fame love

This is a story of the English moneyed class and its eternal struggle for creating "sense and sensibility" in its world. A potential marriage prospect must make "sense" by bringing with it enough assets and income to permit the couple to continue to live in happy, idle leisure, complete with servants and a prestigious address. Provided one can find such a match among the eligible persons of the opposite sex, one then hopes for "sensibility", or capacity for emotion, so that if love is not immediately to hand, it might come around later. And while these gentlemen and ladies make their hopeful pirouettes in the social eye, they must of course adhere to all the forms of civility. Jane Austen writes of the family of a gentleman named Dashwood who dies and leaves most of his fortune to his son, with the understanding that he will "look out for" his mother and three sisters. When that son marries a grasping woman who convinces him that his sisters' funds are suitable to their needs and so require no contributions from his inherited fortune, the sisters are left to play the game of "Sense and Sensibility" in earnest. But all's not fair in love. Carefully prepared "attachments" can and do go awry when gentlemen find other young women of greater fortunes than the Dashwood sisters. So, will they marry for love? Or money? Or perhaps, not at all? The Dashwood sisters are very different from each other in appearance and temperament; Elinor's good sense and readiness to observe social forms contrast with Marianne's impulsive candor and warm but excessive sensibility. Both struggle to maintain their integrity and find happiness in the face of a competitive marriage market. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics. Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentry. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The steadfast support of her family was critical to her development as a professional writer. Her artistic apprenticeship lasted from her teenage years until she was about 35 years old. During this period, she experimented with various literary forms, including the epistolary novel which she tried then abandoned, and wrote and extensively revised three major novels and began a fourth. From 1811 until 1816, with the release of 'Sense and Sensibility' (1811), 'Pride and Prejudice' (1813), 'Mansfield Park' (1814) and 'Emma' (1815), she achieved success as a published writer. She wrote two additional novels, 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion', both published posthumously in 1818, and began a third, which was eventually titled 'Sanditon', but died before completing it. Austen's works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century realism. Her plots, though fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. Her work brought her little personal fame and only a few positive reviews during her lifetime, but the publication in 1869 of her nephew's 'A Memoir of Jane Austen' introduced her to a wider public, and by the 1940s she had become widely accepted in academia as a great English writer. The second half of the 20th century saw a proliferation of Austen scholarship and the emergence of a Janeite fan culture.

Have you ever heard of a story born with the death of its author? Stories always begin in reverse, starting with the writer. No matter how hard they try, we hear their voice narrating the story, whether through an omniscient narrator, in which case we often hear the author's voice in our minds, or by choosing to tell the story through their characters, making those characters their instruments, allowing us to hear their voice through them. They become the voice that tells the story and expresses their inner thoughts. Then, after reading their work and becoming attached to it, we begin to follow them, eagerly awaiting their every new release, be it books, articles, interviews, or writing guides, as many writers do today. We expect more from them, so what if they promise us ten parts of a book we love and whose heroes we adore? We'll be ready to read it part by part, wishing the story would never end. This has been the custom, except in the Millennium series, or at least the first three parts. Since the author, the "master of the novel," died before the characters entered the real world, like a father who left us while his child was still developing in his mother's womb, so too was Millennium taking shape in the womb of the printing press at that time. Fortunately, the embryo had three lives, resulting in Millennium in its three parts. The author gained immense fame after its publication. Stieg Larsson is the first novelist that comes to mind for many when we think of a Swedish writer. He is now as famous as the girl with the dragon tattoo he created, whom most people surely know, or at least have seen on book covers or in movie trailers. That small girl, dressed in black with a dragon tattoo on her back, evokes a sense of insignificance and vulnerability, compelling you to protect her—or, conversely, to avoid her. The story behind the story, or the story of how the story was created, is our focus now. Our aim is to trace Stieg Larsson's journey and explore the origins of his story, the one that shook the foundations of Sweden and which he sought to expose to the world. Are these situations he once experienced? Is this the Sweden we don't know? Or is it merely the imagination of a writer? How did the novel come to be after its author's death? Why was his life actually threatened before he died? Did Stig write it alone, or did someone else contribute? How did his life partner lose any rights to his literary legacy, despite living with him for over thirty years? Why did she stay with him all those years without marrying? What does Swedish law have to do with this story? Did he really die of a heart attack? And does Stig truly resemble the characters in his novel? I wrote this story so that Stig could strip away the masks and expose the false public decency of many. While we believe we are moving towards civilization worldwide, many of us harbor barbaric desires and impulses, which Stig skillfully revealed. In the world of Millennium, all masks are vulnerable and can be exposed to the world.

