it takes two

'Full of invention and ingenuity . . . Great fun' - SFX 'Parker's settings and characterisations never miss a beat' - Publishers Weekly K. J. Parker's new novel is the remarkable tale of the siege of a walled city, and the even more remarkable man who had to defend it. A siege is approaching, and the city has little time to prepare. The people have no food and no weapons, and the enemy has sworn to slaughter them all. To save the city will take a miracle, but what it has is Orhan. A colonel of engineers, Orhan has far more experience with bridge-building than battles, is a cheat and a liar, and has a serious problem with authority. He is, in other words, perfect for the job. Sixteen Ways To Defend a Walled City is the story of Orhan, son of Siyyah Doctus Felix Praeclarissimus, and his history of the Great Siege, written down so that the deeds and sufferings of great men may never be forgotten. *** Other books by K.J. Parker: Fencer Trilogy The Colours in the Steel The Belly of the Bow The Proof House Scavenger Trilogy Shadow Pattern Memory Engineer Trilogy Devices and Desires Evil for Evil The Escapement Two of Swords The Two of Swords: Part 1 The Two of Swords: Part 2 The Two of Swords: Part 3 Novels The Company The Folding Knife The Hammer Sharps

'Full of invention and ingenuity . . . Great fun' - SFX 'Parker's settings and characterisations never miss a beat' - Publishers Weekly K. J. Parker's new novel is the remarkable tale of the siege of a walled city, and the even more remarkable man who had to defend it. A siege is approaching, and the city has little time to prepare. The people have no food and no weapons, and the enemy has sworn to slaughter them all. To save the city will take a miracle, but what it has is Orhan. A colonel of engineers, Orhan has far more experience with bridge-building than battles, is a cheat and a liar, and has a serious problem with authority. He is, in other words, perfect for the job. Sixteen Ways To Defend a Walled City is the story of Orhan, son of Siyyah Doctus Felix Praeclarissimus, and his history of the Great Siege, written down so that the deeds and sufferings of great men may never be forgotten. *** Other books by K.J. Parker: Fencer Trilogy The Colours in the Steel The Belly of the Bow The Proof House Scavenger Trilogy Shadow Pattern Memory Engineer Trilogy Devices and Desires Evil for Evil The Escapement Two of Swords The Two of Swords: Part 1 The Two of Swords: Part 2 The Two of Swords: Part 3 Novels The Company The Folding Knife The Hammer Sharps

An indispensable guide to understanding the Israel–Palestine conflict, and how we might yet still find a way out of it. 'Ilan Pappe is the most original, radical and hard-hitting of Israel’s "new historians".' Avi Shlaim, author of Three Worlds The devastation of 7 October 2023 and the horrors that followed astounded the world. But the Israel–Palestine conflict didn’t start on 7 October. It didn’t start in 1967 either, when Israel occupied the West Bank, or in 1948 when the state of Israel was declared. It started in 1882, when the first Zionist settlers arrived in what was then Ottoman Palestine. Ilan Pappe untangles the history of two peoples, now sharing one land. Going back to the founding fathers of Zionism, Pappe expertly takes us through the twists and turns of international policy towards Israel–Palestine; Palestinian resistance to occupation, and the changes taking place in Israel itself.

1.This device is equipped with two operating handles that can be used on the arm, abdomen, thigh, hip, or waist. It covers multiple areas, reducing the need for repeated adjustments and making it more efficient to use. 2.The handles work on deep muscles, promoting natural contraction and coordinating with the body's metabolic processes to achieve the effect of shaping and building muscle. 3.Shape your body in a relaxed way, without going to the gym or sweating. You can complete a shaping workout in just 30 minutes. 4.This device is designed to be lightweight and portable, so it can be used anytime, anywhere, whether at home, in the office, or while traveling. 5.Consistent, regular use will give you a more fit and healthy physique. The effects will take time to show, but continued use will bring you the changes you desire.

Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life. Between his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though Adam’s life is falling apart. At least he has two people to keep him sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best friend, Angela. But all day long, old memories and new heartaches come crashing together, throwing Adam’s life into chaos. The bindings of his world are coming untied one by one; yet in spite of everything he has to let go, he may also find freedom in the release. From the New York Times bestselling author of A Monster Calls comes a raw, darkly funny, and deeply affecting story about the courage it takes to live your truth.

