Et vous, quel est le truc le plus idiot que vous ayez fait de votre vie ? Comme tout le monde, Julie a fait beaucoup de trucs stupides. Elle pourrait raconter la fois ou elle a enfilé un pull en dévalant des escaliers, celle ou elle a tenté de réparer une prise électrique en tenant les fils entre ses dents, ou encore son obsession pour le nouveau voisin qu'elle n'a pourtant jamais vu — obsession qui lui a valu de se coincer la main dans sa boîte aux lettres en espionnant un mystérieux courrier… Mais tout cela n'est rien, absolument rien, à côté des choses insensées qu'elle va tenter pour approcher cet homme dont elle veut désormais percer le secret. Poussée par une inventivité débridée, à la fois intriguée et attirée par cet inconnu à côté duquel elle vit mais dont elle ignore tout, Julie va prendre des risques toujours plus délirants, jusqu'à pouvoir enfin trouver la réponse à cette question qui révèle tellement : pour qui avons-nous fait le truc le plus idiot de notre vie ? Avec cette première comédie, Gilles Legardinier — déjà remarqué pour ses deux thrillers L'Exil des Anges et Nous étions les hommes — révèle une nouvelle facette d'une imagination qui n'a pas fini de surprendre. Drôle, percutant, terriblement touchant, son nouveau roman confirme ce que tous ceux qui ont lu un de ses livres savent déjà : Gilles a le don de raconter des histoires originales qui nous entraînent ailleurs tout en faisant résonner notre nature la plus intime. Voici un livre qui fait du bien !

Pour nous, une seule histoire existait : celle de l'humanité. Mais il y a eu LA rencontre. Et eux, les chats, ont changé à jamais notre destinée. Bernard Werber est un des romanciers les plus lus en France, traduit dans le monde entier, notamment en Russie et en Corée du Sud, où il est un véritable auteur-culte, vendu à plusieurs millions d’exemplaires. A Montmartre vivent deux chats extraordinaires. Bastet, la narratrice qui souhaite mieux communiquer et comprendre les humains. Pythagore, chat de laboratoire qui a au sommet de son crâne une prise USB qui lui permet de se brancher sur Internet. Les deux chats vont se rencontrer, se comprendre s’aimer alors qu’autour d’eux le monde des humains ne cesse de se compliquer. A la violence des hommes Bastet veut opposer la spiritualité des chats. Mais pour Pythagore il est peut être déjà trop tard et les chats doivent se préparer à prendre la relève de la civilisation humaine

Те, кто нас читают, будут удивлены. Потому что это фанфик. Самый натуральный фанфик, сама до сих пор не верю, что это написала. Фанфик к Petshop of Horrors, замечательной манге, в которую я влюбилась раз и навсегда

Über dieses Buch: Das Frankenreich, Ende des 8. Jahrhunderts. Im Auftrag Karls des Großen bereisen zwei Männer das Land, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein können: Der Adlige Odo ist tapfer bis zur Tollkühnheit und stets bereit, sich von den Reizen der Damenwelt den Kopf verdrehen zu lassen; Lupus hingegen ist ein Mönch und hochgebildeter Rechtsgelehrter, auch wenn er nie etwas gegen einen weiteren Krug Bier einzuwenden hat. Ihre Mission: Für Recht und Ordnung sorgen. So auch, als der Dichter Siegram angeklagt wird, eine junge Edeldame ermordet zu haben. Alle Indizien sprechen gegen ihn – bis zu dem Moment, als ein unerwarteter Zeuge hoch zu Ross in die Gerichtsverhandlung sprengt … „Ein buntes, spannendes Bild aus frühmittelalterlicher Zeit – und zwei Detektive, die mit Humor und Spürsinn selbst die dunkelsten Fälle lösen. Wer meint, nur die Angelsachsen verstünden es, aufregende Thriller aus mittelalterlichen Tagen in Szene zu setzen, der wird durch Robert Gordian eines Besseren belehrt. Er stellt den Mönchen, weisen Frauen und königlichen Beamten aus England Detektive aus deutschen Landen entgegen, sprich Kommissare Karls des Großen, die ihren englischen Vettern in nichts nachstehen.“ Margarete von Schwarzkopf im Norddeutschen Rundfunk Der Autor: Robert Gordian, geboren 1938 in Oebisfelde, studierte Journalistik und Geschichte und arbeitete als Fernsehredakteur, Theaterdramaturg, Hörspiel- und TV-Autor, vorwiegend mit historischen Themen. Seit den neunziger Jahren verfasst er historische Romane und Erzählungen. Robert Gordian lebt in Eichwalde, einem Vorort Berlins. Bei dotbooks erschienen seine historischen Romane rund um Odo und Lupus, die Kommissare Karls des Großen: Demetrias Rache Saxnot stirbt nie Pater Diabolus Die Witwe Pilger und Mörder Tödliche Brautnacht

