Publishers have been experimenting with free digital books lately--unexpected relief for readers during tough economic times.

Novelist Brian Francis Slattery became the latest free book convert, as Tor released a free digital copy of his first novel, Spaceman Blues: A Love Song. His next book is "a heist/road movie hippie novel" called Liberation: Being the Adventures of the Slick Six after the Collapse of the United States of America, out this month.

"Personally, I think free electronic versions of books are a great idea because it's great exposure--it's kind of like being on the radio," Slattery told GalleyCat.

"The useful analogy is to what bands are doing when they stream some or all of their album on their website. To me, that's smart. And at least in my case, it has actually worked. Recently, I bought the Low Anthem's new album on the strength of what I heard on their website (five out of twelve tracks) and am about to buy the new David Byrne/Brian Eno album after having listened to the entire album several times on the album website."

"I believe that some people will use the electronic version to decide whether or not they should buy the printed book--they'll read the first chapter or so, and if they like it, they'll buy the book, for whatever reason ... I like it when people read my book; obviously it's nice if they bought it, but it's no big deal if they didn't," he added.

"Another way to think about it: People are always passing around copies of the printed books and buying them in used bookstores anyway, for which, of course, neither the publisher or the writer are reimbursed. Am I going to boycott my local used bookstore? Why would I? Avid readers are writers' bread and butter, so anything that gets words in front of eyeballs is a good thing. It's fun, it's friendly, and it's a good long-term strategy in making new people fans of what we do," he concluded.