Historical fantasy

Book SynopsisThe Perfect World: A Romance of Strange People and Strange Places (1922) is a science fiction novel by Ella M. Scrymsour. Thought to be a fixup novel, or a combination of two separate stories, it proves a curious sampling of many common elements of science fiction, incorporating utopian, lost race, apocalyptic, and interstellar themes. Ultimately, with its exploration of the Great War’s aftermath, it proves an entertaining work of fiction that captures the interbellum anxieties permeating European culture in the early twentieth century. While working at Grimland Colliery, their family’s successful coalmine, cousins Alan and Desmond Forsyth discover a vast system of underground caves. There, they encounter an ancient race of horned dwarves, exiled Israelites whose civilization has lived underground for three thousand years. Hostile in nature, the dwarves pursue Alan and Desmond through dark, twisted tunnels, forcing the pair to escape by any means necessary. Eventually emerging in Australia, the Forsyth cousins learn that they have missed the Great War, which has devastated the world and ushered in the end of human life itself. At the very last moment, they escape with their uncle, who has invented an airship capable of travelling through space. Together, the trio lands on the planet Jupiter, where they encounter a race of humanoid aliens who have established a utopian civilization. The Perfect World: A Romance of Strange People and Strange Places is an entertaining work of science fiction by Ella M. Scrymsour, a relatively unknown writer with a gift for the weird and wonderful. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ella M. Scrymsour’s The Perfect World: A Romance of Strange People and Strange Places is a classic of English science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book Synopsis Set in a district of the Cape Colony, a British settlement in South Africa, young Allan Quatermain and Marie Marias meet when they share the same tutor. Though they quickly befriend each other, their friendship is frowned upon by Marie’s father, since Marie is Dutch, and Allan is English. Despite her father’s distain, Marie and Allan get closer as they grow. After Allan helps save Marie’s life, their relationship becomes more passionate. In attempts to end their romance, Marie’s father promises her hand in marriage to her cousin, Hernan Pereira. When Marie refuses, her father decides to move their family, participating in the Great Trek of 1836, in which a mass of Dutch South Africans migrated north to escape the influence of colonial Britain. However, as they travel into lands of unpredictable danger, the group runs low on supplies and is threatened by a group of aggressive natives. After Marie writes to Allan, concerned about this danger, he rushes to help save them. But as he follows in the footsteps on their long journey, Allan becomes concerned that he will not make it in time, and wonders if the group would even accept his help if he did. Marie by H. Rider Haggard has been regarded as a fan favorite of the author’s work, praised for its exciting action and compelling romance. Featuring prominent events in African history, Marie provides a unique perspective and a plot loosely inspired by real events. Written with masterful prose, Marie is heart-wrenching, thrilling, and provides meaningful backstory of Allan Quatermain, the prolific star of many of Haggard’s novels. First published in 1912, the action and romance of Marie has remained to be fresh and engrossing to a modern audience, simultaneously upholding the novelty of classic literature. This edition of Marie by H. Rider Haggard features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Marie caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhile in England visiting the castle of his dear friends, Lady and Lord Ragnall, Allan Quatermain is approached by two men seeking his help. Known for his hunting and exploration skills, the men ask Quatermain to kill an evil spirit that has been roaming their land. Trapped in the body of a massive elephant, the evil spirit has been on a rampage, killing any person in its sight. After he agrees to help hunt the creature, Quatermain journeys to Africa, where he soon becomes involved in a rescue mission after the wife of a friend is kidnapped. As his mission unfolds, the simple rescue operation becomes complicated with shocking discoveries. Now, amid a battle between two tribes with polarizing religions and the danger of the aggressive possessed elephant, Quatermain must brave the African wilderness to slay the spirit and save his friend’s wife before it is too late. With life-threatening dangers, mystical encounters, a war between tribes, a rescue mission and an isolated civilization, The Ivory Child by H. Rider Haggard is fun and compelling. Themes of mysticism and the vivid portrayal of Colonial African culture, flora, and fauna are paired with a classic Quatermain adventure story, creating an engrossing narrative that both entertains and amazes. First published in 1916, The Ivory Child is a continuation of previous Quatermain adventures. Though The Ivory Child follows the events of Allan and the Holy Flower, this novel can be enjoyed independently. With colorful prose and a fun adventure, The Ivory Child can be enjoyed by a wide audience, and is a classic example of 19th century adventure fiction. This edition of The Ivory Child by H. Rider Haggard features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, The Ivory Child caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original mastery and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhat begins as a simple mission to win a dowry for a bride spirals into political and social unrest as a famed hunter, Allan Quatermain, witnesses a nation slip into a civil war. Known for his outdoorsman skills, Quatermain’s friend, Saduko, approaches him to ask for help winning a dowry for the woman he loves. Hoping to marry a beautiful and mysterious woman named Mameema, Saduko must obtain a sum of one hundred cattle to use as a dowry. Happy to help his friend, Quatermain assists Saduko achieve his goal, but when Mameema begins to show interest in Quatermain instead, complications arise. Though Quatermain is adamantly against it, Mameema tries to get him to marry her, in hopes that it would benefit her. Ambitious and cunning, Mameema dreams of being the leading woman of her home city, a settlement called Zululand. However, as she manipulates her way into power, political strife and turmoil follow, leading Quatermain to witness Zululand regress into a state of civil war. With a plot rooted in historical events, Child of the Storm by H. Rider Haggard is both a subtle study of anthropology and an exciting action adventure narrative with romantic elements. Following the events of Haggard’s Marie, this novel can be enjoyed independently or as a continuation of Quatermain’s adventures in Africa. Written with detailed and imaginative prose, Child of the Storm mixes themes of politics, war, and sexuality to create an ensnaring and unique adventure for Haggard’s reoccurring and fan-favorite character, Allan Quatermain. First published over one hundred years ago in 1913, Child of the Storm continues to capture the attention of readers with its wit, vivid imagery, and complex characters. This edition of Child of the Storm by H. Rider Haggard features a stunning new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Child of the Storm caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original mastery and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisBorn in Africa out of wedlock, Benita Clifford’s mother quickly moved to England, refusing to marry Benita’s father due to his struggle with addiction. Benita enjoyed a happy childhood in England, however, when her mother tragically passes away, she decides to move back to Africa per her father’s request. Benita’s adventure starts long before she sets foot on African land, as she encounters the turbulent sea and becomes enamored by another passenger while she sails to the new country. As the journey continues, Benita and the other passenger, a man named Robert Seymour, grow closer, but their young relationship is threatened by a force of nature. After surviving a tragedy suffered by the ship, Benita arrives in Africa shaken, but ready to start anew. When she hears of a quest for lost Portuguese treasure, Benita is eager to join the adventure with her father and his partner. As they trek through land unknown, Benita and the expedition group brave countless challenges, including hostile native groups, shocking discoveries, dangerous environments, and a mysterious 17th century ghost. H. Rider Haggard’s Benita, An African Romance portrays a strong and brave protagonist as she embarks on a classic adventure. Set in Africa during the early 19th century, Benita, An African Romance features hidden temples, lost treasure, shipwrecks, reincarnations, run-ins with natives, and ghosts. With the fusion of adventure, romance, and supernatural genres, Benita, An African Romance is gripping from start to finish. First published in 1906, Haggard’s work has remained to be fresh, innovative, and exciting even over a century later. Though rarely found in print, Benita, An African Romance is written with simple, creative prose, and is accessible and relevant