Search results for ""Author C King"

Contains the story 'The Hedge Night' Dreamsongs Book Two is the second part of a massive collection, featuring the very best of George R.R. Martin's short fiction, a dazzling array of award-winning stories from the last thirtysome years. Included in this edition is 'The Hedge Knight', a tale of the Seven Kingdoms, an indispensable part of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire:Telling the tale of a young squire as he strives to become a knight in the cruel and unforgiving lands of the Seven Kingdoms, 'The Hedge Knight' introduces readers to Dunk and Egg and their quest to prove victorious against the nobility at a local tournament.George R.R. Martin is one of the most exciting storytellers of our time, a stylish, elegant writer who combines riveting plots with superb characterisation. He writes with equal verve and fervour about werewolves as he does spaceships, wizards and vampires, and he has won virtually every award in the fields of fantasy literature. His epic ongoing saga A Song of Ice and Fire has redefined fantasy for a whole new generation, and won him a vast, devoted audience.Dreamsongs is an unmissable collection not just for all George R.R. Martin fans, but essential reading for any reader of fantastic literature.***************'Of those who work in the grand epic fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best' Time Magazine'I always expect the best from George R.R. Martin, and he always delivers' Robert Jordan'Long live George Martin . . . A literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers' New York Times'Martin's style is so vivid that you will be hooked within a few pages' The Times

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'Timely and beautifully written' Sunday Times'Phenomenal. An extraordinary insight into a country barely known - an often feared - by the West' Vogue'Utterly compelling' Daily Mail'Gripping, a dark, delicious unveiling . . . Deeply researched yet as exciting as a novel' Simon Sebag MontefioreWelcome to Tehran, a city where survival depends on a network of subterfuge. Here is a place where mullahs visit prostitutes, drug kingpins run crystal meth kitchens, surgeons restore girls' virginity and homemade porn is sold in the sprawling bazaars; a place where ordinary people are forced to lead extraordinary lives.Based on extensive interviews, CITY OF LIES chronicles the lives of eight men and women drawn from across the spectrum of Iranian society and reveals what it is to live, love and survive in one of the world's most repressive regimes.

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The Kingdom of Bohemia at the end of the Middle Ages was a country in upheaval, for which the Hussite Revolution (1419-1436) stands in a defining way. In five thematic groups, the internationally known and renowned Czech mediavist Frantiek mahel sheds light on the manifold aspects that set central Europe in motion in the 25 essays from the past four decades, which have been brought together here and which have had a significant impact on research and which have been partially revised and updated in the annotation apparatus let. The topics range from the political position of the Bohemian countries to the changing power and social structures, the role of Tábor in Hussitism, the purgatorium sompniatum in the Hussite topography of the afterlife to the central role of the Four Prague Articles and questions of the visual Agitation during the study period.

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Knitting Yarns explores what is so magical about knitting and how it can inspire joy and help us get through life-changing events. Knitting occupies an important a place in the hearts of a number of writers. Ann Hood has collected twenty-seven original essays by, among others, Anita Shreve, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett and Barbara Kingsolver. They tell stories about how knitting healed, challenged or helped them to grow. Andre Dubus III tells how knitting a Christmas present for his blind aunt helped him knit an understanding with his girlfriend. Kaylie Jones finds the woman who cared for her as a child by using knitting to heal old wounds. Sue Grafton writes about her passion for knitting. With five original patterns created by Helen Bingham, Knitting Yarns will delight knitting enthusiasts and lovers of literature alike.

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It's been six months since the Quest Kids—Ned, Terra, Gil, Boulder, and Ash—saved a village from a furious dragon (no big deal) and turned their questing efforts toward finding Ned’s parents. But when the crew notices a serious sense of doom and gloom across the Seven Kingdoms, they set out in search of Doug, whose mysterious Dark Prophecy has the potential to send the world into even more dire darkness and dread. With help from new and old friends, the Quest Kids sail through stormy seas, vacation on the newly rebranded Contentment Island, and venture into the Forsaken Lands to find Doug, whose wicked tunes and even wickeder plans are in full force. Can the Quest Kids get it together to counter Doug's plans and find Ned's parents—or must they watch as a triumphant Doug surfs on waves of fire and fulfills his terrible prophecy?

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Often overlooked or trampled underfoot as pests, insects in fact dominate the animal kingdom by sheer number — more than half of all animal species on the planet are insect species. Do you know which insect babies look nothing like their parents? Or why ants cultivate special relationships with aphids and treehoppers? Get ready for the buzz about bees and marvel at master aviator the monarch butterfly. From the creepy cockroach to the fascinating orchid mantis, our insect representatives will wow you with their winged or leggy exploits!The World of Science comics series engages, educates and entertains children, imparting scientific facts, while nurturing the love of Science through dynamic, full-colour comics. All topics covered are in line with the Singapore primary Science syllabus and the Cambridge primary Science curriculum, and also offer beyond-the-syllabus insights designed to stretch inquiring young minds.This book aligns with the following syllabi:

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Often overlooked or trampled underfoot as pests, insects in fact dominate the animal kingdom by sheer number — more than half of all animal species on the planet are insect species. Do you know which insect babies look nothing like their parents? Or why ants cultivate special relationships with aphids and treehoppers? Get ready for the buzz about bees and marvel at master aviator the monarch butterfly. From the creepy cockroach to the fascinating orchid mantis, our insect representatives will wow you with their winged or leggy exploits!The World of Science comics series engages, educates and entertains children, imparting scientific facts, while nurturing the love of Science through dynamic, full-colour comics. All topics covered are in line with the Singapore primary Science syllabus and the Cambridge primary Science curriculum, and also offer beyond-the-syllabus insights designed to stretch inquiring young minds.This book aligns with the following syllabi:

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This work is a multidisciplinary analysis of the issue of insider dealing from the perspective of the applicability of criminal law to regulate it. First, it examines the nature of its prohibition in the European Union and in the United States of America. The text includes a more extensive overview of prohibition in four Member States of the European Union (France, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Poland). Then, it summarises the arguments presented by ethicists and economists in favour of and against insider dealing. Further, it analyses the foundations of criminal law and justifications that are given for its application. On the basis of this analysis, it presents a new two-step theory of criminalisation. The first step is based on a liberal theory of wrongfulness that makes reference to protection of the basic human rights. The second step relies on classical but often forgotten principles of criminal law. Finally, it examines possible alternatives to criminal rules.

