The name of Seabury Quinn is inextricably linked with the 'unique magazine', WEIRD TALES, to which he contributed some one hundred and fifty-nine stories, making him that publication's most prolific contributor. His most conspicuous success was the series of tales featuring the occult detective Jules de Grandin, which always left readers clamouring for more. Indeed, de Grandin almost became to Quinn what Sherlock Holmes became to Arthur Conan Doyle: so overwhelmingly popular a creation that he threatened to overshadow completely his author's other successes. However, Seabury Quinn, like Conan Doyle, had a great deal more to offer than a single character. During his lifetime Quinn read widely in the fields of horror, supernatural, and weird fiction, as well as ranging further afield through books devoted to the occult, mysticism, witchcraft, legends, Satanism, and ancient religious customs. He was thus able to imbue his weird fiction with historical and sociological trappings which gave them an immediacy and vibrancy several cuts above the usual pulp offerings; and this, combined with his sheer skill in storytelling, keeps his stories fresh and alive today. The eleven stories gathered together for NIGHT CREATURES—only one of which features Quinn's plucky phantom fighter de Grandin—were all published in WEIRD TALES between 1923 and 1947, and few have been reprinted since. They concern werewolves and witches, vampires and demons, and even a conventional ghost or two; but they are far more than variations on standard themes. Quinn was as concerned with the minds and hearts of his characters as he was with the horrors of their situations; and the result is a collection of stories which is as compassionate and poignant as it is chilling and horrifying. Views: 561
Survivor Gillian Hilliard is finally healing from a nightmare past. Fearing no man will ever find her attractive, she hides behind simple attire and large glasses. When Gillian meets firefighter Jack Payle, she is instantly attracted, and enjoys a wild night of sex with him. But in the cold light of day she's torn apart by guilt and shame, and retreats to the familiar comfort of her simple, if unfulfilling, life.After years of chasing the wrong kind of woman, Jack is shocked by the instant attraction he feels for the mousy historian with shadows in her eyes and passion simmering beneath her surface. Jack can't get past the lust firing his blood or the memories of her response to his touch, for passionate, sexy Gillian is everything he's ever wanted. Are they strong enough to face down the demons haunting Gillian? Can she trust the man who holds her heart with her darkest secrets and accept his help to overcome the shadows of her past? Or will the darkness destroy them both? Views: 560
Silvia and Deborah are two students like many others. They love music and joints, not so much school and rules. One day, they go into their classroom, at their high school in the heart of Rome, and start shooting on their classmates. The first to fall is Eleonora, punished because she was considered the most brilliant and the most beautiful of the students. Other young people will die with her...Silvia and Deborah are two students like many others. They love music and joints, not so much school and rules. One day, they go into their classroom, at their high school in the heart of Rome, and start shooting on their classmates. The first to fall is Eleonora, punished because she was considered the most brilliant and the most beautiful of the students. Other young people will die with her, according to a very precise list that Silvia and Deborah have been preparing for a long time. A real slaughter like those that occur in American colleges or in northern Europe. Except that, for the first time, the shooters are two girls. "I killed Bambi" is the history of this dramatic episode of female bullying, but it is also a journey inside the mind of a teenager, split between anxiety and anger, without references and prospects for the future, like many young people of her generation. A unique novel in its kind, a novel that "begins with the end"... Views: 560
Whilst in Canada buying livestock, Will Stryker kills a railroad gambler. The shooting was in self-defense, but fearing reprisal from the Mounties, Will escapes into the border snowline. That's where he finds Linny Jule who's fleeing from her cruel and sadistic father. Deciding that his daughter has been taken from him, Larris Jule trails the pair south to Polson where he settles on Will's small cattle ranch as payback. In an effort to regain his property, Will confronts Jule and his hired gunmen in the midst of a mighty blizzard that engulfs the town. Can Linny rely on Will to do the right thing? And is the deadly pursuit finally over? Views: 560
Published for the first time under his own name, a dark and haunting story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly
Like his father before him, Brian Holloway is a safe man. That is, his specialty is opening safes. Every job is a little mystery, and he has yet to encounter a lock he can't break or a box he can't crack. But the day Holloway gets called in to open a rare, antique safe in a famous author's library, his skills open a door that should have remained closed.
