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Count to Infinity: A Novel (The Eschaton Sequence)
by John C. WrightCount to Infinity is John C. Wright's spectacular conclusion to the thought-provoking hard science fiction Eschaton Sequence, exploring future history and human evolution.An epic space opera finale worthy of the scope and wonder of The Eschaton Sequence: Menelaus Montrose is locked in a final battle of wits, bullets, and posthuman intelligence with Ximen del Azarchel for the fate of humanity in the far future.The alien monstrosities of Ain at long last are revealed, their hidden past laid bare, along with the reason for their brutal treatment of Man and all the species seeded throughout the galaxy. And they have still one more secret that could upend everything Montrose has fought for and lived so long to achieve.The Eschaton Sequence#1 Count to a Trillion#2 The Hermetic Millennia #3 The Judge of Ages#4 The Architect of Aeons #5 The Vindication of ManAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Ashes to Dust: A Thriller (Thora Gudmundsdottir Novels)
by Yrsa Sigurdardottir"I can see why so many people are enthusiastic about Yrsa's work. It's very engaging, fresh, and exciting." -- James Patterson"Iceland's crime queen." --The ScotsmanOne of the finest Nordic crime writers working today, Yrsa Sigurdardóttir has been published to rave reviews worldwide. Now, with Ashes to Dust, she delivers a dynamite and timely thriller set at the site of a volcano. In 1973, a volcanic eruption buried an entire Icelandic village in lava and ash. Now, hoping to make some cash, a crew is assembled to excavate the site and turn it into a tourist destination. Markús, who was a teenager when the volcano erupted, enlists the help of attorney Thóra Gudmundsdóttir to try to prevent the excavation from going forward. When the digging continues and three fresh bodies (and a spare head) turn up in the basement of Markús' childhood home, Thóra begins to question Markús' motives for wanting to stop the excavation. His explanation for the bodies is complicated, and the locals seem oddly reluctant to back him up. As Markús' story begins to unravel, Thóra finds herself with an impossible task, defending Markús while trying to solve a quadruple murder that may very well implicate her client. With unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and superb psychological suspense, Ashes to Dust is a riveting thriller from a new international star.
Jade Dragon Mountain: A Novel (Li Du Novels)
by Elsa HartOn the mountainous border of China and Tibet in 1708, a detective must learn what a killer already knows: that empires rise and fall on the strength of the stories they tell. Li Du was an imperial librarian. Now he is an exile. Arriving in Dayan, the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border, he is surprised to find it teeming with travelers, soldiers, and merchants. All have come for a spectacle unprecedented in this remote province: an eclipse of the sun commanded by the Emperor himself. When a Jesuit astronomer is found murdered in the home of the local magistrate, blame is hastily placed on Tibetan bandits. But Li Du suspects this was no random killing. Everyone has secrets: the ambitious magistrate, the powerful consort, the bitter servant, the irreproachable secretary, the East India Company merchant, the nervous missionary, and the traveling storyteller who can't keep his own story straight.Beyond the sloping roofs and festival banners, Li Du can see the mountain pass that will take him out of China forever. He must choose whether to leave, and embrace his exile, or to stay, and investigate a murder that the town of Dayan seems all too willing to forget.
An Animated Death in Burbank (Detective Sandra Cameron Mysteries)
by Michael JoensEach novel in this compelling new series about Los Angeles cops will deal with a unique and fascinating Los Angeles milieu. In her first outing, Detective Sandra Cameron finds out that drawing cartoons can be deadly, especially when you are as orignial and unorthodox as cartoonist extraordinaire, Patrick Stewart. When the talented but deceased Mr. Stewart is found lying next to a note reading, "That's All, Folks," most people assume he committed suicide.Detective Sandra Cameron and her colleague Detective Sergeant Tom Rigby suspect Mr. Parker met a much darker demise, one that included some unasked-for assistance. They are even more suspicious after a beautiful dead girl, another cartoon-industry insider, is found floating in her tub. The two cops decide to combine forces, and their relationship teeters on the somewhat fluid boundary between their professional and personal lives. Tom has just been betrayed by an ex-wife, and he is distressed by his feelings for Sandra. She, on the other hand, has her own very comfortable life. She has to ask herself whether romance on the job is ever a good idea--does she really need a man in her life?What she has in her life is a cold-blooded murder, and as Tom and Sandra struggle with their personal demons, including the ongoing unsolved case involving Sandra's brother, a devilish killer is concocting some chilling scenarios.
