epic encounter

A marvelously illustrated look at wild orcasOf the world's iconic predatory species, orcas are among the most fearsome. Their awesome physical power combined with their cooperative hunting skills and ability to problem-solve make them uniquely efficient killers. Yet orcas also celebrate births, grieve losses, and maintain lifelong family bonds. This stunningly illustrated book draws on five decades of field research and cutting-edge science to provide an incomparable look at the biology, natural history, culture, and conservation of these awe-inspiring marine animals. It explores the behaviors and characteristics of the world's diverse orca populations-from Antarctica, Iceland, and South America to Norway, Spain, South Africa, the Pacific Northwest of Canada, and the United States -and reveals the startling discoveries that scientists have made in recent years. Wild Orcas takes you on an epic ocean excursion to encounter these magnificent creatures as you have never seen them before. Features a wealth of breathtaking color photosCovers everything from social structure and family dynamics to evolution, physiology, interactions with humans, and the fascinating ways orcas learn from each otherExplores orcas' underwater lives, such as how they "see" with soundDiscusses the innovative and state-of-the-art ways researchers study orcasSheds light on orca culture, from vocal dialects and hunting strategies to behaviors such as greeting ceremonies, beach rubbing, and porpoise tossing

“A tale of lupine vengeance—at first—whose stakes escalate to degrees I never saw coming. Unexpected, blood-soaked, and vividly told.”—qntm; author of There Is No Antimemetics Division NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The long-awaited second novel from the author of the cult hit The Library at Mount Char, a one-of-a-kind dark fantasy in which a wolf sets out on an epic journey of revenge. The wolf Blacktail is faithful to his Forest God, but in these times, faith is not enough. His world is besieged by men. Soon his territory will be overrun, and then there will be nowhere left to go. When his mate, a house dog, is killed, Blacktail rebels. He invades the house of her owners, seeking vengeance. Blacktail’s fury catches the notice of an ancient and terrible feline witch, who makes an offer. What if Blacktail could end the human race responsible for the death of his family and for the destruction of the natural world, altogether? To do so, Blacktail must find and wake the Forest God. Only He might stand against the plague of men. Blacktail knows that his north woods are dwindling to nothing. He sees no other choice. As Blacktail journeys farther from his wild home and deeper into the world of man, he encounters strangers—animal; mortal, and otherworldly—who; for their own reasons, want to help Blacktail rid the world of humans. Along the way, it becomes clear that he is more than just a wolf. The Forest God is sleeping, yes. But what will be the price of waking him?

Dive into the chaos of a compromised time stream as the Time Travelers faction disrupts the fabric of reality. Led by the mysterious Doctor When and established in 1976, the Time Patrol is on a mission to maintain the flow of time in their own way. Witness the epic clash between nature and technology as the Cyborg Apes embark on their centuries-old plan for world domination. Having stolen cutting-edge cybernetic enhancements, these athletic apes blend natural strength with high-tech augmentations to outsmart and outmuscle opponents. Immerse yourself in the ongoing shadow war between International Secret Intelligence (ISI) and the nefarious HAVOC organization. From weather-altering satellites to secret moon-base lasers, only the ISI's Super Spies armed with the latest espionage technology can thwart HAVOC's world-threatening schemes. Delve into the depths below the Earth's surface, where enigmatic amorphous creatures have mastered genetic manipulation. These Shapeshifters plan to conquer the world above by assimilating the abilities of the most formidable creatures and warriors they encounter. Mix and match factions to form powerful teams of two, each bringing its own strategic effects to the table. Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature also includes eight new Base cards, providing fresh challenges and opportunities for competitive gameplay.

The New York Times bestseller from iconic Emmy-nominated actress and producer MILLIE BOBBY BROWN: Nineteen Steps - soon to be a feature film on Netflix! "My inner history-loving teenage geek clapped her hands in ecstasy at the thought of a historical novel penned by Enola Holmes, and she wasn't disappointed!”—Kate Quinn Love blooms in the darkest days... It's 1942, and air raid sirens continue to wail around London. Eighteen-year-old Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her. After a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, she becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world. Just as she begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, tearing her world apart. But when it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph. Nineteen Steps is a deeply affecting, mesmerizing page-turner based on a true story from the author's family history. An epic story of longing, loss, and secrets, Millie Bobby Brown's propulsive debut introduces an unforgettable, brave young woman and boldly portrays the strength in the power of love. “Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. I'm honored to keep her story alive.”—Millie Bobby Brown

