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Letters & Sounds (2021): Phase 5 Scholastic Set: 11 Title: Rainbow Snow Focus: y (as in 'chilly'), wh (as in 'white'), y (as in 'my'), ow (as in 'snow'), g (as in 'magical'), le (as in 'crumble'), al (as in 'magical'), c (as in 'icicle'), ve (as in 'give'), o-e (as in 'some'), o (as in 'other'), se (as in 'mouse'), ou (as in 'soup') Tricky words: the their says pure would to they of are water where's asks here what's into our Book Band: Orange This title is part of a brand new set of phonically decodable reading books perfect for very early readers. These expertly levelled stories are engaging, and are exactly matched to Little Wandle Letters & Sounds Revised, used in schools across the UK. The series includes a wide selection of diverse and inclusive stories, accompanied by bright, contemporary and humorous illustrations that will engage and inspire young readers with a 'find the character' feature on each spread. The artwork is detailed so as not to provide picture cues and prompting. Each book also contains parent's notes and a 'retell the story' task to support children's oracy, vocabulary and comprehension skills. Thirteen sets of books covering groups of sounds to allow for progression. The stories in this set focus on the sounds found in Scholastic Set 11 and revise the sounds found in previous sets. There are thirteen sets in total, covering: Phase 2 Set 1: s a t p i n m d Phase 2 Set 2: g o c k ck e u r h b f l Phase 2 Set 3: ff ll ss j v w x y z zz Phase 2 Set 4: qu ch sh th ng nk Phase 3 Set 5: ai ee igh oa oo Phase 3 Set 6: ar or ur ow oi ear air er Phase 4 Set 7: Adjacent consonants with short vowels Phase 4 Set 8: Adjacent consonants with Phase 3 long vowels Phase 5 Set 9: ay (play), ou (cloud), oy (boy), ea (each), ir (bird), ie (pie), ue (blue), u (unicorn) Phase 5 Set 10: o (go), i (tiger), a (paper), e (he), a-e (snake), i-e (time), o-e (home), u-e (cute), e-e (these), ew (new), ie (shield), aw (claw) Phase 5 Set 11: y (funny), ea (head), wh (wheel), oe (toe), ou (shoulder), y (fly), ow (snow), g (giant), ph (phone), le (apple), al (metal), c (ice), ve (give), o-e (some), o (mother), ou (young), se (cheese), se (mouse), ce (fence), ey (donkey), ui (fruit), ou (soup) Phase 5 Set 12: or (word), u (full), oul (could), are (share), ear (bear), ere (there), au (author), aur (dinosaur), oor (floor), al (walk), tch (match), ture (adventure), al (half), a (father), a (water), a (want), ear (learn), wr (wrist), st (whistle), sc (science), ch (school), ch (chef), ze (freeze), schwa at the end of words (actor) Phase 5 Set 13: eigh (eight), aigh (straight), ey (grey), ea (break), gn (gnaw), kn (knee), mb (thumb), ere (here), eer (deer), su (treasure), si (vision), dge (bridge), ge (large), y (crystal), ti (potion), ssi (mission), si (mansion), ci (delicious), augh (daughter), our (pour), oar (oar), ore (more) Have you got them all?

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The fifth heartwarming instalment in the Cornish Girls series Can love still thrive in the uncertainty of war? Cornwall, Summer 1943 Eighteen-year-old Alice receives a mysterious work summons for a special unit in Bude. Nervous but excited, she starts training straight away. Meanwhile, land girl Penny also heads to Bude. With a new job at the village farm shop, she dreams of finding love. Young widow Florence runs the local boarding house. When American troops are billeted to stay, Florence butts heads with their Staff Sergeant immediately. But might sparks fly for Florence when she least expects it? Can Penny pluck up the courage to pursue romance? And will Alice be up to the task? Most importantly, can love triumph for the Cornish Girls, even amidst the uncertainty of war? A heart-warming tale of love in wartime, for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas. Readers have been swept away by A Wedding for the Cornish Girls: ‘A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied … I found myself completely drawn into the story.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book is like pulling on your favourite jumper: it’s warming, comforting and you don’t want to put it down!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Betty writes in such a way that you can picture yourself down in the West Country with the characters. I find the stories easy to read and hard to put down! Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Reading about the three women, how their lives connect, their work, their romances, and how they cope with the war all made for a captivating read. American army men are also a large part of the story … so you just know there are going to be some fun and romantic scenes!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Plenty of twists in this story of Alice, Penny and Florence. It explores true friendship, comradeship, women pulling together at a time of war. The characters are heartwarming with their grit and resilience. A really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to what’s next. Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another great story about the Cornish Girls. It’s so easy to feel involved in the story and the ups and downs of the girls’ lives as the characters are well described and the storyline realistic. I wonder what happens next! Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is the fifth in the series ,.. I was somewhat familiar with the background but it could be read as a standalone. The characters captured my interest & the research into the times makes it feel authentic. Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I just started reading this with my Nan … My Nan is aged 82 and loves books, which is where I get it from. She has recently been in a bit of a reading slump, this book has gotten her out of it!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love this series! I’ve been an avid follower of the Cornish girls since the very beginning and I always do an excited little happy dance every time I see a new book release and a new book on the horizon!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The epic adventure continues . . . Don’t miss this sequel to Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2022 Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Skandar and the Phantom Rider is the second book in the international bestselling SKANDAR series, an unmissable adventure for readers age 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.The Island shall have its revenge . . . Skandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all? Get ready for more action, unforgettable characters, and mesmerizing world building. And be one of the first to read the third thrilling adventure: Skandar 3 coming in April 2024 – pre-order NOW!ONE OF THE THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF WAS THE WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023'Epic, unforgettable and endlessly exciting, Steadman’s masterful sequel soars even higher than her debut.' – Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the first book in the SKANDAR series:'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'SKANDAR soars with magic, adventure, and pulse-pounding fun – the book equivalent of riding a rollercoaster while eating cake with fireworks exploding overhead!' – Andy Sagar, author of the Yesterday Crumb series'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

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HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The epic adventure continues . . . Don’t miss this sequel to Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2022 Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Skandar and the Phantom Rider is the second book in the international bestselling SKANDAR series, an unmissable adventure for listeners age 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.The Island shall have its revenge . . . Skandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all? Get ready for more action, unforgettable characters, and mesmerizing world building. And be one of the first to listen to the third thrilling adventure: Skandar 3 coming in April 2024 – pre-order NOW!ONE OF THE THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF WAS THE WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023'Epic, unforgettable and endlessly exciting, Steadman’s masterful sequel soars even higher than her debut.' – Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the first book in the SKANDAR series:'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'SKANDAR soars with magic, adventure, and pulse-pounding fun – the book equivalent of riding a rollercoaster while eating cake with fireworks exploding overhead!' – Andy Sagar, author of the Yesterday Crumb series'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

