Popular books

Laura Joh Rowland

The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte

The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte

Laura Joh Rowland

The Snow Empress

Сано Исиро

Laura Joh Rowlands

Red Chrysanthemum

This story is set in Japan, 1698. Sano Ichiro may be a samurai sleuth and the shogun's trusted advisor, but his growing power at court makes him – and his family – a target for treachery. And this time gruesome discovery brings especially tough questions. Lord Mori, heir to the shogun, is found grotesquely mutilated and murdered – with Sano's pregnant wife, Reiko, lying beside him naked and covered in blood. Sano seeks the truth behind the Rashomon-like accounts of the murder, the stakes are almost unbearably high, and the only piece of evidence is a white Chrysanthemum – stained red with blood.<

Laura Resnick

The Purifying Fire

Planeswalker

Laura Restrepo

La Isla de la Pasión

<p>Ésta es la historia estremecedora y verídica de un grupo de náufragos sometidos durante nueve años a las más duras pruebas de supervivencia, entre ellas una extraña guerra a muerte en la cual nunca llegan a verle la cara a sus enemigos.</p><p>El tragicómico Ramón Arnaud, joven oficial del Ejército mexicano, acepta una misión en una isla desierta, no por casualidad llamada de la Pasión, y parte hacia allá con Alicia, su esposa adolescente, y once soldados con sus familias. Entre tanto, su país entra en el vértigo de una guerra civil, cae el gobierno que los ha enviado y nadie vuelve a acordarse de ellos ni de la isla, donde quedan librados a su muerte.</p><p>Setenta años después de ocurridos estos hechos reales pero olvidados, Laura Restrepo les rastreó la pista, entrevistando a los familiares de los sobrevivientes e investigando en los archivos de la Armada mexicana y de la norteamericana, en viejas cartas de amor, en los decires y recuerdos de los vecinos de varios pueblos de México. El resultado es esta aventura fantasmagórica, surrealista y en buena medida inútil, pero pese a todo conmovedoramente heroica.</p><p>Escrita durante los años de exilio político de la autora en México, La Isla de la Pasión que habla de lejanías y aislamiento pero también de la dulce posibilidad del regreso, aparece como una metáfora de todas las formas del exilio.</p><

Lee Ryder

Rearend raptures

TWN

Linda Robertson

Arcane Circle

Circle

<p>After facing down the forces of Fairy in mortal combat, Persephone Alcmedi still must deal with the aftermath. Not only does Seph now possess deadly secrets she must hide from the arcane and mundane world alike, but the dozens of magical creatures who've taken up residence behind her cornfield need food and shelter, and there's still her foster daughter Beverly's tenth birthday party to plan. </p><p>And that's not all. . . . Seph's boyfriend Johnny has revealed himself as the wærewolf Domn Lup, and the ruler of the wære world is en route from Romania to make sure Johnny really is the 'king' he claims to be. But Johnny's hiding a dangerous secret: his magic is locked in his mysterious tattoos. He and Seph must find a way for him to reclaim it - fast - despite those who have no intention of letting Johnny gain his full powers. Seph knows that, in the arcane world, strength is always a necessity and power must be constantly proven, but how far is she willing to go to succeed . . . and at what cost?</p><

Linda Robertson

Fatal Circle

Circle

<p>Destiny sucks. . . .</p><p>There was a time when Persephone Alcmedi her life was hard to manage, what with wondering how to make sure she took adequate care of both her grandmother and her foster daughter, Beverley, whether she'd end up in the unwanted position of high priestess of a coven, and whether her wærewolf lover, Johnny, would resist the groupies who hang around his band Lycanthropia.</p><p>But that was before the fairies started demanding that Seph's frightening, unpredictable ally - the ancient vampire Menessos - be destroyed . . . or the world will suffer. Seph and Menessos are magically bonded, but that's a secret she dares not reveal to her fellow witches lest they be forced to reject her and forbid her use of magic. And, despite the strain this casts on her relationship with Johnny, as a showdown with the fairies nears, she and Menessos badly need the wærewolves as allies.</p><p>Life, death, and love are all on the line, but when destiny is calling, it doesn't help to turn away. With the individual threads of their fates twisted inextricably together, can Seph, Johnny, and Menessos keep the world safe from fairy vengeance?</p><