Which Greek god makes the best parent? Would you want to be one of Artemis' Hunters? Why do so many monsters go into retail? Spend a little more time in Percy Jackson's world--a place where the gods bike among us, monsters man snack bars, and each of us has the potential to become a hero. Find out: *Why Dionysus might actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have *How to recognize a monster when you see one *Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myth can still help us deal with the scary things in our own lives Plus, consult our glossary of people, places, and things from Greek myth: how Medusa got her snake hair extensions, why Chiron isn't into partying and paintball like the rest of his centaur family, and the whole story on Percy's mythical namesake

Inez Victor knows that the major casualty of the political life is memory. But the people around Inez have made careers out of losing track. Her senator husband wants to forget the failure of his last bid for the presidency. Her husband's handler would like the press to forget that Inez's father is a murderer. And, in 1975, the year in which much of this bitterly funny novel is set, America is doing its best to lose track of its one-time client, the lethally hemorrhaging republic of South Vietnam.As conceived by Joan Didion, these personages and events constitute the terminal fallout of democracy, a fallout that also includes fact-finding junkets, senatorial groupies, the international arms market, and the Orwellian newspeak of the political class. Moving deftly from Honolulu to Jakarta, between romance, farce, and tragedy, Democracy is a tour de force from a writer who can dissect an entire society with a single phrase

The Empire — a tyranny stretching over thousands of worlds, run by the corrupt and evil Thousand Families. Freedom, justice and liberty are a joke. Resistance is futile. From the formerly independent worlds crushed by the Empire, to the slaves and workers bred for their role, to the personnel of the Imperial Navy itself, rebellion seethes, but freedom seems a dream… The Rebel — Colin Harper, betrayed by a superior officer, assigned to a useless backwater and forced to become compliant in terrible crimes, has a plan. He and his fellows will seize their ships and provide a focus for a galaxy seething with helpless rage under the Empire’s rule… [I wrote this complete series some years ago and (after getting feedback) revised book one. These are the original three volumes of the series. I wanted to write a series looking at a rebellion, those who might have reason to resist the rebels — and what happens after the rebels win… Did I succeed? You tell me.]

Book II of Democracy’s Right. The rebels have won a great victory, shattering the Empire’s grip on Sector 117. Starships are mutinying, the Empire’s power and authority are crumbling and the rebels are making their way towards Earth. Their victory seems inevitable. But, as news of the rebellion finally reaches Earth, the Thousand Families start preparing for all-out war. The Empire has a war leader, a colossal advantage in firepower and the determination to do whatever it takes to destroy the rebels before they can win. As both sides rush towards a titanic confrontation, they know that whoever wins will inherit the Empire. But, with humanity’s mighty civilisation threatening to collapse, they may only inherit a desert called peace. [As always, my eBooks are DRM-free. You can do anything you like with them that you can do with a normal paperback book. Download a large sample from my website (www.chrishanger.net) before you buy.]