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The world famous classic by the originator of the Alexander Technique, with a new perspective by Anthony Kingsley.Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869. In his twenties, he became a professional reciter of dramatic pieces. After almost completely losing his voice he pioneered a method of improving the 'use' of his body musculature in all positions and movements and cured his vocal problems without medical aid.Alexander then realised that most people stood, sat and moved in a defective manner and that incorrect 'use of the self' might be the cause of much human suffering. He moved to London and established a school, publishing several books and achieving success, with recommendations from famous contemporaries such as Aldous Huxley and Sir Stafford Cripps. Alexander died in 1955 but his 'principle' lives on through the work of many teachers of his method.

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'FASCINATING' Daily Mail'FULL OF AMAZING FACTS' The QI ElvesEach of the United Kingdom's 124 postcode areas has a story to tell, an unexpected nugget to dust off and treasure. Mark Mason has embarked on a tour of the country, immersing himself in Britain's history on a roundabout journey from AB to ZE. On the lookout for interesting place names and unusual monuments, along the way he discovers what the Queen keeps in her handbag, why the Jack Russell has a white coat and how Jimi Hendrix got confused by the M1. At the same time Mason paints an affectionate portrait of Britain in the 21st century, from aggressive seagulls in Blackpool to 'seasoned' drinkers in Surrey. And his travels offer the perfect opportunity to delve into the history of the Royal Mail, complete with pillar boxes, posties and Penny Reds - plus Oscar Wilde's unconventional method of posting a letter. A playful mix of fact, anecdote and overheard conversation, MAIL OBSESSION pays homage to Britain's wonderful past and its curious present.

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Elric and his companion Moonglum return in this prequel set within the early days of Elric's wanderings. Elric rides again to investigate the history of Melniboné and its dragons, known as the Phroon, in this exciting new addition to the Elric Saga from World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Moorcock.The estranged emperor of the Melnibonéan empire, Elric is struggling with his nature and the constant thirst of his soul-sucking sword, Stormbringer. He wants his dying empire to thrive, but is he up to the task? Recruiting his best friend Moonglum, he hunt across his lands for the great Citadel of Forgotten Myths, seeking the answers to the nature of the phroon of The Young Kingdoms. Taking place between the first and second book in the Elric Saga, The Citadel of Forgotten Myths is perfect for longtime fans and those new to this epic fantasy series.

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When her best friend is sacrificed to the devil, she'll go to hell and back for himPlain, poor, plus-size, and autistic, Alesta grew up trying to convince her beauty-obsessed kingdom that she's too useful to be sacrificed. Their god blessed their island Soladisa as a haven for his followers, but to keep the devil at bay, the church sends a child sacrifice to hell's entrance every seasonoften poor or plain girls just like Alesta.With a head full of ideas for inventions, Alesta knows her best shot at making it to adulthood is to design something impressive for the festival exhibition so she might win a spot in the universityacceptance could guarantee her safety. But Alesta's flying machine demonstration goes awry, a failure that will surely mean death. What happens is worse: Her best friend and heir to the throne, Kyrian, takes the blame expecting leniency but ends up sacrificed in her place.To stop the sacrifices forever, Alesta plans to kill the monste

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A fascinating insight into how human sexuality came to be the way it is now - Jared Diamond explains why we are different from the animal kingdom.Why are humans one of the few species to have sex in private? Why do humans have sex any day of the month or year, including when the female is pregnant, beyond her reproductive years, or between her fertile cycles? Why are human females one of the few mammals to go through menopause?Human sexuality seems normal to us but it is bizarre by the standards of other animals. Jared Diamond argues that our strange sex lives were as crucial to our rise to human status as were our large brains. He also describes the battle of the sexes in the human and animal world over parental care, and why sex differences in the genetic value of parental care provide a biological basis for the all-too-familiar different attitudes of men and women towards extramarital sex.

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The Bronze Age came to a close early in the twelfth century b.c. with one of the worst calamities in history: over a period of several decades, destruction descended upon key cities throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, bringing to an end the Levantine, Hittite, Trojan, and Mycenaean kingdoms and plunging some lands into a dark age that would last more than four hundred years. In his attempt to account for this destruction, Robert Drews rejects the traditional explanations and proposes a military one instead.

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This collection of essays is centred on the Gospel according to Matthew. It treats contemporary discussions of Matthew's origins, character, and place in the canon of the New Testament. It also discusses texts from the major sections of the Gospel: the Infancy narrative, the Sermon on the Mount and other parts of the public ministry, and the Passion narrative. It addresses major themes: the kingdom of God, revelation, the Sabbath, spirituality, ecclesiology, and the birth of Easter faith. It also includes aspects of Matthew's broader context: Qumran literature, the letters to the Galatians and of James, and John's reception of Matthew. In contrast to several recent studies which present Matthew and his community as gloomy and beleaguered, this work reveals a confident, cheerful evangelist.

