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Huge Nokia Audio Books Collection---------{Ultra Hot}----------------
I have attached audio book player . you have to just make audiobooks is e:/ drive and extract folder in it....
Quote:
the Nokia audio books
GOOD OMENS - NEIL GIAMAN & TERRY PRATCHETT
Hero in the Shadows:by David Gemmell
Knights of Dark Renown by David Gemmelll
Metal Swarm :by Kevin j Anderson
Protector by Larry Niven
RINGWORLD BOOKS
Ring World
The RingWorld Engineers
The Ringworld Throne
Ringworld's Children
Starship Titanic By Douglas Adams & Terry Jones
A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire)-by George R. R. Martin
Stephen King - Liseys Story
The Rowan By Anne McCaffery (tower and hive book 1)
A Clash of Kings-George R.R. Martin-A Song of Ice and Fire (book II)
Anne McCaffery - Damia (tower and hive book 2)
Anne McCaffery - Damia's Children (tower and hive book 3)
Anne McCaffrey - Lyon's Pride (tower and hive book 4)
Anne McCaffery - The Tower and the Hive (tower and hive book 4 last one)
Harry Potter and the philosophers stone (or sorcerers stone in USA)
Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (BBC Radio Play 2007 Extended Version)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (all harry potter books read by stephen fry)
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
The Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin
Nostradamus Ate My Hamster by Robert Rankin
Fandom of the Operator by Robert Rankin
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire (book III)
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire - book IV
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice
H.G. Wells - War of the Worlds
Stephen King's - Insomnia
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (The Nothern Lights trilogy book 1)
Philip Pullman "The Subtle Knife" (The Nothern Lights trilogy book 2)
James Rollins - Sandstorm
Philip Pullman " The Amber Spyglass"(The Nothern Lights trilogy book 3)
L. Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
R. L. Stevenson's Treasure island
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit
James Rollins - Amazonia
Carl Hiaasen - Nature Girl
Lord of The Rings - The Fellowship of The Ring
Lord of The Rings - The Two Towers
Lord of The Rings - The Return of The King
Christopher Moore - Lamb
Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five
Dean Koontz - Fear Nothing
Philip K Dick - A Scanner Darkly
Chuck Palahniuk - Choke.
Freakonomics: Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy By Douglas Adams
Tom Holt - Barking
Stephen Colbert - I am America, And so can you
John Stewart - The Daily show - Presents America
Stephen King's - It
Stephen King. Duma Key
Dean Koontz - The Good Guy
Douglas Adams- The Restaurant at the end of the Universe
Dean Koontz - Odd Thomas
Dean Koontz - Forever Odd (sequel)
Dean Koontz - Life Expectancy
Dean Koontz - Sole Survivor
Douglas Adams 3rd book- Life, the Universe and Everything
Richard Dawkins's - The God Delusion
Douglas Adams Book 4 - So Long and Thanks for all the Fish
Dean Koontz - Mr Murder
Dean Koontz - Tick Tock
J.R.R. Tolkien's - The Silmarillion
Dean Koontz - Velocity
James Patterson - 1st to Die
Douglas Adams Book 5 - Mostly Harmless
Bill Bryson - A Short History of Everything
Bernard Cornwell - Grail Quest 1 - Harlequin
Douglas Adams - Salmon of doubt.
Bernard Cornwell - Grail Quest 2 - Vagabond
Bernard Cornwell - Grail Quest 3 - Heretic
Jeff Lindsay - Dearly Devoted Dexter
Jeff Lindsay - Dexter in the Dark
Jon Krakauer - Into the Wild
Jeff Lindsay - Darkly Dreaming Dexter
John Sandford - Night Prey
Dan Brown - The DaVinci Code.
John Sandford - Rules of Prey
John Sandford - Silent Prey
Douglas Adams - The Long Dark Tea Time Of The Soul.
John Sandford - The Devils Code
John Sandford - The Fools Run
Douglas Adams - Last Chance to See
Terry Pratchett Diskworld book one - The Colour of Magic
David Eddings -THE BELGARIAD -Part One - PAWN OF PROPHECY
David Eddings -THE BELGARIAD -Part Two - Queen of Sorcery
Terry Pratchett Diskworld book two - The Light Fantastic
David Eddings -THE BELGARIAD -Part Three -Magicians Gambit
David Eddings -THE BELGARIAD -Part Four -Castle of Wizardry
Terry Pratchett Diskworld book three - Equal Rites
Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective agency - Read By The Author
David Eddings -THE BELGARIAD -Part Five -Enchanters Endgame (last in series)
David Eddings - The Malloreon, Vol. 1 - Guardians of the West
David Eddings - The Malloreon, Vol. 2 - King of the Murgos
Dan Brown - Angels and Demons.
Terry Pratchett Discworld 04 - Mort
David Eddings -The Malloreon, Vol 3 -Demon Lord of Karanda
David Eddings -The Malloreon, Vol 4 -Sorceress of Darshiva
David Eddings -The Malloreon, Vol 5 -The Seeress of Kell (last in series)
Yan Martel - The Life of Pi.
Dominic O'brien - Quantum Memory
David Eddings - Belgarath The Sorcerer
David Eddings - Polgara The Sorceress
Dan Brown - Digital Fortress
Kurt Vonnegut - Welcome to the Monkey House
Dan Brown - Deception Point
Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger
Ian Rankin - Rebus book 1 - Knots and Crosses
Jack Kerouac - On The Road
Ken Follet - Pillars of the Earth
David Eddings - The Elenium Trilogy Book 1 - The Diamond Throne
David Eddings - The Elenium Trilogy Book 2 - The Ruby Knight
Book 0 to Book 11 are Wheel of Time Books
Book 0 - Prequel 1 - New Spring
Book 1 - The Eye of the World
Book 2 - The Great Hunt
Book 3 - The Dragon Reborn
Book 4 - Shadow Rising
Book 5 - The Fires of Heaven
Book 6 - Lord of Chaos
Book 7 - A Crown of Swords
Book 8 - The Path of Daggers
Book 9 - Winters Heart
Book 10 - Crossroads of Twilight
Book 11 - Knife of Dreams
Conan the Defender - Book 2
Conan the Invincible - Book 1
Conan the Unconquered - Book 3
Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Saga - Preludes 1 - Darkness and Light
Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Saga - Preludes 2 - Kendermore
Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Saga - Preludes 3 - Brothers Majere
Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Saga - Preludes 4 - Riverwind, The Plainsman
Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Saga - Preludes 5 - Flint, The King
Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Saga - Preludes 6 - Tanis, The Shadow Years
Sharpe's Battle
Sharpe's Company
Sharpe's Devil
Sharpe's Eagle
Sharpe's Enemy
harpe's Escape
Sharpe's Fortress
Sharpe's Fury
Sharpe's Gold
Sharpe's Havoc
Sharpe's Honor
Sharpe's Prey
Sharpe's Regiment
Sharpe's Revenge
Sharpe's Rifles
Sharpe's Siege
Sharpe's Sword
Sharpe's Tiger
Sharpe's Trafalgar
Sharpe's Triumph
Sharpe's Waterloo
Terry Pratchett - Bromeliad Trology 2 - Diggers
Terry Pratchett - The Carpet People
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 01 - Dragon Wing.
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 02- Elven Star
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 03 - Fire Sea
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 04 - Serpent Mage
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 05 - Hand of Chaos
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 06 - Into the Labyrinth
Weis & Hickman - Deathgate Cycle 07 - Seventh Gate
Cormac McCarthy - The Road
David Eddings - The Elenium Trilogy Book 3 - The Sapphire Rose
David Eddings - The Tamuli Trilogy Book 1 - The Domes of Fire
David Eddings - The Tamuli Trilogy Book 2 - The Shining Ones
David Eddings - The Tamuli Trilogy Book 3 - The Hidden City
Andy McNab - Last Light
Harlan Coben - No Second Chance
Garth Nix - Sabriel - book 1 of 3
Garth Nix - Lirael - Book 2 of 3
Garth Nix - Abhorsen - Book 3 of 3
David Sedaris - Naked
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth [Prequel]-Debt of Bones
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 1 - Wizard's First Rule
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 2 - Stone of Tears
Nelson Demille - Charm School
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 3 - Blood of the Fold
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 4 - Temple of the Winds
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 5 - Soul of the Fire
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 6 - Faith of the Fallen
Jasper FForde - The Eyre Affair
Pimsleur Instant Conversation French (yeah a learn French book )
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 7 - The Pillars of Creation
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 8 - Naked Empire
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth book 9 - Chainfire (last one in series)
Robert Rankin - The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalyspe
Isaac Asimov - The Foundation Series - Book 1 - Foundation
Isaac Asimov - The Foundation Series - Book 2 - Foundation & Empire
Isaac Asimov - The Foundation Series - Book 3 - Second Foundation
Isaac Asimov - The Foundation Series - Book 4 - Foundation's Edge
Isaac Asimov - The Foundation Series - Book 5 - Foundation & Earth
Brian Jacques - Redwall book 1
Brian Jacques - Mossflower
Douglas Coupland - Microserfs
Stephen King - The Green Mile
Arthur C Clark - Rendezvous with Rama
Catherine Asaro - Primary Inversion
Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner pt 1
Ben Bova - Voyagers
Ben Bova - Voyagers II: The Alien Within
Ben Bova - Voyagers III - Star Brothers
Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner pt 2
Dan Ariely- Predictably Irrational
Cornelia Funke - Inkheart
Steven King (Richard Bachman) - Thinner
page - 2
Karen chance - claimed shadow
Karen chance - touch the dark
margaret maron - shooting at loons
margaret maron - killer market
margaret maron - up jumps the devil
kelly armstrong - bitten
kelly armstrong - dime store magic
Kelley Armstrong - Haunted (Otherworld 5)
Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
Richard Branson - Losing My Virginity
Adolf Hitler - Mein Kampf
Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean Auel
Bill Clinton - My Life vol 1
Mario Puzo - The Godfather
Joe Vitale - Zero Limits
Kurt Vonnegut - Armageddon in Retrospect
The Valley of Horses
Stephen Fry - The Hippotomus
Jeremy Clarkson - The World According to Clarkson
Philip Pullman - Once Upon a Time in the North.
GOOD OMENS - NEIL GIAMAN & TERRY PRATCHETT
When a scatterbrained Satanist nun goofs up a baby-switching scheme and delivers the infant Antichrist to the wrong couple, it's just the beginning of the comic errors in the divine plan for Armageddon which this fast-paced novel by two British writers zanily details. Aziraphale, an angel who doubles as a rare-book dealer, and Crowley, a demon friend who's assigned to the same territory, like life on Earth too much to allow the long-planned war between Heaven and Hell to happen. They set out to find the Antichrist and avert Armageddon, on the way encountering the last living descendant of Agnes Nutter, Anathema, who's been deciphering accurate prophecies of the world's doom but is unaware she's living in the same town as the Antichrist, now a thoroughly human and normal 11-year-old named Adam. As the appointed day and hour approach, Aziraphale and Crowley blunder through seas of fire and rains of fish, and come across a misguided witch hunter, a middle-aged fortune teller and the Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse. It's up to Adam in the neatly tied end, as his humanity prevails over the Divine Plan and earthly bungling. Some humor is strictly British, but most will appeal even to Americans "and other aliens." Literary Guild alternate.
In Hero in the Shadows, Waylander, the assassin hero of some of Gemmell's earlier books, is now a middle-aged man looking for peace in a world that will, for the most part, let him alone. The crimes of his past come back to haunt him, as he finds himself responsible for a young prince whose grandfather he murdered, and as creatures of doomed legend come back to rule the world with blood and horror. An aging paladin, a loud-mouthed braggart whom a magic sword has chosen, and a kitchen girl who is unusually handy with her knives become his allies, along with a priestess who is not telling all she knows, or all she is.
Gemmell is one of the best writers of fantasy adventure--this new book is attractively gloomy in its atmosphere and has a pervading sense of the ironic. The action sequences are powerful and well visualized; Gemmell always knows how a particular sort of fight would feel. And there are no simple morals here--most of the characters, heroic or villainous, exist in the gray hinterland between dark and light, where evil acts are often performed in sorrow and good actions often have mixed motives behind them
When a scatterbrained Satanist nun goofs up a baby-switching scheme and delivers the infant Antichrist to the wrong couple, it's just the beginning of the comic errors in the divine plan for Armageddon which this fast-paced novel by two British writers zanily details. Aziraphale, an angel who doubles as a rare-book dealer, and Crowley, a demon friend who's assigned to the same territory, like life on Earth too much to allow the long-planned war between Heaven and Hell to happen. They set out to find the Antichrist and avert Armageddon, on the way encountering the last living descendant of Agnes Nutter, Anathema, who's been deciphering accurate prophecies of the world's doom but is unaware she's living in the same town as the Antichrist, now a thoroughly human and normal 11-year-old named Adam. As the appointed day and hour approach, Aziraphale and Crowley blunder through seas of fire and rains of fish, and come across a misguided witch hunter, a middle-aged fortune teller and the Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse. It's up to Adam in the neatly tied end, as his humanity prevails over the Divine Plan and earthly bungling. Some humor is strictly British, but most will appeal even to Americans "and other aliens." Literary Guild alternate.
The alien hydrogues have been defeated, driven back into the cores of their gas-giant planets by an alliance of the Earth Defence Forces, the ancient Ildiran Empire, the gypsy-like Roamer clans and fantasic water elemental beings as well as gigantic living 'treeships'. But as the various factions try to pick up the pieces and recover, the deep-seated wounds may be fatal."
Book Description
Phssthpok the Pak had been traveling for most of his thirty-two thousand years. His mission: save, develop, and protect the group of Pak breeders sent out into space some two and a half million years before...
Brennan was a Belter, the product of a fiercely independent, somewhat anarchic society living in, on, and around an outer asteroid belt. The Belters were rebels, one and all, and Brennan was a smuggler. The Belt worlds had been tracking the Pak ship for days -- Brennan figured to meet that ship first...
He was never seen again -- at least not by those alive at the time.
Book Description
In the first book of this award-winning series, a huge architectural ring is constructed in outer space. In time it will house the inhabitants of the dying Earth. A whole new world is emerging, a world of huge dimensions, encompassing an area three million times the area of the Earth. Ringworld has a gravitational field and high walls to preserve its atmosphere. Its proximity to the sun maintains the new planet's climate. With those kinds of resources at its disposal, humankind can begin anew -- but not without meeting the disquieting challenges of a brave new world. Breath- taking ingenious from start to finish, RINGWORLD is fast becoming a science fiction classic. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
From AudioFile
Two humans and two aliens, who are traveling to distant reaches of space to prevent a future catastrophe, crash on a ringworld apparently created by superior technologies. Tom Parker captures the personalities of the travelers through individual vocalization and provides smooth, expressive narration. The listener is soon caught up in the adventures of these vivid characters as they struggle to survive. Although this is a rousing adventure, some listeners may experience difficulty visualizing the alien settings. M.A.M. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition
The RingWorld Engineers is the sequel to RingWorld. In RingWorld, Larry Niven introduced us to the concept of a world made in the shape of an extraordinarily large ring encircling a star. In this book he gives us answers to questions we might not have even asked about the RingWorld, but that others apparently did. After the publication of RingWorld, Niven received numerous pieces of correspondence from people offering helpful information about the details of how the RingWorld would actually function. Niven took inspiration from the enthusiasm of those people and created the RingWorld Engineers in part to publish the answers to important questions about the structure. Around those answers he has created a thoughtful and engaging story that adds in a positive way to the RingWorld legacy.
its always hard to start at a new school. Now imagine that a wand and a cauldron are on your school supply list, and everyone knows everything about you before you arrive. In fact, youre not only the most famous person in the school, youre the most famous person in that world . . .
AND its a world full of wizards.
Thats just how Harry Potter started his first year at Hogwarts thats just his first DAY! Can you imagine what will happen next? Join the thrills, laughs, and adventure read Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.
It's hard to fall in love with an earnest, appealing young hero like Harry Potter and then to watch helplessly as he steps into terrible danger! And in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the much anticipated sequel to the award-winning Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he is in terrible danger indeed. As if it's not bad enough that after a long summer with the horrid Dursleys he is thwarted in his attempts to hop the train to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his second year. But when his only transportation option is a magical flying car, it is just his luck to crash into a valuable (but clearly vexed) Whomping Willow. Still, all this seems like a day in the park compared to what happens that fall within the haunted halls of Hogwarts.
Chilling, malevolent voices whisper from the walls only to Harry, and it seems certain that his classmate Draco Malfoy is out to get him. Soon it's not just Harry who is worried about survival, as dreadful things begin to happen at Hogwarts. The mysteriously gleaming, foot-high words on the wall proclaim, "The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware." But what exactly does it mean? Harry, Hermione, and Ron do everything that is wizardly possible--including risking their own lives--to solve this 50-year-old, seemingly deadly mystery. This deliciously suspenseful novel is every bit as gripping, imaginative, and creepy as the first; familiar student concerns--fierce rivalry, blush-inducing crushes, pedantic professors--seamlessly intertwine with the bizarre, horrific, fantastical, or just plain funny. Once again, Rowling writes with a combination of wit, whimsy, and a touch of the macabre that will leave readers young and old desperate for the next installment.
For most children, summer vacation is something to look forward to. But not for our 13-year-old hero, who's forced to spend his summers with an aunt, uncle, and cousin who detest him. The third book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series catapults into action when the young wizard "accidentally" causes the Dursleys' dreadful visitor Aunt Marge to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift up to the ceiling. Fearing punishment from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon (and from officials at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who strictly forbid students to cast spells in the nonmagic world of Muggles), Harry lunges out into the darkness with his heavy trunk and his owl Hedwig.
As it turns out, Harry isn't punished at all for his errant wizardry. Instead he is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. What Harry has to face as he begins his third year at Hogwarts explains why the officials let him off easily. It seems that Sirius Black--an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban--is on the loose. Not only that, but he's after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry's very heart when others are unaffected? Once again, Rowling has created a mystery that will have children and adults cheering, not to mention standing in line for her next book. Fortunately, there are four more in the works
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling offers up equal parts danger and delight--and any number of dragons, house-elves, and death-defying challenges. Now 14, her orphan hero has only two more weeks with his Muggle relatives before returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yet one night a vision harrowing enough to make his lightning-bolt-shaped scar burn has Harry on edge and contacting his godfather-in-hiding, Sirius Black. Happily, the prospect of attending the season's premier sporting event, the Quidditch World Cup, is enough to make Harry momentarily forget that Lord Voldemort and his sinister familiars--the Death Eaters--are out for murder.