In this luminous sci-fi debut, a nonverbal autistic woman refuses to crumble as she stands against a dogmatic society clinging to a centuries-long conflict built on lies. Citadel is the only human city on the alien planet Edalide, ruled by the biweekly tides that bring both deadly danger and much-needed resources. But the drowning waters, constant threat of starvation, and eternal cold aren't the most dangerous challenge. For the Flooded Forest is ruled by demons: monsters from Hell sent by their vengeful god as penance for their ancestors' rebellion. To save their souls and return to their former glory, Citadel must kill every single one. Or so they believe. Olivia lost her lover to the demons almost a year ago. But during a scientific expedition, a chance encounter reveals that the demons are sentient-a startling discovery that would get Olivia executed if she exposed it. Driven by the burning need for answers, Olivia embarks on a dangerous journey into the Forest. There, she must face alien monsters, zealous warriors, and the demons of her own past. But change comes slowly, and always with a price... C. M. Alongi graduated from Hamline University with a double bachelor's in history and social justice. She lives in an apartment in the Twin Cities area where she protects her furniture from her roommates' two evil cats. Citadel is her first full-length novel. She has also written an epic fantasy novella series called the Blackwing Series.

In this electric debut novel set against the twilight of the American gold rush, two siblings are on the run, trying not just to survive but to find a home. NATIONAL BESTSELLER * ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR * LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 BOOKER PRIZE * A NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION "5 UNDER 35" HONOREE Belongs on a shelf all of its own. NPR Outstanding. The Washington Post Revolutionary . . . A visionary addition to American literature. Star Tribune Ba dies in the night; Ma is already gone. Newly orphaned children of immigrants, Lucy and Sam are suddenly alone in a land that refutes their existence. Fleeing the threats of their western mining town, they set off to bury their father in the only way that will set them free from their past. Along the way, they encounter giant buffalo bones, tiger paw prints, and the specters of a ravaged landscape as well as family secrets, sibling rivalry, and glimpses of a different kind of future. Both epic and intimate, blending Chinese symbolism and reimagined history with fiercely original language and storytelling, How Much of These Hills Is Gold is a haunting adventure story, an unforgettable sibling story, and the announcement of a stunning new voice in literature. On a broad level, it explores race in an expanding country and the question of where immigrants are allowed to belong. But page by page, it s about the memories that bind and divide families, and the yearning for home.

Ulysses is a modernist novel by Irish writer James Joyce. It was first serialized in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920 and then published in its entirety in Paris by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, Joyce's 40th birthday. It is considered one of the most important works of modernist literature and has been called "a demonstration and summation of the entire movement". According to Declan Kiberd, "Before Joyce, no writer of fiction had so foregrounded the process of thinking".Ulysses chronicles the appointments and encounters of the itinerant Leopold Bloom in Dublin in the course of an ordinary day, 16 June 1904. Ulysses is the Latinised name of Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, and the novel establishes a series of parallels between the poem and the novel, with structural correspondences between the characters and experiences of Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus, in addition to events and themes of the early 20th-century context of modernism, Dublin, and Ireland's relationship to Britain. The novel is highly allusive and also imitates the styles of different periods of English literature.Since its publication, the book has attracted controversy and scrutiny, ranging from an obscenity trial in the United States in 1921 to protracted textual Joyce Wars. The novel's stream of consciousness technique, careful structuring, and experimental prose - replete with puns, parodies, and allusions - as well as its rich characterisation and broad humour have led it to be regarded as one of the greatest literary works in history; Joyce fans worldwide now celebrate 16 June as Bloomsday.

2015 Audie Award Finalist for Thriller/Suspense In his most ambitious work yet, New York Times bestseller James Lee Burke tells a classic American story through one man's unforgettable life. In 1934, sixteen-year-old Weldon Avery Holland happens upon infamous criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow after one of their notorious armed robberies. A confrontation with the outlaws ends with Weldon firing a gun, unsure whether it hit its mark. Ten years later, Second Lieutenant Weldon Holland barely survives the Battle of the Bulge, in the process saving the lives of his sergeant, Hershel Pine, and a young Spanish prisoner of war, Rosita Lowenstein—a woman who holds the same romantic power over him as the strawberry blonde Bonnie Parker, and is equally mysterious. The three return to Texas where Weldon and Hershel get in on the ground floor of the nascent oil business. In just a few years' time Weldon will spar with the jackals of the industry, rub shoulders with dangerous men, and win and lose fortunes twice over. But it is the prospect of losing his one true love that will spur his most reckless act yet—one inspired by that encounter long ago with the outlaws of his youth. A tender love story and pulse-pounding thriller, Wayfaring Stranger is a sprawling historical epic full of courage and loyalty and optimism and good-heartedness that reads like an ode to the American Dream (Benjamin Percy, Poets & Writers).

