This is a story of the good old prewar days when dirty freighters plowed peaceful seas, and the special story of the dirtiest ship of the lot with its tatterdemalion crew. Mr. Slobodkin is that rare soul who can discover adventure in a Madison Avenue bus and humor in an attack of the mumps. He handles his own story — his first book for adults — with all the quiet aplomb of a comet or a Fourth of July sizzler. Naturally, Mr. Slobodkin's text is embellished with Mr. Slobodkin's drawings — capricious and inimitable. From the dust-jacket: "Where have you ever been, Slobodkin?" The answer was nowhere. A ship was the remedy. With the taunt ringing in his ears, Louis Slobodkin, ample-bodied seaman, with duffle — pajamas and toothbrush — in hand and a rollicking gait, shipped out for the Argentine

Дальнейшее развитие истребителей типа Fw 190 — высотные истребители

Продолжение выпуска № 80. Различные модификации A/F/G. Боевое применение

Истребитель «Фокке-Вулъф Fw 190» был одним из лучших самолетов Второй Мировой войны. Сконструированный и усовершенствованный под руководством проф. Курта Танка – некоронованного короля авиаконструкторов – он с момента своего появления и до конца войны раздвигал возможности традиционного истребителя с поршневым двигателем, заставляя конкурентов тянуться за ним изо всех сил. Выпущенный серией около 20000 штук, Fw 190 во многом определил силу и эффективность люфтваффе

In an act of breathtaking imagination, J. M. Coetzee radically reinvents the story of Robinson Crusoe. In the early eighteenth century, Susan Barton finds herself set adrift from a mutinous ship and cast ashore on a remote desert island. There she finds shelter with its only other inhabitants: a man named Cruso and his tongueless slave, Friday. In time, she builds a life for herself as Cruso’s companion and, eventually, his lover. At last they are rescued by a passing ship, but only she and Friday survive the journey back to London. Determined to have her story told, she pursues the eminent man of letters Daniel Foe in the hope that he will relate truthfully her memories to the world. But with Cruso dead, Friday incapable of speech and Foe himself intent on reshaping her narrative, Barton struggles to maintain her grip on the past, only to fall victim to the seduction and tyranny of storytelling itself. Treacherous, elegant and unexpectedly moving, Foe remains one of the most exquisitely composed of this pre-eminent author’s works

This collection of short fiction contains chilling tales of suspense and narratives that embrace southern Appalachian locales and themes: a mountain healer skirmishes with a serial killer; a reincarnated murder victim seeks revenge; and honeymooners in the groom's ancestral home are having second thoughts

Le gonzier qui passe sa vie dans ses charentaises, à concocter d'illusoires tiercés et quintés plus, ne peut pas s'imaginer tous les amphigouris de ce monde. Je te prends « la fête du banc », dans l'Utah, tu savais qu'elle existait, toi ? Moi non plus. Ben, elle existe, mon vieux, et j'ai failli m'y faire lyncher. Béru, M. Félix, le Marquis ont eu des avaries de paf si terrifiantes que leur trompes de l'émisphère sud, mondialement réputées, filaient la gerbe aux coyotes. Si t'as pas peur d'affronter le bizarre, lis ce book d'extrème urgence. Tu y rencontreras d'inoubliables personnages : Roy, dit « Petit Gibus », qui, à six ans, pilote une dépanneuse ; Ivy, la femme du pasteur qui raffole de la levrette ; Le cow-boy suisse qui tire plus vite que son ombre. Sans parler du shérif, un drôle de pourri qui m'a viandé de première ! Non, franchement, t'as pas le droit de passer à côté de cette histoire. Si tu négligeais la lecture de Foiridon à Morbac City, tout le monde se foutrait de la gueule. T'as pas besoin de ça !

Boriss Gribanovs Folkners Ievērojamu cilvēku dzīve. Krievu padomju rakstnieka (dzim. 1920. gadā) biogrāfisks romāns stāstā par ievērojamo mūsdienu amerikāņu rakstnieku Viljamu Folkneru (1897—1962), viņa dzīvi un daiļradi, analizē tās īpatnības, uzsver rakstnieka humānismu, noraidošo attieksmi pret rasismu, rasu segregāciju. Rīga «Liesma» 1931 Gribanovs B. Gr 470 Folkners / No krievu vai. tulk. V. Vikāne. —• R.: Liesma, 1981. — 341 Ipp., 16 lp. il. — (Ievērojamu cilvēku dzīve). Б. Грибанов ФОЛКНЕР Москва «Молодая гвардия» 1976 No krievu valodas tulkojusi Vanda Vikāne Mākslinieks Vasiiijs Selkova © Издательство «Молодая гвардия», 1976 г. © Tulkojums latviešu valoda, «Liesma», 1981

