33 votes

Humble Bundle - John Scalzi collection benefiting World Central Kitchen

11 comments

  1. Weldawadyathink
    Link
    Unlike some of the other book bundles I have bought, which are fulfilled through Kobo and need the (quite trivial) DRM removed, these are all DRM free. You get a bunch of links to download the...

    Unlike some of the other book bundles I have bought, which are fulfilled through Kobo and need the (quite trivial) DRM removed, these are all DRM free. You get a bunch of links to download the epubs. Love that. I already own most of these on audiobook, and I usually just pirate the epub if I want to read it myself, but it's nice to not need to deal with that.

    8 votes
  2. [4]
    Chemslayer
    Link
    I've only read Starter Villain, but that was a fun and good book, if a quick read. And between the usual humble cut to charity, and all of Scalzi's personal profit going to another charity, seems...

    I've only read Starter Villain, but that was a fun and good book, if a quick read. And between the usual humble cut to charity, and all of Scalzi's personal profit going to another charity, seems like a pretty sweet gig

    5 votes
    1. [3]
      DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      A lot of his stuff is snarky more silly fun like that - Kaiju Preservation Society is one example. Redshirts is doing a meta thing about the expendable people on the different ship. Agent to the...

      A lot of his stuff is snarky more silly fun like that - Kaiju Preservation Society is one example. Redshirts is doing a meta thing about the expendable people on the Enterprise different ship. Agent to the stars is about being an agent to the stars ( I don't remember much about this one). The presidents brain is missing is pretty literal too.... Maybe cathartic right now.

      Most of his stuff has a decent level of snark from the characters though it varies. He also experiments with writing genderless POV main characters. Not that the person doesn't necessarily have a gender but you the reader aren't told about it. Most of the time you don't notice it.

      Old Man's War is an ongoing series about a future where retirees are recruited to be space soldiers! A number of the series are included here. I have not read all of them.

      The Collapsing Empire is first in the Interdependency trilogy about humans in space dealing with the potential collapse of their transportation network, risking planets being isolated and the death of [large number] of people!

      Lock-In and sequels is about a person who pops into Android bodies to engage with the world, because they are experiencing a medical condition causing "lock-in syndrome". Stuff happens. Mystery solving iirc.

      That's the ones I've read at least.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        Dr_Amazing
        Link Parent
        Agent to the Stars is about a film agent who gets contacted by a group of aliens who want him to help manage their image and make a plan for them to reveal themselves to humanity. Its a neat idea...

        Agent to the Stars is about a film agent who gets contacted by a group of aliens who want him to help manage their image and make a plan for them to reveal themselves to humanity.

        Its a neat idea but probably my least favorite of his books that I've read.

        2 votes
        1. DefinitelyNotAFae
          Link Parent
          Yeah it's kind of what it says on the tin. But I also think it was one of his earlier books. Although to be honest, I really don't recall. I also haven't read a few of his other standalones or...

          Yeah it's kind of what it says on the tin. But I also think it was one of his earlier books. Although to be honest, I really don't recall. I also haven't read a few of his other standalones or adaptations of others work. Overall he seems like a decent dude and I enjoy him most of his writing

          1 vote
  3. [5]
    d32
    Link
    I despise humble bundle since they removed the option to freely adjust the target split of the money. Look at the default here: Default Donation €13.75 to Macmillan Publishers €1.25 to World...

    I despise humble bundle since they removed the option to freely adjust the target split of the money. Look at the default here:

    Default Donation

    €13.75 to Macmillan Publishers
    €1.25 to World Central Kitchen
    €10 to Humble 
    

    Extra to Charity

    €11.87 to Macmillan Publishers
    €3.75 to World Central Kitchen
    €9.37 to Humble 
    

    That's some extra! Charity still gets 3x less than the "humble".

    Even if you choose a custom split, there's a minimum of 7.5 to them.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      Sure, you can only drop Humble down so low - they do need to run, but idk their accounting. But you can put the charity up to $17.49 and the publisher at $.01 on a $25 donation. I think that's...

      Sure, you can only drop Humble down so low - they do need to run, but idk their accounting. But you can put the charity up to $17.49 and the publisher at $.01 on a $25 donation.

      I think that's decently worthy, personally

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        d32
        Link Parent
        I also don't know their numbers but emotionally, they don't deserve 30-100% (40 by default) of the proceeds. Screw them.

        I also don't know their numbers but emotionally, they don't deserve 30-100% (40 by default) of the proceeds. Screw them.

        1. DefinitelyNotAFae
          Link Parent
          I mean that's fine, I'd say don't buy it, donate to charity instead, buy the books normally if you want to read them. Scalzi certainly donates to his own foundation from those sales too.

          I mean that's fine, I'd say don't buy it, donate to charity instead, buy the books normally if you want to read them. Scalzi certainly donates to his own foundation from those sales too.

          1 vote
    2. patience_limited
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Thank you for mentioning that. Even with the "Custom Donation" option, I still can't get the Humble portion down under 30%, which is definitely a change from the last time I bought a bundle and an...

      Thank you for mentioning that. Even with the "Custom Donation" option, I still can't get the Humble portion down under 30%, which is definitely a change from the last time I bought a bundle and an obscene money grab. I didn't have a problem giving Humble a 10% cost for the service, but 30% is Apple levels of greed and extra dreadful as a bite out of a charitable donation.

      3 votes