From the author of 'A Clockwork Orange'
"Who, I ask you, wants to drag his bones out of the earth, reclothed in flesh, which, in some foul magic of reversal, is regurgitated by the worms, in order that his eyes may see God? Who, I ask you, wants to live forever?"
Sadoc, son of Azor, a retired shipping clerk lying diseased and dying on the outreaches of the Roman Empire, sets down for future generations a tale of epic proportions: he is charged with recounting no less an event than the birth of Christianity. And what an account it is - the story of a religion of love, born into the cruelties of the kingdom of the wicked.
'The Kingdom of the Wicked' is one of Anthony Burgess' most ambitious novels. Its ancient setting, recreated in vivid and meticulous detail, is rendered new in this stunning account of the Roman Empire and its clashes with Christianity. Views: 445
Thomas Keneally, of Irish extraction, was brought up in Australia and still lives in Sydney. His novels include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Confederates, which first led him to study nineteenth century American history. Schindler's Ark was later turne Views: 444
A richly imagined new novel from the author of the New York Times bestseller, People of the Book.
Once again, Geraldine Brooks takes a remarkable shard of history and brings it to vivid life. In 1665, a young man from Martha's Vineyard became the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. Upon this slender factual scaffold, Brooks has created a luminous tale of love and faith, magic and adventure.
The narrator of Caleb's Crossing is Bethia Mayfield, growing up in the tiny settlement of Great Harbor amid a small band of pioneers and Puritans. Restless and curious, she yearns after an education that is closed to her by her sex. As often as she can, she slips away to explore the island's glistening beaches and observe its native Wampanoag inhabitants. At twelve, she encounters Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the two forge a tentative secret friendship that draws each into the alien world of the other. Bethia's minister father tries to convert the Wampanoag, awakening the wrath of the tribe's shaman, against whose magic he must test his own beliefs. One of his projects becomes the education of Caleb, and a year later, Caleb is in Cambridge, studying Latin and Greek among the colonial elite. There, Bethia finds herself reluctantly indentured as a housekeeper and can closely observe Caleb's crossing of cultures.
Like Brooks's beloved narrator Anna in Year of Wonders, Bethia proves an emotionally irresistible guide to the wilds of Martha's Vineyard and the intimate spaces of the human heart. Evocative and utterly absorbing, Caleb's Crossing further establishes Brooks's place as one of our most acclaimed novelists.
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The war of words between right and left collapsed into a shooting war, and raged between the high-technology weapons on each side, devastating cities and overrunning the countryside.
At the close of Empire, political scientist and government adviser Averell Torrent had maneuvered himself into the presidency of the United States. And now that he has complete power at home, he plans to expand American imperial power around the world.
Opportunity comes quickly. There's a deadly new plague in Africa, and it is devastating the countryside and cities. President Torrent declares American solidarity with the victims, but places all of Africa in quarantine until a vaccine is found or the disease burns itself out. And he sends Captain Bartholomew Coleman, Cole to his friends, to run the relief operations and protect the American scientists working on identifying the virus. If Cole and his team can avoid dying of the plague, or being cut down by the weapons of fearful African nations, they might do some good. Or they might be out of the way for good. Views: 442
He's having a hard time managing on his own... so how did asking his neighbor for a favor get so complicated?Being unexpectedly tasked with caring for his adorable ten-month-old niece is more than Detective Joel Wolfsley can handle. He's on sick leave with one leg in a cast after a drug dealer mowed him down with a car. But Joel's a sucker for his sister—all four of his sisters—and the munchkin's mom needs his help. Thing is, Joel needs help, too. Isn't that what next door neighbors are for?One look at the tough-talking "Big Bad Wolf" cradling a baby in his arms and kennel owner Willa Darling knows he's all bark, no bite. Joel might need assistance chasing after his niece, but he's completely capable otherwise, and a family man at heart. Which means that in spite of the tension that simmers between them while caring for the infant, Willa will have to let him go.How can she do anything else when he's not the family man she'd thought? Views: 442
Crusader, Arranged marriage, kidnapping, religious conflict, knighthood Views: 441
Considered one of the most promising science fiction writers, Cory Doctorow\'s name is already mentioned with such SF greats as J.G. Ballard, Michael Moorcock, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. He was awarded the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Science Fiction Writer at the 2000 Hugo Awards. Cory\'s singular tales push the boundaries of the genre, exploring pop culture, trash, nerd pride, and the nexus of technology and social change. His work is a roadmap to the possible futures that may arise in our lifetimes. Additional stories include "Craphound", "All Day Sucker", "Shadow of the Mothaship", "The Superman and the Bugout", "Home Again, Home Again", and "Return to the Pleasure Island". Views: 441
You move into the most boring street in the most boring town in Australia. Tarrawagga is a hole. Its only ambition is to be a crater, and it has every chance of getting there.
