Full Share
A Trader’s Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper
The Lois McKendrick runs headlong into trouble when a routine in-system transit goes bad. Ishmael and the rest of the crew must scramble to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it in order to keep the ship alive. Learn more about the officers and crew as they struggle to keep their ship and discover how Ishmael finds out how wrong he’s been about what it means to be a spacer in this latest Trader’s Tale.
AVAILABLE NOW AT Podiobooks.com
Comments
Comment from E
Time: May 27, 2007, 9:20 pm
Excellent!! I’ve been hoping for a third book! Then a fourth and fifth, etc. Thank you!!
Comment from Walter
Time: May 29, 2007, 7:11 pm
Realy great books. Well thought out and consistant. Cant wait for Full Share and any other of your works. You have a real talent so that in your mind you can really see the people and places.
Thanx Again
Walter
Comment from Glitch_Chaos
Time: June 3, 2007, 9:12 am
Yea! okay, when in June? I can’t wait much longer without going more insane than I already am. 
Keep up the excellent work!
Comment from Stef
Time: June 4, 2007, 2:43 am
Loved the first two books and will keep an eye on podiobooks.com for Full Share (and the next…and the next!) Thanks again for the regular smiles you put on my face.
Comment from Nick ‘Zaf’ Clifford
Time: June 11, 2007, 4:50 am
Hey, great books so far. Looking forward to Full Share. Hurry up and post it 
Comment from matthew
Time: June 13, 2007, 4:51 pm
just wondering how much longer till you drop full share
Comment from Ross
Time: June 14, 2007, 10:42 pm
Yeah, when in June?!? Give us a hint? Please…
Comment from Geordon
Time: June 15, 2007, 5:59 am
I’m with the other folks… When is Full Share expected to start dropping? The first two books were enthralling, in that they were space-opera, but “Everyman” focused. I can’t wait to see what Ishmael does with the trades that he’s been picking up!
Comment from Nate
Time: June 15, 2007, 6:40 am
Today is a full day of recording. I’m hoping for at least two full epis for the Sunday drop and those who’ve subscribed to the email feed might get a little present in the form of an early link
Wish me luck! I’m goin’ in!
Comment from Nate
Time: June 16, 2007, 8:57 am
Between 8pm and midnight last night 10 people got an early download of episode one. Nobody has a comment??
Comment from Bob
Time: June 16, 2007, 9:17 am
You mean like…… dang nab it; where is the email list?
Ah just found it……..
Send another send another send another
Comment from MasterlyMerrill
Time: June 16, 2007, 10:31 am
Thanks for the sneak preview of Full Share. It has a different feel from Quarter Share and Half Share–darker. I’m glad Ish is on back with his education and career advancement. I’m confused about his personal life. His sexuality has been turned on full force and I don’t think either he or I has been prepared for this. I hope the optimistic, curious Ish will resurface.
Comment from Geordon
Time: June 16, 2007, 3:25 pm
Sob! I was subscribed to the list but did not get the email. Woe is me!
Comment from matthew
Time: June 16, 2007, 6:49 pm
it so rocks. you did a kick ass job
Comment from Jay
Time: June 17, 2007, 5:33 pm
Is there anyway else other than podio books to get a episode. I keep checking them and don’t see anything yet. Can’t wait to hear what Ish is up to. Thanks
Comment from Nate
Time: June 17, 2007, 6:15 pm
I think I missed this week’s drop.
Comment from Jay
Time: June 17, 2007, 6:44 pm
Thank you so much.And as always Great Job.
Comment from Geordon
Time: June 17, 2007, 8:14 pm
Thanks so much for posting the link for Chapter 1 of Full Share.
I haven’t seen it mentioned previously, but the audio quality of the first two books was great, and Chapter 1 sounds just as good. I’d also like to comment that your voice, Nathan, is delightful for the story-telling, and your enunciation is great. The whole thing sounds like a retelling of a memoir.
Thanks for a wonderful universe and story.
Comment from router explorer
Time: June 18, 2007, 11:12 am
Nate
Thanks for posting episode one – the shakes have subsided a little
Excellent job – engaging patient-mode…
Comment from quandmeme
Time: June 19, 2007, 12:28 pm
Thanks for the link, I think I’m on the mailing list but didn’t get an email. After my criticism, I had forgotten how much I like your writing and reading. Thanks, well done.
Comment from Joan
Time: June 20, 2007, 12:15 pm
I was signed up for a email notification but didn’t get one and the link above is not working for me (says there is a problem with a plug-in on the page. Getting jittery – I know there’s an episode but I can’t see it! Arghhhh!
Could you send me the link, please, Nate (Nate’s assistant)? Joan
Comment from matthew
Time: June 20, 2007, 12:27 pm
that means is on your end. if your using firefox then you can get quicktime and install it that should fix it
Comment from Joan
Time: June 20, 2007, 12:30 pm
I reinstalled quicktime but didn’t work from this link, but…. found email notification archive, and that link (which looks exactly the same!) worked just now! Gremlins? Thanks for such a quick response, Matthew! I’m off to the deep dark!
Comment from Nate
Time: June 20, 2007, 12:49 pm
“Nate’s assistant”??
ROFL
You flatter me.
Comment from Joan
Time: June 20, 2007, 1:07 pm
A good introductory chaper to “Full Share”, Nate! I like the way you dropped little snippits about what happened so far in the story line, as reminders to old friends and to make it stand alone for new listeners who haven’t heard the previous two books.
I’m glad to know that Ish has some mixed feelings about the relationship issues we visited in book two. I don’t find it darker, Ish has a lot to integrate into his new life on the ship and he did get a little side-tracked from his original plans by the social scene, so it makes sense that he is reviewing his path and pondering his future. Takes me back to how I felt at 18, not quite grown-up yet, but beginning to understand the ramifications of adulthood. I felt a flutter of excitement at the mention of the academy -what a cool option that would be for Ish!
The audio quality is terrific and your narration is still totally engaging. I’m thrilled to be back at Ish’ side, as a silent companion, living vicariously his life in the deep dark. As my daughter says, “Cool beans!”
Once again, looking forward to hearing the next episode!
Joan
Comment from Joan
Time: June 20, 2007, 1:12 pm
Matthew, keep up the good work and maybe Nate will give you a raise! Ha Ha!
Joan
Comment from Greg
Time: June 20, 2007, 7:26 pm
My wife hasn’t heard the first two books yet, but she stole my MP3 and heard the first chapter of Full Share. She’s hooked! I was hooked after the first minute of Quarter Share! Keep up the great work! I hope you have started on the next book, I’m not sure what I will do when this saga is over!
Comment from Ross
Time: June 21, 2007, 8:41 pm
I am trying to convince my fiance’s mother, who is a 8th grade school teacher, to read Quarter Share with her class. She needs a book with great character development and a sense of mild suspense. I believe this books works perfectly. She likes the audio book aspect of your work but insists the class follow along through reading and not just listening. Any idea if this would be possible?
Comment from Lar
Time: June 22, 2007, 6:16 am
Thanks so much for the advance look at Full Share! I came in to this late, but I loved both Quarter Share and Half Share.
I have to tell you, I’m really hating the “podcast effect”. I got spoiled listening 1/4 and 1/2 pretty much straight through. This waiting for episodes thing is for the birds.
Comment from Nate
Time: June 22, 2007, 8:36 am
The podcast effect turns off a lot of people. But then there are those who love it. Myself, I see it as a new application of an old technique in serialized story telling. The advantage is that you *can* wait until the book is complete and get it all at once and listen.
Comment from Sarah
Time: June 24, 2007, 11:08 pm
Is there a projected date in June for “Full Share” to hit podiobooks? How long does it take for turnaround site-side before things actually make it to the public? I check every day and so far am frustrated.
waiting impatiently ,
-Sarah
Comment from Nate
Time: June 24, 2007, 11:16 pm
It’s in there. I’m just waiting for it to hit update. They’ve changed update crews and doing them more frequently but new titles need extra work.