The Memory Hunters (The Consecrated)
by Mia TsaiInception meets Indiana Jones in this cinematic, slow burn, romantic, fantasy adventure following a headstrong academic and her equally stubborn bodyguard as they unearth an ancient secret that rocks the foundations of their society…and challenges their unspoken love for one another. A sapphic, dark academia-adjacent, climate dystopia -- with mushrooms -- for readers of Blood Over Bright Haven, A Memory Called Empire, and Ink Blood Sister Scribe. Kiana Strade can dive deeper into blood memories than anyone alive. But instead of devoting her talents to the temple she&’s meant to lead, Key wants to do research for the Museum of Human Memory. . . and to avoid the public eye. Valerian IV's twin swords protect Key from murderous rivals and her own enthusiasm alike. Vale cares about Key as a friend—and maybe more—but most of all, she needs to keep her job so she can support her parents and siblings in the storm-torn south. But when Key collects a memory that diverges from official history, only Vale sees the fallout. Key&’s mentor suspiciously dismisses the finding; her powerful mother demands she stop research altogether. And Key, unusually affected by the memory, begins to lose moments, then minutes, then days. As Vale becomes increasingly entangled in Key&’s obsessive drive for answers, the women uncover a shattering discovery—and a devastating betrayal. Key and Vale can remain complicit, or they can jeopardize everything for the truth. Either way, Key is becoming consumed by the past in more ways than one, and time is running out.
That Missing Piece Is Killing Me (An Alice Pepper Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club Mystery)
by Roz NoonanSince her divorce, librarian Alice Pepper has had to rethink her golden years. Luckily, she&’s always fit in with a group of puzzle-obsessed friends in the Oregon town of West Hazel. And when a local lady goes missing, Alice must put her curious mind to work to assemble a picture of the woman&’s life—and determine if she&’s a runaway wife or a victim of foul play . . . The owner of a dance and martial arts studio, 63 year-old Michelle Chong is a well-liked fixture in the West Hazel community, despite being married to the famous—and famously temperamental—artist, Lars Olsen. That&’s why when she disappears, people don&’t blame her for fleeing her dysfunctional marriage. Still, Alice has her suspicions, especially after learning about Lars&’ violent past—and current affair. When Alice receives a custom-made puzzle as a gift, the artwork seems so familiar that she assumes it&’s from Lars as an apology for his bad behavior during a recent visit. As she and her friends get to work on it, they&’re stymied by a missing piece. With evidence pointing to Michelle&’s disappearance being planned, Alice turns her attention to her own fractured family. But a shocking chain of events, culminating in a brutal murder, makes Alice question if any piece of the past can ever be put to rest . . .
Vice and Virtue (A Layla Virtue Mystery)
by Libby KleinLayla Virtue, a blue-haired, 30-something recovering alcoholic and former cop is trying to reinvent herself as a musician—between AA meetings, dodging eccentric neighbors at her trailer park, and reconnecting with her mysterious dad—in this unforgettable new mystery brimming with hilarity and heart for readers of Margot Douaihy, Jane Pek, and Darynda Jones. Layla is taking her new life one day at a time from the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park she now calls home. Being alone is how she likes it. Simple. Uncomplicated. Though try telling that to the group of local ladies who are in relentless pursuit of Layla as their new BFF, determined to make her join them for coffee and donuts. Meanwhile, since her first career ended in a literal explosion, Layla&’s trying to eke out a living as a rock musician. It&’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn&’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she&’s at an 8-year-old&’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last . . . Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included . . .
