Lost worlds…Secret alliances…Stolen magic and the battle for all three are in the hands of fifteen-year-old Emily Moore.When fifteen-year- old Emily Moore buys a necklace at a thrift shop, she didn’t expect that purchase would land her in the middle of an ancient struggle between powers of lost civilizations. It isn’t until she saves Gabe, a fellow classmate and a boy she hardly knows, from two strangers that drifted into the small Midwest town of St. Francis, does she realizes the danger she had fallen into. This is Emily’s first encounter with the Alliances Creed, a group devoted to securing magical implements. Now, caught red-handed with a magical pendant, Emily must prove her innocence or suffer consequences of the laws of Atlantis. With Atlantis and many hidden worlds at risk, it is up to the Blackbirds-a small group of the Alliances Creed, to save magic from evil. Gabe, leader of the Blackbirds, protects Emily, who can suddenly hear silent messages sent centuries ago, only strengthens her ties to Atlantis. But how can a human girl do this? That is what the Blackbirds would like to know… Views: 374
This essay examines the roles of luck and hard work in determining lifetime earnings, and summarizes research showing that at least half of what we earn is explained by the "birth accidents" of gender, genes and parents. The implication for tax policy is that a sharply progressive income tax--a "Fortune Tax"--passes the tests for both fairness and efficiency. (18,000 words, 18 charts)Three different short stories, all with a wizard theme.Wilfred the Wizard and the Big Exam The day of Wilfred’s wizard exam has arrived but he is so nervous he pours milk on his toast, puts butter in his tea and then tea in his jam! But what about Wanda and her Witchy Warehouse? Will she spoil the day?The Olde Shoe Shoppe A shoe shop that never seems to sell any shoes? There must be a reason...when people try on the shoes, they find they don't fit. No matter what size they try. No matter how many sizes too big they try; the shoes are always the wrong size! But this is only half the reason... Peta and her Missing ParentsPeta's parents went on holiday but didn't come back! Did their plane really crash land on a very tiny desert island, somewhere in the middle of nowhere? Is it all her uncle’s fault? And what about her friend Marcie? Views: 374
Richard Booth suspects something amiss just beyond his hotel room door. Waking to the memory of a scream in the wind blown New Hampshire night, does he dare to explore the hallway? Was it just the remnants of a dream? How do you know when your imagination is getting the better of you, and when there really is something out there?Richard Booth suspects something amiss just beyond his hotel room door. Waking to the memory of a scream in the wind blown New Hampshire night, does he dare to explore the hallway? Was it just the remnants of a dream? How do you know when your imagination is getting the better of you, and when there really is something out there?"Patrick Greene's Into the Small Hours stood out to me in particular. It's not every writer than can take the mundane, something like spending the night in a hotel room, and turn it into a very spooky story that plays on the reader's fears of the unknown with so few words." From a reader review. Views: 373
When one of tong boss Snakeskin Wong's favored concubines disappears, he calls in his beloved niece, Space Marshal Daisy Wong, to track her down and return the gallivanting young woman to the bosom of his family. Views: 373
Come and take them! Book III in the Leonidas Trilogy Persia has crushed the Ionian revolt and is gathering a massive army to invade and punish mainland Greece, but in Sparta the dangers seem closer to home. The Eurypontid king Demaratus is accused of being a usurper, while the Agiad king Cleomenes is going dangerously mad. More and more Spartans turn to Leonidas, Cleomenes's half-brother and son-in-law, to provide leadership. But Leonidas is the younger of twins, and his brother Brotus has no intention of letting Leonidas lay claim to the Agiad throne without a fight. This novel follows Leonidas and Gorgo as they steer Sparta through the dangerous waters of domestic strife and external threat, working together as a team to make Sparta the best it can be. But the forces that will destroy not only Leonidas but his Sparta are already gathering -- not just in Persepolis and Sardis, but in the hubris of a rising Athens and the bigotry and xenophobia of his fellow Spartans. The murder of two Persian ambassadors by an agitated Spartan Assembly sets in train the inevitable conflict between Sparta and Persia that will take Leonidas to Thermopylae -- and into history. This is the third book in a trilogy of biographical novels about Leonidas and Gorgo. The first book, A Boy of the Agoge , described Leonidas's childhood in the Spartan public school. The second, A Peerless Peer , focused on his years as an ordinary citizen. This third book describes his rise to power, his reign, and his death. ** Views: 373
Five short stories about growing up and growing old and what happens along the way. What would you do? How would you react? Do you know enough now to make the decision? Have a read and see how you feel when you are finished. You just might be surprised.This is a tale of life inside a home computer, as seen from the viewpoint of one of its tiny components - Billy the Bit. He and the other inhabitants of the computer do the actual work of making things happen for its human user.If you have ever wanted to understand how a computer operates - without studying electronics and microcircuits - this story explains how, by telling the story of how one tiny element nearly brings the system to a halt.A painless way to learn the workings of a PC, which will enable readers to understand the basics of what is going on under the covers whilst enjoying an amusing tale. Although originally aimed at children, adult experts in the field may enjoy the author's visualisation of the functions of a computer's elements. Views: 373
