In the Matter of Nikola Tesla

A fictionalized story of a true-life genius that "reads . . . like one of John le Carr[é]'s espionage novels" (New York Journal of Books). This account of the inner life of Nikola Tesla—arguably the most influential inventor in history—is a work of speculative fiction that reveals a genius whose greatest desire was to share his inventions with the world. It offers a compelling portrait of his passionate side, especially his secret love for his muse Karina, a woman no one else can see who brings him life-altering inspirations. Tesla's love and obsession with Karina are the forces driving his work and motivating him in the face of a doubting world. Tesla maintains a loner's life while working alongside some of the greatest financial and scientific powerhouses of the age, and faces constant temptation to stray from Karina and his life's work. This portrait of a larger-than-life genius brings to light his very human...
Views: 611

The Missing Pages: The Lost Soul

It was flying. Where was it? What is it? It was just flying. Nobody knew about it. Nobody ever saw it. I just soared through the air, undetected. There were old myths about it. 'Nobody has ever seen it. It must be because the ones that have, are dead.' Everyone doubted the myths. They thought the idea was ludicrous. But I know the truth. It was just a normal evening. Until it came.It was flying. Where was it? What is it? It was just flying. Nobody knew about it. Nobody ever saw it. I just soared through the air, undetected. There were old myths about it. 'Nobody has ever seen it. It must be because the ones that have, are dead.' Everyone doubted the myths. They thought the idea was ludicrous. But I know the truth. It was just a normal evening. Until it came.Don't let the orb get you.Don't wonder into the woods at night. Don't get caught.
Views: 583

The Shooting

There has been a shooting, but the victim and the shooter says it is an accident. But Sheriff Lou Kent isn't buying their story. Yet, he can't figure out why these two friends have a conflict that involves a gunshot wound.In the small town of Moulton, Sheriff Kent was more interested in the two men who robbed the McRay Jewelry Store on Main Street until he gets a call that an ambulance was requested at Emit Allen's house. His friend Angel Thompson has shot him. Now Lou must untwist their story to find the underlying cause of their tale. Then Angel makes a mistake and everything becomes very clear to the sheriff.
Views: 514

Within the Walls of Westfield - A Diary of Madness

The contents of this transcript were discovered after clean-up operations began at the Westfield Psychiatric Hospital on 1st October 2009. Contained inside are field notes regarding the strange & abnormal progress of patient Jonathan Winterhall Gray, taken from the discovered journal of Dr Henry Renholm.Following the Era of Conflict between Homo-Sapiens and the Cyborgs they created, a tentative period of cooperation emerged. The residual population was heavily skewed to the Borg template. By 2175, the radiation threat from the dissipating ozone layer had escalated to worrying levels. The Rift Incident had to be investigated, and a rigorous selection process for the crew resulted in four Borg and two humans heading for Jupiter space. What they discovered would become known as The Jupiter Paradox. Was it a genuine paradox or merely a puzzle to which there was no acceptable solution? What would happen if they did nothing? It clearly illustrated that the Borgs and their creators would have to strengthen their alliance quickly in order to deal with the discovery, and that wasn’t going to be easy.
Views: 503

While You Slept

What would you do if you woke up in your home... but it wasn't your home at all? When a man wearing a picture mask of her daughter Maisie's face stands tauntingly in her garden, Lily Russell does the smart thing and calls the police. When she and Maisie wake up the following morning in an exact replica of their home, held captive by that same man, the police are no longer an option. Surrounded by the rooms and things that once provided comfort and now only promote fear, Lily and Maisie must fight to survive. Because when no one knows where you are, you are your only hope. Readers love R. J. Parker: 'This one kept me gripped and guessing to the end' Stephen Edger 'A deliciously twisted thriller' Michael Wood 'Woah! Once you pick it up you will NOT want to put it down!' 'So many twists and turns! This thriller has you guessing until the very last chapter'
Views: 501

I Tried to Tell You but You Wouldn't Listen

This is a short story I wrote inspired by some of the things recently going on in my life and some of my thoughts. I recently had problems opening up to anyone and the whole situation was frustrating everyone. I talked to my doctor about it and she suggested therapy. That's where the whole idea of this story came from, even though I never got therapy myself. Enjoy.This is a short story I wrote inspired by some of the things recently going on in my life and some of my thoughts as well. I recently had problems opening up to anyone and the whole situation was frustrating everyone. I talked to my doctor about it, since I didn't know who else to go to, and she suggested therapy. She said with the crazy stuff going on in the lives of today's children, it's good to talk things out. I wanted to give it a try but I never got to, sadly. But that's where I got the whole idea of writing this story came from. It's a "what if" kind of story. Just joking. Enjoy.
Views: 500

