The second story in the Broken Shores series. Upon going through the ceremony of adulthood, Kai must face up to difficult truths.The world was once a place of plenty and wonders: famine and disease were largely unheard of, cities floated through the sky, everything appeared to be perfect. But it could not last. When the magic called Ve collapsed, society collapsed along with it: millions starved and the floating cities crashed to the ground. In the wreckage the byproducts of Ve use, magical beings called Amekt, went feral. This along with the ensuing wars rendered the mainland uninhabitable.In the last days of the old empire, as things began to fall apart, a small group split off an island-sized piece of rock and seeded it with a plant that would allow it to float. For nearly 500 years, the island of Ansau has drifted in isolation on the ocean currents. Life is more difficult than it was, but the Island’s inhabitants have learned to use the trickle of Ve and stability has been the rule. But things are about to change again.In the second story in the Broken Shores series, Kai goes though the Binding ceremony, but despite his new status as an adult, he discovers that he has yet to decide if he will choose his own path or let it be chosen for him. Views: 387
The interstellar war between the Earth allied Unity and the Kyrzal should have been quick and easy. The Unity victorious, the enemy humbled. But the war takes a nasty diversion. Mak, an Earth pod pilot aboard the DreadNought Exeter, finds that not all enemies are obvious. Nor are they easy. Hidden agendas, betrayals, complicate a dangerous situation into a fight just for survival.Mak is a pod pilot on the DreadNought Exeter, a star ship in the Earth allied Unity. The DreadNought's mission is simple. Destroy the enemy, the Kyrzal. A ho-hum war that should have been quick and easy. But not all enemies are obvious. Hidden agendas and betrayals, complicate a mission that is not what it seems at first. Mak's expertise as a pilot in the fighting machines known as Pods will be tested as he is thrust unwillingly into a role he feels totally unsuitable for. No longer a fight to defeat the enemy, the fight will be to just survive when all seems lost. Views: 387
Rector “Wreck ’em” Sherman was orphaned as a toddler in the Blight of 1863, but that was years ago. Wreck has grown up, and on his eighteenth birthday, he’ll be cast out out of the orphanage.
And Wreck’s problems aren’t merely about finding a home. He’s been quietly breaking the cardinal rule of any good drug dealer and dipping into his own supply of the sap he sells. He’s also pretty sure he’s being haunted by the ghost of a kid he used to know—Zeke Wilkes, who almost certainly died six months ago. Zeke would have every reason to pester Wreck, since Wreck got him inside the walled city of Seattle in the first place, and that was probably what killed him. Maybe it’s only a guilty conscience, but Wreck can’t take it anymore, so he sneaks over the wall.
The walled-off wasteland of Seattle is every bit as bad as he’d heard, chock-full of the hungry undead and utterly choked by the poisonous, inescapable yellow gas. And then there's the monster. Rector's pretty certain that whatever attacked him was not at all human—and not a rotter, either. Arms far too long. Posture all strange. Eyes all wild and faintly glowing gold and known to the locals as simply “The Inexplicables.”
In the process of tracking down these creatures, Rector comes across another incursion through the wall -- just as bizarre but entirely attributable to human greed. It seems some outsiders have decided there’s gold to be found in the city and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get a piece of the pie unless Rector and his posse have anything to do with it. Views: 387
The Best American Series®
First, Best, and Best-Selling
The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume’s series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected — and most popular — of its kind.
