Howard Norman, widely regarded as one of this country's finest novelists, returns to the mesmerizing fictional terrain of his major books—The Bird Artist, The Museum Guard, and The Haunting of L—in this erotically charged and morally complex story.Seventeen-year-old Wyatt Hillyer is suddenly orphaned when his parents, within hours of each other, jump off two different bridges—the result of their separate involvements with the same compelling neighbor, a Halifax switchboard operator and aspiring actress. The suicides cause Wyatt to move to small-town Middle Economy to live with his uncle, aunt, and ravishing cousin Tilda.Setting in motion the novel's chain of life-altering passions and the wartime perfidy at its core is the arrival of the German student Hans Mohring, carrying only a satchel. Actual historical incidents—including a German U-boat's sinking of the Nova Scotia–Newfoundland ferry Caribou, on which Aunt... Views: 31
It is the mid-1950s, and Kockroach, perfectly content with his life infesting a fleabag hotel off Times Square, awakens to discover that somehow he's been transformed into, of all things, a human. A tragic turn of events, yes, but cockroaches are awesome coping machines, so Kockroach copes. Step by step, he learns the ways of man—how to walk, how to talk, and how to wear a jaunty brown fedora. Led by his primitive desires and insectile amorality, he navigates through the bizarre human realms of crime, business, politics, and sex. Will he find success or be squashed flat from above? Will he change humanity, or will humanity change him? From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. Kafka's "Metamorphosis" is turned on its antennae in this roaringly entertaining noir novel. Knox's debut begins with a cockroach waking up to find he has been transformed into a man. Kockroach, however, doesn't lapse into despair, but instead demonstrates the relentless survival instinct of his species by learning how to get by in the human world. Helping him is pint-size Times Square hustler Mickey "Mite" Pimelia, who sees in Kockroach (or, as he's known to humans, Jerry Blatta) his ticket to the top. Sex, organized crime, violence, betrayal and success follow for Kockroach, whose insect's sense of amorality aids his ascent. Meanwhile, Celia, a crippled but beautiful woman, befriends Mite and finds herself drawn to Kockroach. Knox's inhuman antihero's tale is told in flawless noir style—Kockroach's coldness juxtaposed against Mite's bitter self-recrimination in a seedy, smoky 1950s New York—and Kockroach's insights into that New York are perversely delightful. The book's conceptual cleverness is ultimately eclipsed by the epic story line, making for a compelling story of greed and power that is more Chandler than Kafka. (Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistIn The Metamorphosis, Kafka asked readers to suspend their disbelief as salesman Gregor Samsa finds himself changed into a "monstrous vermin." Similarly, in his oddly compelling first novel, Knox asks readers to accept that a cockroach in New York City circa 1950 awakens to find itself transformed into a human, who eventually goes by the name Jerry Blatta. Knox plays on every aspect of life humans regularly take for granted--how to walk, talk, love, hate, kill or be killed. The novel switches between omniscient narration and the voice of Mite, a human being of slight stature and a low-level hoodlum. Blatta, with his gigantic appetites and prodigious physical strength, becomes feared around town as a killer for hire and a killer on his own volition. Knox's tale is complete with heroines, harlots, and love triangles, and honest and corrupt businesspeople, cops, and politicians. As for Blatta, he metamorphoses from tough-guy murderer to seemingly legitimate businessman to a surprising third incarnation. Steve WeinbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 31
Few authors have achieved such renown as World Fantasy Life Achievement honoree and Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton. With the love of readers and the praise of critics, Norton's books have sold millions of copies worldwide.The House of Norreys—those merchants of gems for over three hundred years—faces its greatest crisis ever: the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The old Jonkheer lay dying in his bed when he called his grandson to be with him in the last hours of his life, and at this time, young Lorens van Norreys is entrusted with the future of Norreys. That future lies in the legendary Flower of Orange, a priceless baroque necklace that the Nazi scavengers burn to possess. It is up to Lorens to save the necklace and the House of Norreys. With the first encounter with the Nazi invaders, Lorens faces his challenge as The Sword Is Drawn. Views: 31