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Inspired by Much Ado About Nothing, this is a hilarious and uplifting romantic comedy perfect for fans of 10 Things I Hate About You and The Hating Game. Bridie Morgan is giving love one last chance – she's going on twenty dates in twenty days. If this 'love' thing really is a numbers game, then surely she'll find The One. And if not? Well, at least the memory will be enough to put her off for life. But being love's biggest sceptic is a challenge in the face of best friend Hattie's upcoming nuptials. And as maid of honour, she really has to give it a chance. Then Bridie's lifelong nemesis Ben Kemp returns home to join the wedding party. Ben, who triggered the sorry state of affairs that has been Bridie's love life since high school. Ben, the best man to her maid of honour. As old enemies reunite, sparks fly – in ways Bridie could never have seen coming... Readers love Love at First Fight! 'OMG SUCH A SWEET READ. I LOVED IT!! This book is super sweet and I totally loved the main characters!!... An amazing story!' @lifeinbooksnow, 5* Review 'A fantastic five-star read. This is funny, and sweet... I adore this author and can't wait to see what they will come up with next' NetGalley 5* Review 'Mary Jayne Baker take a bow! This is definitely going to be high on the list of favourites for this year! This is a book that has made me laugh out, cry a whole lot and fall in love with the characters that have filled the pages... This is without a doubt a book worthy of all the stars. All Hail Mary Jayne Baker – queen of romance and one of the few authors that can almost read my mind and create the perfect man' Little Miss Book Lover 87, 5* Review 'Hilarious and heartwarming read!... This was the first time I've read a book by Mary Jayne but definitely won't be the last!' The Literary Space, 5* Review 'Just the perfect kind of a book to cuddle up with and let it comfort you. It made me feel so much better and happier, and after finishing I had a smile on my face because gosh that ending!... A classic enemies to lovers... Gah! So adorable ... Feel-good rom-com in all aspects!' NetGalley 5* Review 'Fantastically adorable and has a bit of everything. From enemies to lovers, wonderful banter... Had me turning pages until I was done far sooner than I wanted to be. I couldn't put this book down... You'll smile, you'll laugh' NikkiHRose Writing, 5* Review 'The perfect frenemies to lovers romcom and I really enjoyed it' @katiethebooklover, 5* Review 'I absolutely loved this book as the fun rom-com is something every girl needs!' NetGalley 5* Review 'So much fun! I definitely had LOL moments and I couldn't stop reading it; I had to rush to the end to see what happened... Highly recommended!' NetGalley 5* Review 'I read in under 24 hours. It would have been one sitting, if I hadn't slept in the middle of it!... This is a lighthearted romcom book that was very enjoyable' @neverlandbooks, 5* Review 'Great lighthearted summer read! Cute and fun! I loved the characters and the romance was beautiful to see develop' NetGalley 5* Review 'What a fun book!... There was laughter, friendship, and several tender moments... If you are looking for a light, fun read that's hard to put down, this is for you' NetGalley 5* Review

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Lesson Planning for High School Physical Education provides standards-based, ready-to-use lesson plans that enhance student learning and help students become physically literate. Designed to complement the successful elementary and middle school books in the series, this book also provides guidance on how to plan effective lessons that align with SHAPE America's National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education. Lesson Planning for High School Physical Education is written by master teachers and edited by SHAPE America. In this book, you'll find: - More than 240 lesson plans that provide deliberate, progressive practice tasks and integrate appropriate assessments to evaluate and monitor student progress - Innovative and unique modules on topics such as fly fishing, rock climbing, line dance, yoga and stress management, and more, as well as more traditional modules - Introductory chapters that present the key points for the grade span, putting the lessons in context and providing teachers and PE majors and minors a clear roadmap for planning curricula, units, and lessons - Lessons that reflect best practices in instruction, helping teachers enhance their effectiveness - Expert guidance in delivering quality lessons that are designed to reach objectives and produce outcomes, and not just keep students occupied The lessons correspond to each category in SHAPE America's National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education, and are sequential and comprehensive--you get complete, ready-to-use units and not just individual lessons that don't connect. The lessons include resource lists, references, equipment lists, and student assignments. The accompanying web resource offers easy access to printable PDF files of the lessons. Your administrator will be able to see at a glance that the lessons in the book are designed to meet the national standards and outcomes created by SHAPE America. The lessons in Lesson Planning for High School Physical Education can be used as they are or modified to fit the needs of your students. They also are perfect models for teachers and college students to use in creating their own lessons. The text includes instructional strategies such as how to teach for transfer, utilize grids and small games, differentiate instruction for varying ability levels, integrate conceptual material, and more. The book is organized into two parts. Part I explores issues pertinent to planning for high schoolers' success, including how to plan lessons using SHAPE America's Grade-Level Outcomes, meeting the National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes, developing an electives-based program for high school students, and the importance of teaching for student learning. The lesson plans themselves are found in Part II, and each lesson aligns with SHAPE America's National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education. Part II offers plans in these categories: - Outdoor pursuits - Individual-performance activities - Net and wall games, such as badminton and tennis - Target games - Dance and rhythms - Fitness activities, such as Pilates, resistance training, and yoga - Personal fitness assessment and planning Each category contains modules of 15 or 16 lessons, each of which incorporates various National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes. For example, you can address Standard 4 outcomes--which are about personal and social responsibility--during lessons on net and wall games, lessons on dance and rhythms, and so on. With the high-quality lesson content and the many tools and resources provided, Lesson Planning for High School Physical Education will help teachers foster their students' physical literacy and help students develop physically active lifestyles that they can maintain throughout their adult lives.

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Letters & Sounds (2021): Phase 5 Scholastic Set: 11 Title: The Bumpy Ride Focus: y (as in 'bumpy'), wh (as in 'whipped'), ou (as in 'shoulder'), y (as in 'Kyra'), ow (as in 'Willow'), g (as in 'giant'), ph (as in 'Rapha'), le (as in 'little'), c (as in 'ice'), ve (as in 'serve'), o (as in 'worry'), ui (as in 'fruit') Tricky words: the of people are to asks says into all they was oh there many, could, put Book Band: Orange This title is part of a brand new set of phonically decodable reading books perfect for very early readers. These expertly levelled stories are engaging, and are exactly matched to Little Wandle Letters & Sounds Revised, used in schools across the UK. The series includes a wide selection of diverse and inclusive stories, accompanied by bright, contemporary and humorous illustrations that will engage and inspire young readers with a 'find the character' feature on each spread. The artwork is detailed so as not to provide picture cues and prompting. Each book also contains parent's notes and a 'retell the story' task to support children's oracy, vocabulary and comprehension skills. Thirteen sets of books covering groups of sounds to allow for progression. The stories in this set focus on the sounds found in Scholastic Set 11 and revise the sounds found in previous sets. There are thirteen sets in total, covering: Phase 2 Set 1: s a t p i n m d Phase 2 Set 2: g o c k ck e u r h b f l Phase 2 Set 3: ff ll ss j v w x y z zz Phase 2 Set 4: qu ch sh th ng nk Phase 3 Set 5: ai ee igh oa oo Phase 3 Set 6: ar or ur ow oi ear air er Phase 4 Set 7: Adjacent consonants with short vowels Phase 4 Set 8: Adjacent consonants with Phase 3 long vowels Phase 5 Set 9: ay (play), ou (cloud), oy (boy), ea (each), ir (bird), ie (pie), ue (blue), u (unicorn) Phase 5 Set 10: o (go), i (tiger), a (paper), e (he), a-e (snake), i-e (time), o-e (home), u-e (cute), e-e (these), ew (new), ie (shield), aw (claw) Phase 5 Set 11: y (funny), ea (head), wh (wheel), oe (toe), ou (shoulder), y (fly), ow (snow), g (giant), ph (phone), le (apple), al (metal), c (ice), ve (give), o-e (some), o (mother), ou (young), se (cheese), se (mouse), ce (fence), ey (donkey), ui (fruit), ou (soup) Phase 5 Set 12: or (word), u (full), oul (could), are (share), ear (bear), ere (there), au (author), aur (dinosaur), oor (floor), al (walk), tch (match), ture (adventure), al (half), a (father), a (water), a (want), ear (learn), wr (wrist), st (whistle), sc (science), ch (school), ch (chef), ze (freeze), schwa at the end of words (actor) Phase 5 Set 13: eigh (eight), aigh (straight), ey (grey), ea (break), gn (gnaw), kn (knee), mb (thumb), ere (here), eer (deer), su (treasure), si (vision), dge (bridge), ge (large), y (crystal), ti (potion), ssi (mission), si (mansion), ci (delicious), augh (daughter), our (pour), oar (oar), ore (more) Have you got them all?