As celebrated artists that draw from popular culture, KAWS and Andy Warhol are known for creating art that is approachable beyond the confines of the traditional art world. While at first glance, both artists’ works often appear celebratory and joyful, they share a number of dark common threads beneath the surface: tragedy as spectacle and meditations on death and dying. When these two bold bodies of work are juxtaposed, that connection is made explicit and powerful. This book highlights the artistic intersection of KAWS and Warhol, featuring their takes on death and disaster, advertising, nostalgia, abstraction, skulls, and self-portraiture. Accompanying a major exhibition at The Andy Warhol Museum that will travel internationally, it presents some of the most standout and analogous works from two of the most popular artists of all time.

As celebrated artists that draw from popular culture, KAWS and Andy Warhol are known for creating art that is approachable beyond the confines of the traditional art world. While at first glance, both artists’ works often appear celebratory and joyful, they share a number of dark common threads beneath the surface: tragedy as spectacle and meditations on death and dying. When these two bold bodies of work are juxtaposed, that connection is made explicit and powerful. This book highlights the artistic intersection of KAWS and Warhol, featuring their takes on death and disaster, advertising, nostalgia, abstraction, skulls, and self-portraiture. Accompanying a major exhibition at The Andy Warhol Museum that will travel internationally, it presents some of the most standout and analogous works from two of the most popular artists of all time.

Wednesday's Child is the sixth novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from Past Reason Hated.When two social workers, investigating reports of child abuse, appear at Brenda Scupham's door, her fear of authority leads her to comply meekly with their requests. Even when they say that they must take her seven-year old daughter Gemma away for tests . . .It is only when they fail to return Gemma the following day that Brenda realizes something has gone terribly wrong.At the same time, Banks is investigating a particularly unpleasant murder at the site of an abandoned mine. Gradually, the leads in the two cases converge, guiding Banks to one of the most truly terrifying criminals he will ever meet . . .Wednesday's Child is followed by the seventh book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, Dry Bones That Dream.

It is the first decade of the twentieth century and the British Empire in India is at its apogee. As the Viceroy Lord Curzon hands over to his successor and preparations are made for a visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Raj has never seemed mightier and more secure. Yet beneath this glittering surface, in the bazaars and markets of the teeming population, independence is beginning to stir. When a policeman is shot during the royal visit it is up to Kim, still working as the Colonel's agent, to uncover the conspiracy. With its vivid portrayal of city and countryside, The Imperial Agent takes us back to the marvellous world of Kipling's India - but a world changing swiftly. For Kim it is a harsher world, for now his two allegiances - to India and to the Colonel - are coming into conflict.

Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life. Between his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though Adam’s life is falling apart. At least he has two people to keep him sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best friend, Angela. But all day long, old memories and new heartaches come crashing together, throwing Adam’s life into chaos. The bindings of his world are coming untied one by one; yet in spite of everything he has to let go, he may also find freedom in the release. From the New York Times bestselling author of A Monster Calls comes a raw, darkly funny, and deeply affecting story about the courage it takes to live your truth.

'Every time Churchill took to the airwaves it was as if he were injecting adrenaline-soaked courage directly into the British people ... Larson tells the story of how that feat was accomplished ... Fresh, fast and deeply moving.' New York Times A STARTLING, GRIPPING PORTRAIT OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE ALIVE IN BRITAIN DURING THE BLITZ, AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE AROUND CHURCHILL. On Winston Churchill's first day as prime minister, Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. Poland and Czechoslovakia had already fallen, and the Dunkirk evacuation was just two weeks away. For the next twelve months, the Nazis would wage a relentless bombing campaign, killing 45,000 Britons and destroying two million homes. In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson gives a new and brilliantly cinematic account of how Britain's most iconic leader set about unifying the nation at its most vulnerable moment, and teaching 'the art of being fearless.' Drawing on once-secret intelligence reports and diaries, #1 bestselling author Larson takes readers from the shelled streets of London to Churchill's own chambers, giving a vivid vision of true leadership, when - in the face of unrelenting horror - a leader of eloquence, strategic brilliance and perseverance bound a country, and a family, together.

Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak, is a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Frederick Richardson. It was originally serialized in the early 20th-century American children's magazine St. Nicholas from November 1904 to October 1905, and was published in book form later in 1905 by The Century Company. The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz, and Baum himself commented this was the best book he had written. In a letter to his eldest son, Frank Joslyn Baum, he said it was "nearer to the old-fashioned fairy tale than anything I have yet accomplished", and in many respects, it adheres more closely to the fairy tale structure than the Oz books.The book was made into the 1914 film The Magic Cloak of Oz. Although no part of the book's story takes place in the Land of Oz, by the time the movie was made, it had become clear that the Oz franchise was Baum's most popular creation.