One town. Two families. A secret that changes everything. “A small-town novel of epic proportions” (Tom Perrotta), this captivating story weaves the intimate lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late twentieth century. “I love this book with my entire heart.”—Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way—until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened. Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie—but nothing stays buried forever in a small town. Against the backdrop of some of the most transformative decades in modern America, the consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold. Sweeping yet intimate, rich with piercing observation and the warmth that comes from profound understanding of the human spirit, Buckeye captures the universal longing for love and for goodness.

A young midwife travels west to the New Mexico Territory to care for women in need and faces dangers more harrowing than the ones she's fleeing in this epic tale of survival, redemption, and love from Sara Donati, the international bestselling author of the Wilderness series. 1857: In a bid to outrun her past, Carrie Ballentyne accepts a nursing position with a doctor in the New Mexico Territory. She knows the journey from New York to Santa Fe will not be easy, but nothing could have prepared her for the wilderness she encounters, stunning in both beauty and brutality. To endure, she must learn to rely on her fellow travelers-and one enigmatic man in particular. As she and Eli Ibarra tackle challenge after challenge together, she feels her heart opening to this rugged land-and the man willing to risk so much for her. The trip west is only the beginning of Carrie's challenges, though. In Santa Fe, Carrie is beloved by new mothers for her talent and compassion. But when she realizes that her employer and his wife are keeping secrets from her, she must uncover the truth to protect their young daughter. To save the little girl she's come to cherish, Carrie will have to confront the demons in her own past-a feat that will take all of her bravery and the help of the man she's come to love and depend on above all others. The Sweet Blue Distance is the unforgettable story of one woman's courage to heal herself, her family, and the women and children entrusted to her care.

In this major new rendition by the acclaimed translator Julie Rose, Victor Hugo’s tour de force, Les Misérables, is revealed in its full unabridged glory. A favorite of readers for nearly 150 years, and the basis for one of the most beloved stage musicals ever, this stirring tale of crime, punishment, justice, and redemption pulses with life and energy. Hugo sweeps readers from the French provinces to the back alleys of Paris, and from the battlefield of Waterloo to the bloody ramparts of Paris during the uprising of 1832. First published in 1862, this sprawling novel is an extravagant historical epic that is teeming with harrowing adventures and unforgettable characters. In the protagonist, Jean Valjean, a quintessential prisoner of conscience who languished for years in prison for stealing bread to feed his starving family, Les Misérables depicts one of the grand themes in literature–that of the hunted man. Woven into the narrative are the prevalent social issues of Hugo’s day: injustice, authoritarian rule, social inequality, civic unrest. And this new translation brings astonishing vivacity and depth to Hugo’s immortal dramatis personae–the relentless police detective Javert, the saintly bishop Myriel, the tragic prostitute Fantine and her innocent daughter, Cosette, the dashing lover Marius, and many others whom Jean Valjean encounters on his path to sublime sacrifice. Featuring an Introduction by the award-winning journalist and author Adam Gopnik, this Modern Library edition is an outstanding, authoritative translation of a masterpiece, a literary high-wire act that continues to astonish, stimulate, enlighten, and entertain readers around the world.

EXPAND YOUR HEROQUEST GAME: Based on the 1991 iteration, this Wizards of Morcar Quest Pack introduces 10 epic quests. a skill acquisition game mechanic, an alternate Wizard hero sculpt, and more! (Req. HeroQuest Game System. Separat erhältlich.) DESTROY A TERRIBLE POWER: Venture to the Northern Dread Wastes and stop Zargon from unlocking the legendary magic of 1000 Dread Sorcerers … before all is lost ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION OF MINIATURES: This tabletop game expansion pack comes with 27 finely detailed miniatures, including an alternate Wizard hero. Also includes 64 game cards with updated custom artwork 10 PERILOUS QUESTS: Embark on 5 original quests based on the 1991 iteration and dare to take on 5 additional ones! Venture into darkness, vanquish foes, and encounter unlikely allies GROW CHARACTERS IN FRESH WAYS: in this fantasy expansion pack, heroes may visit Hopekin’s Rest to acquire Boons of Heroism that help them progress MULTIPLE PATHS TO VICTORY: Enjoy limitless replayability with many ways to win! You can also create your own stories and quests. Compatible with the HeroQuest base game & HeroQuest First Light board game GIFT FOR ROLEPLAYING GAME FANS AND COLLECTORS: This adventure game for teens ages 14+ and adults is a great gift for fans of cooperative games, fantasy board games, and strategy games

