In this short story by T.C. McCarthy, one ordinary woman with nothing to lose joins the French Foreign Legion and finds herself, and her comrades, pinned down in a bunker surrounded by enemies. Thousands of the mantis-like creatures swarm towards them and with no communications and little ammo, survival is a desperate hope. She is a volunteer and a soldier, and to save herself, her squad, and the refugees they defend, she must remember the life she left behind. Word count: ~ 14,000 ReviewMcCarthy brilliantly weaves together the interlocked plots of past and present... creates gripping characters in strange but relatable circumstances... does a brilliant job of storytelling. A writer to watch, without doubt. -Digital Science Fiction Views: 49
Left-handedness seems to be no big deal. Many of us are left-handed and those of us who aren’t don’t tend to give left-handedness much thought. Yet throughout history left-handers have been associated with clumsiness, untrustworthiness and insincerity. The Latin word for left, sinister, is redolent of all kinds of ominous connotations.Rik Smits uncovers why history has been so unkind to our left-handed forebears. Through an array of historical anecdotes, strange superstitions and old wives’ tales, Smits explains why left-handedness continues to be associated with maladies of all kinds, including mental retardation, alcoholism, asthma, hay fever, diabetes, insomnia, suicidal urges, criminality and shorter lifespans. But apart from folklore and myth, the notions of left and right have a real and deep influence on the way we experience the world. These influences show up everywhere, from engineering and architecture to music, painting, photography, film and comics. This book shows how, contrary to what many might think, left-handers can write just as well as the rest of us, and explores how and why we came to prefer one hand over the other and how left- and right-handedness are represented in the brain. The greatest puzzle is why in every country one in ten people favours the left hand. It is a mystery as yet largely unsolved, whose solution may very well lie in the secrets of twinning. The Puzzle of Left-handedness is an enlightening and entertaining odyssey through the enigmas and paradoxes, theories and experiments surrounding the left-handed among us.Review“There is a ‘whiff of negativity’ around left-handedness, admits the science journalist and left-hander Rik Smits in this fascinating study of the phenomenon. . . . Popular legends about left-handedness—and left vs. right in general—are scarcely less virulent, and Smits dispatches them entertainingly and ably. . . . Thoroughly enjoyable.”(Sunday Times )“In his highly entertaining and erudite book, left-handed linguist and science journalist Rik Smits dispenses with the positive myths alongside the negative ones.”(The Dubliner )“It is a lively read, and Smits, a linguist and science writer, shows his wide range of knowledge throughout. . . . The book is well arranged, with mainly short, crisp chapters. I thoroughly recommend it as a good overview of issues related to hand preference. . . . Everyone will find something thought-provoking, witty or just interesting, regardless of personal hand preference.”(Times Higher Education ) About the AuthorRik Smits is a linguist, a science journalist, and author of books on a wide range of subjects. Views: 49
"I am a close acquaintance of Crown Prince Razul's!"Rash words indeed... Bethany was desperate to stop her deportation for Datar, and only Razul could help her. But she'd tried so hard to forget him--they'd been involved two years before, and back then Bethany hadn't been able to handle such a proud, passionate man.Bethany got to stay in Datar. However, by renewing her "close" acquaintance with Razul she paid his price--he demanded she become his wife! Views: 49
In a world gone to hell, it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad...The world didn't end in fire and explosions, instead it collapsed slowly, like falling dominoes, an intensifying panic of disease, food shortages, wild weather and collapsing economies, until what remained of humanity battles for survival in a harsh new reality. Charity uses lethal survival skills learned too early in her work as a 'Hound, sniffing out pivotal secrets for one of the most powerful people on the west coast. Her work is deceptive, deadly, and best performed solo, which means when she has a run-in with a member of the notorious Fate's Vultures, she has no intention of joining forces in some mockery of teamwork. The man might be sexy as hell, but she travels alone. She will accomplish her mission and she will settle a score - hopefully with the edge of her blade. But fate has other plans. As one of Fate's Vultures, a nomadic band of arbitrators known for their... Views: 49