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and THE TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023. The exhilarating and startlingly honest autobiography of the living legend. 'Glorious, exuberant, chatty and candid , a 970-page victory lap past all who ever doubted, diminished or dissed her . . . generous dollops of chutzpah ... Nobody puts Barbra in the corner' New York Times 'A fascinating read ... Streisand writes relatively succinctly, with warmth and wit. Behind the sequins, beneath the wigs and through the glass of the recording studio, there's just a woman who dreamed of being famous and make it happen, on her terms . It's an accomplished and entrancing walk through a life well lived' Evening Standard ' The mother of all memoirs' New Yorker Barbra Streisand is by any account a living legend, a woman who in a career spanning six decades has excelled in every area of entertainment. She is among the handful of EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) and has one of the greatest and most recognisable voices in popular music. She has been nominated for a Grammy 46 times, and with Yentl she became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major motion picture. In My Name Is Barbra, she tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl (musical and film) to the long string of successes in every medium in the years that followed. She recounts her early struggles to become an actress, eventually turning to singing to earn a living; the recording of some of her acclaimed albums; the years of effort involved in making Yentl; her direction of The Prince of Tides; her friendships with figures ranging from Marlon Brando to Madeleine Albright; her political advocacy; and the fulfillment she's found in her marriage to James Brolin. No entertainer's memoir has been more anticipated than Barbra Streisand's, and this engrossing book will be eagerly welcomed by her millions of fans. Praise for My Name is Barbara: 'A brilliant memoir' Hillary Clinton 'Exhilarating ... leaves blood on the page ... My Name Is Barbra is 992 pages of startling honesty and self-reflection, deadpan parenthetical asides, encyclopedic recall of onstage outfits, and rigorous analyses of her films' Vanity Fair 'A Streisand obsessive's dream come true. It addresses all the rumours and misrepresentations of her long and extraordinary life, from nearly missing out on A Star is Born to dating Pierre Trudeau, Omar Sharif and Marlon Brando. The wait has been worth every word! ' Richard E Grant, Sunday Times ' Mystical, messy, bawdy and funny ... My Name is Barbra confides her insecurities and a ravening hunger for fame ... silent but eloquent and vociferous writing' Peter Conrad, The Observer 'At heart this is a story so bursting with life, fury, unbelievable ambition and food (Streisand loves to eat) that you come away from it exhausted but smiling ... hear hear!' The Guardian 'This enormous, poignant memoir from the ultimate showbusiness trouper shows that you can never have it all (even if you're Barbra). The writing is great and the likeable formidable personality shines through . . . deeper than the average celebrity memoir' The Times 'No less than a living legend ... Streisand's story is truly inspirational and it's one that you'll want to pick up again and again' Glamour ST Bestseller, November 2023. ST Music Book of The Year, 2023.

The bestselling author of Good Girls Die First, It's Behind You and Tag, You're Dead is back with an entertaining, high-octane and read-in-a-single-sitting new thriller. Walking disaster Saffron and her perfectionist twin sister Georgia have only one thing in common-they are both obsessed with battle royale video game Sole Survivor. While working at a brand new, high tech escape room complex, Saffron poses a question to the resident AI: which high school stereotype would survive the longest in a real life version of Sole Survivor? She is convinced a rebel like her would beat a know-it-all like Georgia. Unbeknown to her, the AI decides to determine the answer to her question by testing it out for real. It invites Saffron and Georgia's gamer friends to a preview of the escape rooms, but then it locks the doors and turns the rooms into a life-or-death battle to be the last player standing. The rebel, the know-it-all, the princess, the jock, the geek, the weirdo, the star, the artist and the criminal. Just like in Sole Survivor, only one can survive the night... It's Cabin in the Woods meets Squid Game Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus. Knife-edge tension and twists you won't see coming. PRIASE FOR KATHRYN FOXFIELD'S PREVIOUS BOOKS Good Girls Die First "Deliciously dark and unsettling in the best possible way. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!" - Fantastic Book Dragon "Stephen King-esque…with a fast-paced plot" - Irish Times " . . . the most gripping thriller of the year; hugely entertaining, high-octane and read-in-a-single-sitting." - ReadingZone " "Foxfield's focus on social niches and escalating suspense will appeal to fans of Karen McManus." - Publishers Weekly "This gothic-inspired thriller with nods to Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier will keep readers on the edge of their seats and turning pages as quickly as they can. It is immersing, puzzling, and unpredictable, with a surprise ending that's sure to have teens talking. - School Library Journal "Undeniably creepy from the start... With a macabre escape and a surprising amount of heart, this will leave readers feeling oddly optimistic and perhaps a little kinder to themselves..." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED Review It's Behind You "addictive, easy to get lost in, and utterly compelling to read" - And On She Reads "keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing who did it until the very last pages" - ReadingZone Tag, You're Dead "The characters are addictive, the ending satisfying and the reveals at the end pack a punch. If you love your twisty thrillers, then Tag, You're Dead is a must read!" - Rosie Talbot, author of Sixteen Souls "Full of tension and twists, readers will be unsure who to trust as the book heads to an explosive conclusion." - The ReadingZone "a smart and calculated read with a killer storyline that shows the dark side of fame" - Pretty Little Memoirs

Food & Wine Best Cookbooks of 2024 ¿ New York Times Best Cookbooks of 2024 ¿ 2025 James Beard Award Nominee for Baking and Desserts ¿ 2025 IACP Julia Child First Book Award Nominee "Breaking Bao is the rare cookbook that stops you in your tracks. Visually arresting, thoughtfully researched, and both whimsical and grounded in serious baking expertise." -New York Times From acclaimed pastry chef Clarice Lam: a visually sumptuous pan-Asian baking book exploring an umami-rich array of baked goods, confections, and savory snacks. Breaking Bao is a culinary journey bridging gaps between Asian flavors and global techniques. It is a collection of recipes rooted in renowned chef Clarice Lam’s personal journey of self-discovery and the transformative power of embracing one’s heritage. Here are 88 approachable recipes that are firmly rooted in classical French technique but travel far and wide. Dive into three chapters, exploring: Bao: the fundamentals of baked, steamed, fried, or laminated buns and breads, from golden curry-filled donuts to Rice Dumplings filled with Hong Kong Bolognese to Vietnamese Cinnamon-Raisin Babka. Cakes & Desserts: classics treated with a twist, such as Mango-Yakult Tres Leches Cake, Ovaltine Mochi Marjolaine, and Pandan-Lime Meringue Pie. Snax: savory and sweet treats, from Cantonese-Style Fig and Marzipan Mooncakes to Gochujang-Furikake Caramel Popcorn to Ramen Cheese Itz. Featuring more than 100 stunning photographs by prominent food, lifestyle, and travel photographer Evan Sung, Breaking Bao is a visual feast as well as a go-to cookbook. For home cooks looking to expand their repertoires, these projects range from simple cookies and flavored popcorn snacks to lavish mille feuille and laminated pastries. With humor, whimsy, and respect for traditions, Lam invites readers into these pages to break barriers, bread, and bao, all at the same table.ASIAN BAKING EXPERTISE: A daughter of parents from Hong Kong, Clarice Lam has been in the New York City restaurant industry for more than a decade and has garnered an impressive resume, working in Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Spice Market, as the executive chef at The Chocolate Room in Brooklyn, and as the opening pastry chef for Kimika, named one of 2021’s best new restaurants in the world by Condé Nast Traveler and a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2022. Using the nostalgic flavors of her childhood with the techniques imparted to her in culinary school, she is uniquely positioned to create the go-to book on Asian-inspired baking. KITCHEN SUPERSTAR: With 88 foolproof, well-tested recipes, including cakes, cookies, buns, mochi, mooncakes, donuts, and savory snacks, and more than 100 gorgeous photographs, Breaking Bao is your next great recipe book for the Hall of Fame section of your cookbook corner. UNIQUE COOKBOOK: There are not many classically trained pastry chefs writing accessible books for use by home bakers. There are also very few baking books that meld multicultural flavors and techniques. Breaking Bao blends various cuisine staples from countries in Asia with hints of technique drawn from American, European, and traditional Asian baking. Perfect for: Home bakers of all skill levels Asian cuisine and culture enthusiasts Professionally trained chefs and bakers Cookbook collectors and baking book browsers Gift-giving for food lovers’ birthday, housewarming, graduation, or any occasion

