OESF Portables Forum
General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: z4ck on August 21, 2004, 09:40:20 am
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Hi All,
Thought you might just be interested in a new cyber thriller based around Duncan Steele. A hacker who creates the 'magic bullet' that lets him by-pass any network security. Duncan uses Z4CK meaning Zaurus-ACK, compiled on the OpenZaurus OS to do this. Have a look, the first half of the book is free! The second half only £2 in PDF. The paperback will be published at the end of Sept. http://WWW.Z4CK.ORG (http://WWW.Z4CK.ORG)
Cheers,
Kev
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Sounds like a cool idea for a book. These little machines are amazing!
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This is an excellent idea. Any change you could add a copy in Plucker format though?
I find this much easier to read on a Z using Opie-Reader
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I've been asked to convert the book into a couple of different formats. If anyone has any suggestions for any further formats I'll have a look at them as well. I'll certainly look at adding a download for plucker format, and Palm Doc, or Palm Reader format too. Look out for that around Friday.
I had my Z stolen at the end of May during some work I was doing for our Boston office, luckily I had removed the CF card that contained Z4CK, and had onviously backed it up otherwise it may have been gone too!
If anyone else has another reader that makes it easy to view the book, and would like a conversion, just add it here...and I'll do my best.
Cheers,
Kev
http://www.z4ck.org (http://www.z4ck.org), get half the book free!
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I would like to read this but your site seems to be down..
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Hi all,
Apologies for the site being down. I had a major power failure which trashed the hard disk. It's rebuilt now. I've added plucker and palm doc versions for download if anyone would like to grab them. I also have the full version in plucker, its the one I would recommend for a PDA. QPDF2 is OK on the Zaurus if you must read it in PDF format, but Opie Reader is good for plucker.
Anyway, thanks for the interest, come and have a look at your leisure.
Cheers,
Kev
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I am on chapter 4 and very pleased with quality of the work. Very Queens English "feel" to it which takes a bit getting used to, but makes it seem more "real" in its setting (likes Tyres, instead of tires, and lifts, etc, etc)
Haven't even gotten to the meat of the story yet, but very well done so far. Looks like I will be buying part two if my interest (and time) hold up.
Great work.
I highly recommend this ebook (and the free opie reader) to all...plenty to read before you have to make the huge ( ) 2GBP commitment.
Top notch !
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I'm buying it. Cheers.
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Hi Omicron and Doc and all the other Zaurus users out there.
Thanks for your comments on Z4CK, they made my day. I wasn't sure if anyone out there would enjoy it, but my friends said it was OK, so I thought it'd be good if other folks got to the chance to read it too. The feedb4ck has been good, and I've had a lot of support from the Linux and Zaurus communities.
Finally, the paperb4ck will be out on time at the end of September. I'm trying to keep the cost as low as possible, so its looking like £7.99 including world wide postage and packing, but its not completely confirmed. As soon as it is I'll post here.
Thanks again,
Kev
Z4CK - A Cyber thriller
HTTP://www.z4ck.org (http://HTTP://www.z4ck.org)
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sorry, I haven't had a chance to download it yet... but do you have a logo or cover for the book? I'd love to showcase it on the main zug site for all to see.
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Hi,
I have got a cover design. I did the cover design and the chapter illlustrations myself using Gimp 2.0, its really good for all sort of fancy design touches. You will be able to find the cover on my website, at the top of the home page, or you can also download a reduced scale cover from Linuxdevices.com at
http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS3666456645.html (http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS3666456645.html)
They also did a good piece there. I've finally got the the price for the paperb4ck for those who like that sort of thing. £7.99 including p&p
Hope this is helpful, thanks again. A showcase on the main zug site would be great.
Cheers,
Kev
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Going slightly OT, but I'm bored :-D
Very Queens English "feel" to it which takes a bit getting used to, but makes it seem more "real" in its setting (likes Tyres, instead of tires, and lifts, etc, etc)
Is there any other type of English? If so, perhaps it ought not be called English. :-) (dons white-coloured heat proof suit as part of his defence against the flames; sits down in his favourite aluminium chair in the centre of his flat, well away from inflammable tyres... yep, it's getting a bit tired now, I'll stop)
Si
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He dons a white-coloured heat proof suit as part of his defence against the flames; sits down in his favourite aluminium chair in the centre of his flat, well away from inflammable tyres...