to modern audiences. This edition of Benita, An African Romance by H. Rider Haggard features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Benita, An African Romance caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original mastery and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book Synopsis What began as a simple visit with a friend quickly turns into an experience of revelation when Allan Quatermain and his dear friend, Lady Ragnall, inhale the smoke of an ancient Egyptian herb. Lady Ragnall, a widow, and the great explorer, Alan Quatermain share a special bond. Though they are both attracted to each other, they find themselves unsure if they should act on these feelings. While they struggle with their feelings, Lady Ragnall and Quatermain become intoxicated with an ancient herb that Quatermain obtained during his last expedition. Having underestimated its power, the herb forces Lady Ragnall and Quatermain into an intense hallucinatory state. Now living as iterations of their past selves, the couple find themselves in ancient Egypt during a time of political strife. Now known as Lord Shabaka, Quatermain is an Egyptian noble. Surprised by the longevity of their intense bond, Quatermain and Ragnall reconnect through their past iterations, deciding together that the civil unrest must be addressed. With high stakes and danger guaranteed, Quatermain leads an army to the lands of the Nile, determined to stop Middle Eastern invaders or die trying. With action, intrigue, and romance, The Ancient Allan is a clever ending to a three-part adventure series written by the incomparable 19th century author, H. Rider Haggard. With topics of reincarnation, war, and romance, The Ancient Allan exceeds expectations with innovative wit and a unique storyline paired with a classic Allan Quatermain adventure. Written in imaginative and simple prose, The Ancient Allan is assessible to a wide range of audiences, relevant and inclusive to both children and adults. This edition of The Ancient Allan by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, The Ancient Allan caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhen young Allan Quatermain, a boy who would later be known for his heroic adventures, saves a young girl named Stella from a fire, they become quick friends. However, when Stella’s mother leaves her daughter and husband for a new life, Stella’s father is so ashamed that he moves them away into the wilderness. Upset, but too young to contest it, Stella and Allan move on and lose touch. Growing up in both England and South Africa, Allan experiences a myriad of adventures, including duel witch doctors, challenging hunts, and tragic deaths. One day, after a serious accident leaves Allan badly wounded, he and Stella are serendipitously reunited. Able to return the favor from childhood, Stella saves Allan, nursing him back to health and fostering a new relationship. Unwilling to lose touch again, Allan and Stella stay together, their relationship evolving and adapting as they grow together and go on adventures. However, as they remain in a region of unpredictable danger, the couple’s life and relationship are tested by fate, causing conflicts bigger than anything they had ever faced before. The origins and backstory of H. Rider Haggard’s reoccurring character, Allan Quatermain, is explored and revealed in Allan’s Wife. Elaborating on details mentioned in other novels featuring Quatermain, Allan’s Wife explores Quatermain’s early life, the fate of his parents, and the love story between he and Stella. Featuring heart-pounding action, sweet sentiment, and wonderful adventures, Allan’s Wife is a compelling work of short fiction. Written in imaginative and simple prose, this H. Rider Haggard novel is accessible to all ages. First published in 1889, Allan’s Wife has remained fresh and exciting, appealing to readers’ sense of adventure and sentiment. This edition of Allan’s Wife by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Allan’s Wife caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhen Brother John, a man known for wandering around Africa for years, tells Allan Quatermain about a rare and gorgeous orchid hidden in the wild flora of Africa, Quatermain is determined to find one. When he does, he travels to England and meets Stephen Somers, who collects special flowers. Somers was eager to buy the orchid, but after a mix up at an auction, he finds himself in trouble with his family. Nevertheless, Somers still desperately wants one of the African orchids, and offers to accompany Quatermain and finance the journey to recover another flower. Never one to turn down an expedition, Quatermain agrees, and together, they begin their expedition in Africa, determined to find the orchid that Brother John had described as the largest flower in the region. However, as their adventure unfolds, the men face unanticipated struggles. While they continue their search, the men must work together and think quick to survive the unexpected, trekking through land unknown, fighting battles, leading rescue missions, and navigating daunting encounters with cannibals, slave traders, and a giant gorilla. Filled with thrilling action, narrow escapes, and wonderful descriptions, Allan and the Holy Flower by H. Rider Haggard is a page-turning 19th century adventure novel. Set in colonial Africa, Haggard includes a setting that is not often depicted in English literature. First published in 1915, Allan and the Holy Flower remains to be a fresh and thrilling action- adventure, delighting audiences with its quick pace and nail-biting conflicts. Written in imaginative, yet accessible prose, Allan and the Holy Flower is a classic adventure novel perfect for all ages. This edition of Allan and the Holy Flower by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Allan and the Holy Flower caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisThe People of the Mist, an intoxicating mix of adventure, fantasy, and romance, is an underappreciated classic of English literature. Lesser-known among Rider’s works, this novel is perhaps more famous for being the origin of the phrase “Per Ardua ad Astra”—through hardship to the stars—than it is as a story that endures over a century after its publication. Shaken by the loss of his fortune, abandoned by the woman he was to marry, Leonard Outram risks all he has left to search across Africa for all he could hope to gain. On the way, he befriends a young Zulu named Otter, who guides and assists him in a hostile land. Together, the two rescue a young Portuguese woman named Juanna Rodd and her nursemaid, Soa, from slavery. In the face of danger—and Soa’s mistrust—Outram finds love all over again. When the group finally discovers the fabled People of the Mist, it quickly becomes clear that in order to gain what they came in search for—the wealth of a powerful kingdom—they will first have to survive in a land torn apart by conflict between royalty and a reptilian god. From beginning to end, Haggard’s story of escape and survival is sure to keep readers immersed in its world and guaranteed to leave them wanting more. To read H. Rider Haggard’s The People of the Mist is to enter a universe that could only be imagined by one of the greatest adventure writers of all time—at the height of his literary powers, no less. Published in book form in 1894 after being serialized in the weekly magazine Tit-Bits, Haggard’s novel is an epic of high fantasy that sheds light on how the intricacies of empire circulated in the popular imagination of British subjects during the reign of Queen Victoria. For the modern reader, it is both a finely-written tale of action and discovery, and a document of a world that is far from lost. Stories such as Haggard’s serve as reminders that we are never as far as we think from the sins of the past, that these “mysterious” and “exotic” lands of myth and adventure not only existed long before European conquest, but survive to this day in its shadow. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this new edition of H. Rider Haggard’s The People of the Mist is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Son of Tarzan is the fourth adventure in the saga of the jungle lord and the only volume to focus on his son, Jack. Raised in ignorance of his father’s untamed nature, Jack will learn the truth of his heritage, the exhilaration of its primal power and the mortal danger of its primitive conflicts and ruthless foes. Edgar Rice Burroughs turns his attention to Tarzan’s son, first seen as an infant in The Beasts of Tarzan. Fearing unjustified accusations of murder, Jack flees deep into the African jungle, to the very place his father, Tarzan, came of age. Like his mighty sire, Jack adapts to his new life in the wild, finding friends in the great apes and winning the name Korak, the killer. In rescuing Meriem, an abducted and maltreated young girl, Jack acquires a friend and companion in his life of exile. Their relationship is that of siblings but, as time passes and circumstances tear them apart, stronger emotions are revealed. The author’s mastery of devious plotting, replete with cruel twists of fate that maximize the protagonist’s danger and fear for their loved one, keeps the novel moving at a brisk pace and qualify it as one of the most rousing entries in the Tarzan saga. Originally published in book form in 1917, The Son of Tarzan is part of a rich legacy that includes a series of 24 books and adaptations in film, radio, television, comics and more. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Son of Tarzan is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisThe Beasts of Tarzan is the third adventure of the jungle lord and displays the author’s mythic hero at his most loyal, as he struggles through terrible trials to reunite his family, and his most savage, as he confronts the men who dared tear his family apart. Edgar Rice Burroughs returns to the chronicles of one of the world’s most celebrated fictional characters, Tarzan of the Apes. Old enemies resurface to torment Tarzan while he’s in England, living as the civilized Lord Greystoke. The kidnapping of his infant son leads to the capture of both parents, and to Tarzan being stranded, unarmed and naked, on the shore of a jungle island. Maddened by a note left by the kidnappers, hinting at a terrible fate for mother and child, and pitted against a savage collection of jungle beasts, Lord Greystoke reverts to his primal self, a savage animal of superhuman ferocity, and the worst opponent a villain could have. Befriending a savage panther and leading a small army of great apes, Tarzan will fight to restore his family and make his enemies pay a heavy price. The author’s vivid imagination and clear prose grants his incredible tale a beguiling verisimilitude, putting the reader into the wild action with the persuasive power of a 20th century myth. Tarzan remains an unforgettable character and a pop culture phenomenon. Originally published in book form in 1914, The Beasts of Tarzan is part of a rich legacy that includes a series of 24 books and adaptations in film, radio, television, comics and more. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Beasts of Tarzan is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisShe (1887), an intoxicating mix of adventure, fantasy, and romance, is an underappreciated classic of English literature. Among his most successful works, She­—which was inspired by Haggard’s experience living in South Africa—helped the author establish his reputation as a leading writer of his generation and an invaluable pioneer of the lost world genre of fantasy fiction. Horace Holly, a young Cambridge professor, receives an unexpected opportunity from an older colleague: in exchange for knowledge about an ancient secret, Holly must agree to become the caretaker of Vincey’s son in the event of his untimely death. Cautious yet intrigued, Holly accepts, and is presented with a locked metal box and a set of cryptic instructions. The next day, Vincey dies, leaving the young Leo as his ward. Unable to open the box until Leo has turned 25, Holly settles into his career and duties as a father until the time is right. Years later, they open it to discover the Sherd of Amenartas, confirming Vincey’s story and inspiring them to journey to the heart of Africa. There, they fall captive to the Amahagger tribe, a lost people ruled by a powerful, divine queen. Soon, they are brought to a subterranean palace in the ruined city of Kôr, where She-who-must-be-obeyed awaits. To read H. Rider Haggard’s She is to enter a universe that could only be imagined by one of the greatest adventure writers of all time—at the height of his literary powers, no less. Published in book form in after being serialized in The Graphic, a British weekly magazine, She is an epic of high fantasy that sheds light on how the intricacies of empire circulated in the popular imagination of British subjects during the reign of Queen Victoria. For the modern reader, it is both a finely written tale of action and discovery, and a document of a world that is far from lost. Stories such as Haggard’s serve as reminders that we are never as far as we think from the sins of the past, that these “mysterious” and “exotic” lands of myth and adventure not only existed long before European conquest, but survive to this day in its shadow. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this new edition of H. Rider Haggard’s She is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisA Scottish boy, who’s lost his mother and lives with an alcoholic father, overcomes various hardships to create a new and exciting life for himself. He avoids despair and chooses to perform good deeds, even to his own detriment. Gibbie is a young boy born into a poor and abusive household. His mother has died, and his father is a drunkard who can’t provide a healthy or nurturing environment. Gibbie doesn’t speak or read but is able to navigate the Scottish streets. He’s left to his own devices and experiences both positive and traumatic events. Over time, he encounters different mentors and parental figures who provide much-needed guidance. Gibbie is a kind soul whose unfortunate circumstance eventually takes an unexpected turn. Although the story centers a juvenile character, Sir Gibbie is a great read for all ages. It delivers an enduring message of empathy and compassion despite individual suffering. The story highlights the importance of one’s character regardless of personal loss or gain. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sir Gibbie is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisThe Undying Monster (1922) is a horror novel by Jessie Douglas Kerruish. Recognized as a groundbreaking work of lycanthropy, or werewolf fiction, The Undying Monster was adapted into a successful 1942 horror film starring James Ellison, Heather Angel, and John Howard. Haunted for generations, the Hammand family has grown accustomed to tragedy. Early deaths, suicides, and gruesome injuries plague their family tree, and they have long been regarded as pariahs in their rural English community. When Oliver Hammand survives a vicious attack while walking in the woods one night, his sister Swanhild resolves to put an end to the ancient curse. Seeking the guidance of Luna Bartendale, a powerful psychic, Swanhild convinces her brother to join her on a journey of discovery and danger to not only free their family from its dreadful cycle, but to save their own young lives. Together with Luna, they scour ancient archives, investigate ruined graveyards, and search for whatever clues they can find. As they delve deep into the heart of their family’s mystery, Oliver falls deeply in love with Luna. Led to the edge of existence itself, the trio find themselves face to face with a horror too terrible to imagine. The Undying Monster is a masterpiece of werewolf fiction by a largely forgotten writer of popular romance, mystery, and horror novels. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Jessie Douglas Kerruish’s The Undying Monster is a classic of English horror fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Perfect World: A Romance of Strange People and Strange Places (1922) is a science fiction novel by Ella M. Scrymsour. Thought to be a fixup novel, or a combination of two separate stories, it proves a curious sampling of many common elements of science fiction, incorporating utopian, lost race, apocalyptic, and interstellar themes. Ultimately, with its exploration of the Great War’s aftermath, it proves an entertaining work of fiction that captures the interbellum anxieties permeating European culture in the early twentieth century. While working at Grimland Colliery, their family’s successful coalmine, cousins Alan and Desmond Forsyth discover a vast system of underground caves. There, they encounter an ancient race of horned dwarves, exiled Israelites whose civilization has lived underground for three thousand years. Hostile in nature, the dwarves pursue Alan and Desmond through dark, twisted tunnels, forcing the pair to escape by any means necessary. Eventually emerging in Australia, the Forsyth cousins learn that they have missed the Great War, which has devastated the world and ushered in the end of human life itself. At the very last moment, they escape with their uncle, who has invented an airship capable of travelling through space. Together, the trio lands on the planet Jupiter, where they encounter a race of humanoid aliens who have established a utopian civilization. The Perfect World: A Romance of Strange People and Strange Places is an entertaining work of science fiction by Ella M. Scrymsour, a relatively unknown writer with a gift for the weird and wonderful. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ella M. Scrymsour’s The Perfect World: A Romance of Strange People and Strange Places is a classic of English science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisWhen a mysterious houseboat appears on the river Styx, it brings an influx of famous souls who begin to flock towards the new favored location. A House-Boat on the Styx is a series of different stories that tie into one exciting narrative. Charon is a mythological character who navigates the Styx river under the guidance of Hades. The water acts as a border between the living world and the afterlife. As a ferryman, Charon transports deceased souls across the river into the underworld. When a new houseboat suddenly arrives, he fears his services are no longer needed. The lost souls are drawn to the boat and begin to mingle in its many rooms. Its inhabitants include a variety of notable people from history and popular folklore. A House-Boat on the Styx is a fantasy novel that’s set in the supernatural realm. It features familiar figures from the past and present (up to 1895) who meet in a shared space. It’s filled with interactions that are humorous, intriguing and more importantly, entertaining. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of A House-Boat on the Styx is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisPrincess Irene lived a cold and isolated life before stumbling across a group of goblins that are eager to make humans pay for their treachery. With the help of a young miner and a divine figure, the heroine hopes to protect her loved ones from the looming threat. Princess Irene is an eight-year-old girl who is primarily raised by her caregiver, Lootie. Her mother died and her father is constantly away while she occupies their large family home. One day, while roaming the halls, Princess Irene discovers a beautiful woman who claims to be her great-great-grandmother. Elsewhere, a young miner named Curdie discovers the local goblins are plotting their revenge against humans after years of suffering. When Curdie and Princess Irene cross paths, they must work together to keep the goblins from destroying their land. The Princess and the Goblin was originally published in 1872 following a successful serial run in Good Words for the Young magazine. One of George MacDonald’s most beloved tales, the story is filled with vivid imagery and symbolism that makes a lasting impression. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Princess and the Goblin is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1864, this story centers a young princess who’s cursed with the inability to touch the ground, but still finds love and happiness. The Light Princess is about sacrifice and redemption, while facing unsurmountable odds. When a witch isn’t invited to a royal christening, she curses the child with a “loss of gravity.” The young princess constantly floats on air and can only find relief while in water. Due to her circumstance, she remains figuratively and literally distant. This becomes a greater problem when her family discovers the only way to break the curse is through tears. The princess must experience the power of love and loss before she can finally be free.. The Light Princess is one of George MacDonald’s most notable works. It’s been adapted across multiple mediums including a musical with songs from award-winning artist, Tori Amos. It’s a children’s tale that delivers a compassionate message with a unique narrative. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Light Princess is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisWhen two girls—a princess and a shepherd’s daughter—are captured by a mysterious woman, they must face the ugly truth about their harmful behavior. Despite drastically different backgrounds, both girls have become cruel and disobedient youths. Rosamond is a young princess who shares a birthday with Agnes, a shepherd’s daughter. They grew up with contrasting lifestyles but manage to develop the same negative habits. Both girls are spoiled by their parents and become self-centered bullies who hurt everyone in their path. On different occasions, a wise woman grabs each girl and brings them to her magical cottage. She forces them to acknowledge their wrongdoing and attempts to teach them a better way of life. While one girl embraces change, the other remains stagnant forcing them to finally come to ahead. A Double Story uses classic fairy tale tropes in an unconventional way. Its message of empathy and hope is told through vivid storytelling and romantic images. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of self-indulgence and the need for structure and love. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of A Double Story is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisWhen George Neville vanishes while searching for King Solomon’s diamond mines in Africa, his brother, Sir Henry Curtis, knows that he cannot find his brother without help. Said to be located in an unexplored and dangerous region, Curtis seeks out Allan Quatermain, an esteemed hunter and explorer. However, Quatermain is reluctant to help, due to the dangerous nature of the rescue mission, and out of concern for his son, who would be defenseless if Quatermain was unable to return. After making a deal to ensure his son’s wellbeing in the event of an untimely death, Quatermain and Curtis start to assemble an expedition group. With the help of an old map said to have been used by a man who claimed to have found King Solomon’s treasure, Quatermain and Curtis embark on a perilous rescue mission with their crew. As they trek across unfamiliar land with low supplies, they struggle to overcome the harsh conditions of the terrain, causing tragic accidents and breeding doubt that they will make it back home alive. But when they stumble into an unrelenting cave, the group of explorers make a shocking discovery and meet a native group on the brink of a civil war, complicating their mission even further. First published in 1885, King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard was an innovative novel of the Victorian era, and is considered to be the novel that founded the lost world genre. King Solomon’s Mines has since inspired many major authors, and adaptations in film, comics, and radio. Meant to be enjoyed by all ages, King Solomon’s Mines caters to a wide audience and delivers an exciting narrative full of wit and imagination that remains relevant and fun for contemporary readers. This edition of King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, King Solomon’s Mines caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhen Brother John, a man known for wandering around Africa for years, tells Allan Quatermain about a rare and gorgeous orchid hidden in the wild flora of Africa, Quatermain is determined to find one. When he does, he travels to England and meets Stephen Somers, who collects special flowers. Somers was eager to buy the orchid, but after a mix up at an auction, he finds himself in trouble with his family. Nevertheless, Somers still desperately wants one of the African orchids, and offers to accompany Quatermain and finance the journey to recover another flower. Never one to turn down an expedition, Quatermain agrees, and together, they begin their expedition in Africa, determined to find the orchid that Brother John had described as the largest flower in the region. However, as their adventure unfolds, the men face unanticipated struggles. While they continue their search, the men must work together and think quick to survive the unexpected, trekking through land unknown, fighting battles, leading rescue missions, and navigating daunting encounters with cannibals, slave traders, and a giant gorilla. Filled with thrilling action, narrow escapes, and wonderful descriptions, Allan and the Holy Flower by H. Rider Haggard is a page-turning 19th century adventure novel. Set in colonial Africa, Haggard includes a setting that is not often depicted in English literature. First published in 1915, Allan and the Holy Flower remains to be a fresh and thrilling action- adventure, delighting audiences with its quick pace and nail-biting conflicts. Written in imaginative, yet accessible prose, Allan and the Holy Flower is a classic adventure novel perfect for all ages. This edition of Allan and the Holy Flower by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Allan and the Holy Flower caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhat began as a simple visit with a friend quickly turns into an experience of revelation when Allan Quatermain and his dear friend, Lady Ragnall, inhale the smoke of an ancient Egyptian herb. Lady Ragnall, a widow, and the great explorer, Alan Quatermain share a special bond. Though they are both attracted to each other, they find themselves unsure if they should act on these feelings. While they struggle with their feelings, Lady Ragnall and Quatermain become intoxicated with an ancient herb that Quatermain obtained during his last expedition. Having underestimated its power, the herb forces Lady Ragnall and Quatermain into an intense hallucinatory state. Now living as iterations of their past selves, the couple find themselves in ancient Egypt during a time of political strife. Now known as Lord Shabaka, Quatermain is an Egyptian noble. Surprised by the longevity of their intense bond, Quatermain and Ragnall reconnect through their past iterations, deciding together that the civil unrest must be addressed. With high stakes and danger guaranteed, Quatermain leads an army to the lands of the Nile, determined to stop Middle Eastern invaders or die trying. With action, intrigue, and romance, The Ancient Allan is a clever ending to a three-part adventure series written by the incomparable 19th century author, H. Rider Haggard. With topics of reincarnation, war, and romance, The Ancient Allan exceeds expectations with innovative wit and a unique storyline paired with a classic Allan Quatermain adventure. Written in imaginative and simple prose, The Ancient Allan is assessible to a wide range of audiences, relevant and inclusive to both children and adults. This edition of The Ancient Allan by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, The Ancient Allan caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhen young Allan Quatermain, a boy who would