Practice to Deceive

1 New York Times bestselling author and Queen of True Crime Ann Rule delivers another gripping true-crime story; this time a shattering case of Christmastime murder off the coast of Washington State, with a shocking amount of drama, greed, sex, and scandal and no shortage of suspects. With more than 50 million copies of her thirty-four books in print, from The Stranger Beside Me, her chilling personal account of knowing Ted Bundy, to fourteen hardcover books, including Small Sacrifices; Green River, Running Red, Too Late to Say Goodbye and sixteen collections in her #1 bestselling Crime Files series, "Ann Rule is without a doubt America's best true-crime writer" (Kirkus Reviews). In Practice to Deceive, her first book-length investigative chronicle since In the Still of the Night, Rule unravels a shattering case of Christmastime murder off the coast of Washington State. presented with the clarity, authority, and emotional depth that Rule's readers expect. It's a case with enough drama, greed, sex, and scandal to be called "The Real Housewives of Whidbey Island"; but this was not reality television. This was murder: pure, cruel, ugly, and senseless. And someone had to pay the price. Nestled in Puget Sound, Whidbey Island is a gem of the Pacific Northwest. Accessible only by ferry and the soaring Deception Pass Bridge, it is known for its artistic communities and stunning natural beauty. Life there is low-key, insular, and the island's year-round residents tend to know one another's business. But when the blood-drenched body of Russel Douglas was discovered the day after Christmas in his SUV in a hidden driveway near Whidbey's most exclusive mansions, the whole island was shocked. A single bullet between his eyes was the cause of death, but no one could imagine who among them could plot such a devious, cold-blooded crime. At first, police suspected suicide, tragically common at the height of the holiday season. But when they found no gun in or near the SUV, Russel's manner of death became homicide. Like a cast of characters from a classic mystery novel, a host of Whidbey residents fell under suspicion. Brenna Douglas was Russel's estranged and soon-to-be-ex wife, who allowed him to come home for a Christmas visit with their children. The couple owned the popular Just B's salon. Brenna's good friend Peggy Sue Thomas worked there, and Brenna complained often to her that Russel was physically and emotionally abusive. Peggy Sue's own life has been one of extremes. Married three times, hers is a rags-to-riches-and-back-again tale in which she's played many roles: aircraft mechanic, basketball coach, the "drop-dead gorgeous vamp"; beauty queen as a former Ms. Washington, Las Vegas limousine driver, million-dollar horse breeder, wealthy divorcee. But in 2003, her love affair with married guitarist Jim Huden led the two Whidbey Island natives to pursue their ultimate dreams of wealth and privilege;even at the expense of human life. Unravel the tangled web woven by Russel Douglas's murder in Practice to Deceive, the newest heart pounding true-crime tour de force from Ann Rule.
Views: 491

Cold Blooded Killers

WARNING - This book is not for the feint of hearts Vicious, Ruthless Cold Blooded Killers In this riveting book, an award-winning author delves into the gritty, gruesome details of the most notorious spree killers, school shooters, and serial killers the world has ever seen. Under the umbrella of "Rampage Killer", a spree killer, mass murderer, and serial killer has usually become alienated from society and no longer feels any connection with the rest of humanity. They may feel that the world has come crashing down on them and that the only solution is death. They have been ridiculed by society, their peers, classmates, family, and their retaliation is killing...Cold Blooded Killing. Read how Edmund Kemper decapitated his mother's head, used it as a dartboard and then cut out her voice box and placed it in the garbage disposal. They will feel that their own lives are over, and aim to take as many people with them as they can. Once their killing spree is over, they most often either commit suicide, or force the police to use deadly force against them, in other words, suicide by cop. COLD BLOODED KILLERS is a set of 22 stories, ranging from kids who killed their parent(s), to rampage spree killers, school shootings and serial killers.
Views: 475

Virus in the Helix

In the not too distant future where insanity has become a plague and spirits feast on the corrupt souls of their victims few options exist but the termination of those afflicted. Renowned Professor Hauser appoints a young doctor out of med school who is thrown straight into the chaos.Lucian isn't sure what to expect when he steps over the banister separating Heaven from Earth. He opens his eyes in a new body, one with no wings, no knowledge of the future, and no special powers. All he remembers is his mission: to find a mysterious key. When he meets a human girl that he can't ignore he is forced, for the first time in eternity, to choose between duty and the pull of his heart. The future hangs on his decision, but he's fallen into a world where nothing is just what it seems.
Views: 474

Mortal Danger and Other True Cases

FROM TRUST TO TERROR... FROM SECURITY TO SURVIVAL The author of The Stranger Beside Me brings her brilliantly informed understanding of the sociopath to this riveting truecrime collection. Only Ann Rule, who unknowingly worked alongside the smart and charming Ted Bundy -- America's most notorious serial killer -- could lend her razor-sharp insight into these cases of the spouse, lover, family member, or helpful stranger who is totally trusted but whose lethally violent nature, though masterfully disguised, can and will kill. Featured here is the case of a Southern California family man who appeared to be the picture of healthy living with his expertise in naturopathic healing. Luring a beautiful flight attendant into a passionate affair, he swept her away to a secluded home on the Oregon coast where his jealous rages escalated, ultimately leading to a brutal sex attack in which she believed she would die. How this brave victim survived, never knowing her tormentor's whereabouts, and how he resurfaced, forcing a tragic end for all involved, makes this one of Ann Rule's most compelling narratives. Other cases include that of the woman who masterminded her husband's murder to gain his inheritance...the monstrous sadist whose prison release damaged a presidential candidate's campaign and ended in a bitter double tragedy in a quiet neighborhood three thousand miles away...the shocking DNA link between a cold-blooded crime and a cold case...and inside the horrific case of the man who crossed an ocean and several countries to stalk the Eurasian beauty who had fled from him in desperation. Cover Artist: Tom Hallman
Views: 431

Don't applaud. Either laugh or don't. (At the Comedy Cellar.)