The Empire — a tyranny stretching over thousands of worlds. The grand dreams of the founders are a joke. The Thousand Families, the rulers of the Empire, care nothing for anything, save their own power. From the undercity of Earth to the new colonies at the Rim, discontent, anger and rebellion seethe, but there is no hope of breaking the power of the Empire and freeing the trillions of enslaved humans and aliens. The Rebel — Commander Colin Walker believed in the Empire, until a treacherous superior officer betrayed him, forcing him to see the true nature of the force he served and his compliancy in terrible crimes. Now, Colin has a plan; he and his followers in the Imperial Navy will seize their ships and rebel against the Thousand Families, uniting the thousands of rebel factions under his leadership. Their war will set the galaxy on fire…

Fire! It's all around me, fierce, intense, out of control. I feel the hair on my arms singe and know I have only seconds before I burst into flames. Total panic. There's a horrible shrieking sound, piercing and destructive. My eardrums and eyeballs should burst. "It's hell!" I moan. One boy's life ripped to shreds before his eyes… One wrathful demon master hell-bent on revenge… An army of grisly Demonata on the rampage… It's the end of the world as we know it

Jack Winter's deadly past has come back to haunt him...and his only hope lies in the shadows of Black London, the supernatural underworld teeming with dark magic and fey glamour. Thirteen years ago, Jack Winter lay dying in a graveyard. Jack called upon a demon and traded his soul for his life. and now the demon is back to collect its due. But Jack has finally found something to live for. Her name is Pete Caldecott, and because of her, Jack's not going to Hell without a fight. Pete doesn't know about Jack's bargain, but she does know that something bigger and far more dangerous than Jack's demon is growing in the Black. Old gods are stirring and spirits are rising—and Jack doesn't stand a chance of stopping them without Pete's help

From Publishers Weekly The central theme running through this collection of stories (many of which seem to be primarily nonfiction with elements of fiction thrown in) by the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the struggle to come to terms with the legacy of the 1960s. Kesey draws largely on his own experiences after returning to his Oregon farm following a brief stint in prison on drug charges. A series of tales, apparently sections from a novel in progress, star an alter-ego named Devlin Deboree: his relatively tranquil post-jail farm existence is disturbed both by memories of now-dead companions and the seemingly extinct passions of the '60s, and by burned-out refugees from that era who intermittently arrive on his doorstep, hoping for some sort of help from the most famous survivor of the psychedelic wars. Pieces on visiting Egypt and covering a Chinese marathon examine the complex relationship between Americans and people from other cultures. Kesey's distinctive gift with language and tough sense of humor unify this somewhat disorganized collection, and his elegy for the passing of the mad energy of the '60s will strike a responsive chord with all those who lived through those dangerous, liberating years. 30,000 first printing; BOMC and QPBC alternates. From Library Journal Kesey fans have waited long for his latest offering, a collection of experiences, stories, and poetry. Most of the tales concern the life and times of "Devlin E. Deboree," a counterculture author who serves time in Mexico on a narcotics charge and later returns to his family farm in Oregon. Though he gives himself an alias, Kesey usually identifies his friends, including Jack Kerouac, Larry McMurtry, Hunter Thompson, and a Rolling Stone reporter who accompanies him to the great pyramids. The collection fluctuates in mood, ranging from warm "farm" pieces such as "Abdul Ebenezer" (concerning a bull and a cow) to pieces dealing with loss of friends and a common cause that reflect a nostalgia for the Sixties. These more personal pieces, especially the title essay, are particularly strong. Susan Avallone, "Library Journal" *** "Here's good news for pundits and pranksters everywhere: Ken Kesey can still write… Those metaphoric tales illuminate our lives and make us laugh and cry." – San Francisco Chronicle Ken Kesey: legendary writer, counterculture folk hero – chief trickster of the sixties' tuned-in, turned-on generation. Now, kesey comes to terms with his own legend, as he reveals his fascinating passage from the psychedelic sixties to the contradictory eighties. Assuming the guise of Devlin Deboree (pronounced debris), Kesey begins with his release from prison and his return to an unusual domestic life; recounts various foreign excursions (to Egypt to visit the Sphinx, and to China to cover the Bejing Marathon); relates lively stories of farm and family and, in the voice of his grandmother, a tall tale and a narrative prayer. Most poignantly, Kesey looks at the hard lessons to be found in the deaths of Neal Cassady and John Lennon. As always, Kesey challenges public and private demons with sure, subtle strokes – and with the brave and deceptive embrace of the wrestler. "In these forceful, engaging, sometimes touching pieces, Kesey shows that he remains a concerned, sometimes vitrolic, but ultimately responsible observer of American society and and the human condition." – The Philidelphia Inquirer

