Perfect for an entry-level sci-fi reader and the ideal addition to a veteran fan's collection, John Scalzi's Old Man's War will take audiences on a heart-stopping adventure into the far corners of the universe. John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army. The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and aliens willing to fight for them are common. The universe, it turns out, is a hostile place. So: we fight. To defend Earth (a target for our new enemies, should we let them get close enough) and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has gone on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding. Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force, which shields the home planet from too much knowledge of the situation. What's known to everybody is that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve your time at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets. John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine-and what he will become is far stranger. Old Man's War Series #1 Old Man's War #2 The Ghost Brigades #3 The Last Colony #4 Zoe's Tale #5 The Human Division #6 The End of All Things Short fiction: "After the Coup" Other Tor Books The Android's Dream Agent to the Stars Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded Fuzzy Nation Redshirts Lock In The Collapsing Empire At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Brilliant, bold and thrilling, The Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood is the epic fantasy sequel to The Unspoken Name. Could you sacrifice your dreams to escape a nightmare? Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal survey abandoned Echentyr worlds to make a living. The empire¿s ruins seem harmless but fascinating. Yet disaster strikes when they stumble upon ancient magic during a routine expedition. This revives a warrior whöd slept for an age, reigniting a conflict thousands of years old. And the soldier binds Csorwe to her cause. Shuthmili is desperate to protect the woman she loves. However, as events escalate, she¿s torn. Can she help Csorwe by clinging to her own humanity or by embracing her eldritch powers? Tal heads home, but his peace is shattered when a magical catastrophe hits his city. The wizard Sethennai is missing and Tal can¿t face seeking his former lover to ask for help. So, he flees ¿ but there¿s no escaping the future. For throughout the Echo Maze¿s linked worlds, fragments of an undead goddess are waking. Soon all must choose a side. Praise for The Unspoken Name: `An outstanding debut . . . unlike anything I¿ve read before¿ ¿ Nicholas Eames `Richly detailed, enthralling and extraordinary¿ ¿ Jenn Lyons `Stylish, classy and timeless . . . I cannot recommend it enough¿ ¿ Tamsyn Muir `An adventure I couldn¿t put down¿ ¿ S. A. Chakraborty

Brilliant, bold and thrilling, The Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood is the epic fantasy sequel to The Unspoken Name. Could you sacrifice your dreams to escape a nightmare? Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal survey abandoned Echentyr worlds to make a living. The empire¿s ruins seem harmless but fascinating. Yet disaster strikes when they stumble upon ancient magic during a routine expedition. This revives a warrior whöd slept for an age, reigniting a conflict thousands of years old. And the soldier binds Csorwe to her cause. Shuthmili is desperate to protect the woman she loves. However, as events escalate, she¿s torn. Can she help Csorwe by clinging to her own humanity or by embracing her eldritch powers? Tal heads home, but his peace is shattered when a magical catastrophe hits his city. The wizard Sethennai is missing and Tal can¿t face seeking his former lover to ask for help. So, he flees ¿ but there¿s no escaping the future. For throughout the Echo Maze¿s linked worlds, fragments of an undead goddess are waking. Soon all must choose a side. Praise for The Unspoken Name: `An outstanding debut . . . unlike anything I¿ve read before¿ ¿ Nicholas Eames `Richly detailed, enthralling and extraordinary¿ ¿ Jenn Lyons `Stylish, classy and timeless . . . I cannot recommend it enough¿ ¿ Tamsyn Muir `An adventure I couldn¿t put down¿ ¿ S. A. Chakraborty

One of six beloved Christmas classics in collectible hardcover editions First published on December 19, 1843, A Christmas Carol was an instant classic: Londoners thronged to hear Dickens read it in person and bought out the first printing in days. Its reception was so ecstatic that it is credited with helping to revive interest among the Victorians in Christmas traditions, including caroling and holiday cards, as well as inciting an unexpected wave of charitable giving from Britain’s Industrial Age robber barons. Originally conceived as a pamphlet against exploitative capitalism before taking its current form, it has inspired dozens of theatrical and movie adaptions, and its characters, from Scrooge to Tiny Tim, are forever inscribed in our hearts and minds. Penguin Christmas Classics Give the gift of literature this Christmas. Penguin Christmas Classics honor the power of literature to keep on giving through the ages. The six volumes in the series are not only our most beloved Christmas tales, they also have given us much of what we love about the holiday itself. A Christmas Carol revived in Victorian England such Christmas hallmarks as the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and caroling. The Yuletide yarns of Anthony Trollope popularized throughout the British Empire and around the world the trappings of Christmas in London. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus created the origin story for the presiding spirit of Christmas as we know it. The holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott shaped the ideal of an American Christmas. The Night Before Christmas brought forth some of our earliest Christmas traditions as passed down through folk tales. And The Nutcracker inspired the most famous ballet in history, one seen by millions in the twilight of every year. Beautifully designed hardcovers—with foil-stamped jackets, decorative endpapers, and nameplates for personalization—in a small trim size that makes them perfect stocking stuffers, Penguin Christmas Classics embody the spirit of giving that is at the heart of our most time-honored stories about the holiday. Collect all six Penguin Christmas Classics: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Christmas at Thompson Hall: And Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2011 im Fachbereich Pädagogik - Medienpädagogik, einseitig bedruckt, Note: 2,3, FernUniversität Hagen (Fakultät für Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften), Veranstaltung: MA Bildung und Medien - eEducation, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: In dieser Arbeit wird am Beispiel der Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund aufgezeigt, wie das Konzept der e-Inklusion eingesetzt werden kann, um dieser von der digitalen Ausgrenzung betroffenen Bevölkerungsgruppe die Möglichkeit zu eröffnen, sich aktiv an der Informationsgesellschaft zu beteiligen und so die bereits bestehende Digitale Kluft überwinden zu können. Dazu werden zum einen die soziodemographischen und sozioökonomischen Faktoren wie Alter, Geschlecht, Behinderung, Migrationshintergrund, Stadt-Land-Zugehörigkeit, Beschäftigung, Einkommen und Bildungsgrad, die zur Entstehung der Digitalen Kluft führen bzw. diese begünstigen können, anhand empirischer Studien zur Internetnutzung genauer betrachtet. Zum anderen wird mit Hilfe der Kapitaltheorie des französischen Kultursoziologen Pierre Bourdieu versucht zu erklären, warum gerade diese Faktoren entscheidenden Einfluss auf die Internetnutzung bzw. Internetnichtnutzung ausüben. Anschließend wird auf den Status Quo der Digitalen Kluft in Deutschland wie auch auf das umfassende Konzept der e-Inklusion und die damit verbundenen, integrationsfördernden Maßnahmen eingegangen. Zum Abschluss werden einige ausgewählte Best-Practice-Beispiele vorgestellt, die diese Maßnahmen bereits erfolgreich umgesetzt haben.This paper shows how the concept of e-inclusion can be used to help people with an immigrant background get the chance to actively participate in the modern and knowledgebased information society and so to successfully overcome the existing digital divide. For this purpose a closer look is taken on the sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables like urban or rural affiliation, migration background, age, gender, physical or psychical handicaps, employment and income and education levels using empirical studies because these variables have a strong influence not only on the formation but also on the intensification of the digital divide. In order to explain this strong influence the capital theory of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu is used. Another part of this paper deals with the status quo of the digital divide in Germany as well as with the concept of e-inclusion and the associated target-group-oriented measures and initiatives supporting integration. The last part presents some best practice examples that aim to prevent isolation and social exclusion by not only providing access to modern communi-cation technologies but also by enabling people to use these technologies to their personal benefit.

Excellent introduction to the philosophy, method, and procedures of Baucherism, or the French tradition of "riding in lightness" that Baucher developed in the 19th century. Includes a translation of Baucher's "second manner." Jean-Claude Racinet wrote a few articles in the magazine Dressage and CT in 1992-3 on Baucher and his equitation. This series, with some necessary editing for cohesion, has been brought together to create this book. Two appendices were added; the first one deals with the validity of Baucherism, in light of the last discoveries of "equine osteopathy," as exposed by Dr. Dominique Giniaux of France; the second is a translation of the very last part of the 12th edition of Baucher's Methode d'Equitation, dealing with his second "manner." This text has probably never been translated into English, and is of utmost importance. The riders who will endeavor to apply by the letter the progression described by Baucher in this text will, to their surprise, probably accede to a new and higher level of equestrian knowledge. Born in Paris in 1929, Jean-Claude Racinet is a graduate of St. Cyr, the French West Point, Class of 1950. He was a member of the French contingent in Korea (1950-53), where he was wounded twice. As an officer of the French army, he spent seven years in Tunisia and Algeria (1954-61) and four more years in Europe. While he spent most of his army career during the time when the military was getting rid of their horses, he managed, between and during his sojourns overseas, to successfully attend the Superior Equitation Course in the Cavalry School of Saumur (1953-54), winning the title of Champion of Tunisia in open jumping (1956), and to become a member of the Jumping Team of the Military School in Paris (1953). Riding teacher and trainer as a civilian after 1965, he was more particularly known by his retraining of difficult horses and later as an equestrian journalist by his always witty and sometimes scathing articles in the French equestrian monthly L'Information Hippique. In the United States since 1983, Jean-Claude Racinet became a successful teacher, trainer, lecturer, clinician, and author. Xenophon Press published in 1994 his highly popular book Another Horsemanship, now in its second printing. Jean-Claude Racinet has devoted his life to the vindication of "L¡¯equitation de Legerete" (riding in lightness), which fosters balance by relaxing the horse - more so his mouth - excluding force in the wielding of the aids. In fact, the very essence of riding in the French Classical tradition. softcover, 207 pages, illustrated. Excerpt from the book: So, who was Francois Baucher? Francois Baucher was born in Versailles near Paris on June 16, 1796. Twenty-nine-year-old General Napoleon Bonaparte's "Coup d'Etat" was to take place on December 2, 1798, so the childhood and youth of Baucher was to unfold during the Napoleonic era, which the French call the "First Empire." At age 14, Francois Baucher was brought to Italy by an uncle who was managing in Milan the stable of Camille Borghese, Prince of Sulmone, and husband of Pauline Bonaparte, a sister of Napoleon. Four years later, at the fall of Napoleon, Baucher came back to France. He worked for a short time in the stables of the Duke of Berry in Versailles, then decided to work for himself and by 1820 settled in Normandy where he managed first one, then two riding establishments, in Le Havre and Rouen. Baucher evinced outstanding qualities as a rider, trainer, and riding teacher. Yet he deplored that the way horsemanship was taught at the time was unclear, vague, and futile, and he set out to create his own system which, he hoped, would be based on rationality and "scientific" observations.

Magisterarbeit aus dem Jahr 2007 im Fachbereich Medien / Kommunikation - Multimedia, Internet, neue Technologien, Note: 1,7, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Bereich Medienwissenschaften/ Lehrstuhl für Ökonomie und Organisation der Medien), Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: ¿Willkommen in der neuen Welt der Strategie! Dies ist der Anbruch eines neuen Zeitalters in der Welt der Real-Time-Strategy-Spiele (RTS). Eine einzigartige neue Welt entsteht - feindlich, aber dennoch fas-zinierend, mit innovativem Gameplay, neuen strategischen Szenarien, einer un-vergleichlichen, atemberaubenden Grafik und vielem mehr.¿ - Ausschnitt aus der Werbung zum Echtzeit-Strategiespiel "Age of Empires 3" (Microsoft) Was Werbeslogans wie dieser versprechen, ist für einen Großteil der heutigen Generation von Computerspielern nicht mehr aus der Freizeit wegzudenken: Virtuelle Welten faszinieren Jung und Alt, sei es auf dem althergebrachten Heim-computer oder neueren Plattformen wie Konsole und Handy. Computerspiele sind ein Massenphänomen und gehören inzwischen zur medialen Alltagswelt. Die Umsätze der Industrie sprechen deutliche Zahlen und haben das virtuelle Spielvergnügen aus der einstigen Rolle des Spielzeugs herauskatapultiert und zum Medium heranwachsen lassen. Innerhalb von nur wenigen Jahrzehnten hat das Computerspiel etwas geschafft, wofür andere Medien Generationen benötig-ten: die massenhafte Durchsetzung. Inzwischen konkurriert das Computerspiel in ökonomischer Hinsicht mit klassischen Medien wie dem Film und hat diesen in punkto Umsatzerfolg an der Kinokasse gar übertroffen. Computer- und Video-spiele liegen voll im Trend und erschließen neue Zielgruppen wie Kleinkinder und vor allem Frauen. Waren virtuelle Spiele früher als ¿Männerspielzeug¿ und be-langloser Zeitvertreib verschrien, so gab es inzwischen einen Wandel vom Ni-schen- hin zum Massenmarkt. Die Angebotspalette von Computer- und Video-spielen ist mittlerweile fast unüberschaubar, für jeden Geschmack und jede Ziel-gruppe werden inzwischen individuelle Titel zusammengestellt. Die Genrevielzahl wird dadurch erhöht, dass moderne Spiele oftmals einen Genremix bieten, um die Attraktivität weiter zu steigern.

Magisterarbeit aus dem Jahr 2007 im Fachbereich Medien / Kommunikation - Multimedia, Internet, neue Technologien, Note: 1,7, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Bereich Medienwissenschaften/ Lehrstuhl für Ökonomie und Organisation der Medien), Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: ¿Willkommen in der neuen Welt der Strategie! Dies ist der Anbruch eines neuen Zeitalters in der Welt der Real-Time-Strategy-Spiele (RTS). Eine einzigartige neue Welt entsteht - feindlich, aber dennoch fas-zinierend, mit innovativem Gameplay, neuen strategischen Szenarien, einer un-vergleichlichen, atemberaubenden Grafik und vielem mehr.¿ - Ausschnitt aus der Werbung zum Echtzeit-Strategiespiel "Age of Empires 3" (Microsoft) Was Werbeslogans wie dieser versprechen, ist für einen Großteil der heutigen Generation von Computerspielern nicht mehr aus der Freizeit wegzudenken: Virtuelle Welten faszinieren Jung und Alt, sei es auf dem althergebrachten Heim-computer oder neueren Plattformen wie Konsole und Handy. Computerspiele sind ein Massenphänomen und gehören inzwischen zur medialen Alltagswelt. Die Umsätze der Industrie sprechen deutliche Zahlen und haben das virtuelle Spielvergnügen aus der einstigen Rolle des Spielzeugs herauskatapultiert und zum Medium heranwachsen lassen. Innerhalb von nur wenigen Jahrzehnten hat das Computerspiel etwas geschafft, wofür andere Medien Generationen benötig-ten: die massenhafte Durchsetzung. Inzwischen konkurriert das Computerspiel in ökonomischer Hinsicht mit klassischen Medien wie dem Film und hat diesen in punkto Umsatzerfolg an der Kinokasse gar übertroffen. Computer- und Video-spiele liegen voll im Trend und erschließen neue Zielgruppen wie Kleinkinder und vor allem Frauen. Waren virtuelle Spiele früher als ¿Männerspielzeug¿ und be-langloser Zeitvertreib verschrien, so gab es inzwischen einen Wandel vom Ni-schen- hin zum Massenmarkt. Die Angebotspalette von Computer- und Video-spielen ist mittlerweile fast unüberschaubar, für jeden Geschmack und jede Ziel-gruppe werden inzwischen individuelle Titel zusammengestellt. Die Genrevielzahl wird dadurch erhöht, dass moderne Spiele oftmals einen Genremix bieten, um die Attraktivität weiter zu steigern.

Mehr Struktur für Ihren Desktop Windows 11 verfügt über benutzerfreundliche Funktionen, mit denen Sie Ihren Bildschirmbereich optimieren und Ihre Produktivität maximieren können. Kombinieren Sie das mit einem Microsoft 365-Abonnement, und Sie sind bestens für all Ihre Aufgaben gerüstet. Organisieren Sie Fenster mit der Andockhilfe Nehmen Sie an einem Anruf teil. Finden Sie Antworten. Beenden Sie Ihren Vortrag. Wenn Sie viel zu erledigen haben, können Sie mit der Andockhilfe ganz leicht organisiert bleiben. Ihr Inhalt, perfekt aufbereitet Ihre Lieblingsfotos. Die Weltnachrichten. Die To-Do-Liste von heute und das Wetter von morgen. Widgets helfen Ihnen, schnell relevante Inhalte zu finden. Alles, was Sie brauchen – nur einen Swipe entfernt. Gestalten Sie Ihren Workflow ganz neu PowerPoint, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Teams – die Anwendungen, die Sie täglich im Einsatz haben, funktionieren nahtlos mit neuen Multitasking-Funktionen wie Snap-Layouts, Desktops und einem neuen intuitiveren Redocking-Erlebnis. Gemeinsam besser leben Mit Chat in Microsoft Teams erreichen Sie alle Ihre Kontakte so, wie Sie gerade möchten – per Anruf, Chat, Text oder Video – direkt über Ihren Desktop. Das Neueste in PC Gaming-Performance Spielen Sie die neuesten Spiele mit Grafiken, die so nah an der Realität sind, dass sie mit ihr konkurrieren. Spielen Sie auf Konsole mit anderen sowie mit den Peripheriegeräten, die Sie lieben. Spielen Sie nach Ihren Vorstellungen – Windows 11 macht es möglich. Hören Sie nie auf zu spielen Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Age of Empires IV – dies sind nur einige der grossen Namen, auf die Sie mit dem Xbox Game Pass vom ersten Tag an Zugriff haben (Abonnement separat erhältlich). Ein PC, der sich an Sie anpasst Mit der grossen Auswahl an Geräten – hinsichtlich Stil, Funktionen und Formfaktoren – können Sie davon ausgehen, dass Sie mit Windows 11 das für Sie passende finden werden.

'The Ember Blade is hands down the best fantasy novel I've ever read' Grimdark Magazine Empires rise, civilisations fall and one culture comes to subsume another. It's the way of the world . . . sometimes ways of life are improved, sometimes they are not. But the progression of change is huge and - usually - unstoppable. In this story, the Ossian way of life is fading and the Dachen way is taking its place and Aren is comfortable with that. Even when his parents are accused of treason he supports the establishment and maintains there's been some mistake . . . which is all it takes to get himself and his best friend arrested . . . Thrown into a prison mine they plan their escape - only to be overtaken by events when they're rescued, and promptly find themselves in the middle of an ambush. By the time they've escaped, they're unavoidably linked to Garric - their unwelcome saviour - and his quest to overturn to Dachen way of life. If they leave Garric now, they'll be arrested or killed by their pursuers. If they turn him in, Garric will kill them. If they stay with him, they'll be abetting a murderous quest they don't believe in. There are no good options - but Aren will still have to choose a path . . . Designed to return to classic fantasy adventures and values, from a modern perspective, this is a fast-moving coming-of-age trilogy featuring a strong cast of diverse characters, brilliant set-pieces and a strong character and plot driven story. Readers can't put down The Ember Blade: 'I am absolutely in love with this book! . . . I was on the edge of my seat a few times. I laughed and I cried . . . I loved the characters, loved the story' Goodreads reviewer, 'One of the best in the genre for a very long time . . . a masterful balancing of new and old . . . a rather grand first instalment in a trilogy that could be one of the best epic fantasy has ever seen' Goodreads reviewer, 'The island of goodness and hope for humanity in the sea of grimdark' Ed McDonald, author of The Daughter of Redwinter 'Clever and challenging, but also funny . . . The explosive finale has more than enough bang for anyone . . . a group forged in blood and betrayal, bonded by their oaths do what needs to be done against any and all odds' Goodreads reviewer, 'One of the best fantasy books I've read in years. An instant classic!' Goodreads reviewer, 'Strikes a magnificently fine balance between classic epic fantasy and grimdark fantasy, making this an amazing start to a new trilogy' Novel Notions 'What classic fantasy is all about - a slow build-up and an exciting pay-off - and I think this book as exactly that' Goodreads reviewer, 'The world is big . . . Different cultures, magics, demons, politics - a whole new world to explore! . . . I was hooked from the start to the very last line' Goodreads reviewer, 'Wooding is a master of worldbuilding . . . it's so rich and complex and I drank all of it in . . . refreshingly written, full of thought and provoking themes' The Fantasy Hive

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2011 im Fachbereich Pädagogik - Medienpädagogik, einseitig bedruckt, Note: 2,3, FernUniversität Hagen (Fakultät für Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften), Veranstaltung: MA Bildung und Medien - eEducation, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: In dieser Arbeit wird am Beispiel der Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund aufgezeigt, wie das Konzept der e-Inklusion eingesetzt werden kann, um dieser von der digitalen Ausgrenzung betroffenen Bevölkerungsgruppe die Möglichkeit zu eröffnen, sich aktiv an der Informationsgesellschaft zu beteiligen und so die bereits bestehende Digitale Kluft überwinden zu können. Dazu werden zum einen die soziodemographischen und sozioökonomischen Faktoren wie Alter, Geschlecht, Behinderung, Migrationshintergrund, Stadt-Land-Zugehörigkeit, Beschäftigung, Einkommen und Bildungsgrad, die zur Entstehung der Digitalen Kluft führen bzw. diese begünstigen können, anhand empirischer Studien zur Internetnutzung genauer betrachtet. Zum anderen wird mit Hilfe der Kapitaltheorie des französischen Kultursoziologen Pierre Bourdieu versucht zu erklären, warum gerade diese Faktoren entscheidenden Einfluss auf die Internetnutzung bzw. Internetnichtnutzung ausüben. Anschließend wird auf den Status Quo der Digitalen Kluft in Deutschland wie auch auf das umfassende Konzept der e-Inklusion und die damit verbundenen, integrationsfördernden Maßnahmen eingegangen. Zum Abschluss werden einige ausgewählte Best-Practice-Beispiele vorgestellt, die diese Maßnahmen bereits erfolgreich umgesetzt haben.This paper shows how the concept of e-inclusion can be used to help people with an immigrant background get the chance to actively participate in the modern and knowledgebased information society and so to successfully overcome the existing digital divide. For this purpose a closer look is taken on the sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables like urban or rural affiliation, migration background, age, gender, physical or psychical handicaps, employment and income and education levels using empirical studies because these variables have a strong influence not only on the formation but also on the intensification of the digital divide. In order to explain this strong influence the capital theory of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu is used. Another part of this paper deals with the status quo of the digital divide in Germany as well as with the concept of e-inclusion and the associated target-group-oriented measures and initiatives supporting integration. The last part presents some best practice examples that aim to prevent isolation and social exclusion by not only providing access to modern communi-cation technologies but also by enabling people to use these technologies to their personal benefit.