Comment from Ben
Time: June 25, 2007, 1:15 pm
Another day, still no updates at podiobooks. I think the anticipation has reached a fever pitch, I know I’m certainly foaming at the mouth.
For a little extra fix I found the second episode at http://durandus.org/media/PB-FullShare-02.mp3
Sorry Nate it was just too tempting to try!
Thanks for the amazing series Nate, I’m looking forward to hearing the rest through non-link editing methods
Comment from matthew
Time: June 25, 2007, 4:57 pm
thanks for putting up esp 2
its sounds real good and the music is at the right
level
Comment from Ross
Time: June 25, 2007, 9:53 pm
How do I get Full Share episodes?!? People keep talking about ep 1, ep2… WHERE ARE THEY!!!!? Or do I have to wait for podiobooks?
Comment from Nate
Time: June 25, 2007, 10:21 pm
Comment from Nate
Time: June 25, 2007, 11:24 pm
The book’s been posted at PB as of about an hour ago.
Comment from Nick ‘Zaf’ Clifford
Time: June 26, 2007, 5:24 am
Podiobooks version was broken as of just now.
404’s when clicking the episode lists,
Feed is empty when subscribing.
But it appears to only be the first two episodes either way. I’m looking forward to the next parts of the novel
Comment from matthew
Time: June 26, 2007, 6:18 am
ya they mess up the links its not just for full share
Comment from Joe
Time: July 1, 2007, 6:35 pm
Nate – Listened to episodes 3 through 5 as soon as I downloaded. Excellent…. It is amazing how quickly they go… Keep up the good work. Thank You
Comment from Greg
Time: July 2, 2007, 7:57 pm
Talk about edge of your seat suspense! I was listening to 3 through 5 while washing my truck. My wife ran outside when she heard me yelling! I was so into the story I was shouting at Ish trying to encourage him. LoL
Keep up the great work!
Comment from quandmeme
Time: July 2, 2007, 9:47 pm
I was trying to be so disciplined. I set podiobooks to everyother day. But episode 3 was too good. It broke my resolve to savor the episodes throughout the week–I clicked release all now and started in.
Some really like your cover art, you might also solicit fan art. Some blogs I frequent recently solicited logo and business card redesigns from fans and got, IMHO, some great ones to choose from for free, well just for the cost of giving props. Just an idea. You’re up front about using public domain media, that may be deliberate, but it might also look amateurish in you efforts to woo a publisher. You have a fan base, I imagine many are more talented than me.
Comment from Dave
Time: July 5, 2007, 1:13 pm
I really enjoyed the last three episodes (3 to 5).
What a roller coaster 3 and 4 were, glad you didn’t make us wait a week between those – I had to re-listen to them as soon as they finished, keep it up.
Will we be able to get these in print, I’d really like to get my hands on a copy.
Comment from Ross
Time: July 9, 2007, 9:48 pm
When do we get the next batch of episodes? I expected podiobooks to update on Sunday so I could get me fix of Full Share for this week. However, there were no files. What gives?
Comment from Nate
Time: July 9, 2007, 10:23 pm
There’s been three episodes in the queue there since Saturday morning. They’re a little backlogged and have people doing the updates while on family vacation even. They’ll be up as soon as PB gets them loaded. And I’ve got another already for next week’s update.
Delays are out of my hands at this point.
Comment from Peter
Time: July 10, 2007, 10:29 am
Yea! Thanks for the update. We addicts are high maintenance! Thanks Nate.
Comment from matthew
Time: July 10, 2007, 4:47 pm
Nate sorry that people are mad at you for things that are not in your hands. I must say I love how you have him help the brig crew with the labtop I total understand how he could get it
Comment from Geordon
Time: July 10, 2007, 11:36 pm
Come on, Podiobooks… Manual updates to the feeds is not exactly a great way for a technically oriented media company to operate.
Unless, of course, they QA the episodes before they post ‘em.
In any case, Nate, the fact that your listeners are so rabid for the next episode is merely a credit to the quality of your work. Great production quality along with great story.
Wah! I want episode 6! Waaaaaaaa!!!!!!
Comment from Robb Bates
Time: July 11, 2007, 10:41 am
Hey Nate, Great series!
Call this a bug report:
I’m wondering how you record your book. The reason I’m asking is I listen to your podcasts using my Pocket PC with CorePlayer. When I listen using my Bluetooth Stereo Headphones, it sounds great. But when I try to listen through the PPC’s mono speaker, I can’t hear your voice. I can hear the music, but not you. I think it may have something to do with how the left and right channels are formatted. Since the dialog is naturally mono, maybe the left channel and the right channel waveforms are identical, but inverted. Thus when I listen through stereo headphones, each ear gets it’s own channel and I can hear it, but when listening through a mono speaker, the left and right channel waveforms get combined, and therefore cancelled out since they are just inverses of each other. I can kind of prove this since Coreplayer lets me output the audio as Stereo, Stereo swapped, Mono Joined, Mono Left or Mono Right. Only on Mono Left or Mono Right can I hear anything. With all the others I can barely hear a slight mumble of your voice.
So basically, I’m hoping you can look into this and maybe tweak the method you use to record the dialog.
Thanks and keep those episodes coming!!!
Robb
Comment from Nate
Time: July 11, 2007, 11:22 am
Actually I record in stereo using a BLUE 8-Ball mic thru a rather horrid Behringer pre-amp. I record into two channels into a high bitrate mp3 file (iRiver 799 at 372kbps stereo). The music is added in on post-production, after I’ve clipped out all the flubs. I mix in Audacity and I’ll look at the source files to see if I can confirm what you’ve found.
The system may WELL be inverting the tracks, but as for changing the processing … I doubt that I’m going to be making many changes at this point in the game.
There’s an episode coming (7, I think), where I had problems with one of the tracks and duplicated the left channel and replaced the original — if the channel inversion is the problem, then I suspect you’ll be able to hear that just fine.
And, stick with the headset! 
Comment from router explorer
Time: July 12, 2007, 8:12 pm
nate
this book is going great. and yes – so far the first person narrative is smooth and natural – big improvement over our sticky subject in QS – to wit,
WHY WHY!?! _more_ “damn yer good”!!
my tolerance for this riff is a sign for my overarching appreciation for your work at large. lets hope PB keeps the Ish-Drip flowing as we addicts try to cope.
Comment from Robb Bates
Time: July 13, 2007, 2:37 pm
Just D/L episodes 6,7 & 8. You’re right Nate, in ep. 6 and 8, I couldn’t hear your dialog from my mono speaker, but I could in ep. 7. And with my stereo headphones ep 7 definitely sounds mono whereas 6 and 8 have a spatial quality to them. So the channel inversion thing must be the problem. Oh well, I can still listen to them. Perhaps in your future episodes/books, you can change it somehow so mono speakers will work, but it will still sound nice in stereo.
Comment from Greg
Time: July 15, 2007, 7:59 pm
I tell myself I will make the chapters last. I won’t listen to them all at once. I will never stay up late at night listening….. I failed! 
Hello, my name is Greg and I’m an FS addict! I just can’t help myself! I need the rush, the first one calms me down I’m in a happy place! The problem is not wanting that feeling to leave, so I play the next…then the next. Before I know it they are all gone!
I’m desperate man! Can’t you just cover me this time! You know I’m good for it! Pleas just a few more chapters to get me through the week!!
Damn You’re good! Keep it up!
Comment from Josh
Time: July 16, 2007, 8:44 am
Thanks for the wonderful book! I’m jonesing for new episodes. I think this is worse than when I was listening to “The Rookie” by Scott Siegler. Just to make you feel good, I get on my podcatcher every morning and the very first feed I check for new updates is FS. Only after that do I check the 7th son feed or Mu Lafferty’s Heaven feed.
Any chance that you’re just going to take a week of vacation from your day job and finish recording and uploading the book in one shot?
Comment from Nate
Time: July 16, 2007, 8:52 am
I’m posting 9, 10, 11 up to PB today and then going out of town for 5 days. When I come back, I’ll be working on 12, 13, 14 — and that only leaves 15 and 16.