Linda Robertson

Hallowed Circle

Circle

<p>Persephone Alcmedi has been persuaded to compete for the position of High Priestess of the Cleveland, Ohio, coven — now that the former priestess, Vivian Diamond, has strangely gone missing. Unfortunately, there are a few small problems with the idea. Not only does Seph know rather more about Vivian's disappearance than the other witches realize, but the epic struggle she's just survived has left her with some highly unusual powers — ones that could be dangerous to reveal. Despite her reluctance, she agrees to participate, if only to prevent snooty Hunter Hopewell, an obnoxious but talented witch, from ending up in the winner's circle.</p><p>Can Seph hide her secrets — including her connection to the master vampire-wizard Menessos — from the terrifyingly wise judges? Plus, there's her rock 'n' roll werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, and some angry fairies to deal with….</p><

Linda Robertson

Shattered Circle

Circle

<p>After her werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, tried to kill her, Persephone Alcmedi finds herself in the comforting arms of powerful vampire Menessos. She's trying to sort out her feelings for the two men, but not even Seph is above the confusion of tangled emotions. All Johnny wants to do is mend their relationship and reveal the life-altering news he's recently received, but his new responsibilities as the werewolf king take up most of his time. </p><p>Does this mean Menessos can finally make his move? </p><p>Meanwhile, unknown to Seph, her beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact and making dubious friends on the other side. When Beverley disappears, Seph must seek help from a supernatural being so potent that even Menessos fears him...and such aid always comes with a very steep price. </p><

Linda Robertson

Wicked Circle

Circle

<p>Is a little time alone with the man you love too much to ask?</p><p>Well, it may be — when you're Persephone Alcmedi, Lustrata of the witches, and your lover is Domn Lup of the wærewolves. For once, however, the disturbance is not Seph's foster daughter, Beverly, her wacky grandmother, or her newly rediscovered mother. This time, it's the ancient and incredibly sexy vampire Menessos, bearing bad news: because the vampire council fears he is plotting a power grab, Menessos is being hunted by a trio of truth-seeking vampire sisters so dangerous they are usually kept locked in stone.</p><p>His dreams imperiled, Menessos needs Seph more than ever . . . and she needs him. Now, Seph has magical promises to fulfill for the wæres, multiple mundane family challenges to meet, vampire politics to confront . . . and into the bargain she's balancing two sexy supernatural males. It's enough to drive any woman insane, especially when you throw in a dragon and — even worse — a government investigator. As danger threatens, Seph isn't sure she can stay alive for the rest of the day . . . let alone long enough to accomplish all that needs to be done.</p><

