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Raife Crenshaw is tasked with taking down the world's most powerful and brutal intellect: Cain, a lab-created monster of a man who's poised to murder tens of millions. But Raife's handlers want Cain brought back alive. Can an ingenious disguise make the difference in time, or will it be Raife's ultimate undoing?They were coming, and no one could stop them.The Yellowstone Caldera has exploded, and survivors who fled the devastation made their way east. Cities such as Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. prepared for their arrival. It meant rationing – and rational thought. People on both sides would face tests of their nerve and resilience.Only those with strong nerves would survive.Refugees, a part of David Dalglish’s 2010 anthology A Land of Ash under the author’s former pseudonym, is now complete with its original opening as well as foreword from Dalglish. Views: 542
A woman with no eyes meets a man with no body. Love and treachery ensue in this short tale of blind love and body bags.“What happened to mi casa su casa?”“Drew, mi casa es su casa, but not to go and make it look like a tornado hit the place.”“You want me to leave?”He stops scratching about and glares at Peter-John.“No one is forcing you to stay. You’re free to leave if you wish.”He looks at him.Drew can’t read him.“Fine! I’ll pack my stuff and go.”“I wish you wouldn’t.”He shakes his head.Despondence the only face he could manage.“I don’t get you, Pete?”He walks closer to the kitchen, where Peter-John is sitting.“Everyone else has told me to take a hike. I only give you problems and still you… wish… I wouldn't.”“What’s not to get, Drew?”Serious expression on Peter-John’s face.“Why are you doing this?”He starts pacing.“You’re my friend.” Views: 541
A mission to Bermuda goes terribly wrong and Sgt. McGraw finds himself with only one person left in his team: the stuffy anthropologist unsuited for fieldwork.Can they complete their mission before the greenskins get to them? Based upon the tongue-in-cheek 1950's themed boardgame (Mars vs Earth), this *short story* follows "Duke" McGraw & Dr. Bonnie Hill at the tail-end of their doomed mission.A mission to Bermuda goes terribly wrong and Sgt. McGraw finds himself with only one person left in his team: the stuffy anthropologist unsuited for field work.Can they complete their mission before the greenskins get to them? Based upon the tongue-in-cheek 1950's themed board game (Mars vs Earth), this *short story* follows "Duke" McGraw & Dr. Bonnie Hill at the tail-end of their doomed Bermuda mission to disrupt Martian communications. Views: 541
Warning: this ebook file may be malicious. Or not. "Malicious" is such a value-laden word. At least give it a chance to explain itself, and you can decide for yourself...Twenty poems by Bill Yarrow:1. Playing for Keeps2. Burying the Hatchet3. Staring at Waves4. Searching for the Word5. Looking at Waffles (8 Different Ways)6. Drinking an Orange Julius While Listening to Pink Floyd7. Crossing the Center Line 8. Getting Home Alive9. Annulling the Future10. Theorizing Salsa11. Playing Pinochle in Your Snout12. The Knitting Needle13. The Learning Curve14. The Sticking Point15. Not Drowning16. Just Foundering17. Disappearing Ink18. Ash Coming on Second Wednesday19. Here's Looking at Euclid20. Villon, Stop Following Me Around! Views: 540
It's perilous penning this blurb. It's fine when man is modest about his work. It even affords him the aura of an invisible crown!But what about his work? Were it an art or craft, it is there for all to see.What of a literary work of an unheralded author? Well, lauding the same might raise one's eyebrows. Failing to praise wouldn't make a 'jewel-less crown' either! Why not see, if this is the great Indian novel.This is the story of the rise and fall of an ambitious man, the decline, and the decay of his conniving wife, the trials, and tribulations of their wayward son as well as the grit and gall of a spirited woman, who enters into his life. This depiction of their life and times not only pictures the facets of ambition and achievement, intrigue and betrayal, compulsion and compromise, sleaze and scandal, trial and sentence, but also portrays the possibilities of repentance and resolution, love and empathy coupled with compassion and contribution, leading to the spirituality of materialism, and that makes it the saga of our times.The story of a lifetime, truly.This story is scripted inBook One, Artha and Kama,1. Party Gone Sour2. Trauma at Tihar3. Mind of the Maligned4. Twist at Tis-Hazari5. Trial in Camera6. Dilemma of Qualms7. Moment of Reckoning8. End within End9. Vestiges of Prestige10. High on Rebound11. Bellows of Delhi12. Dicing with Life13. Spidering Spadework14. Loss to Order15. Daring the Fate16. Victims of Deceit17. Baring the Soul18. Garland of Guilt.Book Two, Dharma and Moksha1. Bliss of Being2. Collage of Crime3. Domain of the Devil4. Renaissance of Life5. Sprouts of Love6. Despair of Hope7. Turn at the Bend8. Amity of Empathy9. Day to Remember10. Spirituality of Materialism11. Sense of Reincarnation12. Epilogue.Book excerpt for the feel of its literary style - Party Gone SourThat New Year's Eve, all the nouveau riche of
