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Ghost Pirates and Others
by William Hope HodgsonWilliam Hope Hodgson was a contemporary of H. P. Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith, and was one of the most important and influential fantasists of the 20th century. His novel The Ghost Pirates is a take-no-prisoners supernatural adventure story that is just as powerful today as it was 100 years ago.In addition to his landmark novel, this volume contains some of his most influential short fiction; from his supernatural detective Thomas Carnacki to tales of the mysterious Sargasso Sea. The Ghost Pirates and Others is the perfect introduction to the magic, mystery and adventure of William Hope Hodgson.
Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Café
by Milly JohnsonThe heartwarming and feel-good read from the Sunday Times bestselling author&‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS&’ Debbie Johnson When Connie discovers that Jimmy Diamond, her husband of more than twenty years, is planning to leave her for his office junior, her world is turned upside down. Determined to salvage her pride, she resolves to get her own back. Along with Della, Jimmy's right-hand woman at his cleaning firm, Diamond Shine, and the cleaners who meet at the Sunflower Café, she'll make him wish he had never underestimated her. Then Connie meets the charming Brandon Locke, a master chocolatier, whose kindness starts to melt her soul. Can the ladies of the Sunflower Cafe help Connie scrub away the hurt? And can Brandon make her trust again?Praise for Milly Johnson: 'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it&’s like finding a pot of gold' heat 'A glorious, heartfelt novel' Rowan Coleman &‘Absolutely loved it. Milly's writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath. I was rooting for Bonnie from the start' Jane Fallon &‘Bursting with warmth and joie de vivre&’ Jill Mansell &‘Warm, optimistic and romantic&’ Katie Fforde
In Darkness Waiting
by John ShirleyNo writer combines the "delight in dread" with social consciousness and metaphysical meaning the way John Shirley does. Although In Darkness Waiting begins in much the same vein as many horror novels (mysterious deaths; a small town invaded by evil; plucky, attractive young lovers; the logical level-headed doctor; some salt-of-the-earth townsfolk...) by its end you will have discovered it is not "just another horror novel." With its exploration of the "insect" inside us all, In Darkness Waiting proves more relevant today than ever. Considering a read of In Darkness Waiting is like considering a trip through the Amazon with no weapons and no vaccinations and no shoes. It's like contemplating a journey in the Arctic clad only in your underwear. Or maybe it's more like dropping into one of those spelunker's challenges, those chilling pitch-black shafts into the Earth's crust-and when you get down there your light burns out and you remember the chitinous fauna of the cavern...Unlike undertaking those endeavors, you can get through the harrowing pages of In Darkness Waiting alive (although we are not promising you'll remain unscathed.) Towards the end you'll discover one of the most extreme yet literate passages ever written. It may well be the most outré scene ever created.But John Shirley wasn't after shock alone. Shock is never enough for him.
Phantom Effect
by Michael AronovitzJonathan Martin Delaware Deseronto is a six-foot-five serial killer with a problem. He&’s stuck out on I-476 in a heavy November rainstorm with two flat tires and the dead bodies of a cop and a co-ed named Marissa Madison in his trunk. Desperate to get off the highway, he drives his car on its back rims towards Exit 6. The car stalls on the ramp and Deseronto uses the last of its momentum to plunge over the crest of a steep slope and crash into a length of concrete pipe below. The car comes to rest on the edge of a construction site where machines are positioned to tear down an old Motel 6.For Deseronto, the worst is yet to come. Marissa Madison had been a psychic of sorts while alive, using her ability to assist people in their personal journeys. Now, the ghost of Marissa will utilize her strange gift, trapping Deseronto in the abandoned motel, and forcing him to live the last, fatal week of her own life as a passive passenger in her body . . . Soon, Deseronto will experience something truly horrific: the mind-numbing terror of being stalked by himself.
Knife Sworn: Tower and Knife 1 (Tower and Knife)
by Mazarkis WilliamsMazarkis William&’s debut novel, The Emperor&’s Knife, was praised for its exotic settings, gripping intrigue, and vivid, full-blooded characters. Now Williams returns to the sumptuous palaces and treacherous back alleys of the Cerani Empire, where intrigue, passion, and dangerous magic threaten the very soul of a newly-crowned emperor.After spending most of his life in captivity and solitude, Sarmin now sits upon the Petal Throne of Cerana. But his reign is an uneasy one. Ambitious generals and restless soldiers want war at any cost. An insidious foreign religion stirs fear among the people and the court. And the emperor&’s own heart is torn between two very different women: Mesema, a Windreader princess of the northern plains, and Grada, a lowborn untouchable with whom Sarmin shares a unique bond. A natural-born mage, Sarmin also carries within him a throng of bodiless spirits whose conflicting memories and desires force him to wage a private battle for his sanity.In times past, a royal assassin known as the Emperor&’s Knife served as the keen edge of justice, defending the throne from any and all menaces, but the last Knife has perished and his successor has yet to be named. For his own safety, and that of the empire, Sarmin must choose his own loyal death-dealer . . . .but upon whom can be he bestow the bloody burden of the Knife-Sworn?
