NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/

I just thought I'd share this little nugget of priceless knowledge. I found it searching through my usual randomness on the net, and I knew I wouldn't be the only one who would love having a HUGE library at their disposal.

Support these people, folks. They are doing an important job for humanity. Think of this as the equivalent of the living books in Fahrenheit 451.

Peruse away. :)

interesting...

Steve...Gutenberg?

:D

Yeah. Steve Gutenberg.

I have to be serious, though, because there might be kids out there who are unaware that literature and knowledge was made available to all via the printed word, brought to us by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press.

bumpty bump.

It's an excellent resource, and for those college students studying literature that is out of copyright, invaluable.

They are, as I recall, unabridged versions; they are allowed to present them because the copyrights have expired and the materials are now in the public domain.

It's a shame more copyrights haven't expired.

I'm really trying to plug this, because it's important to keep this stuff in circulation.

Here's some more for you. If you actually like sci-fi, then check this link out. It's a publisher who is making back catalogue items available for free online.

http://www.baen.com/library/

It's a shame more copyrights haven't expired.

I'm really trying to plug this, because it's important to keep this stuff in circulation.

Its also a shame lobby groups are pushing to have the IP rights extended. So books that were once free would be charged for again.

I have to be serious, though, because there might be kids out there who are unaware that literature and knowledge was made available to all via the printed word, brought to us by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press.

Well, actually he didn't invent the printing press as such - these had been in use in the Far East for at least 600 years prior to him - nor is he the first person to have come up with using moveable metal type - once again in China and Korea these pre-existed him by hundreds of years.

Well, actually he didn't invent the printing press as such - these had been in use in the Far East for at least 600 years prior to him - nor is he the first person to have come up with using moveable metal type - once again in China and Korea these pre-existed him by hundreds of years.

Fair enough, but he was the first westerner who did it, and I think that qualifies as a good enough move to make him the one who opened up the printed word and information for everyone in our realm of focus.

The Chinese were also the first to make fireworks, and I think that is far more important.

The Chinese were also the first to make fireworks, and I think that is far more important.

You would. ;)