In this haunting and singular story, previously published anonymously, Michael Connelly proves once again that he is "superb at building suspense.... the reader can never be sure what sudden turns the plot may take" (Wall Street Journal). Views: 560
A beautiful world comes at a price... The Blemished is the dystopian debut from Sarah Dalton. Mina Hart is Blemished and that takes away her rights.In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion. Views: 560
Contains 1 - 15 of 56 original, eerie poems and delightfully frightening stories--some morbidly amusing, others downright disturbing. Dark engravings add to the macabre nature of this collection. No profane or sexual content. Perfect reading by the fire on dark, stormy nights. FREE, but author hopes you will offer a rating.About DARK:Imagine you are a mind reader—a voyeur who can steal dreams. It happens in DARK. You will immediately become “The Thief of Dreams,” allowing you to purloin many dreadful, occasionally humorous, and sometimes downright disturbing dreams--fantasies and nightmares of others. All are expressed as poetry and short stories, each designed to make you laugh, shudder or cringe, or all three.Example: all SIX parts of “The Zombie Apocalypse” series (two in DARK, four more in DARKER and DARKEST drew that title from a recent admission by Google® that this was their most-searched term in June, 2012. Many believe the Z A will happen. Brakken explains, in his Z A series, that, thanks to recent scientific innovation, this idea, this threat, is, indeed, plausible. Those who initially thought this term laughable may find themselves reconsidering. As we all know, science can be wonderful—or terrible—depending on the final outcome.Brakken's poems “In Gloomy Wood” and “The Parson Joshua Black” tell stories that will tingle the spine. “Something in the Shadows” and “Bedtime Story” may lead to the bedroom light being left on until morning. “Gramma’s Noggin” will elicit a laugh while helping readers pronounce Namakagon correctly. Brakken's earlier book is THE TREASURE OF NAMAKAGON.) “The Count,” will beg readers for restraint regarding releasing evil upon the land. There are so many more.Brakken included “Nevermore” a poetic tribute to Edgar Allen Poe and a favorite of many. “Nevermore” answers Poe’s question about the final resting place of the spirit of the deceased maiden in Poe’s, “The Raven.”A number of poems, including “The Ballad of Ole Johnson” and “A Pinery Tale” found inspiration in actual deaths that occurred during northern Wisconsin’s 19th century timber harvest, giving them the western texture akin to the cowboy poetry of Baxter Black. Several mysterious excerpts from Brakken’s 19th century“lumberjack” era novel, THE TREASURE OF NAMAKAGON, complement the poems nicely. And, if dragons are to your liking, you’ll savor the author’s “Three Dragons” series.Beware! Although this large collection of Brakken’s macabre writings will delightfully scare the reader and sometimes stimulate nervous laughter, the author advises us that some of these works are utterly disturbing. His advice? Beware! Read at your own risk: Here there be dragons.For visual relief, the author included many darkly evocative engravings by long-dead master artists from ancient times. Gustave Dore and Albrecht Durer are among the artists who now, long after their death, add mystery and macabre charm to Brakken’s work. These images are not intended to illustrate the writings. Rather, they simply add to the enigmatic, bone-chilling nature of DARK.YOU CAN HELP! DARK is FREE, but the author would like you to rate it and tell your friends. NOW, DARKER IS ALSO FREE! If you like both, go for DARKEST, now priced at only $1.49. Why so cheap? The author wants to work with you to get the word out -- get the buzz going. Enjoy DARK & DARKER at no charge, then let your facebook and other friends know. THE AUTHOR ADVISES READING DARK IN THE ORDER PRESENTED. Jumping ahead may spoil the twisting, turning plots of some sequential works.Sneak peeks of both DARK and THE TREASURE OF NAMAKAGON are at BadgerValley.com.Enter DARK at your own risk. Then, if you dare, find DARKER and DARKEST at Smashwords.com. Step into the DARK -- We've been waiting for you.Contents of DARK (first of 3 sections):Thief of DreamsClarence Walter Wilson’s Nest EggBeyond Superstition CreekThe Parson Joshua BlackThief of Dreams IIThe Zombie Apocalypse Part IThree Dragons Part I: The First DragonA Bedtime StoryThe CountDark VisionsThe CabbyThe Bones of Ole JohnsonAnother Mess for Ma to Clean UpDeath by EcstasyThe Zombie Apocalypse Part II Views: 560
In a matter of 24 hours, Sarah Masters lost everything that was important to her - her job, her friends, her house. Now a madman is hunting her down to kill her, and the only ones stopping him are the FBI Agents who have pledged to protect her. But while keeping her safe, these FBI Agents touch Sarah's life in a way she never expected as they cause her to question her relationship with God.In a matter of 24 hours, Sarah Masters lost everything that was important to her - her job, her friends, her house. Now a madman is hunting her down to kill her, and the only ones stopping him are the FBI Agents who have pledged to protect her. But in the process of protecting her, these FBI Agents touch Sarah's life in a way she never expected as they cause her to question her relationship with God and His plan for her future.Sam Morgan is the FBI Agent tasked with the job of keeping Sarah safe. He and his team fight to keep Sarah alive - and in the process, all of their lives are changed in ways they never expected. Views: 560