What counts as funny, what as toxic, and who gets to decide? Explore the serious business of stand-up with Andrew Hankinson, author of cult classic You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat]. AMY SCHUMER. LOUIS CK. JERRY SEINFELD. CHRIS ROCK. They all worked the Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village, honing their acts, experimenting, taking risks. It was a safe space, thanks to the principles of its first owner, Manny Dworman, then his son Noam. The only threat to freedom of expression was a lack of laughs.But how did a New York taxi driver, born in Tel Aviv, create comedy's most important stage? How did he influence some of the biggest names in stand-up? What are the limits of a joke? Who decides? And why does the comedians' table matter so much?Andrew Hankinson speaks to the Cellar's owner, comedians, and audience members, using interviews, emails, podcasts, letters, text messages, and previously private documents to...
Views: 429

Without Pity: Ann Rule's Most Dangerous Killers

THEY KILL WITHOUT CONSCIENCE. ANN RULE PORTRAYS THEIR SHATTERING CRIMES WITHOUT PITY. In eight stunning Case Files volumes, from A Rose for Her Grave to the #1 blockbuster Last Dance, Last Chance, Ann Rule reigns as "America's best true-crime writer" (Kirkus Reviews). Now, she updates the most astonishing cases from that acclaimed series -- and presents shocking, all-new true-crime accounts -- in one riveting anthology. In every explosive chapter of Without Pity, Ann Rule deepens her unrelenting exploration of the evil that lies behind the perfect facades of heartless killers...and the deadly compulsions of greed and power that shatter their outward trappings of material success. They are the admired, trusted neighbor; the affable family man; the sexy, charismatic lover; the high-achieving professional. Perhaps most frightening of all is that they are heroes in their own minds. But when someone gets in the way of their deluded dreams, they are capable of deadly acts of violence with no remorse. Analyzing the true nature of the sociopathic mind in chilling detail, Ann Rule traces the murderous crimes of seemingly ordinary men -- killers who drew their unsuspecting victims into their twisted worlds with devastating consequences.
Views: 422

Everything She Ever Wanted

WAS SHE A SWEET SOUTHERN CHARMER? OR A COLD-BLOODED KILLER? For their wedding portrait, petite Pat Taylor and handsome Tom Allanson posed as Rhett and Scarlett. Both came from fine Southern families, and dreamed of the Tara-like plantation where they would grow roses, raise horses, and move in the genteel circles of Atlanta society. Less than two months later, their dream exploded in terror and murder: their beautiful home mysteriously burned to the ground and Tom was convicted of the brutal slaying of his mother and father. Pat's only brother had died in a puzzling suicide, her grandparents-in-law were poisoned with arsenic, and no one -- from her wealthy employers to her own children -- was safe when Pat Allanson didn't get her way. It took Georgia lawmen more than two decades to stop her for good -- if indeed they have. In this fascinating account, Ann Rule delivers a tour de force: a whirlwind of misguided love, denial, guilt, and passions out of control; a series of brilliantly manipulated crimes; the bizarre and horrifying tale of two families brought to ruin; and, at the center of it all, the heartless, supremely selfish sociopath whose evil hid behind soft words and gentle manners, but who destroyed -- without mercy -- those who loved her.
Views: 419

A Fever in the Heart and Other True Cases

Ann Rule's "great knack for horrific detail" (New York "Daily News" ) was briliantly displayed in "A Rose for Her Grave" and "You Belong to Me," the first two volumes of her Crime File series. Now, in "A Fever in the Heart, " she dissects a fascinating case centered around an alluring young wife and the two men desperate for her love...an explosive triangle of thwarted desire that led to obsession and murder in a small northwestern town. As the crimes that initially baffled police finally give up their shocking secrets, the story leads us to a denoument as bizarre as anything ever uncovered in the annals of true crime. Sharing other riveting cases from her personal files, Ann Rule masterfully examines the delusions of the criminal mind, the shattering passions that explode into murder, and the relentless efforts of law enforcers to ferret out the deadly truth.
Views: 415

Urchin of Atoranon

In a world that resembles our own, there are places where the other-worldly gather and build. Atoranon is such a city - founded and protected by those who are not quite human. And in that city is a small boy living a modest life as a shop keeper's helper, who finds himself meeting the most extraordinary of folk.In a world that resembles our own, there are places where the other-worldly gather and build. Atoranon is such a city - founded and protected by those who once were and yet are not quite human. Within walls that have existed for centuries, there a small boy living a modest life as a shop keeper's helper. Through his eyes, we see the wonders, and horrors, of the only home he has ever known.
Views: 409