Lobsang Rampa

El Tercer Ojo

<p>Hay controversia, mucha controversia. Este libro la creó en su tiempo. Publicado en 1956 fue el inicio de la filosofia budista en occidente, la gente fue atraida inmesamente por el tema, por la filosofia, por la religión, en fin, por la cultura budista. Este libro fue teóricamente escrito por un monje tibetano llamado Tuesday -o Martes- Lobsang Rampa aunque al parecer el verdadero autor del libro fue un fontanero irlandés, llamado Cyril Henry Hoskins con conocimientos sobre el mundo tibetano y el budismo. Pero como es esto posible? No era este acaso un relato sobre la vida de un monje tibetano? Pues sí, pero es que resulta que el monje tibetano, cansado ya de sus sufrimientos durante la invasión comunista China al Tibet decidió hacer una transmutación y su alma terminó en el cuerpo de este simpático hombre irlandés, al menos eso es lo que cuenta Lobsang Rampa y en otro libro llamado "Historia de Rampa", este libro fue publicado poco despues de que una revista pillara la falsedad de Lobsang. No todo el mundo está tan seguro de ello,y mucha gente no puede afirmar con seguridad que haya sido este hombre irlandés el autor del libro, aunque tampoco hay ningún dato que afirme la veracidad del personaje -real o ficticio- llamado Tuesday Lobsang Rampa.</p><p>Pero claro, algunos se preguntarán ¿qué tiene de malo que un hombre irlandés escriba un libro con un pseudónimo? ¿acaso algún libro dice en algún momento "esta historia es falsa, no me crean"? No es acaso esa la maravilla de la literatura? La capacidad de crear mundos paralelos, con personajes ficticios donde uno se vea identificado o tocado. Pero el problema es este, en el prólogo del libro Lobsang dice claramente esto: "Me aseguran que algunas de mis afirmaciones es muy posible que no sean creídas. (…) el Tíbet es un país desconocido para el resto del mundo. Del hombre que escribió, refiriéndose a otro país, que "la gente navegaba por el mar en tortugas", se rió todo el mundo. Y lo mismo le sucedió al que afirmó haber visto unos peces que eran “fósiles vivos". Sin embargo, es innegable que estos últimos han sido descubiertos recientemente y que llevaron a los Estados Unidos un ejemplar para ser estudiado allí. Nadie creyó a los hombres. Pero llegó el momento en que se demostró que habían dicho la verdad. Esto me ocurrirá a mí." en la que, como se puede ver, reconoce explícitamente que lo que dice en el libro es cierto.</p><p>Henry o Lobsang, murió en el año 81 no sin antes haber predecido, en su testamento que el comunismo invadirá Europa, que USA y Reino Unido se fusionarán, que Brasil, Francia y Rusia se unirán para aplastar Alemania, que América del Norte sufrirá grandes desvastaciones, y que el año dos mil presenciará serias rivalidades entre las ramas rusa y china del comunismo que darán lugar en el año 2004 a una guerra espacial terrible entre ambas potencias. Es probable que todos sus avisos se muestren tan errados como los referentes al comunismo. Pero en todo caso remata anunciando que en el 2008 vendrán del espacio otros humanos de los que nacerá una sola raza fusionada, la 'Bronceada' y una Edad de Oro, una era nueva en la que renacerá la esperanza y las aspiraciones espirituales. Algo, que en el año 2005, se ha demostrado bastante, bastante, alejado de la realidad.</p><p>En fin, fuera de todas estas polémicas sobre el autor, este libro es un relato delicioso -aunque talvez algo monótono- de la vida de un hombre, que cuenta su historia desde el profundo dolor que provoca el exilio. El relato pasa por varios años de su vida, desde la niñez hasta cuando tiene que irse a la China. Es lujoso a la hora de dar detalles sobre la vida del Tibet, aunque bajo mi punto de vista, desvaria demasiado cuando habla, sin lugar a duda, de OVNIS, Jetis y demás criaturas extrañas de las que no se puede verificar su existencia y eso que hoy han pasado cási 50 años desde que se escribió este libro. Pero dejando a parte esos pequeños detalles fantásticos tiene otros detalles llenos de ternura, amor, compasión y te proporciona un razonable acercamiento a lo que es la religión tibetana.</p><p>Sin duda es un gran libro, si ignoras el asunto del autor y el de los OVNIS, jetis y compañia, para empezar a descubrir al Tibet y sus costumbres, que fueron, y son, vilmente oprimidas por la China ¿comunista? el día de hoy, llegando al extremo de secuestrar a un niño de seis años para así evitar posibles "revueltas".</p><

Ludlum- Robert

The Icarus Agenda

Luis Miguel Rocha

Papal decree

Luís Miguel Rocha

The Holy Bullet

<p>A fast-paced thriller about the conspiracy surrounding the 1981 attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II, from the author of the international bestseller The Last Pope</p><p>An international journalist, a war-weary Portuguese veteran, a Muslim with visions of the Virgin MAry, a rogue priest, and members of the world's most pwoerful-and secretive-organizations come together after the suspicous death of Pope John Paul I. A few operatives bold enough to penetrate the Vatican's shadowy inner circle will investigate what went wrong-and try to prevent the popular new pope from meeting the same fate.</p><p>In London, journalist Sarah Monteiro is again drawn into the web of international conspiracy, and must reunite-reluctantly-with the mysterious priest/assassin Rafael, and the sinister mastermind known only as JC. Sarah's and Rafael's commitment to truth and justice could prove to be extremely dangerous, for thema nd for John Paul II, especially if they discover the true power behind the papal throne. Author Bio:Luis Miguel Rocha was born in Oporto, Portugal, and worked for many years in London as a television writer and producer.</p><

