Part 1 of the Space Cadets Series:Two hundred years ago, aliens came to earth. They abducted millions of people and then told the rest that they were going to evaluate humanity over the course of the next several hundred years. If the earthlings didn't measure up to their standards, they'd be back to eliminate them.So guess what humanity has done since then: They geared up for war.Part 1 of the Space Cadets Series:Two hundred years ago, aliens came to earth. They abducted millions of people and then told the rest that they were going to evaluate humanity over the course of the next several hundred years. If the earthlings didn't measure up to their standards, they'd be back to eliminate them.So guess what humanity has done since then: They geared up for war.As an orphan, Jack Peterson was born into servitude. He may one day serve as a Marine, but he has to get through camp first.When the class has a chance to board a real warship, he has no idea what to expect.As soon as they arrive, everything goes horribly wrong.Book 1 of 4 (35 pages)

Kyla is in danger from both the government Lorders who erased her memory and the terrorists who tried to use her. So now she’s on the run. Sporting a new identity and desperate to fill in the blank spaces of her life pre-Slating, Kyla heads to a remote mountain town to try to reunite with the birth mother she was kidnapped from as a child. There she is hoping all the pieces of her life will come together and she can finally take charge of her own future. But even in the idyllic wilderness and the heart of her original family, Kyla realizes there is no escape from the oppressive Lorders. Someone close to her may be one of them, and even more frighteningly, her birth mother has been keeping secrets of her own. In this stunning series finale, Kyla finally finds out who she really is, and the road to this discovery, and to deciding who she wants to become, is full of dangerous twists and turns that will keep readers riveted.

From Timothy Zahn, Hugo Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of two landmark Star Wars® series, comes an  original new tale featuring a renegade space pilot, his unusual alien partner, and an unknown cargo that can change the course of galactic history. Jordan McKell has a problem with authority. Unfortunately for him, the iron-fisted authority of the powerful Patthaaunutth controls virtually every aspect of galactic shipping. In order to survive, Jordan ekes out a living dabbling in interstellar smuggling for outlaw concerns that represent the last vestiges of free trade in the galaxy. So when Jordan and his partner, Ixil--an alien with two ferret-like "outhunters" linked to his neural system--are hired by a mysterious gentleman to fly a ship and its special cargo to Earth, they jump at the job. Caution has never been one of Jordan's strong suits. But this time he may have taken on more than even he can handle. The ship, Icarus, turns out to be a ramshackle hulk, the ragtag crew literally picked up off the street, and the cargo so secret, it's sealed in a special container that takes up most of the cramped and ill-designed ship. As if that weren't bad enough, it looks like the authorities already suspect something is afoot, there's a saboteur aboard, and the Icarus appears to be shaking apart at the seams. It doesn't seem as if things could get any worse. That is, until a beautiful crew member helps McKell uncover the true nature of the cargo he's carrying. With his enemies closing in on the lumbering Icarus, the unknown saboteur still aboard, and authorities on Earth pressured to turn them in, McKell and Ixil become fugitives. Their only chance is to stay one step ahead of their pursuers as they try to make it home. A bold and epic novel filled with unrelenting action and a good dose of humor, The Icarus Hunt is a wild hyperspace romp through the galaxy.

Stephanie Harrington always expected to be a forest ranger on her homeworld of Meyerdahl . . . until her parents relocated to the frontier planet of Sphinx in the far distant Star Kingdom of Manticore. It should have been the perfect new home --- a virgin wilderness full of new species of every sort, just waiting to be discovered. But Sphinx is a far more dangerous place than ultra-civilized Meyerdahl, and Stephanie’s explorations come to a sudden halt when her parents lay down the law: no trips into the bush without adult supervision! Yet Stephanie is a young woman determined to make discoveries, and the biggest one of all awaits her: an intelligent alien species. The forest-dwelling treecats are small, cute, smart, and have a pronounced taste for celery. And they are also very, very deadly when they or their friends are threatened . . . as Stephanie discovers when she comes face-to-face with Sphinx's most lethal predator after a hang-gliding accident. But her discoveries are only beginning, for the treecats are also telepathic and able to bond with certain humans, and Stephanie’s find --- and her first-of-its kind bond with the treecat Climbs Quickly --- land both of them in a fresh torrent of danger. Galactic-sized wealth is at stake, and Stephanie and the treecats are squarely in the path of highly-placed enemies determined to make sure the planet Sphinx remains entirely in human hands, even if that means the extermination of another thinking species. Unfortunately for those enemies, the treecats have saved Stephanie Harrington’s life. She owes them . . . and Stephanie is a young woman who stands by her friends. Which means things are about to get very interesting on Sphinx.