New Delhi
seemed to have gathered at the Misty Nest in their ubiquitous wear. While women
wore designer dresses, men turned up in safari suits. Hosting them at their
grand dwelling in the Defense Colony were the Gautams, Prabhu and Sneha. By the
time the last guest was hugged in welcome, Gautam’s silk kurta and Sneha’s mink coat were truly crumpled. Augmenting the
warmth of their bonhomie was the Glenfiddich with soda. In time, while
the lure of the Scotch drove many into the lap of Bacchus, the allure of Venus
enticed others to ogle at the desirable. But, above all, it was Gautam’s good-humored
banter and Sneha’s sensuous charm that lent aura to that midnight rendezvous.When
the New Year was an hour away in its coming, what with the inebriated becoming
tardy in their tangos, the going got really bawdy. As Sneha too got into the act,
there was a virtual riot for a round with her. When someone went overboard to
bottom pinch her, she paid back with a belly punch that regaled the gathering.As the
gigantic clock was all set to halve the night, the antique chandeliers were put
off. When the radium hands went straight up on the dial, the ribaldry reached a
new low on the floor. At that, as the Gautams goaded all to raise their hands
to fold out the year on hand, the boozers struggled to get on to their feet to
welcome the year in the offing. But, for its part, the antique piece welcomed
the incoming year with the first of its twelve chimes that reverberated in that
sprawling banquet hall.In the
prevailing darkness, the euphoria that followed led to a fresh round of
bear-hugs amongst the sexes before the stewards switched on the chandeliers as
though to let those bear witness to the goings on. As if that translucence
showed the revelers the reality of life, sanity was restored in that exuberant
setting, and soon the pangs of hunger made the gathering scamper for the buffet
of varied cuisines, brought from the capital’s five-star restaurants.When
the hosts went up to the table to pick up their plates, a steward alerted
Gautam to an urgent telephone call. Soon, seeing her man turn all pale, Sneha
made her way to him in apprehension. When Gautam made her privy to their
unfolding tragedy in an undertone, Sneha nearly swooned into his arms. The news
of Suresh Prabhu, the heir to their business empire, hauled up in the lock-up
was enough to unnerve her. That he was booked for rape and murder as well
ravaged her soul no end. In her state of shock, she was unable to comprehend
what Gautam mumbled into her ear to lift up her spirits.Having
realized that they were attracting undue attention, Gautam led his wife into
the anteroom, leaving the gathering with a free rein on the rumor mill. The
breaking news, set in motion by someone who had eavesdropped on the hosts’
conversation, gained circulation with understandable exaggeration. And there
followed an intense debate about the eventual outcome of the current indictment
that led to the Gautams’ predicament. The indignant gathering, in one tone,
roundly censured the hosts for the fall of their only offspring. For once,
everyone seemed to agree that loose morals would only bring ruin in the end,
even for the rich and famous. Of course, even the mighty of the world are bound
to fail on the false path, so emerged the consensus. Even those who professed
closeness to the Gautams maintained that they knew all along that things would
come to this pass with Suresh, sooner than later.Such
are the ways of the world that the lows of life would turn the admirers into
critics, and what is worse; make the naive speak as the know-all.Closeting
with Sneha, Gautam assured her that he would pull out all the stops to free
Suresh in no time. But Sneha was terrified that the magnitude of the indictment
might be beyond the endurance of their son. In spite of her awareness of their
political clout and the loopholes of law, her sixth sense gave a dissenting
note, making her apprehensive about the possibility of her son coming clean out
of this messy case. But as hope coupled with her confidence in her go-getter
man calmed her nerves a little, Gautam led her back into the banquet hall.When
the besieged couple resurfaced, what with everyone feigning camaraderie and
volunteering help, hypocrisy seemed to rule the roost on the human stage. As if
to show up the fallacy of human sympathy, appeared malice to induce innuendoes
about the perceived closeness of Sneha with the powers that be.'Why,
in this topsy-turvy,’ said a naughty one, ‘her leeway is bound to come in
handy, won’t it?’Not to
be left out, curiosity too entered the arena to tie the crowd to the unfolding
drama. When the hosts tried to make light of the incident as but a storm in the
teacup, the guests maintained that they would not desert the ship in the storm.