Here is another version in a different English dialect...(Redneck?)
He whips on the pansy white suit that those pencil-necked geeks told him would keep him from frying his butt off, and sits down in his broken lawn chair in the center of his double-wide trailer, well away from the fireworks the neighbor's terrorist boys are always shooting off...and pops a cold one...only the best...Millwaulke's Best.
;>
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there's now an image on the main zug page... and I just bought a copy.
hopefully many other zug people will support Kev as well!
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I want to buy a copy but the only version available for purchase is pdf and basically I'm not happy with any of the pdf viewers available for the C760.
Are there any plans to offer other formats for purchase? Plucker format would be good as it's my favorite and works well with opie-reader.
Stu
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I want to buy a copy but the only version available for purchase is pdf and basically I'm not happy with any of the pdf viewers available for the C760.
Are there any plans to offer other formats for purchase? Plucker format would be good as it's my favorite and works well with opie-reader.
Stu
Also, how about a discount for us ZUG users. ?
I am being cheap, but honestly, if the free part was exactly half...that is gonna be a pretty short book.
Also, the US Dollar is pretty much in the crapper so for th price it is the same (in US) for a discount paperback...and personallly I like having a book on my shelf.
I say all this as a very interested (but admittedly cheap....hey don't criticize...my cheapness feeds the "Deals Forum" On ZUG on a regular basis) reader who really wants the second half. Excellent job on the first half.
I agree with above poster as well...purchase of second half needs to be in all the formats of the free version.
Great Job on the book.
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I want to buy a copy but the only version available for purchase is pdf and basically I'm not happy with any of the pdf viewers available for the C760.
Are there any plans to offer other formats for purchase? Plucker format would be good as it's my favorite and works well with opie-reader.
Stu
Stu, the book is available in Plucker format, has been for a couple of weeks now. I was asked for this in plucker and palm doc versions, so I decided a full plucker version was a good idea. If you look in the free downloads section you'll find it there. Download, and see what you think.
Hmm, cheaper for the ZUG? I know there is problems with the dollar at the moment, but I think the price as an E-book is fair. I don't think you should look at this as a cost per page, there are another 7 chapters in the second half of Z4CK, its whether you think the rest of the story is worth paying the money for. It's kind of like Shareware. I provided the first half free as I wanted people to have a proper chance of knowing whether they like the book or not. I am however looking for ways to reduce the paperback cost in the states, and getting it out cheaper there.
If anyone who bought the PDF decides to buy a paperback, this will be discounted.
Any other thoughts on the cost of the PDF? Does anyone else think it is too expensive?
Cheers,
Kev
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It's not really THAT expensive...I mean it's just 2 GBP......and it is very good.
My only real issue is that it seems kinda short....and I am always looking for better deal....just in my nature.
I mean it is still cheaper than your average US paperback at a cost of little less than $4 USD....
I think it is that we all think in terms of our own currency and I imagine I look at this the same way YOU would look at it if it cost 4 GBP. I hope that makes some sense.
Don't sweat it, it is a fair price for a great product. I never owned an Ebook before so I think I am really comparing this inappropriately to a paperback.
I just always try to swing better deals for my buddies here at ZUG (and of course for myself )
If no else is complaining, then it is just me being cheap.
Can't say it enough...great job on the book.
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Stu, the book is available in Plucker format, has been for a couple of weeks now. I was asked for this in plucker and palm doc versions, so I decided a full plucker version was a good idea. If you look in the free downloads section you'll find it there. Download, and see what you think.
<snip>
Any other thoughts on the cost of the PDF? Does anyone else think it is too expensive?
Cheers,
Kev
I already got the first half - hence my desire to get the whole thing
I can't see any links to the full plucker version on the "Buy Z4CK" page - just the pdf version. I'll take the punt and buy it anyway, in the hope that more info will be available as to the location of the full plucker version.
As for the price of the ebook, 2 pound is fine by me. When you've been living in Japan where the price of English paperbacks cost between US$15 and US$25, 2 pound for an ebook is a great bargain.
Stu
For thos of you wondering, Kevin supplies a link to the plucker version with the purchasing info. go forth and purchase
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When you buy the book you will see a link to download the plucker version as well as the pdf.
