'General Services', a very successful company that provides various personal services such as shopping for you or walking your dogs or supplying a host for a party, but also proudly advertises that no job is too large (One ad campaign idea the staff discusses: "Want somebody murdered? Then DON'T call General Services. But for anything else, call.... It Pays!"), is asked to do the impossible: enable an interplanetary conference to be held on Earth, whose strong gravity is inhospitable to many of the native races of other planets in the solar system.
Much of the action of the story is not, as one might expect, about the science or engineering of creating an antigravity device to allow the conference to take place, but about how to persuade the world’s leading physicist to undertake the job. It turns out he is fond of a museum piece, a porcelain bowl called "The Flower of Forgetfulness," which humanizes all the participants. Views: 357
IALMOST TWINS Nobody ever spoke of old Spot\'s master as "old Johnnie Green." Yet the two—boy and dog—were almost exactly the same age. Somehow Spot grew up faster than Johnnie. He had stopped being a puppy by the time his young master learned to walk. And when Johnnie was big enough to play around the farm buildings his parents felt sure that he was safe so long as "old Spot," as they called the dog, was with him. Spot thought himself years older than the small boy; or at least he always acted so. If a goose hissed at little, toddling Johnnie Green, old Spot would drive the goose away, barking in a loud voice, "Don\'t you frighten this child!" If Johnnie went into the stable and wandered within reach of the horses\' heels Spot would take hold of his clothes and draw him gently back out of danger. And if Johnnie strayed to the duck pond the old dog wouldn\'t leave him even to chase the cat, but stayed right there by the pond, ready to pull his young charge out of the water in case he happened to fall in. Spot seemed to enjoy his task of taking care of Johnnie Green. It wasn\'t all work. A great deal of pleasure went with his duties, for Johnnie Green never wanted to do anything but play. And Spot wasn\'t so grown up that he couldn\'t enjoy a lively romp. For that matter, he never did get over his liking for boisterous fun. Still, there were some kinds of sport that he didn\'t care for. He wasn\'t fond of having such things as tin cans tied to his tail. He disliked to be harnessed to a toy wagon. He hated to have his ears pulled. Yet there was only one offense that ever made him growl. When Johnnie Green took a bone away from him Spot couldn\'t help warning him, with a deep, rumbling grumbling, that he was going too far, even between friends. But he never snapped at Johnnie. That growling was only Spot\'s way of teaching Johnnie Green manners. Fond as he was of his young master, Spot did not care to spend all his time playing childish games. There were grown-up things that he liked to do—things in which a toddler like Johnnie Green couldn\'t take part. Around the farmhouse there were always the cat to be teased and squirrels to be chased into trees. In the pasture there were woodchucks to be hunted; and even if he couldn\'t catch them it was fun to see those fat fellows tumble into their holes. Then there were the cows. Spot loved to help Farmer Green drive them home late in the afternoon. He acted very important when he went for the cows, always pretending that it was hard work, though he really thought it great sport. Sometimes when Johnnie Green wanted to play with Spot the old dog couldn\'t be found anywhere. He might be over the hill, visiting a neighbor\'s dog. He might be in the woods, looking for birds. He might even have followed a wagon to the village. As Johnnie Green grew older he roamed through the woods with Spot. And when Johnnie\'s father at last let him own a gun, old Spot was as pleased as Johnnie was. "I\'ve been waiting for this event for several years," Spot told the Muley Cow. She did not share his delight. "For pity\'s sake, keep that boy and his gun out of the pasture!" she bellowed. "It frightens me to have him come near me with his blunderbuss." Old Spot gave her a pitying look. "It\'s plain," he said, "that you don\'t come from a sporting family, as I do, or you\'d never speak in that fashion of a nice new shotgun. You know I\'m a sporting dog. I\'m a pointer. I point out the game for the hunters." The Muley Cow gave a sort of snort and tossed her head. "It\'s lucky for Johnnie Green," she sniffed, "that I\'m not a sporting cow, or he might not have any butter on his bread." IITEASING THE CAT When Miss Kitty Cat came to the farmhouse to live she soon showed old dog Spot that she could fight like a vixen. The first time he cornered her she put some scratches on his nose that he never forgot. And after that he always took great pains to keep out of reach of Miss Kitty\'s claws. Views: 356
Set in a late Victorian town, The Little Demon Who Couldn't is an exciting, magical and witty story about Murmur, a young devil who is not very good at being evil. Will the demons’ nemeses, the angels, finally triumph over him? For ages 6-12.Little Murmur is doing a poor job of being a demon. His nose is hardly hooked, his chin is round, his fingernails short and not remotely talon-like, and he is so lazy that he can barely be bothered spreading evil and mischief among man. His father is not impressed, and neither are his two older brothers. But still young Murmur prefers to spend his nights lazing in the abandoned churchyard over the wall from his back garden. After all, lying on the lid of the old mayor’s tombstone gazing up at the stars is much easier than finding humans to incite to acts of evil. And it is a deal safer too; little chance here of crossing paths with the demons’ nemesis, the angels. But the other demons are not happy. Something must be done about Murmur. He needs to be turned into a proper mean, God-mocking demon. He needs to complete Belphegor’s Idiot Management Course. The heinous Belphegor has a hard task on his hands. There is no demon more stupid, lazy or cowardly than Murmur in all of Hell. But when a magnificent great-winged angel falls from the sky and lands in the old well in Murmur’s churchyard, things take an unexpected turn. Stuck in the well, the angel is ruining the little demon’s once-peaceful retreat. To clear him out, Murmur must approach him, speak to him, look upon him… Will this be the little demon’s final downfall…? Views: 356
Ten years after Alex and Aaron Stowe brought peace to Quill and Artimé, their younger twin sisters journey beyond Artimé in the sixth novel in the New York Times bestselling sequel series to The Unwanteds, which Kirkus Reviews called "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter."As the greatest army ever assembled in the seven islands flies to the land of the dragons, everyone's mind is haunted by the same thought: Thisbe Stowe betrayed them all. Thisbe struggles to regain the trust of her brother Aaron and the people of Artimé after one crucial mistake forces her to abandon her intricate plan against the Revinir. Aaron is devastated by Thisbe's actions and refuses to hear her explanation, feeling a sense of responsibility for the wrong she's done mixed with his own deep regret and fears over his dark history. Complicating things are Thisbe's conflicted feelings about the Revinir, leaving her wondering if she allowed herself to... Views: 356
Though one of the best-known books in the world, Pinocchio at the same time remains unknown—linked in many minds to the Walt Disney movie that bears little relation to Carlo Collodi’s splendid original. That story is of course, about a puppet who, after many trails, succeeds in becoming a "real boy." Yet it is hardly a sentimental or morally improving tale. To the contrary, Pinocchio is one of the great subversives of the written page, a madcap genius hurtled along at the pleasure and mercy of his desires, a renegade who in many ways resembles his near contemporary Huck Finn.