Kate McMillan has a good life and a decent job working at a jewelry store but there’s something wrong. She also has a hole in her memory—a three year gap where she can’t remember a thing. Kate tries to tell herself she’s okay but she knows it isn’t true. Someone is hunting her—a huge man with glowing blue eyes is lingering on the edges of her vision. Every time Kate sees him her pulse races and fear grips her. Rone is a Wulven Kindred—feared and shunned even by others of the Kindred race. For the Wulven carry a Beast inside them that will kill anyone unlucky enough to be near when it emerges. Only a female who has tamed a male Wulven’s Beast is immune from this danger. Rone once had such a mate—before she was snatched away. For months he’s been searching for his missing bride but when he finally locates Kate, he finds that she has forgotten him completely. Not only that, but his mere presence engenders a panic response in the woman who once loved him. Their bond has been broken and Kate doesn’t know him. Worse, his Beast no longer acknowledges her as his mated female. Rone doesn’t blame Kate for thinking he is dangerous—he is and always will be unless she can tame his Beast. But in order to tame the Beast, Kate must take a terrible risk…one that may end in her death. Will she be able to control her fear and face the danger that lives inside her mate or will Rone remain forever…Forgotten?

Acclaimed writer and editor Robert Silverberg gathered eleven of the finest writers in Fantasy to contribute to this collection of short novels. Each of the writers was asked to write a new story based on one of his or her most famous series. Stephen King tells a tale of Roland, the Gunslinger, in the world of The Dark Tower, in "The Little Sisters of Eluria." Terry Pratchett relates an amusing incident in Discworld, of a magical contest and the witch Granny Weatherwax, in "The Sea and Little Fishes" Terry Goodkind tells of the origin of the Border between realms in the world of The Sword of Truth, in "Debt of Bones." Orson Scott Card spins a yarn of Alvin and his apprentice from the Tales of Alvin Maker, in "Grinning Man." Robert Silverberg returns to Majipoor and to Lord Valentine's adventure in an ancient tomb, in "the Seventh Shrine." Ursual K. Le Guin adds a sequel to her famous books of Earthsea, portraying a woman who wants to learn magic, in "Dragonfly." Tad Williams tells a dark and enthralling story of a great and haunted castle in the age before Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, in "The Burning Man." George R.R. Martin sets his piece a generation before his epic, A Song of Ice and Fire, in the adventure of "The Hedge Knight." Ann McCaffrey, the poet of Pern, returns once again to her world of romance and adventure in "Runner of Pern." Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga is the setting of the tale of "The Wood Boy." Robert Jordan, in "New Spring," tells of crucial events in the years leading up to The Wheel of Time, of the meeting of Lan and Moiraine and the beginning of the search for the child who must grow to lead in the Last Battle.

As Long As You Wish is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by John O'Keefe is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of John O'Keefe then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.

Licensed by actor Wesley Snipes for movies, Shades Of Memnon is an exciting, inspiring, award winning series of adventure novels written in the epic style of classics like "The Lord Of The Rings." But this series revives the contributions of Africans to world history and ancient legends. Enjoy this free ebook and get the rest of the series. Teaching guides and a school reading program available.Set in a world that is not our own, Legon Awakening takes you through an epic journey into a land full of wonderment, illusion, and innovation.Legon is a simple young man in the small town of Salmont, a town in the center of the Empire that few know about and even fewer care about. All he wishes to do is to start his own butcher shop and take care of his adopted sister and family. Legon is not from Salmont and echoes from his parents past are coming up to haunt him. Legon finds himself being caught in the war that claimed his biological parents lives and now threatens everything he has. He must flee from everything he knows and journey to land of his ancestors to keep all that he loves safe.

Following a nuclear holocaust, Nathan Taylor and his family face grim choices in order to stay alive. Fleeing deadly radiation, plague and desperate men, Nathan, an army officer, leads his wife and their two teenage sons away from chaos and madness toward his ancestral home in Kentucky.Following a nuclear holocaust, Nathan Taylor and his family face grim choices in order to stay alive. Fleeing deadly radiation, plague and desperate men, Nathan, an army officer, leads his wife and their two teenage sons away from chaos and madness toward his ancestral home in Kentucky. Horrors lie in their path. From the prison struggling to maintain control of its inmates, to the desperadoes who enslave anyone who comes their way, even survival may cost Nathan his humanity...or that of his sons, Joshua and David. Nathan struggles to keep his family intact, but it requires making brutal choices. He wants to protect his sons, but knows they now must be deadly and cold at times.Nathan's home has been spared from the worst of the destruction, but a larger conflict over scarce resources erupts. For the survivors to have any chance they will have to fight and the desperate journey has transformed young Joshua and David into men called upon to lead and sacrifice. Torn between harsh realities, and wanting to hold onto fleeting childhoods, they are often conflicted and angry about the roles thrust upon them. Much will depend on how Nathan and his sons respond to a madman and his military regime seeking to conquer the fledgling community they are helping to build.GLIMMER OF HOPE is an epic tale of one family's endurance and triumph after tomorrow's apocalypse.