When it comes to building a brand, logo design is often one of the first few important steps in the creative journey. In addition to encapsulating what the business stands for and making an impactful first impression upon launch, it has to be instantly recognisable and stand out amid other similar offerings in an often saturated market. With so much more competition to contend with today, how can designers help start-ups and evolving brands put their best foot forward visually? A key branding element used by many of the biggest companies around the world, a logotype revolves around a company's name or initials and features typography as the main design approach. Often the starting point before it is further refined into a purely symbolic image or icon, it combines two distinct design disciplines to differentiate brands from one another - a process that takes acumen, skill and empathy. FROM TYPE TO LOGO details some of these processes in a compelling book of case studies that make an inspiring reference point for budding and working branding professionals alike.

Sparks fly between the handsome descendant of a snow spirit and the oblivious coworker he has a crush on! A romantic comedy in an office setting that takes coworkers to lovers to new heights within a winter wonderland of emotions! As winter gives way to warmer months, the snow melts...and Himuro and Fuyutsuki are ready to take the next big step in their relationship: meeting the family! Fuyutsuki introduces Himuro to her cousin during a festival, and they make plans to visit Himuro’s ailing grandmother. Fuyutsuki can’t wait to see where he grew up and to possibly meet a real snow spirit in the flesh, yet Himuro seems nervous for some reason. Will the two of them survive this avalanche of a family reunion, or will it be a freefall down a snowy, slippery slope?

How do you solve a murder in the middle of a war zone? In 2014, when Ammar Bseiso's dead body is found, his death is written off as one of the two thousand or so casualties of war that year in Gaza. However, Zahra, his wife, is convinced that he was murdered by a fellow Palestinian and not an Israeli airstrike. Zahra spends two years looking for a detective who will agree to take on her case as her family and friends dismiss her suspicions. When Detective Nouman El Taweel agrees to investigate the crime, Zahra begins to regret it almost immediately as the policeman uncovers the truth behind the murder, along with a network of deception, lies and corruption. A Death in the Old City is a simultaneously warm and deeply poignant mystery novel about love, betrayal and class, set in Gaza.

Sparks fly between the handsome descendant of a snow spirit and the oblivious coworker he has a crush on! A romantic comedy in an office setting that takes coworkers to lovers to new heights within a winter wonderland of emotions! As winter gives way to warmer months, the snow melts...and Himuro and Fuyutsuki are ready to take the next big step in their relationship: meeting the family! Fuyutsuki introduces Himuro to her cousin during a festival, and they make plans to visit Himuro’s ailing grandmother. Fuyutsuki can’t wait to see where he grew up and to possibly meet a real snow spirit in the flesh, yet Himuro seems nervous for some reason. Will the two of them survive this avalanche of a family reunion, or will it be a freefall down a snowy, slippery slope?

'Godfather of Swedish Crime' (Metro), Hakan Nesser, is back with the second installment in the Inspector Barbarotti series, The Root of Evil.July 2007. A letter arrives on Inspector Barbarotti's doorstep detailing a murder that is about to take place in his own quiet Swedish town. By the time the police track down the subject of the letter, he is already dead.So when a second letter arrives, then a third, and a fourth, it's a game of cat and mouse to stop the killer before he can make good on all of his promises.Meanwhile, an anonymous diary is unearthed depicting the incidents of a two week holiday in France five years earlier, and it doesn't take Barbarotti long to realize the people populating the diary are the ones whose lives are now in the balance . . .

Ella has spent the last two summers exploring her sexuality and getting to know herself. This summer, she takes the final step in her journey to find herself—although she has just graduated as a social worker Ella takes on show business as a dancer in a Burlesque club. In the spotlight, she comes alive, and when the show is over, she reaches new levels of pleasure with her new friends... Reality feels distant, but when it knocks on the door one night, Ella is forced to make a decision. Will she continue to lie to her family and her friends—to herself? Showgirl is the third short story in the series about Ella, a young and inexperienced woman who explores herself and her sexuality. Showgirl is the free-standing sequel to Camgirl and Sugargirl.

I really cannot tell you how I come about writing 48 Hours. I just sat down at my computer and started to write, and the story unfolded. You have to believe me. I did not have a start, a plot, or an end. I just kept writing what came into my head. The story is about an ordinary man aged fifty-seven who becomes involved with a terrorist organization and ends up in Spain where his life would change forever. It was a difficult decision for him, and he only has two choices. The choice he takes is to give up his family and his normal life. He joins MI5, which takes him on various missions; and on the way, he meets three beautiful ladies that play a very important part in his new life.

I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop them. It feels like preaching the gospel. [large quote] When publishing assistant and war widow Nancy Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett that he 'urinates frightful prose', the repercussions are swift. Losing not one, but two, much-sought-after literary jobs, Mrs Hawkins finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving anonymous letters, quack remedies and blackmail. Only years later, a far cry from Kensington, can she look back with a sharp and mischievous eye at the cost of telling the truth. Introduced by Ali Smith. 'I was in heaven reading this book' Stephen Fry 'Funny, astringent, shrewd, her take on life is wonderfully bracing' William Boyd 'The divine Spark is shining at her brightest. Pure delight' Claire Tomalin

I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop them. It feels like preaching the gospel. [large quote] When publishing assistant and war widow Nancy Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett that he 'urinates frightful prose', the repercussions are swift. Losing not one, but two, much-sought-after literary jobs, Mrs Hawkins finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving anonymous letters, quack remedies and blackmail. Only years later, a far cry from Kensington, can she look back with a sharp and mischievous eye at the cost of telling the truth. Introduced by Ali Smith. 'I was in heaven reading this book' Stephen Fry 'Funny, astringent, shrewd, her take on life is wonderfully bracing' William Boyd 'The divine Spark is shining at her brightest. Pure delight' Claire Tomalin

'Every time Churchill took to the airwaves it was as if he were injecting adrenaline-soaked courage directly into the British people ... Larson tells the story of how that feat was accomplished ... Fresh, fast and deeply moving.' New York Times A STARTLING, GRIPPING PORTRAIT OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE ALIVE IN BRITAIN DURING THE BLITZ, AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE AROUND CHURCHILL. On Winston Churchill's first day as prime minister, Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. Poland and Czechoslovakia had already fallen, and the Dunkirk evacuation was just two weeks away. For the next twelve months, the Nazis would wage a relentless bombing campaign, killing 45,000 Britons and destroying two million homes. In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson gives a new and brilliantly cinematic account of how Britain's most iconic leader set about unifying the nation at its most vulnerable moment, and teaching 'the art of being fearless.' Drawing on once-secret intelligence reports and diaries, #1 bestselling author Larson takes readers from the shelled streets of London to Churchill's own chambers, giving a vivid vision of true leadership, when - in the face of unrelenting horror - a leader of eloquence, strategic brilliance and perseverance bound a country, and a family, together.

Secrets prove deadly in book two of the Burn for Burn trilogy from New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I've Loved Before (soon to be a major motion picture!), Jenny Han, and New York Times bestselling author of The List, Siobhan Vivian. Lillia, Kat, and Mary had the perfect plan. Work together in secret to take down the people who wronged them. But things didn't exactly go the way they'd hoped at the Homecoming Dance. Not even close. For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there was ever a pact. But there is something seriously wrong with sweet, little Mary. If she can't control her anger, she's sure someone will get hurt. Mary understands now that it's not just that Reeve bullied her—it's that he made her love him. It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn...

„Der Komponist lässt es klingen, wie es in seiner Vorstellung aussieht. Der Opernregisseur geht den umgekehrten Weg und lässt es aussehen, wie es klingt. Wenn beide sich treffen – welches Glück!“ Nach diesem Motto lebt und handelt der deutsche Schauspiel- und Opernregisseur Michael Hampe (geb. 1935). Er ist einer der führenden internationalen Größen der Opernszene mit Inszenierungen bei den Salzburger Festspielen, in London, Paris, Mailand und Tokio. Als künstlerischer Gesamtleiter der Kölner Oper und Professor der Staatlichen Musikhochschule Köln prägte Hampe nachhaltig die Kulturlandschaft der Stadt. Anlässlich seines 80. Geburtstages erscheint diese Publikation und bündelt ein lebensumfassendes Kompendium an Reden, Briefen und Aufsätzen zum Musiktheater. "The composer makes it sound like it appears in his imagination. The opera director takes the opposite route and makes it appear like it sounds. When the two come together – what great fortune!" The German opera director Michael Hampe (b. 1935) lives and acts according to this motto. He is one of the world's leading opera directors with productions in London, Paris, Milan and Tokyo, as well as at the Salzburg Festival. Published on the occasion of his 80th birthday, this book brings together a compendium of speeches, letters and essays on musical theatre spanning a lifetime.

