Updated 19-Jan-2008

Due to an onslaught of SPAM I am changing my primary eMail address. Updated eMail address and PGP encryption key data is located on our contact information page.

Updated 31-DEC-2007

Special Offer on Earthbound paperbacks: Save $2.00/title when you buy the original Earthbound Trilogy; or, save $2.50/title when you buy the entire Earthbound series. Details here.

Updated 11-NOV-2007

I received an email from a reader who was kind enough to point out what he saw as inconsistencies within Earthbound and its sequels. Since this note arrived anonymously, through an anonymous remailer, I have no way to respond to him directly; therefore I am doing so in the form of an open letter.

The original message reads:

I enjoyed reading Earthbound Series. But; there was some
inconsistencies: Nykkyo didn't know what underwear was when he
previously lowered his under-garments.  Also, Quinn's postulate is
paradoxical only if the pre-cognizance is the only event; otherwise the
only happening is a new time line.
 The inertial sink concept seems to oppose the natural law of physics
(every action has an equal and opposite reaction).  If an object is not
solidly fixed to its moving frame,  it will continue to move in its
direction when the sink is imposed.
 It seems that Tomyka only being able to break a tie is highly
self-serving,  The Tie-Breaking vote who's life depends upon the vote is
highly suspect.
 Why was it necessary for Janna to give Nykkyo her personal
communication code if he already had it?
		

Addressing these issues individually:

• Of course Nykkyo knows what underwear is. He's been living on Earth. He was making a joke. You see, when Suki asks what's worn beneath the tunic, this is an allusion to the old joke about what a Scottsman wears beneath his kilt. And, when she asks about underwear and Nyk responds, "What's that," he's being self-deprecating while at the same time ... oh, never mind...
• Yes, that's exactly how Quinn's Postulate operates.
• The inertial sink is opposed to natural laws of physics as we understand them today. The gadget is close kin to the warp coil (which also is opposed to the natural laws of physics). Both are the sorts of devices Science Fiction writers invent with the expectation readers will suspend some of their disbelief and get on with enjoying the story. [By the way, did you ever wonder what physics are in play when Scotty beams up Kirk? Me, neither.]
• Tomyka? Self-serving? No more so than Dick Cheney when he's presiding over the Senate and a tie vote is tallied.
• Janna, being the wife of a colonial chancellor would take no chances with her locator code. After all, she's not listed in the white pages. Besides, maybe it changed since last time he had the opportunity to call.

Seriously, if anyone would like to discuss themes, motifs or devices employed in the Series, drop me a line. Also, if there's interest in starting an Earthbound blog, let me know.

updated 6-FEB-2007

PDF formatted ebooks now have active table-of-contents.

For the most satisfying experience using PDF:
- Maximize the size of Acrobat Reader
- From the menu bar select VIEW -> FIT PAGE or VIEW -> FIT WINDOW (depending on your version of Acrobat Reader)
- Select the Bookmarks tab for table of contents

updated 29-JAN-2007

The PDF version of The Lexal Affair posted on 1/22 was missing its table of contents. Other formats were not affected by this error. I've posted a new version, one in which Chapter 10 was split in half to yield 17 chapters. The reason for this was to avoid an overly-long chapter in the audiobook version. No other content changes were made.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

updated 24-JAN-2007

Earthbound celebrates 25,000 downloads. To mark this milestone, we are giving away a FREE hardcover copy of the Earthbound Series in a prize drawing. Here for details.

Holiday Greetings. It's that time of year again, and time to remind readers that Earthbound Pocket Edition hardcovers and paperbacks make great gifts. Perhaps you've enjoyed the Earthbound eBooks and know of someone else who would appreciate them but isn't into electronic media.

From now through December, all US Domestic orders of Earthbound books (including Lise) will receive FREE USPS First Class or Priority shipping (instead of our usual free Book Rate shipping). Remember, you may place your order online with any major credit card via Pay Pal -- and you don't need to sign up with Pay Pal in order to use their service.

You may subscribe to Earthbound audiobook podcasts easily using Podcast Ready [www.podcastready.com]. This is a simple and easy-to-use web based podcast aggregator that will deliver podcasts directly to your PC or player. To subscribe, click the Podcast Ready button on our audiobook/podcast page.

Visit our new Hommages and Inspirations page and see the seeds of Earthbound's concepts.

Earthbound Audiobooks, read by the author, are now available for download. These are mp3 audio files, compatible with mp3 players, iPods, pocket PCs and laptop and desktop systems. Those with the appropriate conversion software (Rip Mix Burn) may burn their own audio CDs from these files.

We are also offering an RSS feed [ earthbound.xml ] so listeners with podcast receivers (Juice, iTunes, etc) may receive the latest installments automatically.

This offering is an experiment, as well as a work-in-progress. I intend to post new chapters at weekly intervals; perhaps more often. We'll see how this goes. I see a lot of people walking around with iPods in their pockets and little white phones screwed into their ears, so I'm optimistic. At the very least, readers may now hear what Lingwafloran sounds like when spoken.

Thanks to avid reader Razvan for bringing this mode to my attention.

We now offer The Earthbound Series in MobiPocket format. MobiPocket readers are available for FREE download from MobiPocket.com and are available for Windows PCs, Palm PDAs, and a number of other handheld devices including smart phones. A reader emulator for MS/Windows is also available.

This looks like a nice multi-platform format that permits you to read the same eBook on your PC or handheld.

We've joined Hunt's Literary Toplist. I'm open-minded, but skeptical about toplists (having had a less than delightful experience with them in the past) but this looks like a good one. If you're a fan of Earthbound (or even if you're not), consider taking a moment to rate or review the books we offer at this site.

updated 20-JAN-2006:

RPK Hunt has a new site complete with on-line reading resources, banner exchange, ebook directory, forums... the works.

updated 31-DEC-2005:

We're celebrating 20,000 downloads of Earthbound with a FREE giveaway drawing.

updated 11-DEC-2004:

We've rolled out major changes to our website, mainly to streamline navigation and make it easier to use.

All the books in the Series are now available as hardcovers in pocket editions (paperback-sized).

Wanna know how to get rid of SPAM? for a sure-fire trick.

The EARTHBOUND Series would be BANNED in Alabama under a lawmaker's proposal.

updated 30-JUN-2004:

Volume V of the Earthbound series, titled The Lost Colony is now available for download or online reading.

updated 1-JUN-2004:

We have a winner in our Earthbound 10,000 download giveaway. Congratulations, Sharalee.

This was fun. We'll look for another excuse to do it again someday. The most rewarding part of web publishing has been receiving warm words from all over the world. If Earthbound had been published through the traditional route, what would be the liklihood of it finding readers in Romania, Indonesia, Cook Island, Trinidad, or even England, France or Australia? Thanks to everyone who has written and participated.

updated 20-May-2004:

Checkout our nice listing in Fiction Factor

updated 17-May-2004:

This is your website... This is your website on drugs... Someone must've slipped my server something wicked because the site looked like it had been through a Cuisinart (and, I didn't have a proper backup ... I know, I know...). I've put Humpty Dumpty back together as well as possible. My apologies for any inconvenience, and if you see anything amiss, please drop me a line.