In which the Saint dallies with millionaires and murder, is the life ans soul of a "Tea Party", and discovers the intricacies of a double double-cross

Что вы чувствуете, когда видите фотографии друзей с интереснейших лекций, модных вечеринок или с пляжа под пальмами у голубого моря? Не кажется ли вам порой, что они живут гораздо насыщеннее, интереснее, инстаграмнее, чем вы, а вы постоянно что-то упускаете? Это ощущение называется FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) — страх упущенных возможностей. Если вы часто его испытываете, вас можно назвать представителем FOMO Sapiens. Автор этого термина Патрик Макгиннис считает, что FOMO — бич цифрового общества, который приводит к стрессу, неуверенности, зависти, даже депрессии. Он мешает карьерному успеху, побуждает делать рискованные вложения и заставляет бизнес-лидеров выбирать неверные стратегии и тратить драгоценные ресурсы. В своей книге Макгиннис предлагает действенные практические стратегии, которые помогут держать страх упущенных возможностей в узде, сохранять осознанность и делать выбор решительно и разумно, не впадая в аналитический паралич. Приведенные в книге тесты помогут вам оценить масштаб проблемы, а пошаговые стратегии — начать наконец действовать, а не бояться

Венецианское эссе Иосифа Бродского "Набережная Неисцелимых" (или "Watermark") написано автором по-английски. Джон Апдайк писал об эссе "Набережная Неисцелимых": "[Оно] восхищает тонким приемом возгонки, с помощью которого из жизненного опыта добывается драгоценный смысл. Эссе "Набережная неисцелимых" – это попытка превратить точку на глобусе в окно и мир универсальных переживаний, частный опыт хронического венецианского туриста – в кристалл, чьи грани отражали бы всю полноту жизни… Основным источником исходящего от этих граней света является чистая красота"

Les psychohistoriens ont calculé que l'empire galactique court à sa perte. Saul Dornick, jeune étudiant, Hari Seldon et quelques autres sont exilés sur une planète située à l'extrémité de la Galaxie. Les siècles passent. L'empire décline toujours. La planète où ont été exilés les psychohistoriens maintient la civilisation ; elle signe des alliances avec les mondes environnants, conclut des traités, mène une grande guerre. Des ruines de l'empire galactique s'élève un nouvel empire, la Fondation, qui maintient un noyau de civilisation

Qui est ce nouveau conquérant surnommé le Mulet ? Personne ne peut se vanter de l’avoir vu,mais personne, non plus, ne peut prétendreéchapper à son pouvoir. En cette année 12.866, il a conquis presque toutes les planètes de la Galaxie,cependant : il reste invisible. Agents secrets, savants, militaires, sont incapablesde le découvrir. Pourquoi se cache-t-il ? Le grand écrivain américain Asimov nous prouvedans le second volet de sa trilogie que,à l’aube du 14e millénaire,quand nous occuperons les 25 millions de planètesde la Galaxie, nos passions seront toujours les mêmes

Sachant l’Empire Galactique sur le point des’effondrer, le psycho-historien Hari Seldon a créédeux Fondations, l’une officielle, l’autre secrète, quimanipulent l’évolution de l’Humanité. En 498 après leur établissement,la foudre, tout à coup, menace.Quelqu’un fausse les cartes du jeu.Est-ce la Seconde Fondation,que la première croyait avoir éliminée ? Est-ce une troisième force,qui oeuvrerait dans l’ombre et dont nul ne sauraitrien ? Commence alors une course-poursuiteau terme de laquelle se cache une surprise detaille, une surprise qui a pour nom les Robots… Car Isaac Asimov, en renouant le fil de son récitavec autant de fraîcheur et de verve que s’il l’avaitabandonné hier, y introduit les thèmes majeursde ses oeuvres ultérieures pour tisser une fresqued’une ampleur incomparabledans le domaine de la science-fiction

Un impero grande come l’universo e contenente miliardi di mondi abitati; una forza politica, sociale e scientifica senza precedenti come la disciplina della psicostoria; l’enigma rappresentato dalle Fondazioni gemelle fondate da Hari Seldon per abbreviare il periodo d’interregno quando l’impero galattico fosse crollato… Sono questi, come ognuno sa, gli ingredienti fondamentali della vasta epopea futura che Asimov è venuto arricchendo negli anni, e che descrive il lontanissimo futuro dell’uomo con la stessa suspense di un thriller d’oggi. Ma con Fondazione e Terra siamo a un’importante svolta del ciclo asimoviano: il nostro pianeta entra di nuovo in gioco e sempre più chiare appaiono le mosse decisive di una partita che ha come posta le stelle

Rok 2142. Dr Vannevar Morgan, twórca Mostu Gibraltarskiego, uruchamia plany budowy wyciągu kosmicznego — gigantycznej windy do transportu ludzi i ładunków z powierzchni Ziemi na orbitę. Przedsięwzięcie ma być zrealizowane na położonej na Oceanie Indyjskim wyspie Taprobane. Jednak wybrana przez budowniczych góra okazuje się świętym miejscem, zazdrośnie strzeżonym przez tamtejszych kapłanów…

What’s worse than being fat your freshman year? Being fat your sophomore year. Life used to be so simple for Andrew Zansky—hang with the Model UN guys, avoid gym class, and eat and eat and eat. He’s used to not fitting in: into his family, his sports-crazed school, or his size 48 pants. But not anymore. Andrew just met April, the new girl at school and the instant love of his life! He wants to find a way to win her over, but how? When O. Douglas, the heartthrob quarterback and high-school legend, saves him from getting beaten up by the school bully, Andrew sees his chance to get in with the football squad. Is it possible to reinvent yourself in the middle of high school? Andrew is willing to try. But he’s going to have to make some changes. Fast. Can a funny fat kid be friends with a football superstar? Can he win over the Girl of his Dreams? Can he find a way to get his mom and dad back together? How far should you go to be the person you really want to be? Andrew is about to find out. Grade 8–10—Andy, an overweight high school sophomore, is bullied by his peers, overprotected by his mother, and ignored by his type-A, absent father. As the school year begins, his friend Eytan has plans for the pair to shine as representatives of Estonia at the model UN meetings, but Andy has his eye on new girl April. When he is recruited as center for the football team, everything changes. For the first time, he experiences parties, girls—including April—and popularity. Initially bogged down by the teen's self-deprecating comments and jokes, the plot begins to develop as Andy describes his new experiences with humor and wit. He is realistic as he shovels food into his mouth to assuage pain and embarrassment, struggles to maintain his friendship with Eytan after abandoning Estonia, and allows himself to be manipulated by teammates. But the author does not lead Andy down the expected path. When forced to make a decision, his choice is unique and the conclusion satisfying. Although these characters lack the intensity of Eric and Sarah in Chris Crutcher's Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (HarperCollins, 1993), many readers will relate to Andy, his desire to be popular, and his insecurities. The possibly offensive locker room language is typical and lends credibility. More importantly, Andy's character is thoughtful and refreshing

Frank Winter has a gift. He can soothe and handle damn near anything on four legs. Bt his future career as a racetrack equine veteranarian is destroyed with one vicious kick to the head. Now, the men who financed his education want their investment back and Frank becomes the guy to get his hands dirty when a horse in worth more dead than alive. But when a job goes bad and a horse dies on national television, Frank is taken to a rundown roadside zoo where the animals aren't just hungry. They're slowly starving. And Frank is on the menu.  After finding refuge in an isolated small town rued with near absolute power by Horace Strum, Frank sees a chance to make some quick cash. Sturm's got his problems, though. There's a tumor in his head the size of a golf ball and his thirteen-year-old son has brought nothing but embarrassment and shame to the family name.  Under a brutal summer sun, Frank organizes a series of exotic animal hunts through the ranches and backyards of Whitwood, hoping to end the animals' starvation quickly and painlessly. But he underestimates the deadness lurking under the surface of the town. Nor does he truly understand the depth of hatred in the decades old feud between Strum and the Glouck family. And he definitely doesn't anticipate falling for nineteen-year-old Annie Glouck.  While Whitewood crumbles to into a ghost town full of bones, blood, and gunpowder, vicious predators and hunters with itchy trigger fingers stalk the empty streets. It's survival of the fittest as the hunts escalate into death matches between the exotic animals and Frank must decide where he stands on the fine line between predator and prey

"This is a bawdy tale. Herein you will find gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity, as well as nontraditional grammar, split infinitives, and the odd wank… If that's the sort of thing you think you might enjoy, then you have happened upon the perfect story!" Verily speaks Christopher Moore, much beloved scrivener and peerless literary jester, who hath writteneth much that is of grand wit and belly-busting mirth, including such laurelled bestsellers of the Times of Olde Newe Yorke as Lamb, A Dirty Job, and You Suck (no offense). Now he takes on no less than the legendary Bard himself (with the utmost humility and respect) in a twisted and insanely funny tale of a moronic monarch and his deceitful daughters — a rousing story of plots, subplots, counterplots, betrayals, war, revenge, bared bosoms, unbridled lust… and a ghost (there's always a bloody ghost), as seen through the eyes of a man wearing a codpiece and bells on his head. Fool A man of infinite jest, Pocket has been Lear's cherished fool for years, from the time the king's grown daughters — selfish, scheming Goneril, sadistic (but erotic-fantasy-grade-hot) Regan, and sweet, loyal Cordelia — were mere girls. So naturally Pocket is at his brainless, elderly liege's side when Lear — at the insidious urging of Edmund, the bastard (in every way imaginable) son of the Earl of Gloucester — demands that his kids swear their undying love and devotion before a collection of assembled guests. Of course Goneril and Regan are only too happy to brownnose Dad. But Cordelia believes that her father's request is kind of… well… stupid, and her blunt honesty ends up costing her her rightful share of the kingdom and earns her a banishment to boot. Well, now the bangers and mash have really hit the fan. The whole damn country's about to go to hell in a handbasket because of a stubborn old fart's wounded pride. And the only person who can possibly make things right… is Pocket, a small and slight clown with a biting sense of humor. He's already managed to sidestep catastrophe (and the vengeful blades of many an offended nobleman) on numerous occasions, using his razor-sharp mind, rapier wit… and the equally well-honed daggers he keeps conveniently hidden behind his back. Now he's going to have to do some very fancy maneuvering — cast some spells, incite a few assassinations, start a war or two (the usual stuff) — to get Cordelia back into Daddy Lear's good graces, to derail the fiendish power plays of Cordelia's twisted sisters, to rescue his gigantic, gigantically dim, and always randy friend and apprentice fool, Drool, from repeated beatings… and to shag every lusciously shaggable wench who's amenable to shagging along the way. Pocket may be a fool… but he's definitely not an idiot

bn ,lFormer special ops pilot Maya, home from the war, sees an unthinkable image captured by her nanny cam while she is at work: her two-year-old daughter playing with Maya’s husband, Joe — who had been brutally murdered two weeks earlier. The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to? To find the answer, Maya must finally come to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past before she can face the unbelievable truth about her husband — and herself

Business has been slow for professional wizard Harry Dresden, who hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work, magical or mundane. But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise

Nearly twenty years ago, Robin Hobb burst upon the fantasy scene with the first of her acclaimed Farseer novels, *Assassin’s Apprentice,* which introduced the characters of FitzChivalry Farseer and his uncanny friend the Fool. A watershed moment in modern fantasy, this novel—and those that followed—broke exciting new ground in a beloved genre. Together with George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb helped pave the way for such talented new voices as Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson, and Naomi Novik. Over the years, Hobb’s imagination has soared throughout the mythic lands of the Six Duchies in such bestselling series as the Liveship Traders Trilogy and the Rain Wilds Chronicles. But no matter how far she roamed, her heart always remained with Fitz. And now, at last, she has come home, with an astonishing new novel that opens a dark and gripping chapter in the Farseer saga. FitzChivalry—royal bastard and former king’s assassin—has left his life of intrigue behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married to his childhood sweetheart, Molly, and leading the quiet life of a country squire. Though Fitz is haunted by the disappearance of the Fool, who did so much to shape Fitz into the man he has become, such private hurts are put aside in the business of daily life, at least until the appearance of menacing, pale-skinned strangers casts a sinister shadow over Fitz’s past . . . and his future. Now, to protect his new life, the former assassin must once again take up his old one. . . . **Praise for Robin Hobb and the Farseer Trilogy** ** ** “Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”**—George R. R. Martin ** “A gleaming debut in the crowded field of epic fantasies . . . a delightful take on the powers and politics behind the throne.”**—*Publishers Weekly****,* on* Assassin’s Apprentice* “This is the kind of book you fall into, and start reading slower as you get to the end, because you don’t want it to be over.”**—Steven Brust**, on *Assassin’s Apprentice* “[Robin] Hobb continues to revitalize a genre that often seems all too generic, making it new in ways that range from the subtle to the shocking.”**—*Locus****, *on* Royal Assassin* “[*Royal Assassin*] reaches astonishing new heights. . . . The Farseer saga is destined for greatness—a must-read for every devotee of epic fantasy.”**—*Sense of Wonder*** “An enthralling conclusion to this superb trilogy, displaying an exceptional combination of originality, magic, adventure, character, and drama.”**—*Kirkus Reviews* (starred review)**, on *Assassin’s Quest* “Superbly written, wholly satisfying, unforgettable: better than any fantasy trilogy in print—including mine!”**—Melanie Rawn**, on *Assassin’s Quest* ** ### Review **Praise for Robin Hobb and the Farseer Trilogy** ** ** “Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”**—George R. R. Martin ** “A gleaming debut in the crowded field of epic fantasies . . . a delightful take on the powers and politics behind the throne.”**—*Publishers Weekly****,* on* Assassin’s Apprentice* “This is the kind of book you fall into, and start reading slower as you get to the end, because you don’t want it to be over.”**—Steven Brust**, on *Assassin’s Apprentice* “[Robin] Hobb continues to revitalize a genre that often seems all too generic, making it new in ways that range from the subtle to the shocking.”**—*Locus****, *on* Royal Assassin* “[*Royal Assassin*] reaches astonishing new heights. . . . The Farseer saga is destined for greatness—a must-read for every devotee of epic fantasy.”**—*Sense of Wonder*** “An enthralling conclusion to this superb trilogy, displaying an exceptional combination of originality, magic, adventure, character, and drama.”**—*Kirkus Reviews* (starred review)**, on *Assassin’s Quest* “Superbly written, wholly satisfying, unforgettable: better than any fantasy trilogy in print—including mine!”**—Melanie Rawn**, on *Assassin’s Quest* ### About the Author **Robin Hobb **is the author of the Farseer Trilogy, the Liveship Traders Trilogy, the Tawny Man Trilogy, the Soldier Son Trilogy, and the Rain Wilds Chronicles. She has also written as Megan Lindholm. She is a native of Washington State

For fifteen years FitzChivalry Farseer has lived in self-imposed exile, assumed to be dead by almost all who once cared about him. But that is about to change when destiny seeks him once again. Prince Dutiful, the young heir to the Farseer throne, has vanished and FitzChivalry, possessed of magical skills both royal and profane, is the only one who can retrieve him in time for his betrothal ceremony — thus sparing the Six Duchies profound political embarrassment…or worse. But even Fitz does not suspect the web of treachery that awaits him or how his loyalties to his Queen, his partner, and those who share his magic will be tested to the breaking point

The triumphant conclusion to our three thrilling fantasy series, from the author of the bestselling Farseer and Liveship traders trilogies. The only hopes for an end to war and insurrection in the Six Duchies rests in the hands of the small party that are embarked on a desperate quest to the frozen island of Aslevjal. Here, so legend says, lies the sleeping form of the legendary great black dragon, Icefyre. The beast is of holy significance to the people of the Outislands, a powerful talisman, but it is this dragon that their Narcheska has challenged Prince Dutiful to kill. All he has to help him in this in the company of his small coterie: the mercurial old assassin, Chade, the gifted but slow-witted servant boy, Thick, and their Skillmaster, Fitz. The other member of the group has been left behind in Buckkeep, but the Fool will do everything in his power to be with them on the island — he has seen that this is his final destiny. When the ship finally reaches the desolate island it seems out of the question that anything could exist on this wasteland, yet the discoveries that Dutiful and his friends make will not only put the quest and their lives in jeopardy, it will also shape the future of the whole world. The Tawny Man Book 3 brings not only this trilogy but also the Farseer trilogy begun with ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE in 1996 to a spectacular conclusion. Filled with breathtaking drama and powerful character-led story-telling, Robin Hobb's writing is in a class of its own. "Robin Hobb's books are like diamonds in a sea of zircons." George R R Martin

It's a routine archaeological find, on a routine archaeological dig-until the strange inscription on a buried plaque is translated. Then all at once the entire world is prospecting for gold-a whole mountain of it-hidden centuries before by an ancient Latin American people. The U.S. is determined to stake a claim because that much gold, in the wrong hands, could destroy the free world's economy. But nothing's panning out, and the only person who can decipher the clues to the gold's location might not live long enough to complete the task. It seems everyone's trying to kill her... There's only one CURE for gold fever-Remo and Chiun. But unless they strike it rich, this gold rush is bound to be a bust, and the free market along with it. Unfortunately, our heroes' luck is about played out

