“It Had Been Three Hundred And Fifty-Seven Years…

… three months, and four days since the emancipation of humanity. And for most, it did them little good.”

Now that’s an opening. After all, it isn’t a space opera without SCALE (as Doc Smith would put it).

I’ve already gone on a bit about my experiences in getting myself a copy of Tobias S. Buckell’s second novel, Ragamuffin, and I hadn’t intended to talk about it again until my formal review, but here’s a bit of news.

Mr. Buckell (who is quickly becoming one of my favorite current writers, right alongside Arturo Pérez-Reverte) now has the first third of his new novel available to be read for free on his website.

Check it: Ragamuffin

I myself am making my way through a hard copy of the book in a frenzied manner, and so far it’s really good, but that’s all I’ll say about that until I’ve finished it. Buckell is actually offering the possibility sweet, sweet rewards to those who want to post a link, but I hope I’m believable when I say that I really just want to spread the word about a really good book (and a marketing technique that I like). Oh, and any excuse to show that image of the cover again.

(Not that I’d mind getting some free stuff.)