The Best American Short Stories 2012 includes
Nathan Englander, Mary Gaitskill, Roxane Gay, Jennifer Haigh,
Steven Millhauser, Alice Munro, Lawrence Osborne, Eric Puchner,
George Saunders, Kate Walbert, and others Views: 387
First baby of the New Year…delivered by a cowboy!When Wyoming cowboy Brice DeWitt placed an ad for a housekeeper-cook at his Flying D Ranch, he expected a sturdy, mature woman—not a petite, pregnant applicant who was about to deliver on his doorstep.Madison Carlyle needed his protection—and his name. But an isolated Wyoming ranch in the middle of winter was no place for a new mother and child. If he let them stay, he risked his heart. But if he sent them away, would he miss his best chance at having the one thing he’d always wanted? A family?A Romantic Times Top Pick and W.I.S.H. Award recipient for outstanding hero. “…A true delight and Mindy Neff makes it work on every level.” —Romantic Times 4 ½ GOLD Medal!“…Mindy Neff gives us a hero to die for...and a story chock full of touching scenes that will wrap... Views: 387
Weekly summary of soap opera's hottest news, stories, humour, gossip, blind items, fearless predictions, top stars/stories/couples/characters to watch, snark galore, review and analysis.INSIDE — GODDESS OF THE OPERA: Exclusive Interview With DAYS Superstar Deidre Hall! SOAP OPERA PARADISO: Soap Vet Paul Rauch Addresses Ellen Holly’s Public Attacks, His Advice To Frank Valentini, Oprah, And His New Projects — Only in SOU! Spotted on the GH Set: Is GH’s Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo Returning? Sad News: Mimi Torchin on SOAP OPERA WEEKLY’s Demise! Kristian Alfonso Interview: “DAYS Is Doing Something We’ve Never Done Before!” New Interview: Susan Lucci Speaks Out On Prospect Park, DEVIOUS MAIDS, AMC, and Erica Kane! Y&R: Guess Who’s Headed To Canada? Trevor St. John Lands New TV Gig! GH Ratings Analysis: Is The ONE LIFE Invasion To Blame? A Comedy for ONE LIFE’s Robin Strasser? Y&R Spoiler: Who Is Chelsea’s Dad? Every Week: Fearless Views: 387
Tatiana, the new girl, arrived in English IIIA amidst a murmur of expectation. We had already heard a beautiful "Russian princess" was coming to our own boring little neck of New Jersey, and her first impression on us was no disappointment...the SAT-cramming students of a high academic north New Jersey high school welcome a Russian exchange student; and lives are forever changed...merry christmas readers !this is a free christmas download to celebrate xmas 2012. a short story, "dancer, zero" involves sat-cramming north new jersey high school students and their new Russian exchange student, Tatiana.themes: ballet, coming-of-age, university admissions, north jersey Views: 387
Nate is a young archaeologist who finds himself embroiled in an exciting and, at times, terrifying adventure involving smugglers, Vikings and treasure hunters. He comes face to face with a real 18th century revenue man and his betrothed, Dolly. They become entangled in a race to find a sacred sword and are beset by all kinds of difficulties – not least of all being catapulted between different times. They witness great events, including a horrifying Viking battle, strange discoveries in a graveyard and the mysterious appearance of John Stell, a scribe from Furness Abbey. These adventures take young readers on a rollercoaster ride through time as they pit their strength and skills against their enemies both in the distant past and Nate's present. Furness Abbey is again revealed as a hub of spiritual energy and mystery, holding its secrets close. Nate experiences the loss of two important people in his life, but learns that the end is not always final. He is amazed when he meets... Views: 387
Tobin Wells enjoys a quiet, simple life in the magical realm of Elden Forest. That all changes with the explosive delivery of a mysterious package. Thrown into an unexpected adventure with the clever, Darcie Dannett, the two track an obscure signal throughout the kingdom. In this first novel in the Elden Forest series, Tobin and Darcie encounter self-relocating houses, Carrier Cubes, and peculiarIn the magical realm of Elden Forest, Tobin enjoys a simple life, employed by the local historian. That all changes with the explosive delivery of a mysterious package. Thrown into an unexpected adventure with the clever, Darcie Dannett, the two track an obscure signal throughout the kingdom. In this first novel in the Elden Forest series, Tobin and Darcie encounter self-relocating houses, Carrier Cubes, and peculiar knots of magic, as they search for a missing magician. Views: 387
The year is 1920 and Godfrey Leduc has a difficult decision to make. Stay on the family farm in rural Quebec or make the move out West and start his own? Family, love, and a bit of humour set against the backdrop of post-WWI Canada make this semi-biographical work an entertaining read for all ages.The last transmission of Kalmor Yintih, the first leader of Jazidal- the capital home world of The Federation of Stellar Systems. The Federation of Stellar Systems (FSS) Gazette Editor’s Note: Kalmor Yintih was killed in battle aboard the Ilmytine fighting in the Jazidal civil war. His last known message to his fleet was, “Fight on brave men, for we fight not in hope of victory over worlds or minds, no we fight to conquer all that has trapped us within these walls. I will take you to victory, follow me now and we shall cry out in victorious reign upon this sky.” Kalmor Yintih was survived by twelve children and fifty-seven grand and great-grandchildren. He was buried next to Vadek in Kaltrow four province. Pealar was the great rebel fighter over the first War, she is honored along with Kalmor. The shrine on Bedriod moon is a tribute to Kalmor and Pealar’s victories. Vadek was unknown until Kalmor’s last message. Views: 387