Traveling Hopefully: How to Lose Your Family Baggage and Jumpstart Your Life
by Libby Gill"This book is for real, because Libby is for real..."- Dr. Phil McGraw in his foreword to Traveling HopefullyAre you living a life based on who you really are or one built on outdated messages from your past? Is your past negatively influencing your present and potentially derailing your future? What if you could shift your perspective from limiting to liberating?Now you can learn to let go of your baggage and create a life of passion and purpose. Success strategist and executive coach Libby Gill is your partner in life change as she shares her inspiring story and guides readers step-by-step through the journey of self-transformation.With courage and candor, Libby poignantly discloses how she struggled with a family legacy which included divorce, mental illness and molestation, robbing her of her best possible life until she learned to dissect the past so she could direct the future. With a transformative process she calls the Five Steps to Jumpstart Your Life, Libby provides practical tools and down-to-earth insights that translate abstract concepts into concrete action.The 21 Hopeful Tools are easy-to-follow exercises that take readers through this process, showing them how to:*dissect the past to direct the future*link internal clarity with external action*create a Traveling Hopefully personal roadmap*recruit a Support Squad to provide information and inspiration*keep moving toward what you want and away from what no longer serves youFilled with tips and tactics, personal accounts, and client success stories, Traveling Hopefully shows readers how to create big-picture visions and turn them into bottom-line action so they can lose their baggage and live the life of their dreams.
Hollywood Stuff (Jane Wheel Mysteries)
by Sharon FifferShe was a monastic person, one who would be happy to live as a recluse, a hermit . . . if only the other caves would hold occasional yard sales. Ay, there was the rub. Jane had to put up with all those other people because people begat stuff, and stuff, for Jane, was what brought people palatably to life. It made others interesting, warm, human. It was what people kept and what they discarded that guided Jane through the confusion of human emotions. But how could Jane go along on her anonymously merry way, scouting junk in alleys and yards, on rummage sale tables, and auction house floors, if she was involved in some ego-wrenching nonsense in, for the love of Pete, Hollywood?Soon after a TV magazine profiles antique collector Jane Wheel for her role as an amateur sleuth, her story catches the eye of Wren Bixby, owner of Bix Pix Flix in Los Angeles. Bixby wants the rights to Jane's story for her offbeat independent film company and eventually persuades Jane to leave behind her newfound hometown celebrity in Kankakee, Illinois, and head west for Hollywood.But Jane's time in Tinseltown is interrupted when she discovers that someone has targeted Bix and her partners, and Jane resumes her role as detective, determined to stop a killer.In Hollywood Stuff, Sharon Fiffer captures the light and dark sides of Hollywood as Jane discovers that in the buying and selling of Hollywood memories and memorabilia, it's a murderous marketplace where the price can kill.
The Why and How of Home Horticulture
by D. R. BienzWhether you are a beginning or experienced gardening enthusiasts, a student of gradening, or a horticultural professional, The Why and How of Home Horticulture, Second Edition will prepare you to face virtually any gardening situation. Like no other gardening book, it supports its practical, how-to-do-it guidelines with clear explanations of the relevant scientific principles of horticulture. You will know what steps to take--and why those steps are working.The Why and How of Home Horticulture ranges from the aesthetics and history of gardening to essential techniques and practices for indoor or outdoor ornamental gardens, vegetable gardens, and home orchards. Thoroughly updated, this new edition includes information and issues that have emerged in the last decade, particularly in the areas of organic gardening, biotechnology, and genetic engineering. And as before, the final chapter is a complete, self-contained gardening handbook offering practical tips for everything from soil preparation to processing the harvest.The Why and How of Home Horticulture, Second Edition--no other horticulture guidebook so clearly articulates the science, the skills, and the pleasures of gardening.
Strykers (Strykers Syndicate Series)
by K. M. Ruiz"Total, delicious immersion into a world rendered startlingly real by white-hot writing skill." —Whitley Strieber, bestselling author of The Day After Tomorrow250 years after nuclear war, the dregs of humanity fight to survive on a ruined Earth while the rich and powerful plan to secretly ascend to another planet. But the enslaved soldiers of the elite rulers are a deadly new kind of human who are desperate for freedom and plan on fighting back against their masters.Threnody Corwin, a psion with the ability to channel electricity like lightning through anything she touches, is a soldier for the human government. On a suicide mission, Threnody and her team of Strykers are recruited by an unknown enemy: Lucas Serca, one of the most powerful psions alive, who is masquerading as human. Forming an uneasy alliance, the two groups escalate their fight with the ruling government and worldwide chaos ensues. When a new kind of psion power is discovered that could reshape the wasted planet, the renegades must race to save society before it destroys itself, but the cost is high and in the end, there is no such thing as compromise.In this novel from K.M. Ruiz, there is only survival.
