Late last week, Stephen King treatÂed an audiÂence at George Mason UniÂverÂsiÂty to a 10-minute readÂing from his upcomÂing book Dr. Sleep . It’s not just any othÂer book. It’s the sequel to The ShinÂing, his 1977 thriller that StanÂley Kubrick famÂmousÂly adaptÂed to film. (Don’t miss MakÂing the ShinÂing here.)
King first startÂed talkÂing about a sequel in 2009, and now we’re getÂting our first taste of what’s to come. At long last, you will know what hapÂpened to DanÂny TorÂrance.
John HodgÂman, your favorite quirky, musÂtaÂchioed humorist, made an appearÂance at the MakÂer Faire fesÂtiÂval in NYC earÂliÂer this month. And, in the DIY spirÂit of the event, he gave a 30+ minute comÂic riff on mateÂrÂiÂal appearÂing in his upcomÂing book That is All — a comÂpendiÂum of “comÂplete world knowlÂedge” that can help you surÂvive an apocÂaÂlypse. The betÂter part of the talk focusÂes, quite natÂuÂralÂly, on the magÂic of magÂic tricks — someÂthing we all need to know more about…
Get ready for it. This week, Knopf will release Paulo CoelÂho’s latÂest novÂel, Aleph. And we’re takÂing bets on three quesÂtions. How many copies will be legalÂly sold? (The Alchemist has sold more than 65 milÂlion copies.) How many copies will be piratÂed and givÂen away? And to what extent will the cirÂcuÂlaÂtion of illeÂgal copies actuÂalÂly benÂeÂfit legit sales?
In recent years, CoelÂho has become someÂthing of a willÂing conÂspirÂaÂtor in the piratÂing of his own work. SomeÂtimes he links on his own blog to piratÂed copies floatÂing around the web. OthÂer times he makes the texts availÂable (in mulÂtiÂple lanÂguages) in a nice shareÂable widÂget.
CoelÂho explains how his advenÂtures in self-piratÂing got underÂway in a Q&A appearÂing in yesÂterÂday’s New York Times.
Q. You’ve also had sucÂcess disÂtribÂutÂing your work free. You’re famous for postÂing piratÂed verÂsion of your books online, a very unorthoÂdox move for an author.
A. I saw the first piratÂed ediÂtion of one of my books, so I said I’m going to post it online. There was a difÂfiÂcult moment in RusÂsia; they didn’t have much paper. I put this first copy online and I sold, in the first year, 10,000 copies there. And in the secÂond year it jumped to 100,000 copies. So I said, “It is workÂing.” Then I startÂed putting othÂer books online, knowÂing that if peoÂple read a litÂtle bit and they like it, they are going to buy the book. My sales were growÂing and growÂing, and one day I was at a high-tech conÂferÂence, and I made it pubÂlic.
Q. Weren’t you afraid of makÂing your pubÂlishÂer angry?
A. I was afraid, of course. But it was too late. When I returned to my place, the first phone call was from my pubÂlishÂer in the U.S. She said, “We have a probÂlem.”
Q. You’re referÂring to Jane FriedÂman, who was then the very powÂerÂful chief execÂuÂtive of HarperÂCollins?
A. Yes, Jane. She’s tough. So I got this call from her, and I said, “Jane, what do you want me to do?” So she said, let’s do it offiÂcialÂly, delibÂerÂateÂly. Thanks to her my life in the U.S. changed.
The rest of the interÂview conÂtinÂues here. And, in the meanÂtime, you can find sevÂerÂal CoelÂho books catÂaÂlogued in our colÂlecÂtion of Free eBooks.
Thanks to Google and the Israel MuseÂum in Jerusalem, you can now fire up your browsÂer and start takÂing a good, close look at The Dead Sea Scrolls, the ancient bibÂliÂcal texts found between 1947 and 1956, right on the shores of the Dead Sea. The Scrolls were origÂiÂnalÂly writÂten between the third and first cenÂturies BCE, and they conÂstiÂtute the oldÂest known pieces of the Hebrew Bible. Since 1965, they have been on disÂplay in Jerusalem. But no matÂter where you live, you can view five digÂiÂtized Dead Sea Scrolls, each phoÂtographed at a resÂoÂluÂtion of 1,200 megapixÂels. That’s roughÂly 200 times greater than your averÂage camÂera.