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'I loved it! Clever, romantic, funny and completely different!’ Katie FfordeCan old-fashioned courtship survive in today’s dating world?When Emma Love’s mother retires, it is time for her to take the reins of the family dating agency and build on its success. And she has a fresh new idea: to host a Jane Austen-style Regency Season of glamourous events where potential lovers can actually take the time to get to know each other in person, with no apps in between.As the round of glamourous social events begins, we meet some of Emma’s new clients, and see her matchmaking skills in action.Annie, who has a romantic soul but believes she lost her chance at love a long time ago; recently divorced Jane, who is not quite ready to see what her new love life might look like, and wild child Lydia, who is more interested in hooking up than finding her Mr Darcy.All is going swimmingly but as the Season unfolds, there is a fly in Emma’s ointment – the irritating Mr Knight, with his casual attitude and gentle cynicism. Why is she allowing him to ruffle her calm, ordered life and why can’t she stop thinking about him? She has no intention of becoming romantically involved herself, of course; she is far too sensible to take a chance on love – isn’t she?Jane Austen meets Sophie Kinsella in this laugh-out-loud, captivating romantic comedy. If you love Julia Quinn, Lex Croucher or A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting, you'll love this!Readers are loving A Season for Love:'I adored this witty, joyous romp of a tale.' Liz Fenwick‘Such a good book. I liked the characters, I loved reading their stories as they unfurled.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘What a fun read!…Three very modern romances occur against a backdrop of Regency recreation.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Devoured this book…A modern-day must for lovers of Jane Austen. Cannot wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I loved this book, the characters and the atmosphere. It was perfection.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘This was such a cute read! It takes readers back in time…Emma and Mr Knight were an irresistible combo.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I loved the way Ally Sinclair brought elements of Jane Austen and flair of Bridgerton into a funny romance. I loved it.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘This is a fun read! I needed some crazy laughs. Needed a feel good romcom. I got it all from this book.’ Reader Review‘With the plot twists, the modern-day representation…and the wonderful writing, I can sincerely say that this book is at the top of my Regency-esque themed books!...It’s like combining modern times with a Regency-era concept!’ Reader Review‘The book had Bridgerton vibes, humor, comedy, romance, well-written characters and an interesting plot and good development! Highly recommended!’ Reader Review‘What a delightful read!...I loved watching every single character's story unfold’ Reader Review‘A fun, engaging read which takes all things Regency and throws it into the 21st Century… Perfect for fans of Austen, Bridgerton…Or if you just want a different type of Rom-Com to cosy up with.’ Reader Review‘Hooked and hooked some more. Loved all of this and couldn't put it down…Read it.’ Reader Review

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You think you know Misery? You've not seen anything yet . . .The republic faces annihilation, despite the vigilance of Galharrow's Blackwings. When a raven tattoo rips itself from his arm to deliver a desperate message, Galharrow and a mysterious noblewoman must investigate a long dead sorcerer's legacy. But there is a conspiracy within the citadel: traitors, flesh-eaters and the ghosts of the wastelands seek to destroy them, but if they cannot solve the ancient wizard's paradox, the Deep Kings will walk the earth again, and all will be lost.The war with the Eastern Empire ended in stalemate some eighty years ago, thanks to Nall's 'Engine', a wizard-crafted weapon so powerful even the Deep Kings feared it. The strike of the Engine created the Misery - a wasteland full of ghosts and corrupted magic that now forms a No Mans Land along the frontier. But when Galharrow investigates a frontier fortress, he discovers complacency bordering on treason: then the walls are stormed, and the Engine fails to launch. Galharrow only escapes because of the preternatural magical power of the noblewoman he was supposed to be protecting. Together, they race to the capital to unmask the traitors and restore the republic's defences. Far across the Misery a vast army is on the move, as the Empire prepares to call the republic's bluff.Blackwing is a gritty epic fantasy for fans of Mark Lawrence, Scott Lynch and Daniel Polansky.Readers can't get enough of Blackwing:'A splendid debut that is brilliantly written and I found it amazingly difficult to put down. It superbly presents a completely original, complex and epic fantasy world with incredible and believable characters' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Blackwing is, simply put, awesome. It's gritty, edgy, suspenseful, and often poignant' Nicholas Eames'One of the greatest fantasy books I've read in my life. Perfect in every possible way. Ed McDonald is on a par with Joe Abercrombie and Brandon Sanderson' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Quickly gained the rare distinction of being one of those books that felt as if it had been written especially for me . . . A remarkably assured fantasy debut that mixes of the inventiveness of China Mieville with the fast pace heroics of David Gemmell' Anthony Ryan'Blackwing is a new entry into the Grim Dark Fantasy realm, and a well written one . . . Venture in if you dare' Robin Hobb'From start to finish I was excited to read this book! . . . The story is continuously in motion and there is so much magic! All kinds even! . . . Read this epic debut!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This thing is just magnificent . . . an astonishingly accomplished debut' Peter McLean'Ed McDonald is a great story-teller and as such its 360 odd pages fly by . . . well paced with incredible characters and a refreshing and original world and magic' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Blackwing is a truly unique vision of a world, set with an eclectic mix of weaponry, technology and science and a brilliant magic system' Anna Stephens 'Like if Joe Abercrombie told a story in the voice of The Warden from Low Town . . . Will definitely be following up with the series' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Hill Street, Upper Well Street and Far Gosford Street comprise three suburban streets which stood directly outside the city gates of Coventry for much of the medieval period. As a result of the 2003-2007 excavations an extensive body of archaeological, environmental and documentary evidence has been brought together to allow comparison in terms of land planning, construction methodologies, character and relative fluctuations in the long-term economy of two of the city’s medieval and post-medieval suburbs. As well as evidence for street frontage occupation, the sites contain substantial portions of the city’s defences, never before looked at in such detail. The new data is of great value in comparing the results with those previously gained from a variety of smaller sites in Coventry and comparable sites elsewhere in the country. The work has, in some detail, married up excavated data and documentary sources for the working of the defences over a period of 250 years. In addition the immediate suburban environment has come under scrutiny and an unprecedented level of botanical data has come to light in a programme of sampling for both seeds and pollens as a guide to the changing character of the suburbs. At Hill Street, excavation uncovered two medieval and post-medieval frontage properties 50m wide and their rear yards adjacent to the city ditch. While upstanding structural remains were scant, analysis of contemporary pits has highlighted mainly domestic but also some industrial aspects of the properties and given an insight into the diet, economy and changing face of suburban Hill Street from the 13th to 19th centuries. Excavation also uncovered some 55m of the city ditch adjacent to Bond Street, into which four large sections were cut, three close to Hill Street and one at the junction with Upper Well Street. The excavations highlight the huge investment made in digging and maintaining the ditch as a defensive line for the first half of the 15th century before it was gradually misused for fly-tipping and eventually lost beneath a welter of dumping by the later 17th century. It was probably indefensible long before the Civil War. A varied and rich environmental profile of the site has been constructed, which paints a picture of a suburban, semi-rural habitat which was increasingly spoiled in the 16th and 17th centuries by unrestricted dumping of refuse and cess. A wide variety of finds was recovered, indicative of both domestic and industrial occupation and use. This range was dominated by a large group of well-preserved late medieval leather shoes. The Far Gosford Street excavations revealed evidence for some 800 years of human activity. The earliest remains comprised a solid timber post, possibly related to a bridge over the River Sherbourne, for which tree-ring dating established a felling date of 1162-1212. A frontage was first occupied in the early 14th century when buildings were laid out along the street. A hoard of silver pennies found buried beneath the floor of one of the buildings probably represents the savings of one of the street’s earliest residents. These structures were replaced in the first half of the 15th century, probably at the same time as the city wall was built a short distance to the west. A second medieval frontage lasted until 1643 when it was again dismantled during the Civil War. Entrenchments dating to this period were also excavated. In the 18th century a third frontage was built, replaced in the 19th century and finally demolished to make way for Singer Motors car showroom after they acquired the site in 1926.

