E-CATALOG - REALITY SOFTWARE 03/15/95 *** REALITY SOFTWARE SOON TO BE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB*** INTRODUCTION Reality Software is a small company whose husband and wife team is devoted to the publication of two product lines. We publish quality E-Books for DOS and Windows in ancient/medieval history and the history of religion. These books represent original, scholarly research and are designed for thinking adults. They are an attempt at original synthesis from the literature and some of the writing is at journal level. They are definitely not school-oriented software nor New Age fluff. We have begun the release of a large series of Windows screen savers that feature a) archival, royalty free, historical photography and b) original computer art whose themes are mythic and visionary. All Windows E-Books come with Replica, an application independent viewing system that bypasses the need for a word processor. Replica is easily installed into WIN 3.1 or WFW 3.11 and can then be used to view and print the electronic books. Full instructions are included and the software is very user friendly. For those of you who may be interested in our products and do not have a high-end Windows system, notice that several E-Books are available with a superb document viewing interface for DOS (BigText) that in the latest version (1.3) incorporates graphics to produce illustrated electronic books. We offer a money back guarantee: if you do not find a book captivating and interesting, return your disk(s) for a full-no questions-asked, refund. Assume all disks are high density. The first four volumes in our series of Windows screen savers featuring archival transportation photography have been released. Two volumes feature images scanned from our private collection of 19th century locomotives. The third and fourth publications feature images of 1) tall ships and 2) classic sail boats. The photos are quite rare and in most cases are single prints made by early photographers and collectors. With a handful of exceptions, none have ever been published before in any medium and then only many decades ago at very low resolution. Each photo has been meticulously restored to repair negative and print damages while maintaining the historical integrity of the image. Three volumes in our Windows screen saver series of original visionary art have just been released. 1) Fifteen original computer paintings explore the theme of Mythic Bears. 2) Fifteen original computer paintings explore the Epiphanies of the Neolithic Goddess. 3) Fifteen original computer paintings developed with fractals express images of Cosmic Creation. The shareware versions of each screen saver contain four images, the registered versions fifteen. There is no duplication among the collections and each graphics file is 8 bit, 256 grey scale, TIFF. Design pros take note: the graphics files in both the shareware and registered versions are royalty free! At a cost of $1 or less per image, such a license is a bargain. Stock photography agencies typically charge $100 or more per image for commercial licenses. Interactive Week for Feb.13, 1995 (Vol.2(3): 29) has a report about Bill Gate's latest venture. Having dominated the OS and software worlds through MicroSoft, Gate's has set his sights upon a new on-line service (to be bundled with Windows 95) and, of immediate concern to the graphics design and multimedia industries, a major expansion of his little known company called Now Corbis. Now Corbis holds an enormous library of stock photos with plans to triple its inventory in the near future. Corbis intends to sell one time licenses for each image and employs five intellectual property lawyers to write contracts with clients. I quote Mark Daniel, manager of sales. "We have not been selling an image for less than $100, and we also have sold an image up to $5,000. Normally, they [one-time reproduction licenses] are $200 to $400 an image." Realize, that if you are a graphics designer or multimedia developer, this is the playing field now and for the foreseeable future. While Reality Software can only develop image collections built around specialized themes, if you can use our products, we offer the most inexpensive license in the industry: $1 per image for a lifetime royalty free license. And you will not have to talk to a lawyer. We wish to share our knowledge and creativity with you at the lowest cost possible. Reality Software also offers image restoration services: contact us at one of our many addresses listed below. We can often produce a nearly invisible repair of the problems caused by such damages as water or ink stains, and rips or tears in prints or negatives. We can also restore an appropriate contrast level and resolution to seriously faded images. If the image does not exist as computer media, we will scan it for you before beginning restoration. E-BOOK PUBLICATIONS 1) Explore the Origins of Mythology with hunter-gatherers in the Upper Paleolithic and Indians in the Amazon. Available in an illustrated Windows version that utilizes Replica (v1.5) or as v1.3 for DOS (BigText) which is also illustrated. Have you ever wondered how it all began? Major references include the work of Alexander Marshak and shamanic practices among peoples of the Amazon. 