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Dark Light: A Tale of a Future of Limitless Intelligence (The Engines of Light #2)
by Ken MacLeodA Tale of Humans In a Universe of Ubiquitous Alien LifeIntelligence, it turns out, is rare—on planetary surfaces. It thrives everywhere else, from the Oort-cloud fringes of star systems to the magma furnaces beneath planetary crusts. And among the most powerful of the galaxy's intelligences, there are profound differences of opinion about how to deal with surface life-forms such as human beings.For, untold light years from Earth, the powers that rule the universe have been, for millennia, plucking humans (and other intelligent beings) from Earth and forcibly resettling them in a number of star systems close to one another, leaving them to develop on their own. A few generations ago, a small cadre of humans from Earth's 21st century arrived in this "Second Sphere" on their own power—the first humans ever to do so. Their descendants have formed the "Cosmonaut" class that dominates Mingulay. Now, two hundred years later, Gregor Cairns and a small group of associates have rediscovered faster-than-light travel and traveled to the star system next door. They're determined to find more of the original, mysteriously long-lived cosmonauts. They want answers. And for those answers, they intend to interrogate the gods. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Day Our Teacher Went Batty
by Gervase PhinnA second collection of poems based on familiar themes.....
Dead Famous
by Ben Elton"Wry, fast and fiendishly clever" (The Times)One house. Ten contestants. Thirty cameras. Forty microphones.Yet again the public gorges its voyeuristic appetite as another group of unknown and unremarkable people submit themselves to the brutal exposure of the televised real-life soap opera, House Arrest.Everybody knows the rules: total strangers are forced to live together while the rest of the country watches them do it. Who will crack first? Who will have sex with whom? Who will the public love and who will they hate? All the usual questions. And then, suddenly, there are some new ones.Who is the murderer? How did he or she manage to kill under the constant gaze of the thirty television cameras? Why did they do it? And who will be next?
Deadly Divisions: The Spectre Chronicles
by Paul Ferris Reg McKayGlasgow, 1989. James Addison, aka Addie, has been a very busy man. Wanted for every type of crime for over a decade, there is only one hitch - he has never been seen, let alone caught. So, who or what is Addie? Does he even exist?When a small-time moneylender pimp is shot down on a Glasgow street, it seems to be just another gangland murder. But not for Andy Grimes, overseer of much of the city's prostitution, drug dealing and protection rackets - and the dead man's brother. When word leaks out that Addie is the killer, Grimes calls in his police allies and musters his troops. On the case is DCI Alex Birse, and old-time cop, as crooked as he is vicious. He has been after Addie for years and never got close. As the streets of Glasgow heave with police and gangsters, over in Berlin the Wall is coming down. At this time of great change, opportunity and uncertainty, the two cities are linked by loot – Bearer Bonds to be precise. Back in Glasgow, while pulling a scam on an old Jewish couple, one of Grimes' men, Angie the Gopher, finds a biscuit tin full of Bearer Bonds issued in Germany before the Second World War. Angie smells money – the bonds could be worth millions – and he scuttles back to tell his boss. Now the chase is on. Who gets the bonds? How much are they worth? Who perishes along the way? For the answers you'll have to rely on Addie. But can they catch him? The last line will reveal all . . . maybe.
Delusion: A Mystery (Peter Zak Mysteries #3)
by G. H. EphronFrom the acclaimed author of Amnesia and Addiction comes the story of a paranoid man accused of killing his wife-is he ill, or is he a great actor trying to get away with murder?Forensic neuropsychologist at Boston's prestigious Pearce Psychiatric Center and expert defense witness Peter Zak regularly testifies at murder trials on issues like a defendant's conception of right and wrong or the reliability of a witness's memory. This time a lawyer calls Peter to the scene of a crime-Nick Babikian has just found his wife brutally stabbed and floating in their backyard pool. The lawyer wants Peter to assess Nick's state of mind. A brilliant but paranoid man who's made millions inventing and marketing his own computer role-playing game, he was working in the house while his wife was stabbed, and he's certain to be accused of wielding the knife. Nick claims his innocence, but he has no proof, though certainly some of what he claims seems true. For example, there are signs his wife was having an affair. And oddly, the longer they work together, the more Peter relates to Nick's feelings. For Peter himself becomes more and more convinced that his own wife's killer, a man who's supposed to be serving life in prison, is somehow tormenting him at home and at work.It's up to Peter to separate fact from fiction in this chilling entry in a masterful series.
