Olibro

Bestselling Austrian author Dr. Erwin Thoma reveals a wealth of knowledge regarding trees, forests and wood.Through the illness of their sons, his family discovered that some modern building materials can cause serious health problems. On their quest to establish a healthy home environment, Erwin tried out his grandfather's traditional methods. He replaced all plywood and chipboard in their home with natural timber and the boys regained their health. In this, his first book translated into English, you will find interesting and amusing stories that reveal Erwin's wealth of knowledge regarding trees, forests and wood. Perhaps, for some readers, this book will contain more information than they imagined possible for such subjects. For others, this will be a welcome introduction to wood-related subjects and an inspiration for a future using natural wood. Written in a colloquial style, it offers an insight into his humble genius.

By This Sign Thou Shalt Conquer: An Introduction to the English Translation of A Gallery of Recuperation / vii<BR><BR>A Gallery of Recuperation / 1<BR><BR>Preface / 3<BR>Recuperation in France since 1968 / 7<BR>Small Dictionary of the Great Names of Recuperation / 33<BR><BR>Notes / 117

Evoking the golden age of crime, and for fans of Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie, comes the second book in the Private Investigator Archer series, A Gambling Man from one of the world's bestselling thriller writers, David Baldacci.<BR><BR>A lucky roll of the dice<BR><BR>California, 1949. Aloysius Archer is on his way to start a new job with a renowned Private Investigator in Bay Town. Feeling lucky, he stops off at a casino in Reno, where he meets an aspiring actress, Liberty Callahan. Together, they head west on a journey filled with danger and surprises - because Archer isn't the only one with a secretive past.<BR><BR>A risk worth taking<BR><BR>Arriving in a town rife with corruption, Archer is tasked with finding out who is doing everything they can to disrupt the appointment of a top official. Then two seemingly unconnected people are murdered at a burlesque club. In a tight-lipped community, Archer must dig deep to reveal the connection between the victims.<BR><BR>All bets are off<BR><BR>As the final perilous showdown unfurls, Archer will need all of his skills to decipher the truth from the lies and finally, to prove she's a star in the making, will Liberty have her moment in the spotlight?

Euphoria meets Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke in this latest novel by the Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper, following a couple whose search to spice up their sex life leads them down a path of madness.<BR><BR>A kink-fixated couple, Carmen and Blanca, have been in a rut. That is until Blanca discovers the enigmatic Smoke in an under-street drug den, who holds pages to a strange play, The King in Yellow. Read too much, and you’ll fall into madness. But read just a little and pull back, and it gives you the adrenaline rush of survivor’s euphoria, leading Carmen to fall into a game of lust at a nightmare’s edge.<BR> <BR>As the line blurs between the world Carmen knows and the one that she visits after reading from the play, she begins to desire more time in this other world no matter what horrors she brings back with her.<BR> <BR>Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper masterfully blends horror, erotica, and psychological thriller in this captivating and chilling story.

Introducing an iconic investigative duo-a hapless detective and his capable cat-in this must-read by one of Japan's most beloved novelists of crime fiction. Detective Yoshitaro Katayama is afraid of many things: heights, dark spaces, blood and ... women. When a young female student is found murdered, he's given two choices-review the harrowing crime-scene photographs or head to Hagoromo Women's College to investigate-and reluctantly opts for the latter. But the threat escalates with additional murders, and soon Katayama has a different surprise on his hands: a calico cat named Holmes, orphaned when the dean himself falls victim. Surely that's the last thing Katayama needs. Until Holmes begins to display some uncanny investigative instincts of her own ...