**Ranking alongside George R. R. Martin as a groundbreaking master of fantasy, *New York Times *bestselling author Robin Hobb delivers the second book in her long-awaited Fitz and the Fool trilogy.** The harrowing adventures of FitzChivalry Farseer and his enigmatic friend the Fool continue in Robin Hobb’s triumphant follow-up to *Fool’s Assassin*. But *Fool’s Quest* is more than just a sequel. With the artistry and imagination her fans have come to expect, Hobb builds masterfully on all that has gone before, revealing devastating secrets and shocking conspiracies that cast a dark shadow over the history of Fitz and his world—a shadow that now stretches to darken all future hope. Long ago, Fitz and the Fool changed the world, bringing back the magic of dragons and securing both the Farseer succession and the stability of the kingdom. Or so they thought. But now the Fool is near death, maimed by mysterious pale-skinned figures whose plans for world domination hinge upon the powers the Fool may share with Fitz’s own daughter. Distracted by the Fool’s perilous health, and swept up against his will in the intrigues of the royal court, Fitz lets down his guard . . . and in a horrible instant, his world is undone and his beloved daughter stolen away by those who would use her as they had once sought to use the Fool—as a weapon. But FitzChivalry Farseer is not without weapons of his own. An ancient magic still lives in his veins. And though he may have let his skills as royal assassin diminish over the years, such things, once learned, are not so easily forgotten. Now enemies and friends alike are about to learn that nothing is more dangerous than a man who has nothing left to lose. **Praise for Robin Hobb and *Fool’s Assassin*** “Fantasy as it ought to be written.”**—George R. R. Martin** “Hobb knows the complicated workings of the wayward human heart, and she takes time to depict them in her tale, to tell her story sweetly, insistently, compellingly. . . . A book meant to be inhabited rather than run through.”**—*The Seattle Times*** “[FitzChivalry Farseer is] one of the best characters in fantasy literature.”**—*Fantasy Book Review*** “[Hobb’s] prose sparkles, her characters leap off the page.”**—*Tor.com*** “Modern fantasy at its irresistible best.”***—The Guardian*** “Fantastic . . . emotionally rich storytelling.”***—Library Journal *(starred review)** *From the Hardcover edition.* **

In this New York Times Notable Book of the Year, a strange new life form threatens all of humanity, and only a fool would stand in its way Katmer Al Shei has done well with the starship Pasadena, cutting corners where necessary to keep her crew paid and her journeys profitable. But there are two things she will never skimp on: her crew—and her fool. For a long space journey, a certified Fool’s Guild clown is essential, to amuse, excite, and otherwise distract the crew from the drudgeries of interstellar flight. Her newest fool, Evelyn Dobbs, is a talented jester. But does she have enough wit to save mankind? In the computers of the Pasadena, something is emerging. The highly sophisticated software that makes interstellar travel practical is playing host to a new form of artificial intelligence, one with its own mind, its own needs, and its own desperate fears. Combatting this terrifying new threat becomes the fool’s secret fight. Evelyn Dobbs’s personal war might just cost Katmer Al Shei everything, and everyone, she holds dear. But if they fail, humanity itself is lost for good

A Hail Mary play for the heart. Bridal gown designer, Julianne Marchione knows better than to lose her head at a client’s wedding. But, much to her embarrassment, a mix of migraine medication and a smoking hot football player lead to a steamy one night stand resulting in a surprise pregnancy. Julianne has every intention of leaving her NFL hookup far in the past until her son, Owen, is born with a life-threatening blood disorder that requires a transfusion—and Julianne is not a match. Will "William the Conqueror" Connelly grew up tough, shouldering the stigma of being a bastard child born on the wrong side of the tracks. He refuses to let any child face the same discrimination. When he finds out about Owen, he’s furious that Julianne kept his son a secret. But when he sees her again at the hospital, he realizes that his feelings for her go far beyond anger. Will insists that Owen recuperate at his home in North Carolina, and he’s adamant that Julianne become his wife—even if it’s only a temporary marriage in name only. But will their simmering attraction ever lead to a real connection?  Or are they just playing foolish games?

It’s 1963, in fact. June. All spring Freedom Riders have been advancing the cause of civil rights in the South, and even in the face of city commissioner “Bull” Connor’s police dogs and fire hoses demonstrators have marched through the segregated streets of Birmingham, Alabama. While no one’s marching in Black River Falls, Iowa, except maybe the high school band, the sleepy heartland town is showing signs of racial unease nonetheless. For the body of a black college student — David Leeds — has turned up dead. Close by him, in the woods just outside the town limits, lies a second victim: white; local photographer; shot twice in the face, apparently with the same weapon that got Leeds in the neck; also dead. The evidence points to blackmail, and to a scandal that could ruin the already encumbered campaign of the very white Senator Lloyd Williams for reelection, if photos exist to prove rumors that romantically link the senator’s daughter to the handsome, bright, ambitious and black — David Leeds. Prejudice runs mean and deep in Sam McCain’s hometown, as the amiable young attorney and sometime detective discovers in an investigation that takes him from the stench and suspicion of a local bikers’ club to the cliquey precincts of the martini-fortified rich

A dazzling new collection of interconnected stories by the National Book Award finalist. When is it wise to be a fool for something? What makes people want to be better than they are? From New York to India to Paris, from the Catholic Worker movement to Occupy Wall Street, the characters in Joan Silber’s dazzling new story cycle tackle this question head-on. Vera, the shy, anarchist daughter of missionary parents, leaves her family for love and activism in New York. A generation later, her own doubting daughter insists on the truth of being of two minds, even in marriage. The adulterous son of a Florida hotel owner steals money from his family and departs for Paris, where he takes up with a young woman and finds himself outsmarted in turn. Fools ponders the circle of winners and losers, dupers and duped, and the price we pay for our beliefs. Fools is a luminous, intelligent, and rewarding work of fiction from the author for whom the Boston Globe said, "No other writer can make a few small decisions ripple across the globe, and across time, with more subtlety and power."