Ready to head back to the Tens? Get nostalgic with this bingeworthy 2010s Music Trivia set from Ridley’s Games! > Time for trivia? Simply divide into two teams and take turns asking the opposing team a question. You can choose whether to play multiple-choice or question-only, depending on how confident your team feels. Want to belt out a tune? Pick a player to sing the lyric line on the card to their team, who must correctly sing the next line back. And if they came to slay, then they can name the artist and song title for bonus points! Made for people who’d love to relive those #fireemoji days, this trivia game is suitable for ages 8+, 2 or more players, and has an average 15-minute gameplay. How to Play: Divide into two teams and decide whether you want to play Trivia or Next Line (or both!). The teams will take turns asking the opposition a question. TRIVIA: There are two ways to play the Trivia round, depending on how confident your team feels. The easiest way is multiple choice, where you hear the question and four possible answers; the harder way is to hear just the question. Teams earn one point for each correct answer; the first team to reach 10 points wins! NEXT LINE: Pick a player to sing the lyric line on the card to their team who must correctly sing the next line back to win a point. They can also earn a bonus point for naming the artist and song title. The more you commit to the singing—or even impersonating the artist!—the more fun there is to be had! The winning team is the first to gain 10 points or, if you want to play through the deck, the team with the highest score. TL;DR? It’s all on the cards, babe. Who It’s For: Anyone who twerked, flossed, dabbed, or shook to those boppin’ Tens tunes, or just wants to flex #humblebrag. What's Inside: 40 game cards and instructions. > BINGEABLE GAMING – There are two quiz games across all 40 cards, and both are easy to play. Do you want to put your trivia skills to the test or belt out next lines? Either way this is best played as teams, so get into groups and choose who’ll go first. For Trivia, take turns asking the opposing team the question on the card. For Next Line, a player sings the lyric to their own team, who then correctly sing back the next line! It’s supposed to be first to 10 points wins, but we reckon you’ll be thirsty for more. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAM – This 2010s Music Trivia Set is for anyone who twerked, flossed, dabbed, or shook to those boppin’ Tens tunes, or just wants to flex #humblebrag. For ages 8+, 2 or more players, and with an average 15-minute gameplay, this quiz card game is great for parties, long journeys, glamping, or to finally find out who’s the GOAT! WHAT’S INSIDE? – 40 trivia cards and instructions for two different ways to play—although we’re big fans of people playing our trivia games by their own rules, too! RIDLEY’S – Awesome games and gifts packed with personality—that’s our passion! From hilarious party games, light strategy games, and fast-paced card games to intricately illustrated jigsaw puzzles, challenging trivia sets, and more. We’re a crew of curious creatives who care deeply about making products that bring people together with fun and laughter to create memories that last a lifetime.

A newly discovered firsthand account of the Hiroshima bombing and its aftermath from one of the survivors-a lost classic that brings unprecedented immediacy to our understanding of this world-changing event. The whole city was covered with dark clouds, and conflagrations were breaking out in various directions. Could all of this have happened at once? It was then that black drops of rain, as big as blackberries, began to fall - rain caused by the atomic bomb. I wondered what had happened to my home and church. With a pale face, I ran down the Koi highway... When the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima at 8.15am on 6 August 1945, Methodist minister Kiyoshi Tanimoto was just beginning his day by helping a neighbour on the outskirts of the city. Unbeknownst to him at that moment, the events that awaited him over the following days and weeks were full of horror, but through his courageous determination to save his family, church and city from total devastation, Tanimoto would become internationally recognised as a hero of Hiroshima. In 1946, he featured in American journalist John Hersey's seminal book Hiroshima which catapulted Tanimoto into global fame - but it is only now that we have discovered the manuscript that he wrote in his own words. With a powerful introduction from Tanimoto's daughter, Koko Kondo, a renowned peace activist in her own right, Hiroshima, 8:15 is a remarkable eyewitness account of this devastating moment of history. Written in the immediate aftermath of the bomb, the manuscript had been lost for many decades and was only recently discovered in a university archive. Today, over eighty years later in a world fraught with conflict, Tanimoto's story is a moving and powerful reminder of how the strength, love and resilience of the human spirit will always triumph over the things that divide us. PRAISE FOR HIROSHIMA, 8:15 "A gripping real-time search for life and hope" - The Guardian "A stunning historical discovery and a heartrending testimony." - Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning coauthor of American Prometheus, the book behind Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer "More than 80 years after the bombing, Tanimoto's voice rings out... Hiroshima, 8:15 flows with the relentless intensity of eyewitness testimony." -The Economist "An extraordinary find" - The Sunday Times "Now, more than ever, we need what Tanimoto supplies: a fresh, vivid reminder of the tragedies these weapons inflict on the innocent" - The Telegraph "We have apparently spent eighty years forgetting what atomic warfare actually looks like. This intensely moving book is also an unsparing chronicle of the reality of mass destruction. Pray God it will restore some sense of urgency to our commitment to a nuclear-free world." - Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury "More urgent today than at any time since the end of the Cold War." - Serhii Plokhy, author of The Nuclear Age and Chernobyl "A rare and important addition to history." - Susan Southard, author of Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War