An instant USA Today bestseller!A Game of Cat and Witch is a paranormal, dark academia romance following a witch who accidentally summons her sworn enemy, a black cat shifter, as her familiar-perfect for fans of My Funny Demon Valentine and Bride. Avery Alarch has always been the worst witch at Caerwyn University. Now she's got twenty-four hours to conjure a familiar or get kicked out for good-a fate that means losing her magic forever and being stuck on a dreary island with nothing but regrets. Desperate times call for desperate spells. So when Avery stumbles on a forbidden grimoire, she decides to risk it all. One little summoning later, she's expecting a cute magical cat. Instead? She gets Felix, a six-foot-six cat shifter with a bad attitude and a knack for trouble. He's her mortal enemy, magically bound to her by an illegal spell, and very much not purring. The only way out? Solve a string of enchanted riddles before their magical link destroys them both. Of course, that's easier said than done when Felix keeps tying Avery up in shadows, and their bickering is starting to feel a little less hostile and a lot more heated. As they unravel puzzles and secrets, Avery and Felix find themselves at the heart of a conspiracy that could upend the supernatural world. And despite every rule and reason, sparks are flying in all the wrong (or right?) ways. Tropes:<BR> Forced Proximity<BR> Just One Dorm/Bed<BR> Enemies to Lovers<BR> Touch Her And Die<BR> Academy setting<BR> Witch + Cat Shifter<BR> Fated Mates<BR> Literal Black Cat MMC<BR> Underlying Mystery Plot

Unique collection of short stories<BR><BR>When it is discovered that the reigning world chess champion, Mirko Czentovic, is on board a cruiser heading for Buenos Aires, a fellow passenger challenges him to a game. Czentovic easily defeats him, but during the rematch a mysterious Austrian, Dr B., intervenes and, to the surprise of everyone, helps the underdog obtain a draw. When, the next day, Dr B. confides in a compatriot travelling on the same ship and decides to reveal the harrowing secret behind his formidable chess knowledge, a chilling tale of imprisonment and psychological torment unfolds.<BR><BR>Stefan Zweig's last and most famous story, 'A Game of Chess' was written in exile in Brazil and explores its author's anxieties about the situation in Europe following the rise of the Nazi regime. The tale is presented here in a brand-new translation, along with three of the master storyteller's most acclaimed novellas: Twenty-four Hours in the Life of a Woman, The Invisible Collection and Incident on Lake Geneva.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair comes an exclusive collector's edition of her dark and enthralling reimagining of the Hades and Persephone Greek myth. This edition includes all-new illustrated hardcover designs, full-color endpapers, full-color interior art, author footnotes, foiled edges, and more."Take her, and I will destroy this world. Take her, and I will destroy you. Take her, and I will end us all."Hades, God of the Underworld, is known for his inflexible rule, luxurious night clubs, and impossible bargains. Used to control, he is not prepared to discover the Fates have chosen his future wife and Queen-Persephone, Goddess of Spring.Despite her attraction to the god, Persephone, an ambitious journalism student, is determined to expose Hades for his cruel and ruthless ways. She defies him at every turn, even as the attraction between them explodes.Hades finds himself faced with the impossible-proving his future bride wrong. Regardless of his efforts, there are forces who wish to keep the two apart and Hades comes to realize he will do anything for his forbidden love, even defy Fate.

Discover the enthralling fantasy world of gods and mortals in bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair's reimagined New Greece. Readers are "hopelessly addicted" to this captivating story of Hades and Persephone."Take her, and I will destroy this world. Take her, and I will destroy you. Take her, and I will end us all."Hades, God of the Underworld, is known for his inflexible rule, luxurious night clubs, and impossible bargains. Used to control, he is not prepared to discover the Fates have chosen his future wife and Queen-Persephone, Goddess of Spring.Despite her attraction to the god, Persephone, an ambitious journalism student, is determined to expose Hades for his cruel and ruthless ways. She defies him at every turn, even as the attraction between them explodes.Hades finds himself faced with the impossible-proving his future bride wrong. Regardless of his efforts, there are forces who wish to keep the two apart and Hades comes to realize he will do anything for his forbidden love, even defy Fate.

Told in multiple POVs, A Game of Gods is the final installment in the Hades Saga by USA Today Bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair.<BR><BR>Hades, God of the Dead, has finally made Persephone his in every way possible. With their wedding on the horizon, the couple should be ecstatic. But Demeter is wreaking havoc on their bliss by battering the whole of New Greece with erratic and dangerous weather. At the same time, Theseus continues with his agenda against the Gods, allying with the hate-group Triad in an effort to bring down all of Olympus.<BR><BR>Hades refuses to allow anything to stop him from securing Persephone as his bride, but he must play a deep strategic game with the Gods of Olympus to safeguard their future. And it is not entirely clear which Gods are truly on his side.