The Best Horror of the Year (Best Horror of the Year)
by Ellen DatlowDarkness, both literal and psychological, holds its own unique fascination. Despite our fears, or perhaps because of them, readers have always been drawn to tales of death, terror, madness, and the supernatural, and no more so than today when a wildly imaginative new generation of dark dreamers is carrying on in the tradition of Poe and Lovecraft and King, crafting exquisitely disturbing literary nightmares that gaze without flinching into the abyss—and linger in the mind long after.Multiple award-winning editor Ellen Datlow knows the darkest corners of fiction and poetry better than most. Once again, she has braved the haunted landscape of modern horror to seek out the most chilling new works by both legendary masters of the genre and fresh young talents. Here are twisted hungers and obsessions, human and otherwise, along with an unsettling variety of spine-tingling fears and fantasies. The cutting edge of horror has never cut deeper than in this comprehensive showcase of the very best the field has to offer. Enter at your own risk.
Zero Point (The Owner)
by Neal AsherEarth&’s Zero Asset citizens no longer face extermination from orbit. Thanks to Alan Saul, the Committee&’s network of control is a smoking ruin and its robotic enforcers lie dormant. But power abhors a vacuum and, scrambling from the wreckage, comes the ruthless Serene Galahad. She must act while the last vestiges of Committee infrastructure remain intact – and she has the means to ensure command is hers. On Mars, Var Delex fights for the survival of Antares Base, while the Argus Space Station hurls towards the red planet. And she knows whomever, or whatever, trashed Earth is still aboard. Var must save the base, while also dealing with the first signs of rebellion. And aboard Argus Station, Alan Saul&’s mind has expanded into the local computer network. In the process, he uncovers the ghastly experiments of the Humanoid Unit Development, the possibility of eternal life, and a madman who may hold the keys to interstellar flight. But Earth&’s agents are closer than Saul thinks, and the killing will soon begin.
Ghosts of Yesterday
by Jack CadyGhosts of Yesterday is a stunning collection by multiple-award-winning author Jack Cady The Off Season, The Haunting of Hood Canal. Cady captures the sights and emotions of America, from the Pacific Northwest ("Jeremiah"), to the streets of San Francisco ("The Lady With the Blind Dog"), to the Midwest-heartland ("Halloween 1942"), along the roads and highways in between ("The Ghost of Dive Bomber Hill"), and back into the history of the American Southeast ("The Time That Time Forgot"). The stories that make up Ghosts of Yesterday are detailed and realistic portraits of the world that, despite (and perhaps because) of their authenticity, manage to convey a sense of wonder and fantastic, where anything is possible. The characters and places that Cady brings to life demonstrate clearly why he is one of the most versatile and respected writers today... His stories will move you, and change the way you look at the world.
Witches Be Crazy
by Logan HunderReal heroes never die. But they do get grouchy in middle age.The beloved King Ik is dead, and there was barely time to check his pulse before the royal throne was supporting the suspiciously shapely backside of an impostor pretending to be Ik&’s beautiful long-lost daughter. With the land&’s heroic hunks busy drooling all over themselves, there&’s only one man left who can save the kingdom of Jenair. His name is Dungar Loloth, a rural blacksmith turned innkeeper, a surly hermit and an all-around nobody oozing toward middle age, compensating for a lack of height, looks, charm, and tact with guts and an attitude.Normally politics are the least of his concerns, but after everyone in the neighboring kingdom of Farrawee comes down with a severe case of being dead, Dungar learns that the masquerading princess not only is behind the carnage but also has similar plans for his own hometown. Together with the only person senseless enough to tag along, an eccentric and arguably insane hobo named Jimminy, he journeys out into the world he&’s so pointedly tried to avoid as the only hope of defeating the most powerful person in it. That is, if he can survive the pirates, cultists, radical Amazonians, and assorted other dangers lying in wait along the way.Logan J. Hunder&’s hilarious debut blows up the fantasy genre with its wry juxtaposition of the fantastic and the mundane, proving that the best and brightest heroes aren&’t always the best for the job.