later be known for his heroic adventures, saves a young girl named Stella from a fire, they become quick friends. However, when Stella’s mother leaves her daughter and husband for a new life, Stella’s father is so ashamed that he moves them away into the wilderness. Upset, but too young to contest it, Stella and Allan move on and lose touch. Growing up in both England and South Africa, Allan experiences a myriad of adventures, including duel witch doctors, challenging hunts, and tragic deaths. One day, after a serious accident leaves Allan badly wounded, he and Stella are serendipitously reunited. Able to return the favor from childhood, Stella saves Allan, nursing him back to health and fostering a new relationship. Unwilling to lose touch again, Allan and Stella stay together, their relationship evolving and adapting as they grow together and go on adventures. However, as they remain in a region of unpredictable danger, the couple’s life and relationship are tested by fate, causing conflicts bigger than anything they had ever faced before. The origins and backstory of H. Rider Haggard’s reoccurring character, Allan Quatermain, is explored and revealed in Allan’s Wife. Elaborating on details mentioned in other novels featuring Quatermain, Allan’s Wife explores Quatermain’s early life, the fate of his parents, and the love story between he and Stella. Featuring heart-pounding action, sweet sentiment, and wonderful adventures, Allan’s Wife is a compelling work of short fiction. Written in imaginative and simple prose, this H. Rider Haggard novel is accessible to all ages. First published in 1889, Allan’s Wife has remained fresh and exciting, appealing to readers’ sense of adventure and sentiment. This edition of Allan’s Wife by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Allan’s Wife caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book Synopsis Set in a district of the Cape Colony, a British settlement in South Africa, young Allan Quatermain and Marie Marias meet when they share the same tutor. Though they quickly befriend each other, their friendship is frowned upon by Marie’s father, since Marie is Dutch, and Allan is English. Despite her father’s distain, Marie and Allan get closer as they grow. After Allan helps save Marie’s life, their relationship becomes more passionate. In attempts to end their romance, Marie’s father promises her hand in marriage to her cousin, Hernan Pereira. When Marie refuses, her father decides to move their family, participating in the Great Trek of 1836, in which a mass of Dutch South Africans migrated north to escape the influence of colonial Britain. However, as they travel into lands of unpredictable danger, the group runs low on supplies and is threatened by a group of aggressive natives. After Marie writes to Allan, concerned about this danger, he rushes to help save them. But as he follows in the footsteps on their long journey, Allan becomes concerned that he will not make it in time, and wonders if the group would even accept his help if he did. Marie by H. Rider Haggard has been regarded as a fan favorite of the author’s work, praised for its exciting action and compelling romance. Featuring prominent events in African history, Marie provides a unique perspective and a plot loosely inspired by real events. Written with masterful prose, Marie is heart-wrenching, thrilling, and provides meaningful backstory of Allan Quatermain, the prolific star of many of Haggard’s novels. First published in 1912, the action and romance of Marie has remained to be fresh and engrossing to a modern audience, simultaneously upholding the novelty of classic literature. This edition of Marie by H. Rider Haggard features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Marie caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisH. Rider Haggard’s Benita, An African Romance portrays a strong and brave protagonist as she embarks on a classic adventure. Set in Africa during the early 19th century, Benita, An African Romance features hidden temples, lost treasure, shipwrecks, reincarnations, run-ins with natives, and ghosts. With the fusion of adventure, romance, and supernatural genres, Benita, An African Romance is gripping from start to finish.Benita Clifford grew up in England, away from the father that her mother refused to marry due to his struggle with addiction. Benita's happy life in England comes to an end, however, when her mother tragically passes away, prompting Benita to move back to Africa per her father’s request.Benita’s adventure starts long before she sets foot on African land, as she encounters the turbulent sea and becomes enamored by a man named Robert Seymour. As the journey continues, Benita and Seymour grow closer, but their young relationship is threatened by a force of nature. Benita arrives in Africa shaken, but ready to start anew. When she hears of a quest for lost Portuguese treasure, Benita is eager to join the adventure with her father and his partner.As they trek through land unknown, Benita and the expedition group brave countless challenges, including hostile native groups, shocking discoveries, dangerous environments, and a mysterious seventeenth century ghost.This edition of Benita, An African Romance by H. Rider Haggard features an eye-catching new cover and professional design which makes it both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Benita, An African Romance caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original mastery and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhile in England visiting the castle of his dear friends, Lady and Lord Ragnall, Allan Quatermain is approached by two men seeking his help. Known for his hunting and exploration skills, the men ask Quatermain to kill an evil spirit that has been roaming their land. Trapped in the body of a massive elephant, the evil spirit has been on a rampage, killing any person in its sight. After he agrees to help hunt the creature, Quatermain journeys to Africa, where he soon becomes involved in a rescue mission after the wife of a friend is kidnapped. As his mission unfolds, the simple rescue operation becomes complicated with shocking discoveries. Now, amid a battle between two tribes with polarizing religions and the danger of the aggressive possessed elephant, Quatermain must brave the African wilderness to slay the spirit and save his friend’s wife before it is too late. With life-threatening dangers, mystical encounters, a war between tribes, a rescue mission and an isolated civilization, The Ivory Child by H. Rider Haggard is fun and compelling. Themes of mysticism and the vivid portrayal of Colonial African culture, flora, and fauna are paired with a classic Quatermain adventure story, creating an engrossing narrative that both entertains and amazes. First published in 1916, The Ivory Child is a continuation of previous Quatermain adventures. Though The Ivory Child follows the events of Allan and the Holy Flower, this novel can be enjoyed independently. With colorful prose and a fun adventure, The Ivory Child can be enjoyed by a wide audience, and is a classic example of 19th century adventure fiction. This edition of The Ivory Child by H. Rider Haggard features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, The Ivory Child caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original mastery and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisWhat begins as a simple mission to win a dowry for a bride spirals into political and social unrest as a famed hunter, Allan Quatermain, witnesses a nation slip into a civil war. Known for his outdoorsman skills, Quatermain’s friend, Saduko, approaches him to ask for help winning a dowry for the woman he loves. Hoping to marry a beautiful and mysterious woman named Mameema, Saduko must obtain a sum of one hundred cattle to use as a dowry. Happy to help his friend, Quatermain assists Saduko achieve his goal, but when Mameema begins to show interest in Quatermain instead, complications arise. Though Quatermain is adamantly against it, Mameema tries to get him to marry her, in hopes that it would benefit her. Ambitious and cunning, Mameema dreams of being the leading woman of her home city, a settlement called Zululand. However, as she manipulates her way into power, political strife and turmoil follow, leading Quatermain to witness Zululand regress into a state of civil war. With a plot rooted in historical events, Child of the Storm by H. Rider Haggard is both a subtle study of anthropology and an exciting action adventure narrative with romantic elements. Following the events of Haggard’s Marie, this novel can be enjoyed independently or as a continuation of Quatermain’s adventures in Africa. Written with detailed and imaginative prose, Child of the Storm mixes themes of politics, war, and sexuality to create an ensnaring and unique adventure for Haggard’s reoccurring and fan-favorite character, Allan Quatermain. First published over one hundred years ago in 1913, Child of the Storm continues to capture the attention of readers with its wit, vivid imagery, and complex characters. This edition of Child of the Storm by H. Rider Haggard features a stunning new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Child of the Storm caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original mastery and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.