"A tale of lupine vengeance-at first-whose stakes escalate to degrees I never saw coming. Unexpected, blood-soaked, and vividly told."-qntm, author of There Is No Antimemetics Division NATIONAL BESTSELLER The long-awaited second novel from the author of the cult hit The Library at Mount Char, a one-of-a-kind dark fantasy in which a wolf sets out on an epic journey of revenge. The wolf Blacktail is faithful to his Forest God, but in these times, faith is not enough. His world is besieged by men. Soon his territory will be overrun, and then there will be nowhere left to go. When his mate, a house dog, is killed, Blacktail rebels. He invades the house of her owners, seeking vengeance. Blacktail's fury catches the notice of an ancient and terrible feline witch, who makes an offer. What if Blacktail could end the human race responsible for the death of his family and for the destruction of the natural world, altogether? To do so, Blacktail must find and wake the Forest God. Only He might stand against the plague of men. Blacktail knows that his north woods are dwindling to nothing. He sees no other choice. As Blacktail journeys farther from his wild home and deeper into the world of man, he encounters strangers-animal, mortal, and otherworldly-who, for their own reasons, want to help Blacktail rid the world of humans. Along the way, it becomes clear that he is more than just a wolf. The Forest God is sleeping, yes. But what will be the price of waking him?

WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE 2025 War & War begins at a point of danger: on a dark train platform Korim is on the verge of being attacked and robbed by thuggish teenagers. From here, we are carried along by the insistent voice of this nervous clerk. Desperate, at times almost mad, but also keenly empathic, Korim has discovered in a small Hungarian town's archives an antique manuscript of startling beauty: it narrates the epic tale of brothers-in-arms struggling to return home from a disastrous war. Korim is determined to do away with himself, but before he commits suicide, he feels he must escape to New York with the precious manuscript and commit it to eternity by typing it all out onto the world wide web. Following Korim with obsessive realism through the streets of New York (from his landing in a Bowery flophouse to his move far uptown with a mad interpreter), War and War relates his encounters with a fascinating range of people in a world torn between viciousness and mysterious beauty. Following the eight chapters of War & War is a short 'prequel acting as a sequel', 'Isaiah', which brings us to a dark bar, years before in Hungary, where Korim rants against the world and threatens suicide. Written like nothing else (turning single sentences into chapters), War & War affirms W. G. Sebald's comment that Krasznahorkai's prose far surpasses all the lesser concerns of contemporary writing. Translated by George Szirtes

Reader Reviews: 'Phenomenal!' 'C racking original fantasy.' 'Wonderful.' 'Thrilling . . . Truly recommended! ' ' Enthralling.' 'A powerful story of love, murder and rebellion .' The second installment of this highly-acclaimed trilogy, Traitor to the Throne throws the irrepressible Amani into a world of espionage, harems, and the Sultan himself. This is not about blood or love. This is about treason. Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible. Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive... But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart. Praise for the series: 'Sheer escapism.' Guardian 'Winning.' New York Times

A young woman discovers the boundless potential of her sexuality in this "lyrical and graphic" international bestselling classic novel of joyful eroticism (NPR). It begins with nineteen-year-old Emmanuelle's flight from London to join her husband in Bangkok. On the airplane, she is seduced by the passenger seated next to her. By the time they land, she has indulged her irrepressible and insatiable sexual appetite, embarking on an odyssey of hedonistic sensual discovery that takes her from the arms of her husband to intimate encounters with the wives of his business associates, to further explorations wherein the philosophical and aesthetic facets of eroticism are expounded-and enacted-to the fullest degree. Much like Anne Desclos' The Story of O and Anaïs Nin's Delta of Venus, Emmanuelle is as pertinent today as it was when it was first published in 1967, a thrilling reminder of "how this revolutionary epic had an impact on the sexual liberation of women" ( Le Parisien Magazine). "Emmanuelle is not just sex; it is an eroticism that is vintage, oneiric, utopian, and tender, an optimistic and radiant eroticism." - Le Point "Emmanuelle's eroticism is not pathological, unlike the eroticism of revolt. It is a crucial part of the satisfaction of the individual, which feels threatened by nothing, which unfolds in harmony with the world: an eroticism of perfect accord." - Le Magazine Littéraire "Lyrical and graphic... But it's not all salacious play-by-play. The sex scenes are interspersed with abstract musings about the nature of sex.... In short, it arouses." -Teddy Wayne, NPR