2) The White Goddess in Neolithic Old Europe is an in-depth study of the archeology, artifacts, iconography and ritual of the Goddess religion of Neolithic Europe. The material is based extensively on the breakthrough work of Marija Gimbutas. Several hypotheses are presented about iconography and metaphor which are drawn from realms as diverse as evolutionary biology and the marine zoology of megafauna in the dark abyss of the deep ocean. Available for DOS only. 3) Early Myth and The Goddess in Ancient China is a discussion of the feminine in Shang and Chou Dynasty myth and the central role played by the Myth of the Sacred Mulberry Tree (Fu Sang). Extensive use is made of the various latest archeology research and analysis of early texts. There are extensive discussions of early Chinese and Manchu shamanism and their possible commonalities with Western metaphor. Available for both BigText and DOS (v1.3) and Replica for Windows (v1.5). 4) Early Myth and Amaterasu in Neolithic and Medieval Japan is a deep exploration of the earliest Japanese mythology and ritual with an emphasis upon the origins and life of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. Extensive use is made of the two eighth century mythological histories: the Kojiki and Nihongi. Shinto, kami and shamanism are discussed in depth. Biographies are included for several important female rulers of Japan who may well be manifestations of Amaterasu. The mythology and bear ritual of the Ainu are examined for insights that might reveal the sacred feminine. Available for both BigText and DOS (v1.3) and Replica for Windows (v1.5). 5) Our book on disk about The White Goddess In Eire, Britain, Wales and Gaul was revised in 1993 and is available for DOS (BigText) as v1.2. Explore the multiplex Goddess in Britain, Eire, Wales and Gaul. Boudicca's reign and her revolt against Rome and the Welsh epics are explored in some detail. If you ever wished to separate New Age nonsense from the 'real' historical myths, this book is for you. 6) A 1994 revision of The Great Goddess in India and Tibet, is also available with the latest version of the superb document viewing interface for DOS (BigText) which is illustrated (v1.3), and Replica for Windows (v1.5). This study is exceptionally deep about tantra; gnosticism; the sacred horse ritual; the saga of the doomsday mare; the first appearance, near demise and then resurgence of the Goddess in India; and Tara - the White and Green Goddess of Tibet. 7) Our exceptional Historical TimeLine covers ancient and early medieval history for the period 12,000 B.C. to 900 A.D. and emphasizes the history of religion. It is only available for Windows 3.1 or WFW 3.11 as TimeLine V4.0. There are literally hundreds of line items which include information found in no other timeline and there is a vast increase in the data from previous versions. A typical printout would be three pages across and 19 pages deep. ARCHIVAL PHOTO COLLECTIONS 1) Trains 1: 19th Century Locomotives Vol.1 is a unique and fascinating collection of early locomotives scanned from rare photographs as described above. The highlight of this collection is a photograph taken in the yard of a locomotive manufacturing company. This product is published as a screen saver for Windows on three HD disks and each graphics file is royalty free. 2) Trains 2: 19th Century Locomotives Vol.2 features fifteen all different, rare images of 19th century locomotives. The highlight of this collection is an extraordinary photograph of a narrow gauge logging locomotive with crew taken in a swamp in Georgia. This product is published as a screen saver for Windows on two HD disks and each graphics file is royalty free. 3) Tall Ships 1: features fifteen rare images from the great age of sail. Great schooners, brigs and other vessels are featured at the dock and under full sail. The highlight of this collection is a very special photo of the launch of a five masted schooner at Waldoboro, Maine, our home town. This product is published as a screen saver for Windows on two HD disks and each graphics file is royalty free. 4) Classic Sailboats 1: features fifteen rare images of small, often privately owned, sailboats which reflect designs from the first half of this century. Several of the boats pictured are from mid-coast Maine. This