- Table View
- List View
Vanishing Maps: A novel
by Cristina GarcíaFrom the acclaimed author of Dreaming in Cuban, a follow-up novel that tracks four generations of the del Pino family against the tumultuous backdrops of Cuba, the U.S., Germany, and Russia in the new millennium "A beautiful novel: hilarious one moment, haunting the next.&” —Chris Bohjalian, author of The Flight Attendant and The LionessCelia del Pino, the matriarch of a far-flung Cuban family, has watched her descendants spread out across the globe, struggling to make sense of their transnational identities and strained relationships with one another. In Berlin, the charismatic yet troubled Ivanito performs on stage as his drag queen persona, while being haunted by the ghost of his mother. Pilar Puente, adrift in Los Angeles, is a struggling sculptor and the single mother of a young son. In Moscow, Ivanito&’s cousin Irina has become the wealthy owner of a lingerie company, but she remains deeply lonely in the wake of her parents&’ deaths and her estrangement from her Cuban heritage. Meanwhile, in Havana, Celia prepares to reunite with her lost lover, Gustavo, and wonders whether age and the decades spent apart have altered their bond.Cut off from their Cuban roots, yet still feeling the island&’s ineluctable pull, Ivanito and his extended family try to reimagine where—and with whom—they belong. Over the course of a momentous year, each will grapple with their histories as they are pulled to Berlin for a final, explosive reunion.Set twenty years after the events in Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García&’s new novel is an epic tale of family, devotion, and the timeless search for home.
Vanishings: The Wythic Wood Mysteries Series, Book One (The Wythic Wood Mysteries Series)
by Catharina SteelFor fans of Amanda Foody and Debbie Watson comes a magical adventure story about an twelve-year-old girl who will do anything to help a friend—but could use a lesson or two in looking before she leaps.Tilly&’s friend Michael disappeared from Wythic Wood a year ago, and he&’s still missing. Convinced that no one&’s searching for him, Tilly convinces her gran to allow her to spend the summer with Opa, their family&’s magical teacher and wizard, at his home in Clayton Forest—which just so happens to be right next to Wythic Wood. In Clayton Forest, alongside her twin cousins, Jess and Zach, Tilly meets magical beings like fairies and gnomes, gets lessons in potion-making and a goblin style of martial arts called Gobight fighting, and starts to understand her own magic better. But none of this excitement distracts her from her real goal, and with Jess and Zach at her side, she soon embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth about Michael&’s vanishing. But as usual, impulsive Tilly doesn&’t exactly think ahead—and she and her cousins soon find themselves hunted by the Witch of Wythic Wood and the creatures under her command. An enchanting escapade perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and The Wingfeather Saga, Vanishings is a tale of friendship and teamwork in a realm where magic can be wielded for both good and evil purposes.
Vanity's Brood
by Lisa SmedmanMedusanna A priestess of terrifying power convinces the Se'sehen A yuan-ti tribe from the distant jungles of Chult to serve her growing cult of Sseth The merciless god of the serpent people who languishes in the foul plane of Smaragh Where a trapped and desperate Karell can only hope Arvin will find her before the House of Serpents Finally destroys their last hope for freedom.From the Paperback edition.
Vanity’s Brood (House of Serpents #3)
by Lisa SmedmanMedusanna A priestess of terrifying power convinces the Se'sehen A yuan-ti tribe from the distant jungles of Chult to serve her growing cult of Sseth The merciless god of the serpent people who languishes in the foul plane of Smaragh Where a trapped and desperate Karell can only hope Arvin will find her before the House of Serpents Finally destroys their last hope for freedom.From the Paperback edition.