As for the price, it was a great read as far as I'm concerned, and well worth the $4 usd.
Nice job Kev!
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Cheers all, glad your enjoying it.
I was toying with the idea of writing a second in the series, got a title (which I won't mention as it may give away the ending to the first book)....wouldn't want to do that.
However, if I decide to go with this I'd be looking for volunteers to comment, and provide feedb4ck. To hopefully make it better than the first.
The book would fill in a 30 year gap between the start and the end if the first book.
Cheers,
Kev
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Z4CK - A Novel about hacking and murder
http://www.z4ck.org (http://www.z4ck.org)
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I am however looking for ways to reduce the paperback cost in the states, and getting it out cheaper there.
If you need someone in the states to help you out with that, feel free to drop me a line. I have a couple contacts with publishing companies (of linux books) because of my work in the local LUG.
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Cheers, I might just take you up on that offer.
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The site is still down? I really would like to get the book.
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Yep, the site is down. I'm at work at the moment, so I can't get home to fix the problem until around 1.30pm today....sorry, its damn annoying.
I'm going to look at site redirection, so this doesn't happen again.
In the meantime, you can download the first half of the book from
http://z4ck.dyndns.org/Z4CK-first-half.pdf (http://z4ck.dyndns.org/Z4CK-first-half.pdf)
Thanks for your patience.
As soon as its back I'll post again.
Cheers,
Kev
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Thanks for the link! I already read the first 2 chapters. I really enjoyed them!
I wonder if i can get the paperback here in Germany also?
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If anyone has been following my posts in thi thread, you know I am always looking for a "better deal", even when it came to Z4CK.
Kev was very nice in defending his price and even asking if others felt the same (which says alot considering we are only talking about 2GBP)...but it appeared I was the only cheap one around
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I decided to make the massive investment ( ) and buy the second half of the book.
So you're probably saying: "Who cares?"
My point is: If a cheap guy like me is willing to plunk down approx 4USD this book, that is saying something about the value and quality of Kev's work.
I cannot recommend his book highly enough. And the fact that the main character is a Z user, makes it all the more interesting...but the books stands on firm ground even if the main character used a Palm (but not if he used Windows CE LOL )
Anyway, if you have never read an ebook (this was my first) get the OPIEReader and download the first half (which is free) and see for yourself. It costs nothing to try it out.
When I snagged the first half free I figured I would never read it (much like my other books), but within a couple of chapters I was firmly hooked...so much so that I not only bought my first electronic-only book (which to a materialist like me pretty much means I bought nothing tangable), I actually feel that I got MORE than my money's worth....I never-ever thought I would buy an Ebook.....so all I can say is , if it was worth the money to (a cheap bastard like) me, it should easily be worth it's weight in gold to others.
But try the first half and see....you've nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Not too mention tht by buying direct I am sure it helps Kev out alot more than some fraction of a percent he will get in paperback sales. It's always nice to help one of our own.
Disclaimer: I have no affliation with the Z4CK, except as a satisfied customer.
WWW.Z4CK.ORG (http://WWW.Z4CK.ORG)
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Something I wish book publishers would do is give you access to electronic formats when you purchase the dead tree version. I have read a bunch of ebooks, though I still prefer the paper. I often lament not having the text of my latest diversion handy on my PDA when waiting / riding / standing in line etc.
BTW - Just started chapter 2 looks great so far - I'm already planning to purchase the rest.
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Glad to see you came around Omicron
This is a great book! Lets all pitch in and make this a best seller for Kev!
smammon - I would agree with you. I wish publishers would start creating more eBooks.
I would much rather carry my Z around with a dozen or so PDFs instead of a dozen "dead tree" books.
Jim
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Was off to Inverness to compete in a fencing tournament. Got to say I was overwhelmed by everyones support when I came back and read the posts. Thanks all.
ag0ny, you will be able to get the paperback direct from me at £7.99 including postage and packing. The Euro is stronger against the pound than the dollar, so hopefully thats an OK price for all of us in Europe, as a lot of these books are that cost + postage.
As I mentioned before, it may be cheaper for folks in the states to buy through Amazon, when it appears there. I'll probably get the info from the publishers on Monday or Tuesday.
Again, thanks for the support, glad you're enjoying Z4CK
Kev