Brave New Worlds
by John Joseph AdamsFrom Huxley's Brave New World, to Orwell's 1984, to Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, dystopian books have always been an integral part of both science fiction and literature, and have influenced the broader culture discussion in unique and permanent ways. Brave New Worlds brings together the best dystopian fiction of the last 30 years, demonstrating the diversity that flourishes in this compelling subgenre.This landmark tome contains stories by Ursula K. Le Guin, Cory Doctorow, M. Rickert, Paolo Bacigalupi, Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, and many others.
The Emperors Knife: Tower and Knife 2 (Tower and Knife)
by Mazarkis WilliamsThere is a cancer at the heart of the mighty Cerani Empire: a plague that marks each victim with a fragment of a greater design. Geometric patterns spread across the skin, until the victim dies in agony or becomes a Carrier, doing the bidding of an evil intelligence.The lost prince Sarmin, the emperor's only surviving brother, lies locked in a hidden room. As the pattern draws closer to the palace he is at last remembered: now he awaits a bride, Mesema, a Windreader from the northern plains. She is accustomed to riding free across the grasslands and finds the Imperial Court stifling, but she soon realizes the politicking is not a game. It is in deadly earnest.Eyul, the imperial assassin, is burdened by the atrocities he has committed. As commanded, he bears the emperor's Knife to the desert in search of a cure for the pattern-markings.As long-planned conspiracies boil over into open violence, the enemy moves towards victory. Now only three people stand in his way: a lost prince, a world-weary killer, and a young girl from the steppes who saw a path in a pattern once, among the waving grasses.
The Windup Girl
by Paolo BacigalupiWinner of the Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel, a new edition of the break-out science fiction debut featuring additional stories and a Q&A with the author.Anderson Lake is AgriGen&’s Calorie Man, sent to work undercover as a factory manager in Thailand while combing Bangkok&’s street markets in search of foodstuffs thought to be extinct, hoping to reap the bounty of history&’s lost calories.Emiko is the Windup Girl, a strange and beautiful creature. Emiko is not human; she is an engineered being, grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in this chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe.What happens when calories become currency? What happens when bio-terrorism becomes a tool for corporate profits and forces mankind to the cusp of post-human evolution? Bacigalupi delivers one of the most highly-acclaimed science fiction novels of the twenty-first century.In this brand new edition celebrating the book&’s reception into the canon of celebrated modern science fiction, accompanying the text are two novelettes exploring the dystopian world of The Windup Girl, the Theodore Sturgeon Award-winning &“The Calorie Man&” and &“Yellow Card Man.&” Also included are course-work questions for use in the classroom, and an exclusive Q&A with the author describing his writing process, the political climate into which his debut novel was published, and the future of science fiction.
The Shattered Sigil Series
by Courtney SchaferThe first two entries in The Shattered Sigil series! Containing The Whitefire Crossings and The Tainted City for the first time together in one edition.
Arrows of Time (Orthogonal)
by Greg EganIn an alien universe where space and time play by different rules, interstellar voyages last longer for the travellers than for those they left behind. After six generations in flight, the inhabitants of the mountain-sized spacecraft the Peerless have used their borrowed time to develop advanced technology that could save their home world from annihilation.But not every traveller feels allegiance to a world they have never seen, and as tensions mount over the risks of turning the ship around and starting the long voyage home, a new complication arises: the prospect of constructing a messaging system that will give the Peerless news of its own future.While some of the crew welcome the opportunity to be warned of impending dangers - and perhaps even hear reports of the ship's triumphant return - others are convinced that knowing what lies ahead will be oppressive, and that the system will be abused. Agata longs for a chance to hear a message from the ancestors back on the home world, proving that the sacrifices of the travellers have not been in vain, but her most outspoken rival, Ramiro, fears that the system will undermine every decision the travellers make.When a vote fails to settle the matter and dissent erupts into violence, Ramiro, Agata and their allies must seek a new way to bring peace to the Peerless - by traveling to a world where time runs in reverse.The Arrows of Time is the final volume of the Orthogonal trilogy, bringing a powerful and surprising conclusion to the epic story of the Peerless that began with The Clockwork Rocket and The Eternal Flame.
Rules of '48
by Jack CadyMaster storyteller Jack Cady's final novel, Rules of '48, is a stirring semi-autobiographical examination of changing social conventions, and the development of the American conscience in the aftermath of the greatest war in history. In a city with roots deep in the Confederacy, five men endure seven deadly weeks that forever alter their perceptions of the world.