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Book SynopsisDon Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley (1922). Having established himself as a bestselling author of short fiction, Dunsany published Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley, his first novel. Recognized as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction, Dunsany is a man whose work, in the words of H. P. Lovecraft, remains “unexcelled in the sorcery of crystalline singing prose, and supreme in the creation of a gorgeous and languorous world of incandescently exotic vision.” In an ancient, mythical Spain, a world of castles, dragons, and magic, Don Rodriguez responds to his father’s summons. Before the throne of the Lord of the Valleys of Arguento Harez, the young man learns of his fate. His younger brother, a simple, unskilled man, will inherit the kingdom upon his father’s death. Don Rodriguez, a skilled musician and legendary swordsman, must venture off into the unknown in order to prove himself, or die trying. Armed with his father’s ancient Castilian blade, he sets out to find a servant to accompany him. His final destination is the mysterious Shadow Valley, a haunted realm from which few ever return. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Lord Dunsany’s Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley is a classic of British fantasy fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisJimbo: A Fantasy (1909) is a novel by Algernon Blackwood. Having already established himself as a promising short story writer, Blackwood published his debut novel at the age of 40. A lifelong occultist, Blackwood was interested in the fine line between the human and spiritual realms, often incorporating supernatural elements into his work. Jimbo: A Fantasy is a story of a young boy’s out of body experience after sustaining a terrible injury, a narrative that explores the vibrant worlds we wake to in our dreams. “Jimbo had fallen on his head. Inside that head lay the mass of highly sensitive matter called the brain, on which were recorded, of course, the impressions of everything that had yet come to him in life. […] [H]e would have to wander, lost and lonely, through the comparative chaos of disproportioned visions, generally known as the region of delirium, until the doctor, assisted by mother nature, restored him once more to normal consciousness.” Unsupervised, Jimmy wanders into the fields near his home. Charged by an angry bull, he falls and strikes his head, losing consciousness for an indeterminate period of time. As his body struggles to stay alive, his mind creates a world of its own, a haunting realm of dreams both fantastic and somehow realer, more vibrant, then the world he seems to have lost. Jimbo: A Fantasy is a story for children and adults alike, a novel that poses timeless questions regarding the nature of our existence, both upon earth and beyond. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Algernon Blackwood’s Jimbo: A Fantasy is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisA Prisoner in Fairyland (1913) is a novel by Algernon Blackwood. Having already established himself as a promising short story writer, Blackwood began publishing novels at the age of 40. A lifelong occultist, Blackwood was interested in the fine line between the human and spiritual realms, often incorporating supernatural elements into his work. A Prisoner in Fairyland is a story of a wealthy retiree’s return to the wonderful imaginative world of his youth. Hoping to spend the rest of his life in service of others, he gets the old Starlight Express up and running again. “For, from boyhood up, a single big ambition had ever thundered through his being—the desire to be of use to others. To help his fellow-kind was to be his profession and career.” Henry Rogers has always been a dreamer. On the brink of retirement, he plans to use his carefully accumulated wealth to fulfill his philanthropic destiny. Initially unsure of the shape of his charitable contribution to society, a trip to his childhood home changes everything. There, he finds the old train carriage where he would spend days at a time immersed in a world of fantasy and adventure. Back on the Starlight Express, Rogers plans to take deserving passengers to the wondrous realm of Fairyland. He soon discovers, however, that his impassioned beliefs—however well-intentioned—risk condemnation and persecution from those whose investments on Earth prevent them from indulging in imaginative excursions into the unknown. A Prisoner in Fairyland is a story for children and adults alike, a novel that poses timeless questions regarding the nature of our existence, both upon earth and beyond. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Algernon Blackwood’s A Prisoner in Fairyland is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisPaul Bunyan (1925) is a novel by James Stevens. Written from a lifetime of experience as a logger and historian of the logging industry, Paul Bunyan is a masterful take on one of the defining legends of the Pacific Northwest. Combining his own stories with those he heard at logging camps as a young boy, Stevens earned a reputation as a leading folklorist of his time whose novels and songs continue to resonate decades after his death. “He could whip his weight in wildcats, could pull clouds out of the sky, or chew up stones, or tell the whole world anything!” Larger than life, Paul Bunyan is a logger whose legend began with the Papineau Rebellion of 1837. As a defender of young Queen Victoria’s right to the forests of Canada, Bunyan fought fiercely against French loggers alongside his comrades armed with mattocks, axes, and hooks. Emerging victorious, he settles down to a life in nature, building his logging camp and roaming the woods with his trusted blue ox Babe. From his boyhood in the lumber camps of Idaho to his time as a logger in Oregon, James Stevens collected the tales of Bunyan from the more experienced men of the woods, eventually becoming the foremost expert on one of the Pacific Northwest’s greatest heroes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of James Stevens’ Paul Bunyan is a classic work of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Jolly Roger: A Story of Sea Heroes and Pirates (1891) is a novel by Hume Nisbet. Published at the beginning of his career as a leading ghost story writer of the Victorian era, The Jolly Roger: A Story of Sea Heroes and Pirates is a tale of adventure inspired by the author’s travels in Papua New Guinea. Largely unknown by today’s audience, Hume Nisbet was a versatile writer whose experiences as an artist and traveler inform his wide-ranging body of work. From the mind of one of Victorian England’s finest popular fiction writers comes a tale of swashbuckling adventure set during the tumultuous reign of King James I. The story opens on the island of Laverne, a notorious pirate stronghold set in protective waters along the coast of South America. From there, a group of brave and impossibly bold pirates embarks on a journey in search of fortune across the Spanish Main. Along the way, they nearly succumb to the wiles of a thousand-year-old witch, perhaps the most memorable of Nisbet’s creations, but certainly not the most terrifying. With scant source material, the author summons an era of wonder and discovery for modern day readers, a feat which depends in no small part upon his own adventures on the islands of the South Sea. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Hume Nisbet’s The Jolly Roger: A Story of Sea Heroes and Pirates is a classic of Victorian fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLiving Alone (1919) is a novel by Stella Benson. Considered a pioneering work of fantasy fiction, Living Alone is a story of magic set in London during the First World War. Benson’s meditative, diaristic prose guides the reader alongside her protagonist, a young woman introduced to a world of witchcraft and wizardry at “the House of Living Alone.” “Nothing else happened in that room. At least nothing more important than the ordinary manifestations attendant upon magic. The lamp had tremulously gone out. Coloured flames danced about the Stranger's head. One felt the thrill of a purring cat against one's ankles, one saw its green eyes glare. But these things hardly counted.” Guided by her political commitments, Sarah Brown dedicates herself to charity work during the First World War. When a witch invites her to stay in a mysterious home, Sarah embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with her loyal dog David. Described by its author in playfully mysterious terms—“This is not a real book.”