In the four decades since his first book appeared in print, Terry Pratchett has become one of the world's best-selling and best-loved authors. Here for the first time are his short stories and other short form fiction collected into one volume. A Blink of the Screen charts the course of Pratchett's long writing career: from his schooldays through to his first writing job on the Bucks Free Press,; to the origins of his debut novel, The Carpet People; and on again to the dizzy mastery of the phenomenally successful Discworld series. Here are characters both familiar and yet to be discovered; abandoned worlds and others still expanding; adventure, chickens, death, disco and, actually, some quite disturbing ideas about Christmas,all of it shot through with his inimitable brand of humour. With an introduction by Booker Prize-winning author A.S. Byatt, illustrations by the late Josh Kirby and drawings by the author himself, this is a book to treasure. Views: 63
An effective, sophisticated and accurate piece of timeless narrative, a testimony of the individual truth that is always ingrained within the actual and social facts of history.
Between the last days of the "Geniul din Carpati," or Nicolae Ceausescu, and the years immediately following his famous execution by firing squad that was shown live on TV (25 December 1998), Romania fell into the uncertainty of a revolution that was never implemented in practice. Reflecting a society split between the desire for freedom and the latent immobility of an entire generation born of the backwardness of the Ceauseschian regime, is Nicu, a teacher living in Bucharest. Within the short span of a few months, Nicu finds himself unemployed and has to face the hardships of a job that is no longer there, money that is scarce, and food that is lacking. Mihail, a preadolescent boy of the underground, lives with his friend Barbie within the sewer system that cuts across the city. Always populated by a young humanity, the sewers of Bucharest form a jungle where the law of the strongest prevails, where one gets high sniffing Aurolac from plastic bags and in order to eat one prostitutes oneself in exchange for a handful of dollars. One day, on the snow-covered meadows of the Tineretului Park, that green space of Bucharest and the invisible wall of partition separating the good neighborhoods from the periphery, Nicu’s and Mihail’s stories cross. Views: 63
Since defeating a nasty dragon and becoming a knight, Digory has been quite happy living at Widget Castle, where he spends lots of time with his best friend, Princess Enid, playing the lute and writing beautiful songs.Unfortunately, King Widget's gone missing and Digory must be the one to find him. Full of jousting matches, fire-breathing baby dragons, a feisty princess, and a mysterious wizard, readers will love this delightful sequel to Digory the Dragon Slayer. Views: 63
Jessie Starkling is worried when no one turns up to her family's circus by the sea. But when lovable spotted pony Comet comes ashore, Jessie's seaside summer looks like it might turn out to be a real splash! Views: 63
** Molly's special Christmas wish looks like it could come true when fluffy white kitten Flame comes to visit…
and…
when Storm, a gorgeous Labrador puppy, magically appears on her family cruise, Robyn's sea-sickness disappears. They befriend Krista and a truly amazing adventure begins…Age Level: 7 and up 128 pgs Views: 63
Zoe is not happy that her mom has sent her away to spend the summer at her grandma's house—she wanted to spend it horseback-riding at home. But when magic calico-colored kitten Flame appears in the orchard behind the house, Zoe's summer begins to gallop by. Views: 63
Professional psychic Abby Cooper has invested in a fixer-upper, hoping to make a killing in the real estate market. But a killing of another kind puts her plans awry, as the ghost of a murdered woman and some troublesome poltergeists lead her into a mystery that stretches all the way back to World War II. Views: 63
Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets...and secrets hide in every shadow.Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother's trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he's a street lord and con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn't have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems. Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless Mafia donna. As Enne... Views: 63
Friends ABE and Pru race to stop the chain of events foretold in Norse myth to lead to Ragnarok—the war that ends the world. It's been a year since friends ABE and Pru joined Mister Fox's Fantasy Investigation Bureau to save their hometown from an invasion of Viking gods and giants. Life has been incredibly ordinary ever since. Then the Norse Allfather, Odin, appears with terrible news: Baldur, his favorite son, has been murdered—the first step in a fated chain of events that leads to Ragnarok.Over the Underworld, the second book in the Unbelievable FIB series, takes ABE and Pru on a thrilling new adventure. They outrun trolls, explore Asgard and the Viking underworld, and try to outsmart the Queen of the Dead herself to save the world—and survive seventh grade. Views: 63