**WINNER OF THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD** **SHORTLISTED FOR THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL** '5 hundred thousand freaking beautiful, burning stars!! I freaking loved this so much' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ reader review Jun Ironway, hacker, con artist, and only occasional thief, has got her hands on a piece of contraband that could set her up for life: evidence that implicates the powerful Nightfoot family in a planet-wide genocide seventy-five years ago. The Nightfoots control the precious sevite that fuels interplanetary travel through three star systems. And someone is sure to pay handsomely for anything that could break their hold. Of course, anything valuable is also dangerous. The Kindom, the ruling power of the three star systems, is inextricably tied up in the Nightfoots' monopoly - and they can't afford to let Jun expose the truth. They task two of their most brutal clerics with hunting her down: preternaturally stoic Chono, and brilliant hothead Esek, who also happens to be the heir to the Nightfoot empire. But Chono and Esek are haunted in turn by a figure from their shared past, known only as Six. What Six truly wants is anyone's guess. And the closer they get to finding Jun, the surer Chono is that Six is manipulating them all - and that they are heading for a bloody confrontation that no one will survive unscathed. 'One of the best SF books I've read. Period' Michael Mammay, author of Planetside 'These Burning Stars pulls off one of the most brazen, gasp-inducing reveals I've experienced in an age' Esquire 'Vivid, violent and visceral: an impressive debut' Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun 'Intricately plotted and tightly paced . . . Space opera fans will eat this up' Publishers Weekly 'A multi-layered saga full of courtly intrigue and indelible characters, Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars warps readers across the galaxy on a devilishly fun thrill ride' Bookpage 'A fast-moving novel of action and intrigue, which Jacobs pulls off with vivid energy, bringing her threads together in an explosive conclusion' Locus Reader reviews: '6/5¿¿ This book is quite literally the definition of perfection to me' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ I feel like I just overdosed on emotions. This book is extraordinary . . . 5 stars and I only wish I could give it more' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'It is a crime that this book isn't more popular, and I will be throwing myself at the feet of Bethany Jacobs for the next in the series' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'I cannot seem to find the words to convey how much I enjoyed this book. The only thing I can say is . . . holy shit' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'What kind of intergalactic masterpiece did I read?' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿

**WINNER OF THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD** **SHORTLISTED FOR THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL** '5 hundred thousand freaking beautiful, burning stars!! I freaking loved this so much' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ reader review Jun Ironway, hacker, con artist, and only occasional thief, has got her hands on a piece of contraband that could set her up for life: evidence that implicates the powerful Nightfoot family in a planet-wide genocide seventy-five years ago. The Nightfoots control the precious sevite that fuels interplanetary travel through three star systems. And someone is sure to pay handsomely for anything that could break their hold. Of course, anything valuable is also dangerous. The Kindom, the ruling power of the three star systems, is inextricably tied up in the Nightfoots' monopoly - and they can't afford to let Jun expose the truth. They task two of their most brutal clerics with hunting her down: preternaturally stoic Chono, and brilliant hothead Esek, who also happens to be the heir to the Nightfoot empire. But Chono and Esek are haunted in turn by a figure from their shared past, known only as Six. What Six truly wants is anyone's guess. And the closer they get to finding Jun, the surer Chono is that Six is manipulating them all - and that they are heading for a bloody confrontation that no one will survive unscathed. 'One of the best SF books I've read. Period' Michael Mammay, author of Planetside 'These Burning Stars pulls off one of the most brazen, gasp-inducing reveals I've experienced in an age' Esquire 'Vivid, violent and visceral: an impressive debut' Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun 'Intricately plotted and tightly paced . . . Space opera fans will eat this up' Publishers Weekly 'A multi-layered saga full of courtly intrigue and indelible characters, Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars warps readers across the galaxy on a devilishly fun thrill ride' Bookpage 'A fast-moving novel of action and intrigue, which Jacobs pulls off with vivid energy, bringing her threads together in an explosive conclusion' Locus Reader reviews: '6/5¿¿ This book is quite literally the definition of perfection to me' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ I feel like I just overdosed on emotions. This book is extraordinary . . . 5 stars and I only wish I could give it more' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'It is a crime that this book isn't more popular, and I will be throwing myself at the feet of Bethany Jacobs for the next in the series' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'I cannot seem to find the words to convey how much I enjoyed this book. The only thing I can say is . . . holy shit' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'What kind of intergalactic masterpiece did I read?' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿

**WINNER OF THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD** **SHORTLISTED FOR THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL** '5 hundred thousand freaking beautiful, burning stars!! I freaking loved this so much' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ reader review Jun Ironway, hacker, con artist, and only occasional thief, has got her hands on a piece of contraband that could set her up for life: evidence that implicates the powerful Nightfoot family in a planet-wide genocide seventy-five years ago. The Nightfoots control the precious sevite that fuels interplanetary travel through three star systems. And someone is sure to pay handsomely for anything that could break their hold. Of course, anything valuable is also dangerous. The Kindom, the ruling power of the three star systems, is inextricably tied up in the Nightfoots' monopoly - and they can't afford to let Jun expose the truth. They task two of their most brutal clerics with hunting her down: preternaturally stoic Chono, and brilliant hothead Esek, who also happens to be the heir to the Nightfoot empire. But Chono and Esek are haunted in turn by a figure from their shared past, known only as Six. What Six truly wants is anyone's guess. And the closer they get to finding Jun, the surer Chono is that Six is manipulating them all - and that they are heading for a bloody confrontation that no one will survive unscathed. 'One of the best SF books I've read. Period' Michael Mammay, author of Planetside 'These Burning Stars pulls off one of the most brazen, gasp-inducing reveals I've experienced in an age' Esquire 'Vivid, violent and visceral: an impressive debut' Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun 'Intricately plotted and tightly paced . . . Space opera fans will eat this up' Publishers Weekly 'A multi-layered saga full of courtly intrigue and indelible characters, Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars warps readers across the galaxy on a devilishly fun thrill ride' Bookpage 'A fast-moving novel of action and intrigue, which Jacobs pulls off with vivid energy, bringing her threads together in an explosive conclusion' Locus Reader reviews: '6/5¿¿ This book is quite literally the definition of perfection to me' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ I feel like I just overdosed on emotions. This book is extraordinary . . . 5 stars and I only wish I could give it more' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'It is a crime that this book isn't more popular, and I will be throwing myself at the feet of Bethany Jacobs for the next in the series' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'I cannot seem to find the words to convey how much I enjoyed this book. The only thing I can say is . . . holy shit' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿ 'What kind of intergalactic masterpiece did I read?' ¿¿¿ ¿ ¿