The book depicts the arrival of members of an alien species called the Fithp that have traveled to our solar system from Alpha Centauri in a large spacecraft. The aliens are intent on taking over the Earth. Physically, the Fithp resemble man-sized, quadrupedal elephants with multiple trunks. They possess more advanced technology than humans, but have developed none of it themselves. In the distant past on their planet, another species was dominant, with the Fithp existing as animals, perhaps even as pets. This predecessor species badly damaged the environment, rendering themselves and many other species extinct, but left behind their knowledge inscribed on large stone cubes (called Thuktunthp, plural of Thuktun in the Fithp language), from which the Fithp have gained their technology. The study of Thuktun is the only science the Fithp possess. The Fithp are armed with a technology that is superior rather than incomprehensible: laser cannon, projectile rifles, controlled meteorite strikes to bombard surface targets, lightcraft surface-to-orbit shuttles the size of warships, etc. Nominated for Hugo and Locus awards in 1986

What begins as an adventure soon becomes a nightmare... Locals claim it is haunted and refuse to put a single toe past the front door, but to siblings Peter, Celia, and Margaret, the Priory is nothing more than a rundown estate inherited from their late uncle-and the perfect setting for a much-needed holiday. But when a murder victim is discovered in the drafty Priory halls, the once unconcerned trio begins to fear that the ghostly rumors are true and they are not alone after all! With a killer on the loose, will they find themselves the next victims of a supernatural predator, or will they uncover a far more corporeal culprit?

In Footsteps of the Hawk Burke himself is in danger of becoming a victim.  Two rogue cops are stalking him.  The coolly seductive Belinda Roberts wants him to free a man charged with a grisly string of rape-murders. The brutal and half-crazy Detective Jorge Morales may be trying to frame Burke for the same crimes.  What ensues is a novel of high-wire suspense and nightmarish authenticity informed by an insider's knowledge of the city where everything—from flesh to other people's cellular phone numbers—is up for sale

The "wickedly funny" (Vanity Fair) master of literary black comedy spins a thrillingly erotic homage to Manolo Blahnik-wearing, nail-polished, high arched, beautifully footed women. Geoff Nicholson, the reigning master of obsessive black literary humor, brings us his riskiest novel yet, delving into the erotic world of a foot fetishist. Nicholson's unnamed narrator is a serious man with a full life. He reads newspapers, follows politics, and holds down a steady job. But one thing ismissing-a woman with a great pair of feet; silky smooth skin, perfect arches, delicate curvature of the nails. . It's hard to meet the right woman, if you're a foot fetishist. Some slap your face. Some call thepolice. And then the narrator finds Catherine, who has just the feet he's been looking for his entire life. She leads him, wearing a staggering assortment of all the best shoes, on a foot fetishist's dream caper, combining the props from a Helmut Newton photo shoot and the twists of Antonioni's Blow-up. Sexy, blackly funny, Footsucker is a novel of fetishism, murder and, ultimately, love

В своей новой книге известный журналист рассказывает истории из жизни главных героев нашего футбола. Тренеры, игроки, президенты клубов и даже министры – все они предстают людьми, с которыми происходят когда смешные, а когда грустные случаи. Людьми, которым ничто человеческое не чуждо – как величие, так и трагикомичность. Жозе Моуринью, Леонид Слуцкий, Андрей Аршавин, Виталий Мутко, Фабио Капелло, Сергей Галицкий – все они показаны с расстояния взгляда

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For a Lost Soldier is an artfully told story of love and loss during wartime. The author skillfully creates the mood of uncertainty and lurking danger in the opening pages when eleven year old Jeroen is about to be separated from his family for the first time in his life, due to food shortages in German-occupied Amsterdam. The dangerous journey to Friesland, the homesickness he feels upon his arrival. Literary Awards: Gouden Ezelsoor (1987), Marten Toonder/Geertjan Lubberhuizenprijs (1986)