product is also published as a screen saver for Windows on two HD disks and each graphics files is royalty free. 5) Mythic Bears 1 features fifteen visionary-mythic paintings of bears in which aspects of transformation and myth are explored. Included are five rare photos of the Ainu Bear Ritual, last practiced on the northern Japanese Island of Hokkaido in the 1920's, and 10 spectacular visionary paintings in color. This product is distributed as a screen saver for Windows on three HD disks and each graphics file is royalty free. 6) Epiphanies of the Goddess features fifteen visionary- mythic paintings which are original computer art. The symbolism of the Neolithic Goddess is explored in an extraordinary series whose imagery partakes of a transcendental vision in which you will see aspects of fantasy and surrealism. This product is distributed on three HD disks and each graphics file is royalty free. 7) Images of Creation features fifteen visionary images developed with fractals that explore Cosmic Creation. The metaphor of dynamic life force is explored through a series of beautiful computer paintings that are both mythic and contemplative. This product is distributed on three HD disks and each graphics file is royalty free. SHAREWARE Shareware versions of E-Books contain introductory materials, a brief preview of the main text, and in some cases a glossary. Each also contains a packaged reader (explained above - BigText or Replica) which might be of interest to those involved with the technology of producing and disseminating E-Books. The approach to the Windows versions obviates the need for a user to have any word processor and allows for a highly designed text. Registration brings the full e-text of the book itself. Here is the listing of shareware files: Shareware versions of the Windows screen saver/photo collections include four images which are royalty free. 1) Origins of Mythology: origin13.zip (0.13MB - DOS) and origin15.zip (1.12MB - WIN). 2) The White Goddess in Neolithic Old Europe: whgds.zip (.03MB - DOS only). 3) Early Myth and the Goddess in Ancient China: china13.zip (0.27MB - DOS) and chin15wn.zip (1.70MB - WIN). NOTE: shareware costs for chin15wn.zip are $4 USA and $5 overseas. 4) Early Myth and Amaterasu in Neolithic and Medieval Japan: japan13.zip (0.31MB - DOS) and japn15wn.zip (1.5MB-WIN). Note shareware cost for japn15wn.zip are $4 USA and $5 overseas. 5) The White Goddess in Eire ...: celt12.zip (0.06MB - DOS only) 6) The Great Goddess in India and Tibet: intb13.zip (0.26MB DOS) and intb15wn.zip (1.42MB WIN). 7) Historical TimeLine: tmln4wn.zip (1.16MB WIN only). 8) Trains 1: train1wn.zip (1.08MB WIN only): see CompuServe TRAINNET Forum below. 9) Trains 2: train2wn.zip (0.85MB WIN only): see CompuServe TRAINNET Forum below. 10) Tall Ships 1: ships1wn.zip (1.1MB WIN only). 11) Classic Sailboats 1: sail1wn.zip (1.1MB WIN) 12 Mythic Bears 1: bears1wn.zip (0.93MB WIN only). 13) Epiphanies of the Goddess: epiph1wn.zip (1.06MB WIN only). 14) Images of Creation: creat1wn.zip (1.1MB WIN only). REALITY SOFTWARE IN CYBERSPACE AND THE BBS WORLD Free shareware versions of each product are available at several of the largest BBS's in the United States such as Exec-PC (1-414 789-4210) and Software Creations (1-508 368-7036). For all BBS' with the exception of Excalibur (see below), set your communications software to ANSI emulation and 8,1,N. Reality Software is proud to be one of the Home Board Authors of Software Creations which was voted the number 1 BBS in the USA by Boardwatch Magazine for both 1993 and 1994. SWC also has SLIP accounts for a connection to the World Wide Web available for both individuals and businesses. All of our shareware and freeware may be found in Directory 64 which appears on the first screen (SWC Authors) of file directory listing. Messages may also be left for me at SWC addressed to Ben Blumenberg: I check for mail there several times a week. Their main connect number is (508) 365-2359 (8,1,N). Dan Linton is the owner and head of SWC and John Schmidt is the sysop. Tiger Team Buddhist Information Network is the home base for Reality Software: you will find our visionary art and e-book shareware there. This is an exceptional board for all those interested in Buddhism. Gary Ray is your sysop contact here. Dial (510) 268-0102 (8,1,N). Just fifteen miles up the Maine Coast from the home of Reality Software is one of Maine's finest BBS's - A Bit of Maine. You will find all of our freeware and shareware in Directory 43 which may be easily accessed from the first screen of file directory listings. Rick Winslow is the fine sysop here and the connect number is (207) 594-7025 (8, 1, N). ReVision Systems is a small board with a specialty in poetry, literature and electronic publishing. You will find all