Told in multiple POVs, A Game of Gods is the final installment in the Hades Saga by USA Today Bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair.<BR><BR>Hades, God of the Dead, has finally made Persephone his in every way possible. With their wedding on the horizon, the couple should be ecstatic. But Demeter is wreaking havoc on their bliss by battering the whole of New Greece with erratic and dangerous weather. At the same time, Theseus continues with his agenda against the Gods, allying with the hate-group Triad in an effort to bring down all of Olympus.<BR><BR>Hades refuses to allow anything to stop him from securing Persephone as his bride, but he must play a deep strategic game with the Gods of Olympus to safeguard their future. And it is not entirely clear which Gods are truly on his side.

Two enemies, one goal: steal each other's hearts.Scarlett Grey, disgraced assassin, is determined to get revenge.Quinn Adams, medic turned-poisoner for hire, is her deadliest rival.For years, they've stolen each other's clients, sabotaged each other's business, and occasionally... slept together.When the Magician Queen offers an irresistible deal, Scarlett and Quinn are forced to work together. But this is not a simple job.With an impossible heist ahead, they're going to have to trust each other...And that's not easy when they both have secrets to hide.Harder still when those secrets will betray the ones they love.Now neither woman is sure if it's a heist they want to win or a heart.Two women, two deadly professions, and a romance that could be their downfall.This is a steamy lesbian fantasy romance with enemies to lovers, a heist, found family, a secret royal, and only one bed.

A decade-spanning love story from an author who is "the missing link between Jane Austen and John Updike" (The Independent) Haunted by unspoken tensions and stifled ardor, two lovers navigate shifting expectations and societal changes in inter-war England. The mid-twentieth century British novelist Elizabeth Taylor numbered among her admirers Elizabeth Bowen, Ivy Compton-Burnett, and Kingsley Amis. She also regularly published stories in The New Yorker for close to two decades. For all that, her work, as steely as it is delicate, remains the secret of a small number of intensely devoted readers. The publication of her finest novel, A Game of Hide and Seek, long unavailable in the United States, should help to change that. This is an unabashed love story, capturing all the uncertainty and inevitability and deceptiveness of true love, tracking the shifting currents of emotional life, and never yielding to melodrama. Set in Britain between the wars--a time of transition between old convention and new ways--the book's heroine is Harriet, the only child of a suffragette, whom we meet as a shy and domestic and not especially smart or pretty girl. At eighteen she falls in love with Vesey, but after Vesey must go away, she marries another man, Charles, and bears a child. Then Vesey returns. Love is at the center of the book, but so too is Taylor's extraordinary knack for depicting characters. The minor figures in the book--from Harriet's mother's friend Caroline, with her progressive politics, to Charles, his coworkers, and his mother, to Betsy with her schoolgirl crush on her Greek teacher--are as memorable as the passion and heartache of Harriet and Vesey.

"A brilliantly written, pacy read " - Irish Examiner An addictive thriller from the most sensational new voice in YA fiction. When sixteen-year-old Asha Kennedy discovers her older sister Maya's dead body in their home, her world falls apart. Desperate for answers, and to stay out of the hands of the social services she grew up in, Asha turns to her hacker friends for help. Her search leads her to Zu Tech, the hit games studio where Maya was a lead coder. As Asha begins to unravel the riddle of her death, she realises that the only way to uncover the truth is from the inside. Asha ghosts her old life and infiltrates a Zu Tech eSport tournament as they launch 'SHACKLE', the revolutionary Virtual Reality video game Maya was working on - and which hides a monstrous secret... - Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - A guaranteed page turner full of heart, tension and twists you won't see coming! - The first book in a major new YA series