Seventeen-year-old Hope Long's life revolves around her brother Jeremy. So when Jeremy is accused of killing the town's beloved baseball coach, Hope's world begins to unravel. Everyone is convinced Jeremy did it, and since he hasn't spoken a word in 9 years, he's unable to defend himself. Their lawyer instructs Hope to convince the jury that Jeremy is insane, but all her life Hope has known that Jeremy's just different than other people--better, even. As she works to prove his innocence--joined by her best friend T.J. and the sheriff's son, Chase--Hope uncovers secrets about the murder, the townspeople, her family, and herself. She knows her brother isn't the murderer. But as she comes closer to the truth, she's terrified to find out who is.From the Hardcover edition. Views: 49
When bookdealer "Freddie the Cur" is murdered at a paperback show, Police Lt. Pfisch is forced to close the con. After all, this is the third untimely death of a show attendee in as many days. First there was Lissa Boaz, called the "Boa Constrictor" for her questionable business practices. Then came Brody Richard "The O-Man" Dameen, the drunken horror writer. What links these victims, other than collectible paperbacks? And why does the identification of the REAL author of an early Ace gothic even matter? A comic mystery novel of the modern con scene. Views: 49
Jolene Parker isn't sure what to think when her police deputy husband, Ray, unexpectedly brings home a new foster child. The impulsive son of a jailed car thief, twelve-year-old Danny has talents that include picking locks and hotwiring cars.Following Danny's brief joyride in the car that he says is his dad's, a horrific surprise turns up in the trunk: a woman's arm. While Ray hunts down the victim's identity, Jolene tries to determine whether Danny's father did the deed. And it drives her straight into the killer's sights.About the AuthorLisa Bork holds a bachelor’s degree in English and an M.B.A. in marketing, and worked in human resources and marketing before becoming a stay-at-home mom. When her children entered school fulltime, Lisa turned to writing to fill her days and exercise her mind. For Better, For Murder grew out of her family's love of New York’s Finger Lakes region and her husband’s obsession with cars. Lisa is a member of The Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Guppies, and the Thursday Evening Literary Society. She resides in western New York with her husband, children and family dog.For Better, For Murder is a finalist for the 2009 Agatha Award in the category of Best First Novel.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Views: 49
Faster, Grittier, Darker, Deadlier... Chris Ryan Extreme In the aftermath of a devastating nuclear attack, Joe Gardner discovers a terrifying secret. In order to protect the truth, he must escort special agent Aimee Milana to safety, all the while hunted by government agents and a former Navy SEAL operator equipped with a lethal weapon. The race is on to reach Parliament Square before the clock runs out - and the world descends into all-out war. Views: 49
With honesty and heart-rending emotion, actress and filmmaker Dyan Cannon tells the story of her topsy-turvy relationship with Hollywood legend Cary Grant. Cannon's captivating narrative takes the reader behind the scenes of Hollywood's Golden Age, inside America's high court of glamour and notoriety in which Cary Grant was king. In his private life alongside Cannon, however, a story that began with all the romance of his famous films—Charade, To Catch a Thief, An Affair to Remember or The Philadelphia Story—would end up taking a series of tragic and unpredictable twists and turns. In sharing Grant's inside story for the first time, Dear Cary is exactly what Hollywood is always looking for . . . the next blockbuster, and a story for romance lovers of all ages. Views: 49
Ezra and the Lion Cub tells the story of a poor shoeshine boy in Gondar, Ethiopia. In his dreams, Ezra sees himself as the king of the forest. In his dream world, Ezra is not poor, doesn't have to worry about going to school or think about shining shoes. He encounters a precocious lion cub and they become friends. The lion cub's mother is not so pleased with the cub's association with a human—one that can only lead to trouble. When a group of hunters come on the scene, disaster quickly follows and Ezra learns a valuable but painful lesson. Ezra and the Lion Cub is part of a large educational project designed for the 21st Century middle school learner. The project provides learning and teaching tools and resources to students and teachers connecting to themes like Global Citizenship, Human Rights, Democracy and Access to Basic Education. For more information, please see www.theshadowedroad.com. Views: 49
Noah Jordan misses the life he once led as
a spy so when he's asked by his former superior to head to the countryside and
investigate a potential murder, he jumps at the chance. He doesn't expect to
meet Marion Hawthorne, a young woman his suspected murderer is interested in
taking as his wife. In an effort to help her... and to get closer to the
fascinating lady, Noah asks for her help in his investigation. But as they grow
closer, their desire grows and suddenly Noah has a harder and harder time
remembering any duty, any promise or any future he ever imagined without her.
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