the E-Book shareware of Reality Software in their file directories and two of our books on disk are available for on-line reading in the Readroom. Paul Lauda is the sysop: dial (609) 896-3667 (8,1,N). Ursa Major is fine BBS in California that now carries all of our publications. Reality Software shareware may be found in Dir 192. The connect number for Ursa Major is (310) 545-5611 and the sysop is Scott Robb. Capital City OnLine is a Windows BBS running Excalibur which provides an exceptionally attractive graphics interface. You will need the Excalibur user software to connect to them. This interface is freeware and provided by Excalibur as an automatic download on your first call. Excalibur now carries all of our shareware and recent releases may be found in Sysop's Picks at the main File Menu. An ongoing discussion about our publications has been established in three message folders of the General Forum. The sysop is Norris Sydnor, who is available, congenial and extremely helpful. Their connect number is (301) 808-7233. TRAINS shareware is available on CompuServe in the Graphics II Library of the TRAINNET Forum as train1.zip and train2.zip. Notice the different names of the archive files from those given above. You can also download the extensive readme that accompanies TRAINS for a detailed preview of this product. TRAINNET is a very deep forum for all those interested in railroads, past and present and there are many file libraries which encompass a wealth of material. The head sysop of TrainNet is Dorr Altizer. All of our shareware AND registered versions are carried by Mindful Technology, RR2, Box 316, Swanville, ME 04915, 1 207 338-5788. Mindful Technology which is an extraordinary computer company whose byword is 'ecological responsibility'. Mindful Technology specializes in products which address the concerns of ergonomics, radiation and energy. Their software offerings emphasize spirituality and alternative health. DOS/Windows and Mac PC systems are available, either off the shelf or customized. Phil Rose is the creator and owner of Mindful Technology and may be reached on the Internet at philrose@mindful.com. You might wish to get on his mailing list for the mail order catalog. Mindful Technology can be accessed on the World Wide Web (see below) at the Reality Software site. REALITY SOFTWARE ON THE INTERNET REALITY SOFTWARE IS NOW ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB and we are very excited about this development! The URL is http://www.maine.com/reality/welcome.html which will connect you to Reality Software at MaineStreet Communications, a WEB marketplace that features innovative businesses in Maine. Companies are arranged on the home page of MaineStreet in alphabetical order: however this URL will take you directly to the Home Page of Reality Software. Sections of this e-text catalog are on-line and you can read about each product. You can also download each and every shareware file and view thumbnail graphics from each publication. Do connect, if you have a Web browser, and tell us what you think about the design and usefulness of our Web site. Our shareware is also available through the Internet at three of the largest BBS's in the US but only subscribers are allowed to download shareware when the connection is made via telnet or ftp (although see World Data Bank below) 1) You can telnet to Software Creations at swcbbs.com. Type B at main menu prompt followed by 9 to read about subscription options. To download, type D at the main menu prompt followed by the exact filename of the archive you wish to obtain (see above). Only subscribers are allowed to FTP. 2) Telnet to the DSC BBS at dsc.voicenet.com. Type B at the main menu prompt followed by 2 to read about subscriber options. Type D at the main menu prompt followed by the exact filename of the archive you wish to download. Only subscribers are allowed to FTP. DSC does not a carry any of our shareware releases dated after January 1995. 3) Our shareware is also available at a third FTP site, the World Data Bank BBS whose Internet address is wdn.com. Although primarily a subscriber system, they do allow nonsubscribers to download. Their download limit per day for non-members is 360K. This download limit will allow you to acquire our DOS shareware via FTP. This will not allow for FTP of Windows shareware, the file sizes are much too large. Type D at the main menu prompt followed by the exact filename of the version you wish to download. Use the BANK door to store up to 360K thus acquiring the ability to download up to 720K at one time (every other day). I cannot provide technical help about telnet to Software Creations, DSC or World Data Bank. The voice number for Software Creations is (508) 368-8654; DSC staff may be reached at (215) 674-9290; and World