Back in 1970, three psyÂcholÂoÂgy proÂfesÂsors pulled off a hoax that douÂbled as medÂical research. They brought Dr. Myron L. Fox, “an authorÂiÂty on the appliÂcaÂtion of mathÂeÂmatÂics to human behavÂior,” to a conÂferÂence near Lake Tahoe and let him talk about “MathÂeÂmatÂiÂcal Game TheÂoÂry as Applied to PhysiÂcian EduÂcaÂtion.” LitÂtle did the audiÂence know that Fox wasÂn’t actuÂalÂly a researcher or scholÂar. He was actuÂalÂly an actor who had played parts in Hogan’s Heroes and BatÂman. And he was givÂen a gibÂberÂish-filled script to learn only the day before. NonetheÂless, the eduÂcaÂtors in the crowd ate up his meanÂingÂless talk, and it allowed the researchers to draw the conÂcluÂsion that “style was more influÂenÂtial than conÂtent in proÂvidÂing learnÂer satÂisÂfacÂtion.” A nice way of sayÂing that jarÂgon and cant can someÂtimes take you a long way in the acadÂeÂmy — in the humanÂiÂties and sciÂences alike. More backÂstoÂry here. H/T MetafilÂter
Every year, thouÂsands of AmerÂiÂcan high school stuÂdents read a comÂmon selecÂtion of great novÂels — clasÂsics loved by young and old readÂers alike. Today, we have selectÂed 20 of the most popÂuÂlar books and highÂlightÂed ways that you can downÂload verÂsions for free, mostÂly as free audio books and ebooks, and someÂtimes as movies and radio draÂmas. You will find more great works — and someÂtimes othÂer digÂiÂtal forÂmats — in our twin colÂlecÂtions: 600 Free eBooks for iPad, KinÂdle & OthÂer Devices and 550 Free Audio Books. So please give them a good look over, and if we’re missÂing a novÂel you want, don’t forÂget Audible.com’s 14 day triÂal. It will let you downÂload an audio book for free, pretÂty much any one you want.
1984 by George Orwell: Free eBook — Free Audio Book — Free Movie
Although pubÂlished in 1949, 1984 still capÂtures our imagÂiÂnaÂtion genÂerÂaÂtions latÂer because it offers one of the best litÂerÂary accounts of totalÂiÂtarÂiÂanÂism ever pubÂlished. And it’s simÂply a great read.
Brave New World by Aldous HuxÂley: eText — Free Radio DramaÂtiÂzaÂtion (by HuxÂley himÂself) — Free Audio Book by AudiÂble
LitÂtle known fact. HuxÂley once taught George Orwell French at Eton. And, years latÂer his 1931 clasÂsic, Brave New World, is often menÂtioned in the same breath with 1984 when it comes to great books that describe a dystopiÂan future.
FrankenÂstein by Mary ShelÂley - Free ebook — Free Audio Book (MP3) — Radio DraÂma verÂsion (1938) — Movie
Mary ShelÂley startÂed writÂing the great monÂster novÂel when she was only 18 and comÂpletÂed it when she was 21. The 1823 gothÂic novÂel is arguably one of your first works of sciÂence ficÂtion.
Pride & PrejÂuÂdice by Jane Austen – Free eBook — Free Audio Book (iTunes)
Jane Austen’s 1813 novÂel remains as popÂuÂlar as ever. To date, it has sold more than 20 milÂlion copies, and, every so often, it finds itself adaptÂed to a new film, TV or theÂater proÂducÂtion. A must read.
The AdvenÂtures of HuckÂleÂberÂry Finn by Mark Twain — Free eBook — Free Audio Book (iTunes)
When you think HuckÂleÂberÂry Finn, you think Great AmerÂiÂcan NovÂel. It was conÂtroÂverÂsial when it was first pubÂlished in 1884, and it remains so today. But nonetheÂless Twain’s clasÂsic is a perenÂniÂal favorite for readÂers around the world.