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Enterprises and organizations of any kind embedded in today's economic environment are deeply dependent on their ability to take part in collaborations. Consequently, it is strongly required for them to get actively involved for their own benefit in emerging, potentially opportunistic collaborative enterprise networks. The concept of “interoperability” has been defined by INTEROP-VLab as “The ability of an enterprise system or application to interact with others at a low cost in a flexible approach”. Consequently, interoperability of organizations appears as a major issue to succeed in building on the fly emerging enterprise networks. The International Conference on Interoperability for Enterprise Systems and Applications (I-ESA 2014) was held under the motto “interoperability for agility, resilience and plasticity of collaborations” on March 26-28, 2014 and organized by the Ecole des Mines d’Albi-Carmaux, France on behalf of the European Laboratory for Enterprise Interoperability (INTEROP-VLab). On March 24-25, co-located with the conference eight workshops and one doctoral symposium were held in four tracks complementing the program of the I-ESA’14 conference. The workshops and the doctoral symposium address areas of greatest current activity focusing on active discussions among the leading researchers in the area of Enterprise Interoperability. This part of the conference helps the community to operate effectively, building co-operative and supportive international links as well as providing new knowledge of on-going research to practitioners. The workshops and doctoral symposium aimed at exploiting new issues, challenges and solutions for Enterprise Interoperability (EI) and associated domains of innovation such as Smart Industry, Internet-Of-Things, Factories of the Future, EI Applications and Standardisation. These proceedings include the short papers from the I-ESA’14 workshops and the doctoral symposium. The book is split up into 9 sections, one for each workshop and one for the doctoral symposium. All sections were organized following four tracks: (1) EI and Future Internet / Factory of the Future; (2) EI Application Domains and IT; (3) EI Standards; (4) EI Doctoral Symposium. For each section, a workshop report is provided summarizing the content and the issues discussed during the sessions. The goal of the first track was to offer a discussion opportunity on interoperability issues regarding the use of Internet of Things on manufacturing environment (Workshops 1 and 3) on one hand, and regarding the potential of innovation derived from the use of digital methods, architectures and services such as Smart Networks (Workshops 2 and 4) on the other hand. The second track focused on particular application domains that are looking for innovative solutions to support their strong collaborative needs. Thus, the track developed one workshop on the use of EI solution for Future City-Logistics (Workshop 5) and one on the use of EI solutions for Crisis / Disaster Management (Workshop 6). The third track studied the recent developments in EI standardization. Two workshops were dedicated to this issue. The first one has proposed to focus on the management of standardization (Workshop 8) and the second one has chosen to work on the new knowledge on standardization developments in the manufacturing service domain (Workshop 9). The last track, the doctoral symposium presented research results from selected dissertations. The session discussed EI knowledge issues, notably in terms of gathering through social networks or Internet of Things and of exploitation through innovative decision support systems.

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When Hitler unleashed his V1 and V2 rockets on Great Britain in 1944, it was the first military attack on the British civilian population without invasion. Innocent families were wiped out without mercy and terror gripped the nation. Churchill and the Crossbow Committee knew that widespread panic would soon ensue, because the British public were becoming increasingly anxious about the Nazis superior technology, which was destroying their lives. But through important intelligence from Bomber Command, Naval commandos, the French and Dutch Resistances in Europe, and the precise plotting of V rocket activity in the Filter Room of Fighter Command through air reconnaissance, a Top Secret plan was formed to dive-bomb V rocket installations with Mark IX and Mark XVI Spitfires. Craig Cabell is the writer and historian responsible for bringing Operation Big Ben to world attention. He has studied the original documentation since its release from the National Archive in 2004 and interviewed veterans who took part in the operation, such as Flight Lieutenant Raymond Baxter. Cabell's initial research resulted in many accolades and now resides in the 602 'City of Glasgow' Squadron Museum.But now, for the first time, Cabell has put together the whole story of Operation Big Ben, showing the work of the Crossbow Committee, intelligence Commandos under the orders of Commander Ian Fleming, the French and Dutch Resistances, and the brave men who flew the Spitfires of 124, 229, 303, 453, 602 and 603 squadrons. For the sake of accuracy and attention to detail, this book concentrates on the day-to-day activity of Spitfires during Operation Big Ben and the work of the various strands of British intelligence before and during it. In this book Operation Big Ben is separated from Operation Crossbow, (the anti-V1 operation) to show how the British government stepped up its urgency to counter the V2 threat. Although some of the detail could be considered repetitious in places (many cuts of non-operational flying have been made from the histories of each squadron in order to keep the flow of the book thought-provoking and interesting), the focus is on accuracy. The author has noted that in other publications that touch on Operation Big Ben, specific activity has not been documented correctly. This is because squadron histories haven't been cross-referenced in the past.Each squadron history in this book, mentions the work of other Big Ben squadrons (to report on the filtering of intelligence, escort work for other larger operations, or the details of the weather conditions experienced and the plight of the Dutch people during the harsh winter of 1944-45) to create a fuller and more visual picture of what happened. It is appreciated that aviation historians and enthusiasts alike will analyse this volume for the details of the Spitfires used. In a nutshell, Mark IXF Spitfires started Operation Big Ben. These had elliptical wings to begin with and then progressed to clipped-wing (pin-pointing exact dates has not always been possible). The Mark XVI became the cream of the crop for the most important squadrons (602, 603 and to a lesser degree 303; with 602 being the first to have them, followed by 303), Mark V's were used for training purposes. For dive-bombing purposes, two 250 lb bombs were used under each wing for balance, with a 500 lb bomb under the fuselage.Occasionally just the 500 lb bomb was carried, sometime just the two 250 lb bombs, depending on how far they had to fly inland or the difficulty of the job in-hand (the greater weight the more fuel used). Version 5 roundel was used and Operation Big Ben insignia on either side of the fuselage.