How the study of ecology and evolution can fortify us against disaster and war. Views: 373
When writing poetry, I prefer rhyme - it's just the way I am. I always write what I feel inside. I suppose some would phrase it as 'coming from the heart', and I guess there is truth in that. Autumn and early winter are my favourite times of the year and there is an autumnal theme through these ten poems.To give a traditional description of my book would be the acceptable thing to do, however, I tend to do things my way every-so-often and so, in light of my excitement to share my world with you...here is what I know. According to history, mankind came across Sol-technology in the year 2035 AD. A scientist by the name of Doctor Lorenz Olivius created the first ever successful, miniature replica of the sun. The applications were, as one can imagine, limitless. Within fifteen years of its dawn, the Sol Combustion engine had allowed mankind to go beyond their limitations and finally reach for the stars. This breakthrough had then led to one hundred years of galactic searching and mapping and development. Then in 2150 AD, our ancestors left Earth in massive Starship fleets for new homes and in doing so, a new era was born; the era of, The Exodus.Now as far as I remember, Kedenians were among the first to leave for the stars. Originally, settling on Nema; a Goldilocks planet in a system five light years from Earth. But after fifty years of disputes now known as The Splinter Wars, Earthfront expelled the rogue clan, known then as, Keden Industries. Their leader, Amir Kedeni and his supporters were banished and forced to search for a non-hostile world in unknown space and it wasn’t long before they stumbled across a rich, desert planet now named Keden. Shortly after...a few decades to be precise...mankind colonized many systems in the Milky Way and large Corporations, Governments and various organizations rose to govern it all. Earthfront, the leading authority in most of our Galactic Domain, is the largest governing body in existence but even as peace reigns throughout known space, Keden, it seems, would forever be a hostile world toward them.And so here we are. The year is now 878TE and eight thousand Light-years from Earth, on the arid Planet Keden, is a wealth of untapped resources and power. But one man, with a twisted vision, sets in motion a plan that can change the fate of the Galaxy forever and caught in the crossfire, our heroes of Iron Five, Captain Richard Gant and his crew, must overcome the challenges of Love, Grief and Betrayal, and strap themselves into the cockpits of Next Generation war machines as they are thrown headlong into the heart of a conflict, the likes of which has never been recorded. I hope you enjoySincerely – Seon O. Stronghold Views: 373
Darcy's life was unlike other girls. Obsessed with the lives of killers like Charles Starkweather and Caril Fugate, she memorized their deeds and reveled in their love.She moved from town to town with her mother—a con and murderer—evading police, leaving behind a bloody trail of death and terror.But everything changed when they moved to Barlow Falls. The dead greeted them and an enigmatic man named Bobby seduced Darcy, showing her scenes of destruction and carnage.He took her away from Barlow Falls, but in time she learned he was more vicious and colder than her mother, capable of destroying entire families and persuading innocent victims to follow him on a vile, bloody path.Years later the murderous duo returns to Barlow Falls, and Darcy learns startling truths about herself, her family and the dead who haunt her. Views: 373
This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them. Views: 373
A science-fiction horror, about a survey team on a distant planet, who encounter some very startling and mysterious snow.What is happening on the previously unknown planet Wampet 6 when a space crew begins to mysteriously disappear overnight? What is the secret of the Tanglebush and the terrible all-encompassing snow.A light hearted science-fiction story, written in letters. Views: 373
A gripping story of revenge in the shadow of the Alhambra palace, in the nasrite Granada in the 14th century, about Ibn Zamrak, vizier, poet and conspirator whose poetry and ambition know no limits.Al-Andalus, Granada, 1370. The destiny of the Muslim empire in the West lies in the hands of one man: Ibn Zamrak, vizier to Muhammad V., fights day and night to maintain the balance in the fragile alliances between his Nasrid reign and the Christian kingdoms in the north and the Marinid dynasty in Africa. During long nights of vigil he writes the verses which will beautify the walls of the new palace of the Alhambra.But the shadows of the past are long and the enemies numerous. The vizier’s hands and soul are blood-stained and in the desert sand at the other side of the Mediterranean Sea lies buried a secret which can destroy him.Many miles from Granada, in the quarries of the Arabic Al-Mariyyat, in the cold dungeons of Qalat Yasub and in the harem of the Marinid gentlemen of Fez, Ahmed, Abdel and Aixa, victims of the vizier’s pursuit of power, investigate this secret, in which a family was involved a long time ago. They'r out for revenge against Ibn Zamrak, vizier, poet and conspirator whose poetry and ambition know no limits. Views: 373
This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them. Views: 373
