Adventure / action fiction

Book SynopsisJan Palmer wakes from a deep sleep, into a living nightmare that seems to be a parallel universe of evil Jinn, deadly secrets and beautiful but dangerous dancing girls. While trying to figure out the meaning of his dreams, he finds humankind's fate resting in his hands. If you have ever suffered from sleepless nights or insomnia, this is a tale that might just open your eyes. Slaves of Sleep is an L. Ron Hubbard tale of parallel universes-one of the first in modern fantasy writing. Cursed with 'eternal wakefulness' by an evil Jinn, never-ending nightmares and imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, Jan Palmer is living hell in two worlds-or is this just lucid dreaming? On Earth, he is a prisoner of his own insecurities, and in the land of the Jinn, he is 'Tiger,' the swashbuckling rogue-but in both, he faces death at every turn. Unless he can discover the meaning of his dreams, before it's too late. 'I stayed up all night finishing it. The yarn scintillated.' -Ray Bradbury

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Book SynopsisThe magical land of Xanth is in peril in this follow-up to Board Stiff by New York Times–bestselling author Piers Anthony. “It occurs to me that you folk are no ordinary group,” the troll said. “We're on a special mission to eliminate the last of the anti-pun virus. We are a bit unusual.” Astrid Basilisk-Cockatrice is the daughter of anonymous parents who whiled away a dull minute by generating her on a warm compost pile, then went their own deadly ways, never to see her or each other again. She found herself a soul, but her gaze is fatal and her touch is toxic. That’s not so strange in the Land of Xanth, where everyone has a unique magical talent, and charms, curses, and enchanted puzzles lie around every corner. Now, Astrid and her companions are finishing the cleanup of a virus that ravaged the puns of Xanth, and new Quests are already popping up. For instance, Astrid is attempting to fulfill her mission in life, if only she can figure out what that is. And then there’s the missing Question from the Good Magician’s Book of Answers. Not to mention the small matter of a Demon Wager regarding the impending destruction of Xanth. But it’s nothing Astrid and her motley crew of lovely maidens and strapping men can’t handle . . . they hope. Piers Anthony delivers another tale set in the bestselling world of Xanth, filled with magic, surprises, adventure, and a few puns. Here’s what the author has to say about his new book: “Five Portraits is a kind of sequel to Board Stiff in that it picks up where the other leaves off, with the same characters. Apart from that, it’s one of my favorites within the series. There’s something about Astrid Basilisk that appeals to me: a very pretty girl whose very glance is deadly, yet she’s a nice person whose selfless effort to save five difficult children from future Xanth is thoroughly worthy. I also like the theme of the power of unlikely friendship. Not just Xanth, but Mundania, too, would be better if there were more such friendships.”Trade Review“Piers Anthony is one of those authors who can perform magic with the ordinary. . . . [He] is a craftsman.” —A Reader’s Guide to Science Fiction

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Book SynopsisOwen Deathstalker has a prophecy to fulfill. Just as the espers foretold, Owen tumbled an empire and witnessed the end of everything he believed in…all that's left to do is die. But Owen has a few more scores he'd like to settle before his borrowed time is up.The Empire is besieged by nanotechnology plagues and AI invasions, while mysterious and horrific beings, known as "the Recreated," descend from the Darkvoid. But right now, Owen's only concern is rescuing Hazel d'Ark from the vicious Blood Runners who abducted her. He's already lost so much to become the leader and warrior he never wanted to be; he'll be damned if he loses Hazel too. So one more time, Owen Deathstalker will step up and be the hero--for Hazel, and then for Humanity. One more time, he'll call upon the gifts of the Deathstalker Clan to fulfill his destiny and face death. All while knowing that every "one more time" could be his last. Deathstalker: Destiny is the fifth book in New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green's beloved space opera series. Don't miss the next chapter of the Deathstalker universe in Deathstalker: Legacy.

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