Vanquished
by Nancy Holder Debbie ViguiéFollowing the "globetrotting supernatural adventure" (Publishers Weekly) of Damned, the riveting conclusion to the Crusade trilogy pushes the power of love to its limits.Hope is in short supply, but courage runs deep as the Salamancan hunters recover from a devastating loss. Jenn knows she must rally her team against the Cursed Ones, but her focus is shattered. She's torn between passion for Antonio, who once fought by her side, and hate for the bloodthirsty vampire he's become. His volatility is tearing apart their team...and Jenn's trust. As the Cursed Ones amass new strength, Team Salamanca must strike together if they hope to survive, let alone defend humanity. Jenn wants to believe Antonio's loyal to their cause--and their love--but she's slowly losing her heart to Resistance fighter Noah. And if Antonio's not careful, he may just end up with a stake in his. This gripping conclusion to an epic trilogy pairs steamy romance with heart-stopping action, and delivers an ending as dramatic as it is unexpected.
Vanquished
by Nancy Holder Debbie ViguiéFollowing the "globetrotting supernatural adventure" (Publishers Weekly) of Damned, the riveting conclusion to the Crusade trilogy pushes the power of love to its limits.Hope is in short supply, but courage runs deep as the Salamancan hunters recover from a devastating loss. Jenn knows she must rally her team against the Cursed Ones, but her focus is shattered. She's torn between passion for Antonio, who once fought by her side, and hate for the bloodthirsty vampire he's become. His volatility is tearing apart their team...and Jenn's trust. As the Cursed Ones amass new strength, Team Salamanca must strike together if they hope to survive, let alone defend humanity. Jenn wants to believe Antonio's loyal to their cause--and their love--but she's slowly losing her heart to Resistance fighter Noah. And if Antonio's not careful, he may just end up with a stake in his. This gripping conclusion to an epic trilogy pairs steamy romance with heart-stopping action, and delivers an ending as dramatic as it is unexpected.
Vanya and the Wild Hunt
by Sangu MandannaFrom the bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches comes an action-packed, enchanting middle grade fantasy about a neurodivergent heroine, a mysterious school, and a world of magical creatures. perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Roshani Chokshi. "Thrilling, funny, and suspenseful." - Craig Kofi Farmer, Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award-winning author of Kwame Crashes the Underworld ★ "Fast-paced and engaging... This is a beautiful, inclusive work that’s also a terrific story." - School Library JournalEleven-year-old Vanya Vallen has always felt like she doesn’t fit in. She’s British-Indian in a mostly white town in England, her parents won’t talk about their pasts, and she has ADHD.Oh, and she talks to books. More importantly, the books talk back.When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in fairytales, Vanya discovers that her parents have secrets, and that there are a lot more monsters out there. Overnight, she’s whisked off to the enchanted library and school of Auramere, where she joins the ranks of archwitches and archivists.Life at Auramere is unexpected, exciting and wonderful. But even here, there’s no escaping monsters. The mysterious, powerful Wild Hunt is on the prowl, and Vanya will need all her creativity and courage to unmask its leader and stop them before they destroy the only place she’s ever truly belonged.
Varanger
by Cecelia HollandIt is the early years of the reign of Basil II, who has become one of the most successful, and most feared, Byzantine emperors. But for now, Basil rules as a co-emperor with his brother Constantine, and makes war on a would-be usurper, Bardas Phokas, son of a general who Basil supplanted.
