaries. Having just listened to QS yesterday and about halfway through HS now I am finding the writing, character development, and your reading of them very enjoyable.and totally addictive. One of personal favorite author is Anne McCaffrey with the Pern series and I feel that your work is in many ways similar to hers in that the people and what they do are the center of the work and the environment believable because it is consistent well researched and would be a natural development from now. Though I have never sailed I have been doing fancy knotting occasionally since I bought the Ashley Book of Knots when I was 12. so I like the ways in which traditional sailors pastimes naturally would be a way of life in the ships in your universe. I hope that releasing your work in this way (CC) has worked well enough for you financially. It certainly seems to have with readers feedback. Thanks for the books and I hope you will be writing for a long time to come. You may well have picked up quite a few new readers as the books have just gone up a few days ago on the newsgroup alt.binaries.

Having just listened to QS yesterday and about halfway through HS now I am finding the writing, character development, and your reading of them very enjoyable.and totally addictive.

One of personal favorite author is Anne McCaffrey with the Pern series and I feel that your work is in many ways similar to hers in that the people and what they do are the center of the work and the environment believable because it is consistent well researched and would be a natural development from now.

Though I have never sailed I have been doing fancy knotting occasionally since I bought the Ashley Book of Knots when I was 12. so I like the ways in which traditional sailors pastimes naturally would be a way of life in the ships in your universe.

I hope that releasing your work in this way (CC) has worked well enough for you financially. It certainly seems to have with readers feedback.

Thanks for the books and I hope you will be writing for a long time to come.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-3/#comment-321106 Nathan Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:53:43 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-321106 David: That's change was one I made early but probably missed in the editing when I put HS together. There are a few of those odd changes in there. David: That’s change was one I made early but probably missed in the editing when I put HS together. There are a few of those odd changes in there.

]]> By: David http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-321093 David Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:00:02 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-321093 I'm only 1/4 way through HS, and read QS (twice!) on my Kindle. Question: Since when was Brill called "Brillo?" She was never called that in QS. I’m only 1/4 way through HS, and read QS (twice!) on my Kindle. Question: Since when was Brill called “Brillo?” She was never called that in QS.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-320192 Nathan Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:12:54 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-320192 Thanks, John. I left a comment for you over on Amazon before I saw this, but all the books will be out in both e- and paper just as soon as we can get them thru the process. We're looking at releasing two of the Solar Clipper books a year with Tales from the Lammas Wood interspersed for a total of three books in paper until I run out of words. Given that I'm now a full time writer, that should take awhile :) Thanks, John.

I left a comment for you over on Amazon before I saw this, but all the books will be out in both e- and paper just as soon as we can get them thru the process. We’re looking at releasing two of the Solar Clipper books a year with Tales from the Lammas Wood interspersed for a total of three books in paper until I run out of words.

Given that I’m now a full time writer, that should take awhile :)

]]> By: John http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-320191 John Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:23:37 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-320191 Just found out these are on audio.. really want them on my kindle and paper.. Nathan thanks ! You may not agree with my comparing your work with the Solar Queen and Rolling Stone but I mean it strictly as a compliment .. I loved those books so.. See below my Amazon review asking for faster release A Comfort and Joy of a Book !, July 2, 2010 By John M. Kellum (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Quarter Share (Solar Clipper Trader Tales) (Kindle Edition) I have just finished my iPad kindle version of Quarter Share and could not have been more pleased with my new "friends" of the crew of the Solar Clipper. It's so refreshing to read a book where the fate of the universe is not at stake at least couple times in a few hundred pages or massive space battles are taking place every other chapter. Instead, you get to read about people who while no more ordinary than everyone of us strongly engages you in their growth as people and family. Yes, Ish hits the ground running fast but he's believable from the first page and since most of us know such people are hope we are such people he immediately attracts. To be compared to the crew of the Solar Queen or the Rolling Stone is no bad thing and seems inevitable. Truth told, the Solar Clipper is in many way better than the last couple of Solar Queen volumes and feels almost as much a fun close family as the ole Stone's. My only disappointment with the book was to see at least five other "Trader's Tales" listed in the back of Quarter Share which I assume are not completed yet. If there were I would buy them all immediately. I believe with biotech coming the universe three hundred years from now will look far different than the Trader tales suggest but perhaps we'll still have Cookies and flea markets. The Retro Future feels just fine and you should give it a try. Thanks Nathan you've given me much too look forward to .. hurry and write a couple more before Christmas..chuckle Why no voting buttons? We don't let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by others. Permalink Comment Just found out these are on audio.. really want them on my kindle and paper.. Nathan thanks ! You may not agree with my comparing your work with the Solar Queen and Rolling Stone but I mean it strictly as a compliment .. I loved those books so.. See below my Amazon review asking for faster release