This collection of four stage plays, all separately published before, is introduced by an essay on "The Werther Effect". Although linked by a common theme of self-murder they should not be misunderstood as attempts to glamorise the act. The first play, entitled "Hamlet + Ophelia = ?", is deliberately provocative. It is hoped, however, that the protagonists of this angry little piece are seen to be impetuous and childish, rather than noble or deep. The second play, "Games for Married Couples", is less about seppuku than it is about the despair of child-less marriage. It is not much happier than the first, but may nevertheless raise a smile or two. "His ... or Her ... Suicide", on the other hand, is utterly frivolous, and no-one is expected to take it seriously. The last of the four plays is the stage adaptation (and translation) of Goethe''s classic 1774 novella "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers" and was produced as part of the author''s 2005 Master of Creative Arts at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

All parents wish their children happiness. But how differently they imagine it! Parents-"tigers" see happiness in the success, by which they mean only a future prestigious job and high status. In order to achieve the goal, they stop at nothing. Excessive workload, constant parental control and strict diktat - this is the way the childhood of a child who decided to be "happy" at any cost. But is it really the case that a full-blooded life with its joys is incompatible with high achievements, and we have to choose either one or the other? Is it not possible to raise children who are healthy, harmonious, and truly prosperous at the same time? We can, says Shimi Kang, child mental health specialist and mother of two sons and daughters, and offers her own method: the "dolphin way. She has taken this path many times with her patients and is taking it with her children. Now she is opening the path to us and is ready to be our guide and mentor.

This collection of four stage plays, all separately published before, is introduced by an essay on "The Werther Effect". Although linked by a common theme of self-murder they should not be misunderstood as attempts to glamorise the act. The first play, entitled "Hamlet + Ophelia = ?", is deliberately provocative. It is hoped, however, that the protagonists of this angry little piece are seen to be impetuous and childish, rather than noble or deep. The second play, "Games for Married Couples", is less about seppuku than it is about the despair of child-less marriage. It is not much happier than the first, but may nevertheless raise a smile or two. "His ... or Her ... Suicide", on the other hand, is utterly frivolous, and no-one is expected to take it seriously. The last of the four plays is the stage adaptation (and translation) of Goethe''s classic 1774 novella "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers" and was produced as part of the author''s 2005 Master of Creative Arts at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Bloomsbury presents Princess of the Wild Sea by Megan Frazer Blakemore, read by Emily Eiden.A curse will fall . . .A hero will rise . . .Princess Harbor Rose is cursed. She's lived her whole life hidden away on a remote island with her magical aunts, following all the rules for being a princess. Now it is only one more year until thirteenth birthday, when a hero will finally arrive to save her from her curse.But as with any story, there are two sides . . . and the curse told of much more than a single princess's uncertain fate. It told of a dangerous foe rooted in powerful magic. It told of a terrible war that could destroy everything if a young hero didn't arrive in time. It told of a magic imbued with hope that could save everyone, but only if they believe.With her beloved kingdom and island at grave risk, Harbor Rose has a choice: Should she wait for the hero, or take matters into her own hands?

"My First Summer in the Sierra" (1911) takes inspiration from Muir's journals of the months he spent between June and September 1869 as a shepherd in the Sierras. Muir went on to built a cabin along Yosemite Creek, where he lived for two years. He designed it in such a way that a portion of the stream flowed through it, as he wanted to enjoy its music. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, he was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest "insect people" amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. In this novel, he tells of the nature in the Sierra, and of his ascension of Mt. Hoffman and other local peaks.

The events take place in an atmosphere of magical realism and fantasy, as the incorrect recitation of a talisman causes several people to exchange their lives with each other, and each one of them is forced to live in the life and body of others, for an entire year.. So Youssef exchanged his life with Joseph.. and Mashael found herself in her husband Mishaal's dress.. As for Asma, she fell into the depths of two centuries, and her grandmother Somaya took her place. But the most difficult thing about this exchange is that returning from it depends on the other party's consent to regain his life. What will be the choice of each opposite when he lived the life of his opposite, for an entire year... It is strange!