Random House has started giving away free ebooks through its Suvudu Free First Book Library. The freebie plan is “designed to introduce new readers to popular and acclaimed science fiction and fantasy series,” so they’re offering free digital copies of the first books in several series.
Available now are:
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb (book one of The Farseer Trilogy, first published in 1996)
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire book one, first published in 2007)
Blood Engines by T.A. Pratt (Marla Mason book one, first published in 2007)
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (book one of the Mars Trilogy, first published in 1993)
Settling Accounts: Return Engagement by Harry Turtledove (the first book of the Settling Accounts trilogy, first published in 2004)
In addition to offering the books through their own Suvudu, the books are available from other places such as Scribd and the Stanza ebook reader application for the iPhone.
They expect to offer new titles “on a regular basis,” and already have plans to give away Magic Kingdom for Sale: Sold! by Terry Brooks and Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon.