An ancient book is opened by the eccentric Professor Lidenbrock and his life - and the life of his nephew Axel - is changed for ever. An old piece of paper has tumbled from the book, a priceless parchment that will lead them on a terrifying journey to find what lies at the centre of the Earth. A timeless adventure, brilliantly introduced by Diana Wynne Jones, one of Britain's top fantasy and sci-fi writers for children. Views: 531
The Rise of OLMAC, the fourth book in the eight-volume series Allies and Adversaries, chronicles the first conflict between OLMAC and the TELREC.Suld, owner of OLMAC, has had several thousand years to prepare for this moment, but will his ego get the better of him? Can he set aside self-doubt, and rise to be the leader OLMAC needs? And how does this conflict affect the Rell, or the sentient metaThe Rise of OLMAC, the fourth book in the eight-volume series Allies and Adversaries, chronicles the first conflict between OLMAC and the TELREC.Suld, owner of OLMAC, has had several thousand years to prepare for this moment, but will his ego get the better of him? Can he set aside self-doubt, and rise to be the leader OLMAC needs? And how does this conflict affect the Rell, or the sentient meta? Will they intervene, and change the balance of power forever?The Rise of OLMAC, book four in the series Allies and Adversaries, continues in the fifth volume, A Means to An End. Views: 531
When seventeen year old Fiona is plucked from her farm and dropped into the middle of a military training camp, expected to assume the life of a soldier with no explanation as to why, she struggles with the task. A teen science fiction and romance, Fledge is the first novel in the Fiona Frost Trilogy.Fiona draws more attention than she would like being the only female that does hard labor on Earth’s dusty, bone-dry colony, a planet called Providence. But she’s just been plucked from her family’s farm and dropped into a military camp where no girl has ever served as a soldier before. Expected to fulfill the training required of all seventeen year old males her age, Fiona is forced to rely on her format, a group of twelve teammates. With one imposing leader, an alien, some troublemakers, and a handful of misfits for mates, can she find her place? A teen science fiction and romance, Fledge is the first novel in the Fiona Frost Trilogy. Views: 531
A Burning Problem is a short satirical essay on education reformA Burning Problem is a short satirical essay on education reform.From the introduction - We have a problem in this nation. Fires in small buildings close to fire stations are being put out quickly and fires in large buildings far away from fire stations are taking longer to be put out and need more manpower. This is unacceptable. All Fires should be put out in an average amount of time with the same number of personnel."This insightful satire frames the current public school system in America as if it were a local fire department. Not only does it help to inform the reader on issues such as No Child Left Behind, it also shines a much-needed light on why the system doesn't work. Although the language could be smoother at times, the smart metaphor will have you snickering." Views: 531
Cyril Zyk must hold back naked protestors who want to bring down an entire dystopian system where people are "men-women" and nothing is ever what it seems."Cyril Zyk sat at the kitchen table in his underpants and dipped a hard bread roll into a bowl of tepid water. The bread tasted as good as it did everyday, he told himself, to avoid thinking the obvious—that not only did his mother refuse to stop writing poetry that used words like wet and enter me, but Mamica, he used her first name because the regime deemed everyone should be equal, had also become a protestor." Views: 531
You Learn. You Work. You Fight. These are the mandates young, alien best friends, Aly and Catty, must follow if they want to be of worth to their tribe. Most people in their village have an entire childhood to perfect such traits. However, time is of the essence, when a dangerous rite of passage meant to test these qualities gets boosted years ahead of schedule. Matters are made worse as the two try to prepare for the Evaluations’ arrival. Aly’s childhood is filled with dreadful school days, thanks to the peers who verbally and physically harass her since she cannot form pure energy from her hands, like everyone else. Catty also falls victim to the attacks whenever she tries to defend her friend, and learns she has no other choice but to join in on the fun if she does not want to get bullied along with her. As the Evaluations near, a strong friendship is challenged, and a bitter rivalry is spawned from it. This doesn’t take away from a real danger approaching the tribe. One has yet to be seen, and another is right underneath their noses.
