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The Lunatics of Terra
by John SladekA collection of John Sladek's hilarious SF satires, including:The Last of the WhaleburgersGreat Mysteries Explained!Red NoiseGuestingAbsent FriendsAfter FlaubertThe Brass MonkeyWhite HatThe Island of Dr CirceAnswersBreakfast with the MurgatroydsThe Next DwarfAn Explanation for the Disappearance of the MoonHow to Make Major Scientific Discoveries at Home in Your Spare TimeThe Kindly OnesFablesUrsa MinorCalling All Gumdrops!
The Lunatics of Terra
by John SladekJohn Sladek's hilarious SF satires may show a world riddled with shambolic flaws, but this (he points out) is actually the good news: "My own small ray of hope concerns human frailty. All conspiracies, no matter how monstrous, are ultimately the work of mere imperfect people, whose irresolution of bad judgement or even bad conscience works against the system. They get bunions, their cars break down, their children run away - and all this grit gets into the smooth-running gears of their world domination plans. I hope."
The Lunchroom of Doom (The Werewolf Club #2)
by Daniel PinkwaterWhere is one place you don't want to go alone?Remember Werewolf Club members Ralf Alfa, Billy Furball, Lucy Fang, and Norman Gnormal? Well, they are back. Now they wreak havoc on a local restaurant they call "The Lunchroom of Doom. " Tomato cats up squirts. Paper straws fly. Laughs and weird things abund. Don't miss this gripping story of the supernatural.
The Lure
by Bill NapierIn a top-secret research facility, a team of scientists receive an unexpected message from the depths of space At first, the blizzard of sub-nuclear particles seemed random. But soon a pattern emerges that could only have come from an alien intelligence far more advanced than our own. Now it's up to Irish mathematician Tom Petrie to decode these messages and unlock their secret--one that is believed to contain an unimaginable technological breakthrough, and has the power to change the course of human history. . . unless the world's superpowers succeed in suppressing the truth. Can Petrie and his team unmask the message's true intent while evading those who aim to crush its extraordinary revelations? A desperate race against time--and through space--is about to begin. . . .
The Lure
by Bill NapierIn this thriller from an author who &“deftly mix[es] history, science and science fiction,&” researchers discover alien life and global conspiracy (Publishers Weekly). A signal from space, a conspiracy on Earth. An underground research station in Eastern Europe is suddenly bombarded with rhythmic bursts of subnuclear particles from beyond Earth—a pattern so complex it can only come from a highly evolved intelligence. As the messages are decoded, the scientists are amazed by the information they reveal: secrets of a technology far in advance of our own, suggesting that a benign civilization wishes to share knowledge with humankind. Surely, the scientists argue, the signal should be acknowledged? But the world&’s superpowers have other ideas, and suddenly the scientists find themselves at the heart of a global conspiracy . . .The Lure is an extraordinary and original thriller, perfect for fans of Scott Mariani, Dan Brown and Clive Cussler. Praise for the writing of Bill Napier: &“Fans of Dan Brown take note.&” —Jack DuBrul, New York Times–bestselling author of the Philip Mercer series &“The most exciting book I have ever read.&” —Arthur C. Clarke, New York Times–bestselling author of 2001: A Space Odyssey &“Fans of Michael Crichton will find a kindred spirit in Napier.&” –Publishers Weekly
The Lure of Song and Magic
by Patricia RiceHer voice was a curse. . . When Dylan "Oz" Oswin's son is kidnapped, the high-powered producer will do anything to get him back. Desperately following an anonymous tip, he seeks help from a former child singing sensation called Syrene, only to find she's vowed never to sing again. Immune to her voice but not her charm, Oz is convinced she holds the key to his son's disappearance—and he'll stop at nothing to make her break her vow. Only he can make her sing . . . She knows the devastation her talent can bring. There's more than a child's life at stake, but Syrene cannot unleash her dangerous siren's voice upon the world, even for a man who is impossible to deny. . .