16 is a short epi with only the final chapter.
Comment from Glitch_Chaos
Time: July 16, 2007, 6:19 pm
I’m glad to hear more ep’s are on the way I am totaly addicted as well, and I got my mom hooked on the series too!
How are things going with Double Share? Well I hope!
Thanks for the hard work and great series.
I hope your time off will give you the energy to keep the show releases at this high of a rate… Or faster
G_G
Comment from Phil M
Time: July 19, 2007, 7:40 pm
Just working my way through Quartershare right now, have Halfshare and downloading Fullshare.
Is there going to to be another like Doubleshare? Cause your books are fantastic!
Keep up the great work.
Comment from Nate
Time: July 20, 2007, 5:59 am
I’m in the process of writing Double Share now. It’s being much stickier than the first three.
Comment from matthew
Time: July 20, 2007, 4:59 pm
I so love the way they play with cc’s mind and made him believe in the ship
Comment from Raph Allwright
Time: July 23, 2007, 5:52 pm
Just got up to date with Full Share episode 11. Listened to Quarter Share, Half Share and now Full Share in one week. Awesome stuff. Love the way you get the listener in with Mister Wong’s growing life aboard a Loise. Love the comic relief and real life stress and strain to Ish as time goes by. A Hornblower in Space, type of listen. Love it. And I am doing copies for my family and friends…
Comment from Josh
Time: July 24, 2007, 1:16 pm
Just listening to the episodes of Full share so far (for the 3rd time). Noticed epi 4 starts out with “you are listening to episode 4 of HALF SHARE”. Took me the 3rd or 4th time listening to it to catch it!
Comment from Nate
Time: July 24, 2007, 1:43 pm
Mercy sakes!! Lemme see if I can get that fixed!
Comment from Josh
Time: July 25, 2007, 8:23 am
I’ve just finished my 4th time through episodes 1-11. Are 12-14 coming out soon, or should I start over at 1 again?
Comment from Nate
Time: July 25, 2007, 8:44 am
I just uploaded 12 last night — it’ll be in the next Podiobooks posting set, I hope. Looking at the backlog, I’m not sure that’s true, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Unfortunately I was travelling last week and didn’t get my full recording schedule in so 13, 14, 15, and 16 are lagging. I’m recording tomorrow (Thursday) but Friday is another high demand business day. Updates will probably be delayed until I can finish post-production Saturday.
Sorry about that.
Comment from Phil M
Time: July 25, 2007, 7:37 pm
Good to hear you are starting Double Share, b/c I just cannot get enough of your books!
Your writing style is fresh and honest. Mature adult situations are dealt with tactfully, but without losing the raw sexual/sensual energy that Ish feels toward the women in his life.
I’m on Ep 10 of Full Share tonight and I’ll finish more on the train tomorrow morning.
Thanks for helping me pass the time, creating such a fine character to live vicariously through and for the laughs that I do not share with anyone else, but Ish.
Comment from Leemet
Time: July 27, 2007, 3:13 pm
Great books, i hope u can get them published, i´d love to have a harcopy of series. The story flows naturally, the characters are vibrant and wery belivable – you really have way with building worlds with words:P
Comment from Paladin
Time: July 30, 2007, 4:20 pm
I love these books. They take me back to when I used to play Rift Wars from Flying Buffalo. Rift Wars is a space trading play-by-mail game.
I want to know if more books are coming down the line.
Comment from Nate
Time: July 30, 2007, 4:37 pm
I’m working on Double Share now. It’s being sticky.
Comment from matthew
Time: July 31, 2007, 7:11 am
keep up the good work.
I am sure you fine the path your looking for.
Its better to find the right way and be happy
with what you have done then to put something
out your not happy with
Comment from Joe
Time: August 1, 2007, 4:00 am
Nate – There is a problem with the ep 13 feed it is only 1:25 long.
Comment from Nate
Time: August 1, 2007, 4:53 am
Thanks, Joe. I’m uploading a fresh file as I type this and the PB folks have been notified.
Comment from Josh
Time: August 1, 2007, 7:23 am
Nate,
You respond within the hour to just about every comment, no matter what time of day.
Do you ever sleep?
Comment from Nate
Time: August 1, 2007, 7:26 am
What is this “sleep” you talk about?
Comment from Nate
Time: August 1, 2007, 11:40 am
At the behest of a few really pesky fans i’ve loaded the glitched ep 13 here
Comment from matthew
Time: August 1, 2007, 11:47 am
thank you
oh sorry you got so many people do not understand
that its not up to you when they upload a fix
Comment from Glitch_Chaos
Time: August 2, 2007, 7:08 am
Thanks for getting ep 13 up so we could listen to it. It was another great show. But now, of course we have to start being “Pesky” for ep 14.
Funny, you and these episodes are just like Ish and the coffee
Comment from Nate
Time: August 2, 2007, 7:44 am
Well, the end is nigh!
Then you’re gonna start getting pesky for Double Share!
But I’m grateful for every pesky comment and each request for more content because it means that I’ve done what I wanted to do, and that’s tell stories that people want to hear.
So thanks to you all and keep your fingers crossed for that Parsec Award. Even if I only make the top 5 that’ll be a major accomplishment for me.
Comment from Ben
Time: August 3, 2007, 4:54 pm
How many episodes will be in Full Share? I like to wait until the end to start listening, but I am starting to get impatient because I love your work. I want to count down to the end so I can sit and listen all at once. Keep up the good work.
Ben
Comment from Nate
Time: August 3, 2007, 5:32 pm
There are 16. It’ll be in Podiobooks hands by tomorrow (Saturday) night.
N
Comment from Glitch_Chaos
Time: August 3, 2007, 9:36 pm
Time to be pesky again, well Maybe I can wait a little longer… Okay long enough More Please
Hey by the way if you need/want Proof Readers for the written version that, I hope, you’re submitting to publishers, I volunteer! my services for the Whole Series
You can contact me through Myspace here http://www.myspace.com/glitch_chaos If you’re at all interested. Otherwise Keep up the Great Work! but don’t forget to sleep every month or so.
Comment from Josh
Time: August 6, 2007, 12:57 pm
I hate it when you tell us you’ve uploaded the to PB. I think I’ve been checking PB twice an hour all day to see if they’ve updated yet.
Comment from Nate
Time: August 6, 2007, 2:24 pm
OK SORRY!! Chapt 15 and 16 are still on my harddrive.
You patience will be rewarded. Hang in there. The initial run of Epi 16 has to be redone and I’m in the process.
IT’S NOT PODIOBOOKS FAULT!!
Comment from Joe
Time: August 6, 2007, 5:50 pm
Hey everyone. Nate is just a few ratings from getting Qrarter Share in the top 10 overall # of votes on Podiobooks.com. Please show your support for his efforts and rate all three books as well as any future efforts.
Comment from Geordon
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:14 am
I can’t help but notice that there is a distinct difference between Nate’s fan-base and Scott Sigler’s fan-base. While both could be described as intense, there seems to be a lot of semantic differences. Scott’s fans seem to be generally much more “base” than Nate’s fans, who are somewhat more reserved.
Don’t get me wrong, Scott’s fans are a great lot, and I count myself as one of them. However, to put it in perspective, I see Nate’s fans as being more likely to be found in a country club type atmosphere, sitting down talking about politics and international (“interstellar?”) events over wine or cocktails, while Scott’s fans seem to be more the kind to be found at a sports bar, cheering their favorite atlhetic team over a few pitchers of beer.
That being said, the difference is good.
Oh, and I just rated/voted for all three Golden Age books on Podiobooks.
Calm seas and good trading, Nate!
P.S. I was quite amused to see what the root-cause of the systems problem in the Lois was. Talk about a little thing causing a huge mess!
Comment from Steve
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:33 am
Nate, thank you so VERY much and keep up the wonderful stories!