A Demon…Not Just In Bed — Practical Josephine 'Jo' Burke has no patience for the paranormal — even if she's been having some strange visions lately. But if she is losing her mind, at least it would explain her new attraction to her co-worker, the least suitable man she could ever fall for…Maksim Kostova has no idea why he's so drawn to feisty mortal Jo, but he does know how she feels about the supernatural. Forget about her accepting him for what he really is, she'd never even believe him in the first place. Or would she? When Jo confesses to him that she's been seeing visions of a dead girl, it seems anything's possible…

The earth is ravaged by catastrophic climactic changes. Society is marked by a resurgence of tribalism. The world's economies, civilizations, and even the laws of nature are on the brink of collapse. Introducing Sister Chantal Juillerat, papal agent extraordinary. Her nubile, cat-suited form belies the lethal assassin concealed within. And now the beautiful cyber-exorcist faces her greatest challenge, from within his frotress-temple, the immortal Nguyen Seth plots the apocalyptic climax to a conspiracy older than the human race

From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this scorching tale of a demon outcast poisoned with vampire blood and the vulnerable young witch he vows to protect — even from himself. A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . . Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard. A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . . Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving. TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . . In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Seattle police detective Joanne Walker started the year mostly dead, and she's ending it trying not to be consumed by evil. Literally. She's proven she can handle the gods and the walking dead. But a cannibalistic serial killer? That's more than even she bargained for. What's worse, the brutal demon can only be tracked one way. If Joanne is to stop its campaign of terror, she'll have to hunt it where it lives: the Lower World, a shamanistic plane of magic and spirits. Trouble is, Joanne's skills are no match for the dangers she's about to face—and her on-the-job training could prove fatal to the people she's sworn to protect

Po długich wędrówkach Heike Lind z Ludzi Lodu przybywa do Norwegii, aby odebrać swój spadek. Wszyscy członkowie rodziny pomarli, a majątki przejęli pozbawieni skrupułów oszuści. Heike musi je odzyskać za wszelką cenę, bowiem w Grastensholm ukryty jest magiczny skarb Ludzi Lodu… Sprawy przybiorę pomyślny obrót, dopiero gdy spotka tajemniczą istotę, która jak cień pojawia się w okolicznych lasach…

Though nobody at her high school knows it, Jessica is a published author. Her vampire novel, Tiger, Tiger, has just come out under the pen name Ash Night. Now two new students have just arrived in Ramsa, and both want Jessica’s attention. She has no patience with overly friendly Caryn, but she’s instantly drawn to Alex, a self-assured, mysterious boy who seems surprisingly familiar. If Jessica didn’t know better, she’d think Aubrey, the alluring villain from her novel had just sprung to life. That’s impossible, of course; Aubrey is a figment of her imagination. Or is he?

Hanging out with demons can be hell.... It's been three months since psychologist Megan Chase made the stunning discovery that the world is filled with demons, and once more the situation is too hot to handle. Ironically, Megan — the only person in the world without a little personal demon sitting on her shoulder — has become the leader of a demon "family," but now some unknown arcane power is offing her demons in a particularly unpleasant fashion. And while her demon lover Greyson Dante is still driving her wild with desire, he's also acting strangely evasive. Then there's the truth about Megan's past — the truth she's never known. Caught between personal problems and personal demons, Megan is having one hell of a hard time. Will the help of her Cockney guard demons and her witch friend Tera be enough so that Megan can finally resolve the past, survive the present, and face the future?