Demon's Dare
by Melissa MacnealIt's 1895. Traded as payment for her aunt's gambling debts, southern belle Vanita is whisked off to a decaying plantation house where Franklin Harte and his curious family are quite happy to receive her. She is to marry Franklin's son, Damon, whose bizarre hobbies and even more bizarre sister are enough to send Vanita's head spinning. Yet, their games of darkly weird and freaky eroticism intrigue her and certainly prove distracting. However, to reclaim her fortune, however, she has to figure a way to escape Franklin's obsessive humiliations...
The Devil's Gardens: The Story of Landmines
by Lydia Monin'The image I have is a kid on a country lane on a Saturday afternoon herding his family cattle, meaning no harm to anybody and putting one step wrong. It's one thing to die in combat, it's one thing to die defending land, but it's another thing to die tending cattle on a Saturday afternoon and we want a world where that doesn't happen' - Michael IgnatieffDuring the twentieth century a landmine plague raged across the globe. It began on the battlefields of two world wars, it gathered momentum in Korea and Vietnam and then spread like wildfire throughout the developing world. The Devil's Gardens is the definitive story of the landmine. It is the story of the development and proliferation of a weapon of terror. It is also the story of suffering and devastation, and a worldwide crusade to put an end to the curse of landmines forever. The issues surrounding landmines and their continued use are controversial. Drawing on a wide range of distinguished interviewees and the authors' first-hand experiences in severely mine-affected countries, The Devil's Gardens look at all sides of the landmine story.
The Devil's Hawk
by Ray SipherdDoing fieldwork in Arizona, bird artist Jonathan Wilder is drawn into the ruthless business of a human smuggling enterprise run by el halcon, “The Hawk,” a sinister cutthroat who charges outrageous fees to transport illegals over the border, only to leave them in the desert to die. In an attempt to help a good friend whose sister and five relatives were the latest victims, Wilder starts making enemies fast. His involvement starts a chain of violence and murder, clear warnings that he is getting too close to the truth. Wilder passes himself off as a desperate “chicken”—a move that will lead him directly to the Hawk’s aerie deep in Mexico, where the shocking identity of The Hawk may be a secret he takes to his unmarked grave.
The Dinosaur's Diary
by Julia DonaldsonAll fans of Julia Donaldson's should read the enchanting tale of The Dinosaur's Diary.Surviving and finding a safe place to lay her eggs is difficult for Hypsilophodon with dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex around. When she falls into a mysterious pool and finds herself on a modern farm there are still problems. Finally she finds a safe place to hatch her babies, but how can she keep thirteen baby dinosaurs safe and secret? When the farmer catches one - Hector - and plans to take him to the vet, it's up to Hypsilophodon and her fiesty daughter, Henrietta, to get him back. After a daring rescue, Hypsilophodon takes all her youngsters back through the mysterious pool to her own world.***A perfect read-aloud book for children age 7+******Julia Donaldson is one of today's most loved children's book authors***Julia Donaldson has a fast-growing reputation as a children's writer. She won the Smarties Prize and the Blue Peter Award for The Gruffalo, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Since then, Julie and Axel have collaborated on a number of highly successful and award-winning picture books, including The Gruffalo's Child and Room on the Broom. Julia lives in Glasgow.'Donaldson's flair for a good story extends way up the age-scale' The Times'canters along, full of fun and energy' The ScotsmanVisit www.juliadonaldson.co.uk for
Direct Action: Memoirs of an Urban Guerrilla
by Ann HansenAnn Hansen stood trial as one of the so-called “Squamish Five.” Sentenced to life in prison, she served seven years. Now she tells her story for the first time. Direct Action captures the excitement and indignation of the counterculture of the early ’80s. Missile tests were fuelling a new arms race. Reckless megaprojects threatened the global environment. Alienation, punk rock, and militancy were on the rise. Hansen and her fellow urban guerrillas believed that sabotaging government and corporate property could help turn things around. To prove their point, they bombed the Litton Systems plant in Toronto, where components for Cruise Missiles were being made. Hansen’s book poses unresolved ethical dilemmas. In light of the recent explosion of anti-globalization protests, Direct Action mirrors the resurgence of militant activity around the world.