The Call of the Wild by Jack LonÂdon — Free eBook — Free Audio Book (iTunes) The Call of the Wild, first pubÂlished in 1903, is regardÂed as Jack LonÂdon’s masÂterÂpiece. It’s “a tale about unbreakÂable spirÂit and the fight for surÂvival in the frozen Alaskan Klondike.”
The CruÂcible by Arthur Miller - Free Audio Book from Audible.com
Arthur Miller’s 1952 play used the Salem witch triÂals of 1692 and 1693 to offer a comÂmenÂtary on McCarthyÂism that tarÂnished AmerÂiÂca durÂing the 1950s. Today, The CruÂcible occuÂpies a cenÂtral place in AmerÂiÂca’s litÂerÂary canon.
The Grapes of Wrath by John SteinÂbeck — Free Audio Book from Audible.com
This 1939 novÂel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and latÂer helped SteinÂbeck win the Nobel Prize for LitÂerÂaÂture in 1962. It’s perÂhaps the most imporÂtant book to give litÂerÂary expresÂsion to the Great DepresÂsion.
The Odyssey by Homer – Free eBook — Free Audio Book
The WestÂern litÂerÂary traÂdiÂtion begins with HomeÂr’s epic poems The IliÂad (etext here) and The Odyssey, both writÂten some 2800 years ago. It has been said that “if the IliÂad is the world’s greatÂest war epic, then the Odyssey is litÂerÂaÂture’s grandÂest evoÂcaÂtion of everyÂman’s jourÂney through life.” And that just about gets to the heart of the poem.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest HemÂingÂway - Free Audio Book from Audible.com
It was HemÂingÂway’s last major work of ficÂtion (1951) and cerÂtainÂly one of his most popÂuÂlar, bringÂing many readÂers into conÂtact with HemÂingÂway’s writÂing for the first time.
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane — Free eBook — Free Audio Book (iTunes) — Free Movie
This CivÂil War novÂel won what Joseph ConÂrad called “an orgy of praise” after its pubÂliÂcaÂtion in 1895, and inspired Ernest HemÂingÂway and the ModÂernists latÂer. The novÂel made Stephen Crane a celebriÂty at the age of 24, though he died only five years latÂer.
The ScarÂlet LetÂter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – Free eBooks – Free Audio Book — Movie
Though set in PuriÂtan Boston between 1642 and 1649, Hawthorne’s magÂnum opus explores “the moral dilemÂmas of perÂsonÂal responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty, and the conÂsumÂing emoÂtions of guilt, anger, loyÂalÂty and revenge” that were relÂeÂvant in 1850 (when the book was pubÂlished). And they remain so today.
To Kill a MockÂingÂbird by HarpÂer Lee — Free Audio Book from Audible.com
HarpÂer Lee’s 1960 novÂel takes an inciÂsive look at attiÂtudes toward race and class in the Deep South durÂing the 1930s. It won the Pulitzer Prize a year latÂer.
Note: We listÂed Audible.com as an option when books were still under copyÂright.
MeanÂwhile, eduÂcaÂtors don’t miss our colÂlecÂtion of Free CoursÂes. It feaÂtures many free LitÂerÂaÂture coursÂes, includÂing coursÂes on AmerÂiÂcan litÂerÂaÂture.
Allen MezquiÂda is an accomÂplished alto saxÂoÂphonÂist. As a regÂuÂlar on the New York jazz scene in the 80s and 90s, he perÂformed and recordÂed with many of the greatÂest musiÂcians still playÂing at that time, like Art Blakey and GerÂry MulÂliÂgan. His 1996 solo album, A Good Thing, was well-received by critÂics. In an earÂliÂer age it might have been the beginÂning of a gloÂriÂous career. But as the 20th cenÂtuÂry came to a close, MezquiÂda was becomÂing increasÂingÂly disÂilÂluÂsioned.
“I was more frusÂtratÂed with jazÂz’s tiny place in the curÂrent culÂturÂal landÂscape than with my jazz career,” MezquiÂda told Open CulÂture. So he turned to anothÂer of his artisÂtic pasÂsions. The visuÂal arts–cartooning, in particular–had always attractÂed him. “Mad magÂaÂzine, Chuck Jones and varÂiÂous art books held my attenÂtion alongÂside Miles, Coltrane and Stan Getz,” MezquiÂda said. He began experÂiÂmentÂing with digÂiÂtal aniÂmaÂtion, and before long he moved to Los AngeÂles and began receivÂing work from DisÂney, WarnÂer BrothÂers, Sony and PIXAR. He conÂtributed to Aladdin and Toy StoÂry.