Like everyone else on here… I’m really not sure what I’ll do when Ish’s tales are done. Probably listen to them all over again… till my mp3 player breaks.
Hoping to see the books in print!
Comment from Lar
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:46 pm
Geordon, I think the term you are searching for is “refined” and I wholeheartedly agree. This difference in fan base may stem from the content. The character of Nate’s stories seem to have a class and a sophistication about them which is in stark contrast to the more guttural nature of the typical Sigler yarn.
Both have their place, and I personally enjoy both. I agree that Nate’s stories are like a breath of fresh air blowing into the smoke filled bar of the podcasting world.
Comment from Geordon
Time: August 7, 2007, 4:39 pm
That’s the word I was looking for: “refined”! Thanks, Lar!
Additionally, I agree with you, that the difference probably comes from the content itself. After all, like begets like. As far as sophistication goes, though, you might tune into Scott’s latest “Bloodcast” for the story “Red Man”. It’s a different direction for Scott, in that there’s not much “blood” in it, but definitely a lot of thought-provoking content.
Comment from Lar
Time: August 7, 2007, 8:43 pm
Thanks for the tip about “Red Man”. I am one of Scott’s original junkies, so I have already caught it via the Bloodcast. The story had a very interesting premise, but I didn’t care for where he took it. It seemed like a very good appetizer without the main course.
Of his short fiction, I think I like “Sacred Cow” the best. If you’ve not caught the fantastic video adaptation done by Earl Newton and the Stranger Things guys, you should check it out.
I know Scott would like the fact that we have hijacked this comment thread and turned it into a Sigler love fest, so I’ll kill this right here. There is more than enough room in the podcasting world for Nate and Scott.
Now back to re-reading The Past Through Tomorrow awaiting the final two Full Share episodes. Thanks again for leading me back to early Heinlein Nate!
Comment from router explorer
Time: August 8, 2007, 9:50 am
Country Club? Good grief, where are you getting your “fan base” data from? Is the assumption that a story lacking profanity and blood necessarily draws a crowd with zero blood pressure? This is very confusing to me. I have listened to Scott’s Infection, Ancestor and Earthcore and was surprised at how little “gore and violence” they contained with the perpetual promise of “lots and lots of violence”. I find Scott’s stories interesting but all of the characters stereotypes that I never care about and his situations largely cliche. Nate’s story is quite the opposite. However, I find the subtle tension in the characters’ choices and situations to be akin to the kind of underlying anger in a Pink Floyd track. No violence and blood, but these are becoming very real people that I care about – for the story.
Full Share is making me wonder where all these other uber-beings Ish is working with have come from. I agree with Nate’s Mission Statement for the ‘Share’ series – that the protagonist is a regular kid with no special powers – but I am beginning to wonder how lucky could a guy be to live and work with people who to the man and woman are constantly looking out for his best interest. I mean, Ish has not really confronted his mother’s death yet, and similarly has not yet been truly tested. I’m afraid that until that test of fire occurs Ish will remain at heroism’s front door.
Could his estranged father provide this necessary gravitas?
Comment from matthew
Time: August 8, 2007, 10:11 am
I hate to tell you this but ish has confronted in a way not everyone does it in the same way. I mean when he figure out that you cry on the fliter (sp) on the way home he start to real understand about the death.
and that you have to put one foot in front of the other and move forward no matter what happens.
Comment from router explorer
Time: August 8, 2007, 10:44 am
Matthew: I think I understand what you are saying but I do not entirely agree. Ish had an emotional reaction to the death – but that is not the same thing as coming to terms with it. For all we know of Ish’s past – his mother constitutes close to 2/3s. Now it may not be important to the story and thats fine. There are other ways it could play out. However, having a good cry just won’t fix it in this case.
I also agree that Ish has many positive and healthy characteristics like moving forward “no matter what happens” – yet, this is not a problem for him. It appears to be his natural reflex to average life situations. What we do not know Ish is how he deals with extraordinary circumstance and what new, latent traits of his would emerge. Here is why I see it as a possible problem:
1) Ish continues to move forward and advance in his life with little effort; he himself remarks on this frequently.
2) His advancement and success are not by his own doing but the result of a) the little effort required of him and b) the input from his extraordinary crewmates.
So I would like to see Ish succeed by extreme effort and on his own in some way. I also think that the occasional references to his father being ‘out there’ could mean that Nate has something in mind to help Ish understand his mother and self in a new way.
Comment from router explorer
Time: August 8, 2007, 11:17 am
Don’t know why, but it suddenly occurred to me that I may have portrayed my need for a reconciliation more than I really would want for the story. Sure, Ish could just acknowledge and move on after his mother passes in a way, thats what Nate had him do. That could work out for the story in some way. No problem. I just have this gnawing feeling that it was an opportunity (and may remain one) to see how Ish make another developmental leap.
Anyhoo – I am not really arguing for any changes there. Sorry.
Comment from Joe
Time: August 10, 2007, 1:35 pm
Nate – I was wondering when the next episode would be available.
Joe
Comment from Nate
Time: August 10, 2007, 1:51 pm
I’m not sure, Joe. I’m redoing the last episode — we’re more than a few weeks ahead of schedule, but I’m hoping to get the re-do done this weekend and upload 15 and 16 by Monday. After that … when the update goes thru.
Sorry I can’t be more specific. I just dont know.
Comment from charley hardman
Time: August 12, 2007, 12:03 am
In part, I stopped listening to your audio books because the audio is now horrendous (after a supposed system improvement from Quarter Share). What you apparently view as the preamp adding space is simply one of the deepest errors an audio system can have — polarity inversion. In headphones, I hear the warmth and clarity of Patrick McLean’s intro (in glorious, appropriate mono), followed by my head getting pulled sideways by the searing phase incoherence of your system apparently having one of its wires/switches flipped accidentally. Mono voice audio is not in need of “correction” or widening; it’s often superior unaltered. No mic pre would be inverting the signal as an attempt to widen; it’s broken or not set properly.
I’m baffled by your stance that you probably won’t fix it. Generations of professional audio engineers have strenuously avoided phase incoherence, yet you’re sticking by a full polarity inversion (with its 100% mono incompatibility), despite complaints from listeners. As a former audio engineer, I assure you that it isn’t just slightly warped, it’s very badly warped. Inversion problems can wreck perceived power, EQ, stereo placement, and — as at least two listeners have noted — audibility itself.
If looking for stereo in the voice track, I highly recommend looking into the mid/side (M/S) technique. It requires a mixer and another mic, but offers full mono compatibility; the side microphone disappears completely in mono — this time intentionally, and with good result. If nothing else, please check your system; likely a cable is miswired, or you’ve a “phase” switch (misnomer for polarity) on the mic pre that should be toggled. Look for button(s) bearing a graphic of a circle with a slash through it, as here:
Comment from Nate
Time: August 12, 2007, 1:26 am
I thought you stopped listening because it was just too boring, Salty. (Yea I read the review)
As *not* a former audio engineer, but just a guy with a story to tell and no background what-so-ever in the field, please forgive my newbish stupidity, bumbling ineptitude, and rank incompetence in publishing 30 episodes of audio garbage. Thank you so much for your careful enumeration of my faults.
But help me understand this.
I’m using a BLUE 8-ball with this Behringer pre-amp
http://www.behringer.com/MIC200/index.cfm?lang=ENG
As you can see, there IS a phase reverse switch on it, but I’m running with it off.
Are you saying it should have been on all this time? How would I have known that? My initial test files showed the wave forms with an “offset” (the only term I have for it, but I’m sure you know what I should be calling it) but just in the opposite direction. If “pointing in” is a problem, then I’m failing to understand why “pointing out” would not be.
My stance that I won’t fix it is predicated on the notion that re-recording, re-editing, re-mixing, re-rendering, re-tagging, and re-submitting the 30 episodes is more than I can really take on. It’s taken me over 100hrs to get these created and, so far, I’ve heard from only about 5 people (all of whom are running monaural setups) that there’s a problem. There may be more that I don’t know about who bailed on me without complaint so I’m not sure how valid my observations are here.