The Lure of Their Graves: Book Two of The Cursed Crown series (The Cursed Crown Duology)
by Laura R. SamotinIn the heart-wrenching sequel to The Sins on Their Bones, The Lure of Their Graves forces Dimitri and Vasily to confront old ghosts and a new threat: political enemies-turned-suitors, all coveting Dimitri&’s throne and his hand in marriage.Dimitri Abramovich may have won back the throne of Novo-Svitsevo, but even after defeating his former husband, the usurper Alexey Balakin, he seems no closer to securing lasting peace for his people. Enemies are closing in on all sides, and pressure is mounting for Dimitri to play the one card he has left in a bid for stability—offering his hand in marriage for a second time.But Dimitri is still healing from the tragedies of the war, his return to the throne, and Alexey's years of torment. Vasily Sokolov is the only person with whom he feels safe, and giving up the comfort of their budding relationship feels unfathomable, even if it's the only way to sever the alliances being formed among the countries surrounding Novo-Svitsevo. So as Dimitri and Vasily reckon with political treachery, the lasting consequences of Dimitri's resurrection, and the sinister legacy of Alexey&’s use of the Holy Science, they must also work to understand what it means to love each other even as they prepare to let each other go—which might prove the most difficult of all.
The Lure of the Wolf
by St. GilesMighty warriors sworn to protect humanity, the shape-shifters known as The Shadowmen move between two worlds. Now their dark leader has exiled himself from the spirit world, opening the door to the forces of chaos...and to the power of love. Half wolf, half man, Aragon has abandoned his brethren to repay a debt of honor; he is sworn to kill a rogue Blood Hunter, though exacting revenge will doom him to a ghostly existence trapped between two worlds. But when a mortal woman unexpectedly calls him to her side, the heat of her soft flesh arouses a hunger in him that threatens to complicate his mission. Dr. Annette Batista, a dedicated healer, is determined to find her missing sister. With the amulet found at the site of her sister's disappearance, she unwittingly summons a shadowy warrior. She wonders if she can trust this powerful male named Aragon, who claims he can vanquish her sister's captor -- the very monster he's vowed to destroy. Or is Annette blinded by her shocking passion for the most alluring, mysterious man she's ever seen?
The Lurking Lima Bean (Night Frights #2)
by Joe McGeeIn this second installment in the spooky and silly series that&’s perfect for fans of Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, a girl&’s dinner comes back to haunt her!Wolver Hollow is not a normal town. The adults are too busy shuffling off to work at the old coffin factory to notice or care, but the kids know all about monsters, ghosts, and strange lights in the sky. Strange things happen in Wolver Hollow. Creepy things. Madeline Harper does not like lima beans and she&’s not afraid to make that clear. But when she gets sent to bed for not eating her vegetables, she&’ll find something far worse than her mother&’s frustration. A lima bean scorned is a terrible thing and it will not stop until Madeline Harper eats her vegetables!
The Lust Lizard Of Melancholy Cove: Book 2: Pine Cove Series (Pine Cove)
by Christopher MooreThe town psychiatrist has decided to switch everybody in Pine Cove, California, from their normal antidepressants to placebos, so naturally - well, to be accurate, artificially - business is booming at the local blues bar. Trouble is, those lonely slide-guitar notes have also attracted a colossal sea beast named Steve with, shall we say, a thing for explosive oil tanker trucks. Suddenly, morose Pine Cove turns libidinous and is hit by a mysterious crime wave. A beleaguered constable has to fight off his own gonzo appetites to find out what's wrong and what, if anything, to do about it.
The Lusty Journey of Perseus
by Arthur GriffinYou’ve never heard the story of Perseus and Medusa told quite like this before!At just nineteen, the handsome and naive Perseus is given a devastating choice: venture out into the world for the first time to slay the monster Medusa, or watch his mother be forcibly married to his homeland’s tyrannical king. Raised on a small island nation where most everyone goes naked and the main activity is fishing, Perseus is ill-prepared for a quest that includes any sort of danger.Fortunately, he has the gods on his side. After a sexy romp with the Greek god Hermes, he’s given both instructions and an invaluable gift: winged sandals that allow him to fly.When he teams up with a Corinthian prince who wins his heart, Perseus embarks on one of the great adventures of the ages. Will Perseus be able to save his mother, slay the monster, and live happily ever after with his prince?