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It's been six months since the Quest Kids—Ned, Terra, Gil, Boulder, and Ash—saved a village from a furious dragon (no big deal) and turned their questing efforts toward finding Ned’s parents. But when the crew notices a serious sense of doom and gloom across the Seven Kingdoms, they set out in search of Doug, whose mysterious Dark Prophecy has the potential to send the world into even more dire darkness and dread. With help from new and old friends, the Quest Kids sail through stormy seas, vacation on the newly rebranded Contentment Island, and venture into the Forsaken Lands to find Doug, whose wicked tunes and even wickeder plans are in full force. Can the Quest Kids get it together to counter Doug's plans and find Ned's parents—or must they watch as a triumphant Doug surfs on waves of fire and fulfills his terrible prophecy?

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The BOLD AS LOVE series is a world of daring, dread and enchantment, a world that could almost be ours: a brilliant combination of myth, magic and pop culture.Ax Preston, Sage Pender and Fiorinda, charismatic leaders of the Rock-n-Roll Reich, have beaten the cascade of disasters that followed the collapse of the former United Kingdom. Now they have to find some resolution to the impossible dynamics of their own relationship, while the world keeps falling apart. There are fearsome things going on in England's rural hinterland, and in Continental Europe the green nazis are planning a final solution to desperate environmental damage. But there's nothing the Triumvirate can't handle - until Fiorinda's father, a monster of the kind the world has never before known, reaches out to reclaim his magical child, the flower-bride.And that's when darkness falls over Ax's England . . .Harrowing . . . enchanting - a dark fairy tale with an epic sweep, set in a world very like our own.

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A popular history of the Arab invasions that carved out an empire from Spain to ChinaToday's Arab world was created at breathtaking speed. Whereas the Roman Empire took over 200 years to reach its fullest extent, the Arab armies overran the whole Middle East, North Africa and Spain within a generation. They annihilated the thousand-year-old Persian Empire and reduced the Byzantine Empire to little more than a city-state based around Constantinople. Within a hundred years of the Prophet's death, Muslim armies destroyed the Visigoth kingdom of Spain, and crossed the Pyrenees to occupy southern France. This is the first popular English language account of this astonishing remaking of the political and religious map of the world. Hugh Kennedy's sweeping narrative reveals how the Arab armies conquered almost everything in their path. One of the few academic historians with a genuine talent for story telling, he offers a compelling mix of larger-than-life characters, battles, treachery and the clash of civilizations.

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The inspiration for the upcoming movie WAR MACHINE, starring Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton and Ben Kingsley (streaming on Netflix from 26 May).General Stanley McChrystal, the innovative commander of international and US forces in Afghanistan, was living large. Loyal staff liked to call him a 'rock star'. During a spring 2010 trip across Europe to garner additional Allied help for the war effort, McChrystal was accompanied by journalist Michael Hastings of ROLLING STONE. For days, Hastings looked on as McChrystal and his staff let off steam, partying and openly bashing the Obama administration for what they saw as a lack of leadership. When Hastings' piece appeared a few months later, it set off a political firestorm: McChrystal was ordered to Washington, where he was unceremoniously fired.In THE OPERATORS, Hastings gives us a shocking behind-the-scenes portrait of Allied military commanders, their high-stakes manoeuvres and often bitter bureaucratic in-fighting. He takes us on patrol missions in the Afghan hinterlands and to hotel bars where spies and expensive hookers participate in nation-building gone awry, drawing back the curtain on a hellish complexity and, he fears, an unwinnable war.

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For more than sixty-five years on the air, From Our Own Correspondent has been one of BBC Radio's flagship programmes. It has taken listeners to parts of the world where they have never gone, and perhaps never would: war zones, refugee camps, elite universities, space stations, spy academies and lions' dens of all sorts. Its dispatches introduce audiences to people they might never expect to meet - kingpins, revolutionaries, assassins and outcasts. It has always relied on the power of personal testimony, with its contributors not merely reporting the news, but sharing what they found out along the way, and how it felt. Its correspondents often relate the unexpected: the day they visited the town that is crazy about trout fishing, attended a forty-course Chinese banquet, experienced zero gravity on a flight with Russian cosmonauts, went mud wrestling in Turkey or ballroom dancing in Cameroon. Themed by continent and region, From Our Own Correspondent brings together the most compelling stories of the past ten years. It is a perfect primer for the understanding of the modern world.

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An extraordinary story told by an ordinary woman. Eileen Caddy (1917-2006) is known worldwide as one of the three founders of the Findhorn Foundation in the north of Scotland. The books that have flowed from her inspiration have drawn multitudes to the Findhorn Community. In the recent, expanded edition of her autobiography, Eileen updated her story to record the events--and emotions--of some fifteen years. She emerges as a powerful elderwoman who frees herself from the aura of her charismatic ex-husband Peter whom she still loves. In doing so, she learns the true nature of forgiveness, overcoming the issues of jealousy, hatred and doubt involved in the break-up of a marriage for which she had, under God's guidance, sacrificed everything. Readers will be struck by the analogy with the biblical Job, how someone who has lost everything, wealth, position, family, can yet have them restored by God. In her own person, Eileen Caddy, divinely ordinary as she describes herself, has pushed the limits of the ordinary person's experience to the very borders of the Kingdom of God.