With his appeals for a premature adieu falling on deaf ears, Gautam left for
South Extension with an entrapped feeling. Thereafter, preyed upon by her
guests, Sneha remained a prisoner in her own palace. Views: 539
The 3d in a series of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules as she recounts the exploits of her and her brother, Bendigo, growing up on a farm in east Texas in the early 50's. The story sees Abbie seeking status in her father's eyes, and a pet in the form of a baby raccoon. A cow goes missing, leading to a wild cry in a tree, and Abbie finds herself in deep trouble. See what it takes to get her out!The 3d in a series of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules as she recounts the exploits of her and her brother, Bendigo, growing up on a farm in east Texas in the late 40's. A cow called Two-Banger goes missing, again, and this time it is young Abbie who is sent to retrieve her. Along the way Abbie discovers a nest of baby raccoons in a hollow tree, and unable to resist, she climbs into the tree only to find herself ensnared as the night comes on. Finally discovered by her brother, he and his father go to great and heroic lengths to free her. What would you have done? Views: 538
A man awakes from a coma with no memory and no family. With the help of his Aide, Angela, he learns to walk and talk again. But when the man discovers there are six others like him and finds himself aboard a spaceship bound for a far away planet he must slowly unravel the history of his birth and the secrets the planet itself holds.A quintessential novel of modern Los Angeles, Peeko Pacifiko is at once an outrageous romp, a survival story, a sardonic political history, and a keen literary walkabout. At once squalid and glamorous, literary and low-brow, philosophical and wanton, wickedly funny and empathetic, it is as honest as it is innovative, its own unique, hydra-headed genre. As the Nineties dwindle down, the waning days of one era and the dawn of a new one are seen through the eyes of Donovan. At loose ends, he and his wife forced by economic necessity to live apart, his is a unique passage through many a strata of Los Angeles life. Donovan and those around him may be down, but they are never more than superficially out. Peeko Pacifiko is an exuberant, episodic ride, an exploration of character, as well as of a city, rendered with playful and disarming erudition, straight razor wit, and well-observed descriptive power. Views: 531
Trapped in a place removed from time and space - the Devil's Triangle - a rag-tag group is caught in an endless battle with horrible creatures that attack relentlessly - until the creatures find a way to invade Earth. Now a race is on to use future tech to stop them from overrunning all of humanity...Being-*The People Whisper*, Founder of Falcon Blanco-A Place for friends since 1975. Inspired Writer & Poet.I am trying to be creative by doing things that make sense to me. I am relating to whatever shows up in my daily life, being convinced that this is exactly what I need to learn, to grow and to heal myself. I see difficult situations and conditions as a challenge to which I am responding the best I am capable, taking self responsibility and being aware of my reactions that are caused.I like to express myself sharing my experiences with others who might be open for it. I have found ways to deal creatively with problems that are part of our life, so that we don’t need to suffer more than necessary to be motivated to doubt our established existence and ask questions, – to find answers that can turn our life into a joyful adventure.I am always ready to help others. I never do anything out of money interests. I do what feels right and is necessary. There is abundance if one is open to receive…I have created a space on the middle of the island Ibiza, in midst of unspoiled nature with many animals and plants. There is food and living space for more than twenty people, who could live together as a group of friends, being creative, expressing themselves in artistic ways and working on themselves and also doing practical things for others and the environment.BeiYinFalconBlanco, Ibiza, Spain Views: 527
While honoring the visiting dignitaries from Tau Ceti, Sol’s Mayor, Wit Thomason, had a heart attack. He spent a good couple of minutes twitching on the floor, soiling his finest suit, right there in front of aliens, citizens, and everybody. It was only a matter of time before some gunslinger made a move to take over the job. If I wanted to save my skin, it was time for me to get out of Dodge.While honoring the visiting dignitaries from Tau Ceti, Sol’s Mayor, Wit Thomason, had a heart attack. He spent a good couple of minutes twitching on the floor, soiling his finest suit, right there in front of aliens, citizens, and everybody. It was only a matter of time before some gunslinger made a move to take over the job. And if I wanted to save my skin, it was high time for me to get out of Dodge."West of the Texas Nebula" is a space western short story by Dan Devine and Lyndon Perry. Views: 527