FROM #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR SIERRA CARTWRIGHT Book five in the Mastered series His heart wasn''t in it... Dom Niles Malloy has locked his favourite flogger in a drawer and has all-but left the lifestyle, but then Brandy Hess shatters his solitude and shakes up his life, challenging him to fully live again. What you see isn''t what you get... Though he was once a respected and well-known Dom, Niles Malloy rarely attends functions at the Den, and he has no interest in ever having another permanent relationship. He satisfies his occasional desire for kink by playing with subs who have no expectations. Professional sub Brandy Hess has known Master Niles for years, and when he invites her to play with him, she accepts. But she''s unprepared for the reaction she has to his intense brand of play. In their shared, emotionally intimate moments she sees the weariness in his features, and she has a dangerous and compelling urge to know him better. Experience has taught her to never again settle for less than a man''s complete commitment, yet when she runs into him outside their normal setting, neither can deny the potent and pulsing attraction. He''s much, much deeper than she imagined, and she soon realises he''s everything she wants and doesn''t need in a man. As she surrenders to him a second time, Brandy wonders if she''s lost her sense of self-preservation. She''s attracted to an enigma, a man with an edge, someone as remote as he is demanding, and her life will never be the same... Outstanding Industry Reviews The BDSM is realistic and gives interested kinky readers a good vicarious read. The plot of this story is sweet and simplistic. The world building is realistic with a contemporary vibe. The characters are really what make this story enjoyable. ~ The Romance Reviews Whenever I think that Sierra Cartwright has out done herself with a previous book, she proves me wrong time and time again. Thank you Ms. Cartwright for being talentedly blessed. ~ Blackraven's Reviews About Sierra Cartwright Sierra Cartwright was born in Manchester, England and raised in Colorado. Moving to the United States was nothing like her young imagination had concocted. She expected to see cowboys everywhere, and a covered wagon or two would have been really nice! Now she writes novels as untamed as the Rockies, while spending a fair amount of time in Texas where, it turns out, the Texas Rangers law officers don''t ride horses to roundup the bad guys, or have six-shooters strapped to their sexy thighs as she expected. And she''s yet to see a poster that says Wanted: Dead or Alive. (Can you tell she has a vivid imagination?) Sierra wrote her first book at age nine, a fanfic episode of Star Trek when she was fifteen, and she completed her first romance novel at nineteen. She actually kissed William Shatner (Captain Kirk) on the cheek once, and she says that''s her biggest claim to fame. Her adventure through the turmoil of trust has taught her that love is the greatest gift. Like her image of the Old West, her writing is untamed, and nothing is off-limits. She invites you to take a walk on the wild side but only if you dare.

Inspired by Emily Hampshire's real life and friends. Read Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch and root for her as she finds her own magic." -Amy Poehler (Actress, Producer, Writer) From the weirdo mind of actor, writer, and producer Emily Hampshire (SCHITT'S CREEK, CHAPELWAITE, 12 MONKEYS), AMELIA AIERWOOD: Basic Witch follows the least-favorite daughter of L.A.’s most famous family of witches, the Aierwoods. Amelia’s sisters have all followed in the footsteps of their prominent parents but everything Amelia does is just a little… off-brand. A late bloomer who has yet to find her calling, Amelia uses her powers for mostly mundane problems but even those lead to magical misfires. As her family's fame continues to rise, they have no choice but to exclude their bumbling black-sheep daughter from the next great chapter of the Aierwoods - reality TV! With the help of her adopted brother Spaghetti - who she accidentally turned into a yeti… long story - Amelia must carve her own path outside of her family’s influence. "Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch is not only the wittiest, but the most brightly colored analysis of celebrity culture I have ever read. Amelia is an endearing and resourceful heroine, and I found the fart scene particularly pungent. Brava, Emily Hampshire!" -Alison