The Lyon Legacy
by Peg Sutherland Ruth Jean Dale Roz Denny FoxThe LYON LEGACYThree original stories by three popular Superromance authors-in one volume. And The Lyon Legacy continues! Watch for Family Secrets, Family Fortune and Family Reunion-full-length novels coming in the next three months.It's fifty years since the Lyon family of New Orleans ventured into what was then an exciting new business-television. Despite objections from some in the family, Margaret Hollander Lyon believed it was the wave of the future...and the past fifty years have certainly proven her right!The Lyons created a legacy for their children and grandchildren-a legacy of business success and family loyalty.But the Lyon Legacy is also a history of feuding, betrayal, deceptions. Every family has its secrets, and the Lyons have more than most.Margaret, André, Leslie-three generations of the Lyon family. Three stories about the power of family bonds...and the life-changing power of love.
The Lyra Novels: Shadow Magic, Daughter of Witches, The Harp of Imach Thyssel, Caught in Crystal, and The Raven Ring (The Lyra Novels #5)
by Patricia C. Wrede&“High-style fantasy and adventure&” in the complete Lyra series by the author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles (The New York Times).Shadow Magic: While Alkyra&’s noblemen squabble, an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. And as the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife. But on the next night, she passes through a dark corridor on her way to the banquet hall, and never emerges from the shadows. The Lithmern have kidnapped the princess. To find her way home, Alethia will have to learn to trust in the old tales, whose legends of magic and daring hold the only hope of saving her kingdom. Daughter of Witches: There is no worse time to visit Drinn than during the Midwinter Festival, when the city gates are sealed so that no outsider can witness the temple&’s secret rituals. In an inn, where a young woman named Ranira works as an indentured servant for a brutal innkeeper, three guests have overstayed their welcome. Attempting to protect Ranira from her master&’s cruelty, the three reveal their magical powers and attract the attention of the temple guards. Now, to save her new friends from certain death, Ranira must unleash the power that cost her parents their lives. The Harp of Imach Thyssel: When Emereck and Flindaran leave a caravan in search of adventure, it isn&’t long before they stumble upon great danger. Emereck, a trained minstrel, and Flindaran, a nobleman masquerading as a tramp, have found a long-abandoned castle, and in it, one of Lyra&’s most sought-after treasures: the Harp of Imach Thyssel. To keep it from falling into the wrong hands, Emereck will have to learn to harness its strength to create and destroy, with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance. Caught in Crystal: For more than a decade, Kayl has run a modest country inn. She opened it with her husband, and they managed it together until a summer illness took him away, leaving her alone with their two children. The three of them get by, living happily together as the years pass, but everything changes the day a sorceress named Corrana asks for a room. Now, to save her family and her world, Kayl will have to unlock a side of herself that she buried long ago. The Raven Ring: When Eleret&’s mother is killed, she must travel to reclaim the belongings her mother left behind. The overland journey to the city of Ciaron is treacherous, but Eleret has no fear. She straps a dagger to her leg and sets off to recover one of her mother&’s prized possessions: a ring etched with a raven. Eleret doesn&’t know what&’s special about her mother&’s ring, but someone wanted it badly enough to kill for it. And to make it home in one piece, she&’ll need to unlock the mysteries of the ring her mother died to protect.