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ONE ENEMY HAS FALLEN. A GREATER ONE REMAINS. NOW IT'S WAR . . .The Red Knight withstood the full might of his enemy, and won the day. In a victory which will be remembered through the ages, he brought disparate factions together and turned them into allies against a more powerful foe than they had ever seen.Now, he will need his allies more than ever.Because behind one adversary hid another - one with allies of their own - whose goal was never to destroy Alba, but to distract the Kingdom while achieving his true aim. And whatever it is, it's probably not in the Red Knight's interest.With one army defeated, now the Red Knight must fight again . . . and for every one of his allies there is a corresponding enemy. Spread out in different lands, and on sea, it will all come down to one last gamble. And to whether or not the Red Knight has guessed their foe's true intentions.With each throw of the dice, everything could be lost . . .

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This book invites kids to expand their imaginations more than ever before, with eight unique themes ranging from popular vehicles and practical projects, to imaginative fairytale fun and a thrilling spy mission. This time around, Sarah includes chapters for mini projects and LEGO art, both of which have been popular categories on her blog but never explored in her previous books. Younger kids can follow along with the simple step-by-step instructions that have made Dees's books the success they are today-they'll delight in making tiny zoos with unique animals, a classic diner complete with a soda fountain and a school classroom they can customize to look like their own. Older children will love building such action-packed pieces as a rescue mission helicopter, an air hockey table, and a surveillance car with rear-hinged getaway doors. For LEGO lovers of any age, there are instructions for making your own around-the-house gadgets, such as desk organizers, picture frames, and even lock-and-key safes. The Big Book of Amazing Lego Creations will be a top gift pick for every kid who craves variety in their LEGO crafting. If your kids would be excited to build epic kingdoms one day and sprawling super-spy headquarters the next, this is the book for you.

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Lynx and the rest of the Cards are heading south. There's money in their pockets, beer in their hands and a simple job ahead - sun, sea and not getting shot at much. Throw in the prospect of a bar fight and it's almost a holiday. But the volatile Mage Islands are a powder-keg, one just waiting for a spark. A bloody-handed exile perhaps, or the agent of a foreign power preparing for war. Maybe even a bunch of trigger-happy drunks who've upset the balance of magic across the Riven Kingdom.Or all three together, that'd definitely work...

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Princess Elisa is a disappointment to her people. Although she bears the Godstone in her navel, a sign that she has been chosen for an act of heroism, they see her as lazy and useless and fat. On her sixteenth birthday, she is bartered off in royal marriage and shipped away to a kingdom in turmoil, where her much-older-and extremely beautiful-husband refuses to acknowledge her as his wife. Devastated, Elisa decides to take charge of her fate and learn what it means to bear the Godstone. As an invading army threatens to destroy her new home, and everyone at court manoeuvres to take advantage of the young princess, Elisa becomes convinced that, not only is her own life in danger, the whole world needs saving. But how can a young girl who has never ridden horseback, never played the game of politics, and never attained the love of a man save the world? Elisa can't be sure, but she must try to uncover the Godstone's secret history before the enemy steals the destiny nestled in her core.

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Comics artist Mark Leiknes delivers a laugh-out-loud story set in a fantastic world of dragons, rock creatures, and golden loungewear. The Quest Kids are ready for their first real quest. This time, they won’t oversleep, they won’t be put off by a little rain, and they won’t accidentally burn down the village that hired them. All they have to do is find the Golden-Fleeced Rage Beast, shave it, and make a really nice golden tracksuit to appease a furious dragon. Simple, right? Meet the Quest Kids crew: Gil, a wizard (well, wizard in training . . . the beard isn’t his); Terra, a 700-year-old elf kid; Boulder, a rock troll who is more of a cook than a fighter; Ash, a flatulent pig-dog-maybe-lizard hybrid; and, Ned, the intrepid and overly optimistic leader with his own personal quest to find his missing parents. With humor, magic, mystery, and at least one acid swamp filled with skeletal alligators, Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold is a richly illustrated saga of fantasy friendship for readers from all kingdoms!

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The great scholar of Islam directly confronts the events of September 11th and the reasons behind Islamic terrorism in the modern world - a Sunday Times bestseller.President Bush has made it clear that we are engaged in a war against terrorism. But for Osama bin Laden and his followers this is religious war, a war for Islam against infidels, especially the United States, the greatest power in the world of the infidels. In this book Bernard Lewis shows us where the anger and frustration have come from, and the extent to which almost the entire Muslim world is affected by poverty and tyranny.He looks at the influence of extreme Wahhabist doctrines in the Saudi kingdom, where custodianship of Islam's holy places and the revenues of oil have given worldwide impact to what would otherwise have been an extremist fringe in a marginal country. He looks at American double standards, which have long caused Muslim anger, and tells us the real meaning of `Islamic fundamentalism', `jihad' and `fatwa', and why the peoples of the Middle East are conscious of history in a way most Americans find difficult to understand.

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In 1187 Saladin's armies besieged the holy city of Jerusalem. He had previously annihilated Jerusalem's army at the battle of Hattin, and behind the city's high walls a last-ditch defence was being led by an unlikely trio - including Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem. They could not resist Saladin, but, if they were lucky, they could negotiate terms that would save the lives of the city's inhabitants.Queen Sibylla was the last of a line of formidable female rulers in the Crusader States of Outremer. Yet for all the many books written about the Crusades, one aspect is conspicuously absent: the stories of women. Queens and princesses tend to be presented as passive transmitters of land and royal blood. In reality, women ruled, conducted diplomatic negotiations, made military decisions, forged alliances, rebelled, and undertook architectural projects. Sibylla's grandmother Queen Melisende was the first queen to seize real political agency in Jerusalem and rule in her own right. She outmanoeuvred both her husband and son to seize real power in her kingdom, and was a force to be reckoned with in the politics of the medieval Middle East. The lives of her Armenian mother, her three sisters, and their daughters and granddaughters were no less intriguing.The lives of this trailblazing dynasty of royal women, and the crusading Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, are the focus of Katherine Pangonis's debut book. In QUEENS OF JERUSALEM she explores the role women played in the governing of the Middle East during periods of intense instability, and how they persevered to rule and seize greater power for themselves when the opportunity presented itself.

