A periodic listing of places real and virtual to get free books, including book contests and giveaways.
Don’t forget, Rat’s Reading is now on Twitter as King Rat.
I’m generally liking my new format, even though it takes more time. I added a geographic restrictions column so folks outside the U.S. would know when not to bother clicking through. When there are no geographic restrictions, I’ve been leaving the spot blank. However, that doesn’t exactly stand out, and I would like ship anywhere contests to stand out. I’ve thought of a couple of options: highlight that cell in a different color, highlight it with some sort of open to anyone
text, both those options, or perhaps even highlighting the entire line in a different color. Contests with none stated
are not necessarily open, and so will not be highlighted. If you have a preference, leave a comment either here or on Twitter (use @kingrat or a direct message to make sure I see it).
| Category | Item/Prize(s) | Web Site (click here to enter) |
Geographic Restrictions | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Boys: Stories by Richard Lange (five copies) and Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh (five copies) | Book Critiques | U.S./Canada | Thu, 16 October | |
| LibraryThing’s October Early Reviewers titles (featuring Phraseology by Barbara Ann Kipfer, Jane Eyre The Graphic Novel: Original Text by Charlotte Brontë, and The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett) — 1,670 copies of 55 books total | LibraryThing | Sun, 26 October | ||
| Eight titles featuring Fool by Christopher Moore and The Sharing Knife: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold | HarperCollins First Look Books | U.S. | Wed, 29 October | |
| Eight book package | Miami Book Fair | North America | Thu, 30 October | |
| Twenty mostly (but not all) Christian titles (including One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling) | Creative Madness | U.S./Canada | Fri, 31 October | |
| Christian | Twenty-one titles (including Unpretty by Sharon Carter Rogers and Sushi for One? by Camy Tang) | Tree Swing Reading | none stated | Sat, 25 October |
| Christian | Havah by Tosca Lee and Legend by David Rohl | Toscology | none stated | “the next couple weeks” |
| Crime Fiction | The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag | Pennsylvania Wild Woman | none stated | Mon, 13 October |
| Crime Fiction | Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh (five copies) | The Friendly Book Nook | U.S./Canada | Sat, 18 October |
| Crime Fiction | Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh (five copies) | The Tome Traveller’s Weblog | U.S./Canada | Wed, 22 October |
| Entertaining | I Like You by Amy Sedaris (five copies) | Booking Mama | U.S. | Fri, 17 October |
| Fantasy | Charlie Huston’s Joe Pitt series (Already Dead, No Dominion, Half the Blood of Brooklyn and Every Last Drop) | Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review | U.S. | Sat, 18 October |
| Fantasy | The Devil’s Armor by John Marco (two signed first editions) | The Bastion | none stated | Fri, 31 October |
| Fantasy | Michael Moorcock’s Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melniboné (Elric: The Stealers of Souls, Elric: To Rescue Tanelorn, and Elric: The Sleeping Sorceress) | Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist | none stated | none stated |
| General Fiction | The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters by Lorraine López | Reader for Life | U.S./Canada | Wed, 15 October |
| General Fiction | Four titles (including Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross) | Bookfoolery and Babble | Wed, 15 October | |
| General Fiction | Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe by Jennie Shortridge | S. Krishna’s Books | U.S./Canada | Sun, 19 October |
| General Fiction | Eight Random House titles (including The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews) | AOL Canada | Canada (except Quebec) | Sun, 2 November |
| Health | Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman (five copies) | Goodreads | U.S./Canada | Mon, 20 October |
| Paranormal Romance | Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep | Popin’s Lair | U.S./Canada | Mon, 20 October |
| Paranormal Romance | Five titles in a designer bag (including Under the Blood Red Moon by Mina Hepsen) | HarperCollins | U.S. | Wed, 29 October |
| Paranormal Romance | Sixteen titles (I believe all e-books) | Moira Rogers | Thu, 30 October | |
| Politics | Mike’s Election Guide 2008 by Michael Moore (50 copies) though it seems the books will come a little late to do any good ( Michael Moore isn’t exactly going to convince any Republicans though…) | Goodreads | U.S./Canada | Tue, 4 November |
| Science Fiction | Extraordinary Engines edited by Nick Gevers (five copies) as a runner-up prize to a non-working time machine. watch for my review of this anthology in a couple days. | Solaris Books | none stated | Sat, 1 November |
| Science Fiction | Spiral Hunt by Margaret Ronald (ten ARCs) | Eos Books - The Next Chapter | U.S. | none stated |
| Thrillers | Black Out by Lisa Unger | Jenn’s Bookshelf | none stated | Sat, 18 October |
| Travel | Volunteer: A Traveler’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World from Lonely Planet | Travel the Green Way | none stated | Fri, 17 October |
If you know of other free electronic books, book contests, book giveaways or other sources of free books, leave a comment and I’ll include it in the next installment. Also, be sure to check out my book reviews and other content.
5 Comments
Hey, I followed a link back here. :) You are correct, all 16 of the Halloween give-away books are indeed ebooks, which will go to anyone with e-mail anywhere in the world.
This is a cool page!
Hey, I just stumbled across your site and wanted to leave a comment and say that I am giving away a copy of Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, and the anthology On the Prowl which includes a story by Briggs, this Sunday October 19. Sign up here:
http://bookslistslife.blogspot.com/2008/10/cry-wolf-by-patricia-briggs.html
I just posted a giveaway for One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling. The deadline for entry is October 22nd. I would appreciate it if you could add my giveaway to your next free book post. Thanks!
Here’s a link to the giveaway:
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/one-perfect-day-giveaway.html
I’ve just posted my first book giveaway. All three books in the second trilogy of the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey. Drawing is open to US and Canada, and will be drawn on November 1st.
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/2008/10/book-giveaway-imriel-trilogy-kushiels.html
Thanks ~ Wendi
We are having a giveaway of Marie Phillip’s novel, “Gods Behaving Badly” that is open until November 10th. U.S. and Canadian addresses only. Up to 5 copies being given away!
A Reader’s Respite