Dirty Laundry
by Penny BirchNatasha is feeling deprived of kinky sex. Unfortunately, she walks straight into the flabby embrace of the awful Monty Hartle, whose main joy in life is the humiliation of women. Before long, Natasha finds that she can't handle the filthy Monty, and that what her therapist, Gabrielle, really wants is not work-related at all! A powerful, believable story of `mischievious Natasha on a humiliating, exhilatating, wet-knickered thrill ride through rural France. Titles in this series featuring Natasha are: Brat,Temper Tantrums, Dirty Laundry, Peach, When she was Bad, In Disgrace, What Happens to Bad Girls? and Bare, White & Rosy.
Distant Music: an unputdownable saga set in the glamorous world of the theatre from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamFans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah will love this heart-warming, captivating and compelling post-war saga by the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham. 'As comforting as a hot milky drink on a stormy night. Her legions of fans will not be disappointed.' -- DAILY EXPRESS 'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review'Another excellent read by Charlotte Bingham' -- ***** Reader review'These are characters you will really care about' -- ***** Reader review'Very enjoyable and hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review'Incredibly well written and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************************WHAT CAN OFFER THE ESCAPE THEY SEEK?The 1950s, post-War Britain: the only people in society who can be said to have a glamorous lifestyle are the very wealthy, the aristocracy, and people who worked in the theatre.Elsie Lancaster is the granddaughter of a hardened old professional actress who runs a seaside boarding house.Oliver is the third son of a Catholic aristocratic Yorkshire family whose mother has run off, so the theatre-mad butler has brought him up like a son to be a Great Actor.Coco Hampton, Oliver's best friend, has been raised in Sloane Street by Gladys, her profligate guardian, who is always borrowing money from Coco to buy more clothes.Gladys and Oliver have been fans of the theatre since they were knee-high, but Coco has only ever wanted to be a designer. When Coco joins Oliver at his drama school in London, to his chagrin she promptly gets cast in films because of her photogenic looks.Meanwhile, Elsie is 'discovered' in the provinces by Portly Cosgrove; shortly before meeting Oliver who promptly falls in love with her. And elsewhere, on location, Coco has her first affair with a handsome actor, which doesn't end well...A colourful cast of characters and a script you just couldn't make up...!
Do You Mr Jones?: Bob Dylan with the Poets and Professors
by Neil CorcoranIn 2016, Bob Dylan received the Nobel Prize in Literature ‘for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition’. This collection of essays by leading poets and critics – with a new foreword by Will Self – examines Dylan’s poetic genius, as well as his astounding cultural influence over the decades.‘From Orpheus to Faiz, song and poetry have been closely linked. Dylan is the brilliant inheritor of the bardic tradition’ Salman Rushdie‘The most significant Western popular artist in any form or medium of the past sixty years’ Will Self‘For fifty and some years he has bent, coaxed, teased and persuaded words into lyric and narrative shapes that are at once extraordinary and inevitable’ Andrew Motion‘His haunting music and lyrics have always seemed, in the deepest sense, literary’ Joyce Carol Oates‘There is something inevitable about Bob Dylan… A storyteller pulling out all the stops – metaphor, allegory, repetition, precise detail… His virtue is in his style, his attitude, his disposition to the world’ Simon Armitage
Doctor Who: Trading Futures (DOCTOR WHO #115)
by Lance Parkin'Welcome to the future.'The early decades of the twenty-first century. All the wars have been won. There are no rogue states. The secret services of the world keep the planet electronically monitored, safe from all threat. There is no one left for United States and the Eurozone to fight. Except each other.A mysterious time traveller offers a better future - he has a time machine, and with it, humanity could reach the next stage of evolution, they could share its secrets and become the new Lords of Time......either that, or someone could keep the technology for themselves and use it to fight the ultimate war.A Classic Doctor Who Adventure featuring the Eighth Doctor as played by Paul McGann.
Does Education Matter?: Myths About Education and Economic Growth
by Alison Wolf"Education, education, education" has become an obsession for politicians and the public alike. It is seen as an economic panacea: an engine for growth and prosperity. But is there a link between increased spending on higher eductaion and economicgrowth? Professor Alison Wolf takes a critical look at successive governments' education policy and challenges many of the tenets of received wisdom: there are no economic reasons for spending more on higher education in order to stimulate growth. The conclusion of this devastating book is that a large proportion of the billions poured into vocational training and university provision might be better spent on teaching the basics at primary school.