Readers, we will cast a giant invisibility cloak over any more plot and reveal only that You-Know-Who is very much after Harry and that this year there will be no Quidditch matches between Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Instead, Hogwarts will vie with two other magicians' schools, the stylish Beauxbatons and the icy Durmstrang, in a Triwizard Tournament. Those chosen to compete will undergo three supreme tests. Could Harry be one of the lucky contenders?
But Quidditch buffs need not go into mourning: we get our share of this great game at the World Cup. Attempting to go incognito as Muggles, 100,000 witches and wizards converge on a "nice deserted moor." As ever, Rowling magicks up the details that make her world so vivid, and so comic. Several spectators' tents, for instance, are entirely unquotidian. One is a minipalace, complete with live peacocks; another has three floors and multiple turrets. And the sports paraphernalia on offer includes rosettes "squealing the names of the players" as well as "tiny models of Firebolts that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves." Needless to say, the two teams are decidedly different, down to their mascots. Bulgaria is supported by the beautiful veela, who instantly enchant everyone--including Ireland's supporters--over to their side. Until, that is, thousands of tiny cheerleaders engage in some pyrotechnics of their own: "The leprechauns had risen into the air again, and this time, they formed a giant hand, which was making a very rude sign indeed at the veela across the field."
Long before her fourth installment appeared, Rowling warned that it would be darker, and it's true that every exhilaration is equaled by a moment that has us fearing for Harry's life, the book's emotions running as deep as its dangers. Along the way, though, she conjures up such new characters as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, a Dark Wizard catcher who may or may not be getting paranoid in his old age, and Rita Skeeter, who beetles around Hogwarts in search of stories. (This Daily Prophet scoop artist has a Quick-Quotes Quill that turns even the most innocent assertion into tabloid innuendo.) And at her bedazzling close, Rowling leaves several plot strands open, awaiting book 5. This fan is ready to wager that the author herself is part veela--her pen her wand, her commitment to her world complete
Grade 4 Up-Harry has just returned to Hogwarts after a lonely summer. Dumbledore is uncommunicative and most of the students seem to think Harry is either conceited or crazy for insisting that Voldemort is back and as evil as ever. Angry, scared, and unable to confide in his godfather, Sirius, the teen wizard lashes out at his friends and enemies alike. The head of the Ministry of Magic is determined to discredit Dumbledore and undermine his leadership of Hogwarts, and he appoints nasty, pink-cardigan-clad Professor Umbridge as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and High Inquisitor of the school, bringing misery upon staff and students alike. This bureaucratic nightmare, added to Harry's certain knowledge that Voldemort is becoming more powerful, creates a desperate, Kafkaesque feeling during Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts. The adults all seem evil, misguided, or simply powerless, so the students must take matters into their own hands. Harry's confusion about his godfather and father, and his apparent rejection by Dumbledore make him question his own motives and the condition of his soul. Also, Harry is now 15, and the hormones are beginning to kick in. There are a lot of secret doings, a little romance, and very little Quidditch or Hagrid (more reasons for Harry's gloom), but the power of this book comes from the young magician's struggles with his emotions and identity. Particularly moving is the unveiling, after a final devastating tragedy, of Dumbledore's very strong feelings of attachment and responsibility toward Harry. Children will enjoy the magic and the Hogwarts mystique, and young adult readers will find a rich and compelling coming-of-age story as well.
The long-awaited, eagerly anticipated, arguably over-hyped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has arrived, and the question on the minds of kids, adults, fans, and skeptics alike is, "Is it worth the hype?" The answer, luckily, is simple: yep. A magnificent spectacle more than worth the price of admission, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will blow you away. However, given that so much has gone into protecting the secrets of the book (including armored trucks and injunctions), don't expect any spoilers in this review. It's much more fun not knowing what's coming--and in the case of Rowling's delicious sixth book, you don't want to know. Just sit tight, despite the earth-shattering revelations that will have your head in your hands as you hope the words will rearrange themselves into a different story. But take one warning to heart: do not open Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until you have first found a secluded spot, safe from curious eyes, where you can tuck in for a good long read. Because once you start, you won't stop until you reach the very last page.
A darker book than any in the series thus far with a level of sophistication belying its genre, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince moves the series into murkier waters and marks the arrival of Rowling onto the adult literary scene. While she has long been praised for her cleverness and wit, the strength of Book 6 lies in her subtle development of key characters, as well as her carefully nuanced depiction of a community at war. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, no one and nothing is safe, including preconceived notions of good and evil and of right and wrong. With each book in her increasingly remarkable series, fans have nervously watched J.K. Rowling raise the stakes; gone are the simple delights of butterbeer and enchanted candy, and days when the worst ailment could be cured by a bite of chocolate. A series that began as a colorful lark full of magic and discovery has become a dark and deadly war zone. But this should not come as a shock to loyal readers. Rowling readied fans with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by killing off popular characters and engaging the young students in battle. Still, there is an unexpected bleakness from the start of Book 6 that casts a mean shadow over Quidditch games, silly flirtations, and mountains of homework. Ready or not, the tremendous ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will leave stunned fans wondering what great and terrible events await in Book 7 if this sinister darkness is meant to light the way
Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.
The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.
A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience
From Publishers Weekly
An honored SF writer returns to his best-known creation: the artificial world, built far from Earth by aliens over a half million years ago, in the form of a ring 600 million miles in diameter, hosting an astonishing multitude of inhabitants and cultures. This third fictional voyage to the Ringworld (after Ringworld, 1970, which won both the Hugo and the Nebula for best SF novel of that year, and Ringworld Engineers, 1980) offers two stories crowded into one. A motley array of hominid inhabitants are seeking to defeat a plague of vampires. Meanwhile, returning hero Louis Wu is battling what effectively is a plague of Protectors (superbeings common to many Niven novels) whose rivalries threaten Ringworld's existence. The battle against the vampires is the more exciting of the two stories, filled with action, scenes of the Ringworld and explorations of ritualistic interspecies sex. Wu's pursuit of the Protectors displays Niven's deft hand at portraying aliens, but the dialogue that fills in the backstory slows the narrative. Niven still ranks near the top of the SF field, but this outing is likely to satisfy determined Ringworld fans more than other readers.
Ringworld's Children returns series protagonist Louis Wu to the titular world. Louis and his friend The Hindmost, an alien of the Pierson's puppeteer race, are prisoners of the Ghoul protector Tunesmith, a Ringworld native, who is deliberately provoking the warships that surround his world. All the star-faring races of Known Space have sent warships to the Ringworld, and they are already at the brink of war. If fighting breaks out, the near-indestructible Ringworld will be destroyed: dissolved by antimatter weapons.
The story of a wayward luxury spaceliner that finds itself (and a few unwelcome passengers) transported from its planetary system to the one that houses Earth. Some earthbound humans end up boarding the ship for the adventure and then try frantically to get the ship to take them back home when they realize it's leaving Earth. On top of that, saboteurs from the other planetary system have planted a super-deluxe bomb aboard to destroy the ship. The humans want to get back home, the designers of the ship want to prevent the bombing to save their economy, and everyone is trying to figure why they can't seem to get an upgrade to First Class even though they're the only people on the ship. It's unbelievable the level of absurdity that takes place in this book, but there is no doubting how much fun it is. There is a space battle against a species that tries fix everything it damaged after a battle even though they don't fire weapons that can do any damage; there's an intriguing sexual encounter between the Journalist from the other system and a human female in the desperate seconds before they think the bomb will destroy them all and the subsequent attempts by the Journalist to get that female to repeat the performance; and then there's the bomb, itself. Lacking a special memory crystal, the countdown for this bomb cannot by stopped. Yet, it seems possible to distract him from the countdown, causing him to lose his place and have to start over again.
with Lisey's Story, King has accomplished one more feat. He broke my heart.
Lisey's Story is, at its core, a love story--heart-wrenching, passionate, terrifying and tender. It is the multi-layered and expertly crafted tale of a twenty-five year marriage, and a widow's journey through grief, through discovery and--this is King, after all--through a nightmare scape of the ordinary and extraordinary. Through Lisey's mind and heart, the reader is pulled into the intimacies of her marriage to bestselling novelist Scott Landon, and through her we come to know this complicated, troubled and heroic man.
Two years after his death, Lisey sorts through her husband's papers and her own shrouded memories. Following the clues Scott left her and her own instincts, she embarks on a journey that risks both her life and her sanity. She will face Scott's demons as well as her own, traveling into the past and into Boo'ya Moon, the seductive and terrifying world he'd shown her. There lives the power to heal, and the power to destroy.
Lisey Landon is a richly wrought character of charm and complexity, of realized inner strength and redoubtable humor. As the central figure she drives the story, and the story is so vividly textured, the reader will draw in the perfumed air of Boo'ya Moon, will see the sunlight flood through the windows of the Scott's studio--or the night press against them. Her voice will be clear in your ear as you experience the fear and the wonder. If your heart doesn't hitch at the demons she faces in this world and the other, if it doesn't thrill at her courage and endurance, you're going to need to check with a cardiologist, first chance.
Lisey's Story is bright and brilliant. It's dark and desperate. While I'll always consider The Shining, my first ride on King's wild Tilt-A-Whirl, a gorgeous, bloody jewel, I found, on this latest ride, a treasure box heaped with dazzling gems.
A few of them have sharp, hungry teeth. --Nora Roberts
Even as a child, the Rowan was one of the strongest Talents ever born. Telepaths across the world had heard her mental distress calls when her family's home was suddenly destroyed . . . Years later, she became a Prime Talent, blessed with a special power which stretched across the stars. But without family, friends - or love - the Rowan's power was not enough to bring her happiness . . . Then a telepathic message came from a distant world facing an alien threat, a message sent by an unknown Talent. Now - be it power, danger, or love - the Rowan is about to meet her match
A Clash of Kings-George R.R. Martin-A Song of Ice and Fire (book II)
A Clash of Kings picks up where A Game of Thrones ended. The Seven Kingdoms are plagued by civil war, while the Night's Watch mounts a reconnaissance force north of the Wall to investigate the mysterious people, known as wildings, who live there and, in the distant east, Daenerys Targaryen continues her quest to return to and conquer the Seven Kingdoms.
Of all the Rowan's children, Damia was the most brilliant, the most difficult, the loneliest, and the one who had inherited the greatest Talent. It was obvious from childhood that she was going to be a Prime, with all the honours, burdens and strains of the elite class. Her one friend was Afra - older, wiser, Talented in his own way, but 'belonging' almost exclusively to the Rowan and the workings of Callisto Station. As Damia grew up, her Talent became almost too strong to control, and the solution was separation - from her parents, from Callisto, from her beloved Afra. Sent to the distant planet of Deneb, to her strange and gifted grandmother, Damia began the training necessary to turn her into a Prime of extraordinary gifts.
Damia and Afra Raven-Lyon had reared their children in a brilliant and unorthodox way - 'pairing' them when six months old with the furry, one-eyed Mrdinis, the only other sentient being in the Alliance, who could communicate with humans by their 'dream messages.' Together, Man and Mrdini worked to create prosperous worlds and guard against the terrible threat of the annihilating Hivers. And now, in the depths of Space, Mrdini scouts had crossed the path of three Hive ships - ships that were giant hulks of cell units, bearing the queens and workers out into space, to breed and multiply and destroy wherever they found a viable planet. It was the four elder children of Damia - Laria, Thian, Rojer and Zara, with their 'Dini friends who had to use their talents to prevail against the Hive.
In this sequel to Damia's Children , the psionically Talented children of Damia Gwyn-Raven and Afra Lyon are pushed closer to the forefront of the struggle between the human Nine Star League and their alien Mrdini allies against the blind expansionism of the insect-like Hive culture that threatens both their civilizations. Rojer, like his siblings a T-1 at the most powerful level of Talent, is assigned to provide communication and transport for a squadron following a Hiver vessel. When he refuses a command by the Mrdini Captain Prtglm to launch missiles psionically against an occupied Hiver planet, he barely escapes while Prtglm kills his Mrdni companions, complicating an already delicate situation. A debate sharpens within the human community and with the Mrdini over the fate of the Hive colonies, with some humans and most of the Mrdinis holding out for complete destruction. Another large faction of humanity, which has eschewed war for generations, seeks a less bloodthirsty solution, such as isolation and containment. While McCaffrey's protagonists remain as warm and appealing as ever, her plotting here lacks vigor. Since the scene has been set for further volumes, a more rapid resolution to the Hive dilemma and the introduction of a new challenge might be in order
For generations, the descendants of the powerful telepath known as The Rowan have used their various talents to help mankind. Some share The Rowan's telepathic strength, others can teleport through space, others are empathic healers. As more planets are colonized by humans, and the known universe becomes ever more spread out, the family has grown powerful. They have led Earth to ally itself with the peaceful alien Mrdini, and together the two races have held back the predatory Hivers, who once laid waste entire planets.
Like all powerful families, The Rowan's descendants have also made enemies. Especially on Earth, there are those who charge that the treaties with the Mrdini gave away too much, and that the Mrdini receive more than their fair share of new living space as habitable planets are discovered. There are also complaints that the Hivers should have been exterminated, rather than contained and studied, and that such concentration of power in the hands of one family is dangerous.
The Rowan and her daughter Damia, with their beloved husbands and extended families, have seen their share of personal tragedy and loss. Now, with their goals of peace and plenty apparently in sight, they face whispering campaigns, sabotage, an even assassination attempts aimed at destroying all they have worked for.
Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (BBC Radio 2007 Extended Version)
the cast and crew
Richard MacDuff played by Billy Boyd
Detective Sergeant Gilks played by Jim Carter
Janice Pearce played by Olivia Colman
Gordon Way played by Robert Duncan
Dirk Gently played by Harry Enfield
Michael Wenton-Weakes played by Michael Fenton Stevens
COURTIER (& other) played by Wayne Forester
PROFESSOR CAWLEY (& other) played by Jon Glover
LADY MAGNA (& other) played by Tamsin Heatley
GEORGE III played by Jeffrey Holland
Electric Monk played by Toby Longworth
ANNOUNCER played by John Marsh
Susan Way played by Felicity Montagu
PETROL ATTENDANT (& other) played by Philip Pope
Professor Urban 'Reg' Chronotis played by Andrew Sachs
STEVE MANDER (& other) played by Andrew Secombe
NEWSREADER played by Neal Sleat
Music composed by:Phillip Pope
Executive Producer: Helen Chattwell
Producers: Jo Wheeler and Dirk Maggs
Above the Title Productions for BBC Radio 4
More about the show
Above the Title productions
Dirk Gently on Wikipedia
NOTE: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites
Douglas Adams
About Douglas Adams
Crew
Dirk Maggs: director
Jo Wheeler: producer
Philip Pope: composer/actor
About the book
Dirk Gently is a private detective who is more interested in telekinesis, quantum mechanics and lunch than fiddling around with fingerprint powder, so his investigations tend to produce startling and unexpected results. A simple search for a missing cat uncovers a bewildered ghost, a secret time-traveller, and the devastating secret that lies behind the whole human history and threatens to bring it to a premature end. Sadly the cat dies
One of the most influential vampire novels of the 20th century, I Am Legend regularly appears on the "10 Best" lists of numerous critical studies of the horror genre. As Richard Matheson's third novel, it was first marketed as science fiction (for although written in 1954, the story takes place in a future 1976). A terrible plague has decimated the world, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive have been transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Except, that is, for Robert Neville. He alone appears to be immune to this disease, but the grim irony is that now he is the outsider. He is the legendary monster who must be destroyed because he is different from everyone else. Employing a stark, almost documentary style, Richard Matheson was one of the first writers to convince us that the undead can lurk in a local supermarket freezer as well as a remote Gothic castle. His influence on a generation of bestselling authors--including Stephen King and Dean Koontz--who first read him in their youth is, well, legendary
What if history had been eradicated, time-travelling Victorian cyborgs threatened your life, and you found out witches ruled the world? That's the dilemma that Will Starling has to deal with. "The Witches of Chiswick" abounds with humor and excellent ideas
Will gets the help of his friend Tim, who tell him that someone is trying to hide the truth about the Victorian era -- it was actually full of technology and magic. It's also ruled over by a coven of witches from Chiswick Townswomen's Guild, who are now trying to kill Will. What ensues is a mad, reality-twisting chase involving Jack the Ripper, a talking sprout, Queen Victoria and the Elephant Man (who is actually a "human-alien hybrid spy").
What if history had been eradicated, time-travelling Victorian cyborgs threatened your life, and you found out witches ruled the world? That's the dilemma that Will Starling has to deal with. "The Witches of Chiswick" abounds with humor and excellent ideas
Will gets the help of his friend Tim, who tell him that someone is trying to hide the truth about the Victorian era -- it was actually full of technology and magic. It's also ruled over by a coven of witches from Chiswick Townswomen's Guild, who are now trying to kill Will. What ensues is a mad, reality-twisting chase involving Jack the Ripper, a talking sprout, Queen Victoria and the Elephant Man (who is actually a "human-alien hybrid spy").
Robert wants to be a star in the movies. He has invented a system with his computer that could put the old stars back on the screen, alongside him. He has the script and the money, but Hollywood isn't keen. Could the perfect partnership lie with Ernest Fudgepacker of Fudgepacker's Emporium?
I checked out Nostradamus Ate my Hamster from the library based just on its bizarre title and was not at all disappointed. This very unusual story was hilarious, at times disturbing, and occasionally offensive, but almost entirely enjoyable. A warning to the reader: be prepared to abandon all rationality and to suspend disbelief, because this is a book that breaks all the rules. If you enjoy the work of Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and Monty Python's Flying Circus, this sci-fi comedy/fantasy is highly recommended.
From the Publisher
'Classic Robert Rankin. If you've never read a Rankin before, grab yourself a handful of Nostradamus Ate My Hamster.' - SFX Magazine
What they say about Robert Rankin:
'One of the rare guys who can always make me laugh' - Terry Pratchett
'To the top-selling ranks of humourists such as Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, let us welcome Mr Rankin' - Tom Hutchinson, The Times
'A born writer with a taste for the occult. Robert Rankin is to Brentford what William Faulkner was to Yoknaptawpha County' - Time Out
'One of the finest living comic writers ... a sort of drinking man's H.G. Wells' - Midweek
Tongue is firmly planted in cheek in Rankin's story of a boy's childhood and subsequent adult life. The hysterical cast of characters includes a self-righteously cruel father, bizarre uncle, ineffective mother, a wife and friend who betray, and of course Gary Charlton Cheese, our narrator. Cheese's favorite author is the deceased EP, "Charles" Penrose and it is his fixation with Penrose that pushes Cheese's discovery of FLATLINE, a direct phone connection to the dead. It seems the technology has been around for quite some time.
Rankin has achieved cult status in England with his spoofish ways and is the perfect person to read this outrageous book. His rendition is, of course, British, rapid-paced, and somewhat multi-voiced. Fans of Terry Pratchett will be mightily pleased.
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire (book III)
A Storm of Swords picks up the story where A Clash of Kings ended. The Seven Kingdoms are in the grip of the War of the Five Kings, with Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, Joffrey Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon and the late Renly Baratheon fighting to secure their crowns. Stannis Baratheon's attempt to take King's Landing has been defeated by the new alliance between House Lannister (backing Joffrey) and House Tyrell, and House Martell has also pledged its support to the Lannisters though the forces of Dorne have yet to take the field. Meanwhile, a large host of wildlings is marching on the Wall under Mance Rayder, with only the tiny force of the Night's Watch in its path; and in the distant east, Daenerys Targaryen is on her way back to Pentos in the hope of raising forces to retake the Iron Throne.
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire - book IV
A Feast for Crows picks up the tale where A Storm of Swords left off and runs simultaneously with events in the following novel, A Dance with Dragons. The War of the Five Kings seems to be winding down. Robb Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Renly Baratheon and Balon Greyjoy are dead. King Stannis Baratheon has gone to the aid of the Wall, where Jon Snow has become Lord Commander. King Tommen Baratheon, Joffrey's eight-year-old brother, now rules in King's Landing under the watchful eye of his mother, the Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. Lord Tywin Lannister is dead, murdered by his son Tyrion in his flight from the city. Sansa Stark is in hiding in the Vale, protected by Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish who has murdered his wife Lysa Arryn and named himself Protector of the Vale and guardian of eight-year-old Lord Robert Arryn.
If you want to master just about everything there is to know about The Great Detective and The Good Doctor, to understand what Holmes meant when he referred to "a comet vintage" of wine, and to know what discrepancies there are between the English and American editions of the works, plus a thousand other things relating to Holmes, Watson, and the England of the Victorian era, you must have this volume, as well as all the others in the series as they become available over the next few years. --Otto Penzler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
This is the story of the Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite lost young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside. Yet, he makes Claudia a vampire, trapping her womanly passion, will, and intelligence inside the body of a small child. Louis and Claudia form a seemingly unbreakable alliance and even "settle down" for a while in the opulent French Quarter. Louis remembers Claudia's struggle to understand herself and the hatred they both have for Lestat that sends them halfway across the world to seek others of their kind. Louis and Claudia are desperate to find somewhere they belong, to find others who understand, and someone who knows what and why they are.
Louis and Claudia travel Europe, eventually coming to Paris and the ragingly successful Theatre des Vampires--a theatre of vampires pretending to be mortals pretending to be vampires. Here they meet the magnetic and ethereal Armand, who brings them into a whole society of vampires. But Louis and Claudia find that finding others like themselves provides no easy answers and in fact presents dangers they scarcely imagined.
First Sentence:
NO ONE would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water
I recently read this and I was surprised to find out how fresh this story is. Despite being over 100 years old, this novel still packs a punch. In fact, I found that I like the novel version much better than the movies. The Martians seem somewhat more terrifying through the eyes of the 18th century, while at the same time seeming more realistic. For example, in the novel, the Martians are a little careless in the begining, and one of them is killed by a lucky artillary shot. However in more recent versions, the aliens are even impervious to nuclear attack. This takes the science of the Martians from advanced to super or almost magical. The novel does a much better job I think. H. G. Wells proves that science fiction doesn't have to be ephemeral--it can last despite the advances in science.
Ralph Roberts has a bad case of insomnia. But lack of sleep is the least of his worries. Each night he stays awake, Ralph witnesses more and more terrifying activity in his neighbourhood. But is any of it real? The strange deaths in Derry have just begun, and if he is not hallucinating, everybody in town is in serious trouble. Stephen King returns to the town of Derry, Maine, the setting for his critically acclaimed novel IT, to create another chilling masterpiece of suspense.
'Stephen King brings his usual chilly touch to Insomnia, the story of a small town gripped by a creeping evil. . . This is not a horror story in the classic mode; it is a supernatural adventure romp on the fringes of the imagination, popular fiction at its best.' The Times
An inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London
museum, setting off alarms in clandestine organizations around the world.
And now the search for answers is leading Lady Kara Kensington; her
friend Safia al-Maaz, the gallerys brilliant and beautiful curator; and
their guide, the international adventurer Omaha Dunn, into a world they
never dreamed existed: a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert. But
others are being drawn there as well, some with dark and sinister purposes.
And the many perils of a death-defying trek deep into the savage heart of
the Arabian Peninsula pale before the nightmare waiting to be unearthed at
journeys end: an ageless and awesome power that could create a utopia . . .
or destroy everything humankind has built over countless millennia.
The story of Alice in Wonderland is repeated in a very readable text and is as delightful as ever. This is not, however, a childrens' book. Barry Moser's illustrations tell the story of Alice in a different, dark and somewhat menacing way. Is the rabbit hole just the means to reach an amusing world of people and animals with strange names and stranger habits, or is it the path to a nether region where the normal rules of social conduct and the shape and size of "people" don't apply? If his illustrations mean anything, Moser thinks perhaps it is the latter. For example, the Queen of Hearts appears not as the crazy, but ultimately harmless, creature of a Disney movie. Moser shows her as a dark and foreboding character and by his illustartion suggests that "off with her head" is a real threat. The text of the book is standard Alice, but the real reason to buy it is to get Moser's illustrations. This is definitely not a book for 10 year olds. But those of us who grew up on Alice as half comedy, half light hearted spoof will enjoy this twist on a traditional tale. Moser's other illustrations of classical works such as Moby Dick and The Devine Comedy are also well worth acquiring.
The story and adventure constantly come at you as though waves stretch across the golden sands of 'Treasure Island'. Coaxing you out into the blue horizon and reaching out towards the edge of the earth on the 'Hispaniola' to find out where the next chapter will take you.
And you will not be disappointed, each chapter has a new turn of events which constantly keep you wanting more. The great ability of the book is keeping the characters alive in black in white as if you know them - and even hate them or love them.
I particularly found the ability in conveying Long John Silver as the chaotically suave 'gentleman' that he is, very effective in generating my illicit need to be a pirate and go on many of his previous adventures of which my imagination takes me.
The method of writing, and including the smallest and insignificant of details, is able to spin the image of the grand docks or of the island itself in the centre of your minds eye. You watch as Jim grows up from his small village pub life to learn of the ruthlessness of being an adult.
The only negative is understanding some of the talk in the book, which may be owning to my own personal lack of vocabulary because we know how well known the phrase : "Spoil foc's'le hands, make devils.". I understand the context but I don't know if I want to admit knowing many a foc's'le.
So as a recommendation for any parents reading the book to a child, which I believe is the best way for a parent and child to bond, read it first - learn the language and the way they speak. And then you can look intelligent (and smug?) explaining the story to your child - and they even learn more - so everyone wins.
In Conclusion, the book is for anyone and everyone and is as absorbing as water onto a sponge. It is a classic and I believe it will remain that way for many a generation to come.
The Rand scientific expedition entered the lush wilderness of the
Amazon and never returned. Years later, one of its members has
stumbled out of the worlds most inhospitable rainforest—a former
Special Forces soldier, scarred, mutilated, terrified, and mere
hours from death, who went in with one arm missing . . . and came
out with both intact.
Unable to comprehend this inexplicable event, the government sends
Nathan Rand into this impenetrable secret world of undreamed-of
perils, to follow the trail of his vanished father . . . toward
mysteries that must be solved at any cost. But the nightmare that
is awaiting Nate and his team of scientists and seasoned U.S. Rangers
dwarfs any danger they anticipated . . . an ancient, unspoken
terror—a power beyond human imagining—that can forever alter the
world beyond the dark, lethal confines of . . .
Honey Santana - impassioned, willful, possibly bipolar, self-proclaimed
"queen of lost causes" - has a scheme to help rid the world of irresponsibility,
indifference, and dinnertime sales calls. She's taking rude, gullible
Relentless, Inc., telemarketer Boyd Shreave and his less-than-enthusiastic
mistress, Eugenie - the fifteen-minute-famous girlfriend of a tabloid murderer
- into the wilderness of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands for a gentle lesson
in civility. What she doesn't know is that she's being followed by her
Honey-obsessed former employer, Piejack (whose mismatched fingers are proof
that sexual harassment in the workplace is a bad idea). And he doesn't know
he's being followed by Honey's still-smitten former drug-running ex-husband,
Perry, and their wise-and-protective-way-beyond-his-years twelve-year-old-son, Fry.
And when they all pull up on Dismal Key, they don't know they're intruding on Sammy
Tigertail, a half white/half Seminole failed alligator wrestler, trying like hell
to be a hermit despite the Florida State coed who's dying to be his hostage . . .
Will Honey be able to make a mensch of a "greedhead"? Will Fry be able to protect
her from Piejack - and herself? Will Sammy achieve his true Seminole self?
Will Eugenie ever get to the beach? Will the Everglades survive the wild humans?
All the answers are revealed in the delectably outrageous mayhem that propels this
novel to its Hiaasen-of-the-highest-order climax.
Enjoy everyone, unfortuately the high quality has made it a 202mb file, and I have have to split it into 3 rar files.
The Third book in the series is coming next, will be uploading it today now that I have an easy-share account and am using that uploading tool, makes life soo much easier lol.
I will be going all the way to the The Silmarillion, so thats 5 books in total!
First off, let me state, for the record, that this book was passed on to me, with high reccomendations, by a man of the cloth. You may want to know that before you begin pointing and shouting, "She blasphemes! Heretic!," and throwing stones and such. I won't say who, though I suspect that as I only really spend any time at all with one good Vicar in particular (whoops, did that give it away?), that one could ascertain the origin of the copy. Well, please don't tell, since our very own local Pharisees will surely throw their own stones.
That being said...
I just spent the majority of my time the past 2 1/2 days completely absorbed in this book:
book description:
The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings,
acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about
the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff, the Messiahs
best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious
yet heartfelt work "reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams" (Philadelphia Inquirer).
Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable
journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes.
Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Saviors pal may not be enough to
divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But theres no one who loves Josh more --
except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala -- and Biff isnt about to let his
extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.
Christopher Snow is the best-known resident of 12,000-strong Moonlight Bay, California.
This is because 28-year-old Chris has xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a light-sensitivity
so severe that he cannot leave his house in daylight, cannot enter a normally-lit room,
cannot sit at a computer. Chris' natural element is the night, and his parents, both
academics, chose to live in Moonlight Bay because in a small town Chris can make the
nightscape his own, roaming freely through the town on his bike, surfing in the moonlight,
exploring while most people sleep.
But Chris' brilliant mother, a scientist, was killed in a car accident two years ago, and
as the book opens his father, Steven Snow, is dying of cancer; Chris' protected life is
about to change forever. We meet Chris as he is carefully preparing himself to go out in
the late-afternoon sun to visit the hospital. In his last moments of life his father tells
Chris he is "sorry" and that Chris should "fear nothing", cryptic words that Chris
cannot really relate to.
Steven Snow's body is removed to the hospital basement for transport to the funeral
home/crematorium, and when Chris goes downstairs for a final moment of farewell, he
witnesses a frightening and clandestine encounter: the funeral director and another
man Chris doesn't recognize are substituting the body of a hitchhiker for Steven Snow's
body, which is being taken not to the crematorium but to some secret destination.
For Chris, this scene is the first intimation of a conspiracy that he will come to realize
envelopes many of his townspeople. His parents knew of it and wanted to protect Chris
from it. His best friend has had hints of something wrong because of the frightening
nocturnal visitors that have come to his beach house. And the first person to try to explain
to Chris what's going on, and warn him about the special danger he himself is in, will be
hideously murdered.
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
In Freakonomics Steven Levitt asks a series of provocative and profound questions about contemporary living and helps us to see the familiar world through a completely original lens. He examines everything from education to traffic jams, from food to guns, from sports to getting elected, from betting to parenting, pushing back the boundaries of economics along the way. Levitt turns conventional economics on its head, stripping away the jargon and calculations of the 'experts' to explore the riddles of everyday life. He reaches some astonishing conclusions, showing us that Freakonomics is all about how people get what they want.
Dictated directly into a microcassette recorder over a three-day weekend, this book contains Stephen's most deeply held knee-jerk beliefs on The American Family, Race, Religion, Sex, Sports, and many more topics, conveniently arranged in chapter form.
Always controversial and outspoken, Stephen addresses why Hollywood is destroying America by inches, why evolution is a fraud, and why the elderly should be harnessed to millstones.
You may not agree with everything Stephen says, but at the very least, you'll understand that your differing opinion is wrong.
I Am America (And So Can You!) showcases Stephen Colbert at his most eloquent and impassioned. He is an unrelenting fighter for the soul of America, and in this book he fights the good fight for the traditional values that have served this country so well for so long
A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, from Jon Stewart and the writers of the Emmy Award-winning The Daily Show, is by far one the most irreverent and wittiest (and may we add smartest) political book you're likely to encounter. Amazon.com spoke with Jon Stewart a few days before the 2004 publication of America (The Book) and they discussed bald eagles, magical talking cats, Thor Heyerdahl, and much more.
"DUMA KEY is the engaging, fascinating story of a man who discovers an incredible talent for painting after a freak accident in which he loses an arm. He moves to a 'new life' in Duma Key, off Florida's West Coast; a deserted strip, part beach, part weed-tangled, owned by a patroness of the arts whose twin sisters went missing in the 1920s. Duma Key is where out-of-season hurricanes tears lives apart and a powerful undertow lures lost and tormented souls. Here Freemantle is inspired to paint the amazing sunsets. But soon the paintings become predictive, even dangerous. Freemantle knows the only way forward is to discover what happened to the twin sisters -- and what is the secret of the strange old lady who holds the key? The story is about friendship, about the bond between a father and his daughter. And about memory, truth and art. It is also is a metaphor for the life and inspiration of a writer, and an exploration of the nature, power and influence of fiction."
Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend's tavern, enjoys drawing
eccentric customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits
next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different and passes to
him a manila envelope full of cash. "Ten thousand now. You get the rest when
she's gone."
The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and
her address. But things are about to get worse. In minutes, another stranger sits
next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has
hired him.
Thinking fast, Tim says, "I've had a change of heart. You get ten thousand - for
doing nothing. Call it a no-kill fee." He keeps the photo and gives the money to
the hired killer. And when Tim secretly follows the man out of the tavern, he
gets a further shock: the hired killer is a cop.
Suddenly, Tim Carrier, an ordinary guy, is at the center of a mystery of
extraordinary proportions, the one man who can save an innocent life and stop a
killer far more powerful than any cop...and as relentless as evil incarnate.
But first Tim must discover within himself the capacity for selflessness,
endurance, and courage that can turn even an ordinary man into a hero - inner
resources that will transform his idea of who he is and what it takes to be:
The Good Guy.
"While not so good as a stand alone (you'll be lost in time & space without the background of Book 1), this second in the umpteen-part, increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhiker's Trilogy tries even harder than the first to laser your funny bone.
Seems that the thing we call (ultimately to be used-to-call) Earth is really just a mighty big supercomputer, built to work out the ultimate question to the ultimate answer, 42. Like all expensive software however, just before it actually does whatever it's supposed to do, it crashes - in this case due to the hacker Vogons and their total annihilation programme. Unlike your regular hard drive, two bits escape to byte another day, and we continue their story.
In one of the many funny lines from the book, Zaphod Beeblebrox remarks, "I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis". This book is just as hip.
Our heroes are aboard their Improbability Driven spaceship, when Arthur Dent happens to tie up all the computer circuits just when the Vogons are launching an attack. Zaphod decides its time to see dead people, and with a strange twist, he and miserable Marvin, the depressed computer, disappear, while Arthur takes a tea break.
Zaphod materializes elsewhere and immediately starts looking for the man who rules the Universe, while Marvin continues to depress and be depressed. In my humble opinion, Marvin is the star of this book, but I digress.
After having his sense of perspective sorely tested, Zaphod improbably conjures a happy reunion, although this leaves him sadly out of pocket. Deciding that they should find the nearest place to eat, their ship's computer zaps them to Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
From this half-way point, the book takes off on a fresh tangent of humor, floor shows, loud rock bands, talking meat, and wicked vehicles - that is, until the universe ends.
"The dead don't talk. I don't know why." But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn. Maybe he has a gift, maybe it's a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd's otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo's sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it's different. A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world's worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd's deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15. Today is August 14. In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe.
One of supernatural thriller writer Dean R. Koontz's most popular heroes returns in this sequel to the bestselling ODD THOMAS. Odd, a short-order cook who talks to dead people, utilizes his unearthly abilities to locate his missing best friend, Danny, a search that ends in a ruined casino housing an implacable and deadly evil.
On the stormy night that Jimmy Tock is born, not only does his dying grandfather correctly predict the facts of his birth, including the fact that he will be born with fused toes, but he also predicts that there will be five horrible days ahead in Jimmy's life.
Armed with the five dates, the adult Jimmy, now a baker by profession, must face those five days. As each date approaches, Jimmy feels the sword of Damocles dangling by an invisible thread over his head. What will each horrible day bring, and when during the day will the sword drop? Each chapter covers the time leading up to and through one of the prophesied days. Those days are horrible indeed. They are also interrelated and tied to a mysterious fact about Jimmy's birth that he has yet to discover.
Joe Carpenter, a crime reporter, loses his wife and two daughters in a bizarre plane crash that kills everybody on board. A year later he's still in depression, but then he meets a woman who apparently survived the crash. He starts tracking her down, and relatives of the other victims suddenly start committing suicide under very strange circumstances. When he eventually finds her, things get even weirder. He is forced to reassess everything he thought he knew about life and death.
Douglas Adams 3rd book- Life, the Universe and Everything.
"Anyone who has read and enjoyed the sublime Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is sure to welcome the third book of the series with open arms. At the same time however, they may quite rightly be concerned as to whether the high standard of the earlier books can be matched by Adams' third effort. If at all possible, 'Life, the Universe and Everything' is even more far-fetched than its predecessors. Not that that's a bad thing, of course: "Arthur felt happy. He was terribly pleased that the day was for once working out so much according to plan. Only twenty minutes ago he had decided he would go mad, and now here he was already chasing a Chesterfield sofa across the fields of prehistoric Earth."
As far as the characters are concerned, Arthur - despite having spent five years living as a caveman since we last saw him - remains a blundering fool in a dressing gown. The only difference perhaps is the appearance of a beard, decorated with a rabbit's bone (this, surprisingly, holds some significance as the story progresses). Thrilled to find himself propelled back in time, Arthur has the dubious pleasure of witnessing a cricket match at Lords, and is partly responsibly for the mass-hysteria that ensues. Slartibartfast takes on a larger role in this story, as he leads the intergalactic group around the universe and attempts to thrust his authority upon anyone who will listen.
One of my favourite parts of the book is that describing the alien with a chip on his shoulder: Bitter about the treatment he has received from his fellow space creatures, he makes it his mission to personally insult every living organism in the universe. Arthur's reaction in particular is very amusing. I also liked the description of the party that had quite literally taken on a life of its own. The original guests, all too stubborn to leave, found themselves spending their lives in the alcohol-strewn room, and as they began spawning children, the phrase 'survival of the fittest' aptly describes the consequences. The strongest party-goer genes were passed on to the next generation, and so the decades of partying continued.
I was disappointed that the evil Vogons failed to make an appearance this time around. Vindictive they may have been, but hugely entertaining nonetheless. Instead, Adams opted to introduce a race of killer white robots. They are far less intereting unfortunately, but Marvin the paranoid android goes some way in readdressing the balance as far as entertainment goes.
All in all, Life, the Universe and Everything os a fantastic book. Short, yes, but I favour quality over quantity any day. It's an enjoyable way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, and fans of Douglas Adams won't be disappointed."
In September 1997 Richard Dawkins allowed an Australian film crew into his Oxford home, only to realise in the course of a particularly inept interview that they were creationists trying to trap him. Tumbling to this, he paused some moments while deciding whether to throw them out or attempt a long and thoughtful explanation that they didn't want to hear. In their resulting film, his hesitation is dishonestly edited to look like intellectual doubt on his part. Creationists and believers in God are right to see him as their arch-enemy. In The God Delusion he displays what a formidable adversary he is. It is a spirited and exhilarating read. In the current climate of papal/Islamic stand-off, it is timely too.
Douglas Adams Book 4 - So Long and Thanks for all the Fish. Read by the author.
"This fourth novel in the inexplicably inaccurately named "Hitchhiker's Trilogy" is the easiest to read so far, the funniest, and the most down to earth.
Down to earth, that is, once you discount the flying romance into which our hero Arthur Dent willingly throws himself, completely forgetting to come down. Yes, this is a romance novel - Arthur and Fenchurch flying to the sea, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
A Zaphod-free zone, Adams introduces hilarious new characters, such as the Rain God and the raffle ticket lady, with guest appearances by Ford Prefect and my favorite Marvin.
Mysterious fish bowls with cryptic inscriptions, disappearing dolphins, an inside-out house (not an inside out-house) and of course, a final message from God himself, round out this hilarious book.
Unfortunately, you won't appreciate it fully without reading the preceding three novels, so get busy - it's well worth your time. "
Martin Stillwater is a novelist with a wife and children he adores -- and an imagination he can't control. One rainy afternoon, a stranger breaks into Martin's house and accuses him of stealing his family, his name, and his life. Martin has no choice but to take his family and flee, even as he questions his own sanity. But wherever they go, the stranger is right behind them.
Tommy Phans life is looking up. His series of detective novels are selling so successfully, that he is finally able to quit his day job to write full time. To reward himself, he buys a sparkly new Corvette...things couldnt be better. Upon arriving home, however, things begin to take a bizarre turn. His doorbell rings and Tommy answers it, but theres no one there. On his sidewalk is a little sand filled cloth doll with stitches for eyes and a mouth. A little note is pinned to its hand. Having no idea who could have left it, Tommy decides to bring it into the house to look it over. What a mistake...all hell breaks loose from here, and a wild night ensues.
The Silmarillion is J.R.R. Tolkien's tragic, operatic history of the First Age of Middle-Earth, essential background material for serious readers of the classic Lord of the Rings saga. Tolkien's work sets the standard for fantasy, and this audio version of the "Bible of Middle-Earth" does The Silmarillion justice. Martin Shaw's reading is grave and resonant, conveying all the powerful events and emotions that shaped elven and human history long before Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf and all the rest embarked on their quests. Beginning with the Music of the Ainur, The Silmarillion tells a tale of the Elder Days, when Elves and Men became estranged by the Dark Lord Morgoth's lust for the Silmarils, pure and powerful magic jewels. Even the love between a human warrior and the daughter of the Elven king cannot defeat Morgoth, but the War of Wrath finally brings down the Dark Lord. Peace reigns until the evil Sauron recovers the Rings of Power and sets the stage for the events told in the Lord of the Rings. This is epic fantasy at its finest, thrillingly read and gloriously unabridged. (Running time: 14 hours, 6 CDs) --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Our hero, Billy, just an every-day bartender, finds himself unexpectedly in a sick circle of crime when he finds a note attached to his car window --- "If you don't go to the police, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher; If you DO go to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman who does a lot of charity work. You have six hours to decide. The choice is yours." He has no idea who has sent it, and no idea what to do about it. Hoping it's a practical joke, he tries to ignore it, until he begins to find more sick notes and realizes that this is no joke at all.
Four women-four friends-share a determination to stop a killer who
has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each one holds a piece
of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San
Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner,
Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started
working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.
But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping
the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate
outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and
giving one another a hand.
The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose
crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down
the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered
before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out
to be devastatingly wrong.
Full of the breathtaking drama and unforgettable emotions for which
James Patterson is famous, 1st to Die is the start of a blazingly
fast-paced and sensationally entertaining new series of crime thrillers.
"I agree that it may not be as funny as some of the other Hitchhiker books, but then again, books 3 & 4 (Life, The Universe... & So Long, and Thanks...) were already less funny than the first two, which both really stand out above the rest on the humor scale. Partly because of its sheer random plotless road-movie style.
To me, books 3 & 4 were the ones that suffered from lack of plot/satisfying ending. Especially So Long and Thanks... was, though quite funny at times, rather a disappointment in the end, though it started off very well, a bit in the style of the Dirk Gently novels. He might have apologised for the inconvenience indeed.
As it is, it seems to me that, steering further away from the absurd humor that inhabited the beginning of the series, Adams tried to write out a good plot (a bit like with the Dirk Gently novels) that would satisfyingly wrap up the whole series - tricky, but could he do it? Yes, definitely yes. I can readily say that the "trilogy" wouldn't have been complete without it! It is a pity that he didn't hold onto the meandering nutter-style. Note that the book chapters switch very orderly between Trillian/Arthur/Ford, as do most of the more conventional novels. That's because here, he's more interested in creating a mystery with suspense and tension, rather than following in the footsteps of Monty Python. That is, the general plot here still makes absolutely no real sense (though everything fits in the end), but there are not much absurdities in the story itself, and the dialogues are less important and contain less unforgettable oneliners - DA concentrates on telling the story and finishing it.
Maybe Adams was better (and probably unique) at being an heir to Python rather than being a detective/mystery novelist. Still, in picking a totally absurd idea and working it out in such a way that it wraps it all up in a satisfactory manner is some stunt. Where the original two books get 1 star for plot and 4 for humor, this one gets 2 for humor and 3 for plot - still adding up to 5! "
I bought this book initially as something for me to read at night before going to bed - something easy. Turns out, I was right. It is the MOST easy and informative reading ive ever done in my life. Suffice to say, I was hooked on it (yes, ive read it more than 5 times and need to look for a different book now, its sad). Its one of the most fluent books written on the subjects brought up. Its goes all the way from those mini superstrings to Darwinism etc etc, trying to explain in lay man`s term, the universe itself in general and more specifically, of our earth, from a scientific perspective. This guy weaves explanatory science with twists of details of the scientists/explorers who did the work (or not) - the kind of stories you could hardly dig up from ordinary science book and lecturers alike. You end up feeling knowing a lot more about the universe, and at the same time, feel that you still are empty and crave for more. Its truly marvellous - I just hope somebody else is going to produce something this good sometime soon - Its hard to sleep now!
Harlequin is the first book in Cornwell's Grail Quest series, which chronicles the adventures of young Thomas of Hookton, "a big, bony, black-haired country boy". Thomas rejects the church in favour of the life of an archer in France after his village is brutally sacked by the French. The young Thomas fights back against the French with his bow, and "in that one instant, as the first arrow slid into the sky, he knew he wanted nothing more from life". He vows to seek revenge on the plains of France, and recover the holy relic of St. George stolen from his village by the sinister "harlequin" with whose destiny Thomas finds himself inextricably entwined. The rest of the action moves at a hectic pace across the violent and bloody battlefields of northern France, as Thomas falls for a beautiful French widow nicknamed "the Blackbird", makes a mortal enemy of the "poor, bitter and ambitious" Sir Simon Jekyll, and follows the ensign of King Edward III and his heroic son, the Black Prince. Harlequin is a fast-paced and graphic recreation of the Hundred Years War, despite a rather gratuitous fixation on rape and pillage. The action comes thick and fast
Douglas Adams - Salmon of doubt.
If you are a fan of Douglas Adams' fiction, then this book is well worth getting. Although it contains mostly non-fiction essays, articles and interviews, they are very entertaining, and have the same sharp, witty and informative voice as his fiction works.
Adams was clearly an extremely intelligent and perceptive man, and his ability to make wry but penetrating observations in a clear, concise and entertaining way is displayed here again and again. These essays run the gamut from the hilarious to the deeply moving - sometimes within the same article.
The unfinished novel, The Salmon of Doubt, is interesting, but somewhat frustrating to read, as none of the disparate elements quite come together. As a work in progress, it sadly needed a lot more work done to it to bring it up to Adams' usual standard.
I deduct one star because the collection is not *quite* what was promised. Initially, we were told in press releases that this book would contain much of the unpublished material found on Adams' laptop after his death. However, apart from the novel excerpt, nearly all the material has been published before, either in magazines, newspapers or online. It's great to have it all in one place, but a lot of it we've seen before.
Nevertheless, as a tribute to Adams' life as a novelist and journalist, this book is as close to perfect as it can be. After reading The Salmon of Doubt, I both marvelled at Adams' genius, and mourned his untimely passing.
Ah Douglas, you left us far too soon.
If you are a fan of Douglas Adams' fiction, then this book is well worth getting. Although it contains mostly non-fiction essays, articles and interviews, they are very entertaining, and have the same sharp, witty and informative voice as his fiction works.
Adams was clearly an extremely intelligent and perceptive man, and his ability to make wry but penetrating observations in a clear, concise and entertaining way is displayed here again and again. These essays run the gamut from the hilarious to the deeply moving - sometimes within the same article.
The unfinished novel, The Salmon of Doubt, is interesting, but somewhat frustrating to read, as none of the disparate elements quite come together. As a work in progress, it sadly needed a lot more work done to it to bring it up to Adams' usual standard.
I deduct one star because the collection is not *quite* what was promised. Initially, we were told in press releases that this book would contain much of the unpublished material found on Adams' laptop after his death. However, apart from the novel excerpt, nearly all the material has been published before, either in magazines, newspapers or online. It's great to have it all in one place, but a lot of it we've seen before.
Nevertheless, as a tribute to Adams' life as a novelist and journalist, this book is as close to perfect as it can be. After reading The Salmon of Doubt, I both marvelled at Adams' genius, and mourned his untimely passing.
In the eagerly anticipated sequel to The Archer's Tale in Bernard Cornwell's acclaimed Grail Quest series, a young archer sets out to avenge his family's honor on the battlefields of the Hundred Years' War and winds up on a quest for the Holy Grail. 1347 is a year of war and unrest. England's army is fighting in France, and the Scots are invading from the North. Thomas of Hookton, sent back to England to follow an ancient trail to the Holy Grail, becomes embroiled in the fighting at Durham. Here he meets a new and sinister enemy, a Dominican Inquisitor, who, like all of Europe, is searching for Christendom's most holy relic. It is not certain the grail even exists, but no one wants to let it fall into someone else's hands. And though Thomas may have an advantage in the search -- an old notebook left to him by his father seems to offer clues to the whereabouts of the relic -- his rivals, inspired by a fanatical religious fervor, have their own ways: the torture chamber of the Inquisition. Barely alive, Thomas is able to escape their clutches, but fate will not let him rest. He is thrust into one of the bloodiest fights of the Hundred Years' War, the Battle of La Roche-Derrien, and amid the flames, arrows, and butchery of that night, he faces his enemies once again.
The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the number one bestseller Vagabond, this is the third instalment in Bernard Cornwell's Grail Quest series. In 1347 the English capture Calais and the war with France is suspended by a truce. But for Thomas of Hookton, the hero of Harlequin and Vagabond, there is no end to the fighting. He is pursuing the grail, the most sacred of Christendom's relics, and is sent to his ancestral homeland, Gascony, to engineer a confrontation with his deadliest enemy, Guy Vexille. Once in the south country Thomas becomes a raider, leading his archers in savage forays that will draw his enemy to his arrows. But then his fortunes change. Thomas becomes the hunted as his campaign is destroyed by the church. With only one companion, a girl condemned to burn as a heretic, Thomas goes to the valley of Astarac where he believes the grail was once hidden and might still be concealed, and there he plays a deadly game of hide and seek with an overwhelming enemy. Then, just as Thomas succeeds in meeting his enemy face to face, fate intervenes as the deadliest plague in the history of mankind erupts into Europe. What had been a landscape of castles, monasteries, vineyards and villages, becomes death's kingdom and the need for the grail, as a sign of God's favour, is more urgent than ever.
Dexter Morgan has been under considerable pressure. It's just not easy being
an ethical serial killer—especially while trying to avoid the unshakable
suspicions of the dangerous Sergeant Doakes (who believes Dexter is a homicidal
maniac . . . which, of course, he is). In an attempt to throw Doakes off his
trail, Dexter has had to slip deep into his foolproof disguise. While not
working as a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, he now
spends nearly all his time with his cheerful girlfriend, Rita, and her two
children, sipping light beer and slowly becoming the world's first serial
couch potato. But how long can Dexter play Kick the Can instead of Slice the
Slasher? How long before his Dark Passenger forces him to drop the charade and
let his inner monster run free?
In trying times, opportunity knocks. A particularly nasty psychopath is cutting
a trail through Miami—a man whose twisted technique leaves even Dexter speechless.
As Dexter's dark appetite is revived, his sister, Deborah (a newly minted,
tough-as-nails Miami detective) is drawn headlong into the case. It quickly
becomes clear that it will take a monster to catch a monster—but it isn't until
his archnemesis is abducted that Dex can finally throw himself into the search for
a new plaything. Unless, of course, his plaything finds him first . . .
With the incredible wit and freshness that drew widespread acclaim to Darkly
Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay now takes Dexter Morgan to a new level of macabre
appeal and gives us one of the most original, colorful narrators in years.
In his work as a Miami crime scene investigator, Dexter Morgan is accustomed
to seeing evil deeds…particularly because, on occasion, he rather enjoys
committing them himself. Guided by his Dark Passenger (the reptilian voice
inside him), he lives his outwardly normal life adhering to one simple rule:
he kills only very bad people. Dexter slides through life undetected, working
as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, helping his fiancé
raise her two adorable (if somewhat…unique) children, and always planning his
next jaunt as Dexter the Dark Avenger under the light of the full moon.
But then everything changes. Dexter is called to a crime scene that seems
routine: a gruesome double homicide at the university campus, which Dexter
would normally investigate with gusto, before enjoying a savory lunch. And yet
this scene feels terribly wrong. Dexter’s Dark Passenger senses something it
recognizes, something utterly chilling, and the Passenger—mastermind of Dexter’s
homicidal prowess—promptly goes into hiding.
With his Passenger on the run, Dexter is left to face this case all alone—not to
mention his demanding sister (Sergeant Deborah), his frantic fiancée (Rita), and
the most frightening wedding caterer ever to plan a menu. Equally unsettling,
Dexter begins to realize that something very dark and very powerful has its sights
set on him. Dexter is left in the dark, but he must summon his sharpest
investigative instincts not only to pursue his enemy, but to locate and truly
understand his Dark Passenger. To find him, Dexter has to research the questions
he’s never dared ask: Who is the Dark Passenger, and where does he come from?
It is nothing less than a search for Dexter’s own dark soul…fueled by a steady
supply of fresh doughnuts.
Macabre, ironic, and wonderfully entertaining, Dexter in the Dark goes deeper into
the psyche of one of the freshest protagonists in recent fiction. Jeff Lindsay’s
glorious creativity is on full display in his most accomplished novel yet.
This is another gripping and highly readable book from Jon Krakauer. It looks at the life and travels of Chris McCandless as he gave up his ties to conventional society and sought a life unfettered and based on his love of the wilderness and nature. This book is interspersed with stories of other people who have gone off and sought that closer connection with nature, including one of the authors own. You can't help but admire Chris in this book, but also despair at some of his attitudes and lack of preparation. This has some wonderful quotes to begin each chapter and tells this intriguing story in a way that honours Chris' memory and ideals, whilst being completely absorbing at the same time. Well worth a read.
"Landrum does a superb job conveying Dexter's witty first-person narration....Refreshingly original and expertly narrated, this audiobook should be required listening for all thriller aficionados." (Publishers Weekly)
Publisher's Summary
Jeff Lindsay is one of the most exciting voices to explode onto the literary scene in quite some time. From his boundless imagination comes the tale of a serial killer like no other, hailed by Booklist in a starred review as "one of the genre's most original, compelling characters to appear in years".
Dexter Morgan appears to be the perfect gentleman. He is handsome and polite, and has been in a relationship for nearly a year and a half. Yet appearances can be deceiving, for Dexter is a serial killer who has slain many people. But in this tale, he's the good guy, for there is one little twist: Dexter only snuffs out other murderers. When another serial killer, with an eerily similar style, starts grabbing headlines, Dexter has a fairly morbid thought. Am I being challenged?
Darkly Dreaming Dexter is macabre yet wickedly funny, a wildly inventive novel that entertains from beginning to end.
He was the best at what he did. A chameleon, invisible . . . uncatchable.
For how could you catch an invisible man?
It was a very cold, very clear morning in the Carlos Avery game reserve –
cold enough to preserve the body lying there, clear enough so the state
investigator couldn't miss it. There was something familiar about the stab
wounds, she thought – but the Minneapolis police dismissed her theories,
and the city's new police chief has problems enough of her own. The cops
are wary of her, the public thinks she's too political, the feminists think
she's sold out. And this damn murder just won't go away.
Caught in the middle, the chief turns to Lucas Davenport for help, and
reluctantly, he agrees. Still recovering from his near-fatal wounds of the
year before, trying for once in his life to settle down with one woman,
Lucas has his own concerns, but something about this murder, and another
like it – the body found in a dumpster this time – teases him, and the more
he looks into them, the more he's sure the investigator is right. There is
something disconcertingly familiar about the wounds now only in these two
cases, but just maybe in several others as well. Somewhere out there lurks
a killer of unusual skill and savagery. And if Lucas is right, he's just
getting warmed up . . .
The murderer was intelligent. He was a member of the bar. He derived
rules based on professional examination of actual cases: Never kill
anyone you know. Never have a motive. Never follow a discernible pattern.
Never carry a weapon after it has been used. Beware of leaving physical
evidence. There were more. He built them into a challenge. He was mad,
of course . . .
The killer's name is Louis Vullion, a low-key young attorney who, under
the camouflage of normalcy, researches his next female victim until the
pressure within him forces him to reach out and "collect" her. Plying
his secret craft with the tactics of a games master, he has gripped the
Twin Cities in a storm of terror more fierce than any Minnesota winter.
It is after the third murder that Lucas Davenport is called in. It is
the opinion of his colleagues that everything about the lieutenant is
a little different, and they are right – in the computer games he invents
and sells, in the Porsche he drives to work, in the quality of the women
he attracts, in his single-minded pursuit of justice. The only member of
the department's Office of Special Intelligence, Davenport prefers to
work alone, parallel with Homicide, and there is something about this
serial killer that he quickly understands. The man who signs himself
"maddog" in taunting notes to the police is no textbook sociopath; he has
a perverse playfulness that makes him kill for the sheer contest of it.
He is a player.Which means that Davenport will have to put all his mental
strength – and physical courage – on the line to learn to think like the
killer. For the only way to beat the maddog is at his own hellish game. . .
Bekker's ruined face twisted. "You should have..."
"What?" Lucas demanded.
... killed me," Bekker said. "Fool."
He was right. His guards slain, the brilliant, insane pathologist of
Eyes of Prey flees to New York, there to continue his research into
aspects of death. Carefully, he conducts his experiments, searching
the eyes of his dying victims for what they can reveal, the mounting
body count causing an uproar in the city.
In desperation, the police reach out for the man who knew Bekker best,
but when Lucas arrives, he finds unexpected danger as well. For Lily
Rothenburg, the policewoman whose intense affair with Lucas has never
completely faded, is there too. Now, consumed with her own investigation
of a group of rogue killers within the police department, she draws Lucas
into her orbit again, until their hunts merge, their twin obsessions
driving them ever closer to the edge . . . and then over.
Douglas Adams - The Long Dark Tea Time Of The Soul.
Dirk Gently owns a 'holistic detective agency', believing that as all things are connected, seemingly random coincidences can solve a mystery. The mystery needing to be solved now involves a coke machine, disappearing- and re-appearing- norse gods, an american woman in england, a strange eagle that may have more to it than meets the eye, a private hospital for 'strange' cases, a demon with a contract, and, god forbid, LAWYERS.
The same, random, bizarre and genuinely funny humour from the writer of 'The HitchHikers Guide To the Galaxy' and while not as hysterical, incisive or purely brilliant as that series, is still a fantastic, and not wholly light-hearted piece of fiction.
Before Lucas Davenport and the brilliant Prey novels, there was
Kidd (artist, computer whiz, and professional criminal) and his
sometimes partner/sometimes lover, LuEllen. The army left Kidd
with a dislike for bureaucracy and the skills to do something
about it, but it didn't prepare him for the day a woman would
call and tell him his colleague Jack Morrison is dead. Jack was
supposedly killed by a jittery security guard when he was caught
raiding a company's files in the middle of the night, but that
story just doesn't sit right with Kidd. The more he investigates
the company and its ambitious owner, the more convinced he becomes
that Jack stumbled onto something that got him murdered. And that
unless he and LuEllen get to the bottom of it all quickly, the next
bodies might very well be their own.
Saturated with the atmosphere, characters, and exceptional drama
that have made John Sandford one of America's best-loved thriller
writers, The Devil's Code is a masterpiece of suspense, a richly
layered novel, filled with the unexpected. It is truly vintage Sandford.
Kidd has three main occupations: he's a pretty good painter, a serious
tarot reader, and a genius with computers. Fortunately, one of them pays
the rent. He sells his computer skills to politicians, businessmen,
anyone – as long as the price is right and the action isn't so illegal
it risks bringing trouble into his carefully ordered life.
Now he is contacted by the billionaire owner of Anshiser Aviation. A
corporate spy has stolen plans for a revolutionary targeting system for
fighter planes and sold them to rival Whitemark. Anshiser wants Kidd
to wreak havoc in the Whitemark computers, to delay them long enough
for Anshiser's system to reach the marketplace first. The gamble is
greater than Kidd has ever accepted – but then, so is the money.
Kidd likes to work alone: no leaks, no feuds, no double crosses. But this
time he's got a team. There's LuEllen, a cat burglar addicted to danger
(among other things); and Dace, a down-and-out journalist who'll do
anything for a story that would revive his career; and sent to monitor
their work is Maggie Kahn, Anshiser's beautiful – and ruthless – assistant.
They dig in for battle, as Kidd tries to stay one step ahead of Whitemark,
the feds, and the two mysterious characters watching him from a green van.
One night he does a tarot reading: "I got the Seven of Swords overlaying
the Emperor in a crucial position. Later, I knew what it meant.
But then it was too late."
I read this book in three days. I just couldn't put it down. Adams is funny and touching. Mark's input and the knowledge that is included in the book make this a highly informative and enlightening read. The tone is never preaching, although it certainly makes you realise just what we're doing to the planet. This text manages to stir your conscience and be wildly funny at the same time!
Like many people, pawn of prophecy was my introduction to David Eddings and I became fascinated with what first appears to be a coming of age story of Garion, a young boy in an old world, who grows up on a farm only to discover that there was quite a bit more to him than he expected. This volume only drops vague hints about Garion's personal history, so I'm going to keep a bit mum about it. Suffice it to say that, if he is important enough to have the two oldest sorcerers in the world watching over him, then he is very important indeed.
The sorcerers in question are Belgarath and his daughter Polgara. Both are fiercely determined and wield sarcasm even better than they do spells. Danger threatens and a priceless artifact is stolen. They take Garion on the road with them and the boy of 14 going on fifteen gets a whirlwind tour of his world as Belgarath and Polgara first chase the artifact and then confront the council of the Alorn kings. While this is hardly children's fiction it spends the time to visit Garion's all too human confusion and fears. His guardians are slow to explain things to him and like any adolescent of that age; Garion deeply resents being treated like a child and craves more attention than anyone has time to give him. But he copes, and we gradually will come to understand that he is more than just a frustrated whiner.
Queen of Sorcery is the second volume in this series, and the one where the story really takes off. Now that we know the central players and have established their personalities and their goal, Eddings eases off on the bricks a bit and begins to introduce is to many of the cultures that people the seven kingdoms of Karanda. As you will quickly discover, this is a world full of the strange, the eccentric, and even the downright funny.
We are off again on the trail of Zedar, who has stolen the Orb of Aldur. The first stop for Garion, Belgarath, Polgara, and the remaining questers is Arendia, home of several knightly classes that always teeter on the edge of war and a large population of serfs who live in grinding poverty. Eddings will return to this theme of slavery and serfdom several times although it is not really a focus of the main plot. What is clear is that the writer has strong feelings, and they color his characters. For the better, I think. In Arendia we will meet Lelldorin, an Asturian archer and all around hot head. Then we meet Mandorallen, a Mombrate knight, and while not quite as crazy as Lelldorin, he takes his knightly code so seriously that it is hard to take him equally seriously. Eventually the knight will win your heart, as do all the others.
Next we're off to Tolnedra, where politics and money are both a religion and a way of life. Garion finds that there is a Grolim under every stone and it takes all their wits for the team to make it out intact. Ce'Nedra, the spoiled imperial princess, decides to run away with Belgarath and Polgara (whom she refuses to believe are Belgarath and Polgara). For a good bit of the story to come Ce'Nedra will make Garion's life a bumbling confusion, as he struggles to cope with his role, and sort out his feelings about being a sorcerer and the object of a prophecy.
Finally we come to Nyissa, where people worship snakes, and poisoning is the state religion. This is another bad time for Garion, who very nearly comes of age much faster than was planned. It also goes a bit hard for Belgarath, whose quest for Zedar and the Stone come to a sudden hard stop against a tree. All is not lost, but it is time for a shift in strategy.
The Light Fantastic is the second book in Terry Pratchett's brilliantly funny Discworld series, continuing the tale related in the first book The Colour of Magic. The last we knew, Rincewind and Discworld's first tourist Twoflower had fallen off the rim of the world, which is an especially dangerous happenstance on a world that is totally flat and carried on the backs of four elephants who in turn stand atop the great cosmic turtle Great A'Tuin. While Rincewind is Discworld's most incompetent wizard and all-around unlucky fellow, he manages to evade the clutches of Death (although he does bump into him fairly often) time and again (27 times by Twoflower's count at the midpoint of this novel). Why this is so is, we discover, is because Rincewind carries one of the eight most powerful spells from the magical Octavo. Reality keeps having to reshape itself in order to keep rescuing the wizard. Although Rincewind, the eternally optimistic Twoflower, and the magical Luggage of sapient pearwood are once again on the disc, they face a number of obstacles in getting home to Ankh-Morpork. They are fortunate enough to join forces with Disworld's greatest hero Cohen the Barbarian; Cohen is an old man now, but he doesn't let that stop him from rescuing maidens, stealing treasures, and doing other heroic things. At this particular time, the Discworld itself is in danger, threatened with an imminent collision with a giant red star heading its way. The wizards of Unseen University believe that all eight powerful spells from the Octavo must be read in order to save the Discworld, so the missing Rincewind must be found in order to release the necessary eighth spell locked inside his brain. A series of adventures and misadventures ensue for our motley crew of characters, including a stopover at a vacated witch's house made of candy, a wild ride on a broomstick, a collision with a druid-steered cloud, and a trip to the home of Death himself before Rincewind manages to return home. Whether he can actually make use of the eighth spell and somehow manage to avert the Discworld's total destruction by the onrushing red star is, as is typical for this inept failed wizard, questionable at best.
The Light Fantastic builds upon the story of The Colour of Magic and breathes more life into the unique Discworld of Terry Pratchett's imaginative construction. More areas of the world are revealed to the reader, and we for the first time get a decent look at what goes on in the school of wizardry. Not only do we meet Cohen the Barbarian, we are also introduced to the ape librarian of Unseen University, who will become a significant character in later novels. You should certainly read the previous novel before this one because the two are closely connected in terms of plot, characterization, etc. It will also help you to recognize just how much more vibrant and real Pratchett's Discworld seems by the end of The Light Fantastic. The comedy quotient of both novels is about equal, but the storyline seems much stronger and flows much more naturally in this one. Pratchett was honing his already sharp scythe of quick wit and nascent satire in these first two Discworld novels, building a compellingly unique little world and populating it with unforgettable characters. This is high-brow comedy of the highest order, and we readers are privileged to be able to say we were there from the start with Rincewind, Twoflower, and the Luggage.
Volume three of the Belgariad brings the first story arc, the quest for the orb, to closure. It also complete the grand tour of the West that Eddings has been taking the reader through. With Nyissan interference out of the way, Belgarath and Silk rejoin the rest of the party and reveal that the Orb has fallen into Murgo hands. Ctuchik, an old enemy of Belgarath is guarding the Orb in Cthol Murgos, and the wizard is willing to let him have for the moment. There are more important things to do before fetching it back.
Taking a shortcut through Maragor, where a lonely god weeps for his lost people, the party heads for the Vale, where Belgarath first learned to be a wizard, and Polgara grew up. It's time for Belgarion to meet Aldur and even experiment with his new found (and uncomfortable) powers. It's also time to start developing C'Nedra into something other than a very spoiled and dubious imperial princess.
The next stop is the land (make that caves) of the Ulgos. When gods were choosing out peoples, the Ulgos got left out. After what is probably the world's most effective guilt trip they managed to get Ulgo to be their god. As a result, they have become a very serious people about their religion - in a good way. Belgarath is looking for a special Ulgo guide who can deal with solid stone walls, and he's quite willing to interfere in a religious rebellion to get what he needs. C'Nedra is left safely behind, and the trek to Cthol Murgos to retrieve the orb is under way.
In the fourth installment of the series everything finally comes together and is getting to the point where everything can escalate into a climatic ending. Finally Garion (and friends) reaches Riva, gets Iron Grip's sword, and becomes who he really is. The requirements of the prophecy have nearly all been fulfilled, and nearly all conditions are met. The only thing that really needs to happen now is the final battles, and the meeting between Garion and Torak. In "Castle of Wizardry" armies are raised, groups split up, the kingdoms of the west unite and Garion, Kheldar, and Belgarath head out for the Mallorean continent to greet Torak with the sword of Iron Grip.
A very exciting book that sets up everything for the climax of book five, and instantly captures your imagination, time, and attention, and then won't let go until you've finished the book
Old Granny Weatherwax usually succeeds at whatever task she sets for herself. However the local blacksmith has sired the eighth daughter of an eighth son (himself). A dying wizard staggers into the smithy and bequeaths his staff to a baby who he assumes to be an eighth son of an eighth son.
Right count. Wrong sex.
Granny tries to rectify the matter by destroying the staff, but it indignantly refuses to be destroyed either by force or by witchcraft. Finally she hides it in the smithy and life returns to normal in the little Ramtop mountain village of Bad Ass--at least until Eskarina is seven.
As Pratchett puts it, "Magic has a habit of lying low, like a rake in the grass." When young Eskarina sasses her father in the smithy, he slaps her, and then is knocked cold by the suddenly active staff.
Granny realizes that the wizard's magic had taken hold of Eskarina after all. Still, she's a stubborn old woman with an unshakeable moral center. Wizard's magic is not for females, but who's to say Eskarina can't be trained up as a witch?
Thus begins one of the funniest apprenticeships in fantasy. Eskarina and Granny Weatherwax both have firm ideas on what a witch should and should not do. Granny wants to teach 'headology' to Esk, who scorns any technique that doesn't involve flashes of light and/or bad smells. She wants to learn 'real' magic.
After a near-death experience with a magical technique called 'borrowing' Granny finally girds up her many layers of flannelette and sets off for the Unseen University with her subdued (but not for long) apprentice. Maybe the wizards can teach Esk how to control her wild magic before it destroys her, and maybe Discworld along with her.
There is a musty old rule barring females from the Unseen University, but how long is that going to stop a determined Esk ("Why is that little girl squinting at me?") and an even more determined Granny Weatherwax?
The witches of Ramtop Mountains are my favorite Discworld characters. I'm surprised no one has yet published "The Wit and Wisdom of Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg." They answer all of the important questions of philosophy while getting clobbered by falling houses, chastening fairy godmothers, dueling with assorted wizards, fairies, and vampires, and generally restoring peace to the little villages of the Ramtops, Bad Ass included. They are the moral bedrock (in Nanny Ogg's case, moral 'bedspring') of Pratchett's sane and funny philosophy of life.
Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective agency - Read By The Author.
... unless, of course, you're the kind of person who does precisely the opposite of whatever they are told to... oh! Hang on... that's all of us! Folks, not only is this book brimfull of the usual brilliantly quirky insights and satires of the inimitable mr Adams, but it is also an extremely well thought out, self-consistent detective story, with only a few completely fantastic creatures. (Don't be scared now!) And perhaps the odd (almost) impossible occurence. (Surprised?) The characters are an utter delight, and arguably more sympathetic than the cartoon figures from the hitchikers series. Guaranteed: you'll laugh out loud in places, and at least spend a good deal of the rest of the time with a most idiotically pleasant smile on your face. (Try not to drool in public.) Upon finishing, you will find yourself obsessively compelled to schedule an immediate re-reading, seeing as you will most certainly have missed a number of small delights and teasingly hidden clues. This story Rocks! And Haunts! Unmissable!
I also FORBID you to read Dirk Gently's further adventures in "The long dark teatime of the soul"!
Enjoyed this one as much as the others in the series. This ends the Belgariad series and sets up for the Malloreon. All in all these are good reads. Most of the folks I know have read this series and The Malloreon several times...they are sort of habit forming. If read for what they were written for, light books which should be enjoyed and ones to have fun with, then you will like them. Will Garion be able to overcome the dark God Torak even though he is deemed the overlord of the west. Will he be able to overcome the will of a god and save the world the universe itself. Read the book yourself and find out., read and enjoy. Recommend highly.
Book Description
A sequel to THE BELGARIAD, Garion has slain the evil God Torak, and fulfilled the prophecy. But suddenly another prophecy is foretold. Again a great evil is brewing in the East. And again Garion finds himself caught between two ancient Prophecies, with the fate of the world resting on him....
King Belgarion and Queen Ce'Nedra are still searching for their kidnapped son Geran in this second volume of The Mallorean, Eddings's sequel to his bestselling fantasy series The Belgariad. After pursuing the Bear Cult in the last book, they now have information that the culprit is actually the evil Zandramas. Despite the seeming urgency of their quest, the journey becomes almost leisurely as the company, including the ancient sorcerer Belgarath, his daughter Polgara and the spy called Silk, stop repeatedly along the way. They visit the cave-dwelling mystics, the Ulgos, the imperial Tolnedrans, the forest Dryads, the Serpent Queen and the city of Rak Urga, where they make an unlikely ally of timid, wily Urgit, King of the Murgos. If this is seldom really gripping, the flavorful interplay among Eddings's stubborn, resourceful characters keeps the narrative continually entertaining
It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of anti-matter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. Angels and Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller--think Katherine Neville's The Eight (but cleverer) or Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum (but more accessible).
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, anti-matter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilisation.
Brown seems as much juggler as author--there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humour from Langdon and a little less bombastic philosophising on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances--readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. "Brain candy" it may be, but it's tasty.
"Mort" is the fourth book in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series. He has gone on to win the Carnegie Medal for "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and was awarded the OBE in 1998.
Death - tall guy, somewhat underfed, big grin, carries a scythe - appears in more Discworld books than any other character. However, "Mort" is the first where his appearance in anything other than a very brief cameo - though, admittedly, he remains one of the book's support characters. The book's hero is Mort, the youngest son of a farming family living on the Ramtops. He doesn't quite have the look of a typical hero : although tall and overly-helpful, he's also red-haired, freckled and largely built from knees. His family specialises in distilling wine from reannual grapes - you plant the seed this year and harvest the grape last year. (With the wine, you tend to get the hangover the morning before and need to drink quite a lot to get over it). Mort's lack of talent in the agricultural field (boom boom !), however, is causing some concern for his father. Hoping someone will hire him as an apprentice, Lezek takes his son to the hiring fair at Sheepridge on Hogswatch Night. Although Mort is the last one hired, he is probably the most aptly named apprentice - given that his new boss is Death himself.
Despite Mort's initial discomfort with the position - he doesn't have to be dead himself and the bones look is entirely optional - he decides to accept the position. Death also makes it clear he doesn't do the killing himself - that's up to assassins and soldiers, for example - he just takes over when people die. (He has, however, been known to murder a curry). Life (if that's what you call it) with Death is very strange. His home is designed, unsurprisingly, in varying shades of dark and is much bigger on the inside than on the outside. He also has a daughter called Ysabell and a butler called Albert - both human and not just skeletons - and a horse called Binky. All are also very much alive. The problems start when Mort starts shadowing his new boss at work - specifically, when they are due to escort King Olerv of Sto-Lat into the afterlife. The King has just been assassinated by his ambitious cousin the Duke of Sto-Helit. Unfortunately, Princess Keli is next on the Duke's hitlist and Mort's youthful hormones aren't too happy about this. As soon as Mort starts interfering, other questions start coming to mind - like where does Death get a daughter and why does he need an apprentice ?
Despite his profession, Death is one of the funniest characters on the Discworld. Although it's the first book to give him a starring role, it may prove a slight advantage to have read one or two of the other books. (Rincewind is a particular hobby of Death's so "The Colour of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic may be worth looking into). Very highly recommended.
In an adventurous sequel to THE MALLOREAN, David Eddings tells the story of King Garion's abducted infant son and his efforts to save him. Unfortunately, he and his friends are detained by the friendly, but determined Zakath, who refuses to let them leave. As a horde of demons ravage the Cities and a plague lets loose its terrors, Garion has little time left to reach his destination, or the kidnapper wins by default.
As the bestselling THE Mallorean series contnues, Garion is pursuing Zandramas, in the form of a great dragon flying over them, across the known world. With the forces of evil threatening on both sides, Garion still had to get to the Place Which Is No More, as the Seeress of Kell had warned, but they had no idea where that might be....
Eddings. One of the true legends of fantasy. He started The Belgariad with his wife a number of years ago and worked his way through ten novels of pure, edge-of-your-seat masterpieces. This, book 10 of them, is the conclusion. The conclusion many of us waited so long for. And this conclusion will grab you, and compell you to re-read the series again. The series alone can't be put into words. The books HAVE TO BE READ!! In this book alone, the final battle occurs, we see who's life is lost, the return home happens and so much more. Tears will be shed, laughs will be had, and of course some anger will peak its way out. In the style of Eddings, you think you're coming to the end of something, you're not. This book proves just that, as it's a great set-up the the prequels of Belgarath and Polgara. After travelling so far with the characters, you could almost think of them as family. And with this "family" you'll surely want to touch base with them every so often, as they are indeed a true inspiration (to the literary world).
Strong contender for The Greatest Story Ever Told, at least for contemporary works. As one critic aptly put it - "It's difficult to stop reading when the pages run out". So instead, you'll go back to the beginning and read it all over again. If you have already read this book, you'll know what I mean. If you haven't, just buy it. It's that simple. This is story-telling at its most fulfilling, and might remind you of the tales that filled you with wonder when you were a child. Chances are you will read the last page and be left with a Big Question.......but I dare not reveal what that question is just here. Oh no. Just read it, and you'll ask yourself what I did. What I would say, however, is that although I don't know the answer, I'm smiling anyway......
Dominic O'brien - Quantum Memory.
"Dominic Obrien has literally changed the way I think, and I love it!
Throughout my life I have always been interested academia. I gained a 2.1 degree in Sports Science and am now doing a degree in Biomedical Science. Now, although i did well at the time, I always noticed that afterwards, Id forgotten the information. Up untill now, I have never really encoded the information efficiently and so unsurprisingly, i did not retain the information. And this was not helped by the fact that I have Attention Deficit Disorder. So really, I have never learnt how to learn.
I started using MIND MAPS by TONY BUZAN which has literally quadruppled the information that I am retaining.
Now DOMINIC has helped my to EVOLVE on to another level. He shows that all effective memory encoding requires the use of three techniques: Association, Location and Imagination. And if you take the fist letter of the three words, you get ALI, as in Mohammed Ali.
When you finish the Course, you will realise the potential of your memory. You can remember Books, newspapers, Numbers that are 100 digits long, you can remember the names of anyone. He will teach you how to remember all the Americal states and their capitals. Oh and the DOMINIC SYSTEM is pure genius! Also when you do finish it, you regret not having bought one of his CDs years ago.
You also wonder why the hell dont schools teach children who to learn using these methods. This is an argument that dominic makes. He says that "Teachers need to be taught how to teach children to learn how to learn". The techniques require alot of preparation and practice but I promise you, once you have mastered them, you may just start realising the potential of you brain."
The Belgeriad and Mallorean series are my favorite pieces of fantasy literature - I've read them a couple times, and they are always super enjoyable, and always force me to stay up late reading them because I can't stop, even though I know what's going to happen.
This book (and Belgarath) is a wonderful cap to the whole series, going all way back in time. Although much of it is a repeat of what was in the other books, this is wonderful reading since it is all from the perspective of Polgara, daughter of Belgarath, alive the last 5,000 years. Polgara offers many, many new insights to the events of the books. It's fascinating: construct a whole series with the omniscient narrator, and then write two more books going over the whole thing again, but from the point of views of two characters in the series. Surprisingly, it not only works, it works well, and it's quite compelling reading. And Eddings writes convincingly enough to make one think it really *is* Polgara who has written this.
Absolutely excellent reading, but of course, you really do have to read the first ten books first. And I can't recommend this series enough. Certainly the best multi-volume fantasy series that has come out (and yes, I am apostate by regarding this higher than Lord of the Rings, but so be it).
In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret formula actually is.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
Although there's enough globehopping in this book for James Bond, the real battleground is cyberspace, because that's where the "bomb" (or rather, the new encryption algorithm) will explode. Yes, there are a few flaws in the plot if you look too closely, but the cleverness and the sheer fun of it all more than make up for them. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a lot of high, gee-whiz-level information about encryption, code breaking, and the role they play in international politics. Set aside the whole afternoon and evening for it and have finger food on hand for supper--you may want to listen to this one straight through.
Kurt Vonnegut is a master of contemporary American Literature. His black
humor, satiric voice, and incomparable imagination first captured America's
attention in The Siren's of Titan in 1959 and established him as "a
true artist"* with Cat's Cradle in 1963. He is, as Graham Greene has
declared, "one of the best living American writers."
Welcome to the Monkey House is a collection of Kurt Vonnegut's shorter
works. Originally printed in publications as diverse as The Magazine
of Fantasy and Science Fiction and The Atlantic Monthly, what these
superb stories share is Vonnegut's audacious sense of humor and extraordinary
range of creative vision.
A shocking scientific discovery.
A conspiracy of staggering brilliance.
A thriller unlike any you've ever read....
When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory -- a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery -- a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the President, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a deadly team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all.
More parable than novel, "The Alchemist" uses the story of young shepherd Santiago's search for his Personal Legend as an allegory for everyman's struggle to break from the comfortable confines of conformity and pursue his life dreams. Along the way, of course, our young everyman is beset by all manner of setbacks, testing his resolve and forcing him to become attuned to the Soul of the World in order to survive. By paying attention to the details in the world around him, which serve as omens guiding him towards his goal, young Santiago becomes an alchemist in his own right, spinning unfavorable circumstances into riches.
In J.D. Salinger's brilliant coming-of-age novel, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen year old prep school adolescent relates his lonely, life-changing twenty-four hour stay in New York City as he experiences the phoniness of the adult world while attempting to deal with the death of his younger brother, an overwhelming compulsion to lie and troubling sexual experiences.
Salinger, whose characters are among the best and most developed in all of literature has captured the eternal angst of growing into adulthood in the person of Holden Caulfield. Anyone who has reached the age of sixteen will be able to identify with this unique and yet universal character, for Holden contains bits and pieces of all of us. It is for this very reason that The Catcher in the Rye has become one of the most beloved and enduring works in world literature.
As always, Salinger's writing is so brilliant, his characters so real, that he need not employ artifice of any kind. This is a study of the complex problems haunting all adolescents as they mature into adulthood and Salinger wisely chooses to keep his narrative and prose straightforward and simple.
This is not to say that The Catcher in the Rye is a straightforward and simple book. It is anything but. In it we are privy to Salinger's genius and originality in portraying universal problems in a unique manner. The Catcher in the Rye is a book that can be loved and understood on many different levels of comprehension and each reader who experiences it will come away with a fresh view of the world in which they live.
A work of true genius, images of a catcher in the rye are abundantly apparent throughout this book.
While analyzing the city raging about him, Holden's attention is captured by a child walking in the street "singing and humming." Realizing that the child is singing the familiar refrain, "If a body meet a body, comin' through the rye," Holden, himself, says that he feels "not so depressed."
The title's words, however, are more than just a pretty ditty that Holden happens to like. In the stroke of pure genius that is Salinger, himself, he wisely sums up the book's theme in its title.
He had wanted to update Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" for modern times, Ian Rankin writes about his first Inspector Rebus novel, "Knots and Crosses" in the introduction to the British compilation "Rebus: The Early Years" (unfortunately, not available in the U.S.), which contains the first three installments of the series. Oblivious to the mere existence of such a thing as the mystery genre - or so Rankin says - he was stunned to soon hear his book described first and foremost as a crime novel. But eventually this characterization prompted him to have a closer look at the work of other mystery writers, and he found that the form suited his purposes just fine; that in fact he "could say everything [he] wanted to say about the world, and still give readers a pacy, gripping narrative."
Bearing in mind the original duality of Jekyll and Hyde, however, Rankin's tales are not dominated by a contrast painted in black and white. While the villains Inspector Rebus faces are certainly every bit as evil as Stevenson's Mr. Hyde, Rebus himself is far from a clean-slated "good guy:" Divorced, cynical, hard-drinking and a former member of the SAS, he is a brother in spirit to every noir detective from Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, James Ellroy's squad of crooked cops and Peter Robinson's Alan Banks. Nor is Rebus's Edinburgh the touristy town of Calton Hill, castle and Summer Festival (although the series has meanwhile sparked real-life guided tours to its most famous locations, too) - as befitting a true detective of his ilk, Rankin's antihero moves primarily in the city's dark and dirty underbelly, which is populated by society's losers and where those who have "made it," those with money in their pockets, only show up if they have shady deals to conduct as well.
In a similar fashion to Michael Connelly's first Harry Bosch novel "The Black Echo," where Bosch is forced to revisit the experiences he made as a Vietnam "tunnel rat," in "Knots and Crosses" Rebus must uncover long-buried memories of his SAS past. For hunting a serial killer whom the tabloids quickly dub "The Edinburgh Strangler," and whose headline-gathering murders at first seem totally unrelated, Rebus eventually makes the connection between those crimes and a series of anonymous letters he receives, and realizes that it is he himself who is the killer's true target, and that the murderer's crimes are based on such a cruel scheme - and executed with such inhuman skill and precision - that only one particular man's thoroughly disturbed mind can have come up with them. And at the same time, Rebus is trying to work out his difficult relationship with his brother Michael, whose life is so different from his own - financially successful and ostensibly happily married and squeaky clean throughout, Michael seems to be on the sunny side of life in every respect labeled a failure in Rebus's own life story - but he soon discovers that even Michael has secrets he is trying hard to keep from coming to light.
While this series had a terrific start already in its first novel, published in 1987, Rebus's character - and Rankin's writing - has evolved significantly over time. Thus, it is probably wise to read it in the order of publication. Contrary to the novels he wrote under the pseudonym Jack Harvey, however, and which he views much more critically in hindsight, Ian Rankin overall still seems to be very happy with his early Rebus books, commenting almost nostalgically: "I can't read them without thinking back to my own early years, my apprenticeship as a crime writer. Read and enjoy." I have nothing to add to that ...
I have just finished an exhilirating ride through Kerouac's almost deranged writing style. There appears to be no filters between his mind and his words and I can picture him committing this work to paper in an almost trance-like frenzy.
While many things have and can be said about this book - that it describes a hedonistic search for release and meaning, lost souls in search for the metaphorical holy grail, self-obsessed idiots using and abusing people and circumstances - to me this book is primarily about life. But this isn't life as many of us know it, this is life on the very edge of sanity where mystical experience mingles with psychosis.
I believe this is why the book is such a love/hate piece of literature. If you haven't felt the desperation in life that looms so heavily over Dean Moriarty's and Sal Paradise's heads, there is no way you can sympathize with or understand them. If I as a reader haven't had the experience of extreme dissatisfcation, of a tremendous longing for something better and an image in my mind of there being a way of living that is more genuine, more rewarding, I wouldn't be able to connect with the deeper meaning of this novel.
So in essence, this book's primary theme is a spiritual one, the search for *what is*. The frenzied protagonists Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise travelling across the somewhat grim backdrop of a post-World War 2 American landscape keep searching for this meaning in the external world of people, situations, places and experiences. The book reveals how this search goes unfulfilled, but in a way, you feel that it is not, after all, a waste of time. In a very real way, these protagonists display a level of sanity above and beyond what most of us possess, as having touched the depths of the human condition, they are among the few that go searching for more. Unwilling to let social conditioning, conformity and a sense of fitting in hold them back, their search is completely uninhibited. (and as such, probably offensive)
I believe this testament to the power of the human spirit is what makes people love the book. Possibly, what makes people hate it is that it brings to light the painful realization of how most of us go through life without ever having truly lived - living a timid life in fear of the unknown, unwilling to take a chance on something better. A simpler explanation could be the convoluted language which is difficult to interpret at times.
Even though it is obvious that the literary creations of Kerouac's (and probably Kerouac himself) go about their goal of release in ways that are in large part misinformed - primarily looking outside instead of inside, the experience of tagging along is definitely worthwhile and can teach us a thing or two about our own search for happiness. Make no mistake - in our joyless contemporary society, this work is as relevant as ever.
In conclusion, I would like to offer a parallel between the character of Dean Moriarty and my favourite Albert Einstein quote:
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed"
If this is not something you agree with, you will likely hate this book. However, if this sounds strangely familiar, I suspect this book will teach you a thing or two about life.
"I found a copy of the pillars of the earth whilst scanning the shelves of my local bookshop. I hadn't come across Ken Follett before then, but as an avid reader of historical fiction, it seemed a safe bet. WOW! From the very first page I couldnt put it down. I hardly ate or slept for the duration. I felt I knew the characters personally and laughed and cried with them throughout the years we were together. I feld such grief when someone died, I sobbed openly. I lived in the middle ages and could hardly bear to drag myself back into the 20th century when I put the book down. I cried buckets when I finished the book and wanted to just open the front page and start again. I frequently recommend this book and all my family in australia were sent copies, such was my passion. I read the book quite a few years ago now but nothing I have read since, has grabbed me in quite the same way. It is still my all time favourite historical novel, I just cant rate it highly enough."
A young queen's life and a country's future lie in the balance as an exiled Pandion knight, a Styric "witch," an aging squire, and a mysterious child begin a long and arduous trek through foreign lands in search of an elusive cure for an unknown disease. The author of the popular "Belgariad" and "Malloreon" series draws once more on his particular strengths, combining heroic yet humorous characters with exotic settings and tangled politics to create a fast-moving fantasy that will appeal to his large readership. Highly recommended
fter some innovative medical research (use violence when in doubt), some help from a nine year old, flute-playing sorceress, and a visitation from a dead king, Sparhawk finally knows what is wrong with Ehlana and how to cure it. Now all that remains is finding the cure (Bhelliom, the sapphire rose). Not only must Sparhawk retrace his steps, but he is due for a confrontation with some deadly sendings from Azash, and an argument with an extremely ugly troll. One can only hope that Ehlana will live up to expectations and put a stop to Annias's efforts to become head of the Elene church.
And so Sparhawk, Sephrenia, Kurik, and a small crowd of other knights set about a quest that in all likelihood will kill them all. Of course, 'supposed to' and 'does' are two very different words, but they definitely have their work cut out for them. Have not fear with enough enemy hacking, enemy magicking, and a bit of divine intervention hope will spring eternal. After all, how else would Eddings be able to write the next volume of this story.
Don't start with any illusions of this book - it isn't a story. There isn't a beginning and a middle and a neat end. The plot does not develop in any significant way. What you get is a ride of pure emotion, that is of an intensity that I've not really seen matched anywhere else. This isn't a tale about the end of the world. This is what it looks like at the end of the world, what it sounds and smells like, and more importantly what it feels like when you are man and boy facing death and the extinction of the species.
Cormac uses words sparingly, and doesn't bother with a lot of punctuation or structure. It's almost modern narrative poetry, as per Bukowski et al. This makes it a more challenging read, but he drags you in, relentlessly. It is very bleak, it is very difficult, but he makes it work. I'm not going to give examples because it's worth finding out for yourself.
I read this almost entirely at night, in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere in Devon, with everyone else asleep. And every night I went to bed drained by the experience of another chapter or so. If a book can move you to this degree, then what else can it be than a five stars?
Finally the knight Sparhawk had come to possess Bhellion, the legendary jewel of magic. With it, he frees Queen Ehalana from the crystalline cocoon that preserves her life, but Bhellion carries dangers of its own. And now Sparkhawk is being stalked by a dark lurking menace that is only the beginning of his troubles....
Magic, insurrection, rebirth and new gods and cultures propel this first volume of a proposed second trilogy featuring Sir Sparhawk, Queen Ehlana and other stalwarts of Eddings's best-selling Elenium trilogy. The distant Tamul Empire, endangered by civil unrest exacerbated by paranormal (or magical, depending on the point of view) incidents, begs help from Sparhawk, destroyer of the Elder God Azash and savior of the Elenes. Undertaking the long journey to Tamul, the knight, his royal wife, their daughter Princess Danae and assorted followers encounter unrest in each of the lands through which they pass. Incidents taking more or less the same form--rumors, supported by rabble-rousing orators, of ancient heroes reborn to lead the downtrodden--arouse Sparhawk's suspicion of godly or magical opposition to his cause. Arriving in the Tamul capital, Sparhawk and his cohorts thwart a plot against the emperor but find disturbing evidence that the Troll-Gods and other old enemies are at work. Eddings' likable, spirited characters are not deeply etched but they reflect his original touch nevertheless.