Pinocchio the novel, no less than Pinocchio the character, is one of the great inventions of modern literature. A sublime anomaly, the book merges that traditions of the picaresque, of street theater, and of folk and fairy tales into a work that is at once adventure, satire, and a powerful enchantment that anticipates surrealism and magical realism. Throng with memorable character and composed the the fluid but inevitable logic of a dream, Pinocchio is an endlessly fascinating work that is essential equipment for life.
In this new translation by Geoffrey Brock, the prizewinning translator of Cesare Pavese, Pinocchio finally has an English rendering worthy of the inspired original. This edition features an introduction by Umberto Eco and an afterward by Rebecca West. Views: 356
Adventure and discover with the bold and intrepid Becket Branch when her family's move from city to a country farm means big changes! Everything is changing for Becket Branch. From subways to sidewalks to safety rules, Becket is a city kid born and raised. Now the Branch family is trading urban bustle for big green fields and moving to Gran's farm, where Becket has to make sense of new routines from feeding animals to baling hay. And as much as Becket loves to yell "Beautiful Alert!" there's a lot about the countryside that is just plain odd. But Becket is ready to put her own spin on country life. Whether selling her mouth-puckering lemonade, feeding hostile hens, or trying to make a best friend of her new neighbor Frieda Franca, Becket is determined to use her city smarts to get a grip on farm living. Laugh and learn with Becket as she mucks through the messy, exuberant human experience of change she didn't ask for, in a story that sparkles with... Views: 355
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: 355
Joe the Hotel Boy Or Winning out by Pluck by Jr. Horatio Alger Views: 355
While Kate and Rupert's parents are off touring the kingdom, Cousin Garil lets Rupert do anything he wants, but Kate isn't allowed to do any of the things she likes to do, which means her plans to become a scientist are hard to put into action. Yet when Rupert gets himself into a fix, Kate's love of science might be all that can save him. A short story of 5, 800 words for middle-grade readers.A tale of sisterly love and science. While Kate and Rupert's parents are off touring the kingdom, Cousin Garil is in charge. He lets Rupert do anything he wants, but Kate isn't allowed to do any of the things she likes to do: no horse riding, no playing ball with her brother, no eating competitions — and, worse of all, no more lessons with Rupert's tutor. With Cousin Garil breathing down her neck and Rupert acting more toad-like every day, Kate’s plans to become a scientist are hard to put into action. Yet when Rupert gets himself into a fix, Kate's love of science might be all that can save him. A short story of 5, 800 words for middle-grade readers. Views: 353
The Wishing-chair Again Mollie and Peter have a thrilling secret. The chair in their playroom is a magic Wishing Chair. When they sit in it and wish, it grows wings and takes them on lots of exciting adventures. Full description Views: 353
Early one May morning, Fred Symmes was sent by his mother upon an errand to the next farm. He did not go around by the road, but jumped over the stone wall, and passed along through the pleasant orchard. As he came near the pear tree, he saw a large robin flying back and forth from it, and stopping to look, soon discovered a nest in the fork formed by two of the lower limbs. Views: 352
The Dark Duke has stolen the kingdom of Belsden, and now no one is safe. He rules with an iron fist, conquering lands and oppressing people at will. The only remaining hope is Taylor James and his ragtag army.This is an adventure beyond all adventures with hilarious moments, incredible action, and unforgettable characters.The Dark Duke has stolen the kingdom of Belsden, and now no one is safe. He rules with an iron fist, conquering lands and oppressing people at will. But one thing haunts the Dark Duke: the thought of the baby king who got away. That baby’s name is Taylor James, and as he grows into a man and discovers his past, he finds himself leading a ragtag army against the Dark Duke’s powerful forces. But when the Dark Duke captures his family and his one true love, the beautiful Rosemarie, everything comes to a head.This is an adventure beyond all adventures. It is filled with hilarious moments, incredible action, and unforgettable characters. Sword fighting, monsters, brutes, epic battles, and even the world’s ugliest army can be found inside. It reads like a movie and will have you on the edge of your seat cheering. Views: 352
Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy. Views: 352