Paper Gods: A Novel of Money, Race, and Politics
by Goldie TaylorThe mayor of Atlanta and a washed-up reporter investigate a series of assassinations, and uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of the city's political machine.Mayor Victoria Dobbs Overstreet is a Harvard-trained attorney and Spelman alum, married to a celebrated heart surgeon, mother to beautiful twin girls, and a political genius. When her mentor, ally, and friend Congressman Ezra Hawkins is gunned down in Ebenezer Baptist Church, Victoria finds a strange piece of origami–a “paper god”–tucked inside his Bible. These paper gods turn up again and again, always after someone is killed. Someone is terrorizing those who are close to Mayor Dobbs, and she can't shake the feeling that the killer is close to her, too."A moving and unflinching portrait of a city and its many layers of power...Taylor has created a hero we see all too rarely: black, female, powerful." —Tim Teeman, Senior Editor of The Daily Beast"From buttermilk fried okra to bibles and bullets, the story comes out the gate moving and never lets up.” —Eric Jerome Dickey, New York Times bestselling author of A Wanted Woman
Hard Time Blues: How Politics Built a Prison Nation
by Sasha AbramskyIn September 1996, fifty-three year old heroin addict Billy Ochoa was sentenced to 326 years in prison. His crime: committing $2100 worth of welfare fraud. Ochoa was sent to New Folsom supermax prison, joining thousands of other men who will spend the rest of their lives in California's teeming correctional facilities as a result of that state's tough Three Strikes law. His incarceration will cost over $20,000 a year until he dies.Hard Time Blues weaves together the story of the growth of the American prison system over the past quarter century primarily through the story of Ochoa, a career criminal who grew up in the barrios of post-World War II L.A. Ochoa, who had a long history of non-violent crimes committed to fund his drug habit, who cycled in and out of prison since the late 1960's, is a perfect example of how perennial misfits, rather than blood-soaked violent criminals, make up the majority of America's prisoners. This is also the story of the burgeoning careers of politicians such as former California Governor Pete Wilson, who rose to power on the "crime issue." Wilson, whose grandfather was a cop murdered by drug-runners in early twentieth century Chicago, scored a stunning come-from-behind re-election victory in 1994. In so doing, he came to epitomize the 1990s tough-on-crime politician.Award-winning journalist Sasha Abramsky uses immersion reportage to bring alive the political forces that have led America's prison and jail population to increase more than four fold in the past twenty years. Through the stories of Ochoa, Wilson, and others, he explores in devastating detail how the public has been manipulated into supporting mass incarceration during a period when crime rates have been steadily falling. Hard Time Blues deftly explores the War on Drugs, the Rockefeller Laws, the growth of the SuperMax Prisons, the climate of fear that led to laws such as Truth-in-Sentencing, and how the stunning repercussions of imprisoning two million citizens affect all of America. In the tradition of J. Anthony Lukas's Common Ground and Melissa Fay Greene's The Temple Bombing, Abramsky explores this new and dangerous fault-line in American society in a dramatic and compelling manner. From the opening courtroom scene through the final images behind the electrified fences of the nation's toughest, meanest prisons, Abramsky paints a grimly intimate portrait of the players and personalities behind this societal earthquake. Hard Time Blues combines a sense of history with a powerful narrative, to tell a story about issues and people that leads us to understand how The Land of the Free has become the world's largest prison nation.