Dombey and Son
by Charles Dickens'There's no writing against such power as this - one has no chance' William Makepeace ThackerayA compelling depiction of a man imprisoned by his own pride, Dombey and Son explores the devastating effects of emotional deprivation on a dysfunctional family. Paul Dombey runs his household as he runs his business: coldly, calculatingly and commercially. The only person he cares for is his little son, while his motherless daughter Florence is merely a 'base coin that couldn't be invested'. As Dombey's callousness extends to others, including his defiant second wife Edith, he sows the seeds of his own destruction.Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Andrew Sanders
Down Under
by Juliet HastingsPriss and Diva, 30-something best friends, are taking the holiday of a lifetime in New Zealand. After a spell of relaxation they approach the week-long `mountain trek' brimming with energy and dangerously horny. It's Priss' idea to see if, in the course of one week, they can involve every member of the 12-person trek in their raunchy adventures. Some are pushovers but others present more of a challenge!
Druid Mysteries: Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century
by Philip Carr-GommIn this beautifully-written guide, Chief Druid Philip Carr-Gomm shows how the way of Druids can be followed today. He explains- The ancient history and inspiring beliefs of the ancient Druids- Druidic wild wisdom and their tree-, animal- and herb-lore- The mysteries of the Druids' seasonal celebrations- The Druids' use of magic and how their spirituality relates to paths such as WiccaThis guide will show how the wild wisdom of the Druids can help us to connect with our spirituality, our innate creativity, the natural world and our sense of ancestry. The life-enhancing beliefs and practices of this spiritual path have much to offer our 21st-century world.
Dyslexia: A parents' guide to dyslexia, dyspraxia and other learning difficulties
by Dr Helen Likierman Valerie MuterMany children spend their entire school lives struggling with their school work. Research has shown that at least 10-15 per cent of children with apparently normal learning ability will have a significant problem with school learning. They may feel that whatever they do it is not good enough - either for their parents, their teachers or indeed themselves. This can often result in feelings of demoralisation, and even alienation from learning and school. This book aims to address these issues and to help parents understand and deal with them.Dyslexia: A Parents' Guide starts by correcting common misconceptions of learning difficulties that are rife in the press and popular literature, and addresses the conflicting approaches and advice from 'experts'. This authoritative guide then moves through diagnosis – with information on dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, discalculia and more – to offering practical and easy tips to enable parents to help their child overcome their learning difficulty.Both authors are practising psychologists with extensive knowledge and experience of children's learning difficulties. They will show parents how to develop a successful approach to assessing and subsequently managing their child's difficulties.
Ecstatic Trails: The 52 Best Day Hikes and Nature Walks In and Around Los Angeles
by Rob CampbellLos Angeles is a hiker's perfect playground: from enchanted canyons to bountiful beaches, the range of terrain provides an almost endless variety of trails, vistas, and even weather conditions. Organized by level of difficulty, beginning with the most forgiving trails and building up to the toughest, Ecstatic Trails emphasizes the experience of the hike, guiding you to romantic hikes, trails that are right for children, thrill hikes, day trips you can build around a picnic, or intense paths perfect for solitary exploration.Everything a novice hiker or experienced trailblazer needs is here, including:--detailed maps--driving directions--restrictions, including whether dogs are permitted--the amount of time each hike is likely to take--featured elements and trail descriptionsFrom wildflower walks to dramatic waterfall treks, from sunset outings to trails that provide cool breezes in the midst of summer, Ecstatic Trails is packed with a year's worth of happy hiking.
Elena's Conquest
by Lisette AllenWhen Norman soldiers besiege a convent on a summer's day in 1070, a young saxon girl, Elena, is taking captive. She is chosen by the dark and masterfull Lord Aimery Le Sabrenn to satisfy his savage desires.Captivated by his powerful masculinity, Elena is then horriffed to discover she is not the only woman in his castle. The sinister Lady Isobel - Le Sabrenn's wife - is a cruel rival and out to destroy her.Packed with brawny Saxons and cruel Normans, this fun historical erotic novel explores jealousy and seduction in the time of William the Conquerer.