Bechdel (Author, Fun home) "Basic Witch is a deliriously fun tale filled with chaotic and surprising characters. Emily Hampshire has cast quite a spell with this wacky and warm, passionately bent tale about music, belonging, sandwitches, and the unforgettable world of Amelia Aierwood-an endlessly entertaining young witch with a touch of sadness in her eyes. Bravo Emily!" -Cameron Crowe (Writer-Director) "The 'Basic Witch' at the center of Emily Hampshire's debut graphic novel is anything but basic. The misfit of her famous family, I couldn't help but think that Schitt's Creek's Stevie Budd and Amelia share some DNA: both characters go on a journey to discover that everything they thought was their problem... is actually their superpower. The story is told with equal parts heart and humor and is ultimately deeply affecting because it's about us. All of us who've ever felt like we didn't fit in and needed to change ourselves to measure up. Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch shows us that being your authentic self is the most powerful magic of all." -Jim Kwik (New York Times Best-Selling Author, Limitless) "Smart, anxious, and hilariously relatable, Amelia Aierwood and her misadventures are a fun blast of heartfelt magic for every kid (or adult) who has ever felt like they didn't belong." -Jonathan Gropper (New York Times Best-Selling Author, This Is Where I Leave You) "Sabrina-meets-The Kardashians in Emily Hampshire's triumphant foray into comics. A wonderfully subversive take on the witch genre-and a masterclass in world building -the story of Amelia and the instantly iconic Aierwood clan carries the same message of love and inclusivity that made Schitt's Creek one of the most groundbreaking comedies of the 21st century. Honestly, I can't remember life before Spaghetti the Yeti--and I don't want to." -Sam Damshenas (Entertainment Editor, Gay Times) "Infectious, funny, and heartwarming, Basic Witch offers a fresh take on family dynamics, magic, and the universal pursuit of figuring yourself out. We volunteer to be honourary members of the Aierwood Family. Adopt us, Amelia!" -Tegan and Sara (Musicians)

2026 NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER WINNER OF THE LIBBY AWARD FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION WINNER OF BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL, 2026 LOCUS AWARDS THE INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER Recommended by New York Times Book Review People NPR Rolling Stone Los Angeles Times Reader's Digest and more! "This one has it all." - George R.R. Martin "As delicious as it is disorienting." - Zakiya Dalila Harris "Suspenseful, timely, and heartfelt." - People "Mind-bending." - New York Times Book Review In this exhilarating tale by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the narrative-a surprisingly cutting, yet heartfelt drama about art and love, identity and connection, and, ultimately, what makes us human. This is a story unlike anything you've read before. The future of storytelling is here. Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister's lavish Caribbean wedding, she's unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It's a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots. When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey-one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu's novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next. A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, Death of the Author is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of Yellowface with the heartfelt humanity of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it. "An ambitious, inventive tribute to the power of storytelling itself." - Nikki Erlick, New York Times bestselling author of The Measure "A deeply felt dazzle. A blaze. It is true deep to the bones." - Luis Alberto Urrea, Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author of The House of Broken Angels "There's more vivid imagination in a page of Nnedi Okorafor's work than in whole volumes." - Ursula K. Le Guin

A sizzling new adult sports romance, for fans of Heated Rivalry, Challengers, Carrie Soto is Back and Red, White and Royal Blue. 'A debut romance that will capture your heart' Cosmopolitan Game. Set. Perfect Match? Recently-turned-pro tennis player Austin Hardy has been out since high school, and it's never been a big deal. That is, until he becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament. Suddenly, being gay is a huge deal. If the newly found fame wasn't enough to send Austin spiralling, then tripping and falling in front of the very talented, very attractive, (probably) straight World #2, Diego Cruz, is the last straw. Only, the awkward gaffe marks the start of a blossoming friendship off the court. But when Diego admits his attraction to Austin, the flirty banter and mixed signals start to throw Austin off his game. And neither player wants to acknowledge their looming showdown at the fourth round of the US Open. Only one can win in the game of tennis, but who will win in the game of love? 