Vampyr: A Novel of Supernatural Passion
by Jan JenningsSupernatural passion...dangerous love...vampyrs are among us.Dr. Theo James: Tall, handsome, brilliant, he discovers that he is dying. He is ripe for the unexpected...and it arrives, in the person of...Valan: Slender, beautiful, rich, cosmopolitan--and a vampyr long since immune to the power of love, or so she thinks. She comes to Theo James with a problem that could destroy her, or change the world for good. Together they encounter terror from beyond, and from the shadowy secrets of the heart. For Valan is not the only vampyr in the world. Far from it...At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Black Leviathan
by Bernd PerpliesMelville’s Moby Dick unfolds in a world of dragon hunters in Black Leviathan, an epic revenge fantasy from German award-winning author Bernd Perplies.Beware! A shadow will cover you, larger than that cast by any other dragon of this world. Black as the lightless chasm from whence it was born at the beginning of time.In the coastal city Skargakar, residents make a living from hunting dragons and use them for everything from clothing to food, while airborne ships hunt them in the white expanse of a cloud sea, the Cloudmere.Lian does his part carving the kyrillian crystals that power the ships through the Cloudmere, but when he makes an enemy of a dangerous man, Lian ships out on the next vessel available as a drachenjager, or dragon hunter.He chooses the wrong ship. A fanatic captain, hunts more than just any dragon. His goal is the Firstborn Gargantuan—and Adaron is prepared to sacrifice everything for revenge.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Teeny Weenies: And Other Stories (Teeny Weenies #4)
by David LubarCelebrate the holidays with Teeny Weenies: My Favorite President!David Lubar is the master of the short story for kids. Now he’s back with his fourth collection of Teeny Weenies stories, just in time for the winter holidays! Young chapter book readers ages 7 to 10, reluctant readers, and fans of very short stories will be entertained and delighted by these twelve zany tales. Wacky comic book style illustrations by Bill Mayer add to the fun. Don’t be a weenie. Read these stories! If you dare!At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen: A Novel
by Sarah Bird"You'll be swept away by the passion and power of this remarkable, trailblazing woman who risked everything to follow her own heart." – Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Timesbestselling author"An epic page-turner." –Christina Baker Kline Named Best Fiction Writer in the Austin Chronicle's "Austin's Best 2018"Named one of Lone Star Literary Life's "Top 20 Texas Books of 2018"The compelling, hidden story of Cathy Williams, a former slave and the only woman to ever serve with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers.“Here’s the first thing you need to know about Miss Cathy Williams: I am the daughter of a daughter of a queen and my mama never let me forget it.”Though born into bondage on a “miserable tobacco farm” in Little Dixie, Missouri, Cathy Williams was never allowed to consider herself a slave. According to her mother, she was a captive, destined by her noble warrior blood to escape the enemy. Her chance at freedom presents itself with the arrival of Union general Phillip Henry “Smash ‘em Up” Sheridan, the outcast of West Point who takes the rawboned, prideful young woman into service. At war’s end, having tasted freedom, Cathy refuses to return to servitude and makes the monumental decision to disguise herself as a man and join the Army’s legendary Buffalo Soldiers. Alone now in the ultimate man’s world, Cathy must fight not only for her survival and freedom, but she also vows to never give up on finding her mother, her little sister, and the love of the only man strong enough to win her heart. Inspired by the stunning, true story of Private Williams, this American heroine comes to vivid life in a sweeping and magnificent tale about one woman’s fight for freedom, respect and independence.
Beyond Vibe Coding: From Coder to AI-Era Developer
by Addy OsmaniAI is transforming software development, shifting programmers from writing code to collaborating with AI in an intent-driven workflow. Vibe coding—a prompt-first, exploratory approach where you describe what you want in natural language and let a large language model fill in the blanks—represents a radical shift in the developer's role from writing code todirecting it. However, vibe coding comes with a serious caveat: Like a high-speed exploratory vehicle, it can take you off the beaten path quickly. Beyond Vibe Coding: From Coder to AI-Era Developer explores how AI-powered coding assistants like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Codex are reshaping the way we build software, from automating routine coding tasks to influencing architecture and design decisions. Written by Addy Osmani, this guide provides developers, tech leads, and organizations with practical strategies to integrate AI into their workflows effectively. Learn how to formulate clear goals and constraints for the AI, review AI-generated code critically, and integrate those pieces into a coherent whole. Whether you're adopting AI tools today or preparing for the future of software engineering, this book offers insights and hands-on examples to keep your skills sharp in this evolving landscape. Understand how AI-assisted development is reshaping programming Master techniques for refining, validating, and debugging AI-generated code, and understand how and why LLM generations can go wrong Explore multiagent coding systems and AI-driven software workflows Future-proof your career by adapting to AI's growing role in development