The long-awaited conclusion in Ben Alderson's bestselling Realm of Fey series... <BR><BR>As the dust settles and the world ushers in a new era of stability, only Robin Icethorn knows the truth. Duncan Rackley, former fey Hunter turned lover, has become the host of the demon god Duwar, and the gentle peace that has been brokered is steps away from being shaken up. <BR><BR>Bolstered with the sudden help of his ex-love Erix, Robin embarks on a mission to save Duncan, seeking out the aid of the Nephilim once more. However, Robin finds that the game of the gods is not over, and those he can trust may have other motives. <BR><BR>Determined to protect his love, Robin and his allies must band together once more in hopes to destroy their enemies and prevent war on a celestial scale. But as old feelings for Erix return, and chaos brews among the realms, will Robin be able to usher in peace in the world… and in his heart?

Become enchanted by the fantasy world of gods and mortals in bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair's reimagined New Greece. Readers are "hopelessly addicted" to the story of Hades and Persephone told from Hades's point of view.<BR><BR>Hades, God of the Dead, does not take sides or bend the rules. He makes no exceptions to these values-not for god or mortal, even his lover, Persephone, Goddess of Spring.<BR><BR>Usually, fear prevents retaliation.<BR><BR>But not this time.<BR><BR>When Hera, Goddess of Women, approaches Hades with a plan to overthrow Zeus, he declines to offer help. As punishment, Hera sentences Hades to perform a series of labors. Each feat seems more impossible than the last and draws his attention away from Persephone-whose own tragedy has left her questioning whether she can be Queen of the Underworld.<BR><BR>Can Hades maintain the balance he craves?

In a game of power, can love be the deadliest weapon?Stirling Grey, a legendary negotiator, is on a mission: to mend her broken heart and avenge its ruin.Morrigan Lee, a hidden princess and heir to the throne, is harbouring a dark secret.For years, Stirling and Morrigan navigated the perilous games of power and politics, shared clandestine moments, and ultimately... fell in love...Until a deal with fate forced them apart.When the Queen sets a formidable challenge, Stirling and Morrigan are thrust into a treacherous labyrinth of danger.The task?Protect the kingdom from a terrifying threat or lose the crown forever.But this is not a simple mission.With the clock ticking, they're going to have to trust each other...And that's not easy when their past is filled with betrayal.It's even harder when their hearts are entangled amidst the chaos.Now, neither woman is sure if it's the throne they want to rescue or a love they want to rekindle.Two hearts, one kingdom, and a romance that could lead to their ruin... or just maybe their redemption.This is a spicy lesbian fantasy romance with second chances, ruinous secrets, found family, a masquerade ball, a long con, and a love that could either shatter a kingdom or save it.

"The Agency for Scandal is glorious! Clever, funny, charming, and achingly romantic, it is a delight from start to finish. Laura Wood always writes about love and friendship with a deft hand, and this is her best work yet" Katherine Webber, author of Twin Crowns An all-female detective agency righting wrongs at the end of the nineteenth century; infiltrating a scandalous upper class world straight out of Bridgerton and using their wit and bravery to unmask a villain. Felicity Vane may be a mathematical genius, but getting her family to understand her academic ambition is proving difficult. As her first social season is fast approaching, it might be time to take matters into her own hands. Infiltrating the glamorous world of The Lucky Penny and winning her university fees over a game of cards could be the perfect plan. if only it weren't for the interference of Ash, the piratical and frustratingly handsome owner who accuses her of cheating. Now, Felicity finds herself thrown into the latest investigation of the Aviary - a fearless, covert group of female investigators - and caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the worst villain they have faced yet. When the stakes are this high Felicity can't afford to lose, but as she and Ash get drawn deeper into a world of criminal conspiracies is she also gambling with her heart? 'Incredibly charming' Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting - Bridgerton meets Charlie's Angels. - A smart, charming, brilliantly plotted and swooningly romantic story about a collective of bold women changing their world. - The most romantic, exciting, empowering YA of the year.

NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES—THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON<BR> <BR>Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece.<BR> <BR>A GAME OF THRONES<BR> <BR>In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.<BR> <BR>A GAME OF THRONES • A CLASH OF KINGS • A STORM OF SWORDS • A FEAST FOR CROWS • A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES—THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON<BR> <BR>Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece.<BR> <BR>A GAME OF THRONES<BR> <BR>In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.<BR> <BR>A GAME OF THRONES • A CLASH OF KINGS • A STORM OF SWORDS • A FEAST FOR CROWS • A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES-THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse-unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen's brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister-the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki-whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.

This graphic novel adaptation contains more than fifty pages of exclusive content not available in the original comic books, including<BR>  <BR> • a new Preface by George R. R. Martin<BR> • early renderings of key scenes and favorite characters from the novels<BR> • a walk-through of the entire creative process, from auditioning the artists to tweaking the scripts to coloring the final pages<BR> • behind-the-scenes commentary from Daniel Abraham, Tommy Patterson, and series editor Anne Groell<BR><BR>You’ve read the books. You’ve watched the hit series on HBO. Now acclaimed novelist Daniel Abraham and illustrator Tommy Patterson bring George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy masterwork A Game of Thrones to majestic new life in the pages of this full-color graphic novel, comprised of the initial six issues of the graphic series.<BR>  <BR> Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King’s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert’s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse—unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.<BR>  <BR> Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen’s brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister—the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.<BR>  <BR> Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki—whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER<BR><BR>When dealing with a masterpiece, only the best will do. That’s why writer Daniel Abraham and illustrator Tommy Patterson were chosen to adapt George R. R. Martin’s beloved fantasy classic A Game of Thrones as a graphic novel. And as anyone who has read the previous two collected volumes of the ongoing series can attest, the result has been a stunning tour de force faithful in every respect to its brilliant original.<BR>  <BR> In King’s Landing, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell—the Hand of King Robert Baratheon—is surrounded by enemies. Some are openly declared, such as Ser Jaime Lannister and his sister, Queen Cersei. Others are hidden in the shadows. Still others wear the smiling mask of friends. But all are deadly, as Eddard is about to discover. <BR>  <BR> Nor is the enmity between Eddard and the Lannister siblings the sole source of friction between these powerful noble families. For Tyrion Lannister, the Imp—whose stunted, twisted body houses the mind of a genius—has but lately won his freedom from Lady Catelyn Stark, Eddard’s wife, who had accused him of attempting to murder her youngest son, Brandon. Now he seeks out his father, his restless thoughts bent on revenge.<BR>  <BR> Far to the north, the bastard Jon Snow, newly sworn to the Night’s Watch, takes the first faltering steps toward a destiny stranger than he could ever dream—a destiny that will bring him face-to-face with unspeakable horrors from beyond the edge of the world.<BR>  <BR> While across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen, wed to the great Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo, and pregnant with his child—a son prophesied to conquer the world—will see her own destiny take an unforeseen turn.

Perfect for fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones—a boxed set featuring the first five novels!<BR><BR>An immersive entertainment experience unlike any other, A Song of Ice and Fire has earned George R. R. Martin—dubbed “the American Tolkien” by Time magazine—international acclaim and millions of loyal readers. Now here is the entire monumental cycle:<BR>  <BR> A GAME OF THRONES<BR> A CLASH OF KINGS<BR> A STORM OF SWORDS<BR> A FEAST FOR CROWS<BR> A DANCE WITH DRAGONS<BR>  <BR> “One of the best series in the history of fantasy.”—Los Angeles Times<BR>  <BR> Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King’s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert’s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse—unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.<BR>  <BR> Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen’s brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister—the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.<BR>  <BR> Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki—whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.<BR>  <BR> “Long live George Martin . . . a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers.”—The New York Times

A dazzling edition of the book that began the iconic A Song of Ice and Fire series, featuring 8 full-color illustrations and over 70 black-and-white illustrations—bringing the mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure of the magnificent saga that inspired HBO’s A Game of Thrones to life as never before.<BR> <BR>With a special foreword by John Hodgman<BR><BR>In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.<BR><BR>Explore the illustrated editions of A Song of Ice and Fire:<BR>A GAME OF THRONES • A CLASH OF KINGS • A STORM OF SWORDS • A FEAST FOR CROWS