When Alice’s husband, Chuck, dumped her for a beautiful, richer version, Alice wanted revenge. She had the opportunity, but she never acted on it. Now, Todd’s time machine gives her a chance to correct the past. Will she take it? And, if so, what are the consequences?Charlie Eastman, whom everyone repeatedly mistakes for a Texas Ranger, is the protagonist in this fast-paced, contemporary authentic Texas mystery. Set in West Texas today, The Grave On Peckerwood Hill is chock full of authentic dialect, historically accurate facts and geography, and natural humor. The story begins with two teenage boys from drastically different backgrounds sneaking out of their homes after midnight during an ice storm and unwittingly videoing their own murders. Lacking clues, a sheriff begs the help of Charlie Eastman, a retired corruption investigator for the governor’s office. Eastman declines, citing a recent mental breakdown. Unfortunately, Eastman has an auto accident that traumatizes Austin Blackie, a champion stud bull owned by the wealthy widow of Red Pirtle, a simple plumber who launched the do-it-yourself store craze in the fifties. After convincing Eastman that he rendered the bull impotent—“His pecker’s broke,” she tells him—the old woman and a mysterious tattoo artist scam Eastman into searching for her brother, whom she hasn’t seen for seventy years. The case partners Eastman with Doc Page, the red-haired town doctor whose terrible, swift tongue and smell of Noxzema cleansing cream drives him wild. A statue of three enormous peanuts on the town square that locals call Gooberhenge and a one-eared donkey that's mistaken for a unicorn lead Eastman, Doc, and the tattoo artist to the missing brother, who is protected by Central American mercenaries. During the search, Eastman discovers a strange stash of Nazi-plundered relics, the solution to the river bottom murders, and the man responsible for the New London school explosion that killed hundreds of children. The Grave On Peckerwood Hill is second cousin to No Country For Old Men, yet it is more than the pursuit of an evil force sporting an eighties haircut. The protagonist, Charlie Eastman, is Harry Potter in mid-life crisis. He’s a magnet for everything he wants to avoid. The story is as multifaceted as a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode with a mix of humorous, sociopathic characters. Fans of Elmore Leonard should find it to their liking.

Yesterday was Oblivion, tomorow Desolation arrives, but tonight we stand in the silence between both and neither.*Excerpt, from the works of Grand Scholar, and The Great War expert Djanus Todomari from the Imperium Archives*The battle of Volun 3, fought from Daliupus 24th to the 27th was the decisive large scale fleet engagement of the Volunian-Imperial war of 1894 and thus turned the flow of the whole conflict decisively in the favor of the Empire.The stunning victory had not only destroyed the Volunian Navy, but also effectively neutralized any immediate threat of Federal intervention, since what managed to escape the battle was in no condition to fight.This combined with Field Marshall’s Cornelia’s rapid call for reinforcements and taking of Volun 4 now directly threatened not only Galiana, but much of the Federal and Republican economy.Galiana was more than a fortress, it was located at the intersection of the entire western galactic warp highways, making it vital for commercial trading and military supplies and an essential route for previous invasions of Imperial territory.But with Volun 4 now taken, the Imperial’s now had the means to effectively stop such a vital artery from flowing.The war was now for the most part won, but we had to be careful, less we lose the peace!For the battle was a complete success, the economy would flourish and our then foes where for the most part vanquished, too many it seemed like everything had ended well.As such it was plain for the few wise ones amongst the Empire that it was a recipe for disaster!The most effective way to explain this was by analyzing the words exchanged by the high ranking officer during the strategic meeting after capturing Volun 4.The Empire up until that point had never been acknowledged as a sovereign nation by the Federation.Despite the fact that it was not originally part of the Old Commonwealth, which the Federation and the Republic was its successor, they had always used as their main argument for battle the right of governance, since the Federation like the Commonwealth, claimed that it and it alone was the only legitimate body for ruling all of space.And that was why the capture of Volun 4 was the recipe for disaster.To them and the Federal public at large, it’s loss meant that Galiana, the fortress that was the only thing that stopped the ‘imperial barbarians’ was now directly threatened , thus any and all reservations for the war where being swept away in a sea of panic and hysteria.Also, it was by then clear for all to see that the Volunian-Imperial was would escalate into the Federal-Imperial war and with Galiana on their side the Federation had a decisive advantage.And although taking Volun 4 was a sound decision from a strategic and tactical point of view, from a logistical one it was a nightmare waiting to happen!The supplies needed for such an endeavor could only be brought either by a convoy which itself needed a sizeable escort, or by a small warp train which could not be depended to supply the full needs of the fleet and fortress required to hold Volun 4. In contrast Galiana had hundreds of trains, a huge storage capacity, massive defensive capabilities, and on top of it all it had its own agricultural, industrial and military facilities, along with access to solar and other means for energy made it a self sufficient fortress which even cut off from the rest of the galaxy could sustain a fleet of 60 to 80.000 ships indefinitely and a sizable population of 18.000.000 without too much difficulty.Thus even with the fleet in shambles, they could still hold on against an Imperial assault and if and when the Federals would send a fleet to reinforce Galiana, the combined forces could in a battle of attrition defeat the Imperial forces and outlast them supply wise. And even worse the Republic who up until that point had maintained neutrality would no doubt use this instance to further their influence.We had gained power, now we had to use it wisely!Grand Scholar and Great War Expert Djanus Todomari Imperium Archives8th BALADA book.