Even as the great siege began it was understood by both sides to be an epic - a potentially decisive encounter between an uneasy assortment of soldiers, native Maltese, adventurers and Knights Hospitaller on a strategically crucial but near waterless island and a vast, seemingly all-powerful Ottoman armada. With three quarters of the Mediterranean's coasts already in the hands of the Sultan and his allies, all eyes were now on Malta. This superb new account of the siege emphasises the crucial importance of the siege while at the same time putting it in a far wider context. While since mistakenly recast as a climactic battle between the West and the East, it was also much more interesting and nuanced than that - both sides had many other interests and priorities beyond Malta. Süleyman the Magnificent had conquered and subsumed regions from Hungary to the Persian Gulf; Philip II was building an empire in America and Asia. Drawing on a wide range of eyewitness stories, Marcus Bull gives a vivid sense of the period's technologies, values and assumptions. It was a grim world built on the labour of many thousands of disposable galley-slaves, shockingly brutal forms of warfare and religious absolutism. But it was also a world filled with the most extraordinary new discoveries and ideas. Both these worlds come together in the siege and in this book.

Now with a stunning new cover look,comes THE DRAWING OF THE THREE, the second captivating volume in King's epic fantasy series THE DARK TOWER. In the second novel of Stephen King's bestselling fantasy masterpiece, Roland of Gilead, the Last Gunslinger, encounters three mysterious doors which open - for Roland, and Roland alone - to different times in our world. He must draw the three who should accompany him on the road. The first door opens to 1980s New York, where Roland joins forces with defiant Eddie Dean. The second leads to the 1960s and conflicted civil rights activist Odetta Holmes. The final door reveals Jack Mort, a deadly serial killer, in the 1970s. Mort is stalking Jake, the young boy Roland met in Mid-World. As titanic forces gather, a savage struggle between underworld evil and otherworldly enemies threatens to bring an end to Roland's journey toward the Dark Tower... JOIN THE QUEST FOR THE DARK TOWER... 'King's imagination is vast . . . one of the great storytellers of our time' GUARDIAN THE DARK TOWER SERIES: THE DARK TOWER I: THE GUNSLINGER THE DARK TOWER II: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE THE DARK TOWER III: THE WASTE LANDS THE DARK TOWER IV: WIZARD AND GLASS THE DARK TOWER V: WOLVES OF THE CALLA THE DARK TOWER VI: SONG OF SUSANNAH THE DARK TOWER VII: THE DARK TOWER THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: A DARK TOWER NOVEL

He's the Star Gardener. She's the new Agapéd. Lisa Rae Robbie, a freckled, soon-to-be-eighth-grade girl from Keyport, New Jersey, happens upon a shooting star that isn't merely space debris but is magic-the Agapéd Magic. This leads her to a whole new way of life where she learns she has the most powerful magic in all four galaxies, a power that the Guardians have waited 120 years for... and they are not too thrilled about it. The only person who sees her worthy enough to wield this magic is the 700-year-old brutish Wishing Star gardener, Gaius. Still, even he won't tell her the Agapéd's true purpose-the purpose for Lisa's life. Why don't they like me having this magic? What is so special about it? Why are they keeping me and this Agapéd Magic a secret? Curiosity takes Lisa's new life down a path of nightmares as the Agapéd Magic begins to take a toll on her heart, and she must decide if this new way of life is worth all the pain and sorrow tagged along with it. . . . The Agapéd Bearer: Wishing Stars begins the epic light-versus-darkness saga, a fantasy adventure perfect for those who enjoy constant tugging at their heartstrings and plenty of magical encounters. This edition of the book does not contain illustrations. Only the limited editions contain the author's colored illustrations.

