ok all you heavy READERS out there..(huge free data base)

[annabanana]

Pretty much every public domain title in multiple formats


http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

[MFM008]

1. ty

[JeffersonLoveChild]

2. I have but one gripe...

I know since it's free, I should just take them as they are, but I have to say that the formatting in Gutenberg sometimes leave me in tears.

While we're on the subject, may I suggest another alternative?
Amazon. They have several hundred thousand free Kindle ebooks. Even if you don't have Kindle, you can get a reader for your pc/devices.

[truedelphi]

3. What do you mean by -

even if you don't have Kindle, you can get a reader for your pc...

How and where to get one? Any info appreciated.

[JeffersonLoveChild]

4. Kindle Apps, Delphi

Here you go: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

Install it in your device, and download the books to your heart's content.

Here's a couple of thousand classics to get you started: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?node=154606011&p_15=public%20domain&p_36=0-0&redirect=true

[HopeHoops]

6. Sadly, they don't have a Linux version. My mini runs a variant of Ubuntu and is light.

And by light I mean suitable for reading in bed. The 17" laptop I'm typing on now weighs about 150 lbs (or at least feels that way) and bets screaming hot without good ventilation. The mini has a SSD so it doesn't get hot unless it's charging and it has a battery life of about six hours. I'd love to have a reader for it, but sadly it doesn't exist that I know of.

[hobbit709]

7. I converted all my ebooks(about 5000) to pdf.

That works just fine in Linux or on my Android tablet.

[HopeHoops]

8. Yeah, I can do PDF, but how did you convert them?

[hobbit709]

9. Little program called Stanza.

free and converts most ebook formats to just about any other.

[HopeHoops]

10. Good name. Thanks.

[JeffersonLoveChild]

12. A few potential solutions

Since I am not using Linux, I can't verify whether the solutions below would work, but no harm in trying right?
However, before you do so, I suggest you try to install the Kindle apps first. There are reports that it works in Ubuntu and Xandros.


(i) Install the Wine emulator software, then install Kindle.
According to this guy, it works: http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/01/09/kindle-reader-on-linux-we-shal/
Wine Download: http://www.winehq.org/

(ii) Kindle Gen 2.5
I use this application when I am testing my Kindle book.
Use the Linux version
Source: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A3IWA2TQYMZ5J6

(iii) Use your browser (Firefox/Chrome/Safari), and read the book using Kindle Cloud Reader
Source: https://read.amazon.com/about

(iv) Use Calibre instead of the Kindle app (though it appears that only books without Digital Rights Management are readable)
Source: http://calibre-ebook.com/

(v) Install Crossover, a Windows emulator (but it costs $60)
Source: http://www.codeweavers.com/products/

Good luck!

[HopeHoops]

14. Thanks! I'll skip option 5 - sounds like a good way to slow the whole box down!

I love the SSD. I just open the lid and the thing is on.

[csziggy]

5. Also check out the internet archive

http://archive.org/index.php

The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library. Its purposes include offering permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format. Founded in 1996 and located in San Francisco, the Archive has been receiving data donations from Alexa Internet and others. In late 1999, the organization started to grow to include more well-rounded collections. Now the Internet Archive includes texts, audio, moving images, and software as well as archived web pages in our collections, and provides specialized services for adaptive reading and information access for the blind and other persons with disabilities.

They host the Wayback Machine: http://archive.org/web/web.php

Browse through over 150 billion web pages archived from 1996 to a few months ago. To start surfing the Wayback, type in the web address of a site or page where you would like to start, and press enter. Then select from the archived dates available. The resulting pages point to other archived pages at as close a date as possible. Keyword searching is not currently supported.

[hobbit709]

11. If you're interested in Science Fiction, here's a list of sites.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/free-books-science-fiction-fantasy

[antiquie]

15. Oooh, thank you.

The free to 99 cent SF offerings on Amazon have mostly been unsatisfying.

[Xyzse]

13. I Love That Place

Thanks for reminding me about it!