Rogue Most Wanted (The Cavensham Heiresses #5)
by Janna MacGregorWanted: an engagement of convenience. Found: A noble suitor. Raised on a remote Scottish estate by her adoring grandfather, Lady Theodora Worth has inherited an earldom as well as the land itself. But when an upstart duke challenges her claim to the title and the Ladykyrk estate, Thea is suddenly in need of a husband—in name, at least. An elderly neighbor with a thoroughly modern sensibility and a dashing great-nephew just might be the answer to Thea’s prayers. Except she has no intention of marrying the first man she meets. That would be utterly ridiculous.It just can’t be him. . .Lord William Cavensham is entirely too devoted to his family’s estate—ever since he was jilted as a lad--to wed, but he agrees to meet the woman his aunt has taken under her wing—and introduce her to possible suitors. But after just one meeting with beautiful, spirited Thea, Will is determined to help her reclaim her title. And even moreso, he can’t stop thinking that perhaps marriage to this bold, passionate woman may be the one thing he’s been missing all along? Praise for the Cavensham Heiresses series “Full-bodied romance…with intelligence and heart.”—New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell “Sparkling…MacGregor brings England’s Regency era to life.” —Publishers Weekly
Manifesting: The Practical, Simple Guide to Creating the Life You Want
by Kris FerraroAre you frustrated by the fact that your life doesn’t look the way you imagined? Whether it’s too little money, a struggling relationship, or a dead-end job, it can seem as if nothing works out the way you hoped it would. Manifesting: The Practical, Simple Guide to Creating the Life You Want is the solution.Too often we walk through life in a state of lack, choosing to focus our attention on our deficiencies and allowing our minds, bodies, and spirits to swirl with discontent and negativity. But when our focus and attention is sunk in darkness, that becomes all we experience in our lives. Manifesting offers a transformative new approach. By focusing on what you wish to have or achieve, instead of despairing over what you are missing, you will find that you can manifest those very things in your life.Author Kris Ferraro is a practitioner and teacher in the areas of healing, growth, and metaphysics who has used manifesting in her own life and practice for years. In Manifesting, she guides readers to envision and create the lives they’ve always dreamed of with real, actionable steps, exercises, and wisdom.
The Girl in the Face of the Clock: A Mystery (Girl Series)
by Charles MathesCharles Mathes has impressed readers with his inventive series of "Girl" stand-alones in which a different female heroine must uncover a dark secret about her family's past. In this fourth addition to the series, Mathes brings readers Jane Sailor, a young woman who choreographs stage combat for theatrical productions.She is working at a regional repertory company when she gets an ominous phone call urging her to return to New York: something has happened to her father. Jane has been expecting this call for years. Aaron Sailor was a promising painter before he fell down the stairs of their Soho loft. He has been in a coma for the past eight years, and the doctors have made it clear that there is no chance for recovery.This phone call from the nursing home can only mean one thing. But her father is not dead, Jane learns to her surprise. Still unconscious, he has suddenly begun to speak. What he says is as baffling as it is upsetting. "No, Perry, don't do it. No, Perry, no." Were these the last words that Aaron spoke before his head was smashed on the vestibule floor? Could his fall perhaps have not been an accident? And who was Perry? Searching through her father's old papers Jane stumbles across a name she has never heard before. Perry Mannerback turns out to be an eccentric billionaire who spends his time giving away money and collecting rare clocks. Jane goes to work for him, hoping to find some answers, but instead discovers the real question: Will she get out of this alive? From the high stakes world of New York City art galleries to the underbelly of London's antique trade to the puzzling attentions of an international financier, Jane follows the trail of a killer as Charles Mathes takes his readers on another dazzling adventure.