A Shadow of All Night Falling: Book One of A Cruel Wind
by Glen CookBefore there was Black Company, there was the Dread Empire, an omnibus collection the first three Dread Empire novels: A Shadow of All Night's Falling, October's Baby and All Darkness Met. For the first time in eBook format, the A Cruel Wind collection is available as individual books.
Blind God's Bluff
by Richard Lee ByersAnte up for the game of a lifetime!Billy Fox, a small-time gambler on a losing streak, has more than enough problems on his hands, owing too much money to some very impatient people. But when he rescues a blinded stranger from a swarm of bloodthirsty fairies, Billy&’s life gets a lot more complicated. . . .Seems the stranger is actually a powerful local god who is involved in a high-stakes Florida poker tournament against various supernatural challengers. And with his eyes currently missing, he needs somebody to take his place at the gaming table. Before Billy knows it, he finds himself playing against the likes of an ancient Egyptian mummy, an unbearably seductive succubus, a mechanical man, an insect queen, and a cannibalistic beast-man. And not just cards are in play; magic, bloodshed, and cheating are not only expected, they&’re encouraged.Everybody, including a sexy satyr-girl with her own cards up her sleeve, thinks that Billy is in way over his head. But Billy is a born gambler and, when the chips are down, he might just change his luck for good!Blind God's Bluff is an outrageously addictive urban fantasy that will keep you flipping pages until the very last hand.
No Return
by Zachary JerniganOn Jeroun, there is no question as to whether God exists--only what his intentions are.Under the looming judgment of Adrash and his ultimate weapon--a string of spinning spheres beside the moon known as The Needle--warring factions of white and black suits prove their opposition to the orbiting god with the great fighting tournament of Tchootoo, on the far side of Jeroun's only inhabitable continent.From the Thirteenth Order of Black Suits comes Vedas, a young master of martial arts, laden with guilt over the death of one of his students. Traveling with him are Churls, a warrior woman and mercenary haunted by the ghost of her daughter, and Manshep, a constructed man made of modular spheres possessed by the foul spirit of his creator. Together they must brave their own demons, as well as thieves, mages, beasts, dearth, and hardship on the perilous road to Tchootoo, and the bloody sectarian battle that is sure to follow.On the other side of the world, unbeknownst to the travelers, Ebn and Pol of the Royal Outbound Mages (astronauts using Alchemical magic to achieve space flight) have formed a plan to appease Adrash and bring peace to the planet. But Ebn and Pol each have their own clandestine agendas--which may call down the wrath of the very god they hope to woo.Who may know the mind of God? And who in their right mind would seek to defy him? Gritty, erotic, and fast-paced, author Zachary Jernigan takes you on a sensuous ride through a world at the knife-edge of salvation and destruction, in one of the year's most exciting fantasy epics.
Data-Driven Energy Management and Tariff Optimization in Power Systems: Shaping the Future of Electricity Distribution through Analytics
by Pierluigi Siano Josep M. Guerrero Hamidreza Arasteh Niki MoslemiPresents a comprehensive guide to transforming power systems through data Data-Driven Energy Management and Tariff Optimization in Power Systems offers an authoritative examination of how data science is reshaping the energy landscape. As the electricity sector grapples with increasing complexity, this timely volume responds to a growing demand for adaptive strategies that enable accurate forecasting, intelligent tariff design, and optimized resource allocation, underpinned by advanced analytics and machine learning. Drawing on global expertise and real-world case studies, the book bridges the theoretical and practical dimensions of energy systems management, providing deep insight into how data collected from smart meters, SCADA systems, and IoT devices can be mined for predictive modeling, demand response, and peak load management. The book’s accessible structure and didactic approach make it suitable for a wide readership, while its breadth of topics ensures relevance across the spectrum of energy challenges. Integrating rigorous analysis with application-oriented strategies, this book: Presents advanced techniques in machine learning, predictive modeling, and pattern recognition tailored to energy management and tariff designProvides accessible explanations of complex algorithms through a didactic and visual teaching style, including informative tables and illustrationsHighlights tools for grid stability, demand forecasting, and peak load management using high-resolution energy dataAddresses the integration of renewable energy sources into existing infrastructures through data-driven optimization Designed for a broad audience, Data-Driven Energy Management and Tariff Optimization in Power Systems is ideal for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in energy management, power systems analytics, and smart grids as part of electrical engineering or energy policy programs. It is also an essential reference for power system engineers, energy analysts, researchers, and policymakers involved in grid planning and optimization.