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My name is Caitlin Feral, and I’m about to face my final Testing Day. My younger brother and mom hope I return: that I survive the tests (which is not a given) and that I am still a dreg. They want me to stay here with them to keep what’s left of our family together. They want me to stay here, in the shadow of the Genetic Wars, with mutant animal attacks, protectors in faceless helms eager to catch us in the slightest infractions, and a menial work placement that’s waiting with my name on it if I fail the tests. But that’s not what I dream about.In my dreams, I can lift a bus. I can fly. I have to Manifest. If I do, my classmate Lilianne and teacher Mrs. Cranberry will stop their bullying, and I can leave the danger and the dirt and the lack of food and medication and move to Jupitar City to be adopted by a Supergenic family. That’s the promise—if Testing Day doesn’t kill me first.“I barely got out of there. They’re not afraid to kill us. They’re not afraid to kill you.” That’s what my classmate Normand said after he returned from his testing, barely able to stand. But he’s soft; I’m not … right? The Treaty will protect me, and the Supergenics can only test within reasonable parameters to find their own kind, but the terror and pain in Normand’s eyes makes me sweat and my heart race.What if the rules have changed? And what if I am a mere DNA regular? What if I’m nothing like the Supergenic heroes I read about in the comic books they send us from Jupitar City? Today, I find out. And I do know one thing.I would rather die trying than be stuck being me for the rest of my life. DON'T BE DNA REGULAR. BE GENERATION MANIFESTATION. The action-packed, heart-pounding adventure of Gen M begins here!Warnings: for fans of strong female protagonists, LGBTQ positivity, important neurodiverse characters, unexpected heroism, unexpected villainy and other unpredictabilities. Earlier version published as I Want Superpowers. Fans of Hunger Games, Divergent, 1984, Brendan Sanderson’s Steelheart or Marvel’s X-Men and X-Force will love Generation Manifestation! “A richly realized dystopian world that reads like The Hunger Games meets X-Men.” — Ryan Porter, The Toronto Star “A teenager must determine where her true alliances rest in Generation Manifestation, a dark dystopian novel directed by tough choices and earned wisdom … with heartrending twists.”—Foreword Clarion Review “I LOVED THIS! … it's on my list of the best books I've ever read … You think you know what is going to happen, but you have no idea how many times my predictions were wrong.” —Elizabeth Sagan, MyBookFeatures “One of the best things about this book was in the start I expected it to take the same beaten path. But it subverted my expectations. And I couldn't predict where the book was going next.” —Ananya B, Goodreads “When I finished the last page, I had to close my eyes for a second and try to keep my mind together. I am not sure if it was an ending or a new beginning…This book is hands down my favorite so far this year. It was easy to read, very well written, and detailed.” —Books of Cat, Goodreads “This book had the perfect mix of world building, character development and rich content that were tied beautifully with a unique form of writing. To be honest, it was like nothing I've read before … because it really was fresh and innovative.” —Dove, Goodreads

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The Owl and the Cactus by Hannah Dawn Gold is an illustrated tale of exploration and friendship for children who are setting out on their own adventures in life. This light-hearted story follows the adventures of a very small owl, as he takes his first tentative flight in his desert home, encounters challenges and eventually finds his way home. In a big world, sometimes things can go wrong for even the bravest explorer. When Owl finds himself in need of help, he discovers that everyone is important, including people who are quiet, shy and could be easy to pass by, because ‘Even the smallest people can know important things!’ Sometimes when we’re whizzing around in excitement, chasing the next achievement, we can overlook what’s around us. In a busy world, even young children can sometimes feel pressure. The Owl and the Cactus gently guides readers to understand that it is good to try new things, getting caught up in the thrill of success and it is also fine to stop, take a breath when we need to and ask for help. The wish to explore and grow is encouraged and supported in this book, balanced with the lesson that sometimes growing up can be challenging and the world can be a scary place when things aren’t going our way, but when we are willing to listen, even to those who seem different to us then friendship can be found at any moment, even when we think we are alone. The young owl’s first flight introduces the natural world to children as a home to be appreciated, not just rushed past. As the youngster finds his confidence, he discovers that nature can show us valuable things. Hannah writes, ‘I will tell you a secret about all living things, it may help you to know, when finding your wings! The wind, the moon, the stars and stones, all are telling the story of our wild desert home. All of them have something to say, if you ask them and listen, they will show you the way.’ While Owl finds out about looking at the sky, his discoveries open the idea that the stars can show us where we are going. Something children can use to begin a learning journey of their own if they wish, or just smile at the safe return of the owl to his home. As a visually pleasing story about a lovable character, The Owl and the Cactus will have broad appeal to children of differing reading capabilities. Children starting on their reading journeys are sure to find the imagery and fun factor pleasing and can use this book to develop their reading skills. More capable readers can enjoy the layers of meaning that provide on-going learning opportunities. The writing style offers both ease of reading, with rhymes and short sentences, together with some more challenging words and concepts to keep minds occupied and hold interest into the future. This is a book that you can enjoy with your little ones, which will help them grow, while chuckling together about the antics of the very small owl. It will be a favourite on the bookshelf for years to come! Hannah’s illustrations provide a rich visual backdrop depicting the young explorer and the range of creatures he encounters on his travels. The Owl and the Cactus is an ideal story to inspire the confidence of young readers in making friends and finding their own wings. With varied additional activities to stimulate interest, there is plenty here to occupy young minds. The full colour pictures and fun, rhyming style make this book suitable for a wide range of children with different reading levels as it provides both visual and auditory enjoyment, different types of learning opportunities and a positive approach to overcoming difficulties. After all, ‘You’re never too small to know how to fly!’

