Constable Paddington has a few problems: an evil beast is killing cows on his island; the elite military team who are supposed to capture this beast are threatening to shoot the duke; and there's a horde of philosophical zombies on the loose. And that's not even mentioning the vague, ancient prophecy about the end of the world...The end of the world starts with the death of a cow…Innocent enough, right? After all, cows die every day. Usually they’re not ripped apart by razor-sharp teeth, though. And most of the time they’re not devoured – fur, bones, and all – by a mythical creature.Still, Constable James Paddington always wanted a proper case rather than the usual bickerings of the island’s backwards inhabitants. Now he has one.Two, actually. There’s also Norman Winslow, aging bachelor extraordinaire, who hasn’t been since he documented his own zombification. So, two problems.Well, three, really. There’s also that vague, ancient prophecy about the end of the world that’s due to be fulfilled… ah, this Saturday. Is it that soon already?Yeah. It’s going to be a busy week… Views: 516
Howard Pyle had many admirers among his contemporaries, including Vincent Van Gogh, who once said that Pyle’s work “struck me dumb with admiration.” Considering the famous painter was talking about artwork, the extent of Pyle’s ability and quality was clear. In addition to teaching illustration courses at Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry, Pyle put his talents to use, primarily illustrating children’s books. He is best remembered today for his work on The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, which remains in print, and he also did a four-volume set of King Arthur tales. Though he also wrote his own novels, he continued to be in popular demand for illustrations, and he was employed by periodicals like Harper’s Weekly. Views: 516
Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.
Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, This Song Will Save Your Life is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together. Views: 516
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: 515
Excerpt: ...the same height, did not need to do so." "Thank you," James said. "I understand now, and will bear it in mind. It is very interesting, and I should like, above all things, to be able to read the signs of the woods as you do." "It will come, lad. It\'s a sort of second nature. These things are gifts. The redskin thinks it just as wonderful that the white man should be able to take up a piece of paper covered with black marks, and to read off sense out of them, as you do that he should be able to read every mark and sign of the wood. He can see, as plain as if the man was still standing on it, the mark of a footprint, and can tell you if it was made by a warrior or a squaw, and how long they have passed by, and whether they were walking fast or slow; while the ordinary white man might go down on his hands and knees, and stare at the ground, and wouldn\'t be able to see the slightest sign or mark. For a white man, my eyes are good, but they are not a patch on a redskin\'s. I have lived among the woods since I was a boy; but even now, a redskin lad can pick up a trail and follow it when, look as I will, I can\'t see as a blade of grass has been bruised. No; these things is partly natur and partly practice. Practice will do a lot for a white man; but it won\'t take him up to redskin natur." Not until night had fallen did the party again launch their canoes on the lake. Then they paddled for several hours until, as James imagined, they had traversed a greater distance, by some miles, than that which they had made on the previous evening. He knew, from what he had learned during the day, that they were to land some six miles below the point where Lake George joins Lake Champlain, and where, on the opposite side, on a promontory stretching into the lake, the French were constructing their new fort. The canoes were to be carried some seven or eight miles through the wood, across the neck of land between the two lakes, and were then to be launched again on Lake... Views: 515
We are not alone in the galaxy, but soon we will be.The greatest civilizations in the Galaxy are disappearing without a trace. The future history of our Galaxy has been irrevocably changed.We are not alone in the galaxy, but soon we will be.The greatest civilizations in the Galaxy are disappearing without a trace. The future history of our Galaxy has been irrevocably changed. This is the world Xin wakes up to. Xin, an alien probe of immense power has been buried in the Earth’s crust for millions of years. Helping to release the science probe from its ancient tomb, it leads to one man's journey to the stars. This is their story. Views: 514