You’re arguing that it’s worth my time (and the Podiobooks people’s time) to redo the 30 episodes for those people who may be coming along behind and using “glorious, appropriate mono”?
As for spending *another* $150 to buy another mic and a mixer in order to re-do what I’ve already done so that I can continue to give it away for free seems unlikely, altho I might be pursuaded to add to the inventory after I get the next three books written and ready for publication – probably sometime next year. Or the year after, if you convince me to stop writing new stories in order to redo what’s up there already.
So what’s your advice, guru? Spend the next two months redoing the work? And how would I know if the re-work is correct?
Comment from charley hardman
Time: August 12, 2007, 2:27 am
No, I didn’t stop listening because it was boring. As my review made clear, the boring (obviously used semi-ironically) part was half the attraction.
Thanks for the link to the pre specs. I think I know what happened. Any chance you’re using a Y-cable to take the tip/ring/sleeve (TRS) balanced mono output from the pre into a “left” and “right” split? I’ll assume the answer’s yes, because that (or similar, using the XLR out) is by far the most likely explanation. (Forget the phase switch, now that I see you’re using a mono pre.)
Balanced audio (something almost unheard of in the consumer world, and therefore foreign to the average person) is a signal carried over two-conductor, shielded cable. Each conductor carries a mirror image (flipped polarity) of the other, so that when it reaches its destination, those signals can be flipped again, bringing the desired signal into coherence, while canceling any interference (e.g., hum from fluorescent light fixtures) — in exactly the same way your mono listeners are having the desired audio canceled.
Rather than splitting the balanced signal into a false left/right, there are three options, all good. The first two assume the downstream device (e.g., computer, mixer) has an unbalanced (single-conductor shielded) connection.
1) Simply plug a tip/sleeve (TS) plug into the TRS output jack on the pre, terminating the balanced output right there. My theory correct, this is basically what you’ve been doing, but with the left/right confusion added in (you’ve received no noise-reduction benefit from the balanced output).
2) A more involved and finicky method — find or make a cable that carries the signal balanced until the next device, where it’s terminated unbalanced there. Not worth the effort in 99% of cases.
3) Assuming the downstream device has a balanced input, carry the signal through balanced, using the correct cable.
In all cases, barring the addition of another mic, you should be recording only in mono (or 2-channel if that’s more convenient, but recognizing that the signal’s the same on both sides, and, format depending, it might be using double the disk space for nothing — kinda like the current method, but without the polarity damage).
Re fixing the problem, I was only referring to future recordings. However, depending on if your mixes are automated, you could remix all of the files (not including episode 7, naturally) with little to no pain. Resubmitting would probably be the hardest part. The key thing though, in my opinion, is to eliminate the polarity inversion for future work. It’s nasty, and may be diverting potential listeners on the margin, as you theorized.
How to know if it’s correct? You’ve already demonstrated one of the better tests by recognizing when the waveforms pull away from each other visually. Thar she blows! When it comes to more subjective analysis, one of the best test I used in my studio was pulling up CDs of works I admire, comparing them directly to what I was mixing. That will tell you all sorts of things in a hurry, and almost always leads to improved product. Something about listening to the same mix over and over; easy to lose perspective.
Probably wouldn’t hurt, at least by the time you’re onto the next book, to get a few inches closer to the mic than the samples I’ve heard. If that leads to “P-pops”, a distance-mounted stocking screen will do the trick. Should you decide to rewire or make any changes, I’d be happy to give the new output a listen with my retired ears.
In any case, don’t feel that large amounts of time are required. You could do nothing but zap the right side of your current “stereo” voice track, pan the left to the center, and you’re jamming — basically what you did with episode 7. Not “wide” enough for you? Surely there’s a digital plug-in or something readily available that you’ll find pleasant enough. However, if you’re not going to mic in stereo, I advise — just like they do in the movies, on radio, and almost everywhere else — glorious, time-tested, solid mono.
Comment from charley hardman
Time: August 12, 2007, 3:30 am
Geek notice: Not having thought of balanced audio for years, I was reviewing just now and found that the differential-signal theory of noise reduction I spewed is sorta considered overblown these days — “impedance balancing” getting most of the credit. Regardless, the balanced output from the pre is differential, and the handling of it’s where the problem lies; though normally the cold phase of the balanced pair would be inverted back to match the hot, your cabling’s treating them as discrete signals, keeping them separate and incoherent.
Comment from Nate
Time: August 12, 2007, 6:15 am
Ah! I think you found the answer. I’m not using a y-cable per se — the Behringer has a stereo output jack — but I’m feeding that into an iRiver and recording in mp3 at 392kbps. That device *does* have the choice of recording in mono or stereo, but I picked stereo for the higher rate. (In mono it tops out at 96.) I’ll bet the iRiver is doing the offset. I wonder if Audacity will let me pan the signals back to the middle. I still have the source files for Full Share … hm
And I was teasing about the boring thing.
Thanks for the help and guidance!
Comment from charley hardman
Time: August 12, 2007, 10:28 am
I should have summarized at the beginning of that detailed explanation:
According to the link you provided, the Behringer Tube Ultragain MIC200 does NOT have a stereo output jack. It is a BALANCED MONO jack, and should not, in any practical scenario I can think of, be used with a standard stereo cable into the iRiver. THAT is the error.
A mono balanced signal is an enhanced method, using two conductors, of carrying a mono signal. Though two signals are used, there’s nothing stereo about it, and treating it as such has led to the polarity inversion problem. Not your fault; it’s that wacky Walkman/iPod convention of TRS stereo audio cables — an area previously confined only to 1/4″ stereo headphone jacks in pro audio. Can’t believe they aren’t warning consumers about this as pro and consumer audio meld.
I’d be happy to explain to you the best technical method of solving this problem (theoretically the lowest noise) via cabling, but for simplicity, just find a way to never use, EVER, the right side of your “stereo” .MP3 files from the iRiver. Consider the right side poison; it’s the inverted polarity signal.
The Behringer manual shows these connector types visually, if that would make it easier to understand. That may have been what led to you thinking it’s stereo though. Y’know, they really screwed up marketing a balanced output device to any normal consumer w/o explaining the pitfalls of confusing the TRS connector with a stereo signal. Even many musicians would be confused by this, though balanced signals are much more common on their gear.
Comment from Nate
Time: August 12, 2007, 11:17 am
AHHH! That DOES explain it. Had I been a little more diligent in my research, I probably would have been able to figure that out on my own — sometime next year.
Audacity does a good job of splitting the tracks and centering. I’ll talk to the Podiobooks people about retagging, and reloading the 14 episodes of Full Share as soon as I get 15 and 16 done. (Which I WILL do following these excellent sugestions!)
Thanks SOOO much for your guidance on this!
Comment from router explorer
Time: August 15, 2007, 10:24 am
Nate
the refresh button just fell off my browser.
Comment from Nate
Time: August 15, 2007, 10:32 am
that’s why you subscribe and let your reader lot it when it’s ready.
patience.
16 is going to be very large and it’s also going to be the last one for probably 8 or 9 MONTHS
nl
Comment from Joan
Time: August 15, 2007, 11:23 pm
Oh, Nate! 8 or 9 months? I know, you are demanding a life beyond the Lois McKendrick.
I have so enjoyed the series so far, it’s going to feel like I’m breaking up with Ish ’cause it’s best for him but the sorrow… I’m being silly but I will really miss my adventures into the Big Dark. I was hooked from the first Episode and it’s been a rapid but eventful journey.
I bet you didn’t realize how it would take off or how demanding your audience would be. You have truly spoiled us. I don’t see any other author penning excellent novels in so short a time, never mind giving audio files for free at the same quick pace. Thanks so much for bringing your story and characters to us.
I’ll look forward to the conclusion of “Full Share”, bittersweet though it may be and I’ll still be here (in good company at Podiobooks) awaiting the next series’ installment. You’ve worked hard and deserve to rest that brain of yours, parting is such sweet sorrow (oh, sorry, I was caught up in moment!).
