My inbox is full of questions about ereaders. People want to know the best one to give as a Christmas gift and whether ebooks are cost prohibitive. Here are my answers: 

If you want the device strictly for ereading, the best ereaders, in my opinion, are the least expensive models of the Kindle and the Nook. These offer all the features readers need—WiFi access to millions of ebooks in a lightweight, durable package—for as little as $79.00. More expensive ereaders provide additional features, such as 3G access, a color screen and web browsing, gaming, and video streaming applications. These can be purchased in the $200.00-$250.00 range. 

Free and reasonably priced ebooks abound. The Pikes Peak Library District’s CyberShelf offers more than 6,000 ebooks,  with easy-to-understand access directions on the library website, www.ppld.org.  Furthermore, many classics—think “Pride and Prejudice” and “Treasure Island”—are available for free through Amazon.

A number of new and established authors also offer free and inexpensive ebooks. I read three this week and am pleased to tell you about them here. 

Cory Doctorow’s “Little Brother”  was recommended to me by a reader of this column, Tom Russell.  The story takes place in the aftermath of a San Francisco terrorist attack. 17-year-old Marcus  and his friends are unjustly apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and taken to a secret prison where they’re interrogated. When Marcus is released, he uses his computer programming skills to fight back. “Little Brother” is appropriate for readers in their late teens and older. It’s currently free at www.craphoundcom.  

I also read “Stirred,” co-authored by J.A. Konrath and Blake Crouch.  The ebook is the conclusion to both Konrath’s Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels series and Crouch’s Andrew Z. Thomas series.  “Stirred” features villains from the authors’ previous works and is like a who’s who of depravity. The story is graphic, but hard to put down. It currently sells for $2.99 on Amazon. 

Inexpensive ebooks are available for families, too. Rick Daley’s  “The Man in the Cinder Clouds” tells an alternative story about Santa Claus. The story follows a young boy who ventures to his scientist dad’s Arctic lab. A magic book is discovered there that details Santa’s life and his workshop location. “Cinder Clouds” currently sells for $4.99 on Amazon. 

Miller’s authored two $.99 ebooks for children ages 8-12. Both ebooks are set in Colorado Springs. For information or to offer column suggestions, visit www.anitalaydonmiller.com or e-mail anita.l.miller@att.net.

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