Varanger (The Life and Times of Corban Loosestrife)
by Cecelia HollandA Viking saga continues with an &“entertaining adventure tale&” that&’s &“imaginative and creditable&” with &“sharply drawn and authentic&” characters (Publishers Weekly). Conn Corbansson is a clever and strong leader of men and his cousin and best friend, the god-touched Raef, is his navigator and shield against evil. After joining a fur-trading ship to Russia they are forced to overwinter in the icebound village of Novgrod. But tempers flare in the confinement, and factions form—the far-faring Norse against the native Rus, the honor-bound warriors against the gold-seeking traders. Taking service with the leader of the Rus, Dobrynya, they travel south to Kiev, and on with a raiding party that will take them all the way into the northern reaches of the Byzantine Empire. Praise for the writing of Cecelia Holland: &“Elements of romance, mysticism, and suspense are interwoven into one superlative, spine-tingling adventure.&” —Booklist &“The best historical novelist since France&’s Zoé Oldenbourg.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Variable Star
by Robert A. Heinlein Spider RobinsonA never-before-published masterpiece from science fiction's greatest writers, rediscovered after more than half a century. When Joel Johnston first met Jinny Hamilton, it seemed like a dream come true. And when she finally agreed to marry him, he felt like the luckiest man in the universe. There was just one small problem. He was broke. His only goal in life was to become a composer, and he knew it would take years before he was earning enough to support a family. But Jinny wasn't willing to wait. And when Joel asked her what they were going to do for money, she gave him a most unexpected answer. She told him that her name wasn't really Jinny Hamilton--it was Jinny Conrad, and she was the granddaughter of Richard Conrad, the wealthiest man in the solar system. And now that she was sure that Joel loved her for herself, not for her wealth, she revealed her family's plans for him--he would be groomed for a place in the vast Conrad empire and sire a dynasty to carry on the family business. Most men would have jumped at the opportunity. But Joel Johnston wasn't most men. To Jinny's surprise, and even his own, he turned down her generous offer and then set off on the mother of all benders. And woke up on a colony ship heading out into space, torn between regret over his rash decision and his determination to forget Jinny and make a life for himself among the stars. He was on his way to succeeding when his plans--and the plans of billions of others--were shattered by a cosmic cataclysm so devastating it would take all of humanity's strength and ingenuity just to survive.
Variable Star: A Novel
by Robert A. Heinlein Spider RobinsonThe unfinished sci-fi masterpiece by the author of Stranger in a Strange Land—completed by the Hugo Award–winning author of The Stardance Trilogy.Joel Johnston has found the love of his life in Jinny Hamilton. Life would be perfect if only he earned enough money to support a family. But now that Jinny knows his love is true, she reveals an incredible secret: she is really Jinny Conrad, granddaughter of Richard Conrad, the wealthiest man in the solar system. And now that Joel proven his love for Jinny, her family has a plan for him.Joel is to be groomed for a place in the vast Conrad empire and sire a dynasty to carry on the family business. Most men would jump at the opportunity. But to Jinny’s surprise, and even his own, Joel turns down her generous offer and sets off on the mother of all benders. When he wakes up on a colony ship heading into space, he decides it’s time to forget Jinny and make a life among the stars. But his plans—and the plans of billions of others—are shattered by a cosmic cataclysm so devastating it will take all of humanity’s strength and ingenuity just to survive.When an outline for Variable Star was found among Robert A. Heinlein’s papers, Spider Robinson was commissioned to complete the novel. The result is a thrilling new work of science fiction from two of the genre’s greatest minds.
Variant
by Robison WellsBenson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life. He was wrong. Now he's trapped in a school that's surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive. Where breaking the rules equals death. But when Benson stumbles upon the school's real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape-his only real hope for survival-may be impossible.
Variations On A Theme By Sir Isaac Newton: The Essential Hal Clement Volume 3
by Richard Mckenna Anthony R. Lewis Hal Clement David Langford Mark L. OlsonThe Mesklin stories, tales of a high gravity world and its inhabitants, gathered into one omnibus volume. The works include: Mission of gravity, Under, Lecture Demonstration, Star Light, Whirligig World, Addendum to Whirligig World, I Discover Hal Clement by Anthony R. Lewis and The Perfect Hard SF novel by Mark L. Olson.
Variety: The Life of a Roman Concept
by William FitzgeraldThe idea of variety may seem too diffuse, obvious, or nebulous to be worth scrutinizing, but modern usage masks the rich history of the term. This book examines the meaning, value, and practice of variety from the vantage point of Latin literature and its reception and reveals the enduring importance of the concept up to the present day. William Fitzgerald looks at the definition and use of the Latin term varietas and how it has played out in different works and with different authors. He shows that, starting with the Romans, variety has played a key role in our thinking about nature, rhetoric, creativity, pleasure, aesthetics, and empire. From the lyric to elegy and satire, the concept of variety has helped to characterize and distinguish different genres. Arguing that the ancient Roman ideas and controversies about the value of variety have had a significant afterlife up to our own time, Fitzgerald reveals how modern understandings of diversity and choice derive from what is ultimately an ancient concept.