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You've read the headlines: industry after industry (airlines, automakers, drug companies, high tech) battered by globalization, deregulation, and commoditization. The Darwinian struggle to deliver profitable products and services keeps getting more brutal as competitive advantage gaps get narrower and narrower. Anything you invent today will soon be copied by someone else — probably better or cheaper. Many companies thrive during the early stages of their life cycle, reveling in bursts of energy and advancement, only to fall slack during periods of inertia and die out while others surge ahead. But some notable companies have figured out how to deal with Darwin at every phase of their evolution — making changes on the fly while fending off challenges from every quarter. Dealing with Darwin will help you understand your company's role in its market ecosystem; where your competitive advantage came from in the past and how it will change in the future; what kinds of differentiation will be most rewarded in your current marketplace; and how to transform your internal dynamics to overcome the inertia that threatens every bold innovation. Bestselling author Geoffrey Moore has consulted for dozens of major companies on this challenge of innovation versus inertia. But in the fall of 2002, he got an unprecedented offer from John Chambers, the CEO of Cisco Systems: unlimited access to Cisco's management processes, with permission to reveal exactly how Cisco continues to innovate relentlessly as a mature enterprise. This collaboration led to the case study that forms the heart of the book — not just an insider story but a masterpiece of management analysis. Dealing with Darwin, Moore's most ambitious work to date, offers nothing less than a new unified theory of the evolution of markets. Drawing on hundreds of different examples, Moore illuminates how established companies can prevent their own extinction — not by throwing resources wildly at every potential innovation, but by moving forward with precision, courage, and smart timing. "Geoff Moore is the master at creating a vocabulary for management strategy that captures the competitive dynamics of the times. In Dealing with Darwin, he uses this signature skill to tackle the fundamental challenge of twenty-first-century business — how to create profitable growth in an increasingly competitive global economy. His models are helpful both for focusing innovation strategy and for improving productivity, and they have played an important role in the continuing evolution of our company." —John T. Chambers, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cisco Systems, Inc. "Dealing with Darwin provides a lucid and engaging perspective on managing innovation, an integral component of Motorola's vision of seamless mobility. Moore's frameworks — his theory of innovation types, his ideas about the impact of business architecture on innovation, and his model for resource recycling to fund ongoing innovation efforts — all have relevant application in today's rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive marketplace." —Edward J. Zander, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Motorola "Globalization is driving everyone to rethink their innovation strategies, and that not only includes SAP but most of our customers as well. For some time we have been using the models and vocabulary outlined in this book to help chart our own future and to better understand our customers' changing needs. Geoff's experience and insight have made him a valued adviser during a time of critical transition in our industry." —Dr. Henning Kagerman, CEO, SAP AG "With Dealing with Darwin, Geoff Moore has provided the first practical guide to successfully navigate the dynamics of product and market innovation at all phases of the business cycle. This is a must read to successfully compete in the twenty-first century." —William T. Coleman, Chief Executive Officer, Cassatt Corporation; Cofounder and Former Chairman, BEA Systems, Inc. "The book's provocative, well-illustrated lessons on innovation strategies are a breakthrough for Geoffrey Moore; he crosses the chasm from rapid-growth, high-tech companies to those facing maturity, slow growth, and commoditization." —Robert S. Kaplan, author of The Balanced Scorecard; Baker Foundation Professor, Harvard Business School "Dealing with Darwin is a lucid bridge that links good conceptual theory with good management practice. Geoffrey Moore gets it. His understanding of the management of innovation is without equal." —Clayton Christensen, Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

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WITH AN EXCLUSIVE NEW CHAPTER FOR THE PAPERBACK EDITIONThe Amazon No.1 BestsellerThe Sunday Times BestsellerTHE ROYAL BOOK OF THE YEAR_________________________________'Eye-poppingly revealing. . . impeccable sources, historical heft and canny insights served up with a zingy wit. There are many royal biographers, but few as good as this. She turns gossip into the first draft of history.' TELEGRAPHFrom the Queen's stoic resolve to the crisis of Meghan and Harry. From the ascendance of Camilla and Kate to the downfall of Andrew. Full of remarkable inside access, The Palace Papers by Sunday Times bestselling author Tina Brown will change how you understand the Royal Family.'Clever, well-informed and disgustingly entertaining' THE TIMES'There are royal books, and there are royal books. But The Palace Papers is in a genre of its own' RADIO TIMES'Jaw dropping! What a book . . . if you ever want to feel like a fly on the wall of any of the palaces, this is it.'LORRAINE KELLY'Brown's prose has the swoosh of an enjoyably OTT ballgown' FINANCIAL TIMES'The world's sharpish and best-informed royal expert' PIERS MORGAN'Riveting and rigorous' PANDORA SYKES'A witty, rip-roaring read . . . full off perceptive and witty observations' i Newspaper'A rollicking ride through recent royal family history . . . Tina Brown's sparkling prose and eye for detail enliven an entertaining exposé' OBSERVER'The most explosive royal book of the year' THE SUN'Gloriously irreverent, racily written and often very funny. The early chapters on the long affair between Prince Charles and Camilla read like a non-fiction version of Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles' NEW STATESMAN'A motherlode of delectable gossip . . . Brown has produced a work both scholarly and scandalous that makes us think about what the post-Elizabethan world may bring, alternately amusing and horrifying us along the way . . . vivid and richly-embroidered' INDEPENDENT'The devil is in the delicious detail . . . Brown tackles her subjects with the same brio she brought to her years as a highly regarded magazine editor . . . Her access to those who flit around the royals gives her writing an edgy authenticity' DAILY MAIL'Brown thrashes her way through absolutely everything that has happened to the family since the end of the last book in 1997 . . . Charles and Camilla are vividly brought to life in a series of well-researched stories and anecdotes' SUNDAY TIMES'The Palace Papers is a sharp-nibbed observation of a generation of tumult for the House of Windsor, bookended by the deaths of Princess Diana and Prince Philip. It's a story about media as much as monarchy, and it draws from almost every chapter in Brown's career in journalism' FINANCIAL TIMES'It's hard to look away as Tina Brown delves into decades' worth of royal scandals' GUARDIAN'Utter brilliance . . . a rip-roaring read' SCOTSMAN'A brilliant book. Tina Brown has inside knowledge and writes so well' LADY ANNE GLENCONNER (author of Lady in Waiting)_________________________________'Never again', became Queen Elizabeth II's mantra shortly after Diana's death. More specifically, there could never be 'another Diana' - a member of the family whose global popularity upstaged, outshone, and posed an existential threat to the British monarchy. Picking up where The Diana Chronicles left off, The Palace Papers reveals how the royal family reinvented itself after the traumatic years when Diana's blazing celebrity ripped through the House of Windsor like a comet.Tina Brown takes readers on a tour de force journey that shows the Queen's stoic resolve as she coped with the passing of Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and her partner for seven decades, Prince Philip, and triumphed in her Jubilee years even as the family dramas raged around her. She explores Prince Charles's determination to make Camilla his queen, the tension between William and Harry who are on 'different paths', the ascendance Kate Middleton, the disturbing allegations surrounding Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, and Harry and Meghan's stunning decision to 'step back' as senior royals. Despite the fragile monarchy's best efforts, 'never again' seems fast approaching.Sunday Times bestseller, February 2023