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'A tour de force' EVENING STANDARD'She is unique. She is legend' THE TIMESAmong the less-traveled mountains and plains of Central Europe, a little east of Austria perhaps and north of Slovenia, lies the old kingdom of Orsinia. A land of forests and quiet farmlands and towns, with its capital city Krasnoy on the broad Molsen River, Orsinia has always found itself, like all the countries of Europe, subject to forces beyond its borders. Yet, cast as they are in the shadow of tyrannies both Western and Eastern, the lives and dreams of its free people are no less important than the great arguments of Europe's emperors and dictators.Here then are those lives: in tales of romance and blood-lust, hope and fear, freedom and tyranny, passion and despair. Tales of love, of life and of death and - amidst the great 19th-century rise of liberalism and nationalism - a tale of revolution against the might of the Hapsburg Empire.This is Orsinia and these are her stories.

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A soldier with a curseTala lost her family to the empress's army and has spent her life avenging them in battle. But the empress's crimes don't haunt her half as much as the crimes Tala has committed against the laws of magic . . . and her own flesh and blood. A prince with a debtJimuro has inherited the ashes of an empire. Now that the revolution has brought down his kingdom, he must depend on Tala to bring him home safe. But it was his army who murdered her family. Now Tala will be his redemption - or his downfall. A detective with a grudgeXiulan is an eccentric, pipe-smoking detective who can solve any mystery - but the biggest mystery of all is her true identity. She's a princess in disguise, and she plans to secure her throne by presenting her father with the ultimate prize: the world's most wanted prince.A thief with a broken heartLee is a small-time criminal who lives by only one law: Leave them before they leave you. But when Princess Xiulan asks her to be her partner in crime - and offers her a magical animal companion as a reward - she can't say no, and soon finds she doesn't want to leave the princess behind.This band of rogues and royals should all be enemies, but they unite for a common purpose: to defeat an unstoppable killer who defies the laws of magic. In this battle, they will forge unexpected bonds of friendship and love that will change their lives - and begin to change the world.

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Perfect for fans of Iain M. Banks and Peter F. Hamilton.It is the 147th century. The mighty era of Homo Sapiens is at an end.In the Westerly Provinces of the Old World, the hunt is on for the young queen Arabis, and the beast that holds her captive. In the brutal hominid Investiture, revolution has come. The warlord Cunctus, having seized the Vulgar worlds, invites every Prism to pick a side. In the Firmament, once the kingdom of the Immortal Amaranthine, all ships converge on the foundry of Gliese. The grandest battle in the history of mammalian kind has begun.Perception, ancient machine spirit, must take back its mortal remains in a contest for the Firmament itself. Ghaldezuel, now the Grand Marshal of Cunctus' new empire, must travel to the deepest lagoon in the Investiture, a place where monsters dwell. Captain Maril, lost amongst the Hedron Stars, finds himself caught between colossal powers the likes of which he'd never dreamt. And for Aaron the Long-Life, he who has waited so very, very long for his revenge, things are only getting started . . .'(An) unceasing display of wonders...This third novel honours the accomplishments of and promises of the first two, and serves as a fitting capstone to a unique creation...' Paul Di Filippo, Locus Magazine'The final book in Toner's ridiculously ambitious trilogy will force you to redefine what space opera can do... ' Barnes & Noble'Among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years' TOR.COM [The Promise of the Child]

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'A brilliant biography - John Sutherland has brought Monica Jones to life as she deserves.' Claire Tomalin'Eye-opening... in this account [Monica Jones] comes alive.' The Sunday TimesMonica Jones was Philip Larkin's partner for more than four decades, and was arguably the most important woman in his life. She was cruelly immortalised as Margaret Peel in Kingsley Amis's Lucky Jim and widely vilified for destroying Larkin's diaries and works in progress after his death. She was opinionated and outspoken, widely disliked by his friends and Philip himself was routinely unfaithful to her. But Monica Jones was also a brilliant academic and an inspiring teacher in her own right. She wrote more than 2,000 letters to Larkin, and he in turn poured out his heart to her. In this revealing biography John Sutherland explores the question: who was the real Monica? The calm and collected friend and teacher? The witty conversationalist and inspirational lecturer? Or the private Monica, writing desperate, sometimes furious, occasionally libellous, drunken letters to the only man, to the absent man, whom she could love? Was Monica's life - one of total sacrifice to a great poet - worthwhile? Through his careful reading of Monica's never-before-seen letters, and his own recollections, John Sutherland shows us a new side to Larkin's story, and allows Monica to finally step out from behind the poet's shadow.

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Royal scandal, set against the background of the Jacobean court, involving love, bribery, poison, treachery and black magic - 'a hugely enjoyable book' Daily Telegraph'A gripping detective story ... Wonderfully dramatic ... Probably the juiciest court scandal of the past 500 years' Daily MailIn the autumn of 1615 the Earl and Countess of Somerset were detained on suspicion of having murdered Sir Thomas Overbury. The arrest of these leading court figures created a sensation. The young and beautiful Countess of Somerset had already achieved notoriety when she divorced her first husband in controversial circumstances. The Earl of Somerset was one of the richest and most powerful men in the kingdom, having risen to prominence as the male 'favourite' of James I.In a vivid, enthralling narrative, Anne Somerset unravels these extraordinary events. It is, at once, a story rich in passion, intrigue and corruption and a murder mystery - for, despite the guilty verdicts, there is much about Overbury's death that remains enigmatic. The Overbury murder case profoundly damaged the monarchy, and constituted the greatest court scandal in English history.'This is a book about murder, witchcraft, adultery, lechery, intrigue and chicanery among the country's most powerful nobility' Time Out