Various States of Undress: Carolina
by Laura SimcoxWhat happens when the president's daughter and her sexy Secret Service agent find themselves snowbound? A little cabin fever, some serious forbidden attraction, and Various States of Undress …When Carolina Fulton, daughter of the President of the United States, dumps her cheating fiancé, she knows she needs a break from life in Washington. Spending some quality alone time in her family's Wyoming cabin seems like a perfect escape—except for the hot Secret Service agent who shadows her every move. Miles away from civilization, Carolina quickly realizes that ignoring the smoky eyes, carved chin, and mile-wide pair of shoulders is going to require more than a little self-control.Elite agent Jake Baxter knows better than to develop feelings for his clients. After all, he's not being paid to fantasize about running his fingers through Carolina's dark hair, kissing her senseless, or waking up next to her petite, curvy body. But as a blizzard rages outside their all-too-cozy cabin, Jake knows he has to put the freeze on this attraction, in case his job—or his heart—is suddenly laid on the line.
Various States of Undress: Virginia
by Laura SimcoxWhen the president's daughter risks everything with her sexy new boss, they're bound to find themselves in Various States of Undress!If she had it her way, Virginia Fulton—daughter of the President of the United States—would spend more time dancing in Manhattan's nightclubs than working in its skyscrapers. Tired of dodging paparazzi, she needs a change. And a real chance. So when she finds herself in the arms of sexy, persuasive Dexter Cameron, who presents her with the opportunity of a lifetime, Virginia sees it as a sign … but can she take it without losing her heart?CEO-to-be Dexter Cameron knows he's taking a risk by hiring a stylish party girl to jumpstart his family's legacy department store. But the president's gorgeous daughter has her thumb on the pulse of Manhattan, and the partnership seems like a win-win … until Dex discovers that his goals now include more than securing the corner office—they include Virginia herself. Dex must decide: does he make a move up the ladder? Or on the girl of his dreams?
Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood
by Thomas Preskett PrestSet during the reign of King George II, this gruesome tale concerns the persecution of the Bannerworth family by Sir Francis Varney: a vampire who has developed the habit of creeping into the Bannerworth home and sucking the blood of their daughter, Flora. Varney is presented sympathetically, a victim of circumstances as he tries to save himself, and his victims, from such dreadful acts.
Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood: Volume I: Alternate Title: Varney The Vampyre
by Thomas Preskett PrestSet during the reign of King George II, this gruesome tale concerns the persecution of the Bannerworth family by Sir Francis Varney, a vampire who has developed the habit of creeping into the Bannerworth home and sucking the blood of their daughter, Flora. Varney is presented sympathetically, a victim of circumstances as he tries to save himself, and his victims, from such dreadful acts.
Vashon Island Visitors (Creeps & Shrieks)
by Stacia DeutschFINDING THEIR MISSING GRANDMA WILL BE NO SMALL FEAT! Rubi and her much more daring--and skateboard-obsessed--brother, Quinn, are visiting their grandmother on beautiful Vashon Island for the weekend. It's the first time they've taken the ferry from Seattle by themselves. But weirdly, when they arrive, Nana is nowhere to be found! Then their Uncle James lets them in on a little secret: Bigfoot may have been spotted! And their Nana isn't any old grandma--she's the most famous Bigfoot hunter around! Trouble is, Nana should've returned by now. And nobody in all of Puget Sound has seen her! At least... nobody human. Rubi and Quinn will have to follow the footprints (and scat!), crack the clues, and rely on each other to find their Nana and bring her home... that is, unless Bigfoot finds them first !