Sir Sparhawk and his wife, Queen Ehlana of Elenia, encounter ever more sinister plots in the second book of The Tamuli , following Domes of Fire , as they try to help the emperor of Tamuli take a firm grasp of the government. In a world of many gods, whose powers depend on the number and fervor of their worshippers, the royal couple find themselves pawns in the struggle of one entity to free his followers, albeit bloodthirsty and un-neighborly, from constraints placed upon them eons previously. Unrest spreads throughout Tamuli, with indications of sorcery and meddling by various gods, prompting the goddess Aphrael, reincarnated as the royal couple's young daughter Danae, to retrieve the powerful sapphire-rose jewel Bhelliom, hidden a few years earlier after being used to destroy the evil god Azash. While Sparhawk, Aphrael (now in the guise of the child Flute) and various companions race through a hostile countryside, encountering the mythical and abhorred Shining Ones, the queen and emperor play a more stylized game to keep the enemy at bay. Neatly blending simplicity and complexity, this tale of comradeship, dastardly doings, multiple gods, strange races and noble and ignoble humans is vintage Eddings.
in this conclusion to the trilogy begun with Domes of Fire, Sir Sparhawk must rescue his wife, Queen Ehlana of Elenia, from the followers of the mad god Cyrgon. Her kidnapping occurs as various Church Knights and Atan troops are finishing what they believe are mopping-up operations against the enemies of the Tamuli emperor, Sarabian. Ehlana's abductor is the son of the Styric renegade masterminding a plot against the emperor. Her safe return is promised in exchange for Bhelliom, the powerful living gem responsible for the destruction of the evil god Azash. The Pandion knight Berit, disguised as Sparkhawk by a spell, moves from place to place following the kidnappers' instructions, while Sparhawk, in another guise, seeks allies, and the child-goddess Aphrael (reborn as Ehlana's and Sparhawk's daughter Danae) calls on some reluctant fellow gods to lend aid. These moves are gravely complicated by the machinations of Cyrgon, who has unleashed Klael, the ancient embodiment of evil. A new note of introspection gives a fuller dimension to Eddings's rousing adventure.
Last Light is definitely McNab's best yet. From its breathtakingly audacious opening to its surprisingly poignant conclusion, this book is a winner.
The thrills are here in droves, of course. So's the tradecraft, and the McNab hallmark gifts of absolute authenticity and relentless excitement. But the real plus for me, this time around, is that McNab dares to take his hero to the kind of psychological low that we haven't seen in thriller fiction since John Le Carre's Spy Who Came In From The Cold, and that makes the tension, both in London and the Panama jungle, almost unbearable.
Nick Stone is a satisfyingly complex character, who becomes more interesting with every novel. He is the guy who does the dirty jobs that we need him to do - and he pays the price.
"No Second Chance demonstrates that Harlan Coben is one of
the finest contemporary suspense writers and that Scott Brick
is among the elite audiobook narrators." (AudioFile)
Publisher's Summary
Marc Seidman awakens to find himself in an ICU, hooked up to
an IV, his head swathed in bandages. Twelve days earlier,
he had had an enviable life as a successful surgeon, living
in a peaceful suburban neighborhood with his beautiful wife
and a baby he adored. Now he lies in a hospital bed, shot by
an unseen assailant. His wife has been killed, and his 6-month-old
daughter, Tara, has vanished. But just when his world seems
forever shattered, something arrives to give Marc a new
hope: a ransom note.
Both a white-knuckle thriller and a story about the loyalty
of old friends and the bond between parent and child, No Second Chance
is another masterpiece from an author who writes
"suspense at its finest"
I work in a book shop and Sabriel grabbed my attention the second I saw it. However, I was a bit apprehensive as it was in the young adult section which also contains all the 'girly' books which, being 18 and hating them, aren't really my type. But I thought I'd give it a chance as there was quite a fuss about it.
I'm so glad I did! I just couldn't put this book down! Nix' book is definately in the fantasy genre (which i was delighted about) but it is also unique from any fantasy fiction I've read. Sometimes it's easy to get lost in a book like this but Nix has amazing talent at making you understand and vividly imagine all the ideas he presents. Much easier read than lord of the rings and much more compelling too.
But don't let me tell you how wonderful it is, go and read it! "
Like many before me, I'm sure, after reading the incredible 'Sabriel' I was dubious about Lirael matching up to the incredible fantasy heights of Sabriel. Teenage reading is the best thing about being a teenager, but I was absoloutely shocked. This book went straight to my bone marrow and I know now that this book will haunt my reading taste, and the way I write books for the rest of my life. Truly, this is one of the best books I have ever read. The characters are so true, so absoloutely fantastically imagined and played. Lirael is such a string character in herself, its quite beautiful the way Garth Nix describes her: not in so many words or adjectives, but in her actions, in what she does and how she behaves. The Disresputable Dog is also a fantastically witty character and Sameth, son of Sabriel is a worthy child after his mother. Those who have read Sabriel will be delighted to read the return of Mogget, perhaps one of Garth's more prominant and slightly dark characters, but witty and humorous all in one go. Its fantastic, and the scenes with the dead are tense and exciting. I love this book and I simply cannot wait to read Abhorsen. fantastic book.
Abhorsen is an increadible book. The entire book is written in a very graceful but yet very easy to understand style. There are certain parts in Abhorsen that are very well detailed and very sad.
The plot continues from Lirael, about the necromancer Orannis who's goal is to destroy the world. The people chosen by destiny to foil Orannis' plots are few; Lirael, Sabriel, Touchstone, the representatives of the Clayr, and Prince Sameth. Orannis has controlled a lesser necromancer called Hedge to force (by finding people in death and binding them to a necromancers will) spirits to work for him. Unfortunately, Nick, unwittingly walked into Hedge, was bound to the necromancers will, and was unwittingly about to cause the destruction of the world.
Abhorsen ends the 'old kingdom' series stunningly. The previous two books, Sabriel and Lirael were very interesting and very well written, and Abhorsen only outdoes it predecesor, Lirael. The only problem about Abhorsen is that it is the continuation of Lirael, which ended on a cliffhanger. Abhorsen picks up almost exactly where Lirael left off so it is essential to read Lirael before you read this.
Abhorsen has finished the series so that Garth Nix still has space to write a sequel (or another story related to Abhorsen), thank goodness, as many people especially the people who enjoyed the 'old kingdom' series, will want to read more.
It is quite rare to have a series that has a great first book, second book, and third book. Usually the first book will be the best, the second very disappointing, and the third slightly better, though no-where near matching the quality and style of the first. The fact that the 'old kingdom' series is a trilogy that has a great 1st book, 2nd book and 3rd book makes it so outstanding, because no book in the series is very disappointing or boring. That is why this series is such a huge hit on the best seller list (look at the amazon.co.uk science ficiton section and fantasy, young adult section, childrens books section and you will see that Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen never is out of the top 25).
The best thing about this book is that some parts (the prologue: at least until you find out the truth, and the ending) are so sad and touching that it could make you cry.
This is written in a very gripping and sad way, though not in a very heavy and blunt pessimist way.
This is a great end to a series that doesn't seem entirely finished yet: What happens to Lirael and Sam? What happens to Mogget? What does the Disriputable dog do in death? What does Sabriel do? What does.........What does..........
The only way to find about these is to wait.
A must buy for people who have read Sabriel and Lirael. For people who haven't buy all three and enjoy!
This is a book of short autobiographical writings or essays. I don't usually like books of short essays. I don't even like the word essay, as it brings back memories of schooldays when instead of being allowed time to play we were expected to write an essay for homework on such riveting subjects like 'what I did on my holidays', 'my dog/cat' or 'my favourite colour'. I like a book with a story that I can get my teeth into; you can't do that with essays/short writings because the story is usually over just as soon as it begins.
I would have a change my mind if they were all as wonderful as 'Naked' though. This is a really excellent book. It contains 17 deeply funny pieces and, no word of a lie, every single one is a gem. David Sedaris is obviously an outrageously talented writer. Whilst each piece is outrageous as well as being hilarious they all have a great depth & wisdom.
In short, David Sedaris is able to write more in thirty pages than most writers can do in 300.
Terry Goodkind (Faith of the Fallen) presents Debt of Bones, a prequel to his Sword of Truth series that involves series character First Wizard Zedd in the time before the Boundaries were drawn. Abby, a poor peasant who has an ancient claim on Zedd, asks the impossible of him to save her community, including her husband, child and father at the possible price of countless other lives. Illus
s the armies of Panis Rahl spread across the land, a young woman from a beleaguered town begs a boon from First Wizard Zedd, ignorant of the consequences of her request. This revised version of a novella that first appeared in the fantasy anthology Legends illuminates the period in history before the events of Goodkind's "Sword of Truth" series. The conflict between love and duty forms a central theme in this brief and touching tale of people caught up in events they cannot fully control. Keith Parkinson's pencil illustrations add a delicate touch to the story, highlighting key events in the narrative. Libraries wishing to complete their Goodkind collection will want this gracefully written story
Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series starts off solidly as he develops Richard and Kahlan into the characters in the later books. The story starts small and simple: Richard is a woods guide investigating the death of his father when he happens upon Kahlan in the woods near his home. Richard intervenes to save Kahlan's life and the journey begins from there. The story follows the standard quest motiff with a twist: the reader is given Richard's perspective and never quite knows all the facts. Goodkind keeps you in the dark about the identity and motivations of each of his characters.
Although long, Wizard never lags and Goodkind keeps his pacing brisk. This is particularly difficult since there are chapters in which the characters simply sit around and talk. Unlike other fantasy writers, when Goodking takes a moment to provide background through conversations, the characters don't rehash plot elements that the reader already knows about.
One little tidbit: Wizard is not for the younger reader! Goodkind does not write for the sqeemish: The book includes a bloodly sacrifice, torture scenes, a child molester villan, and an attempted rape to name a few scenes. Goodkind can be gritty and violent in describing scenes.
Although the plot can be standard, it is a great beginning to a wonderful series and to terrific characters. For readers of the Wheel of Time (who will understand the reference), I believe that Richard is how Jordan should have written Rand: as the man who is trust into events and a role that he never asked for.
This satisfying sequel to Goodkind's powerful debut novel, Wizard's First Rule, has everything one could ask for in an epic fantasy. In the earlier book, Seeker of Truth Richard Cypher tricked the sorcerer Darken Rahl by using Wizard's First Rule (that people are stupid and can be easily misled) into opening the wrong Box of Orden. Though this saved humanity from the evil mage's tyrannies, it also tore the veil between worlds, so the diabolical Keeper of the Underworld can now reach through and seize permanent control of the living. To stop this from happening, Richard must now learn how to be a wizard. The Sisters of the Light promise they will teach him to wield his powers, but they require that he wear a collar of obedience, something he has sworn he would rather die than do. Events sweep Richard and his betrothed, the Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell, apart from one another; later, in one of the most vigorous battle sequences written for a heroine in modern fantasy, Kahlan leads her underage troops against battle-hardened soldiers, the young warriors naked except for a spectral coat of whitewash intended to make them look like "spirits." Those who like their fantasy big and brassy will revel in this exemplar of the genre.
Take a trip back to the USSR in the 1980's . The temperature was cold and there was a complete lack of trust between the super powers of Russia and USA . You are taken on a historical trip , learn of the culture , learn of repression and yet are still treated to a wonderful thriller.
It is a cliche to say that a book is a page turner but when I put this book down for any time at all I found myself questioning the motives of every character . It was almost like looking over my own shoulder and I could not wait to see what happened next.
A fantastic read, better than any Cold war spy novel I have ever read (and I read a lot)
after unwittingly destroying the magical wards that had sealed off the Old World from the New for 3000 years, the war wizard Richard Cypher discovers that he has inadvertently created a gate through which the evil Keeper, Emperor Jagang, and his minions can enter the land. Separated from his beloved, the former Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell, who is in hiding to avoid being executed by the people she once served, Richard must now accept the power of his father, Darken Rahl, and use all of his magical abilities to defeat Jagang, to save Kahlan and to close the gate. As in the two previous novels of The Sword of Truth fantasy cycle (Stone of Tears, etc.), Goodkind builds an intricate plot teeming with violence, treachery and intrigue. Newcomers to the series may find it a challenge to get up to speed, but once they do, they?as well as Goodkind's large, loyal readership?will delight in a complex epic fantasy that *****les with vigor and magical derring-do. Author tour.
Dick Hill's incredibly dramatic reading of this fourth book of The Sword of Truth series transports listeners to Richard Cypher's world. Richard, the Seeker of Truth, is caught up in a world of magic, war and extraordinary dangers. His actions and decisions determine the fate of this world! Hill builds the suspense and intrigue of Goodkind's stirring and complex epic; his vocal depiction of the power-mad Emperor Jagang is evil personified. Hill's voices bring the stress, fear and distress of these characters to the listeners and wrap them in the evil that is the Temple of the Winds fortress. Will Richard and his beloved Kahlan Amnell save the day, or will Jagang triumph? Stay tuned! S.C.A. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Terry Goodkind
The Sword of Truth book 5
Soul of the Fire
When last we saw our heroes--Richard Cypher (Lord Rahl) and Kahlan Amnell--they each had made enormous sacrifices to save one another from certain doom. To save her beloved, Khalan, Mother Confessor of the Midlands, had spoken the three chimes, summoning these chaotic beings from the world beyond and unwittingly releasing incredibly destructive power. Now the chimes are stealing souls, and malevolent forces are reshaping the world itself. To save everything from almost certain doom, Richard, Kahlan, and the wizard Zedd must hunt the elusive chimes and reharness them before it's too late.
Terry Goodkind
The Sword of Truth book 6
Faith of the Fallen
Fantasy series fans may argue over the relative merits of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth, George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, but in a world of middle books that go nowhere and endless waits between episodes, Goodkind is certainly still serving up some of the best fantasy on today's menu.
The Seeker of Truth and his Mother Confessor sweetie are both looking a little worse for the wear after their chime-hunt in Soul of the Fire. To top that off, Lord Rahl finds himself a reluctant prophet with the vision that their cause, the fight for freedom against the Imperial Order, is essentially sunk. (Chalk that up to part of the Wizard's First Rule: people really are stupid.) The two lovers soon find themselves separated, Richard off to the Old World thanks to treacherous Sister of the Dark Nicci, and Kahlan left behind, forced to betray Richard and his prophecy by raising an army to fend off the approaching armies of Emperor Jagang.
Whether it's fair or not, Goodkind will likely get beaten up a bit for visiting the trough once too often, à la Jordan. But fear not: Faith of the Fallen does progress at a good clip, and its conclusion--while by no means a final payout--should satisfy
Surreal and hilariously funny, this alternate history, the debut novel of British author Fforde, will appeal to lovers of zany genre work (think Douglas Adams) and lovers of classic literature alike. The scene: Great Britain circa 1985, but a Great Britain where literature has a prominent place in everyday life. For pennies, corner Will-Speak machines will quote Shakespeare; Richard III is performed with audience participation … la Rocky Horror and children swap Henry Fielding bubble-gum cards. In this world where high lit matters, Special Operative Thursday Next (literary detective) seeks to retrieve the stolen manuscript of Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit. The evil Acheron Hades has plans for it: after kidnapping Next's mad-scientist uncle, Mycroft, and commandeering Mycroft's invention, the Prose Portal, which enables people to cross into a literary text, he sends a minion into Chuzzlewit to seize and kill a minor character, thus forever changing the novel. Worse is to come. When the manuscript of Jane Eyre, Next's favorite novel, disappears, and Jane herself is spirited out of the book, Next must pursue Hades inside Charlotte Bront‰'s masterpiece. The plethora of oddly named characters can be confusing, and the story's episodic nature means that the action moves forward in fits and starts. The cartoonish characters are either all good or all bad, but the villain's comeuppance is still satisfying. Witty and clever, this literate romp heralds a fun new series set in a wonderfully original world. (Jan. 2Forecast: With a six-city author tour, a well-conceived Web site at www.thursdaynext.com and crossover appeal to Bront‰ fans, this is likely to attract more attention than the usual first genre novel.
Pimsleur is an excellent program, and I highly recommend it. The main focus on the program is to teach you french the same way you learned english - bit by bit. The program gives you the french phrase, and then uses several memory tricks to help you remember it. The end result? You find yourself instantly coming up with the responses, and being able to "hear" the native speakers without translating into english first! I personally spent several years studying french, both in school and at home, but I was never able to really "understand" the french until I went through this program. In fact, I have found that my only real barrier now is vocabulary, but you can get that from any electronic transaltor or dictionary.
As a side note: DO NOT pause the cd in the middle. The entire point in the program is to help you remember the words and phrases instantly, otherwise you will still find yourself translating from english every time. Even the instuctions tell you to repeat the lessons as many times as you need to, but DO NOT stop the lesson. If you don't get it right the first time, that's ok. After repeating the lesson a couple of times, you will find that you can get it on your own (without translating), and you will thank yourself for the extra effort in the long run. Otherwise, you may find yourself as frustrated with this program as you were with all the other french audio programs out there.
Seven books into his Sword of Truth series, author Terry Goodkind continues to expand and enlarge the fantasy realm D'Hara. But with the Pillars of Creation he takes a detour from his usual approach, leaving his primary protagonists in the background to spin a story of one woman's battle to discover the truth of her heritage.
Told in vivid and often gruesome detail, Goodkind's fable grabs the reader with a familiar archetypal theme: a young woman, Darken Rahl's illegitimate daughter Jennsen, flees her home in the wake of murderous forces rising from her lineage. She runs in the shadows of Lord Richard Rahl's domain with a spy sent by Emperor Jagang, the enemy of D'Hara. With his help, she journeys across the entire realm, chasing rumor and misinformation to ultimately discover the truth of her heritage.
Robert Rankin - The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalyspe
For anyone vaguely interested, the top 3 downloads of the books i have posted are:- in 3rd place - Da Vinci Code. 2nd place - Duma Key. And drum roll please.... The Book in 1st place is - Quantum Memory ( not surprised have you seen the price on amazon). Anyway onto the next book.
In Robert Rankin's latest warped fantasy, a serial killer is murdering notable nursery-rhyme characters and leaving very special sweeties as calling cards at the scene of each crime: The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse.
Humpty Dumpty is the first of Toy City's upper crust to sleep with the fishes. Boiled alive in his own swimming pool. A nasty fate, but maybe not as nasty as Little Boy Blue's, with his own shepherd's crook thrust a long way into a place where the sun does not shine.