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Since boyhood, Druadaen expected he’d ascend to the command of an elite legion and become the leader his father predicted he would be. However, fate had something different in store. Assigned instead to a small group of outriders tasked with watching nearby kingdoms, Druadaen discovers that the world beyond his homeland is riddled with impossibilities. How do humanoid raiders, known as the Bent, suffer staggering losses and yet return as a vast horde every decade? How do multi-ton dragons fly? How have fossils formed in a world which sacrists insist has existed for only ten millennia? Determined to solve these mysteries, Druadaen journeys into the dank warrens of the Bent, seeks out a dragon’s lair, and ventures into long-buried ruins in search of ancient scrolls. But, whereas legends tell of heroes who encounter their greatest perils during just such forays into the unknown, Druadaen’s most lethal enemies might lurk in even more unusual places: The temples and council chambers of his own homeland. About Charles E. Gannon: “Chuck Gannon is one of those marvelous finds—someone as comfortable with characters as he is with technology, and equally adept at providing those characters with problems to solve. Imaginative, fun, and not afraid to step on the occasional toe or gore the occasional sacred cow, his stories do not disappoint.”—David Weber “If we meet strong aliens out there, will we suffer the fate of the Aztecs and Incas, or find the agility to survive? Gannon fizzes with ideas about the dangerous politics of first contact.”—David Brin “Chuck Gannon writes the kind of science fiction we all grew up on: rousing, mind-expanding, pulse-pounding sagas of spaceships and aliens. He's a terrific writer, and we're lucky to have him.” —Robert J. Sawyer “[A] strong [writer of] . . . military SF . . . [much] action going on in his work, with a lot of physics behind it. There is a real sense of the urgency of war and the sacrifices it demands.” —Locus About the work of Charles E. Gannon: Caine's Mutiny: “This is military Science Fiction the way it’s supposed to be written. . . . All in all, a highly satisfying tale of the Terran Republic that moves the story forward and sets us up for the next chapter, which promises to be interesting at worst and explosive at best.”—SFcrowsnest Raising Caine: “Raising Caine unveils a lot of thought-provoking ideas but ultimately this is a space opera adventure. There are space battles, daring emergency landings, desperate quests, hand-to-hand combat, and double-and-triple crosses. It’s an engrossing read. You owe it to yourself to read the two previous books in order. Then enjoy Raising Caine. It’s an intergalactic thrill-ride.”—Fantasy and Science Fiction Book and Audiobook Reviews “This is science-fiction adventure on a grand scale.”—Kirkus “Gannon’s harrowing . . . military space opera (following Trial by Fire) builds well on his established setting . . . Gannon’s signature attention to developing realistic alien worlds makes this installment satisfying.”—Publishers Weekly “[A]n incredibly active book . . . as our protagonists are confronted by the beautiful, terrible, and sometimes lethal variety of the universe and its inhabitants. . . . [A] whole mess of fun . . . that manages to be scientifically accurate while refraining from excessive wonkiness. Those who value meticulous world-building . . . will certainly have their needs met.”—BN Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog Nebula-nominated Trial by Fire: “I seriously enjoyed Trial by Fire. This one’s a tidal wave—can’t put it down. An excellent book.” —Jack McDevitt “Gannon's whiz-bang second Tales of the Terran Republic interstellar adventure delivers on the promise of the first (Fire with Fire). . . . The charm of Caine's harrowing adventure lies in Gannon's attention to detail, which keeps the layers of political intrigue and military action from getting too dense. The dozens of key characters, multiple theaters of operations, and various alien cultures all receive the appropriate amount of attention. The satisfying resolution is enhanced by the promise of more excitement to come in this fascinating far-future universe.”—Publishers Weekly Starred Review “[D]efinitely one to appeal to the adventure fans. Riordan is a smart hero, up against enormous obstacles and surrounded by enemies. Author Gannon does a good job of managing action and tension to keep the story moving, and the details of the worlds Riordan visits are interesting in their own right.”—Analog “[O]ffers the type of hard science-fiction those familiar with the John Campbell era of Analog Science Fiction will remember. Gannon throws his readers into an action-packed adventure. A sequel to Fire With Fire, it is a nonstop tale filled with military science-fiction action.”—The Galveston County Daily News Compton Crook Award winner for best first novel, Fire with Fire: “The plot is intriguing and then some. Well-developed and self-consistent; intelligent readers are going to like it.”—Jerry Pournelle “[T]he intersecting plot threads, action and well-conceived science kept those pages turning.”—SFcrowsnest Starfire series hit Extremis, coauthored by Charles E. Gannon: “Vivid . . . Battle sequences mingle with thought-provoking exegesis . . .”—Publishers Weekly “It’s a grand, fun series of battles and campaigns, worthy of anything Dale Brown or Larry Bond ever wrote.” —Analog

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Since boyhood, Druadaen expected he’d ascend to the command of an elite legion and become the leader his father predicted he would be. However, fate had something different in store. Assigned instead to a small group of outriders tasked with watching nearby kingdoms, Druadaen discovers that the world beyond his homeland is riddled with impossibilities. How do humanoid raiders, known as the Bent, suffer staggering losses and yet return as a vast horde every decade? How do multi-ton dragons fly? How have fossils formed in a world that sacrists insist has existed for only ten millennia? Determined to solve these mysteries, Druadaen journeys into the dank warrens of the Bent, seeks out a dragon’s lair, and ventures into long-buried ruins in search of ancient scrolls. But, whereas legends tell of heroes who encounter their greatest perils during just such forays into the unknown, Druadaen’s most lethal enemies might lurk in even more unusual places: The temples and council chambers of his own homeland. About This Broken World: "Charles Gannon puts the skills he has honed writing science fiction and fantasy to good use crafting a story that will keep the reader fairly entertained."—Manhattan Book Review About Charles E. Gannon: “Chuck Gannon is one of those marvelous finds—someone as comfortable with characters as he is with technology, and equally adept at providing those characters with problems to solve. Imaginative, fun, and not afraid to step on the occasional toe or gore the occasional sacred cow, his stories do not disappoint.”—David Weber “If we meet strong aliens out there, will we suffer the fate of the Aztecs and Incas, or find the agility to survive? Gannon fizzes with ideas about the dangerous politics of first contact.”—David Brin “Chuck Gannon writes the kind of science fiction we all grew up on: rousing, mind-expanding, pulse-pounding sagas of spaceships and aliens. He's a terrific writer, and we're lucky to have him.” —Robert J. Sawyer “[A] strong [writer of] . . . military SF . . . [much] action going on in his work, with a lot of physics behind it. There is a real sense of the urgency of war and the sacrifices it demands.” —Locus About the work of Charles E. Gannon: Caine's Mutiny: “This is military Science Fiction the way it’s supposed to be written. . . . All in all, a highly satisfying tale of the Terran Republic that moves the story forward and sets us up for the next chapter, which promises to be interesting at worst and explosive at best.”—SFcrowsnest Raising Caine: “Raising Caine unveils a lot of thought-provoking ideas but ultimately this is a space opera adventure. There are space battles, daring emergency landings, desperate quests, hand-to-hand combat, and double-and-triple crosses. It’s an engrossing read. You owe it to yourself to read the two previous books in order. Then enjoy Raising Caine. It’s an intergalactic thrill-ride.”—Fantasy and Science Fiction Book and Audiobook Reviews “This is science-fiction adventure on a grand scale.”—Kirkus “Gannon’s harrowing . . . military space opera (following Trial by Fire) builds well on his established setting . . . Gannon’s signature attention to developing realistic alien worlds makes this installment satisfying.”—Publishers Weekly “[A]n incredibly active book . . . as our protagonists are confronted by the beautiful, terrible, and sometimes lethal variety of the universe and its inhabitants. . . . [A] whole mess of fun . . . that manages to be scientifically accurate while refraining from excessive wonkiness. Those who value meticulous world-building . . . will certainly have their needs met.”—BN Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog Nebula-nominated Trial by Fire: “I seriously enjoyed Trial by Fire. This one’s a tidal wave—can’t put it down. An excellent book.” —Jack McDevitt “Gannon's whiz-bang second Tales of the Terran Republic interstellar adventure delivers on the promise of the first (Fire with Fire). . . . The charm of Caine's harrowing adventure lies in Gannon's attention to detail, which keeps the layers of political intrigue and military action from getting too dense. The dozens of key characters, multiple theaters of operations, and various alien cultures all receive the appropriate amount of attention. The satisfying resolution is enhanced by the promise of more excitement to come in this fascinating far-future universe.”—Publishers Weekly Starred Review “[D]efinitely one to appeal to the adventure fans. Riordan is a smart hero, up against enormous obstacles and surrounded by enemies. Author Gannon does a good job of managing action and tension to keep the story moving, and the details of the worlds Riordan visits are interesting in their own right.”—Analog “[O]ffers the type of hard science-fiction those familiar with the John Campbell era of Analog Science Fiction will remember. Gannon throws his readers into an action-packed adventure. A sequel to Fire With Fire, it is a nonstop tale filled with military science-fiction action.”—The Galveston County Daily News Compton Crook Award winner for best first novel, Fire with Fire: “The plot is intriguing and then some. Well-developed and self-consistent; intelligent readers are going to like it.”—Jerry Pournelle “[T]he intersecting plot threads, action and well-conceived science kept those pages turning.”—SFcrowsnest Starfire series hit Extremis, coauthored by Charles E. Gannon: “Vivid . . . Battle sequences mingle with thought-provoking exegesis . . .”—Publishers Weekly “It’s a grand, fun series of battles and campaigns, worthy of anything Dale Brown or Larry Bond ever wrote.” —Analog