The triple-crown winner of mystery's most prestigious awards-the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus-Rick Riordan blasted onto the crime scene with one of its freshest and most intriguing protagonists, Tres Navarre. In Mission Road, Navarre returns in a wrenching crime drama in which he must revisit the sins of the past to catch a killer about to get away with murder. . . again. San Antonio private investigator Tres Navarre is used to working on the edge-that razor-sharp line between legal and life sentence. But this time he's stepped straight into a no-man's-land. When an old friend appears at his door spattered with blood and wanted for attempted homicide, Tres doesn't have to think twice about where his loyalty lies-or the consequences. Ralph Arguello is a criminal who put the street life behind him when he married SAPD detective Ana DeLeon. Now Ana's been gunned down and her fellow cops don't need to look far to find a prime suspect. For Ana recently reopened the most infamous cold case in SAPD history-the unsolved murder on notorious Mission Road eighteen years before that threw the San Antonio underworld into bloody chaos. Ana was about to bring charges against the suspected killer: her husband, Ralph Arguello. Tres is sure that Ralph didn't do it-and that he didn't shoot his wife. But with the police and the Mafia both out for revenge, there's no one to turn to for help. Now, armed and dangerous, the targets of a citywide manhunt, Tres and Ralph have just hours to discover what really happened on Mission Road almost two decades ago. To find the truth, they must set a collision course with the past-and with a secret that will tear their lives apart. Views: 514
G.A. Henty was a well-known prolific author of historical adventure novels. Henty\'s books are also known for being historically accurate, making them both entertaining and educational for all readers. A March on London is a historical novel that is set during the Peasants\' Revolt in England during the 14th century. Views: 514
'A foot on the neck is nine points of the law' There are many who say that the art of diplomacy is an intricate and complex dance. There are others who maintain that it's merely a matter of who carries the biggest stick. The oldest and most inscrutable (not to mention heavily fortified) empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought about by the revolutionary treatise What I did on My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes; warlords are struggling for power - and what the nation wants, to avoid terrible doom for everyone, is a wizard. Rincewind is not the Disc’s premier wizard – in fact, he can’t even spell ‘wizard’ – but no-one specified whether competence was an issue. And they do have a very big stick… Mighty Battles! Revolution! Death! War! (And his sons Terror and Panic and daughter Clancy). Views: 513
Orphaned as a baby, human-boy Mowgli is adopted by wolves, befriended by Baloo the bear, and educated in the wonders and dangers of the Indian jungle. But the adventures of The Jungle Book don’t end with the young man-cub and his unusual new family. Through tales of Kotick the White Seal, Rikki-tikki-tavi the mongoose, and others, readers learn about courage and survival, rules and order, principles and morals, coming-of-age, and the thrill of self-discovery.Rudyard Kipling’s fables reflect both his childhood in India and his vivid imagination, while exploring the relationship between civilization and the wild.AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature’s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.Revised edition: Previously published as The Jungle Book, this edition of The Jungle Book (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions. Views: 513
Second book in the middle grade dystopian fantasy series, Unwanteds.
The battle is over. The magical barrier between the dreary land of Quill and the fantastical world of Artimé is gone. Now residents of both places are free to mingle, but tensions are high. The artistic warriors of Artimé struggle to forgive those in Quill who condemned them to death, while the Quillens attempt to recover from the shock of Artime’s existence, the loss of their leader, and the total collapse of their safe, orderly world.
14-year-old Alex Stowe has recovered from his physical wounds since his death-defying role in Artime’s victory, but his confidence is shattered. He battles self-doubt after Artimé’s beloved mage, Mr. Today, makes a stunning request, which is further complicated by the mysterious arrival of two silent, orange-eyed teenagers.
Meanwhile in Quill, Aaron is devastated by his fall from grace and seething with anger toward his twin brother Alex. Spurred by rage, Aaron recruits a team of Restorers and devises a masterful plan of revenge that will return him to power… if no one gets in his way. Views: 511
Why do we read literature and how do we judge it? C.S. Lewis's classic analysis springs from the conviction that literature exists for the joy of the reader and that books should be judged by the kind of reading they invite. Crucial to his notion of judging literature is a commitment to laying aside expectations and values extraneous to the work, in order to approach it with an open mind. Views: 511
Olivia is a vegetarian. Ivy is a vampire. And they're twins?!? Ever since Olivia discovered that her long-lost twin sister, Ivy, is a vampire, she's been soaking up everything Ivy will tell her about Franklin Grove's vampire community. It's all top secret, and Olivia's sworn that she'll never tell another soul. But now, nosy tabloid reporter Serena Star is snooping around. As she gets closer and closer to the truth, it's up to Ivy and Olivia to throw her off track. This is one fangtastic news story that can't get out! Views: 511