Data Bank staff voice line is (703 648-0808). I can supply our shareware on HD disk at cost: $3 within the U.S. and $4 overseas (includes postage) for all titles with two exceptions (see above). Let us hear from you! ########################################################## CONTACT INFORMATION Copyright 1995 Ben and Leslie Blumenberg Reality Software 1015 Main Street Waldoboro, ME 04572-0105 Phone: (207) 832-7348 CompuServe - 71044,1645 Internet - a) bennett@pipeline.com (almost daily mail run) b) ben.blumenberg@swcbbs.com CompuServe - 71044,1645 ############################################################### ORDER FORM FOR REGISTERED VERSIONS (The price differences between E-books reflect both the work that went into the research and their length. The least expensive contain documents whose length is less than 25 pages. The more costly contain articles in excess of 75 pages for the longest documents in the package and, in some cases, extensive glossaries as well. Such estimates vary with printer and print setup, of course.) To order, simply fill our this form and mail to: ___________________________________________________________ REALITY SOFTWARE, P.O. BOX 105, WALDOBORO, ME 04572-0105. Name ____________________________________ Date _______ Street Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Town or City _______________ State _____ Zip ________ Country ________ 1) ORIGINS OF MYTHOLOGY v1.5 Disk Size 5 1/4" (Quant)) __$9 (v1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) __$15 (v1.5 REPLICA for Windows) 3 1/2" (Quant) __$10 (v1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) __$16 (v1.5 REPLICA for Windows) Total $_______ 2) THE WHITE GODDESS IN THE NEOLITHIC OF OLD EUROPE v1.0 (*sale price*) Disk Size 5 1/4" (Quant) __previously $20 now $10 (DOS: ASCII text files) __previously $22 now $11 (WordPerfect for Windows 5.1 3 1/2" (Quant) __previously $21 now $11 (DOS: ASCII text files) __previously $23 now $12 (WordPerfect for Windows 5.1) Total $______ 3) EARLY MYTH AND THE GODDESS IN ANCIENT CHINA v1.5 Disk Size 5 1/4" (Quant) __$12 (v1.3 DOS: ASCII text files) __$14 (v 1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) __ $16 (v1.5 REPLICA for Windows) 3 1/2" (Quant) __$15 (v 1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) __$17 (v1.5 REPLICA for Windows) Total $______ 4) EARLY MYTH AND AMATERASU IN NEOLITHIC AND MEDIEVAL JAPAN v1.5 Disk Size 5 1/4" (Quant) _$20 (v 1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) 3 1/2" (Quant) __$24 (v 1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) __$40 (v1.5 REPLICA for Windows) Total $______ 5) THE WHITE GODDESS IN EIRE, BRITAIN, WALES AND GAUL v1.2 Disk Size 5 1/4" (Quant) __$15 (DOS: ASCII text files) __$17 (DOS: BigText version) __$17 (MS WORD FOR WINDOWS 2.0) 3 1/2" (Quant) __$18 (DOS: BigText version) __$20 (MS WORD FOR WINDOWS 2.0) Total $______ 6) THE GREAT GODDESS IN INDIA AND TIBET v1.5 Disk Size 5 1/4" (Quant) __$16 (v 1.3 DOS: ASCII text files) __$18 (v 1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) 3 1/2" (Quant) __$19 (v 1.3 DOS: BigText version with graphics) __$25 (v1.5 REPLICA for Windows) Total $______ 7) TIMELINE v4.0 REPLICA for Windows Disk Size: 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$25 Total $_______ Total of all books $______ ORDER ALL SEVEN BOOKS ON DISK AND TAKE A 20% DISCOUNT!! ****************************************************************** 8) TRAINS 1 v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $ ______ 9) TRAINS 2 v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $ ______ 10) TALL SHIPS 1 v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $ ______ 11) CLASSIC SAILBOATS v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $ ______ 12) MYTHIC BEARS 1 v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $______ 13) EPIPHANIES OF THE GODDESS v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $______ 14) IMAGES OF CREATION v1.0 for Windows Disk Size 3 1/2" (Quant) ____$15 Total $ ______ ****************************************************** Discount if applicable $_______ Enclosed $_______ Method of Payment. Check _____ Money Order ______ (Made out to Ben Blumenberg; sorry we cannot accept credit cards. Shipping and handling are included on all U.S. orders. Canadian and Latin American customers please add $2 S/H for airmail. Orders for all other countries please include $4 for airmail.) Residents of the state of Maine, please add the 6% sales tax. Thank you! ########################################################## CONTACT INFORMATION Copyright 1995 Ben Blumenberg Reality Software 1015 Main Street Waldoboro, ME 04572-0105 Phone: (207) 832-7348 CompuServe - 71044,1645 Internet - a) bennett@pipeline.com (almost daily mail run) b) ben.blumenberg@swcbbs.com CompuServe - 71044,1645