Episode 20, Nanotroopers. The nanotroopers return home but see a cartel chief nearby. They tag him with a spybot as he heads back to the cartel’s base. Something goes wrong. Johnny Winger must rescue his bot friend, his last link to old Doc Frost. The plan is insane, against all regulations, but Winger’s determined. He travels to Tibet and encounters an entity that will change him forever.Episode 20, Nanotroopers. The nanotroopers return to Mesa de Oro shaken but unharmed from their experience with the Sphere at Kokul Gol. They spot a Red Hammer chief nearby and plant a spybot as the agent heads back to the cartel’s main base in Tibet. But something goes wrong with the spybot…it’s actually a nanobotic version of old Doc Frost, now pressed into a new kind of espionage. Now, Johnny Winger realizes his last link to old Doc Frost is in trouble. He devises a plan, insane and against all regulations, to rescue his bot friend. Winger and two other troopers travel as civilians to Tibet. There they encounter an entity that actually runs the cartel and that will change them forever.

Retired from his fighting days, John Perry is now village ombudsman for a human colony on distant Huckleberry. With his wife, former Special Forces warrior Jane Sagan, he farms several acres, adjudicates local disputes, and enjoys watching his adopted daughter grow up. That is, until his and Jane's past reaches out to bring them back into the game--as leaders of a new human colony, to be peopled by settlers from all the major human worlds, for a deep political purpose that will put Perry and Sagan back in the thick of interstellar politics, betrayal, and war.

Ex-government agent Frank Compton must halt a murderous plague that threatens to turn the galaxy-spanning Quadrail into a ghost train in the fourth installment of Hugo Award–winning author Timothy Zahn’s acclaimed Quadrail series The Chahwyn created the Spiders to keep their intra-galactic transportation system, the Quadrail, safe and running smoothly, and contracted ex-security agent Frank Compton to protect its integrity. So far, Compton and his half-human, half-Chahwyn partner, Bayta, have had their hands full keeping this essential link between occupied worlds open and preventing the evil collective intelligence called the Modhri from using it to spread their mind-controlling infection. But now a new threat has boarded, one that troubles even the Modhri. While the Quadrail is en route to the farthest edge of the galaxy, a murder by poison occurs—then another and another—dark happenings that are not only disturbing but also technically impossible. The system Compton and Bayta have been charged with protecting is in grave danger of derailment, and unless they can get to the deep roots of a sinister conspiracy, chaos will come to the ordered universe. This tour de force from Hugo Award winner Timothy Zahn rockets the acclaimed Quadrail series to breathtaking new heights. The Domino Pattern is an ingenious amalgam of hard science fiction and locked-room murder mystery that would leave even the great Hercule Poirot bedazzled.

Fantasy legend Michael Moorcock won hundreds of thousands of readers with his vast and imaginative multiverse, in which Law and Chaos wage war through endless alternative universes, struggling over the fundamental rules of existence. Moorcock's heroes of the multiverse have been lauded as some of the most influential characters in fantasy. Among the Eternal Champions, Dorian Hawkmoon is one of the most loved. In the far future, Hawkmoon is pulled unwillingly into a war that will eventually pit him against the ruthless Baron Meliadus and the armies of the Dark Empire. Antique cities, scientific sorcery, and crystalline machines serve as a backdrop to this high adventure. Dorian Hawkmoon, the last Duke of Koln, swore to destroy the Dark Empire of Granbretan. But after his defeat and capture at the hands of the vast forces of the Empire. Hawkmoon becomes a puppet co-opted by his arch nemesis to infiltrate the last stronghold of rebellion against Granbretan, the small but powerful city of Kamarang. He's been implanted with a black jewel, through whose power the Dark Empire can control his every decision. But in the city of Kamarang, Hawkmoon discovers the power inside him to overcome any control, and his vengeance against the Dark Empire is filled with an unrelenting fury.