England's Eastenders: From Bobby Moore to David Beckham
by Richard LewisBobby Moore lifting the World Cup at Wembley on a July afternoon in 1966. England had triumphed against West Germany thanks to a hat-trick by Geoff Hurst and a goal by Martin Peters. All three heroic players were from West Ham, the most famous club of London's East End. This is an area synonymous with football success worldwide, largely because of the legendary Sunday football Mecca of Hackney Marshes. There are more football pitches on this one expanse of grass than in any other part of Europe, and it is a training ground which, over the last 35 years, has developed star after star for English football.The majority of clubs in the country today have at least one player on their books who has links with the east of the capital. The famous names from the past include Jimmy Greaves, Terry Venables and Harry Redknapp, and the tradition has been carried on by Paul Ince, Ashley Cole and the finest modern-day footballing hero of them all, David Beckham.With profiles of famous players past and present and engrossing details of the life and characters of the East End, England's Eastenders celebrates a tradition of excellence that began in the swinging Sixties and moves through the decades to show how the precedent set by Moore when he walked up those 39 steps at Wembley was just a stop-off point in the history of this breeding ground of brilliance.
The English Language: A Guided Tour of the Language
by David CrystalThis is the definitive survey of the English language - in all its forms. Crystal writes accessibly about the structure of the language, the uses of English throughout the world and finally he gives a brief history of English. The book has been fully revised and there is a fascinating new chapter on 'The effect of technology' on the English language. 'Illuminating guided tour of our common treasure by one of its most lucid and sensible professionals' The Times 'A splendid blend of erudition and entertainment' THES
Entertaining Angels
by Joanna BellJoshua Gilfoyle has decided there are two things he wants from life before he dies: to find his lost son and to commission an artist to produce his lasting legacy - a new angel for Foxbarton church. His family can't understand why he's already bidding his life farewell, but Joshua is not a man used to opposition. However Julia, the artist he's employed, doesn't believe in angels - unlike her daughter Hebe. Although she's desperate for the commission, she's frightened her artistic inspiration has run dry and is beginning to wonder whether making the angel is beyond her ability. But as Hebe's extraordinary gift begins to affect everyone around her, including even irascible old Joshua himself, there seems to be more than a touch of magic in the air as the mysteries of the past finally begin to reveal themselves.
Escape from Lucania: An Epic Story of Survival
by David RobertsIn 1937, Mount Lucania was the highest unclimbed peak in North America. Located deep within the Saint Elias mountain range, which straddles the border of Alaska and the Yukon, and surrounded by glacial peaks, Lucania was all but inaccessible. The leader of one failed expedition deemed it "impregnable." But in that year, a pair of daring young climbers would attempt a first ascent, not knowing that their quest would turn into a perilous struggle for survival. Escape from Lucania is their remarkable story.Classmates and fellow members of the Harvard Mountaineering Club, Brad Washburn and Bob Bates were two talented young men -- handsome, intelligent, and filled with a zest for exploring. Both were ambitious climbers, part of a small group whose first ascents in the great mountain ranges during the 1930s and 1940s changed the face of American mountaineering. Setting their sights on summitting Lucania in the summer of 1937, Washburn and Bates put together a team of four climbers for the expedition. But when Bates and Washburn flew to the Walsh Glacier at the foot of Lucania, they discovered that freakish weather conditions had turned the ice to slush. Their pilot was barely able to take off again alone, and there was no question of returning with the other two climbers or more supplies. Washburn and Bates found themselves marooned on the glacier, more than a hundred miles from help, in forbidding and desolate territory. Eschewing a trek out to the nearest mining town -- eighty miles away by air -- they decided to press ahead with their expedition. Escape from Lucania recounts Washburn and Bates's determined drive toward Lucania's 17,150-foot summit under constant threat of avalanches, blinding snowstorms, and hidden crevasses. Against awesome odds they became the first to set foot on Lucania's peak, not realizing that their greatest challenge still lay beyond. Nearly a month after being stranded on the glacier and with their supplies running dangerously low, they would have to navigate their way out through uncharted Yukon territory, racing against time as the summer warmth caused rivers to swell and flood to unfordable depths. But even as their situation grew more and more desperate, they refused to give up. Escape from Lucania tells this amazing story in thrilling and vivid detail, from the climbers' exultation at reaching the summit to their darkest moments confronting seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It is a tale of awesome adventure and harrowing danger. But above all it is the story of two men of extraordinary spirit, inspiring comradeship, and great courage. Today Washburn and Bates, now in their nineties, are legends in climbing circles. Bates co-led 1938 and 1953 expeditions to K2, the world's second-highest mountain. Washburn, whose record of Alaskan first ascents is unmatched, became founding director of Boston's Museum of Science and is one of the premier mountain photographers in the world. Some of his remarkable images from the 1937 Lucania expedition are included in this book.