Bill Winkie the P.I. has gone missing, and his hard-drinking teddybear sidekick Eddie takes up the case. Down these mean streets a bear must go. He needs a hand, though--two hands, owing to a lack of opposable thumbs--and reluctantly teams up with "gormster" country boy Jack, who foolishly thinks he can make his fortune in Toy City.
Of course the police, jolly bouncy rubber policemen who are sadistic at heart, object to interfering freelances. So does the mystery assassin, who seems to be a curvaceous woman in a kinky rubber outfit--death on high heels. Even kindly old Mother Goose, madame of the Toy City brothel, gets her neck wrung before she can talk, and Eddie is in serious danger of losing his very stuffing.
Fast, demented, fairytale-noir action, filled with gruesomely silly deaths, self-referential thriller gags, and the true meanings of those nursery rhymes whose royalties made Humpty and the rest so rich.
Foundation marks the first of a series of tales set so far in the future that Earth is all but forgotten by humans who live throughout the galaxy. Yet all is not well with the Galactic Empire. Its vast size is crippling to it. In particular, the administrative planet, honeycombed and tunneled with offices and staff, is vulnerable to attack or breakdown. The only person willing to confront this imminent catastrophe is Hari Seldon, a psychohistorian and mathematician. Seldon can scientifically predict the future, and it doesn't look pretty: a new Dark Age is scheduled to send humanity into barbarism in 500 years. He concocts a scheme to save the knowledge of the race in an Encyclopedia Galactica. But this project will take generations to complete, and who will take up the torch after him? The first Foundation trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation) won a Hugo Award in 1965 for "Best All-Time Series". It's science fiction on the grand scale; one of the classics of the field. -- Brooks Peck
Foundation and Empire picks up the ball from Foundation. First, the Foundation must deal with still-strong remains of the Galactic Empire and its expert General Bel Riose.
Then, in the second half of this book, is how a wildcard drops into the Foundation universe; the Mule. This individual, on his own, manages to upset the cornerstone of the Foundation; Hari Seldon's psychohistorical plan. Unlike the unbridled optimism and triumph of the first Foundation book, the Foundation and the characters of this book suffer their fair share of misfortune.
To be honest, I quite liked the idea of the Mule. If it weren't for him, the entire series would have just stagnated - it's one thing to have the Foundation win against vicious foes in the first book, directed by the Second Foundation, but you can't have that for three books. No, something tangible has to threaten the entire shebang.
The ending of the book is, well, different, for a change. Read it and see.
Whilst it is best to read second foundation after 'foundation' and 'foundation and empire' it is not essential, as the prologue fills you in on the basics of the previous two novels.
The book goes a long way to explain the purpose of the mysterious second foundation, but the main focus is on its location, and the search for it by both the mule and the first foundation.
The first half puts order into the chaotic situation left by the events in 'foundation and empire', and follows many twists and schemes that make it entirely engrossing, without giving the slightest hint of the dramatic ending.
The second half provides the real substance of the book, a rebellion of the first foundation against the ideals of the second foundation. This leads the reader to question the entire idea of psychohistory, as the first foundation does not like to think of itself as being 'controlled' by the second, even though it knows that the interference of the second foundation will result in a bright, peaceful future for mankind.
The book is laid out with a new twist to the plot in every chapter, making it almost impossible to put down, especially towards the end.
The most interesting parts are meetings of the second foundation members, which explain the inner workings of the seldon plan, along with how the arrival of the mule affected it.
The characters are well presented, and are developed only as much as is necessary, to keep the fast pace of the novel going, but are entirely believable, and link in with the characters in the previous books.
Harlan Coben - The Innocent
This book is read by Scott Brick one of the best out there.
I have read all of Harlen Coben novels starting of with "Tell No One" which was one of the best books ive read ever. I was hoping this book would carry off in a similar vane and it didnt disappoint at all. An absolutely absorbing read from start to finish. The characters are so well defined and the story telling is masterful. Get it immediately. You will not be disappointed. Coben deserves every accolade that has been bestowed upon him and more!!!
This is the superbly well-written sequel to the Foundation Trilogy. First and Second Foundations clash again, and the mystery of long lost Earth returns to the galaxy.
A magnificent insight into humanity. The legend of the Foundation continues here in Asimov's breathtaking vision of the future.
Written after the original trilogy and foundation's edge but before "prelude" and "forward the foundation" this novel gives us the conclusion to the foundation series. In foundation's edge the ever mystic foundation and second foundation were reduced to triviality by newcomers on the planet Gaia who have had a superior grip on things all along. For me this somewhat spoils the mystique of the first three books, however in "foundation and earth" this storyline is used quite effectively to strengthen the link with the robot series as the search for earth continues.
Readers of the original series may be disappointed in the lack of twist and turns in the plot as this book only really concerns itself with one storyline which plods rather lethargically to its conclusion. You almost get the feeling someone is behind asimov with a cattle prod trying to get as many words out him as possible for what is essentially a short story forced out into a novel. Nevertheless it is asimov and as such there is no predictability and while no two characters are really that different from one another there's a great intellectual weight behind the dialogue and narrative.
"O.K. First allow me to confess that I am a full fledged adult, 30 years old, with a full-time job, bills to pay, a house to maintain, etc. Having said that, I want to say that this book was truly wonderful. This is my first exposure to the "Redwall" series and anyone who would care to look at my recent Amazon.com purchases would see that I have many more books on the way. This series is truly addictive in the best sort of way. I think the thing I most liked about this story were the wonderful characters. Silent Sam the squirrel, Warbeak the sparrow, Constance the badger, and of course Matthias and Cluny the Scourge! So many other amazing characters as well. Cluny is probably one of the best villians in print. The story itself is full of mystery, legend, heroism, humor, bravery, sadness, valor, I could go on. The imagination of Mr. Jacques is truly astounding. He has created an entire universe and added fascinating characters to "people" it. What more could one ask for in a story? I have read that the entire "Redwall' series encompasses over 8,000 pages, a truly monumental work. I am anticipating total immersion in these books to the exclusion of all else. In addition to it's wonderful content this book was quite simply a wonderful way to escape from the everyday stresses and concerns of the modern world. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a tale of high adventure, valor, and mystery, and to those who just want to escape with a good tale. Immerse yourself in this world. You will not regret it. "
(Just to let you people know I have posted Pimsleur Mandarin 2 on a new thread in Ebooks. I have had problems converting Mandarin 1).
One series to rule them all...
A dark army that has overrun the land. An unlikely hero on sent on an epic quest. A sword that is broken and forged anew. A search for the lost king. I could easily be describing Lord of the Rings! I have read several books in this amazing series (and shall not stop till I have read them all), but so far this one is undoubtedly my favorite. When you read Redwall and Mattimeo (and some of the other books in the series), you feel as if it's set in the present. But when you read the books about Martin the Warrior, the legendary hero of Redwall Abbey...
The time of great heroes
What can I say, reading Mossflower is like reading a book about the legend of King Arthur or Robin Hood. You're stepping back in time to an era when villains were more wicked, heroes were more brave, and the country was more wild. The story begins with Martin entering the country of Mossflower and then swiftly being imprisoned because he is carrying a sword. The ultimate climax of the book is set up swiftly when Martin swears vengeance upon the evil Queen of the land (who in an awesome scene breaks Martin's sword and tells the guards to have him wear it around his neck). But even for the Hero Martin, vengeance doesn't come easy.
Have you ever been on a quest?
Like Redwall, there is a major sidequest for our hero to embark upon (you can't kill the main villain with a broken sword now can you?), involving a search for the old Badger Lord king of Mossflower. Also like Redwall, there will be clues to unravel, friends to make, and alliances to forge. And like the great Lord of the Rings, there will also be beautiful songs to sing and poems to read.
Hungry yet?
And let's not forget about the fantastic way the author has of drawing up beautiful descriptions without overloading the reader. The Redwall foods in particular are famous, and for good reason. When reading this book you'll not only feel every mile of the journey, you'll also mouth-water every time the food is described. Good stuff.
A battle between good and evil
Ultimately, what holds this book together is wonderful characters and the way that they interact together. Even the villain is not simply an evil tyrant bent on evil purposes. There is a depth of character here that few books can touch in my opinion. And the icing on the cake is the irony and action that's to be found. The battle sequences in this book will enthrall you, and way things work out is really pulls at you emotionally. There is strong narrative here. And I cannot and will not ever forget the ending of this book. It stands as one of the greatest endings I've ever read in any book. Every story of a legendary hero needs a showdown, and the one in this book is incredible.
In the End...
Mossflower is more than just a good book. It is a GREAT book. It is the story of the origins of a legendary Abbey, a Legendary Country, and a Legendary Hero. To readers of the Redwall books it is an essential buy. To all others it is without a doubt an essential read. If you only read one book in the series, let it be this one.
Heres the review from amazon:-
With his nose to the zeitgeist, the author of Generation X again examines the angst of the white-collar, under-30 set in this entertaining tale of computer techies who escape the serfdom of Bill Gates's Microsoft to found their own multimedia company. The story is told through the online journal of , an affable, insomniac, 26-year-old aspiring code writer. Together with his girlfriend Karla, a mousy shiatsu expert with a penchant for Star Trekky aphorisms, and a tight clique of maladjusted, nose-to-the-grindstone housemates, he relocates to a Lego-adorned office in Palo Alto, Calif., to develop a product called Object Oriented Programming (Oop!), a form of virtual Lego. Much of the story concerns the the Oop! staff's efforts to raise capital and "have a life" amid 18-hour work days. Dan's journal, like much prose on the Internet, abounds in typos, encrypted text, emoticons- for happy and for sad-and random snippets of information, a format that suits Copland's disjointed, soundbite-heavy fiction. Yet the randomness and nonlinearity of cyberspace hobble narrative. Amid endless digital chitchat and pop-philosophy, this novel's more serious ruminations about the physical and social alienation of life on the Information Superhighway never achieve any real complexity.
This is an abridged version. Not been able to find an unabridged one. If anybody as anymore by him please share.
It's quite a large file - I didn't want to compress it too much as the mp3 version I have is pretty highly compressed already.
Hope you enjoy it. It's nice to make a contribution back to the forum as I've now listened to around 14 books since Christmas!! (more books than I've read in the past 5 years I reckon)
Here's the info...
Amazon.co.uk Review
This novel (now complete in one volume) taps into what Stephen King does best: character-driven storytelling. The setting is the small "death house" of a Southern prison in 1932. The charming narrator is an old man looking back on the events, decades later. Maybe it's a little too cute, maybe the pathos is laid on a little thick, but it's hard to resist the colourful personalities and simple wonders of this supernatural tale. As Time magazine put it, "Like the best popular art, The Green Mile has the courage of its cornier convictions ... the palpable sense of King's sheer, unwavering belief in his tale is what makes the novel work as well as it finally does". And it's not a bad choice for giving to someone who doesn't understand the appeal of Stephen King because the one scene that is out-and-out gruesome can be easily skipped by the squeamish. The Green Mile was nominated for a 1997 Bram Stoker Award.
An all-time science fiction classic, Rendezvous with Rama is also one of Clarke's best novels--it won the Campbell, Hugo, Jupiter, and Nebula Awards. A huge, mysterious, cylindrical object appears in space, swooping in toward the sun. The citizens of the solar system send a ship to investigate before the enigmatic craft, called Rama, disappears. The astronauts given the task of exploring the hollow cylindrical ship are able to decipher some, but definitely not all, of the extraterrestrial vehicle's puzzles. From the ubiquitous trilateral symmetry of its structures to its cylindrical sea and machine-island, Rama's secrets are strange evidence of an advanced civilization. But who, and where, are the Ramans, and what do they want with humans? Perhaps the answer lies with the busily working biots, or the sealed-off buildings, or the inaccessible "southern" half of the enormous cylinder. Rama's unsolved mysteries are tantalizing indeed. Rendezvous with Rama is fast moving, fascinating, and a must-read for science fiction fans. Clarke collaborated with Gentry Lee in writing several Rama sequels, beginning with Rama II. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
From AudioFile
Clarke's landmark--and still fascinating--story of a human encounter with an alien spacecraft grips the listener from the beginning. Hayward Morse reads in a cultured American accent, which shifts effortlessly to British, Australian and European accents. His interpretations of the personalities of the explorers help the listener identify with fellow travelers in a unique situation. The well-paced reading develops its own rhythm, never seeming rushed or forced, and always allows the incredible story to shine through. M.A.M. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Just bought it ..royal pain in the ass to burn .wma files to a million cd's just to get back the .mp3 then just to convert those to nokia format...
haven't read yet sounds good. also will post ben bova - voyagers ii and voyagers iii later..
In an unusually masterful first novel, physicist Asaro combines hard speculative science and first-rate storytelling to look at the galaxys distant future....Asaro innovatively blends computer technology and telepathy into the electrifying, action-rich drama she creates. This is one of the best SF first novels in years. Booklist
Catherine Asaro, a physicist, has done a fine job of rationalizing her scenario through genetics and psionics, and her hard SF speculations are a neat contrast to the plots fairy-tale aspects....A good read and a promising debut for Asaro. Starlog
Catherine Asaro brings the feel of science back into science fiction. Her FTL drive, which rotates a ship around the lightspeed singularity, is based on pleasant mathematical concepts. Fourteen-year-olds who read this book will probably go out and build a starship when they are twenty-seven."Donald M. Kingsbury
The Skolian Empire rules a third of the civilized galaxy through its mastery of faster-than-light communication. But war with the rival empire of the Traders seems imminent, a war that can only lead to slavery for the Skolians or the destruction of both sides. Destructive skirmishes have already occurred. A desperate attempt must be made to avert total disaster.
In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try.
The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")
Some of the plot's turns and twists may be somewhat implausible, but Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon. --Gisele Toueg --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Stoner knew. The fiery object hurtling toward the Earth was an alien spacecraft. But the world might never know. He was trapped in an iron cordon of secrecy, for the discovery had shattered the world power balance, setting off a brutal struggle for supremacy that raged from the sacred halls of the Vatican to the corridors of the Kremlin and the Pentagon. The forces of fear and treachery would use any weapon at their command, from mind war to sabotage, to keep the world in darkness.
Aided by a brilliant Soviet linguist and a lovely young student, Stoner planned a desperate mission, a wild, heart-stopping gamble to preserve the legacy of the star voyager for all mankind.
Voyagers II: The Alien Within (Unabridged)
By: Ben Bova
Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, 2007
Length: 13 hours and 9 min.
When Keith Stoner awoke, he found himself in a world changed almost beyond recognition. Eighteen years before, Stoner had been the American member of a joint U.S.-Soviet mission to capture an alien ship. The Soviets had to pull out, but Stoner persisted, and while on the strange ship, he fell into suspended animation.
Jo Camerata, the ambitious young student who fell in love with Stoner, is now head of Vanguard Industries, which has recovered the alien ship. As a result, her company is now in control of its vast new technology and the fortune it reaps - and in control of Keith Stoner.
What Camerata doesn't know, however, is that someone else has been awake, someone who dwells within Stoner's mind. The alien presence that has kept Stoner alive all this time is now free and intends to explore our world, letting nothing stand in its way.
Keith Stoner lay frozen in an alien spacecraft for fifteen long years; during that time he came to be something more than just an astronaut, just a man. Stoner became partly alien hismelf--merged with an alien intelligence embodied in the nanotechnology that lived inside Stoner's body.
The alien whose tomb that spacecraft was, brought humanity both a blessing and a deadly peril. The technology now the control of Vanguard Industries has changed the face of the earth. The technology that lives in Stoner's bloodstream will change mankind forever.
There are powerful leaders, both corporate and political, who are becoming aware of Keith Stoner and the power he seems to control. They want that power for themselves, and will do anything to gain it. Nothing Stoner can say or do will convince these ruthless men and women that the power they seek may destroy them utterly.
From Publishers Weekly
Irrational behavior is a part of human nature, but as MIT professor Ariely has discovered in 20 years of researching behavioral economics, people tend to behave irrationally in a predictable fashion. Drawing on psychology and economics, behavioral economics can show us why cautious people make poor decisions about sex when aroused, why patients get greater relief from a more expensive drug over its cheaper counterpart and why honest people may steal office supplies or communal food, but not money. According to Ariely, our understanding of economics, now based on the assumption of a rational subject, should, in fact, be based on our systematic, unsurprising irrationality. Ariely argues that greater understanding of previously ignored or misunderstood forces (emotions, relativity and social norms) that influence our economic behavior brings a variety of opportunities for reexamining individual motivation and consumer choice, as well as economic and educational policy. Ariely's intelligent, exuberant style and thought-provoking arguments make for a fascinating, eye-opening read.
We liked this one even better than Funke's most recent work, "The Thief Lord." Inkheart's premise is even more engaging: Meggie's dad, a bookbinder, is so marvelous at reading out loud that many years ago he "read" the villain Capricorn from a book called "Inkheart" into reality. The villain then kidnapped Meggie's mom. Meggie and her dad must find them and trick them back into the book.
Although Inkheart is a long book (500+ pages), Funke establishes the thrills and the threat in the book's premise almost immediately, on a dark and stormy night and the day following when Meggie and her dad first try to make their escape. The narrative continues to an isolated village in Italy where Meggie encounters a menagerie of minor evil characters who have also escaped from the book.
Meggie is an engaging and spunky heroine that will appeal to both boy and girl readers.
A nice feature of the book is its general love for books - dad Mo is a bookbinder, aunt Elinor is a book collector with a huge library. Clearly Funke is not a lightweight trying to cash in on the Harry Potter fantasy kick; she conveys her love of books and language in a way that will enthuse any reader from 8 to 80.
From AudioFile
A fatal accident leads to a gypsy curse and Billy Halleck's efforts to remove it. It's a great plot, but Joe Mantegna disappoints the listener with his clumsy pacing and uneven characterizations. Mantegna's New York crime king, his old gypsy and Halleck characters, while skillfully done, cannot overcome his poor job with the several females in the book. Neither does he capture the nuances of French-Canadian dialect in Old Orchard Beach nor the subtleties of the upper-crust Connecticut accent. Not surprisingly, he also commits the dreaded "Banger" pronunciation of the author's home city. The poor narration of this volume cannot be saved by the startling and appropriate musical accents sprinkled throughout the story. What a disappointing performance of a top-notch thriller! R.P.L.
Hello friend, the names of audiobooks are so interesting. but many book links at adrive.com.... are deleted.
Please replenish them if possible
Anyway thanks a lot for ur effort.
Forecast: With a six-city author tour, a well-conceived Web site at 
TOTM Award(s): 3