The last thing you expect is to have action all around you, dangerous strangers in the backyard, and bullets flying past your ears.
At your new school, everyone thinks you're the biggest loser in Grade 6. Little do they know. When they realise the truth, teachers and students alike are in for the shock of their life.
Funny, gripping and full of surprises, The Year My Life Broke could be the most real book your read this year.
WARNING: This book is not a fantasy. It contains no superheroes, wizards, dragons, time-travel, aliens or magic. Views: 440
Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress (full title: The Fortunate Mistress: Or, A History of the Life and Vast Variety of Fortunes of Mademoiselle de Beleau, Afterwards Called the Countess de Wintselsheim, in Germany, Being the Person known by the Name of the Lady Roxana, in the Time of King Charles II) is a 1724 novel by Daniel Defoe. Born in France, from which her parents fled because of religious persecution, Roxana grew to adolescence in England. At the age of fifteen, she married a handsome but conceited man. After eight years of marriage, during which time her husband went through all of their money, Roxana is left penniless with five children. She appeals for aid to her husband’s relatives, all of whom refuse her except one old aunt, who is in no position to help her materially. Amy, Roxana’s maid, refuses to leave her mistress although she receives no wages for her work. Another poor old woman whom Roxana had aided during her former prosperity adds her efforts to those of the old aunt and Amy. These good people manage to extract money from the relatives of the children’s father, and all five of the little ones are given over to the care of the poor old woman. The Fortunate Mistress (Parts 1 and 2) - or a History of the Life of Mademoiselle de Beleau Known by the Name of the Lady Roxana is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Daniel Defoe is in the English language Views: 440
(Short story) When Deidre finds herself unemployed, she eagerly accepts an interview for a housekeeping position. She’s in for a surprise. Not only is her prospective boss a vampire, but he's also cranky, still ardently votes for Eisenhower and gets dangerous when his prune juice runs low. Can Deidre make it as a vampire's housekeeper? First, she’ll have to survive the interview!And you thought your boss was cold! At the age of 24, Deidre finds herself unemployed with few job skills and a growing pile of overdue bills. When a perky career counselor suggests an open housekeeping position, Deidre knows this could be her only chance for a decent job.She doesn't bother asking many questions...like what the career counselor meant when she said the employer had certain "peculiarities".Deidre is in for a very unpleasant surprise. Not only is her prospective boss a vampire, but he's also cranky, adamantly prefers the telegraph over the telephone and gets dangerous when his prune juice isn't delivered on time. Oh, and he also has a strong fondness for another kind of liquid refreshment, one that he prefers warm and fresh.In this hilarious and satirical short story (approx. 4,300 words), author J. Bennett takes on the wildly popular vampire mythology and gives it a certain grizzled spin. As Deidre will discover, not all vampires are eternally-young , virile romantics who effortlessly keep up with the times. Some of them delight in wearing bow-ties, continue to enthusiastically vote for Eisenhower in each election, and consider the television to be witch magic.Can Deidre make it as a vampire's housekeeper? To find out, she'll first have to survive the job interview! Views: 439