Joan
PS. I checked out the websites listed on the home page. Most of it is over my head but the sites look wonderful!
Comment from Joan
Time: August 15, 2007, 11:24 pm
That should be Deep Dark, shame on me!
Joan
Comment from quandmeme
Time: August 17, 2007, 8:35 am
I just hope enough of us fans are donating to make your time on Double Share worthwhile. Whaddyasay, everyone, did you just pay for Quartershare and call it good, or have you donate for each one.
Comment from Ada Kerman
Time: August 17, 2007, 6:03 pm
I’ve paid for all three so far. I paid for Full Share after about five chapters….
Comment from Geordon
Time: August 17, 2007, 7:14 pm
As soon as the sludge stops hitting the ventilation system, I’ll be able to pony up for the books. It’ll be a first time for me.
I, for one, applaud Nate for finishing the first book, let alone the subsequent ones! There are several authors who started posting their works here then, for whatever reason, faded from sight somewhere in the middle of the story. I hate that.
I’ll be happy to wait the time necessary for the next installment of the saga to be brought to full term (I understand that writing can be a lot like giving birth!), since I have great faith that Double Share will be of the same story and production quality as Quarter, Half and Full Share have been.
(Ok, now that I’ve buttered you up, Nate, how comes the work on episode 16? )
All the best!
Comment from GRUMPYMANN
Time: August 20, 2007, 12:09 pm
Did I miss # 15?
Comment from Nate
Time: August 20, 2007, 12:35 pm
I dont think it’s been posted at PB yet, but you might look at
http://durandus.org/media/PB-FullShare-15.mp3
might be something there
N
Comment from GRUMPYMANN
Time: August 20, 2007, 1:19 pm
Thanks!
I HAVE to say that yours is the BEST Podcast on all of PB.
Yours is the podcast that finally got Ms. Grumpy to listen to podcasts with me!
Thanks for a great podcast and a happy house hold!
Comment from GRUMPYMANN
Time: August 20, 2007, 2:22 pm
I just had to post a review.
[quote]I have to say that this is one of my favs! I admit that I’m a podcast junkie. I listen to about 40 titles. (I have a lot of time in the car and @ work!). Most titles I put in an MP3 player and listen to away from the computer. These… I can’t wait that long. Of them all I MUST say that Quarter Share, Half Share and Full Share are some of the best stories and more importantly storytelling ever.
Writing is so much different than storytelling I see it as a lost art that was and is in dire need of revisiting and reviving. I’m glad it has made a come back and Nathan is a wonderful spokesman for it.
Long ago I gave up on the “Super” Hero in stories. It seemed that the Every Man was missing. Where was the me in the stories. No mention was made how the “Man” became “Super Man” well in this series we get to see how it is done. 1 day at a time. 1 right choice at a time. Made over years with countless missteps along the way.
Some I have talked to call the arc “Trite” and over used. Orphan goes out to sea and makes good.
But the siren call of the “deep dark” feels different to me than that of the sea. Maybe it’s in Nate’s voice, that I feel the lonleyness. Maybe it’s in the words he chooses that convey the sense of belonging Ish feels on the Lois. But the hero seems more like me more like everyman every teenager scrambling to find his way in the big bad world. Maybe it’s in the others around him that point the way with genital encouragement not rules and directions that remind me of… well me.
So my thanks to Nate for hours of enjoyment. [/quote]
Thanks again for the hours of work on your part in giving me the hours of enjoyment on my part.
Comment from router explorer
Time: August 20, 2007, 4:08 pm
Ah, Nate. Very sneaky of you
And very appreciated!
Comment from Josh
Time: August 21, 2007, 9:18 am
Well, loved epi 15. Can’t wait to hear 16 and wrap it up.
Are we ever going to get any podiobooks about Ish’s life at Port Newmar? (sp?)
Comment from Nate
Time: August 21, 2007, 9:55 am
“Ever” is such a black/white word.
Let’s just say “Ishmael Goes to College” is NOT a story I’m really that interested in telling.
Comment from Geordon
Time: August 21, 2007, 1:16 pm
I think “Ishmael Goes to College” would make a handful of shorts, at best. College life is not terribly interesting.
I’m *much* more interested in “Ishmael Graduates from College and gets job offers” particularly after the advice that Capt. Giggone gives him in episode 15.
Again, Nate, thank you so much for the great series of stories. The worst part about them is that I keep consuming them as soon as they “hit” rather than making them last. ) Oh, well.
Comment from Josh
Time: August 21, 2007, 1:48 pm
Geordon,
I’ve had the same problem. I solved it by just listening to all three stories all over again every couple of weeks.
Works kind of like a drug fix, keeps the jitters away just barely long enough for you to reach the next one!
Comment from quandmeme
Time: August 21, 2007, 3:37 pm
Nate, thanks for the books. Good luck at publications. I liked where you took Full Share. The last episodes were on autopilot as Ish put the trading and his relationships on auto. You had great details, don’t get me wrong: I liked the meeting with Pip’s dad, and the Sarah/CC thing. The astrogation improvements were good solid Sci-Fi, nice. But before you publish are you going to amplify those last chapters? I mean compared to the details of making omelets and touring sludge farms, it was written in fast-forward, no? Almost didn’t fit. So many great characters. Go ahead and tell us how the co-ed knitting team did in their trades, have someones else strike it rich, too, or loose it all, or you know just something with all your cool characters. Oh, and you did this great exploration of spacer families and spacer culture, and once Ish stumbles on to it. How did that effect the port stays? Where the gatherings at 02 different. Did he ever fork out for a shuttle down to a planet for a trade? I’ll shut up, you’re the author.
Comment from Nigel in Melbourne
Time: August 23, 2007, 6:45 am
I am really loving this series. I find myself eagerly awaiting each new chapter. It has that classic narrative to it along with a SciFi setting. It is quite unique and thoroughly enjoyable. I don’t really want it to end.
Comment from Bruce in Sherman
Time: August 26, 2007, 12:28 pm
There’s not much praise I can add which hasn’t already been said. Thanks for the books so far, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come!
In the meantime – curious if anybody else on this board has recommendations to make for other podiobooks. I enjoyed Shadowmagic, but am having trouble finding other selections that can really keep me engaged.
Comment from matthew
Time: August 26, 2007, 2:59 pm
you should try Jack Palms II: This Is Life by Seth Harwood and Serve It Cold by Ronnie Blackwell also Crescent by Phil Rossi there good ones
Comment from Geordon
Time: August 27, 2007, 6:22 am
Bruce, if you’re into horror-type, definitely check out Scott Sigler’s stuff. I also like J.C. Hutchin’s “7th Son” trilogy, and give another vote for “Crescent”.
Back to the Golden Age: Nate’s said that Full Share will be the end of the tale as far as the Lois goes. I hope that we’ll see Bev in the future, though, and have some word about Bril and the rest of the crew in the future. Maybe some “letters from home” sort of interludes?
Comment from Rob
Time: August 27, 2007, 7:57 pm
Superb! I would go on and on but in brief, I want you to know that I really enjoy all of your work and the wait is insufferable. I hope your dreams come true.
Comment from Christian, Sweden
Time: August 29, 2007, 1:30 am
Please don’t leave us hanging any longer – it’s driving me crazy Just upload the last episode and get it over with
Comment from Ada Kerman
Time: September 1, 2007, 12:28 pm
The Immortals, by Tracy Hickman, is also good. It’s on podiobooks as well.
Comment from Josh
Time: September 4, 2007, 7:12 am
Nate,
Is everything Ok overthere? We have missed your presence on the board. It’s been 2 weeks since you let us know you’re alive!
Comment from Nate
Time: September 4, 2007, 8:05 am
I’m alive!
I’ve been focused on trying to get this ending re-done and failing. I’m reminded of Yoda’s line: “Try?? There is no try! There is only do or do not!”
So far, I’m in the do not region, but there’s hope!