‘Full of dark, deadpan humour, Brat is a raucous story of the messy, messed-up business of living, dying and having a family.’ Financial Times ‘ A moving coming-of-age family story’ Observer 'Iconic', Radio 1 I was in the waiting room. Then I was in the examination room. Gabriel’s skin is falling off. His dad is dead. He owes his editor a novel. His girlfriend won’t answer his calls. Tasked by his horribly well-adjusted brother with clearing out the family home for sale, Gabriel’s sanity quickly begins to unravel. His parents’ old manuscripts appear to change each time he reads them. A bizarre home video hints at long-buried secrets. And there’s a hideous man in the garden. Disquieting and hilarious, taut yet lyrical, blisteringly-paced but formally inventive, Brat is a mediation on grief, art and love that will leave you altered, breathless and desperate for more. From a stunningly original new talent, this is a debut novel unlike anything you have read before. ‘This original, clever story is brilliant on grief, madness and creativity. It’s beautifully written, hilarious and heart-breaking. I raced through it.’ Daily Mail ​ ‘For readers looking for something that will grip you from start to finish, Brat is sure to be your breath of fresh air. The novel crackles with gothic horror, deadpan humor, and a damning sense of alienation that you won’t soon shake.’ Chicago Review of Books ‘Smith's picaresque first novel is told from the perspective of Gabriel, a writer struggling with numerous issues . . . a deeply gothic work that never quite settles the reader in a certain world as Gabriel’s foibles, ghostly visions, and uncertainties filter every moment. Written in short, clipped chapters and featuring uproarious dialogue (especially with Gabriel's brother), this is a darkly comic and brilliantly unusual debut.’ Booklist ‘[Smith's] dialogue shines . . . Readers who appreciate the morbidly funny and the just plain morbid will find a lot to love in these pages. A weird and darkly funny novel from a writer to watch.’ Kirkus ‘It's a book about loss and the anxiety of the modern age, tinged with humor and deep insight that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.’ Town & Country 'Gabriel Smith has written a truly unique and surprising book. He is the rarest thing: a distinctive stylist on the line and structure level. Brat is so strange and so funny. I laughed a lot while reading.' Rachel Connolly, author of Lazy City 'Messy with glitched realities and body horror, Brat breathes the same thrillingly claustrophobic air as Inland Empire and Ubik. It’s a skin-shedding ouroboros of grief and laughter, and the most brain-melting British debut I’ve read in ages.' Ed Park, author of Same Bed Different Dreams 'Gabriel Smith’s prose is like if Joan Didion and Shirley Jackson took Xanax and used the internet. Brat is a sharp, eerie, confident debut about grief, memory, art, and so much more. Smith is a major new talent.' Jordan Castro, author of The Novelist 'Gabriel Smith’s jauntily creepy and hilarious tale of a grief-stalked scapegrace’s sloughing-off and regeneration of selves in the filial murk of a moldering homestead is a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man for a new, quaking generation. Brat will unnerve and seduce you.' Garielle Lutz, author of Worsted 'Smith's picaresque first novel is told from the perspective of Gabriel, a writer struggling with numerous issues . . . a deeply gothic work that never quite settles the reader in a certain world as Gabriel’s foibles, ghostly visions, and uncertainties filter every moment. Written in short, clipped chapters and featuring uproarious dialogue (especially with Gabriel's brother), this is a darkly comic and brilliantly unusual debut.' Booklist '[Smith's] dialogue shines . . . Readers who appreciate the morbidly funny and the just plain morbid will find a lot to love in these pages. A weird and darkly funny novel from a writer to watch.' Kirkus