Published in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of George R. R. Martin's landmark series, this lavishly illustrated special edition of A Game of Thrones-with gorgeous full-page illustrations in every chapter-revitalizes the fantasy masterpiece that became a cultural phenomenon.In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall.At the centre of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a region of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavours to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

HBO's hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R R Martin's internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A GAME OF THRONES is the first volume in the series.'So vivid that you'll be hooked within a few pages' The TimesA collector's edition worthy of the shelf it sits on, this beautifully crafted hardback features:- 4-colour printed clothbound case with 1-colour foil detailing to the front, back and spine- 1-colour endpaper for an elegant interior finish- Black and white text throughout- Head and tail bands for superior binding quality- Ribbon bookmark to keep your place in Westeros- Individually shrink-wrapped to ensure it arrives in perfect conditionWhether you are discovering the Seven Kingdoms for the first time or revisiting a beloved classic, this collector's edition is the definitive way to own one of the greatest fantasy series ever written.Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must ... and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

HBO's hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R. R. Martin's internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A GAME OF THRONES is the first volume in the series.Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men... all will play the GAME OF THRONES.Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plot, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; all the way to the frozen north, where a 700-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. The Game of Thrones. You win, or you die.Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire begins the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age.Winter is coming...

HBO's hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R R Martin's internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A GAME OF THRONES is the first volume in the series.'So vivid that you'll be hooked within a few pages' The TimesSummers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must ... and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

The complete box set of George R R Martin's internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age.George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has set the benchmark for contemporary epic fantasy. Labelled by Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world, Martin has conjured a world as complex and vibrant as that of J.R.R. Tolkien's, populated by a huge cast of fascinating, complex characters, and boasting a history that stretches back twelve thousand years.The box set includes:A GAME OF THRONESA CLASH OF KINGSA STORM OF SWORDS, 1: STEEL AND SNOWA STORM OF SWORDS, 2: BLOOD AND GOLDA FEAST FOR CROWSA DANCE WITH DRAGONSThe dimension of the box set is 178mm x111mm.

THE INSPIRATION FOR HBO AND SKY'S INTERNATIONAL SMASH HIT GAME OF THRONESDiscover the series behind the global phenomenon and the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age with this seven-book collection.Return to Westeros.More than a hundred years after the events of HBO and Sky's HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, the greatest battle for the Iron Throne began...George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has set the benchmark for contemporary epic fantasy. Labelled by Timemagazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world, Martin has conjured a world as complex and vibrant as that of J.R.R. Tolkien, populated by a huge cast of fascinating, complex characters, and boasting a history that stretches back twelve thousand years.Three great storylines weave through the books, charting the civil war for control of the Seven Kingdoms; the defence of the towering Wall of ice in the uttermost north against the unearthly threat of the Others; and across the Narrow Sea the rise to power of Daenerys Targaryen and the last live dragons in the world.A Song of Ice and Fire is the inspiration for HBO and Sky's Game of Thrones, the most-watched TV series of all time.The box-set includes:A GAME OF THRONESA CLASH OF KINGSA STORM OF SWORDS, 1: STEEL AND SNOWA STORM OF SWORDS, 2: BLOOD AND GOLDA FEAST FOR CROWSA DANCE WITH DRAGONS, 1: DREAMS AND DUSTA DANCE WITH DRAGONS, 2: AFTER THE FEAST

In ihrem Streben nach Wissen und Schönheit basierte die Kunst der botanischen Illustration schon immer gleichermaßen auf handwerklicher Perfektion und naturwissenschaftlichen Kenntnissen. Um die genaue Form, Farbe und Details der unterschiedlichen Pflanzenarten auf Papier zu bringen braucht es sowohl Präzision als auch ein Gefühl für Ästhetik. Diese aktualisierte Ausgabe des TASCHEN Classics dokumentiert anhand herausragender botanischer Manuskripte aus der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, von byzantinischen Handschriften bis zu Meisterwerken des 19. Jahrhunderts, die Tradition der botanischen Illustration. Die exquisiten Farbreproduktionen lassen erkennen, welche Kunstfertigkeit darin liegt, Pflanzen zu wissenschaftlichen Zwecken, als Aufzeichnung aussterbender Arten oder einfach als Hommage an die Schönheit und Vielfalt der Natur zu zeichnen.