From bestselling author Kim Harrison comes this original short story (to be featured in her anthology * Into the Woods *, October 2012) where things are most definitely not as they seem. A pet shop employee’s innocent date with a customer quickly turns disturbing rather than delightful. She and her family hold a centuries-old secret, and they want him to stay with them forever . . . Views: 559
A modern children's fairy tale, which can be a Read-To or Read-Alone book for first-time readers.A fairy tale story for children, as a Read-To or Read-Alone for First-Time readers. The story is built around one fictional character, a boy who is named Pilf, who duly discovers that he has a very magical power which makes him the hero of this tale. A special note to parents: you'll soon get the hang of speaking like an elf or a pixie - or even Quill Hedgehog! Views: 559
Juan is a "mestizo," of mixed Spanish and Indio heritage, sure to be doomed to a short, violent life begging on the streets. But Juan has a special gift for handling horses and an ability to defend himself at a time when a man's best friends are his horse and his sword. Only El Mestizo, the half-caste son of the conqueror Cortés, knows that the blood of kings flows in the young beggar.
After killing a man for beating a horse, Juan becomes a highwayman and horse thief before disguising himself as a wealthy caballero. He is wined and dined by the richest and most powerful people in the colony—who don't realize that some of them had once stared down the barrel of Juan's pistola as he took their gold.
Fighting, conniving, and loving in a colorful era of flashing swords and brave hearts, Juan must use all the tricks he learned as a beggar and a bandit to unlock the secret of his own heritage. Views: 559
James is a secret agent who is about to retire but before his bosses allow this he must complete one last mission: Get rid of his team members.DeeDee Jackson lives and works aboard a space station which orbits Saturn, and sometimes he writes about it.This is the raw and unedited text from a fictional blog (called Fort Falling) that I worked on from June 2005 to May 2008. I took the blog, added an intro, did some basic formatting, and published a book. No professional editors or designers were involved at any time, so please don't be surprised if it's a good example of why you should never publish a book which hasn't been edited by a professional. Views: 559
Aqua is a story of a rather... unique group of teenagers. They're not humans, but magical beings called the Poweras who are faced with the evil-doer of the land. They risk everything they have to save their friends as well as themselves.When you were younger, did you ever think it would be cool to control an element? Despite what you thought, this was based off of fact. The Poweras are a different "Ethnic" group of people, hailing from the planet Powiera. This particular group of Poweras are on a journey to where? Los Angeles,California. There, they must save their friend. On the way, they meet a lovely duo of gentlemen who promise that they will be friends till their destination. Lies. They want simply to have them killed by none other than the most feared man in Powera history. In short, Aqua is an adventure story with a dash of romance, a modern twist on our childhood games. Views: 559
A family’s secret, a ruthless fanatic, and a covert arm of the American government—all are linked by a single puzzling possibility:
What if everything we know about the discovery of America was a lie? What if that lie was designed to hide the secret of why Columbus sailed in 1492? And what if that 500-year-old secret could violently reshape the modern political world?
Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Tom Sagan has written hard-hitting articles from hot spots around the world. But when one of his stories from the Middle East is exposed as a fraud, his professional reputation crashes and burns. Now he lives in virtual exile—haunted by bad decisions and a shocking truth he can never prove: that his downfall was a deliberate act of sabotage by an unknown enemy. But before Sagan can end his torment with the squeeze of a trigger, fate intervenes in the form of an enigmatic stranger. This stranger forces Sagan to act—and his actions attract the attention of the Magellan Billet, a top-secret corps of the United States Justice Department that deals with America’s most sensitive investigations. Sagan suddenly finds himself caught in an international incident, the repercussions of which will shudder not only Washington, D.C., but also Jerusalem. Coaxed into a deadly cat-and-mouse game, unsure who’s friend and who’s foe, Sagan is forced to Vienna, Prague, then finally into the Blue Mountains of Jamaica—where his survival hinges on his rewriting everything we know about Christopher Columbus. Views: 559