‘Full of dark, deadpan humour, Brat is a raucous story of the messy, messed-up business of living, dying and having a family.’ Financial Times ‘ A moving coming-of-age family story’ Observer 'Iconic', Radio 1 I was in the waiting room. Then I was in the examination room. Gabriel’s skin is falling off. His dad is dead. He owes his editor a novel. His girlfriend won’t answer his calls. Tasked by his horribly well-adjusted brother with clearing out the family home for sale, Gabriel’s sanity quickly begins to unravel. His parents’ old manuscripts appear to change each time he reads them. A bizarre home video hints at long-buried secrets. And there’s a hideous man in the garden. Disquieting and hilarious, taut yet lyrical, blisteringly-paced but formally inventive, Brat is a mediation on grief, art and love that will leave you altered, breathless and desperate for more. From a stunningly original new talent, this is a debut novel unlike anything you have read before. ‘This original, clever story is brilliant on grief, madness and creativity. It’s beautifully written, hilarious and heart-breaking. I raced through it.’ Daily Mail ​ ‘For readers looking for something that will grip you from start to finish, Brat is sure to be your breath of fresh air. The novel crackles with gothic horror, deadpan humor, and a damning sense of alienation that you won’t soon shake.’ Chicago Review of Books ‘Smith's picaresque first novel is told from the perspective of Gabriel, a writer struggling with numerous issues . . . a deeply gothic work that never quite settles the reader in a certain world as Gabriel’s foibles, ghostly visions, and uncertainties filter every moment. Written in short, clipped chapters and featuring uproarious dialogue (especially with Gabriel's brother), this is a darkly comic and brilliantly unusual debut.’ Booklist ‘[Smith's] dialogue shines . . . Readers who appreciate the morbidly funny and the just plain morbid will find a lot to love in these pages. A weird and darkly funny novel from a writer to watch.’ Kirkus ‘It's a book about loss and the anxiety of the modern age, tinged with humor and deep insight that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.’ Town & Country 'Gabriel Smith has written a truly unique and surprising book. He is the rarest thing: a distinctive stylist on the line and structure level. Brat is so strange and so funny. I laughed a lot while reading.' Rachel Connolly, author of Lazy City 'Messy with glitched realities and body horror, Brat breathes the same thrillingly claustrophobic air as Inland Empire and Ubik. It’s a skin-shedding ouroboros of grief and laughter, and the most brain-melting British debut I’ve read in ages.' Ed Park, author of Same Bed Different Dreams 'Gabriel Smith’s prose is like if Joan Didion and Shirley Jackson took Xanax and used the internet. Brat is a sharp, eerie, confident debut about grief, memory, art, and so much more. Smith is a major new talent.' Jordan Castro, author of The Novelist 'Gabriel Smith’s jauntily creepy and hilarious tale of a grief-stalked scapegrace’s sloughing-off and regeneration of selves in the filial murk of a moldering homestead is a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man for a new, quaking generation. Brat will unnerve and seduce you.' Garielle Lutz, author of Worsted 'Smith's picaresque first novel is told from the perspective of Gabriel, a writer struggling with numerous issues . . . a deeply gothic work that never quite settles the reader in a certain world as Gabriel’s foibles, ghostly visions, and uncertainties filter every moment. Written in short, clipped chapters and featuring uproarious dialogue (especially with Gabriel's brother), this is a darkly comic and brilliantly unusual debut.' Booklist '[Smith's] dialogue shines . . . Readers who appreciate the morbidly funny and the just plain morbid will find a lot to love in these pages. A weird and darkly funny novel from a writer to watch.' Kirkus

Una de las mejores novelas del siglo XXI, según The New York Times y El País en edición especial ilustrada por Luis Scafati «No es exagerado decir que Bolaño es un genio. Los detectives salvajes deberían otorgarle la inmortalidad'. Washington Post «He sido cordialmente invitado a formar parte del realismo visceral. Por supuesto, he aceptado. No hubo ceremonia de iniciación. Mejor así'. La búsqueda en 1975 de la misteriosa escritora mexicana Cesárea Tinajero, desaparecida y olvidada en los años posteriores a la revolución, sirve de inicio a un viaje sin descanso que llevan a cabo dos jóvenes poetas latinoamericanos, Arturo Belano y Ulises Lima. Durante varias décadas y a través distintos países, su aventura transcurre marcada por el amor, la muerte, el deseo de libertad, el humor y la literatura. Símbolo de la rebeldía y la necesidad de ruptura con la realidad establecida, sus vidas representan los anhelos de toda una generación. La obra de Bolaño conversa con el arte del ilustrador argentino Luis Scafati en esta edición especial ilustrada de una novela que ganó los premios Herralde y Rómulo Gallegos y está considerada una de las mejores novelas del siglo XXI por medios como The New York Times o El País. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION The Savage Detectives is an exuberant, raunchy, wildly inventive, and ambitious novel from one of the greatest Latin American authors of our age. National Bestseller >The explosive first long work by "the most exciting writer to come from south of the Rio Grande in a long time" (Ilan Stavans, Los Angeles Times), The Savage Detectives follows Belano and Lima through the eyes of the people whose paths they cross in Central America, Europe, Israel, and West Africa. This chorus includes the muses of visceral realism, the beautiful Font sisters; their father, an architect interned in a Mexico City asylum; a sensitive young follower of Octavio Paz; a foul-mouthed American graduate student; a French girl with a taste for the Marquis de Sade; the great-granddaughter of Leon Trotsky; a Chilean stowaway with a mystical gift for numbers; the anorexic heiress to a Mexican underwear empire; an Argentinian photojournalist in Angola; and assorted hangers-on, detractors, critics, lovers, employers, vagabonds, real-life literary figures, and random acquaintances. A polymathic descendant of Borges and Pynchon, Roberto Bolaño traces the hidden connection between literature and violence in a world where national boundaries are fluid and death lurks in the shadow of the avant-garde. The Savage Detectives is a dazzling original, the first great Latin American novel of the twenty-first century.