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How do the experts solve difficult problems in software development? In this unique and insightful book, leading computer scientists offer case studies that reveal how they found unusual, carefully designed solutions to high-profile projects. You will be able to look over the shoulder of major coding and design experts to see problems through their eyes. This is not simply another design patterns book, or another software engineering treatise on the right and wrong way to do things. The authors think aloud as they work through their project's architecture, the tradeoffs made in its construction, and when it was important to break rules. "Beautiful Code" is an opportunity for master coders to tell their story. All author royalties will be donated to Amnesty International. The book includes the following contributions: "Beautiful Brevity: Rob Pike's Regular Expression Matcher" by Brian Kernighan, Department of Computer Science, Princeton University; "Subversion's Delta Editor: Interface as Ontology" by Karl Fogel, editor of "QuestionCopyright.org", Co-founder of Cyclic Software, the first company offering commercial CVS support; "The Most Beautiful Code I Never Wrote" by Jon Bentley, Avaya Labs Research; "Finding Things" by Tim Bray, Director of Web Technologies at Sun Microsystems, co-inventor of XML 1. 0; "Correct, Beautiful, Fast (In That Order): Lessons From Designing XML Validators" by Elliotte Rusty Harold, Computer Science Department at Polytechnic University, author of "Java I/O, Java Network Programming", and "XML in a Nutshell" (O'Reilly); and, "The Framework for Integrated Test: Beauty through Fragility" by Michael Feathers, consultant at Object Mentor, author of "Working Effectively with Legacy Code" (Prentice Hall). It also includes: "Beautiful Tests" by Alberto Savoia, Chief Technology Officer, Agitar Software Inc; "On-the-Fly Code Generation for Image Processing" by Charles Petzold, author "Programming Windows and Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" (both Microsoft Press); "Top Down Operator Precedence" by Douglas Crockford, architect at Yahoo! Inc, Founder and CTO of State Software, where he discovered JSON; "Accelerating Population Count" by Henry Warren, currently works on the Blue Gene petaflop computer project Worked for IBM for 41 years; "Secure Communication: The Technology of Freedom" by Ashish Gulhati, Chief Developer of Neomailbox, an Internet privacy service Developer of Cryptonite, an OpenPGP-compatible secure webmail system; and, "Growing Beautiful Code in BioPerl" by Lincoln Stein, investigator at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - develops databases and user interfaces for the Human Genome Project using the Apache server and its module API. It also includes: "The Design of the Gene Sorter" by Jim Kent, Genome Bioinformatics Group, University of California Santa Cruz; "How Elegant Code Evolves With Hardware: The Case Of Gaussian Elimination" by Jack Dongarra, University Distinguished Professor of Computer Science in the Computer Science Department at the University of Tennessee, also distinguished Research Staff member in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Piotr Luszczek, Research Professor at the University of Tennessee; "Beautiful Numerics" by Adam Kolawa, co-founder and CEO of Parasoft; and, "The Linux Kernel Driver Model" by Greg Kroah-Hartman, SuSE Labs/Novell, Linux kernel maintainer for driver subsystems, author of "Linux Kernel in a Nutshell", co-author of "Linux Device Drivers, 3rd Edition" (O'Reilly). It also includes: "Another Level of Indirection" by Diomidis Spinellis, Associate Professor at the Department of Management Science and Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece; "An Examination of Python's Dictionary Implementation" by Andrew Kuchling, longtime member of the Python development community, and a director of the Python Software Foundation; "Multi-Dimensional Iterators in NumPy" by Travis Oliphant, Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Brigham Young University; and, "A Highly Reliable Enterprise System for NASAs Mars Rover Mission" by Ronald Mak, co-founder and CTO of Willard & Lowe Systems, Inc, formerly a senior scientist at the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science on contract to NASA Ames. It also includes: "ERP5: Designing for Maximum Adaptability" by Rogerio de Carvalho, researcher at the Federal Center for Technological Education of Campos (CEFET Campos), Brazil and Rafael Monnerat, IT Analyst at CEFET Campos, and an offshore consultant for Nexedi SARL; "A Spoonful of Sewage" by Bryan Cantrill, Distinguished Engineer at Sun Microsystems, where he has spent most of his career working on the Solaris kernel; "Distributed Programming with MapReduce" by Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat, Google Fellows in Google's Systems Infrastructure Group; "Beautiful Concurrency" by Simon Peyton Jones, Microsoft Research, key contributor to the design of the functional language Haskell, and lead designer of the Glasgow Haskell Compiler (GHC); and, "Syntactic Abstraction: The syntax-case expander" by Kent Dybvig, Developer of Chez Scheme and author of the Scheme Programming Language. It also includes: "Object-Oriented Patterns and a Framework for Networked Software" by William Otte, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Vanderbilt University and Doug Schmidt, Full Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department, Associate Chair of the Computer Science and Engineering program, and a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Software Integrated Systems (ISIS) at Vanderbilt University; "Integrating Business Partners the RESTful Way" by Andrew Patzer, Director of the Bioinformatics Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin; and, "Beautiful Debugging" by Andreas Zeller, computer science professor at Saarland University, author of "Why Programs Fail: A Guide to Systematic Debugging" (Morgan Kaufman). It also includes: "Code That's Like an Essay" by Yukihiro Matsumoto, inventor of the Ruby language; "Designing Interfaces Under Extreme Constraints: the Stephen Hawking editor" by Arun Mehta, professor and chairman of the Computer Engineering department of JMIT, Radaur, Haryana, India; "Emacspeak: The Complete Audio Desktop" by TV Raman, Research Scientist at Google where he focuses on web applications; "Code in Motion" by Christopher Seiwald, founder and CTO of Perforce Software and Laura Wingerd, vice president of product technology at Perforce Software, author of "Practical Perforce" (O'Reilly); and, "Writing Programs for 'The Book'" by Brian Hayes who writes the Computing Science column in American Scientist magazine, author of "Infrastructure: A Field Guide to the Industrial Landscape"(W.W. Norton).

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