A Comfort and Joy of a Book !, July 2, 2010
By John M. Kellum (Seattle, WA) – See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Quarter Share (Solar Clipper Trader Tales) (Kindle Edition)
I have just finished my iPad kindle version of Quarter Share and could not have been more pleased with my new “friends” of the crew of the Solar Clipper. It’s so refreshing to read a book where the fate of the universe is not at stake at least couple times in a few hundred pages or massive space battles are taking place every other chapter. Instead, you get to read about people who while no more ordinary than everyone of us strongly engages you in their growth as people and family. Yes, Ish hits the ground running fast but he’s believable from the first page and since most of us know such people are hope we are such people he immediately attracts. To be compared to the crew of the Solar Queen or the Rolling Stone is no bad thing and seems inevitable. Truth told, the Solar Clipper is in many way better than the last couple of Solar Queen volumes and feels almost as much a fun close family as the ole Stone’s.

My only disappointment with the book was to see at least five other “Trader’s Tales” listed in the back of Quarter Share which I assume are not completed yet. If there were I would buy them all immediately. I believe with biotech coming the universe three hundred years from now will look far different than the Trader tales suggest but perhaps we’ll still have Cookies and flea markets. The Retro Future feels just fine and you should give it a try.

Thanks Nathan you’ve given me much too look forward to .. hurry and write a couple more before Christmas..chuckle
Why no voting buttons? We don’t let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by others.
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Comment

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-319908 Nathan Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:32:48 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-319908 It'll take time for them to get edited. As it is, we've still got typos in QS and that's after eight passes. Thanks. They're all coming. Read slower :D It’ll take time for them to get edited. As it is, we’ve still got typos in QS and that’s after eight passes.

Thanks. They’re all coming. Read slower :D

]]> By: billy http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-319904 billy Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:05:00 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-319904 My God, get the rest of these stories out on the Kindle from Amazon. Quarter Share was simply fantastic and I hate that I will have to wait for the rest. Wonderful job with the story and the characters, I truly can't wait for Half Share (and the rest) to come to Kindle. My God, get the rest of these stories out on the Kindle from Amazon. Quarter Share was simply fantastic and I hate that I will have to wait for the rest.

Wonderful job with the story and the characters, I truly can’t wait for Half Share (and the rest) to come to Kindle.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-292051 Nathan Fri, 22 May 2009 09:41:02 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-292051 Thanks, Shannon. Don't get in trouble at work, tho! :) Thanks, Jennie. I had a lot of fun with the shopping scene. It might be my favorite so far. Double Share is done already. You should find it <a href="http://podiobooks.com/title/double-share" rel="nofollow">here on Podiobooks</a> or on iTunes. The next book - Captain's Share - should be out this summer but I'm not sure where Owner's Share is in the calendar yet. And don't forget South Coast for another story set in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, but with a completely different set of characters. Thanks, Shannon. Don’t get in trouble at work, tho! :)

Thanks, Jennie. I had a lot of fun with the shopping scene. It might be my favorite so far.

Double Share is done already. You should find it here on Podiobooks or on iTunes.

The next book – Captain’s Share – should be out this summer but I’m not sure where Owner’s Share is in the calendar yet. And don’t forget South Coast for another story set in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, but with a completely different set of characters.

]]> By: Jennie http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/comment-page-2/#comment-291845 Jennie Wed, 20 May 2009 21:07:21 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2007/04/29/half-share/#comment-291845 I must say that I have loved the first 2 books - having started listening to 1 chapter a day at bedtime soon escalated listening to the whole of Half Share in 2 night and not getting to sleep until after 2am! Similarly I started off full of empathy for young Ish wanting to adopt him as a younger brother and just look after him. During The shopping trip in Half Share, I can safely say my opinion of Ish is most definitely NOT maternal and more along the lines of Brill, Diane and Bev!! I'm downloading Full Share now knowing that in a couple of days I'll have to go through Cold Turkey! Any plans for Double Share, Second Mate, First Mate & Captain - you know Ish has to go the full hog! Thanks again Nathan for a great story! I must say that I have loved the first 2 books – having started listening to 1 chapter a day at bedtime soon escalated listening to the whole of Half Share in 2 night and not getting to sleep until after 2am! Similarly I started off full of empathy for young Ish wanting to adopt him as a younger brother and just look after him. During The shopping trip in Half Share, I can safely say my opinion of Ish is most definitely NOT maternal and more along the lines of Brill, Diane and Bev!! I’m downloading Full Share now knowing that in a couple of days I’ll have to go through Cold Turkey! Any plans for Double Share, Second Mate, First Mate & Captain – you know Ish has to go the full hog!
Thanks again Nathan for a great story!

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