Luis Miguel Rocha

The Holy assassin

Luis Miguel Rocha

The Last Pope

<p>Already an international bestseller, The Last Pope is a terrific, fast-paced thriller about the conspiracy surrounding the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I.</p><p>1978, Vatican City: On September 29, the world awakens to news of the shocking, sudden death of Pope John Paul I, elected only thirty-three days earlier. The Vatican 's official response: His Holiness died of unknown causes, 'possibly associated with a heart attack.' The pope's body is embalmed within twenty-four hours, preventing any possibility of an autopsy.</p><p>2006, London: Journalist Sarah Monteiro returns from vacation to find a mysterious envelope stuffed in her mailbox. Inside is a list of unfamiliar names and a coded message.</p><p>At first, Sarah is merely puzzled by the strange delivery. But when a masked intruder breaks into her home, she knows that the list has put her in danger.</p><p>Drawn into a vortex of double crosses and terror, Sarah soon learns that the contents of the envelope hold the key to unveiling corruption beyond anything she has investigated – a plot that implicates not only unscrupulous mercenaries and crooked politicians but also princes of the Church, and perhaps even her own father. Indeed, the appearance of the envelope signals a moment of truth that brings to light a number of long-unanswered questions: What really happened during the brief reign of John Paul I? Whose plans were cut short that fatal night in September 1978? And who really benefited from the pope's sudden demise?</p><

Luke Rheinhart

The Diceman

Lynda S Robinson

Drinker Of Blood

Lord Meren

Lynda S Robinson

Eater of souls

Lord Meren

Lynda S Robinson

Heretic's dagger

Lynda S Robinson

Murder at the Feast of Rejoicing

Lord Meren

Lynda S Robinson

Murder at the God's Gate

Lord Meren

Lynda S Robinson

Murder in the Place of Anubis

Lord Meren

Lynn Richards

Sex by the Numbers

M Rohde

ContactPoisonous Plants of the World

Many plants are highly poisonous when ingested, this is common knowledge. It is remarkable, however, that simply touching certain plants can also be a serious health hazard. Stinging Nettles are rather harmless in this respect, but there are much more dangerous contact-poisonous plants in many parts of the world, especially in the tropics. They can cause severe pain, rashes, blisters or leave scars. Some trees are reported to be so powerful that even raindrops falling from them can irritate the skin. Other plant species can cause blindness through the smoke of burning wood or from rubbing the eyes after touching the leaves. This document gives a concise overview of those contact-poisonous plants that may be of interest for travellers. The first part briefly introduces the active principles, effects, treatment and geographical distribution. The second part lists about 35 important plant species and describes them in detail. Information about this interesting subject is usually scattered across many different sources, like scientific works about dermatology or botany, regional field guides, travel literature, or magazines. The rare scientific literature on the subject usually lists thousands of plant species and describes in medical detail the effects on workers who were exposed to the same species for years. Only a small number of those plants is dangerous after an occasional contact, however, which means that information relevant for travellers is hidden amid lots of other data. Available information has been selected and densified to be presented here. Latest update: 2 October 2006. <

M P Rawinis

Miłość i wróżby

Dramatyczne okoliczności zmuszają kowala Jurę do porzucenia rodzinnego domu. Z zawiniątkiem na ramieniu wyrusza w świat w poszukiwaniu lepszego miejsca na ziemi. Zmęczony długą wędrówką zasypia i wtedy zostaje obrabowany przez grasującego w okolicy zbója Maramę. Kiedy oddaliwszy się na bezpieczną odległość Marama ogląda swój łup, jego zdumienie nie ma granic: z zawiniątka wpatruje się w niego dwoje zapłakanych dziecięcych oczu – jedno niebieskie, drugie brązowe… Ufny we własną siłę i spryt rzezimieszek nie może wiedzieć, że właśnie spotkał swoje przeznaczenie…<

Mack Reynolds

Ability Quotient

An elite soldier is asked to take part in problem researching sophisticated physical and mental testing, and to take university coursework as their computers direct. He finds out that more is going on than this, the creation of a mental and physical elite, going way beyond supergenius IQ into physical abilities and even immortality.<

Mack Reynolds

After Utopia

It is the far future. Earth is a beautifully planned, efficiently run and happily united. But still it is a world with problems—people have become so lazy, so self-satisfied, that human progress has all but ceased. Addicts of the newly-developed “programmed dreams” are increasing at an enormous rate. Only a few individuals realize that the human race is destroying itself. This book is about what those few people do.<