In this third of an exciting series of riotous adventure fantasies, Toby Longdirk, bastard son of a Scottish lass and English invaders, must battle everything from kings possessed by demons to the attentions of seductive locals.Second in Command to the Flamboyant, Autocratic, and more-than-slightly-mad Don Ramon, the swash-buckling Toby Longdirk has — by luck and fate — been successful in defeating the forces of King Nevil of England at the Battle of Trent. Since this is the first military defeat of the demon king's forces, Toby's reputation is made as a commander. Reputation means nothing, however, when local politics rears its ugly head. King Nevil (a.k.a. "The Fiend" because his body is possessed by a demon) soon recovers from this loss and begins an invasion of Italy, but when Toby is engaged to handle the defense of Florence, protracted negotiations over the terms of service cause massive delays in his preparations. As if that weren't enough, Toby's trusted aide is off mooning after an English princess, his wizard is killed in an ill-fated adventure, and the seductive sister of a local power is after Toby, and she just won't take no for an answer. With The Fiend bearing down on the city gates with vengeance on his mind and a horde of fearsome soldiers at his command, can Toby pluck victory out of certain defeat?

In this stunning and sexy addition to the world of the Guardians, a man seeks revenge against the half-demon he once loved... Nicholas St. Croix is familiar with the evil of demons. After his father's death, he was raised by the demon who had taken over his mother's body. Six years ago, his "mother" was responsible for the disappearance of the woman he loved, and Nicholas swore he'd find her--even if he had to go to Hell and back. Except she finds him first--and with one tormented kiss, he knows that she, too, is a demon. Now he is determined to take his revenge. Ash is a half-demon with no memory of her past or how she got to Hell. All she knows is that Nicholas St. Croix holds the key to her identity. And though he's clearly drawn to her, Nicholas makes no secret of his distrust of her. Yet one kiss at a time, he breaks down her defenses as they battle an array of demons and Guardians. But is Ash's greatest enemy the man at her side?

Tamlin, Demon Nocy, wysłannik Tengela Złego, szpiegował Ludzi Lodu, nawiedzał ich w koszmarach sennych, wypytywał o plany na przyszłość. Ale Tamlin nie przewidział niezwykłych zdolności młodziutkiej Vanji z Ludzi Lodu. Bo choć Demon Nocy pozostawał niewidzialny dla wszystkich innych, Vanja zobaczyła go, a nawet pokochała…

After years underground Doctor Owen Orient returns to confront a global conspiracy fueled by two massively powerful occult artifacts: The Spear of Destiny, a mystical weapon of dictators from Charlemagne to Hitler, and the Grimoire of Honorious, the handwritten book of ancient spells compile by the most evil practitioner of the dark arts in history, Pope Honorious III. Doctor Orient, physician and psychic, and Moe Klein, FBI art expert are drawn into a bloody storm of serial murder and kidnapping that sweeps them from Manhattan to Marrakech -- to a Nazi enclave deep in the Amazon jungle where Josef Mengele, Martin Bormann and Aribert Heim (Doctor Death) continue their inhuman experiments seeking immortality -- and the spawning of a New Reich whose temple will be the Vatican itself

Psychologist and psychic Megan Chase has grown remarkably comfortable hanging out with demons. The demon family she leads is happy, her solo practice is stabilizing, and she and her steamy demon lover, Greyson Dante, are closer than ever. But when the couple books a week at a luxury hotel to attend a meeting of demon leaders, some unanticipated problems appear. An FBI agent with an unhealthy interest in less-than-legitimate demon business practices shows up; the demon community is urging Megan to undergo the rite that will make her a real demon; and a slightly shady minister is holding one of his wildly popular "weekend exorcisms" just down the road. And oh, yes, someone with scary magical abilities is attempting to kill her. Then, just when it seems as if things couldn't possibly get any worse, a secret comes to light that could jeopardize Megan and Greyson's future — if Megan manages to live that long. With things heating up, it's becoming difficult for her to keep a cool head…

In the privacy of her own home, and against her will, Susan Harris will experience an inconceivable act of terror. She will become the object of the ultimate computer’s consuming obsession: to learn everything there is to know about human flesh