Sexual slavery, black widow murderer, blindness, forced marriage, overthrow of monarchy Views: 438
Michael's morning commute was made more bearable with the purchase of his new book - a collection of short stories that allowed the reader insights into the mind of the authors. But, as Michael read, the similarities between his life and the story became clearer. Lines blurred and where fact ended and fiction started was not so certain...narratorAUSTRALIA Volume Three is a collection of more than 210 poems and short stories from more than 90 emerging and established Australian writers which were published on the narratorAUSTRALIA blog during the period 1 May to 31 October 2013. Contributors are: Alexander Gardiner, Alexander Ryan-Jones, Alexandra Plummer, Alexandra Smithers, Andris Heks, Ann Pigott, Ariette Singer, Armin Boko, Athena Zaknic, Beau Porter, Ben McCaskill, Bob Edgar, Connie Howell, Craig Stanton, Crystal Lee, David Anderson, David Jenkins, David Keegan, David Newman, DavidVee , Deborah Stanbridge, Demelza, Douglas Radcliffe, Emma Hall, Emma-Lee Scott, Esther Campion, Fayroze Lutta, Felicity Lynch, Graham Sparks, Gregory Tome, Heather Jensen, Henry Johnston, Hettie Ashwin, Sammy , Irene Assumpter, Irina Dimitric, James Craib, Jane Russell, Jean Bundesen, Jennie Cumming, Jenny Kathopoulis, Jessica Soul, JH Mancy, JL Warren, Joanna Rain, Joemass, John Arvan, John Ross, Jordan Black, Judith Bruton, Judith La Porte, Julie Martin, Ken Ward, Kerry Karamaroudis, Kylie Abecca, Lauren David, Leonie Bingham, Fantail, Lynn Nickols, Marilyn Linn, Mark Fowler, Mark Govier, Mary Krone, Michele Fermanis-Winward, Mitchell Walker, Mubarak Hameed, Evelyn MD, Paul Humphreys, Peter Goodwin, Rachel Branscombe, RL, Robert Murphy, Robertas, Robyn Chaffey, Ruchi Khare, Ruth Withers, Sallie Ramsay, Sarah Baker, Sarah Clay, Shane Smithers, Shannon Todd, Shirley Burgess, Stephanie Adamopoulos, Subroto Pant, Susan Kay, Thomas Gibbs, Virginia Gow, Vita Monica, Wendy Vitols, Whitney McIntosh and Winsome Smith. Views: 438
Roberto Saviano returns to the streets of Naples and the boy bosses who run them in Savage Kiss, the hotly anticipated follow-up to The Piranhas, the bestselling novel and major motion pictureNicolas Fiorilla and his gang of children—his paranza—control the squares of Forcella after their rapid rise to power. But it isn't easy being at the top.Now that the Piranhas have power in the city, Nicolas must undermine the old families of the Camorra and remain united among themselves. Every paranzino has his own vendettas and dreams to pursue—dreams that might go beyond the laws of the gang. A new war may be about to break out in this city of cutthroat bargaining, ruthless betrayal, and brutal revenge. Saviano continues the story of the disillusioned boys of Forcella, the paranzini ready to give and receive kisses that leave a taste of blood. Saviano's Gomorrah was a worldwide sensation, and The... Views: 438
Abducted from her West African village at the age of eleven and sold as a slave in the American South, Aminata Diallo thinks only of freedom - and of finding her way home again. After escaping the plantation, torn from her husband and child, she passes through Manhattan in the chaos of the Revolutionary War, is shipped to Nova Scotia, and then joins a group of freed slaves on a harrowing return odyssey to Africa.
Based on a true story, Lawrence Hill's epic novel spans three continents and six decades to bring to life a dark and shameful chapter in our history through the story of one brave and resourceful woman. Views: 438