Prequel to Book One of The Gifted Series A story about a young lady with the goal of living a normal life, despite having an uncontrollable gift, being hunted by the government, and falling in love with the man that almost took her life.Prequel to Book One of The Gifted Series Lily East is different from other people and has been since her birth. The government has been trying to recruit her, wanting to use her uncontrollable gift to their advantage. After years of evading, Lily finally gives into her "civic duty" and helps the government solve cases gone cold. Her life outside of being a special agent is far from normal. And as if that isn't enough, she finds herself falling in love with the man who almost killed her. This is life, as she sees it. Coming soon, in Book One of The Gifted Series, you will learn the whole story, and how Lily's powers came to be. I hope you'll enjoy this novella until then. Views: 387
A teen actress has to wonder: In the cutthroat world of commercial modeling and acting, can a happy family be reality?On camera, it's easy to be part of a perfect family: A director has hand-picked your parents after a week of callbacks, and the right things to say are printed on cue cards. Off camera, reality is a bit more complicated. Cassie Herold knows her parents are having problems. Her dad basically lives on the road and sees her more on TV than he does in real life. Her mom, a math professor who would rather balance an equation than get a manicure, is nothing like the energetic, perfectly groomed f.m.'s (fake moms) she sees at auditions for everything from snack cakes to energy water. If only Cassie could get her real life to be a bit more like her commercial life, then maybe she could get a date with Rory Roberts--the cutest boy in both the commercial and the real world. But will her family ever get back on track and be picture perfect? Views: 386
In late Victorian England, anthropologist Sir Colin Scott Cross sets out to find the historical location of the Garden of Eden.An early short story by Charles Sheehan-Miles, author of the indie bestseller Republic: A Novel of America's Future.Zelf, a Welfing, a humanoid wolf, is lost in a hostile alternate universe: the world of 1935 London. Will she ever get home to First Den? But the unthinkable happens: she impresses on Zev the werewolf, standing in his wolf form gazing at her on the docks. This is book one in the Steam Submarine series. If you like Tolkien, CS Lewis, Fringe, Susanna Clarke's supernatural alternate histories, Naomi Novik, you will love this paranormal alternate history adventure. Download now and be captivated!Proloup: Reflexion of a WolfThere was no sound but for the steady murmuring of the drizzling rain pelting the submarine’s hull. In the shiny brass dashboard she caught a glimpse of her own reflexion. Bright golden eyes stared back at her, and in the shadow of her grey cape she glimpsed the grey and white fur on her muzzle and ears, and the wet black nose of a wolf.She bared her teeth at her own visual echo and growled a deeply satisfying growl.In this realm, she was the monster.If she was caught they would surely kill her, or even worse, in this strange world of vivisection and animal experimentation, she would end up in a laboratory somewhere, being prodded by sticks and pricked with needles and cut apart by knives, so that human scientists could see what it was that made her different from everything else.In her home, in her cubhood the monsters in the fairytales and stories were all humans: evil hunters with their guns and bombs and bad knights slashing and killing with swords and pikestaffs; crazed, savage, barbaric men.In the Red Riding Hood story in her world, the heroine was a wolf cub, and her grandmother was killed by a woodsman who lay in wait in Red Riding Hood’s bed for her to return, lying there inside her grandmother’s skin that had been flayed from the poor unfortunate old wolf matriarch. It was not a comforting story, and it did not end nicely, not in the version she knew. She did not like to think of the end of it - that one was not a story for cubs. But she had to admit that, despite its gruesomeness, there was a grain of truth in it.Hmph.In the Fallen Realms, she thought to herself, something is broken in the very fabric of the world - fruit and vegetables are no longer nutritious enough to sustain life - Zelf had almost died of malnutrition before she finally relented and ate meat, and only because she would not have been able to fulfil her mission if she had died.Hunting was not a pleasure for her; it was a sad necessity. She always killed her prey quickly and cleanly, and only took what she needed. Views: 386