Rumiko Takahashi’s epic in a large prestige format including bonus color pages! Kagome is an ordinary modern schoolgirl living an ordinary life. Who would have thought the dried-up old well on the site of her family's shrine would be a gateway to Japan's ancient past? Drawn through the gate against her will, Kagome finds herself battling demons for control of what she thought was a worthless trinket but is actually a powerful magical gem, the Shikon Jewel! Together with an unlikely ally, the half demon Inuyasha, Kagome begins a quest to recover the shards of the Shikon Jewel and learn more about her link to the past. Uneasy Allies Our friends are drowning in enemies! First, Miroku and Sango face a poisonous adversary; then, Inuyasha is attacked by the half-man, half-machine--but all evil--monstrosity known as Ginkotsu. Later, our friends encounter a mountain so sacred that most of them aren't even good enough to set foot on it. And finally, when their battle with the undead assassins known as the Band of Seven looks all but lost, Inuyasha and his comrades get some unlikely help from his brother, Sesshomaru, and rival, wolf demon Koga. Everything comes down to a fiery climax as another one of Naraku's malevolent plots is revealed!

The great epic of Western literature, translated by the acclaimed classicist Robert Fagles A Penguin Classic Robert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, presents us with Homer's best-loved and most accessible poem in a stunning modern-verse translation. "Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy." So begins Robert Fagles' magnificent translation of the Odyssey, which Jasper Griffin in the New York Times Book Review hails as "a distinguished achievement." If the Iliad is the world's greatest war epic, the Odyssey is literature's grandest evocation of an everyman's journey through life. Odysseus' reliance on his wit and wiliness for survival in his encounters with divine and natural forces during his ten-year voyage home to Ithaca after the Trojan War is at once a timeless human story and an individual test of moral endurance. In the myths and legends retold here, Fagles has captured the energy and poetry of Homer's original in a bold, contemporary idiom, and given us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox's superb introduction and textual commentary provide insightful background information for the general reader and scholar alike, intensifying the strength of Fagles's translation. This is an Odyssey to delight both the classicist and the general reader, to captivate a new generation of Homer's students. This Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition features French flaps and deckle-edged paper. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

THE MOST EXCITING GOTHIC ROMANTASY YOU'LL READ ALL YEAR! 'Sharp, thrilling, with a hell of a bite' K. S. Villoso Remy Pendergast is many things: the only son of the Duke of Valenbonne, an elite bounty hunter, and an outcast among his fellow Reapers. His mother was a subject of gossip even before she eloped with a vampire, giving rise to rumours that Remy is a half-vampire himself. All his life he has been shaped into a weapon and when a terrifying new breed of vampire is sighted outside of the city, Remy prepares to investigate alone. Until he encounters the shockingly warm-hearted vampire heiress Xiaodan Song and her infuriatingly arrogant fiancé, vampire lord Zidan Malekh. Though associating with them won't do his reputation any favours, they may hold the key to defeating the creatures. As the three face dangerous hardships during their journey, Remy begins to develop fond and complicated feelings for the couple. He begins to question what he holds true about vampires, as well as the story behind his own family legacy. As the vampire-mutation continues to spread across the kingdom, Remy must decide where his loyalties lie: with his father and the kingdom he's spent his life defending, or the vampires who might just be the death of him. Praise for Silver Under Nightfall 'Deliciously fun!' Sangu Mandanna 'An adventure not to be missed' Elisa A. Bonnin 'Fast-paced and darkly alluring' Linden Lewis 'A wild, wicked, and welcome addition to the ranks of vampire fantasy novels' Strange Horizons 'An epic, action-packed fantasy' Culturefly

“A tale of lupine vengeance—at first—whose stakes escalate to degrees I never saw coming. Unexpected, blood-soaked, and vividly told.”—qntm; author of There Is No Antimemetics Division NATIONAL BESTSELLER The long-awaited second novel from the author of the cult hit The Library at Mount Char, a one-of-a-kind dark fantasy in which a wolf sets out on an epic journey of revenge. The wolf Blacktail is faithful to his Forest God, but in these times, faith is not enough. His world is besieged by men. Soon his territory will be overrun, and then there will be nowhere left to go. When his mate, a house dog, is killed, Blacktail rebels. He invades the house of her owners, seeking vengeance. Blacktail’s fury catches the notice of an ancient and terrible feline witch, who makes an offer. What if Blacktail could end the human race responsible for the death of his family and for the destruction of the natural world, altogether? To do so, Blacktail must find and wake the Forest God. Only He might stand against the plague of men. Blacktail knows that his north woods are dwindling to nothing. He sees no other choice. As Blacktail journeys farther from his wild home and deeper into the world of man, he encounters strangers—animal; mortal, and otherworldly—who; for their own reasons, want to help Blacktail rid the world of humans. Along the way, it becomes clear that he is more than just a wolf. The Forest God is sleeping, yes. But what will be the price of waking him?