"THE SORCERER'S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers." --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos A SKY OF SPELLS is book #9 in the bestselling series THE SORCERER'S RING--which begins with A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1 )! In A SKY OF SPELLS (BOOK #9 IN THE SORCERER'S RING), Thorgrin finally returns to himself and must confront his father once and for all. An epic battle occurs, as two titans face each other, and as Rafi uses his power to summon an army of undead. With the Destiny Sword destroyed, and the fate of the Ring in the balance, Argon and Alistair will need to summon their magical powers to help Gwendolyn's brave warriors. Yet even with their help, all could be lost if it were not for the return of Mycoples, and her new companion, Ralibar. Luanda struggles to prevail against her captor, Romulus, as the fate of the Shield hangs in the balance. Reece, meanwhile, struggles to lead his men back up the Canyon walls, with Selese's help. Their love deepens; but with the arrival of Reece's old love, his cousin, a tragic love triangle and misunderstandings develop. When the Empire is finally ousted from the Ring, and Gwendolyn has her chance for personal vengeance against McCloud, there is great cause to celebrate. As the new Queen of the Ring, Gwen uses her powers to unite both MacGils and McClouds for the first time in history, and to begin the epic rebuilding of the land, of her army, and of the Legion. King's Court slowly comes back to life once again, as they all begin to pick up the pieces. It is destined to become a more glorious city than even her father ever dreamed of, and in the process, justice finally finds Gareth. Tirus must be brought to justice, too, and Gwen will have to decide what sort of leader she will be. There is a great conflict amongst Tirus' sons, not all of whom see things the same way, and a struggle for power erupts once again, as Gwen decides if she will accept an invitation to the Upper Isles, thus making the MacGil clan whole once again. Erec is summoned to return to his people in the Southern Isles and see his dying father, and Alistair joins him, as they prepare for their wedding. Thorgrin and Gwendolyn may have wedding preparations in their future, too. Thor becomes closer to his sister, and as all settles down inside the Ring, he finds himself summoned to embark on his greatest quest of all: to seek out his mysterious mother in a faraway land and to find out who he really is. With multiple wedding preparations in the air, with Spring returning, King's Court rebuilding, festivals afoot, peace seems to settle back onto the Ring. But danger lurks in the most unforeseen corners, and all of these characters greatest tribulations might be yet to come. With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A SKY OF SPELLS is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders. Books #10--#17 in the series are also available!

Una de las mejores novelas del siglo XXI, según The New York Times y El País en edición especial ilustrada por Luis Scafati «No es exagerado decir que Bolaño es un genio. Los detectives salvajes deberían otorgarle la inmortalidad'. Washington Post «He sido cordialmente invitado a formar parte del realismo visceral. Por supuesto, he aceptado. No hubo ceremonia de iniciación. Mejor así'. La búsqueda en 1975 de la misteriosa escritora mexicana Cesárea Tinajero, desaparecida y olvidada en los años posteriores a la revolución, sirve de inicio a un viaje sin descanso que llevan a cabo dos jóvenes poetas latinoamericanos, Arturo Belano y Ulises Lima. Durante varias décadas y a través distintos países, su aventura transcurre marcada por el amor, la muerte, el deseo de libertad, el humor y la literatura. Símbolo de la rebeldía y la necesidad de ruptura con la realidad establecida, sus vidas representan los anhelos de toda una generación. La obra de Bolaño conversa con el arte del ilustrador argentino Luis Scafati en esta edición especial ilustrada de una novela que ganó los premios Herralde y Rómulo Gallegos y está considerada una de las mejores novelas del siglo XXI por medios como The New York Times o El País. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION The Savage Detectives is an exuberant, raunchy, wildly inventive, and ambitious novel from one of the greatest Latin American authors of our age. National Bestseller >The explosive first long work by "the most exciting writer to come from south of the Rio Grande in a long time" (Ilan Stavans, Los Angeles Times), The Savage Detectives follows Belano and Lima through the eyes of the people whose paths they cross in Central America, Europe, Israel, and West Africa. This chorus includes the muses of visceral realism, the beautiful Font sisters; their father, an architect interned in a Mexico City asylum; a sensitive young follower of Octavio Paz; a foul-mouthed American graduate student; a French girl with a taste for the Marquis de Sade; the great-granddaughter of Leon Trotsky; a Chilean stowaway with a mystical gift for numbers; the anorexic heiress to a Mexican underwear empire; an Argentinian photojournalist in Angola; and assorted hangers-on, detractors, critics, lovers, employers, vagabonds, real-life literary figures, and random acquaintances. A polymathic descendant of Borges and Pynchon, Roberto Bolaño traces the hidden connection between literature and violence in a world where national boundaries are fluid and death lurks in the shadow of the avant-garde. The Savage Detectives is a dazzling original, the first great Latin American novel of the twenty-first century.

Me, Inc. features a black simulated-leather cover with gold foil stamping and a black ribbon bookmark. The fact that KISS is one of the most successful rock bands in the world is no accident. From the beginning Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley had a clear-cut vision of what they wanted to do and how they wanted to operate KISS as a business well before they ever first took the stage. Since deciding with Paul to manage the band themselves, Simmons has proved himself to be a formidable businessman, having sold over 100 million CDs and DVDs worldwide, overseen over 3,000 licensed merchandise items, and starred in the longest running celebrity reality show to date. More impressive is that he handles all of his business ventures on his own—no personal assistant, few handlers, and as little red tape as possible. In Me, Inc., Simmons shares a lifetime of field-tested and hard-won business advice that will provide readers with the tools needed to build a solid business strategy, harness the countless tools available in the digital age, network like hell, and be the architect for the business entity that is you. Inspired by The Art of War, the book dispenses Simmons’ in-depth insights via thirteen specific principles for success based on his own experience, triumphs, and instructional failures in business—from finding the confidence within yourself that’s necessary to get started, to surrounding yourself with the right people to partner with and learn from, to knowing when to pull the plug and when to double-down. These thirteen principles are a skeleton key into a world of success, freedom, peace of mind and, most importantly, financial success. This is more than a memoir—it’s a playbook for your own success, built on core tenets of a strong work ethic: The ME, Inc. Mindset: Learn why YOU are the most important business you will ever run, inspired by Gene’s journey from immigrant to icon. Unconventional Branding: Discover how KISS became one of the world’s biggest brands by breaking every rule, and how you can apply those lessons to your own venture. Ruthless Financial Discipline: Master the art of personal finance by living below your means, avoiding debt, and making every penny work for you—the same principles he uses to manage a global empire with no personal assistant. Actionable Success Principles: Go beyond theory with thirteen field-tested rules for entrepreneurship, from knowing when to double-down to when to pull the plug.