

E-CATALOG/NEWSLETTER - REALITY SOFTWARE 04/14/95

*** REALITY SOFTWARE 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).
    
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).

                                                                 
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).

        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 also be accessed
on the World Wide Web at the Reality Software site.


REALITY SOFTWARE ON THE INTERNET
       
ANNOUNCEMENT: REALITY SOFTWARE IS NOW ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB!!
OUR SITE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OR ABOUT MAY 1, 1995.

REALITY SOFTWARE'S SITE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB IS NOW ON-LINE
and we are very excited about this development! The URL is 
http://www.maine.com:80/reality/Welcome.html which will connect 
you to the Home Page of Reality Software. 

We are very proud of the design of our site: it is large (27
pages) and features a variety of material. Most pages are
illustrated with exceptional color thumbnails. (If you
want to minimize your time on-line, turn off images on your
Web browser and miss the visual display.) We have designed our
pages for Netscape, the premier Web browser, because it 
incorporates more design features than its competitors.
Our layout will be most attractive if you use Netscape, but
Mosaic or its clones will do just fine.

You can read about each product, view exceptionally attractive 
graphics and download each and every shareware file. Our 
site also features a gateway to the most exceptional sites on the
World Wide Web for anthropology, archeology, history, religion 
and mythology.

There are several links scattered throughout the site that will 
allow you to send instant e-mail to us. Do connect and tell us 
what you think about the design and usefulness of our Web site.

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
World Wide Web - http://www.maine.com/reality/Welcome.html
E-mail:
Internet - bennett@pipeline.com (almost daily mail run)
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) 
__$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) 
__$17 (DOS: BigText version) 
3 1/2" (Quant) __
__$18 (DOS: BigText version)  
		 	  	  	 	   	 	  	    	
Total $______


6) THE GREAT GODDESS IN INDIA AND TIBET v1.5

Disk Size  
5 1/4" (Quant) 
__$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 for 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 (Shipping late April 1995)

Disk Size   3 1/2" (Quant)  ____$15     Total $ ______                                                                                         


11) CLASSIC SAILBOATS v1.0 for Windows (Shipping late April 1995)

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
World Wide Web - http://www.maine.com/reality/Welcome.html
E-mail:
Internet - bennett@pipeline.com (almost daily mail run)
CompuServe - 71044,1645                          