MezquiÂda found himÂself where he wantÂed to be: at the very heart of AmerÂiÂca’s culÂturÂal landÂscape. Still, someÂthing wasÂn’t right. As he told The DaiÂly Beast in 2010, “I was just holdÂing an oar in the bowÂels of a Viking ship. And exeÂcutÂing the ideas of morons that I didÂn’t respect.” MezquiÂda wantÂed culÂturÂal relÂeÂvance and artisÂtic freeÂdom. As a conÂseÂquence, Smigly was born.
Smigly is Mezquida’s alter ego, an EveryÂman adrift in a dehuÂmanÂized, corÂpoÂraÂtized culÂture in which social media serve only to intenÂsiÂfy a sense of social alienÂation. As an artist, Smigly faces a sociÂety less interÂestÂed in art than in the degraÂdaÂtion of artists. Like CharÂlie ChapÂlin, or CharÂlie Brown, there is someÂthing timeÂless about Smigly: a senÂsiÂtive soul pourÂing his heart out to an indifÂferÂent, or hosÂtile, world.
The triÂals and tribuÂlaÂtions of Smigly are chronÂiÂcled on Smigly.tv. The latÂest installÂment, Kind of Black and Blue, is shown above. The piece was comÂmisÂsioned by GorÂdon GoodÂwin’s Big Phat Band, but MezquiÂda was givÂen comÂplete creÂative conÂtrol. Kind of Black and Blue moves like a Swiss watch, each part fitÂting tightÂly into place. A musiÂcian’s sense of timÂing is eviÂdent. “I spend a lot of time thinkÂing about the clearÂest way to visuÂalÂly comÂmuÂniÂcate an idea,” MezquiÂda said. “It brings peoÂple into the stoÂry faster. Gary LarÂson, PIXAR and Don MarÂtin quickÂly come to mind as very preÂcise visuÂal stoÂryÂtellers. Coltrane made every note count. Same thing.”
MezquiÂda conÂtinÂues to play music, perÂformÂing with sevÂerÂal jazz groups in the Los AngeÂles area. And many of his carÂtoon episodes feaÂture his saxÂoÂphone playÂing. With his growÂing popÂuÂlarÂiÂty on YouTube, Smigly has helped MezquiÂda find a new audiÂence for his music. And so, MezquiÂda moves closÂer to that eluÂsive comÂbiÂnaÂtion of artisÂtic indeÂpenÂdence and popÂuÂlar sucÂcess. We asked him about his hopes for the future. “I want to expeÂriÂence a major exisÂtenÂtial criÂsis decidÂing what to do when a major corÂpoÂraÂtion wants to sponÂsor Smigly,” he said. “I’m kidÂding. A litÂtle.”
For more Smigly, go directÂly to Smigly.tv or begin by checkÂing out a few or our favorite episodes:
We’re bringÂing back by popÂuÂlar demand DanÂgerÂous KnowlÂedge, the BBC’s 90-minute docÂuÂmenÂtary that takes a close look at four mathÂeÂmatiÂcians — Georg CanÂtor, LudÂwig BoltzÂmann, Kurt Gödel and Alan TurÂing – whose thinkÂing proÂfoundÂly influÂenced modÂern mathÂeÂmatÂics but also drove them (or so the proÂgram argues) to insanÂiÂty and evenÂtuÂalÂly suiÂcide. CanÂtor gave us “set theÂoÂry.” BoltzÂmann made imporÂtant conÂtriÂbuÂtions in the fields of staÂtisÂtiÂcal mechanÂics and staÂtisÂtiÂcal therÂmoÂdyÂnamÂics. Gödel is rememÂbered for his incomÂpleteÂness theÂoÂrems. TurÂing built on Gödel’s work and laid the founÂdaÂtion for comÂputÂer sciÂence. They all spent their difÂfiÂcult final years in varÂiÂous states of menÂtal decline. You can find Part 2 here.
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