Comment from Pascal
Time: September 4, 2007, 8:47 am
take a deep breath. Walk on a beach. Relax. Do whatever you need to do to get into the ‘do’.
We’ll wait. Personally, I’d prefer to wait for something good, not something rushed.
In the mean time I’d like to encourage everyone to donate via podiobooks/paypal. Nate, you tell an awesome story, thank you.
Comment from Josh
Time: September 4, 2007, 8:48 am
Well, good luck with it. We appreciate the work you’re putting in for our enjoyment. We can be patient until you get it done to your satisfaction. Really…
Comment from Christian, Sweden
Time: September 5, 2007, 3:13 am
Yeah, sure I can wait – I was just under the impression that it was done already, that’s why I was a little waspish
Comment from Nate
Time: September 5, 2007, 7:17 am
It *was* done. But then I had to do Double Share and the beginning of Double Share meant I had to go back and redo the ending of Full.
Sorry about that.
Comment from Mustafa
Time: September 5, 2007, 8:55 am
Nate – Can you provide us any broad insight into the story development for Double Share? Where do you want to be at the end of DS in terms of character/story development and its relevance to the larger spectrum of life of the distant future that you’ve developed. Thanks for your feedback and keep up the great work.
Comment from Funtime
Time: September 5, 2007, 9:21 am
You could just post the ‘alternate ending’ as originally scripted and then the ‘true ending’ when that’s ready. I sure wouldn’t mind an extra episode or two.
Comment from Nate
Time: September 5, 2007, 11:01 am
I would except I’m tied to 16 epis by the ID3 tagging.
Comment from Josh
Time: September 5, 2007, 12:23 pm
I’m sure we wouldn’t mind downloading the alternate ending as some other file name from your website. I mean, I don’t really know anything about mp3s or ID3 tagging or how any of that works, so maybe that wouldn’t work either.
Comment from Lar
Time: September 5, 2007, 9:59 pm
May I suggest episode 15.5 to get around the issue with the ID3 tagging? Seriously, take your time and get it right, but I’m also in withdrawl.
Comment from Eric Kennedy
Time: September 7, 2007, 6:26 am
Keep up the great episodes. I keep updating my podiobooks subscription in hopes of another episode for Full Share. I really like the style, content, characters and story-line. I’m hoping that this pause in Full share does not mean that Double Share is in jeapordy, because I’m hooked. I’ve been listening since 1/4 Share. This is my favorite podio book series out there. Thanks for all your hard work.
Comment from Nate
Time: September 7, 2007, 7:30 am
The LAST episode of Full Share has to be re-written (added to, actually) in order for the transition from Full to Double Share to work properly. While it’s going to be “a while” before Double Share sees the light of day (probably next spring sometime), it’s far from being in jeopardy.
Comment from Rob
Time: September 8, 2007, 2:11 pm
Nate,
Please forgive my presumptuousness. If you make Double Share a pay download only I would buy it in a heartbeat. You have a following of raving fans and I bet you would get people who have been listening all this time for free to finally pony up for your excellent story. Perhaps thousands of people. You deserve it. 3 free excellent books should certainly establish the trust in content value. Some people think that you will get people who listen for free to also buy the book but, I almost never read printed leisure material. I have poor vision so, I listen to audiobooks all the time while working at my mindless labor job, before I go to sleep, while shopping and driving. I have been working on a book (about 65,000 words) so I know you have a zillion hours into the work you have presented thus far.
Another note, your audio quality is excellent.
Comment from Jon Schlueter
Time: September 9, 2007, 2:03 pm
I think releasing on Podio books is a great place, and I know I have contributed for the last 2 books through podio books, pay the author. Anyone not make a contribution so far?
Comment from Howie
Time: September 9, 2007, 7:31 pm
with the title of then next book being double share dose that meen that we miss the years where they are in the accadamy???
Keep up the great books?
Comment from matthew
Time: September 12, 2007, 1:11 pm
yes we do. trust me if nat where to write it
it would go something like
1. wake up
2. go to class
3. study ass off
4. eat
5. go to sleep
6. loop back to 1 and repeat till done
do you wont to put him though that real lets face it
collage is boring as hell
Comment from Lar
Time: September 13, 2007, 6:07 am
I don’t know. One of my favorite Heinlein juveniles was Space Cadet. Students at a space academy don’t have to stay classroom bound.
Comment from Nate
Time: September 13, 2007, 6:59 am
There’s a lot of opportunity for back story there. It just doesn’t fit in the “share” schema. I’d either have to give it really short shrift in order to get to Double, or spend the whole book on it.
I’ve chosen to skip it. Double Share starts when Ishmael leaves Port Newmar and takes his first job as an officer.
Comment from Christian, Sweden
Time: September 13, 2007, 9:11 am
I for one would be willing to pay for this kind of content – as long as it wasn’t DRM’d silly, like Audible or something stupid like that
Comment from Zeus
Time: September 17, 2007, 12:12 am
Air… need some air… turning blue waiting for final chapter. On a more serious note, any chance it’ll be out in September?
Comment from Nate
Time: September 17, 2007, 5:21 am
I finished the re-write on Saturday. It needs to be recorded. I couldn’t do it yesterday so the next opportunity is likely to be Thursday.
It’s long, 14,000 words and will run an hour or so.
Comment from Leo
Time: September 17, 2007, 8:04 am
These are great books! I wonder if you have considered publishing them, if not through “regular” channels, then maybe on lulu.com?
Comment from Josh
Time: September 17, 2007, 8:42 am
Sounds good. We can’t wait!
Comment from Nate
Time: September 17, 2007, 9:29 am
Yes. I have considered it, Leo.
I looked at Lulu and several other “self-publish” and “print on demand” alternatives. As much as I’d love to do that, I’m guessing that once you saw the $56 cover price for a paperback volume, you might not want it as much as you think you do.
The problem is that these books are HUGE. Each one is around 125,000 to 130,000 words the way publishers count them. I think the shortest one is 260 pages of manuscript. By the time I get the ISBN number, the pages, the covers, the formatting, and something for me in there so I have a break-even cost somewhere near 100 copies, the price is monsterous and it’s just not worth it.
Now that I’ve gotten the re-write done for epi 16, I’m torn between continuing with Double Share and producing the next volume, or halting production altogether to get the manuscript in shape to submit to the Baen slush pile.
Add in the fact that Dragon Moon Press is listening to Podiobooks in search of new authors and I’m probably serving you all as well by continuing to create fresh content as I am by pursuing the death of a multitude of trees.
N
Comment from Leo
Time: September 17, 2007, 9:44 am
Well said Nate!
I can see the point that the cost would be a too high for the ordinary consumer, maybe that price would work for an author signed version…
With the two options you point out for the future, I would of course prefer that you write the next volume
Lets hope that Dragon Moon press realizes the potential of these books and contacts you for publishing!
Comment from Glitch_Chaos
Time: September 17, 2007, 6:21 pm
“Lets hope that Dragon Moon press realizes the potential of these books and contacts you for publishing!”
I fully agree with that Come on Dragon Moon Please Publish Nate I want to own these books in paper so I can loan them out to get others addicted, Just like I do with Scott Sigler and Tee Morris. Heck I’ve already got three other people hooked on the podcast! so come on you print we’ll pimp.