Gwen Ryland knows two things about the men pursuing her through the Rocky Mountains: they’re holding her brother hostage…and they won’t stop until they catch her, too. Now Gwen’s life depends on the man who once broke her friend’s heart—former army ranger Caden O’Callaghan. But can they figure out what the men want in time to save her brother…and Gwen? Views: 527
Led to her hometown by a mysterious letter, Genevieve Woodward wakes in an unfamiliar cottage with the confused owner staring down at her. The last thing Sam Turner wants is to help a woman as troubled as she is talkative, but he can't turn her away when she needs him most. Will they be able to let go of the façades and loneliness they've always clung to? Views: 525
The path to love is filled with twists and turns in these stories of entangled romance with a touch of humor from four top historical romance novelists! Includes Karen Witemeyer's The Love Knot, Mary Connealy's The Tangled Ties That Bind, Regina Jennings's Bound and Determined, and Melissa Jagears's Tied and True. Views: 523
The year is 2002 and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their infancy. The military favors policies that keep the truth under wraps. In such an atmosphere, thirty-seven year old Lieutenant Tom Hubbard is killed in action, his remains are returned to the small New England town he turned his back on years earlier. Iraq War hero, dutiful son, dedicated brother, faithful partner ... or was he?Tom Hubbard is dead. Iraq war hero, dutiful son and brother, faithful husband. Or was he? The year is 2002, and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their infancy. The military favors policies that keep the truth under wraps: The dead return to the US in secret, while gay soldiers abide by the confines of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. In such a milieu, thirty-seven-year-old Lieutenant Tom Hubbard is killed in action and his remains are returned to the small New England town he turned his back on years earlier. Along with a flood of curious townspeople, Tom Hubbard’s extended family, boyhood friends and distant lovers gather for a memorial reception hosted by Tom’s emotionally unbalanced mother and prickly sister. Set at the Hubbard’s 200-year-old farmhouse in Newbury, Massachusetts, the drama unfolds in a single afternoon directly following Tom Hubbard’s military burial. In one day, this small town family falls apart and comes back together again in unexpected ways. Long-hidden relationships surface, family secrets are uncovered and the real Tom Hubbard is revealed. New relationships are built—relationships that could not have existed before Tom Hubbard had died and his tumultuous memorial reception had shaken his family to its core. Views: 523
With five stars from Readers Favorite and Jersey Girl book reviews, along with a four and a half star average on Amazon, this is a must read. It's the story of Rey Naresh, a ninth grader who struggles through school with bullies, peer pressure, strange influences from the past, and a conspiracy at his school involving a medication that controls minds.In the city of Crastgale several murders have taken place late at night. Two nightwatchmen, an idealistic young man and a pessimistic dwarf, search through the twisting alleyways and streets of one of the busiest and mean districts in the city. As they get closer to catching the murderer they soon realize they may not be able to handle the situation on their own. Views: 522
Governesses are not supposed to fall in love. Governesses are not supposed to marry. Governesses don't always follow society's conventions.Til' All the Seas Gang Dry by Josi S. KilpackIt has been six years since Dina left London and David and whatever fantasy she had allowed to grow in the months of flirtation that had nearly overtaken them both. Now, David is getting married and he and his fiancé are guests at the home where Dina works as a governess. Convinced the connection they felt was nothing more than childhood fancy, Dina is taken by surprise to find that her feelings have not changed, and, she fears, David's have not either. Still, she is determined not to interfere with the life he has worked so hard to build … until she realizes that his fiancé is not nearly as committed to him as he is to her. No one will trust her motivations for revealing the truth, not even David, and she could ruin... Views: 522