The M.D.
by Thomas M. DischSTEPHEN KING PRAISES THE M.D. BY THOMAS M. DISCH ... The M.D. is simply one of the best novels of horror-fantasy I've ever read. Thomas Disch has been writing wonderful tales of imagination for years now-stories that sometimes amuse, sometimes sting, sometimes horrify, and sometimes manage to do all three at the same time-but The M.D. is surely his magnum opus. Although Disch uses the Frankenstein myth (and surely it has attained mythological status by this point) as a kind of echo chamber to make his story resonate, it is Dracula the novel most closely resembles on an emotional level. Like Dracula, The M.D. is the story of a great monster, a creature so awful that we can't help rooting for him. It also has the sweep of Dracula, and if Disch's novel is not as totally involving as Stoker's vampire tale, it may be because Disch has leavened the melodrama with a generous helping of black comedy. Still, don't be fooled: The M.D. attained maintains a level of morbid, jittery intensity that is quite remarkable. Oh, and one other thing: unlike most of the horror novels being churned out these days by the King wannabes, the Koontz wannabes, the Straub wannabes, and the Barker wannabes, The M.D. is a novel with a point. Disch understands that to really succeed as horror, a story must first succeed on the level of fundamental interest where the best fairy tales live. Put another way, a good horror novel must be about morality. The M.D. succeeds brilliantly as a morality tale-which means that it entertains us instead of preaching to us-and it says some marvellously insightful things along the way about business, religion, the family in suburbia , and the America we inherited in the wake of Vietnam. A thousand bravos to Thomas Disch, who has written a brilliantly entertaining novel. I hope it's a big fat #1 best-seller. P.S. The "kite scene" is going to be as infamous as the double amputation in Harry Bellaman's King's Row, I think. S. K.
The Mabinogion (World's Classics)
by Sioned Davies'I cannot be killed indoors,' he said, 'nor out of doors; I cannot be killed on horseback, nor on foot.' 'Well,' she said, 'how can you be killed?' Celtic mythology, Arthurian romance, and an intriguing interpretation of British history - these are just some of the themes embraced by the anonymous authors of the eleven tales that make up the Welsh medieval masterpiece known as the Mabinogion. They tell of Gwydion the shape-shifter, who can create a woman out of flowers; of Math the magician whose feet must lie in the lap of a virgin; of hanging a pregnant mouse and hunting a magical boar. Dragons, witches, and giants live alongside kings and heroes, and quests of honour, revenge, and love are set against the backdrop of a country struggling to retain its independence. This new translation, the first for thirty years, recreates the storytelling world of medieval Wales and re-invests the tales with the power of performance. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
The Mabinogion Tetralogy: The Prince of Annwn, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon, The Island of the Mighty
by Evangeline WaltonThe retelling of the epic Welsh myth that is “certainly among the top 5 fantasy series of the twentieth century” (sfsite.com).The Mabinogion is to Welsh mythology what the tales of Zeus, Hera, and Apollo are to Greek myth. these tales constitute a powerful work of the imagination, ranking with Tokien’s Lord of the Rings novels and T.H. White’s The Once and Future King. Evangeline Walton’s compelling rendition of these classic, thrilling stories of magic, betrayal, lost love, and bitter retribution include the encounter between Prince Pwyll and Arawn, the God of Death, which Pwyll survives by agreeing to kill the one man that Death cannot fell, and the tale of bran the blessed and his family’s epic struggle for the throne.The Mabinogion is internationally recognized as the world’s finest arc of Celtic mythology; Walton’s vivid retelling introduces an ancient world of gods and monsters, heroes, kings and quests, making accessible one of the greatest fantasy sagas of all time.“These books are not only the best fantasies of the twentieth century, but also great works of fiction. They are actual retellings of diverse legends of the Mabinogion in novel form . . . dealing with Good and Evil . . . and the nature of love.” —The Saturday Review (UK)“Magnificently conceived . . . persuasive and powerful . . . the product of keenly imaginative and well disciplined mind.” —August Derleth“Evangeline Watson’s Mabinogion books remain the benchmark against which any future retellings of the stories must be measured.” —Diana L. Paxson
The Macabre Ones
by Patricia Fanthorpe Lionel Fanthorpe Bron FaneFrancis Simnel was a pathetic old man who lived in a strange world of his own, a world of puppets and marionettes. His sister Agnes was a demoness incarnate, a female fiend in human form, a relentless, ruthless, driving force urging the old man to a macabre destiny. There was something different about Simnel's Puppets. They had personality and a realism that was uncanny. They bore a sinister resemblance to the newly-dead. What began as the wildest and most improbable suspicion, crystallised into near certainty in the mind of Josephine Starr. She began asking questions, and the Satanists scented danger. She fell into a trap that had been set with diabolical cunning. Her life was balanced on a razor edge, with all the macabre resources of the Black Magicians weighing against her.