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This Maclean of Duart genuine tartan cloth large notebook is made with genuine British tartan cloth. It measures 21cm x 13cm, and has 192 pages of 80gsm cream paper, with left page plain, right page ruled. Cloth supplied by tailors and kilt makers Kinloch Anderson. With a ribbon marker, inner note pocket, elastic enclosure, history of tartan leaflet, and colourful bookmark with a brief history of the Maclean of Duart tartan. Presented in a clear acetate bag. The Maclean of Duart tartan is red with black, and touches of yellow, white and blue. The Macleans claim descent from Gillean of the Battleaxe, a kinsman of Fergus Mor, the sixth-century-ruler of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada. Lands given to the clan chief included the isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland. During the 16th century the Campbells emerged as the most powerful clan in the West Highlands. Several marriages took place between the Macleans and the Campbells. Septs of the Maclean clan include Beaton, Black, Dowart, Dowie, Duart, Garvie, Gillan, Lane, Lean, Leith, MacBeth, MacCormick, MacFadyen, Macgeachan, MacVey, Patten and Rankin. Scientists, thinkers and writers in the Scottish Enlightenment used 'commonplace notebooks' to record thoughts and ideas. Many British writers such as Virginia Woolf and Arthur Conan Doyle continued to use them. Tartan belongs to Scottish heritage and culture, and thrives today both at home and overseas. There are now over 7,000 tartans officially recorded in the Scottish Register of Tartans located within the National Archive of Scotland. Waverley Books (Waverley Scotland) are delighted to innovate on the commonplace notebook idea with the Waverley tartan notebooks bound in genuine tartan cloth supplied by kilt makers and tailors Kinloch Anderson, Edinburgh.

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Three years ago, Earth was conquered by a force of robots from a distant world. They have one rule:STAY IN YOUR HOMESStep outside and you get one warning before you're vaporised by a massive robot Sentry, or a crawling Sniper, or a flying Drone. That's if the vast Cube doesn't incinerate you first.But Sean Flynn is convinced that his father - an RAF pilot who fought in the war - is still alive. And when he and his gang figure out a way to break the robots' curfew, they begin an adventure that will pit them against the might of the ROBOT OVERLORDS.This fast-paced, thrilling novelisation is based on the hit British film starring Sir Ben Kingsley (IRON MAN THREE), Gillian Anderson (THE X-FILES) and Callan McAuliffe (THE GREAT GATSBY). A perfect companion to the movie, it expands on the story with additional action, characters, and a special peek behind the scenes.

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A panoramic narrative that places ancient Africa on the stage of world historyThis book brings together archaeological and linguistic evidence to provide a sweeping global history of ancient Africa, tracing how the continent played an important role in the technological, agricultural, and economic transitions of world civilization. Christopher Ehret takes readers from the close of the last Ice Age some ten thousand years ago, when a changing climate allowed for the transition from hunting and gathering to the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock, to the rise of kingdoms and empires in the first centuries of the common era.Ehret takes up the problem of how we discuss Africa in the context of global history, combining results of multiple disciplines. He sheds light on the rich history of technological innovation by African societies—from advances in ceramics to cotton weaving and iron smelting—highlighting the important contributions of women as inventors and innovators. He shows how Africa helped to usher in an age of agricultural exchange, exporting essential crops as well as new agricultural methods into other regions, and how African traders and merchants led a commercial revolution spanning diverse regions and cultures. Ehret lays out the deeply African foundations of ancient Egyptian culture, beliefs, and institutions and discusses early Christianity in Africa.A monumental achievement by one of today’s eminent scholars, Ancient Africa offers vital new perspectives on our shared past, explaining why we need to reshape our historical frameworks for understanding the ancient world as a whole.

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Create Huggable Plushies in Just an AfternoonCrochet the softest, coziest, most squishable stuffed animals of your dreams with this collection of easy patterns from Glory Shofowora. Explore the woodlands, jungle, farm, ocean and even mystical realms with adorable projects like Rae the Raccoon, Miso the Monkey, Callie the Cat, Opal the Octopus and Dio the Dragon! And because every project is made with super bulky chenille yarn, you can guarantee they'll be soft and fluffy enough to be the perfect cuddle companions for you and your friends. Glory's amigurumi designs are created with simple stitches, minimal parts to sew together and step-by-step photographs, making these sweet animals quick to make and ideal for beginners. Glory also offers some super cute notes on making your projects unique, like switching up yarn colors or embroidering the eyes, so that your plushie feels truly yours. There are so many cuties to meet in Glory's plushie animal kingdomthe harde

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Sequel to the international bestseller, THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD, this is an epic novel set amid the turbulence of the Second World War.'This is the second in the trilogy and, like the first, I cannot put it down. Sarah Harrison is such a good writer' Amazon reviewer, 5 starsKate Kingsley remembers little of her early childhood, other than the devastation of being torn away from everything she knew in France and sent to live as the adopted daughter of Jack and Thea in Kenya.Now 20, she leaves for a new life in London. But this is 1936 - a time of decadence, but also turmoil.Kate finds an unexpected ally in her Aunt Dulcie, whose own life is anything but straightforward. When Kate falls in love she believes she has found a soul mate. But this is just the start of a journey during which Kate confronts personal danger, faces conflicting loyalties, and must make a heart-breaking choice.'Harrison is a writer with a gift for mixing candour [and] compassion' You magazine

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The apocalypse of Ezra was written as response to the desperate situation of the Jewish people after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (70 AD) around 100 AD. The writer projected the story to the Babylonian exile in the year 597 BC and thus demonstrated that distress and burden are universal for all mankind. The experience of the suffering of the righteous raises the question why a good God permits evil in the world. In his despair, the protagonist addresses God in a daring way, looking for understanding. He seeks answers why God acts apparently unjustly towards his people. In three episodes he debates this problem with an angel who was sent by God. The four following episodes are arranged as visions, in which the events before the eschatological judgment are revealed. Rise and decline of the last kingdoms are foreshadowed, the coming of the Messiah prophesied, and eventually it is promised that the righteous will be saved on account of his faith and his trust in the almighty God.