Obi-Wan Kenobi is on a mission. Along with the former Jedi apprentice Ferus Olin and a headstrong kid named Trever, he is trying to keep the Jedi's most important secret safe from the inquisitive Empire. With Boba Fett on their trail and time running out, Obi-Wan, Ferus, and Trever must make some daring and desperate escapes...into even more danger. Along the way, they discover some incredible news: Obi-Wan and Yoda are not the only Jedi to have survived the Emperor's annihilation of the Order. There is at least one other...and he is hiding in the Caves of Ilum, a place where nightmares become reality and dark warnings tell of conflicts yet to come. Views: 31
A hot random encounter with a janitor who is eager to go that extra yard to clean up after his customers. Views: 31
The Phantom's lead mare is injured, and Samantha wants to help her. But she can't call the vet -- what if he won't let the mare return to the wild?So Sam starts treating the mare's injuries in secret. But the horse seems awfully calm for a mustang, and she matches the description of a missing mare from California. Is Sam helping a mustang, or has she accidentally stolen someone's horse? Views: 31
There are many sides to Hyacinth Dickinson - aka H - all intriguing; none predictable.Her public life shows the world a respected gynaecologist. Her private life is deliciously different; dark, intoxicating. A rich, powerful woman; a devious diamond smuggler and an artful witch who loves women - literally - despite sporting a trophy husband. Yet H is lonely; she wants a soul mate.So, she casts a powerful spell to manifest her perfect woman. A woman to match her desire for danger, diamonds and sex. When H meets talented surgeon Beth McConnell - the newest recruit to her husband's surgical team - she believes Beth is The One.H is excited. She has great plans for Beth; she will be Beth's first lesbian lover. But, first she has to entice Beth into her web. And, she will go to any lengths to do so. No matter that Beth has always quelled her attraction to women and totally blanks her unwanted and scary physic ability. She is unprepared for the impact H makes on her and H's sexual advances. Confused, and against her better judgement, Beth agrees to go to London with H: she can't seem to say 'no' to the woman. But, fate intervenes. Beth meets her screen idol Lou Scott on the London bound train. Their mutual attraction is electric. Will Beth and Lou find happiness together or will H destroy them?The story is set against the backdrop of Northern England, London, Cannes, LA and Scotland. ReviewA mesmerizing book that has you spellbound from start to finish with its twisted web on intrigue, sultry lesbian lust, witchcraft and diamond smuggling. A roller-coaster novel. --Out! northeast Magazine February/March 2011 About the AuthorEllen was born in County Durham, England. She now lives in North Yorkshire with her long-term partner.She is active in amateur dramatics, and is interested in metaphysics.Before penning her first novel Ellen wrote features for national magazines and regional newspapers. Views: 31
The author of The Gabinian Affair continues the memoir of a retired soldier who came of age in the Roman legions of Julius Caesar. "Not lyrical, but accurate, Insubrecus. All these stories and reports of Romans, Belgae, Krauts, and whatnot have become a knot I do not have time to unravel, so I'm just going to slice it open!" Caesar announced. "Tomorrow at dawn, this army marches on the Aeduan capital . . . we march on Bibracte!" With these words, Gaius Julius Caesar sent his army on what most of his officers considered a suicide mission with the Helvetians and their German allies across their line of retreat and the army trapped against the impregnable walls of Bibracte, the fortress-capital of their treacherous Gallic allies, the Aedui. The Helvetian Affair recounts retired Roman soldier Gaius Marius Insubrecus' coming of age as a Roman soldier in the legionary camps outside the city of Aquileia, and serving his patron, Caesar, as... Views: 31
One evening Katherine ventures into a local tavern for a few drinks, eager to immerse herself in the small mountain community. She awakens hours later to find herself trapped inside of a cage and held captive in a dark, dank dungeon. The Overlord has plans for her to mate with his army of grotesque beasts, to satiate their every carnal desire. Views: 31
A bold re-imagining of our civilization's greatest tale of war, from the acclaimed and bestselling author of Silk.In An Iliad, Alessandro Baricco re-creates the siege of Troy through the voices of twenty-one Homeric characters, in the narrative idiom of our modern imagination. From the return of Chryseis to the burial of Hector, we see through human eyes and feel with human hearts the unforgettable events first recounted almost three thousand years ago. Imbuing the stuff of legend with a startling new relevancy and humanity, Baricco gives us The Iliad as we have never known it. His transformative achievement is certain to delight and fascinate all readers of Homer's indispensable classic.From the Trade Paperback edition. Views: 31