Adams (a joint pseudonym for C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp) delivers a satisfying third Celia Graves adventure to follow 2010's Blood Song and Siren Song. Bodyguard by profession, vampire by accident, and siren by heritage, Celia leads a life of excitement and turmoil, struggling to control her bloodlust and dark impulses even as she discovers new abilities. Her attempts to maintain a normal existence are stymied by anti-vampire prejudice, a death curse, and a demonic invasion that could destroy the world. Her only hope lies in finding a set of long-lost artifacts, deciphering the prophecies of a deceased friend, and persuading quarrelsome allies to work together. This series just keeps getting better, maintaining a delicate balance between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The emotional components are just as strong as the action sequences, set against an increasingly interesting world. Review "Urban fantasy gets a noteworthy talent boost as Adams—C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp—launches a vibrant new series featuring an indomitable and likeable heroine.  As Celia's world darkens and intensifies, witty dialogue and introspection keep the story flowing. Grab some snacks and settle in for a wild ride!"--RT Book Reviews on Blood Song "Adams and Clamp are adept at writing intensely sensuous scenes, but where they really shine is in the creation of an unforgettable world. Laurel K. Hamilton readers will enjoy this."--Booklist on Moon’s Web _“Action-packed and sexy, a tense and thrilling joyride. Will have readers holding their breath from the first page to the very last.”--Yasmine Galernorn, New York Times bestselling author “_Cold Moon Rising_ [has] plenty of action, a wealth of detail, and supernatural features that are just plain cool. In fact, I'm a little envious. I wish I'd thought of some of this stuff."--Jim Butcher, New York Times bestselling author

In the lands of a fanciful Renaissance Europe, the king is a hunted outlaw. Meanwhile, a young man with dreams of becoming a prizefighter has his plans waylaid when he's placed under a spell giving him demonic powers-or are they the powers of the king? An exciting heroic fantasy in the spirit of Robin Hood

"A huge, jagged patchof light forms at the foot of my bed. Then a shape presses through. I'm too horrified to scream. It's a monster from my very worst nightmare - pale red skin; dark red eyes; no nose; and sharp, grey teeth. As it leans further forward I see a hole in the left side of its chest, and inside - dozens of tiny, hissing snakes. The monster frowns andstretches a hand towards me!" When Kernel Fleck's brother is stolen by demons, he must enter their universe in search of him. It is a place of magic, chaos and incredible danger. Kernel has three aims: learn to use magic, find his brother,and stay alive. But a heartless demon awaits him, and death has been foretold!

Leo Bailey may have been born to poverty, but ruthless business sense and sparkling intelligence have made money worries a thing of his past. It doesn't hurt that the Devil himself has granted Leo the ability to read the future. But even infallible predictions are a declasse commoner's trick to some members of the ton. They'll never see Leo as their equal - one good reason to prove himself their better. And a noble marriage is an obvious start. Bookish Anne Hartfield, daughter of a baron, is hardly the flashiest miss on the marriage market. But her thoughtful reserve complements Leo's brash boldness in an attraction neither can deny. A whirlwind courtship sweeps Anne and Leo into a smoldering marriage before either can believe their luck. But happiness built on Leo's dark powers can't last. Soon, Anne will have to save her husband...or lose her heart

Usually, Maron is the hunter—a demon sent to earth to imprison evil souls and hurl them into the pit. It’s a dirty, thankless job, but someone has to take out the trash. By necessity, demons need a partner to tag ’em and bag ’em. Since her partner got roped into a Demon Triad, though, she’s stuck with just the tagging part until her boss sends reinforcements. Her backup turns out to be the last two men she wants to see. Two bonded demons who’ve been trying to seduce her into a Triad for months. Sure, the Triad’s sexual bonds generate phenomenal soul-trapping power. Give up her independence? Never. Still, it’s quite a thrill to be the hunted, for a change. Since a night of debauchery in which the three of them experienced a level of power that’s nothing short of explosive, Raum and Kobal have been maneuvering to complicate her eternity…and make her like it. She thinks she’s the most relentless demon hunter around? She ain’t seen nothin’ yet. They’re determined to claim her heart and body…if they can cage the evil soul they’ve been sent to capture. Warning: Three demons doing very wicked things to each other. Guy on guy, guy on girl, guy on guy on girl, and any other combination they can think of. Some anal, a little flameball throwing, a few evil souls sent down to hell. All in a day’s work. Hey, they’re born to be bad…and they’re so good at it