The Macabre: A Novel
by Kosoko JacksonFrom award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Kosoko Jackson comes his adult speculative debut, a stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them…or be destroyed.A picture is worth a thousand nightmares.Art has always been an escape for struggling painter Lewis Dixon. But other than his mom, who has recently passed away, no one has ever praised his work. If he is being honest, there’s really no one in his life. So he is shocked when the British Museum shows an unusual interest in his art. This is his chance to show the world what he’s capable of…he just has no idea that he might also be saving the world at the same time.As Lewis soon learns, he has not been invited to participate in a curated show, but rather a test: to see if the fugue-like exhilaration he experiences when painting is actually magic, a power that allows him to enter nine very special paintings—paintings made by his great-grandfather. Spread across the globe, these paintings have unbelievable eldritch abilities…and not necessarily beneficial ones. In terms of power, these are the most valuable works of art in the world, and there are those out there who would do anything to possess just one.And Lewis, upon passing the test, has been asked to destroy them all.Partnered with an alluring agent in museum’s employ, Noah Rao, Lewis must travel to Japan, Australia, Nigeria—and the past—plunging himself into a world of black markets, gothic magic, ancient history, and cursed objects to save those unlucky enough to call any of the paintings their own—or to free the world from those who would misuse the power of the paintings. In doing so, he will need to discover if he has what it takes to truly be an artist, the confidence to finally open himself up to someone who could give his lonely life meaning, and the strength to enter and navigate a reality where magic is everywhere.
The Machine Awakes (Spider War #2)
by Adam ChristopherAdam Christopher's The Machine Awakes is a far future space opera set in the Spider War universe of Burning Dark. In the decades since the human race first made contact with the Spiders—a machine race capable of tearing planets apart—the two groups have fought over interstellar territory. But the war has not been going well for humankind, and with the failure of the Fleet Admiral's secret plan in the Shadow system, the commander is overthrown by a group of hardliners determined to get the war back on track.When the deposed Fleet Admiral is assassinated, Special Agent Von Kodiak suspects the new guard is eliminating the old. But when the Admiral's replacement is likewise murdered, all bets are off as Kodiak discovers the prime suspect is one of the Fleet's own, a psi-marine and decorated hero—a hero killed in action, months ago, at the same time his twin sister vanished from the Fleet Academy, where she was training to join her brother on the front.As Kodiak investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy that stretches from the slums of Salt City to the floating gas mines of Jupiter. There, deep in the roiling clouds of the planet, the Jovian Mining Corporation is hiding something, a secret that will tear the Fleet apart and that the Morning Star, a group of militarized pilgrims searching for their lost god, is determined to uncover.But there is something else hiding in Jovian system. Something insidious and intelligent, machine-like and hungry.The Spiders are near.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Machine Crusade: Legends of Dune 2
by Brian Herbert Kevin J AndersonThe first battle was a victory. But the war is just beginning . . .Earth is a radioactive ruin. But the initial campaign of the Butlerian Jihad has given new hope to mankind. SerenaButler, whose murdered child has become a symbol for oppressed humanity, inspires a war against the thinking computers led by Xavier Harkonnen and Vorian Atreides.But four of the Titans – murderous machines with human brains and human cunning – still remain. And the universal computer mind, Omnius, still wields most of its power.‘Such vile villains...and such a fascinating description of splendid places.' Anne McCaffrey on HOUSE HARKONNEN
The Machine Dynasty Omnibus