Regardie's Timeless Introduction to the Qabalistic Tree of Life First published in 1932, A Garden of Pomegranates remains the clearest and most accessible introduction to the Hermetic Qabalah and its central symbol, the Tree of Life. In this influential work, Israel Regardie presents the Qabalah as both a philosophical system and a practical path of spiritual insight, guiding readers through the symbolism of the Sephiroth and the Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom. Extensively annotated and expanded by Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero--close friends of Regardie and respected Golden Dawn adepts--this edition enriches the original text with explanatory notes, commentary, and more than one hundred illustrations. It also includes practical material designed to support direct experience of the Qabalistic system, including pathworkings, meditations, rituals, exercises, Qabalistic mantras, and daily affirmations. Together, these additions transform Regardie's classic study into a living guide for seekers, students, and magicians exploring the wisdom of the Tree of Life. - Expands Regardie's definitive text into a practical manual for Qabalistic magic - Includes pathworkings and guided visualizations for the 32 Paths of Wisdom - Suggests a course of study for learning the Qabalah and incorporating its teachings into daily life - Shows how to create your own personal Qabalistic mantra using gematria or Hebrew numerology - Includes a technique for Rising on the Planes, so you can explore different Qabalistic worlds - Features a Middle Pillar-style exercise for exploring and activating different parts of the soul - Written by one of the most influential magical teachers of modern times and two of his personal students

For centuries I have suffered. Solidified and silenced, all because I failed to destroy what I was created for. Except now, after so long... There is a female. One who always seems to be by my side. Day after day. Night after night. She talks to me. Touches me. Tells me things. She shares stories of a world I no longer know. She is a reprieve from my punishment. A sweet delight. She liberates me from my solitude. But when I rise, my adversary seizes his opportunity, and she's caught between us. He only wants her to get to me. She isn't his. And I'll do anything to protect what's MINE.

Takeru's on the hunt for a unique type of metal ore but along the way, he has a chance to encounter with an elf that definitely marches to the beat of her own drum. What will result from this? Nothing but trouble, no doubt?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author V. E. Schwab<BR><BR>"Addictive and immersive, A Gathering of Shadows cements this series as a must-read." -Entertainment Weekly, grade A<BR><BR>Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift, and into Black London. <BR><BR>In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games-an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries-a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.<BR><BR>But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again-and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall...in V. E. Schwab's A Gathering of Shadows.<BR><BR>Shades of Magic series<BR>1. A Darker Shade of Magic<BR>2. A Gathering of Shadows<BR>3. A Conjuring of Light

The second adventure in #1 New York Times bestselling author V. E. Schwab's beloved Shades of Magic trilogy-a dazzling world of parallel Londons where the balance of power is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another must die...<BR><BR>Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Essen Tach tournament, and another London is coming back to life...After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning. But magic must always live in balance-and so now, another London will fall.<BR><BR>Other books by V. E. Schwab<BR>Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil<BR>The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue<BR><BR>Shades of Magic series<BR>A Darker Shade of Magic<BR>A Gathering of Shadows<BR>A Conjuring of Light<BR>The Fragile Threads of Power<BR><BR>Villains Series<BR>Vicious<BR>Vengeful

Created specifically for fans of Japanese "cool culture," A Geek in Japan is one of the most iconic, hip, and concise cultural guides available.This new edition has been thoroughly revised and expanded with new chapters on Japanese video games, architecture, and a special section on visiting Kyoto. Reinvented for the internet age, it's packed with personal essays and hundreds of photographs, presenting all the touchstones of both traditional and contemporary culture in an entirely new way.The expansive range of topics include:Bushido, Geisha, Samurai, Shintoism, and Buddhism Traditional arts and disciplines like Ukiyo-e, Ikebana, Zen meditation, calligraphy, martial arts, and the tea ceremony Insightful essays on code words and social mores; dating and drinking rituals; working and living conditions and symbols and practices that are peculiarly Japanese Japanese pop culture genres and their subcultures, like otaku, gals, visual kei, and cosplayFor visitors, the author includes a mini guide to his favorite neighborhoods in Tokyo as well as tips on special places of interest in other parts of Japan. Garcia has written an irreverent, insightful, and highly informative guide for the growing ranks of Japanophiles around the world.