Vassa in the Night: A Novel
by Sarah Porter“A dark, thoroughly modern fairy tale crackling with wit and magical mayhem.” —Leigh Bardugo, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow and Bone“An enchantingly twisted modern fairy tale, perfect for those who prefer Grimm to Disney. Inventive, darkly magical, and beautifully written, it will stay with me for a long time.” — Kendare Blake, New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark CrownsVassa in the Night is a powerful and haunting modern retelling of the Russian folktale “Vassilissa the Beautiful” for teen fans of urban fantasy, fairy tales, magic, and horror who enjoy books by Leigh Bardugo, Kendare Blake, Catherynne Valente, and V. E. Schwab. In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived. A whole lot of Brooklyn is like that now—but not Vassa’s working-class neighborhood. In Vassa’s neighborhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling out again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters—and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa’s stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission. But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough-talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg’s help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch’s curse and free her Brooklyn neighborhood. But Babs won’t be playing fair....At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Vast (The Nanotech Succession #3)
by Linda NagataAboard Null Boundary, a giant starship thousands of years old, four survivors of an ancient alien war are making a desperate journey: Lot, son of a fiery prophet and carrier of an insidious virus that spreads a cult-like religious mania among those it infects; Urban, Lot's boyhood friend from the city of Silk, and a man in search of challenge and adventure; Clemantine, cast adrift when her world was destroyed and yearning for revenge; and Nikko, sometimes a living man, but always, the ship's disembodied mind. They are bound into unknown territory. Ahead of them loom vast, lightless clouds of dust and gas where stars are born, and where the alien Chenzeme are believed to live. The Chenzeme are an enigmatic race, whose automated warships have ravaged the living worlds of the galaxy's Orion arm for millions of years... but why? Null Boundary's crew is driven to find out--though in their quest to discover the source of the Chenzeme, they must also explore the terrible truth of their own past, the meaning of revenge, and the price each one of them is willing to pay for survival.
Vaster than Empires and More Slow: A Story
by Ursula K. Le GuinThe recipient of numerous literary prizes, including the National Book Award, the Kafka Award, and the Pushcart Prize, Ursula K. Le Guin is renowned for her spare, elegant prose, rich characterization, and diverse worlds. "Vaster than Empires and more Slow" is a short story originally published in the collection The Wind's Twelve Quarters.
Vathek: An Arabian Tale (Haunted Library Horror Classics)
by William BeckfordWhen you have all you could ever want, what's left to wish for?Vathek, the majestic and fierce ninth caliph of the Abassides, has the world at his feet, with pleasure palaces constructed solely to satisfy his every possible appetite. Both his anger and his intellect are legendary; possessed of an intense thirst for knowledge, he often invites scholars to converse with him, but imprisons those who cannot be persuaded via logic or bribes to his point of view. Nothing is beyond his grasp, until a hideous stranger sells him glowing swords with letters on them that cannot be translated even by experts—because the letters are ever changing as if by magic!Obsessed with obtaining the stranger's knowledge, Vathek undertakes a massive search of his kingdom. His journey becomes increasingly horrific as he ventures into the underworld, meeting demons and witches. Will love of Mohammed or country or a young woman he encounters be enough to turn him from his foolish quest? Or will the lust for power prove too strong to resist?
Vault of Shadows
by Jonathan MaberryMilo must choose between risking his life to save both the human and magical universes--or to live and save only his own--in the explosive and fast-paced follow-up to the first novel in the Nightsiders series, which Kirkus Reviews called "the perfect mix of science fiction and magic" in a starred review.After joining forces with the magical Nightsiders and surviving a trip to the enemy Bugs' Hive ship, Milo Silk still has a lot to fear. The Huntsman has pledged a revenge worse than death on Milo, a group of nefarious fairies are bent on taking back Earth, and zombie-like holo-men are trapping humans for the Bugs to take. Even more unsettling is that the Witch of the World has disappeared and a mysterious boy is haunting Milo's dreams in her stead. But none of these threats compare to what may happen to the world if the humans and the Nightsiders don't unite to fight for each other.
Vault of the Ages
by Poul AndersonArchaeologists, studying the past, are handicapped by the fact that relics are usually few and in poor condition. Often, one is not even sure where to look for them. Out of such finds, from tombs, ruined cities, swamps, deserts, and any other place where men of the past have left some trace of themselves, the archaeologist tries to build up a picture of these men's lives and civilizations. but there are great gaps in our knowledge and probably always will be. For Instance, we cannot yet read the inscriptions left by the ancient Cretans, and so are in the dark about many features of their high civilization...