Peter Watts’s Blindsight has been causing quite a stir in on-line SF/F reviewing circles (see William Lexner’s review for one example), with many heralding it the early favorite for the 2007 Best Novel Hugo. Apparently the buzz has had some impact, because so many people have contacted Watts to let him know they can’t get a hold of a copy that he’s decided to do something bold: he’s giving the book away in a free, electronic edition. Watts is also hoping to see whether the model successfully used by some other authors and publishers—that giving away electronic editions for free actually increases sales of hardcopy—will work with this novel.

Given the buzz, this seems like something even readers who aren’t particular fans of “Strossian”, wildly imaginative near-future SF should take a look at.