Location: United States
Member Since: April 15, 2011

eCapris reviews


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reviews of ebooks that are shorter than usual (100 pages or less)

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Smashwords book reviews by eCapris reviews

  • Waiting For Orders on April 18, 2011
    star star star star star
    This review originally appeared on my eCapris review site. ... There's a trend developing in ebook self- or smallpress publication: that of a work replete with sentence structure issues, blatant typos, and formatting issues. Let me clarify: "Waiting for Orders" does not contribute to this trend. Instead, it's a feisty member of the small gang of ebooks that have been well-edited and published with integrity. Typically, my task isn't so easy. I'm providing my readers with a resource: if they want to find a short ebook that's worth even a little bit of their time, they can come here. The difficulty resides in wading through the short ebooks and spotlighting those that deserve attention. The saddest thing is that so many writers have excellent ideas - intriguing, funny, witty, dynamic ideas. But they fail to recruit a proofreader. Initiating this one action during the self- or smallpress publication process would make such an incredible difference, I'm surprised it's not obvious (isn't it obvious?). Or, if they are publishing with a smallpress, their manuscript is poorly edited somewhere along the way (perhaps even sadder than the previously saddest thing, because stamping a publisher's name on a title should insure that the work is of high quality). I don't know if Miles proofread and edited his short ebook himself or if someone else on the publishing road cracked at it. Either way, it's well-executed and a pleasure to read. I read through the first quarter of it without knowing what I was in for. Well played, Mr. Miles. As soon as I reached that sentence (that hinge, that sentence that makes you stop short and go "Wait a second..."), I had to click back and make sure I hadn't gone mentally astray at some point. I hadn't. The story goes somewhere I never would have expected, an intellectual space that is usually reserved for children and romantic picnickers. But not here - "Waiting for Orders" readers are allowed a little brainplay. I can't let you in on too much detail concerning the story, because I don't want to rob you of that hinge moment. I will, however, reiterate: This story is well-written, well-executed, and intriguing. The author employs a new idea and plays with it. It's free, only takes 20 minutes to read, and is a good example of self- or smallpress ebook publishing. Also, in the beginning pages, Miles suggests that the reader mentally narrate the story with the voice of young Jack Nicholson. I have never, in all my reading life, been issued such a suggestion (for any voice, let alone one so particular), but listen here - it was a great time! I found myself chuckling at chunks of dialogue I might not have found as humorous if I didn't have that voice drawling its way around my skull. Also, thinking about young Jack Nicholson somehow made me feel that this short story, published in 2010, was somehow classic! Neat trick. And the ending! Boy, I didn't see that coming either. It ended rather abruptly for my taste; I wanted more! The quick-draw ending doesn't soften the piece, though. It just leaves the reader itching for more Miles.