Landmine contamination in Kampuchea became a dominant narrative at the end of the Cold War. Since then an industry has been built on landmines by a global network of civil society organizations and international donors. What fieldwork in the K5 mine belt of northwestern Kampuchea revealed is autonomous landmine management under which minefields are being converted into communities in the almost total absence of the State and international funding and resources. This gender analysis of landmine management will help us understand post-conflict environments where 'agency' and 'victims' cannot be conflated, where women engage in all aspects of the agricultural cycle including clearing landmines, where men are disproportionately the victims of landmine accidents, and no children met with a landmine accident.

This thrilling account of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries offers a detailed look at the lives and exploits of some of the most notorious pirates in history. With colorful descriptions of battles at sea, daring prison escapes, and other high-stakes adventures, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in tales of swashbuckling heroism.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Reprint of the popular first edition (1926) of this well-known book, which has presumably been written by Daniel Defoe (The given name of the author seems to be assumed).

A General Relativity Workbook is atextbook intended to support a one-semester upper division undergraduatecourse on general relativity.<BR>General relativity, which lies at the heart of contemporary physics, has recently become the focus of a number of lively theoretical, experimental, and computational research programs. As a result, undergraduates have become increasingly excited to learn about the subject.A General Relativity Workbook is a textbook intended to support a one-semester upper division undergraduate course on general relativity. Through its unique workbook-based design, it enables students to develop a solid mastery of both the physics and the supporting tensor calculus by pushing (and guiding) them to work through the implications. Each chapter, which is designed to correspond to one class session, involves a short overview of the concepts without obscuring derivations or details, followed by a series of boxes that guide students through the process of working things out for themselves.This active-learning approach enables students to develop a more secure mastery of the material than more traditional approaches. More than 350 homework problems support further learning. This book more strongly emphasizes the physics than many of its competitors, and while it provides students a full grounding in the supporting mathematics (unlike certain other competitors), it introduces the mathematics gradually and in a completely physical context.

In this original and powerful work, John Roemer proposes a general theory of exploitation that provides a game-theoretic framework for expressing any conception of exploitation--feudal, capitalist, or socialist--in a standardized and explicit way, thus permitting a clear comparison of different ethical conceptions.

This original and lucid account of the complexities of love and its essential role in human well-being draws on the latest scientific research. Three eminent psychiatrists tackle the difficult task of reconciling what artists and thinkers have known for thousands of years about the human heart with what has only recently been learned about the primitive functions of the human brain.A General Theory of Love demonstrates that our nervous systems are not self-contained: from earliest childhood, our brains actually link with those of the people close to us, in a silent rhythm that alters the very structure of our brains, establishes life-long emotional patterns, and makes us, in large part, who we are. Explaining how relationships function, how parents shape their child’s developing self, how psychotherapy really works, and how our society dangerously flouts essential emotional laws, this is a work of rare passion and eloquence that will forever change the way you think about human intimacy.

WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2017<BR><BR>A finalist for the Man Booker International Prize 2016 <BR><BR>The brilliant new novel from the winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.<BR><BR>On the eve of Angolan independence, Ludo bricks herself into her apartment, where she will remain for the next thirty years. She lives off vegetables and pigeons, burns her furniture and books to stay alive and keeps herself busy by writing her story on the walls of her home. <BR><BR>The outside world slowly seeps into Ludo's life through snippets on the radio, voices from next door, glimpses of a man fleeing his pursuers and a note attached to a bird's foot. Until one day she meets Sabalu, a young boy from the street who climbs up to her terrace.