Recently a few people have asked for the original version of The Free in digital form so I took in the old book and the German version and had them scanned. This is the result. the scan wasn’t too good and I had to go through it all, fiercely resisting the temptation to improve the text, hopefully I haven’t missed too many typos.
https://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/testing-downloads/
The Free (original short 1986 and 1990 edition) PDF 151 pages
The Free (original short 1986 and 1990 edition) Epub 1.6mb
‘This short, original version is the same tale but darker and more violent, focusing less on revolution and more on guerilla struggle’.
.Dr Daniel P. Jaeckle, author of ‘Embodied Anarchy in Ursula K. Le Guin’s ‘The Dispossessed’ said this of the first version of The Free
I should add that the 1986 version has its own interest. It does not often engage in ideological statements, it ends with the more realistic deaths of some characters as opposed to the more romantic ending of the 2007 version, and the speed of the narrative is compelling. I encourage those who can find the 1986 version to read it as well.
from Imagining an Anarchist Revolution: M. Gilliland’s The Free
REVIEWS of original version
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The USA is full of happy friendly people who love us. You can’t easily forget a web of pretty lies you first learned watching childrens’ TV. It’s like explaining to kiddies that wonderful Ronald McDonald in fact represents an evil monster murdering millions of children and fast destroying the planet for pure greed and arrogance. The pathetic facade of the American dream is being repainted and propped up at all costs for all the people of the world who still believe in it.
minds of legendary producers and acclaimed directors to be brought to life on the big and television screens where actors’ adept performances capture our imaginations; rather, if the plot pertains to the military, it’s more than likely the Department of Defense had a hand in the script.