Shakespeare in Swahililand: In Search of a Global Poet
by Edward Wilson-LeeAn exploration of Shakespeare as a global poetShakespeare in Swahililand tells the unexpected literary history of Shakespeare’s influence in East Africa. Beginning with Victorian-era expeditions in which Shakespeare’s works were the sole reading material carried into the interior, the Bard has been a vital touchstone throughout the region. His plays were printed by liberated slaves as one of the first texts in Swahili, performed by Indian laborers while they built the Uganda railroad, used to argue for native rights, and translated by intellectuals, revolutionaries, and independence leaders. Weaving together stories of explorers staggering through Africa’s interior, eccentrics living out their dreams on the savanna, decadent émigrés, Cold War intrigues, and even Che Guevara, Edward Wilson-Lee—a Cambridge lecturer raised in Kenya—tallies Shakespeare’s influence in Zanzibar, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Traveling through these countries, he speaks with everyone from theater directors and academics to soldiers and aid workers, discovering not only cultural dimensions traceable to Shakespeare's plays but also an overwhelming insistence that these works provide a key insight into the region. An astonishing work of empathy and historical vision, Shakespeare in Swahililand gets at the heart of what makes Shakespeare so universal and the role that his writings have played in thinking about what it means to be human.
The Iris Fan: A Novel of Feudal Japan (Sano Ichiro Novels)
by Laura Joh RowlandRiveting and richly imagined, with a magnificent sense of time and place, The Iris Fan is the triumphant conclusion to Laura Joh Rowland's brilliant series of thrillers set in feudal Japan. Japan, 1709. The shogun is old and ailing. Amid the ever-treacherous intrigue in the court, Sano Ichiro has been demoted from chamberlain to a lowly patrol guard. His relationship with his wife Reiko is in tatters, and a bizarre new alliance between his two enemies Yanagisawa and Lord Ienobu has left him puzzled and wary. Sano's onetime friend Hirata is a reluctant conspirator in a plot against the ruling regime. Yet, Sano's dedication to the Way of the Warrior—the samurai code of honor—is undiminished.Then a harrowing, almost inconceivable crime takes place. In his own palace, the shogun is stabbed with a fan made of painted silk with sharp-pointed iron ribs. Sano is restored to the rank of chief investigator to find the culprit. This is the most significant, and most dangerous, investigation of his career. If the shogun's heir is displeased, he will have Sano and his family put to death without waiting for the shogun's permission, then worry about the consequences later. And Sano has enemies of his own, as well as unexpected allies. As the previously unimaginable death of the shogun seems ever more possible, Sano finds himself at the center of warring forces that threaten not only his own family but Japan itself.
Antique Blues: A Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries #12)
by Jane K. ClelandEver-crafty Josie must confront suspicious antiques dealers and her own friend’s killer in Antique Blues, the twelfth mystery in Jane K. Cleland's beloved Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series set in New Hampshire.When amateur sleuth and antiques expert Josie Prescott is called in to appraise a Japanese woodblock print and vintage guitar for her friend Mo, she’s thrilled—until Mo is murdered. It doesn’t take her long to pinpoint one suspect: Mo’s sister’s manipulative boyfriend, who sold her the print—and has now, conveniently, disappeared. Josie’s antiques know-how and detective skills soon lead her down an increasingly perplexing trail, scattered with gamblers, extramarital affairs, and under-the-table purchases. Readers will relish a return to Rocky Point with Josie as she works together with her friends—the ambitious young reporter Wes Smith, and Rocky Point’s savvy police chief, Ellis Hunter—to sift through the conflicting stories around them and find Mo’s killer.
The Summer Queen (The Snow Queen Cycle)
by Joan D. VingeSequel To The Hugo Award-Winning Bestseller The Snow QueenThe Summer Queen is the extraordinary sequel to one of science fiction's most celebrated novels, The Snow Queen. Set in a fully realized universe of wonders, this spectacular space epic, itself a finalist for the Hugo Award, is one of the most remarkable novels in the field. A story that spans millennia, from the ruins of an ancient interstellar empire to the planets of the Hegemony that rules human space, The Summer Queen is the multi-layered story of Tiamat, a world where the dolphin-like mers are harvested for the youth-prolonging serum extracted from their blood. But Tiamat is much more, for beneath Carbuncle, its capital, lies the old empire's greatest secret: an enormous forgotten technology which, though decaying, continues to affect the fates of the fallen empire's remnant cultures via the sybil-network--a data bank that binds the past and the future in its web of knowledge, As the Smith, genius mastermind of the hidden interstellar Brotherhood, tries feverishly to unlock its secrets, BZ Gundhalinu desperately strives to save the Hegemony, while the Summer Queen herself dares to create a new future for her people and her planet. And though each is acting alone, their fates will entwine in an astonishing climax that will change the universe forever.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.