I wrote a novel about cargo submarines. Want to test read it? (For free of course.)

[toothandnail]

Hello everyone!

I spent my unemployed pandemic time writing a submarine novel. It has
reached a point where it is a complete and revised book, and it is now ready
for some constructive feedback from test readers. A novel is a kind of
submarine simulator, isn't it?

If you are interested, you can one-click download a free copy in epub, pdf,
html, or markdown source-code format here:

https://bysoundalone.net/

And look! It comes with diagrams I made too!:

How can anyone resist a submarine story that has diagrams?

What's it like?

Well, it's kind of an alternative-history book (though don't take that to mean
what "alternative-history" usually means -- Hitler didn't win the war in this
book). Here, the political conditions on the surface of the planet have
degraded to the point where global trade is forced to be carried out by cargo
submarines. This book is the story of one of those cargo subs.

So it's not much like other submarine stories. It might have more in common
with 1970s trucker movies than 1950s submarine movies.

Despite being vividly a fictional tale, I tried very hard to make sure the
submarine technology in it is realistic and believable for a submarine
sometime just after WWII. I did a lot of research and, unless I screwed up,
there should be nothing in the book that isn't totally viable for a submarine
from that period. (Having said that, almost everything I know about
submarine tech I learned from playing way too much of the rogue-like
Sub Commander. Thanks @TheGeoff for putting that in my life!)

This book contains no super-futuristic, imagined, or "magic" technology. I
think for someone who understands the basics of how mid-century subs
worked, there will be a lot of rewarding details because of all the research I
did. At the same time, I tried to make this book an accessible page-turner.
And it is action packed!

If you read it, reach out to me via PM, through github, or
through email. I have a number of specific things I'm interested in gathering
feedback on.

And if you read it, you know, thanks! Thanks so much!

[Onkel Neal]

Oh boy, I did not see this until now, downloaded the pdf version, thanks!

Trying to figure a way to get this on my kindle...

[Onkel Neal]

...and it starts off with motorcycles, love it

[Jeff-Groves]

Reading it now.

Page 3 error...........

Today the same need — to know
when one is running low on fuel — is met my a sophisticated
sensor mounted in the tank,

Should be met by

[Onkel Neal]

On page 64, pretty interesting so far!

[Nickwkr]

download pdf some nice reading for bed time thanks all the best when u get it printed

[toothandnail]

Oh that's rad! I thought for a while this thread just disappeared down a
hole. And if I couldn't get folks on subsim to read it, who ever would?

I hope you got it going on your kindle. The epub version should work:
https://grannycart.net/subworld-page...orldbook1.epub

And I'll obviously take corrections for any dumb mistakes I made.

But I think from the subsim crew what I'd really like to see is opinions
about the technical aspects. I tried really hard to make the mechanical
and technical aspects realistic (I read a LOT about mid-century
submarines) but who is going to check me on that if it isn't you guys?
Certainly not my hippie uncle (who enjoyed the book, but didn't have any
comments on the mechanics).

Regardless, I really appreciate you reading it. And if you enjoy it,
pass it on! That's the only way I'll ever get this thing off the ground.

[Shady Bill]

Thanks so much, will get this on my Kindle tonight. The story
sounds very interesting. Can't wait to read this.


Danke!


EDIT: Just followed your link and it loaded right up in Kindle.

I have a voracious appetite for books, and the only thing better than
books is free books

Diagrams are awesome btw

[toothandnail]

You made my day! I hope it doesn't disappoint.

I guess I'm really looking for that audience that is middle of the
Venn diagram of people with voracious appetites for books those who
are into submarines. Maybe there's more people in that intersection
than I would predict!

If anyone wants an actual paper copy, you can DM me. I've got some
extra copies. I'd just have to figure out covering shipping or
something.

[Shady Bill]

@toothandnail


You are a very good writer, I am really enjoying this. I stayed up a good 2 hours past my bed time reading. I will finish it and if you want give you my critique via personal message.
I read a lot and won't waste my time on bad stuff. I will definitely finish this.
I feel like I stumbled into a bit of a gem with this one.



Super impressed

[mapuc]

What you should look at is the number of viewers of this thread 1,189 Person has been here. Maybe not all of them has downloaded your novel, some of them may have read part of it.

I myself has downloaded the e-book and have read some pages so far.

I'm one of those who can't give you feedback on technicality

Markus

[toothandnail]

You guys are the first people to read it that I don't know personally.
That means a lot to me! I feel more inspired to get going on the next
edit-pass through the novel, something I have been putting off because I
didn't have a sense of who might read this thing.

I welcome all feedback/corrections. But in addition to
technical/mechanical fixes, I'm particularly interested in places where
the book feels like it drags (or if you give up on reading it -- where
did that happen?) I don't want it to be a boring book! Really trying for
a page-turner here.

@Shady Bill: I admire the discipline of a person who can STOP reading
bad books. That's definitely the best way to get a lot more books
read. I definitely look forward to your thoughts on it.

@mapuc: I hope you're right and there's silent hundreds checking it
out. Especially since Subsim is currently the only place I have posted
it online.

[mapuc]

^ To find out how many who may have downloaded your e-book. You could make a post here in this thread where you ask us whether we have downloaded the e-book or not and if we have or is reading it.

Like
Have you downloaded my e-book

"Yes and I have read it"
"Yes I am reading it/about to read it"
"No I haven't/Not interested"

I would make the poll secret.

Only an idea nothing else


Markus

[Jimbuna]

Enjoying it so far.

[Shady Bill]

Originally Posted by toothandnail

You guys are the first people to read it that I don't know personally.
That means a lot to me!

No problem, I will give you my notes of it after I am done. It is actually really fun to read and has drawn me in. I have been a bit busier than usual so I have not been able to read quite as fast, but should be able to finish it in the next 2 weeks.


I absolutely am having a blast reading it. It is very good. so good, I would think this could be published. I honestly think you could sell this.

I absolutely love the characters. I am not a very fast reader, because I visualize everything I read. A book is only good when it reads like a play or a movie to me. If things are described well; the characters, their flaws, their strengths, their looks..I can visualize this grande play almost in my head. Instead of something I just read, things become more like "scenes" if that makes sense...


anyways, your book reads that nicely, where I can visualize my surroundings inside the story. That makes it a very interesting and well written book for me.



I urge you to complete this project to its full fruition. To do anything less would be a disservice to your talents. This is something to be proud of.