by Madeline AshbyAn omnibus edition consisting of all three volumes of Madeline Ashby's epic sci-fi masterwork, The Machine Dynasty. Collects vN, iD and ReV.vNAmy Peterson is a von Neumann machine, a self-replicating humanoid robot. For the past five years, she has been grown slowly as part of a mixed organic/synthetic family. She knows very little about her android mother&’s past, so when her grandmother arrives and attacks her mother, little Amy wastes no time: she eats her alive.Now she carries her malfunctioning granny as a partition on her memory drive, and she&’s learning impossible things about her clade&’s history – like the fact that the failsafe that stops all robots from harming humans has failed… Which means that everyone wants a piece of her, some to use her as a weapon, others to destroy her.iDJavier is a self-replicating humanoid on a journey of redemption. Javier's quest takes him from Amy's island, where his actions have devastating consequences for his friend, toward Mecha where he will find either salvation... or death.ReVThe Rapture, which vN were engineered for, finally comes to pass. Now that the failsafe that once kept vN from harming humans has been hacked, all are discovering the promise – and the peril – of free will. With her consciousness unleashed across computer systems all across the world, the vicious vN Portia stands poised to finally achieve her lifelong dream of bringing humanity to its knees. The old battle between her and her granddaughter Amy comes to an epic conclusion in the war for the very systems that keeps the planet running. Can Amy get her family to the stars before Portia destroys every opportunity for escape and freedom?File Under: Science Fiction [ Von Neumann Sisters | Fail Safe Fail | Robot Nation | Internet Ex-Portia ]
The Machine Stops
by E. M. ForsterThe Machine Stops is a short science fiction story. It describes a world in which almost all humans have lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual lives in isolation in a 'cell', with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Most humans welcome this development, as they are skeptical and fearful of first-hand experience. People forget that humans created the Machine, and treat it as a mystical entity whose needs supersede their own.
The Machine of Doom
by Cavan ScottA powerful new threat challenges the stability of Skylands, and only its greatest champions can save the day. Together, Spyro, Gill Grunt, and Eruptor must embark on a courageous mission to stop the maniacal Kaos from taking control of the giant, ancient, and deadly weapon that could bring an end to all of Skylands.
The Machine's Child
by Kage BakerKage Baker's trademark series of SF adventure continues now in a direct sequel to The Life of the World to Come. Mendoza was banished long ago, to a prison lost in time where rebellious immortals are "dealt with." Now her past lovers: Alec, Nicholas, and Bell-Fairfax, are determined to rescue her, but first they must learn how to live together, because all three happen to be sharing Alec's body. What they find when they discover Mendoza is even worse than what they could imagined, and enough for them to decide to finally fight back against the Company.
The Machinery of Light (Autumn Rain #3)
by David J. WilliamsWith The Machinery of Light, David J. Williams completes his furiously paced, stunningly imagined trilogy--a work of vision, beauty, and pulse-pounding futuristic action. September 26, 2110. 10:22 GMT. Following the assassination of the American president, the generals who have seized power initiate World War Three, launching a surprise attack against the Eurasian Coalition's forces throughout the Earth-Moon system. Across the orbits, tens of thousands of particle beams and lasers blast away at one another. The goal: crush the other side's weaponry, paving the way for nuclear bombardment of the cities. As inferno becomes Armageddon, the rogue commando unit Autumn Rain embarks on one last run. Matthew Sinclair, an imprisoned spymaster, plots his escape. And his former protege Claire Haskell, capable of hacking into both nets and minds, is realizing that all her powers may merely be playing into Sinclair's plans. For even as Claire evades the soldiers of East and West amid carnage in the lunar tunnels, the surviving members of the Rain converge upon the Moon, one step ahead of the Eurasian fleets but one step behind the mastermind who created Autumn Rain--and his terrible final secret.