Mack Reynolds

Amazon Planet

United Planets

Mack Reynolds

Blackman' Burden

North Africa

<p>In his “North Africa” trilogy Mack Reynolds argues that a future African continent abandoned by the rest of the world might achieve prosperity if it were unified and brought under the control of a benevolent dictator—here, African-American sociologist Homer Crawford, who under the name of El Hassan strives for “the uniting and modernization of the continent of my racial heritage.”</p><p>Serialized in magazine Dec 1961–Jan 1962, but was not published in book form until 1972.</p><

Mack Reynolds

Border, Breed Nor Birth

North Africa

<p>El Hassan, would-be tyrant of all North Africa, was on the run. His followers at this point numbered six, one of whom was a wisp of a twenty-four year old girl. Arrayed against him and his dream, he knew, was the combined power of the world in the form of the Reunited Nations, and, in addition, such individual powers as the United States of the Americas, the Soviet Complex, Common Europe, the French Community, the British Commonwealth and the Arab Union, working both together and unilaterally...</p><p>A novel of colonialism set in North Africa, continuation of “Blackman’s Burden”. First serialized in Analog magazine in Jul–Aug 1962; published in book form in 1972.</p><

Mack Reynolds

Brain World

United Planets

Milk run. That’s what they told Ronny Bronston this job would be. “Just like a vacation,” his boss had said. All he and the giant Dorn Horsten would have to do is visit the planet Einstein and see if there was any reason not to admit them to United Planets. The planet was a paradise, where the people had bred themselves for intelligence and beauty, where everyone was completely free. Free, sometimes, to get into more trouble than they could handle. Only Ronny could get them out of that trouble; and that’s how he wound up on the Dawnworld, in a gladiator’s arena!<

Mack Reynolds

Code Duello

United Planets

Mack Reynolds

Computer War

The odds were right for victory. The problem with computer warfare is that the computer is always logical while the human enemy is not—or doesn’t have to be. And that’s what the Betastani enemy were doing—nothing that the Alphaland computers said they would. Those treacherous foemen were avoiding logic and using such unheard-of devices as surprise and sabotage, treason and trickery. They even had Alphaland’s Deputy of Information believing Betastani propaganda without even realizing it. Of course he still thought he was being loyal to Alphaland, because he thought that one and one must logically add up to two. And that kind of thinking could make him the biggest traitor of them all.<

Mack Reynolds

Dawnman Planet

United Planets

Mack Reynolds

Day After Tomorrow

The time is the future. The government is a corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy, mainly concerned with protecting the profits of large corporations. The Movement is a new and non-violent revolutionary group seeking to replace the political mess with a just and scientifically efficient socioeconomic system. The Movement was staffed by some of the world’s greatest intellectuals and scientists; unfortunately, they were amateurs in the business of revolution. The government could call on an army of ruthless professional agents--and they had no scruples about violence.<

Mack Reynolds

Earth Unaware

<p>His words alone could change the world—his words alone DID change the world. Was it mass hypnosis, a hex, or THE POWER?</p><p>First published as .</p><

Mack Reynolds

Ed egli maledisse lo scandalo

Definire insolito un romanzo di fantascienza, e raccomandarlo come tale ai lettori, può sembrare il colmo dell’ingenuità e del semplicismo. Eppure è proprio quest’aggettivo, insolito, che conviene prima di ogni altro al lungo e straordinario romanzo che presentiamo in questo numero di Natale: insolito per l’intreccio, d’una semplicità, e nello stesso tempo d’una sapienza unica nel dosaggio e nella progressione dei colpi di scena; insolito per l’acutezza dell’osservazione psicologica, superiore non solo a quella della fantascienza media, ma perfino a quella di uno specialista del «mordente» come Sheckley; insolito per la raffinatezza della scrittura, e per l’incredibile spigliatezza con cui affronta le situazioni «sociologiche» più sbalorditive, traendone effetti di un irresistibile realismo; insolito per un umorismo che, senza nuocere alla drammaticità della narrazione, arriva facilmente e senza parere, a vette di alta letteratura; insolito infine e soprattutto, per una carica fantastica che lo qualifica senz’altro, a nostro avviso, come il più nutrito e divertente di tutti i romanzi americani di fantascienza e non di fantascienza, tradotti in Italia quest’anno. Siamo doppiamente lieti, perciò, di poterlo presentare ai nostri Lettori col nostro «Buon Natale».<

Mack Reynolds

Equality: In the Year 2000

Julian West

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