For John, who said, “You know what this book needs? More fire. And maybe some swords.” This one time, honey, you were right Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies Never seen by waking eyes. —Lewis Carroll

According to Mayan doomsday prophecy, 12/21/12 marks the end of the world in a global cataclysm that can only be prevented by the Nightkeepers, magical warriors enlisted to fight the rise of the underworld demons. To fulfill the final prophecy the Nightkeepers must find their mates, but when Lucius and Jade are charged with rescuing the Mayan sun god, they try to ignore their growing attraction. Unless they can confront their own demons and accept that love isn't a weakness, even destiny might not be able to save them

Among the swirl of ethnic weddings at a marriage mill in Connecticut, grief-stricken employee Andrew Wakefield plans an evil revenge against his dead sister's fiancé that involves a chicken mask and human ashes. Andrew, the central character in "The Mansion on the Hill," is just one of the many offbeat and troubled characters who populate Demonology, the second short story collection by Rick Moody, the author of the acclaimed novels The Ice StormPurple America. In this brilliant, satirical collection framed by the deaths of two sisters, Moody uses his acerbic wit and perceptive eye to address our futile attempts to find meaning and catharsis in our suffering. Moody's stories navigate long, winding roads over which the author capably propels his readers toward certain intended epiphanies. In "The Carnival Tradition," he plays with the chronology of two aspiring bohemians in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1985, then brings them back to when they met as teenagers ten years earlier on Halloween. What begins as a send-up of scrambling and pretentious artists evolves into a comedy of manners about rich and awkward adolescents, finally becoming a devastating meditation on the loss of love and the death of youthful dreams. The story's maimed protagonist is left alone and isolated. Moody further displays his penchant for breaking short story conventions when he uses a newly discovered cassette collection to tell of the downward spiral of an upper-class ne'er-do-well. In "Wilkie Fahnstock: The Boxed Set," notes on the cassette tapes record the rock hits through the 1970s and '80s, as well as the young scion's inability to hold down jobs, stay out of drug rehab, stay in graduate programs, or to develop a meaningful life. In "Surplus Value Books, Catalogue #13," Moody re-creates the book list of a mentally ill man selling his library. Each title he is selling refers in some way to his obsession with a female graduate student he will never kiss. As the list goes on, the increasing book values and outrageous liner notes become a vehicle for expression of the madman's hysteria. In the title story, which ends the collection, Moody weaves a compelling ode to a sister who dies suddenly. With the orange flames of Halloween licking the edges of the story, Moody chronicles the sister's difficult but not entirely meaningless life while she takes her kids trick-or-treating. The grief of the narrator is unflinching. Moody is on firmest ground in Demonology when he takes apart life in suburban America and examines the pieces with his biting humor. His mockeries of social conventions illuminate the raw human feelings of hurt and loneliness in his characters. Demonology proves once again that Moody is a master storyteller who weaves elaborate tales, bringing readers right where the writer wants us: looking into a mirror that reflects our naked emotions

WHOSE WORLD IS THIS? He was a tall man, well-muscled and tough, with the strong intelligent face of a leader. But his mind was as blank as a newborn baby’s. The Foragers had rescued him and brought him to Archon; now the Controllers were teaching him, as they would a child, forming his mind. But one day they would send him Outside again, out of the safe runnels of Archon to face the terrors that existed in the land of the legendary Demons. Somewhere out there was the clue to his lost memory, his otherworldly past, and somewhere out there, too, was the hint of a future that could bring disaster and a hideous death

Dexter Morgan to za dnia wzorowy pracownik policyjnego laboratorium, a nocami kat, który wymierza swoją sprawiedliwość. Dwoistość jego natury jest tak zaskakująca, że nie jesteśmy już pewni, czy ten przykładny obywatel i wyrafinowany morderca to jedna osoba…