Finally, somewhere to buy Chieftains by Bob Forrest-Webb?

**AlienFTM** · 18-09-2009, 07:59

Reported on Sky News this morning that Google's project to digitise out-of-print books may lead to them rolling out machines that can print such a book in five minutes for five pounds.

Machines to be located in libraries. Library gets Â£3, Google gets Â£1 per book. I'd like to think the other Â£1 goes to the author.

Two things.

1. The "expert" on Sky News reckoned it was a waste of time printing books because we are all going to start using e-book readers or whatever. Clearly he hasn't seen the walls of MY house, lined with a lifetime's book collection. Discuss.

2. What books does the floor think we need available?

I have already suggested Chieftains by Bob Forrest-Webb. I know that he is a member of ARRSE and I look forward to his comments.

I'd have suggested The Devil's Guard, but I got as far as the second chapter discussing the political situation in post-war Vietnam and stopped dead. Was this because I hate reading books on screen or because the book was slated here as poor post-war war porn?

I'd suggest The Zone (now ten volumes) but since that is now available online as a PDF, I don't see it happening.

How about Warriors Paraded? Anthony Armstrong's compendium of stories from a fictional post-Great-War infantry battalion in a large garrison town in the south of England (that sounded remarkably like Aldershot). Sounds good, but in fact I got a copy (printed about 1938 IIRC) from Abebooks a few years ago, so I shan't be buying another myself.

**TheSpecialOne** · 18-09-2009, 13:14

I find e-reader a pain. Also, the feel and smell of a new book is something special. I like the idea of being able to get out of print books like this, but aren't google simply PDFing the pages, complete with ink splatters, creases and bogey stains?

**kabulronin** · 18-09-2009, 13:16

Wow! The Zone got to 10 volumes- I thought it had stopped at 4.

I read then years ago- anyone want to donate all 10 to me!

**Pete_the_writer** · 18-09-2009, 13:50

Originally Posted by AlienFTM

... I'd suggest The Zone (now ten volumes) but since that is now available online as a PDF, I don't see it happening ...

Whereabouts online? I've just Googled "The Zone" and got nowhere.
Any links gratefully accepted!

**Mr_Deputy** · 18-09-2009, 13:54

re books on-line I've just downloaded and printed a book of historical interest to my family which Rumplestiltskin helped find for us. So I like the idea of it but then again printing 300 pages was a bit of a pain and as it was for a gift then it being printed paper is alot better and more tactile than a load of electrons on a memory card. so nice idea but printed matter is still useful and as regards the environment - it can be muclhed down and re-used. Not bad.

**kabulronin** · 18-09-2009, 14:01

AlienFMT, have PMed you.

**The_Civil_Civilian** · 18-09-2009, 14:54

The internet has a lot of free downloadable books if you look around, they tend to have lapsed copyright as the author has died. So you see a lot of books by Conan-Doyle, H.G Wells, etc. That type of author.

internet archive

Look on the right side of the page for 'Texts' and have a search for something you like. [you may touch lucky and find an obscure text/book you like?]

That page also has other forms of media but I have never looked in there.

**longlivethequeen** · 18-09-2009, 15:09

A linky thing for the Zone would be great please.

**kabulronin** · 19-09-2009, 18:45

Has anyone found a link to The Zone series yet?

**The Sailor** · 19-09-2009, 18:48

Here you are:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/james-rouch/

You can get the whole series on CD

I have also seen a copy of "Chieftains" for sale on an Aussie website, something like (Aus)$200, a used copy!!

Jim