Especially if I can get a “Boy Toy” belt
Keep up the good work Nate, But don’t forget to sleep every week or two
Comment from Leemet, Denmark
Time: September 18, 2007, 5:02 pm
Hehe,”Boy ToY” belt – gimme 
But seriously, i just wanted to point out some options here; have been customer at Baens webscriptions years now and love the service – i buy more e-books every year and last year started at fictionwise, again e-books. I have seriously started to belive that the dead tree business is going to “wither on the vine”, not now or even next decade but…I used to buy 1-2 conventional books every month – now i BUY about 10 e-books every month as long as the price is right(e.g. i refuse to pay 7-17$ for new e-book when i can read some good classics on gutenberg for free). IF i really like the e-book i sometimes buy the dead tree version too, but that happens wery rarely nowdays and one of the book series i’d like to own would be your Traders tales, for you see, i LIKE to READ my books
You have fans and exposure allready so now you just need to publish some printed text
Try to sneak into baens free library or short story(s) to their online magazine. Or publish e-book version…
Even if you put the next book on hold to work on cleaning up your books for publishers i’ll probably survive, for its for a good cause (as long as you throw a bone now and then; hint’n'nudge – SHORT STORIES-
Doh, realized that all i was saying was more of gimme, gimme, gimme – sry about that but, I do hope that you’ll get published someday/somehow…we, your fans deserve it xD
Comment from matthew
Time: September 21, 2007, 4:44 pm
congras nat on the company’s interest in you
Comment from Josh
Time: September 24, 2007, 9:08 am
I think I’m going to burst waiting for episode 16.
I came in late for quarter share & half share and could listen to the whole thing right away. I didn’t have to wait for new episodes. This is nerve wracking.
I’m jonesing for the golden age of the solar clipper!
Comment from matthew
Time: September 26, 2007, 4:18 pm
that ending rock keep up the
good work
I also love the statement from the captain when she goes to the galley on the bad penny
Comment from GRUMPYMANN
Time: September 26, 2007, 7:08 pm
Thanks Nate
Comment from Geordon
Time: September 27, 2007, 2:27 am
Wow, Nate! What an absolutely perfect (and classic!) ending to the story arc! Very satisfying. Thank you!
If you ask me, get the manuscript in order for publishing first. Good work like this should be published.
Have you heard anything back from DMP yet?
Comment from Christian, Sweden
Time: September 27, 2007, 5:02 am
Thanks a lot – now I know what to do after work today
Comment from router explorer
Time: September 27, 2007, 12:40 pm
Thanks, Nate. This was exactly what – I think – we all wanted. A beautiful surprise ending. I appreciate the story tie-ins – specially Mr Roubaille. And here is my request for the future Share – that we all experience Ish becoming that man.
Thanks again for the great story.
Comment from Glitch_Chaos
Time: September 27, 2007, 9:26 pm
Damn You’re Good!
Comment from Dan
Time: September 28, 2007, 10:18 am
Nate Please tell me there will be more!!! I just finished Full share and I want to hear about what trouble Pip and Ish get into atPort Numar
Comment from Nate
Time: September 28, 2007, 10:29 am
There will be more.
But the title “Port Newmar” may have to wait.
Comment from Josh
Time: September 28, 2007, 11:59 am
Nate,
Fantastic work. It was worth the wait.
Tell me, is is just coincidence that Ish pretty much goes to the academy with an enterage(sp?) that equals a whole command crew? I mean, he’s a systems guy, he’s taking an engineering officer, a cargo specialist, and a deck officer. What more do you need?
Comment from quandmeme
Time: September 28, 2007, 1:01 pm
iTunes has never seemed to download so slowly! Episode 16! Thanks Nate. We’ve all been looking forward to it.
Comment from Wesley Camp
Time: September 28, 2007, 1:29 pm
Hi,
Warning this is going to be long but should be read at least by Nate.
About me!
My name is Wes, and I am one of those late comers to reading. I read my first book when I was 29, and continued to read any SciFi, Fantasy book till I was 36 (I am 41 now) when my first kid was born. I have had one book I picked up to read when I knew I would need some thing to keep my mind going during the hospital say for the birth, well I have never finished that book.
During the time of the birth of my first I changed carers and ended up with an hour and a half drive each way to and from work. Last Spring I found Podcast books from Librivox. This was great but the quality was very poor. This led me to Podiobooks.com, and let me tell you I have been crashing through the SciFi, Fantasy stuff. My Favorites were 7son series, Scott S’s books, and some others.
Here is my problem with your books Nate.
Of all the books I have read(most were series)none has ever left me feeling as sad as your books that the series is over. If I had known just how great your books were, and how I was going to feel when I finished I might not have even listened to them.
Ok I am almost done with book 3 and I am going to say this series has been the best so far, of all the books I have read or listen to.
Outstanding!!!!!!!
Wes C.
Comment from Nate
Time: September 28, 2007, 1:39 pm
There WILL be more.
Just — I’m pooped!
Comment from Nate
Time: September 28, 2007, 2:02 pm
iTunes — that reminds me.
I get good stats from the Podiobooks site, but I have NO idea how many of you are listening thru iTunes, or picking up the Pickle. I’m grateful to everyone of you and if you’d take a moment and go to Podiobooks, find the three titles, and rate them there — even if you don’t give them 5s, we get better exposure just by having more people rate the books!
Thanks!
Comment from John
Time: October 6, 2007, 11:04 am
Great series so far – hope for more – Makes my commute to work enjoyable – Thanks
Comment from Doug B
Time: October 11, 2007, 12:41 pm
I don’t usually leave comment on sites like this but I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the share series. I have read a fair amount of Science Fiction in the past and I must say that I enjoyed your series more that any think else I have read in a long time and that includes a little series about a wizard in England which I am currently reading as well.
Thanks again and I can’t wait for the next in the series.
Comment from matthew
Time: October 11, 2007, 8:55 pm
nat I loved your pod-cast so much
that I used itunes to make in to a
audio book format so that it shows up as and
audio book in my player
I thank you for this great book and the other’s
Comment from Bruce in Sherman
Time: November 20, 2007, 11:07 am
Nate,
Thanks again for all your wonderful work. My wife is rabidly anti-science fiction, but I somehow got her to listen to the first installment of Quarter Share, and now she’s as hooked as anybody on this board. (As am I.)
We’re eagerly awaiting Double Share. Is it still on track to come out sometime in the spring?
Would you consider putting together a mailing list for those of us who want to hear the instant it’s ready, but don’t necessarily check podiobooks every day (or week)?
Bruce
Comment from Nate
Time: November 20, 2007, 11:17 am
Subscribe to “email notices” (see the link on the right side bar) to get the “inside scoop” on the Golden Age.
South Coast Shaman – a novel on Sarah Krugg’s backstory — is on track for release in December. My goal is to have the whole work up on podiobooks by jan 12th.
If I do it, that’ll be 4 novels written, recorded, and published in a year.
Comment from Ari B.
Time: May 16, 2008, 2:12 pm
Just finished full share. The last few chapters made me feel almost the same way I do when a real friend gets good news.
Comment from Shane
Time: February 14, 2009, 6:42 pm
Hi. I’m very late to the Solar Clipper series but loving it very much and ploughing through Full Share via Podiobooks subscription using Google Reader. Though now there seems to be a problem with episode 11, it sounds like 2 episodes intercut and playing at the same time. Where can I please listen to a clean broadcast?
Comment from Nate
Time: February 14, 2009, 10:03 pm
The file itself is good.
Try downloading it fresh directly from the link on Podiobooks
Comment from Shane
Time: February 15, 2009, 4:13 am
Thanks for the quickk reply Nate. I tried your link and get the same thing. I’m listening on a Asus EeePC running Linux – not that should make a difference, it hasn’t with any of the other files, nor the next. I really do not want to skip episode 11 as I want to hear how Lois deals with CC. But what I’m hearing is nonsensical. I just can’t work out the cause?
Comment from Nate
Time: February 15, 2009, 6:07 am
Ok this is odd.
It’s the file alright. Lemme see if I can find a good one.
Comment from Shane
Time: February 17, 2009, 10:53 am
How’s the hunt going? I’m itching to get my next fix! I’ve got so used to listening to Ish’s adventures at night that It’s like missing a friend I have not seen for a while.
Comment from Shane
Time: February 19, 2009, 3:44 am
Ah you replaced the file on Podiobooks.com, thank you Nate. I just listened to it and it was worth the wait. I’m singing your praises here in the UK.
Comment from Nate
Time: February 19, 2009, 4:59 am
Thanks for letting me know, Shane!
And keep spreading the word
Comment from matthew
Time: May 24, 2007, 7:06 am
nice art work man its lovely