A marvelously illustrated look at wild orcasOf the world's iconic predatory species, orcas are among the most fearsome. Their awesome physical power combined with their cooperative hunting skills and ability to problem-solve make them uniquely efficient killers. Yet orcas also celebrate births, grieve losses, and maintain lifelong family bonds. This stunningly illustrated book draws on five decades of field research and cutting-edge science to provide an incomparable look at the biology, natural history, culture, and conservation of these awe-inspiring marine animals. It explores the behaviors and characteristics of the world's diverse orca populations-from Antarctica, Iceland, and South America to Norway, Spain, South Africa, the Pacific Northwest of Canada, and the United States -and reveals the startling discoveries that scientists have made in recent years. Wild Orcas takes you on an epic ocean excursion to encounter these magnificent creatures as you have never seen them before. Features a wealth of breathtaking color photosCovers everything from social structure and family dynamics to evolution, physiology, interactions with humans, and the fascinating ways orcas learn from each otherExplores orcas' underwater lives, such as how they "see" with soundDiscusses the innovative and state-of-the-art ways researchers study orcasSheds light on orca culture, from vocal dialects and hunting strategies to behaviors such as greeting ceremonies, beach rubbing, and porpoise tossing

The river-dwelling monster Sha Wujing was once the Curtain Raising Captain, but was banished from heaven by the Yellow Emperor for breaking an extremely valuable cup during a drunken visit to the Peach Festival. Later, the band of pilgrims arrive at a beautiful home seeking a simple vegetarian meal and a place to stay for the night. What they encounter instead is a lovely and wealthy widow and her three even more lovely daughters. This meeting is, of course, much more than it appears to be, and it turns into a test of commitment and virtue for all of the pilgrims, especially for the lazy and lustful Zhu Bajie. This is the 9th book in the best-selling The Journey to the West series of stories for students learning to read Chinese. It is based on the epic 16th century novel of the same name by Wu Chen'en. That novel was inspired by an actual journey by the Buddhist monk Tangseng, who traveled from Chang'an westward to India in 629 A.D. and returned seventeen years later with priceless knowledge and spiritual texts. Over the course of the book Tangseng and his companions face the 81 tribulations that Tangseng had to endure to attain Buddhahood. The story is written, as much as possible, using the 1200-word vocabulary of HSK4. It is presented in Simplified Chinese characters and pinyin, and includes an English version and glossary.

Introducing the EXPLOSIVE first book in the Torch Trilogy - the hottest release of the decade!'Urgent. Ambitious. Mesmerising.' THE TIMES'Feels like the start of something big.' SFX'One of the most gripping reads of 2024.' SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND'One of the best YA dystopias in years.' BOOKSELLER'One of the most compulsive reads of the year.' IRISH EXAMINER*WINNER OF THE YA BOOK PRIZE 2025**LONGLISTED BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2025**NOMINATED CARNEGIE MEDAL 2025*They are hunting those who shine . . .Don't be deceived by Northaven's prettiness, by its white-wash houses and sea views. Many of its townsfolk are ruthless hunters. They revile those who have developed songlight, the ability to connect telepathically with others. Friends, neighbours, family will turn on each other in an instant . . .Lark has lived in grave danger ever since her own songlight emerged. Then she encounters a young woman in peril, from a city far away. An extraordinary bond is forged. But when power is everything, how will they survive?An epic new trilogy from an award-winning, internationally acclaimed screenwriter, Songlight promises to set the world alight!Readers are already hooked:'This book was amazing, I couldn't put it down.' 'The Power meets The Handmaid's Tale . . . truly a joy to read.' 'I was personally held hostage by this book until the final pages, and in a good way.' Read the sequel, TORCHFIRE, now!