—Living Alone is a unique and haunting masterpiece that looks upon a tumultuous historical period with fresh perspective, presenting a story of growth and identity in an intoxicating world of magic and mystery. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Stella Benson’s Living Alone is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisA Certain Hour (1922) is a collection of stories by James Branch Cabell. Recreating the lives of some of history’s most celebrated poets, A Certain Hour is a relative outlier among Cabell’s body of work, and is included in a series of novels, essays, and poems known as the Biography of the Life of Manuel. “Indisputably the most striking defect of this modern American literature is the fact that the production of anything at all resembling literature is scarcely anywhere apparent. Innumerable printing-presses, instead, are turning out a vast quantity of reading-matter, the candidly recognized purpose of which is to kill time, and which—it has been asserted, though perhaps too sweepingly—ought not to be vended over book-counters, but rather in drugstores along with the other narcotics.” Moving away from his usual setting of 13th century France, Cabell begins his collection with an impassioned essay decrying the state of American literature in the early twentieth century. Interested in the nature of literary genius, he imagines the lives of such poets as Robert Herrick and Alexander Pope, whose wit and wisdom remain essential centuries after their deaths. A Certain Hour is a captivating collection of tales from a historical period not so different from our own. Cabell’s work has long been described as escapist, his novels and stories derided as fantastic and obsessive recreations of a world lost long ago. To read A Certain Hour, however, is to understand that the issues therein—the struggle for power, the unspoken distance between men and women—were vastly important not only at the time of its publication, but in our own, divisive world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of James Branch Cabell’s A Certain Hour is a classic of fantasy and romance reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Citadel of Fear (1918) is a science fiction novel by Francis Stevens. Using her well-known pseudonym, Gertrude Barrows Bennett published some of the twentieth century’s greatest science fiction stories and novels. The Citadel of Fear, her debut novel, has been recognized as a powerful tale of the lost world genre of adventure and remains central to Stevens’ reputation as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction. As the Great War rages on, two Irish American prospectors journey across the Mexican desert in search of fortune. Lucky to survive the heat and harsh conditions, they discover a dense jungle rumored to be the home of a lost tribe of Aztecs devoted to the serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Despite their fears, Kennedy and Colin O’Hara remain determined to complete their mission, no matter the cost. Venturing through the darkness of the jungle, they find the underground city of Tlapallam, where a group of assailants takes Kennedy prisoner. Left to return alone through the desert, O’Hara vows to return for his friend. Published at the height of Stevens’ career as a popular storyteller in the nation’s leading fantasy magazines, The Citadel of Fear is a lost world novel in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and Edgar Rice Burroughs that continues to entertain and astound over a century after it appeared in print. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Francis Stevens’ The Citadel of Fear is a classic work of American science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book Synopsis**Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2022** **The BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick** **Longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 2022** 'In this folksy, magnetic tale, two outsiders seek healing and enlightenment by creating crop formations in a Wiltshire field ... A memorable hymn to beauty' OBSERVER 'The pleasures of this bountiful novel are like a glass of cool water on a parched summer day' THE TIMES ‘A spirited and anarchic novel... a roiling, rollicking crop-circle folk tale’ GUARDIAN England, 1989. Over the course of a burning hot summer, two very different men – traumatized Falklands veteran Calvert, and affable, chaotic Redbone – set out nightly in a clapped-out camper van to undertake an extraordinary project. Under cover of darkness, the two men traverse the fields of rural England in secret, forming crop circles in elaborate and mysterious patterns. As the summer wears on, and their designs grow ever more ambitious, the two men find that their work has become a cult international sensation – and that an unlikely and beautiful friendship has taken root as the wheat ripens from green to gold. Moving and exhilarating, tender and slyly witty, The Perfect Golden Circle is a captivating novel about the futility of war, the destruction of the English countryside, class inequality – and the power of beauty to heal trauma and fight power. 'Brilliantly constructed and steeped in rural atmosphere' FINANCIAL TIMES, Best summer books of 2022Trade ReviewA book is shot through with a romantic, even mystical radicalism of the kind that William Blake would have approved of. * DAILY TELEGRAPH *The same visceral, iconoclastic thrill I got from Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem ... A study in male friendship and British identity, and a warm, rollicking, heart-expanding read. You’ll never forget the time you spend in the company of Calvert and Redbone * OBSERVER, Thirty Best Holiday Reads *Brilliantly constructed and steeped in rural atmosphere * FINANCIAL TIMES, Best summer books of 2022 *A spirited and anarchic novel ... A roiling, rollicking crop-circle folk tale * GUARDIAN *A joy * DAILY MAIL *The most beautiful book about friendship, about nature ... I think it will appeal to everybody -- BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUBThe understated, plangent loveliness of Myers’s storytelling is reminiscent of Mackenzie Crook’s brilliant TV series Detectorists. Here is a strong, spiritual writer who sees and loves every dewdrop, old oak, soft little animal and buried sword, and offers them up to us like the precious treasures they are. The Perfect Golden Circle deserves top ranking in any list of the best books about rural England * THE TIMES *In this folksy, magnetic tale, two outsiders seek healing and enlightenment by creating crop formations in a Wiltshire field ... combining lyricism with comedy and themes that range from warfare and environmental calamity to hope and healing ... A memorable hymn to beauty * OBSERVER *Clever, angry, poignant and beautifully constructed ... A work of love, and a work about works of love, and a work that evokes a sense of love in the reader * SCOTSMAN *The beauty of Myers’ language alone is reward enough to read this superb novel, but The Perfect Golden Circle offers so much more: an all-too-rare literary depiction of rural England, the depths of the two central characters, the class and ecological concerns; but most of all the human need for what the Welsh poet Bobi Jones called "the boundless mystery that comforts being." A truly remarkable novel -- RON RASHTender and magical * METRO *I’ve been loving reading aloud The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers to my mother. It’s a delightfully descriptive book, telling the story of two men in the south of England who create crop circles in the dead of night. Myers interweaves modernity and myth, UFOs and ancient rites. At the heart of the book is the main character’s mantra. “Fuel the myth, strive for beauty” * Guardian, What we're reading *Full of mythology, wonder and oddity, Myers’ typical lyricism moves seamlessly from the mundane to the magical… Those who feel the English countryside deep within their bones will be enchanted by this folk gem from one of the nation’s most illuminating writers * THE TABLET, Summer reading *The Perfect Golden Circle is a triumph of a book, showcasing a writer at his very best. There is a huge heart beating in this magical story. A heartfelt story that is transformative and transportive ... Moving and exhilarating, tender and slyly witty, The Perfect Golden Circle is a captivating novel about the futility of war, the destruction of the English countryside, class inequality – and the power of beauty to heal trauma and fight power * STORGY *Consummate plotting and tenderness * TLS *Wonderfully subtle and understated... Benjamin Myers manages to write novels of increasing importance, asking what happened in previous decades to get us to this point in English history, where the seriousness of his purpose is matched by how entertaining and engrossing they are * BOOKMUNCH *An odd and winsome pleasure: a novel of friendship, collaboration, and environmental guerrilla art * KIRKUS *Not only is it a total delight to tiptoe behind them as they languidly fuel the myth and strive for beauty, but as an experiment in proving one’s existence by leaving a close-to-invisible footprint that still resonates across the countryside, history and beyond, it’s a work of genius in several dimensions * STRONG WORDS *No one writes about the atmosphere, beauty and brutality of the English countryside better than Ben Myers. And it's hard to think of many people who can write with with such attentiveness, tenderness and force about the importance of human connection and the redemptive power of art. Quite simply, this is a magnificent book -- WENDY ERSKINEA strange, magical extraordinary book. It's so atmospheric, so strange and affecting. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before, and I'm not sure how Myers has made it work, but he has - I was totally gripped by this -- JENN ASHWORTHBenjamin Myers is a writer of extraordinary and incandescent talent. Like J. L. Carr's A Month in the Country, this is a book about beauty and warfare, about how to heal a wrecked heart. I loved it -- ALEX PRESTONI felt that The Offing was a beautiful counter to the boundaries of age, class, gender and nationality, and Ben pulls it off again here, this time writing a tender exploration of how men deal with trauma as he evokes a long hot summer in which two ordinary men unconsciously deal with their demons by creating magic in sun-kissed Wiltshire fields. I often find the best stories are those most simply told as here in this invocation of the ancient human need to create, away from the shackles of art education and academic theory -- LUKE TURNERBenjamin Myers is fast making the contested boundary between history and folklore his own. The ballad of Redbone and Calvert somehow combines the ease and warmth of The Offing with the sinew and menace of The Gallows Pole -- JOHN MITCHINSONThe Perfect Golden Circle staggers the reader with its wit and beauty and the power of its charged poetry. Myers offers both a soulful portrait of a friendship between two damaged, resilient men and a series of striking glimpses into war, mythology, politics, history, the natural world and art. Like the creations of its protagonists, the impressions this novel leaves are majestic, mysterious and lasting -- SAM LIPSYTEBenjamin Myers is one of my favorite British novelists working today. The Perfect Golden Circle is brilliant and breathtaking. It’s a novel about the quest for beauty and mystery in a world that’s falling apart around us -- WILL VLAUTINAn investigation of trauma, class, healing and male friendship * GUARDIAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *A number of titans and titans-in-the-making are looking backwards, from Anne Tyler… to Benjamin Myers in The Perfect Golden Circle * NEW STATESMAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *An exhilarating, outdoor song of hope and vision, The Perfect Golden Circle taps into something charged, ancient and elemental in England and its people -- ROB DOYLEPraise for The Offing: ‘What a radical thing, these days, to have written a book so full of warmth and kindness ... Gorgeous -- MAX PORTERThis quiet, lyrical novel confirms a powerful new voice * THE TIMES *It’s a poignant story, and Myers’ descriptions of the countryside are wonderful * MAIL ON SUNDAY *One of the most interesting, restless writers of his generation … Unfurling at the unhurried pace of a fern, it’s an evocatively lyrical paean to the countryside – deeply felt and closely observed * DAILY MAIL *A draft of cool, clear water, it feels like a cleansing book ... He’s such a good and brave writer … there’s a lot of heart in this book ... I was comparing it to some Ted Hughes poetry and it’s so much more hopeful than that … there’s light in this landscape ... A very original writer and has pushed the form in all kinds of ways * MONOCLE *Every page is studded with descriptive jewels … Deeply attuned to the natural world … Poetic … This book is a sensual pleasure … It’s about the forever things: good food, and art, and friendship, and how those pleasures can redeem us, even during the harshest of times * NEW STATESMAN *Quietly gripping … Written with Myers’s customary grit and brio … A welcome advance, one that sees Myers effortlessly extending his range * GUARDIAN *The ever-versatile Myers channels the gently uplifting dynamics of The Offing for this richly atmospheric account of male friendship, the fragility of the countryside and the archaic allure of crop circles * WATERSTONES *

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Book Synopsis* THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * 'An enthralling read' GUARDIAN 'A thrilling blend of fantasy and horror, richly imagined and masterfully executed' SFX 'Terrific . . . A book that creeps up on you, wearing brass knuckles' CONN IGGULDEN _______________ The first in a captivating new historical fantasy series, ORDINARY MONSTERS introduces the Talents with a catastrophic vision of the Victorian world, and the gifted, broken children who must save it. There in the shadows was a figure in a cloak, at the bottom of the cobblestone stair, and it turned and stared up at them as still and unmoving as a pillar of darkness, but it had no face, only smoke . . . 1882. North of Edinburgh, on the edge of an isolated loch, lies an institution of crumbling stone, where a strange doctor collects orphans with unusual abilities. In London, two children with such powers are hunted by a figure of darkness – a man made of smoke. Charlie Ovid discovers a gift for healing himself through a brutal upbringing in Mississippi, while Marlowe, a foundling from a railway freight, glows with a strange bluish light. When two grizzled detectives are recruited to escort them north to safety, they are confronted by a sinister, dangerous force that threatens to upend the world as they know it. What follows is a journey from the gaslit streets of London to the lochs of Scotland, where other gifted children – the Talents – have been gathered at Cairndale Institute, and the realms of the dead and the living collide. As secrets within the Institute unfurl, Marlowe, Charlie and the rest of the Talents will discover the truth about their abilities and the nature of the force that is stalking them: that the worst monsters sometimes come bearing the sweetest gifts. _______________ 'A dazzling mountain of wild invention, Dickensian eccentrics, supernatural horrors and gripping suspense' JOE HILL 'Expansive in scope and storytelling, Ordinary Monsters builds an electrifying Victorian world' CARI THOMAS J.M. Miro's book 'Ordinary Monsters' was a #5 Sunday Times bestseller w/e 04-06-2022.Trade ReviewOrdinary Monsters is a towering achievement: a dazzling mountain of wild invention, Dickensian eccentrics, supernatural horrors, and gripping suspense. Be warned... once you step into this penny dreadful to end all penny dreadfuls, you'll never want to leave -- Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of HEART-SHAPED BOXExpansive in scope and storytelling, Ordinary Monsters builds an electrifying Victorian world: grimy but luminous, magical but deadly, with a cast of diverse and gripping characters that feel entirely modern -- Cari Thomas, bestselling author of THREADNEEDLEHaunting, tense, earth-shattering … A riveting mix of magic and terror -- Tamora PierceMurky as London smog, dark as black pudding, this is a gaslit gothic tour de force . . . The fantasy is so rich and the atmosphere so immersive in this stand-out debut, that it’s easy to overlook the crispiness of the writing and the brilliantly propulsive plotting. And while drughrs, litches, keywrasses and orsines make for a wonderful new language of dread, it’s the characters that carry the day * Daily Mail *An engrossing piece of Gothic, Dickensian fantasy, centred around children gifted with magical powers . . . Miro’s meaty, detailed execution lends his story weight and depth and commands respect * Financial Times *A thrilling blend of fantasy and horror, richly imagined and masterfully executed * SFX (starred review) *A fantasy series so ambitious that it makes The Lord of the Rings look like a stroll in the Shire . . . Spanning the globe and crammed with good versus evil battles and hair’s breadth escapes, this book is great fun despite frim subject matter, thanks to J. M. Miro’s darkly witty style . . . Remarkably fresh * Daily Express *

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