Debating the Presidency: Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive
by Michael Nelson Richard J. EllisThe study of the presidency—the power of the office, the evolution of the executive as an institution, the men who have served—has generated a great body of research and scholarship. What better way to get students to grapple with the ideas of the literature than through conflicting perspectives on some of the most pivotal issues facing the modern presidency? Richard Ellis and Michael Nelson have once again assembled a cadre of top scholars to offer a series of pro/con essays that will inspire spirited debate beyond the pages of the book. Each essay—written in the form of a debate resolution— offers a compelling yet concise view on the American executive.
The National Curriculum and the Teachers′ Standards (Ready to Teach)
by Learning MattersThe national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum. The Teachers′ Standards underpin professional practice and all teachers need to work towards and within this framework. This updated, comprehensive handbook presents ALL key statutory, essential reading for trainee and beginning teachers in one place. It includes The National Curriculum Programmes of Study for ALL curriculum subjects for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 The complete Teachers′ Standards Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education guidance in full Foreword from Dylan Wiliam focusing on the need for a broad and balanced curriculum in schools National curriculum by topic planner for English and Maths at Key Stages 1 and 2 Full index for easy reference This 4th edition is updated with the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF).
Debating the Presidency: Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive
by Michael Nelson Richard J. EllisThe study of the presidency—the power of the office, the evolution of the executive as an institution, the men who have served—has generated a great body of research and scholarship. What better way to get students to grapple with the ideas of the literature than through conflicting perspectives on some of the most pivotal issues facing the modern presidency? Richard Ellis and Michael Nelson have once again assembled a cadre of top scholars to offer a series of pro/con essays that will inspire spirited debate beyond the pages of the book. Each essay—written in the form of a debate resolution— offers a compelling yet concise view on the American executive.
The National Curriculum and the Teachers′ Standards (Ready to Teach)
by Learning MattersThe national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum. The Teachers′ Standards underpin professional practice and all teachers need to work towards and within this framework. This updated, comprehensive handbook presents ALL key statutory, essential reading for trainee and beginning teachers in one place. It includes The National Curriculum Programmes of Study for ALL curriculum subjects for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 The complete Teachers′ Standards Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education guidance in full Foreword from Dylan Wiliam focusing on the need for a broad and balanced curriculum in schools National curriculum by topic planner for English and Maths at Key Stages 1 and 2 Full index for easy reference This 4th edition is updated with the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF).
The Future of Tutoring: Lessons from 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives
by Liz CohenThe inspiring story of the high-impact tutoring movement and its revitalization of the post-pandemic classroom Public education isn&’t a sector known for quick change, but the COVID-19 pandemic turned schools into labs of innovation nationwide. By the pandemic&’s end, a remarkable number of K–12 classrooms had come to embrace tutoring, particularly &“high-impact tutoring&” and its adaptable design. In The Future of Tutoring, Liz Cohen looks back at a unique revolution and finds that, with effective buy-in and thoughtful implementation, tutoring programs can improve academic performance for all students. Within a year into the pandemic, 10,000 US school districts were offering some sort of tutoring initiative after years of almost none. The lessons learned are vast. Traveling to Ohio, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC, Cohen covers the ups and downs of this massive shift, with a special focus on high-impact tutoring, in which a small group of students work consistently with an adult at least three days a week. Whether the instruction was in-person or virtual, performed by district staff or college students, or focused on math or reading, this renewed investment in the student-tutor relationship helped educators design curricula around students&’ specific needs and motivators, with measurable results. Cohen tells an inspiring story of administrators, practitioners, and state leaders all staking their reputations on a bold intervention. As leaders struggle with how to combat students&’ learning loss, The Future of Tutoring shows where resources can make a real difference.
Electric Vehicle Design: Design, Simulation, and Applications
by Himanshu Sharma Suman Lata Tripathi Krishan AroraELECTRIC VEHICLE DESIGN This book will serve as a definitive guide to conceptual and practical knowledge about the design of hybrid electrical vehicles (HEV), battery electrical vehicles (BEV), fuel cell electrical vehicles (FCEV), plug-in hybrid electrical vehicles (PHEV), and efficient EV charging techniques with advanced tools and methodologies for students, engineers, and academics alike. This book deals with novel concepts related to fundamentals, design, and applications of conventional automobiles with internal combustion engines (ICEs), electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). It broadly covers vehicle performance, configuration, control strategy, design methodology, modeling, and simulation for different conventional and hybrid vehicles based on mathematical equations. Fundamental and practical examples of conventional electrical machines, advanced electrical machines, battery energy sources, on-board charging and off-board charging techniques, and optimization methods are presented here. This book can be useful for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in different problems and challenges associated with electric vehicles. Furthermore, in explaining the design methodology of each drive train, design examples are presented with simulation results.