'Edward Schmit serves up decadent romance and delicious chemistry in his stunning debut. This is what sports romance dreams are made of' B.K. Borison, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'Edward Schmit serves a stunning ace with this heartfelt and page-turning exploration of what it means for fierce competitors to surrender to something greater than themselves. A winning debut' Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guncle "Whether it was from the dreamy, courtside romance or high stakes of professional tennis, my heart pounded its way through every page of Edward Schmit's spectacular debut' Robbie Couch, New York Times bestselling author 'With the intensity of Challengers and the sweetness of Wimbledon, Edward Schmit's debut The Open Era has quickly become one of my top pieces of tennis media ever' Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped 'An absolute grand slam of a debut!' Simone Soltani, USA Today bestselling author of Ride with Me 'As exciting (and with as many twists!) as a five-set Sinner-Alcaraz final. Sweet, sharp, funny, and full of heart' Josh Duboff, author of Early Thirties 'Pivoting seamlessly from sporting rivalry to swoon-worthy romance, this a gripping and memorable debut' Zac Hammett, author of See You At The Finish Line 'Game, set, match, readers...this is about to be your next five-star obsession!' Chip Pons, author of Winging It with You 'This book will win your heart in straight sets!' Tobias Madden, award-winning author of Anything But Fine 'An ace of a romance told in such a tender way that you won't be able to put it down!' Matthew Hubbard, critically acclaimed author of The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge 'A beautiful romance, full of longing, heat and athletic men doing athlete things' Los Angeles Times '[A] compulsively readable debut...This is a welcome addition to the growing subgenre of tennis romances' &l

Written in the last decade of Dickens' life, 'Great Expectations' was praised widely and universally admired. It was his last great novel, and many critics believe it to be his finest. Readers and critics alike praised it for its masterful plot, which rises above the melodrama of some of his earlier works, and for its three-dimensional, psychologically realistic characters-characters much deeper and more interesting than the one-note caricatures of earlier novels. It depicts the growth and personal development of an orphan named Pip. The novel was first published in serial form in Dickens's weekly periodical 'All the Year Round', from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It is set among the marshes of Kent and in London in the early to mid-1800s. The Great Expectations contains some of Dickens most memorable scenes, including its opening, in a graveyard, when the young orphan Pip is accosted by the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch. It is full of extreme imagery, poverty, prison ships, barriers and chains, and fights to the death. Upon its release, Thomas Carlyle spoke of "All that Pip's nonsense". Later, George Bernard Shaw praised the novel as "All of one piece and consistently truthfull". Dickens felt Great Expectations was his best work, calling it "a very fine idea". Throughout the narrative, typical Dickensian themes emerge: wealth and poverty, love and rejection, and the eventual triumph of good over evil. This book has become very popular and is now taught as a classic in many English classes. It has been translated into many languages and adapted many times in film and other media. Charles Dickens: Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity. The second of eight children, he grew up in a family frequently beset by financial insecurity. At age eleven, Dickens was taken out of school and sent to work in London backing warehouse, where his job was to paste labels on bottles for six shillings a week. His father John Dickens, was a warmhearted but improvident man. When he was condemned the Marshela Prison for unpaid debts, he unwisely agreed that Charles should stay in lodgings and continue working while the rest of the family joined him in jail. This three-month separation caused Charles much pain; his experiences as a child alone in a huge city - cold, isolated with barely enough to eat - haunted him for the rest of his life. When the family fortunes improved, Charles went back to school, after which he became an office boy, a freelance reporter and finally an author. With 'Pickwick Papers' (1836-7) he achieved immediate fame; in a few years he was easily the most popular and respected writer of his time. It has been estimated that one out of every ten persons in Victorian England was a Dickens reader. 'Oliver Twist' (1837), 'Nicholas Nickleby' (1838-9) and 'The Old Curiosity Shop' (1840-41) were huge successes. 'Martin Chuzzlewit' (1843-4) was less so, but Dickens followed it with his unforgettable, 'A Christmas Carol' (1843), 'Bleak House' (1852-3), 'Hard Times' (1854) and 'Little Dorrit' (1855-7) reveal his deepening concern for the injustices of British Society. 'A Tale of Two Cities' (1859), 'Great Expectations' (1860-1) and 'Our Mutual Friend' (1864-5) complete his major works.

