Kelly Link’s gorgeous short story collection now a CC download #10yrsago

mostlysignssomeportents:

Kelly Link’s short story collection Stranger Things Happen is one of the strongest, most original books of stories I’ve ever read, comparable to modern classics like Ted Chiang’s Stories of Your Life and Others.

Now comes the news that, 1) Kelly has a new collection out (w00t! w00t!) and 2) that she has released all the stories from her
first collection as free downloads under a Creative Commons license
(w00t! w00t! w00t!)!

Gavin sez,

Link’s new collection received a starred review from Publishers Weekly
– and praise from writers such as Michael Chabon and Alice Sebold. Her
stories are published in everything from literary journals (Fence),
genre anthologies (The Faery Reel), zines (One Story, Say) to
McSweeney’s Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales and have been awarded
the Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Nebula Awards.

Publisher Gavin Grant says he and Link were inspired by author and
copyright activist Cory Doctorow who had put each of his books online
under a Creative Commons license.

“We’re a tiny independent press,” said Grant. “Of course we want to
explore different methods of getting our books out to readers – and in
spreading the word about Creative Commons. We don’t expect this to kill
sales. If anything (fingers crossed), it may help. After all, the book
is already available in hundreds of libraries, on print.google.com,
Amazon.com’s Search Inside program, and even on BookCrossing. None of
these programs have stopped the book from finding readers.”

From Link’s “Flying Lessons”

Listen, because I’m only going to do this once. You’ll have to get there
by way of London. Take the overnight train from Waverly. Sit in the
last car. Speak to no one. Don’t fall asleep.

When you arrive at Kings Cross, go down into the Underground. Get on the
Northern line. Sit in the last car. Speak to no one. Don’t fall asleep.

The Northern line stops at Angel, at London Bridge, at Elephant and
Castle, Tooting Broadway. The last marked station is Morden: stay in
your seat. Other passengers will remain with you in the car. Speak to no
one.

These are some of the unlisted stations you will pass: Howling Green.
Duke’s Pit. Sparrowkill. Stay in your seat. Don’t fall asleep.

If you look around the car, you may notice that the other passengers
have started to glow. The bulbs on the car dim as the passengers give
off more and more light. If you look down you may find that you yourself
are casting light into the dark car.

The final stop is Bonehouse.

Link (Thanks, Gavin!)