Fictionwise.com Launches Microsoft Reader Format Ebooks
Hundreds of eBooks Available Now in New Format for PocketPC and PC platforms

August 29, 2000 - Chatham, NJ - Fictionwise.com (http://www.fictionwise.com) announced today that its entire inventory of high-quality, short fiction eBooks is now available in the new Microsoft Reader format. Fictionwise is among the first companies to release hundreds of eBooks by top authors in the new format.

"Fictionwise.com is committed to providing high quality content for all major eBook platforms," commented Stephen Pendergrast, co-publisher at Fictionwise.com. "It's clear that Microsoft Reader is now an important player in the eBook world, on both Pocket PC handheld devices as well as the PC. We're proud to be in the forefront of publishing eBooks in Microsoft Reader format."

Users may download Fictionwise stories for Pocket PC handheld devices such as the HP Jornada and Casio 115E. By downloading a free PC client from Microsoft.com, they may also view the eBooks directly on a personal computer.

Fictionwise.com focuses on selling award-winning and high quality short fiction eBooks by top authors in multiple formats (Acrobat, Rocket, Palm, and now Microsoft Reader). Most Fictionwise eBooks cost between 50 cents to two dollars.

Fictionwise has hundreds of inexpensive titles from leading contemporary fiction authors, including: Robert Silverberg, Nancy Kress, Damon Knight, Mike Resnick, Michael Swanwick, James Patrick Kelly, Pamela Sargent, Tom Purdom, and Kate Wilhelm, amongst others. In most cases, Fictionwise has the largest short fiction eBook collections available for its authors. Fictionwise currently has rights to nearly 400 short fiction eBooks, with an estimated 500 available by the end of this year.

Fictionwise.com includes many innovative features, such as the ability for readers to pay either via credit card or a proprietary "micropay" account, which allows Fictionwise users to avoid paying minimum credit transaction fees imposed by credit processing agents.

"Since we launched in June, the response has been far greater than we anticipated," commented Scott Pendergrast, co-publisher. "Offering high quality content from established authors in all major ebook formats has garnered us a large, loyal membership base in a very short time. By supporting Microsoft Reader, we hope to further extend that base."

Every week, Fictionwise.com adds additional stories from published authors in the science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, mystery, horror, and humor genres. Fictionwise will soon be adding customized recommendations using sophisticated artificial intelligence techniques.

Contact: Scott Pendergrast: scott@mindwise.com; 973-701-6770 Website: Fictionwise.com (http://www.fictionwise.com)