A sizzling new adult sports romance, for fans of Heated Rivalry, Challengers, Carrie Soto is Back and Red, White and Royal Blue. 'A debut romance that will capture your heart' Cosmopolitan Game. Set. Perfect Match? Recently-turned-pro tennis player Austin Hardy has been out since high school, and it's never been a big deal. That is, until he becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament. Suddenly, being gay is a huge deal. If the newly found fame wasn't enough to send Austin spiralling, then tripping and falling in front of the very talented, very attractive, (probably) straight World #2, Diego Cruz, is the last straw. Only, the awkward gaffe marks the start of a blossoming friendship off the court. But when Diego admits his attraction to Austin, the flirty banter and mixed signals start to throw Austin off his game. And neither player wants to acknowledge their looming showdown at the fourth round of the US Open. Only one can win in the game of tennis, but who will win in the game of love? 'Edward Schmit serves up decadent romance and delicious chemistry in his stunning debut. This is what sports romance dreams are made of' B.K. Borison, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'Edward Schmit serves a stunning ace with this heartfelt and page-turning exploration of what it means for fierce competitors to surrender to something greater than themselves. A winning debut' Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guncle "Whether it was from the dreamy, courtside romance or high stakes of professional tennis, my heart pounded its way through every page of Edward Schmit's spectacular debut' Robbie Couch, New York Times bestselling author 'With the intensity of Challengers and the sweetness of Wimbledon, Edward Schmit's debut The Open Era has quickly become one of my top pieces of tennis media ever' Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped 'An absolute grand slam of a debut!' Simone Soltani, USA Today bestselling author of Ride with Me 'As exciting (and with as many twists!) as a five-set Sinner-Alcaraz final. Sweet, sharp, funny, and full of heart' Josh Duboff, author of Early Thirties 'Pivoting seamlessly from sporting rivalry to swoon-worthy romance, this a gripping and memorable debut' Zac Hammett, author of See You At The Finish Line 'Game, set, match, readers...this is about to be your next five-star obsession!' Chip Pons, author of Winging It with You 'This book will win your heart in straight sets!' Tobias Madden, award-winning author of Anything But Fine 'An ace of a romance told in such a tender way that you won't be able to put it down!' Matthew Hubbard, critically acclaimed author of The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge 'A beautiful romance, full of longing, heat and athletic men doing athlete things' Los Angeles Times '[A] compulsively readable debut...This is a welcome addition to the growing subgenre of tennis romances' Publishers Weekly 'Schmit enters the romance genre with a smashing forehand...This book is sure to quench readers' thirst for more queer representation in sports books and will be enjoyed by fans of Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry (2019) and Taylor Jenkins Reid's Carrie Soto Is Back (2022)' Booklist

In The Complete Peanuts 1959-1960 : As the first decade of Peanuts closes, it seems only fitting to bid farewell to that halcyon decade with a cover starring Patty, one of the original three Peanuts. Major new additions to classic Peanuts lore come fast and furious here. Snoopy begins to take up residence atop his doghouse, and his repertoire of impressions increases exponentially. Lucy sets up her booth and offers her first five-cent psychiatric counsel. (Her advice to a forlorn Charlie Brown: "Get over it.") For the very first time, Linus spends all night in the pumpkin patch on his lonely vigil for the Great Pumpkin (although he laments that he was a victim of "false doctrine," he's back 12 months later). Linus also gets into repeated, and visually explosive, scuffles with a blanket-stealing Snoopy, suffers the first depredations of his blanket-hating grandmother, and falls in love with his new teacher Miss Othmar. Even more importantly, several years after the last addition to the cast ("Pig-Pen"), Charlie Brown's sister Sally makes her appearance -- first as an (off-panel) brand new baby for Charlie to gush over, then as a toddler and eventually a real, talking, thinking cast member. (By the end of this volume, she'll already start developing her crush on Linus.) All this, and one of the most famous Peanuts strips ever: "Happiness is a warm puppy." Almost one hundred of the 731 strips collected in this volume (including many Sundays) have never been collected in any book since their original release, with one hundred more having been collected only once in relatively obscure and now impossible-to-find books; in other words, close to one quarter of the strips have never been seen by anyone but the most avid Peanuts completists. The introduction is by comedienne extraordinaire Whoopi Goldberg, who reveals which Peanuts character she has tattooed on her body (and where) -- as well as telling of her meeting with "Sparky" Schulz, and her fascinating theory on Snoopy's brother Spike. As always, this volume is gorgeously designed by award-winning cartoonist Seth. The Complete Peanuts continues to receive national and international media attention for its sophisticated treatment of one of the 20th Century's defining American classics. In The Complete Peanuts 1961-1962 : Launching into the 1960s, Schulz adds another new cast member. Two, in fact: The obnoxious Frieda, of "naturally curly hair" fame, and her inert, seemingly boneless cat Faron. The rapidly maturing Sally, who was after all just born in the previous volume, is ready to start kindergarten and not at all happy about it. Linus' life is particularly turbulent in this volume, as he is forced to wear glasses, sees the unexpected return of his favorite teacher, Miss Othmar, and coaxes Sally into the cult of the Great Pumpkin (with regrettable results). Snoopy, meanwhile, becomes a compulsive water sprinkler head stander, unhappily befriends a snowman or two, and endures a family crisis involving a little family of birds. Plus baseball blowouts (including a rare team victory), Beethoven birthdays, and plenty of dubious psychiatric help for a nickel. This book collects 730 daily and Sunday comic strips, the vast majority of which are not currently available in any in-print Peanuts collection, and many of which have never been reprinted since their initial appearance in papers over 50 years ago. With a new introduction by legendary jazz pianist/vocalist Diana Krall and gorgeous design by award-winning cartoonist Seth.