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Lynx is a mercenary with a sense of honour; a dying breed in the Riven Kingdom. Failed by the nation he served and weary of the skirmishes that plague the continent's principalities, he walks the land in search of purpose. He wants for little so bodyguard work keeps his belly full and his mage-gun loaded. It might never bring a man fame or wealth, but he's not forced to rely on others or kill without cause. Little could compel Lynx to join a mercenary company, but he won't turn his back on a kidnapped girl. At least the job seems simple enough; the mercenaries less stupid and vicious than most he's met over the years. So long as there are no surprises or hidden agendas along the way, it should work out fine.*****Praise for Stranger of Tempest'The most satisfying thing I've read in a long time. Exceeded expectations that weren't even that low and scratched all my itches. Felt like i needed a cigarette afterwards - it was that good.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Stranger of Tempest drew me in from the beginning, it has such a brilliant opening! One of the best I've read! It was at that moment that I knew I was going to enjoy this book, it cracked me up and intrigued me.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Stranger of Tempest is a fast paced, fun read with memorable characters that you want to know more about! It's a brilliant blend of humour, action, magic, adventure, and more. I can't wait for the next book! I'm so excited to see where this is all going to go!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A great rip-roaring take, in the style of Dungeons and Dragons. The characters are real and some are likable while others downright despicable. Loved it.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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The Dark Mountain Project began with a manifesto published in 2009 by two English writers—Dougald Hine and Paul Kingsnorth—who felt that literature was not responding honestly to the crises of our time. In a world in which the climate is being altered by human activities; in which global ecosystems are being destroyed by the advance of industrial civilisation; and in which the dominant economic and cultural assumptions of the West are visibly crumbling, Dark Mountain asked: where are the writers and the artists? Why are the mainstream cultural forms of our society still behaving as if this were the twentieth century—or even the nineteenth? Dark Mountain’s call for writers, thinkers and artists willing to face the depth of the mess we are in has made it a gathering point for a growing international network. Rooted in place, time and nature, their work finds a home in the pages of the Dark Mountain books, with two new volumes published every year. Walking on Lava brings together the best of the first ten volumes, along with the original manifesto. This collection of essays, fiction, poetry, interviews and artwork introduces The Dark Mountain Project’s groundbreaking work to a wider audience in search of ‘the hope beyond hope, the paths which lead to the unknown world ahead of us.’

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An action-packed tale of betrayal and revenge set amid the war between Alexander the Great's generals and climaxing in the most spectacular battle of the ancient world.Satyrus and Melitta, twin heirs to a rich kingdom on the Black Sea, become desperate fugitives when their mother, the Scythian warrior-princess Srayanka, is cut down in a savage act of betrayal. Accompanied by their tutor, the Spartan Philokles, they must make a perilous journey west, pursued by ruthless assassins, to find sanctuary with the army of their father's closest friend, Diodorus. But Diodorus is caught up in the tangled web of alliances, betrayals and intrigue that followed Alexander the Great's death, as his generals fought over the huge empire he had created - and soon the twins will have their first taste of real battle as two Macedonian warlords clash. In this violent and unstable world, they must choose sides carefully, as Antigonus One-Eye, and his brilliant son Demetrius, prepare to take on the might of Ptolemy's Egypt, and the forces gather for the biggest and most spectacular battle the world had ever seen - Gaza.

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The Mexican drug trade has inspired prejudiced narratives of a war between north and south, white and brown; between noble cops and vicious kingpins, corrupt politicians and powerful cartels. In this first comprehensive history of the trade, historian Benjamin T. Smith tells the real story of how and why this one-peaceful industry turned violent. He uncovers its origins and explains how this illicit business essentially built modern Mexico, affecting everything from agriculture to medicine to economics—and the country’s all-important relationship with the United States. Drawing on unprecedented archival research; leaked DEA, Mexican law enforcement, and cartel documents; and dozens of harrowing interviews, Smith tells a thrilling story brimming with vivid characters—from Ignacia “La Nacha” Jasso, “queen pin” of Ciudad Juárez, to Dr. Leopoldo Salazar Viniegra, the crusading physician who argued that marijuana was harmless and tried to decriminalize morphine, to Harry Anslinger, the Machiavellian founder of the American Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who drummed up racist drug panics to increase his budget. Smith also profiles everyday agricultural workers, whose stories reveal both the economic benefits and the human cost of the trade. The Dope contains many surprising conclusions about drug use and the failure of drug enforcement, all backed by new research and data. Smith explains the complicated dynamics that drive the current drug war violence, probes the U.S.-backed policies that have inflamed the carnage, and explores corruption on both sides of the border. A dark morality tale about the American hunger for intoxication and the necessities of human survival, The Dope is essential for understanding the violence in the drug war and how decades-old myths shape Mexico in the American imagination today.