“This is certainly one of my favorite love stories ever.” “Laura Miller has woven together two sweet love stories that will capture and transport the reader to times gone by and to a future of hope.” “It takes you back to the innocence and joy of falling in love.” When Logan was nine years old, her father landed a promotion and moved the family back to his old stomping grounds in Columbia, Mo. Logan traded in her old friends and a familiar setting for a new school filled with new faces, but she did get at least one good thing out of the trade — Andrew Amsel. Andrew and Logan spend a childhood playing hide and seek and then four years at Truman High falling in love and dreaming about their future together. Then on graduation night, Andrew asks Logan to marry him. Logan doesn't even think twice before saying yes. Five days later, they elope.But life has different plans for Logan. And now at twenty-two, she is in the midst of starting over when Jorgen Ryker moves in next door. Jorgen, a paramedic who grew up along the Missouri River bottoms, seems normal, and he's definitely easy on the eyes, but Logan still has her reservations — and her secrets. Can she put her old life aside to start anew? And what big secret is she hiding that Jorgen might already know?Set in small-town Missouri, For All You Have Left is a love story with an unexpected twist centering on three lives, two great loves and one epic journey in learning to love again

Driven by famine from their home in the Rif, Mohamed's family walks to Tangiers in search of a better life. But his father is unable to find work and grows violent, beating Mohamed's mother and killing his sick younger brother in a moment of mad rage. On moving to another province Mohamed learns how to charm and steal, and discovers the joys of drugs, sex and alcohol. Proud, insolent and afraid of no-one, Mohamed returns to Tangiers, where he is caught up in the violence of the 1952 independence riots. During a short spell in a filthy Moroccan jail, a fellow inmate kindles Mohamed's life-altering love of poetry. The book itself was banned in Arab countries for its sexual explicitness. Dar al-Saqi was the first publishing house to publish it in Arabic in 1982, thirty years after it was written, though many translations came out before the Arabic version. Translated by Paul Bowles. Mohamed Choukri is one of North Africa's most controversial and widely read authors. At the age of twenty he decided to learn to read and write classical Arabic. He went on to become a teacher and writer, finally being awarded the chair of Arabic Literature at Ibn Batuta College in Tangier. Paul Bowles, perhaps best known for his novel The Sheltering Sky, collaborated closely with Choukri on the translation of For Bread Alone. The story of Choukri's life is continued in Streetwise

FANATICAL LOVE, DANGEROUS OBSESSION AND A TERRIBLE DEADLY SECRET... Detective Chief Inspector Rose Piper’s life is in turmoil. At only thirty-five, her marriage has collapsed and she is unsure about her future with the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. She disappears to a remote island off the North Devon coast to rebuild her strength. There she meets Robin Davey, charismatic owner of the island. The spark of strong physical attraction is immediate, and mutual. When tragedy strikes their paths cross once more. But then the case Rose is working on takes a sinister turn. She begins to fear that her preoccupation with her personal life is affecting her professional performance. Deep in an obsessive and passionate affair with Robin Davey, she has ignored the friends who warned of secrets in his past. But eventually she must accept that she will never find peace until she discovers the truth about her lover... Danger and passion walk side by side in this dark and stormy tale

The fifth Eddie Drood novel from the New York Times bestselling author. After the murder of the Drood Matriarch, the family finds itself vulnerable to evil. This time, it's a Satanic Conspiracy that could throw humanity directly into the clutches of the Biggest of the Bads

" Once, years ago, Pippa Davis and Luke Danton had been everything to each other. Then fate had led Luke one way…and Pippa and their unborn child the other. Now she had to find her way back to Luke. For her daughter's sake, of course… Despite the lost years, Luke had never been able to forget the woman who'd meant the world to him. Suddenly she was on his doorstep- with a little girl in tow. His little girl! And suddenly, once more, everything he'd ever wanted was within his grasp. Or was it?"

Proprietor of a stud farm in Australia 's Snowy Mountains or muck-raking stable boy in Yorkshire? Danny Roke decides on the latter. It is the change of scene and the challenge that pushes Danny undercover, on the scent of a suspected racehorse dope scandal

Hugo and Nebula award winner Anderson incorporates two stories he wrote for the Asimov’s Universe series into this absorbing posthumous novel, a fast-paced space opera that never lets the reader forget that aliens are alien. At a time when nearly immortal humans have colonized the galaxy, various space-faring species commingle freely and the residents of Earth have become as alien to other humans as true ETs, an astronomical event that may affect all existence is about to take place. Unfortunately, only one set of aliens knows what that event is and their ruling dictatorship is hell-bent on keeping it that way. Lissa Windholm, an Earth woman with a spirit of adventure men find attractive, is determined to uncover the mystery and share the knowledge with everyone. Lissa and her partner Karl, a tyrannosaurus-like scientist, make some startling archeological discoveries on the planet Jonna about beings known as the Forerunners, but a psychologically scarred starship captain and an impressively ancient and profit-minded human rogue have other plans for the relics. Moving from one key sequence to another, Anderson omits much of the buildup and back story customary for such epic-scale SF, yet his protagonists and the worlds they explore always feel rich and real