*Novel contains science fiction violence and some mild language. Recommended for middle grade and up. Views: 531
When Earth finally can't supoport us all mankind has to come up with an alternate plan to ensure the survival of the species.The ships that carry the seed of humanity out into space won't always find perfect worlds, this is the story of one such discovery.A town at the center of a broken universe, Newt Run was never meant to exist; it is a town of artists, drug dealers, miners and steam. There are holes here, gaps in the fabric of things, and some of them are wide enough for people to slip through. Rumours have been spreading about disappearances in the mines, and someone has been defacing the town's walls with rings of painted blood. Strangest of all are the tales of outsiders - mysterious visitors who can only be seen by users of the drug known as powder.Newt Run is also a novel, but the world of Newt Run was much too large to fit inside a single book. These short stories, or 'modules', extend this world, probing into its deepest (and its smallest) secrets.In 'A Crack in the Wall' a crack in the wall of his apartment leads a man into nightmare. Views: 531
A tale of preteen twin boys doing what they do best, getting into mischief. While at their summer cottage on the lake they find a project that stretches their imagination. They find the boredom of their school vacation turns out to be an adventure that will get them into trouble with the usual valuable lessons of life.Through iconic and oft-reproduced works, American realist Edward Hopper (1882-1967) gained widespread recognition as the artist who gave visual form to the anonymity, isolation and (perhaps) boredom, loneliness and stagnation of twentieth century American life. This collection of short fiction takes nine Hopper canvases and imagines a narrative beyond the frame of each ‘still life’ presented therein. Just as filmmakers like Sam Mendes or Wim Wenders were energised by Hopper’s tableux to introduce temporal and spatial motion to moments frozen in time, so too will this suite of stories take the reader on a journey through the interwar and later years of Hopper’s women. Their lives anything but still, with experiences transcending the cultural and historical constraints of their all-too-human condition, these works of painterly prose invite the reader to enter and explore the worlds conjured by Hopper’s art in text. Views: 530
If Dignity (formerly Pride) and Reason could only publish their book 'The Pride Story,' God would be glorified and, incidentally, they would make buckets of money. So why is security expert Miss Obscurity sabotaging their efforts? And does Reason’s old friend Bits Bitterly really just want to help her find a path to publication, or does he have hidden motives for spending so much time with her?Sam Jackson had over a thousand acres of tobacco that brought in so much money it made him the richest farmer in a town called Painville. Sam never had to worry about money for many years, but Sam's money making machine was about to run dry. Sam's ego and money got the best of him one day. Sam was drinking with some of the local farmer's down at the local tavern. Sam pulled out his wallet and started counting thousand dollar bills on the table in front of them. The farmer's weren't impressed. If anything they were jealous and had just about all the bragging they cared to hear. The farmer's told Sam they had to get back home because it was getting late. Sam said “Go right ahead, I'll just keep counting my money."The farmer's piled into their trucks. Instead of going home like they told Sam they were, they had something else on their minds. One of the farmer's said, "I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time we teach this egotistical money hungry farmer a lesson." Everyone agreed so they headed down to the gas station and filled up their gas cans and waited until after midnight before heading back to Sam's farm to set his tobacco field on fire.Sam didn't think setting his tobacco farm on fire was very amusing. Sam snapped and he was out for blood. Views: 530
Evelyn Dae has a secret she wishes she could run away from. Evelyn Dae has a past she cannot remember. Evelyn Dae has a boy she wants to avoid, but can't resist. Who Is Evelyn Dae? Find out in this illustrated tale that mixes her diary sketchbook entries with traditional storytelling.After successfully crossing the Sahara to Khartoum, Emily is sold to Abdullah, a dodgy wheeler-dealer and slave trader. As the elevator jerks its way up to his seedy, thirteenth floor penthouse apartment she has a strong feeling of impending doom.She should have run away when she had the chance...This is a short book covering a brief, but dark period in Emily's childhood.Suitable for readers 14 years to Adult Views: 530
Insurance companies, don’t ya just love them; but when they tell you the terms you do what you have to, even if that means entering a forest out of your worst nightmaresA crashed spaceship; a dark and dangerous alien forest, filled with creatures out of nightmares: and all Jet and the crew have to do is find the hidden cargo, and get off the planet alive. Views: 530
Not All Books Were Meant To Be Checked Out…Magic scepters, enchanted wands, and poisoned darts aren’t usual implements used by librarians—unless you’re in charge of imprisoning bad wizards, renegade sorceresses and evil magicians into books. Keeping order among the enchanted community isn’t what nineteen-year-old Abi VanHaven had in mind of a career.Not All Books Were Meant To Be Checked Out…Magic scepters, enchanted wands, and poisoned darts aren’t usual implements used by librarians—unless you’re in charge of imprisoning bad wizards, renegade sorceresses and evil magicians into books that aren’t ordinary books. Keeping order among the enchanted community isn’t what nineteen-year-old Abi VanHaven had in mind of a career.Finding out your mother was a librarian isn’t earth shattering. At least that’s what Abi thought. Everything changed when Abi received a letter from her mother that died before she had any memory of her. What was to end with her mother has now spilled into Abi’s life.Now hunted by Victoria-a once librarian turned evil sorceress, Abi must find and secure a powerful scepter her mother took from Victoria. Abi isn’t alone on her quest. With the help of two eccentric witches, a drop-dead-gorgeous siren, a misunderstood gnome and the guardians—an organization devoted to protecting libraries that hold incarcerated criminals, Abi finds herself between good and evil and also the blurred edges between friendship and love. Views: 530
Razza Ma'Razza is the biggest media star in the galaxy; loved and adored by billions. Yet, she can't help believing that her talk show host rival, Brock Caster, is somehow always one-upping her. So, after "The Caster" brings his new pet onto his talk show, Razza is bound and determined to outdo her ratings nemesis. The results are not quite what anyone expects.166 is a dark, horrific short story about the 7/7 London bombings- from the perspective of the home ground terrorist Germaine Lindsay. The student written story displays a deep, realistic portrayal of a man's last thoughts before stealing the lives of countless people. Views: 530