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In 1885, a large hypogeum was discovered at the Saint-E'tienne Compound, the domain acquired only two and a half years before by the Dominicans on the western slope of El Heidhemiyeh hill, about 250 m north of the Jerusalem Ottoman wall. After the unearthing of a second large hypogeum, only fifty metres north of Hypogeum 1, in their monumental work on the history of Jerusalem, the two eminent Dominican scholars Louis-Hugues Vincent and Felix-Marie Abel proposed to date the two burial complexes to the Hellenistic or Roman period. This dating remained unchallenged until the survey of 1974-75, carried out by the distinguished Israeli archaeologists Gabriel Barkay and Amos Kloner, who proposed to date the two burial caves towards the end of the Judahite kingdom, on the basis of an unsystematic comparison of few architectural features with those of other tombs. In the frame of the improved knowledge of the broad and adjacent archaeological contexts since the last study of the Saint-E'tienne Compound Hypogea, between 2011 and 2014 Riccardo Lufrani carried out a detailed survey of the two burial caves, providing new and more detailed photographic, topographic, archaeological and geological documentation. The systematic comparison of the significant architectural features of the Saint-E'tienne Compound Hypogea with a consistent sample of 22 tombs in the region suggest dating the hewing of the two hypogea to the Early Hellenistic period, shedding a new light on the history of Jerusalem.

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“Architects are trained to see a space before it’s realised, so I think photography helps me with that. But I’d also say it’s the other way around. My training helps me with the way I photograph. I look at space with a more symmetrical eye, and you see a lot of symmetry in my photos.” ~ Vivien Liu Vivien Liu studied architecture at the University of Waterloo and then attended Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where she was awarded the prestigious Clifford Wong Prize in Housing Design. As an architect, she has worked for nearly a decade in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, China and Hong Kong, where she now resides and first took up photography. As a photographer, she quickly developed a strong sensibility portraying space as seen through the first person, which now defines her style. What began as a weekend pastime has transformed Vivien into one of the most prolific urban photographers in Hong Kong, attracting over 240,000 followers on Instagram. Her first book, Being There explores the dialogue and tension between people and spaces through portraiture, landscapes, and street photography, from the urban density of Hong Kong and Tokyo to epic natural landscapes like Zhangjajie, China. With an architect’s artful eye, Ms. Liu captures this juxtaposition in the most beautiful way, sharply highlighting her eye for patterns and symmetry across settings.

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Kairos is used in the New Testament to signify a pivotal moment in history: a critical time of judgement and opportunity where chaos must be faced and one must change their ways before it becomes irreparable. Confronted by the Covid-19 pandemic and mandatory isolation, John de Gruchy felt a similar need to adapt and respond. In doing so, he found a deepening in his desire for authentic humanity, genuine community, and the opportunity affirm his conviction that true humanity is rooted in God, wisdom, and the struggle for justice. Mixing theology, history, anecdote, spirituality, social commentary, and practical suggestions, This Monastic Moment reflects on this period, and argues that now is the opportune time to embrace the opportunity God has given to receive the coming kingdom in greater fullness. This urgency echoes St Benedict of Nursia's call to 'listen', 'wake up', and 'run' while there is still light before 'the darkness of death'. With consideration given both to contemplation and action, to prayer and justice, de Gruchy's own personal pilgrimage provides the tools to embark upon, or aid, your own.

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Between 1995 and 2015, Ontario ushered in a new era of regulating the poor, whereby new welfare surveillance technology was mandated to disentitle recipients, reduce caseloads, and enforce workfare. A technologically infused welfare state automated eligibility and risk assessments to interact with welfare fraud hotlines, fraud enforcement officers, and other state surveillance practices.While the poor have always been monitored and surveilled by the state when seeking financial support, the methods, techniques, and capacity for surveillance within and across government jurisdictions has profoundly altered how recipients navigate social assistance. Welfare surveillance has exacerbated social inequality, especially among low income, Indigenous, and racialized single mothers. Krys Maki unpacks in-depth interviews with Ontario Works caseworkers, anti-poverty activists, and single mothers on assistance in Kingston, Peterborough, and Toronto, and employs intersectional feminist political economy and critical surveillance theory to contextualize the ways neoliberal welfare reforms have subjected low-income single mothers to intensive state surveillance. and centers their experiences to examine how their status as lone parents prompted fraud investigations, invasive questioning about their relationship status, and triggered investigations by other governing bodies such as child welfare agencies. This book also examines the moral and political implications of administering inadequate benefits alongside punitive surveillance measures. Despite significant restraints, anti-poverty activists, caseworkers, and recipients have discovered individual and collective ways to resist the neoliberal agenda.

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For many years, de Waal has observed chimpanzees soothe distressed neighbors and bonobos share their food. Now he delivers fascinating fresh evidence for the seeds of ethical behavior in primate societies that further cements the case for the biological origins of human fairness. Interweaving vivid tales from the animal kingdom with thoughtful philosophical analysis, de Waal seeks a bottom-up explanation of morality that emphasizes our connection with animals. In doing so, de Waal explores for the first time the implications of his work for our understanding of modern religion. Whatever the role of religious moral imperatives, he sees it as a “Johnny-come-lately” role that emerged only as an addition to our natural instincts for cooperation and empathy. But unlike the dogmatic neo-atheist of his book’s title, de Waal does not scorn religion per se. Instead, he draws on the long tradition of humanism exemplified by the painter Hieronymus Bosch and asks reflective readers to consider these issues from a positive perspective: What role, if any, does religion play for a well-functioning society today? And where can believers and nonbelievers alike find the inspiration to lead a good life? Rich with cultural references and anecdotes of primate behavior, The Bonobo and the Atheist engagingly builds a unique argument grounded in evolutionary biology and moral philosophy. Ever a pioneering thinker, de Waal delivers a heartening and inclusive new perspective on human nature and our struggle to find purpose in our lives.

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