An epic story of love, loss and second chances, The Last Boat Home will captivate readers of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook and Hazel Gaynor.1940: When Daisy, a paintress at the local pottery, looks out across Poole Harbour, waiting for the 'little ships' to bring the retreating soldiers home from Dunkirk, she prays her husband will be among them. But Alfie is declared missing, presumed dead, and Daisy must learn to live as a widow. Then a chance encounter with a French soldier throws Daisy's life even further off course, with heartbreaking consequences that will span generations.1996: Decades later, Felicity is just holding herself together after the sudden loss of her husband. Needing escape, she travels to a small seaside town in the South of France and is surprised to find a piece of home in the window of a small shop. How did a jug from her home-town's pottery find its way to the Cote d'Azur? Seeking answers, she opens the door to the shop, and on the possibility of finding happiness after all hope seemed lost...Boldwood Books are proud to support the RNLI and have pledged to donate to the RNLI based on sales of The Last Boat Home to support the work they do saving lives at sea.

Preorder the start of Donovan Cook's BRAND NEW thrilling Dark Age series.Banished by those he loved; how far would he go for redemption? 449AD Old Saxony Octa, the son of a mighty Saxon warlord, stands in the shield wall for the first time, eager to make a name for himself. But instead of the promised battle glory, fear overpowers him and he flees the battle, causing the death of his cousin and bringing shame to his family. Disowned by his father, and hunted by his own people, Octa is spurred on by his mother's vision for his future, a promise of greatness to come. A chance encounter with a wiry traveller offers Octa a chance of redemption with a quest to retrieve a sacred weapon. To do this, Octa must travel to Britannia, a nation abandoned by the Roman Empire and unable to defend itself from its many enemies who smell weakness and riches. Joining the famous warlords, Hengist and Horsa, Octa travels west to forge his future and redeem his past. He must succeed where others have failed. He must find the lost spear of Woden. An epic adventure of turmoil, coming of age and survival set against a time when Britannia was on its knees and fighting for its very existence. Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.

Read by the author, Kate Barron'A truly inspiring story of courage, resilience and the call of the wild. Wilderness Mum is a testament to the extraordinary things we are capable of' - Tim PeakeMost people believe the wild years end when motherhood begins. For me, that's when they truly started.For years, Kate Barron lived a conventional life as a dedicated teacher in London – but her spirit longed for wilder horizons. Trading her classroom for a backpack, she embarked on a journey that led her from the jungles of Colombia to a windswept Scottish clifftop, where a chance encounter changed everything.There she met Chris Lewis, a homeless ex-paratrooper walking the UK's entire coastline to heal his past. Their meeting sparked an epic love story and a shared mission: living in a tent for years while raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity. But Kate's biggest challenge was yet to come. Choosing to have a baby without pausing their journey, she navigated pregnancy, childbirth and the realities of new motherhood while living completely outdoors.Wilderness Mum is the extraordinary true story of what happens when you refuse to follow the script. The perfect gift for Mother's Day, it's a love letter to the wild, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and an inspiring guide to embracing motherhood without sacrificing the adventure of a lifetime.

Discover how one 3,000-year-old story shaped the books we read, the movies we watch, the games we play, and our very idea of what it means to be a hero. Homer’s Odyssey is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told. Filled with shipwrecks, monsters, gods, temptation, cunning, and one man’s desperate struggle to return home, it has captivated audiences for nearly three thousand years. But the story of Odysseus did far more than survive. It became a blueprint for storytelling itself. In The Odyssey Effect, classicist Erica Stevenson reveals the astonishing influence of Homer’s epic across centuries of art and culture, from Ancient Greece to the Renaissance and from James Joyce and Margaret Atwood to Hollywood, Broadway, television, and video games. As a new generation prepares to encounter the story through Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film adaptation, discover how artists and storytellers have continually reinvented The Odyssey to explore our deepest ideas about heroism, identity, power, temptation, loyalty, and home. Richly illustrated, engaging, and accessible, The Odyssey Effect traces the epic’s extraordinary cultural journey through: Iconic literary retellings by Dante, Cervantes, Tennyson, James Joyce, and others Film, television, and theatrical adaptations , from the Coen Brothers to The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants Centuries of art, philosophy, theater, music, and popular culture Modern retellings that challenge and reimagine who gets to be the hero The enduring themes that continue to make this ancient story feel startlingly relevant today Perfect for lovers of Greek mythology, ancient history, classic literature, pop culture, and modern mythological retellings, The Odyssey Effect reveals why we keep returning to the same ancient story and what each new interpretation tells us about the culture that created it. Homer’s epic is not simply a relic of the ancient world. It is a living story that continues to shape how we tell stories, understand heroes, and imagine the journey home.