Fiction & Literature - Books

The Man of the Forest

Fiction & Literature

Milt Dale is the Man of the Forest. Living alone in a camp in the wilderness called Paradise Park, he prefers the company of bears, cougars, and wolves to that of the surrounding ranchers and troublemakers. But one day he overhears a conversation that changes his life and convinces him to leave his wild paradise to save a young woman from certain doom. The pioneer spirit runs in Helen Rayner’s blood, but it may not save her from the nasty end that tough guy Snake Anson has planned for her. To get his hands on her uncle’s ranch, he needs to get rid of Helen—by any means necessary. But luckily for Helen, the Man of the Forest is not about to let that happen.

After Death

Fiction & Literature

Death. Who has not considered their own mortality and wondered at what awaits, once our frail human shell expires? What occurs after the heart stops beating, after the last breath is drawn, after life as we know it terminates?Does our spirit remain on Earth while the mortal body rots? Do remnants of our soul transcend to a celestial Heaven or sink to Hell's torment? Are we offered choices in an individualized afterlife? Can we die again in the hereafter? Is life merely a cosmic joke, or is it an experiment for something greater?Included within this critically acclaimed anthology are answers to these queries alongside tales and suppositions relating from traditional ghosts to the afterlife of e-coli. Explore the afterworld of an Australian cowboy. Discover what the white light really means to the recently departed. Consider the impact of modern, or future, technology on the dead. Follow the karmic path of reincarnation. Travel from the 999th level of Fengdu's Hell to the gates of Robot Heaven.Enclosed are thirty-four all-new dark and speculative fiction stories, individually illustrated by Audra Phillips, and exploring the possibilities "after death."TABLE OF CONTENTS:Introduction by Eric J. GuignardSomeone to Remember by Andrew S. WilliamsBoy, 7 by Alvaro RodriguezSea of Trees by Edward M. ErdelacThe Last Moments Before Bed by Steve Rasnic TemThe Resurrection Policy by Lisa MortonHigh Places by John M. FloydCircling the Stones at Fulcrum's Low by Kelda CrichI Will Remain by David Steffen Tree of Life by Aaron J. FrenchThe Reckless Alternative by Sanford Allen & Josh RountreeThe Thousandth Hell by Brad C. HodsonMall Rats by James S. DorrAfterword by Ray CluleyLike a Bat out of Hell by Jonathan ShipleyThe Overlander by Jacob EdwardsForever by John PalisanoMy Father Knew Douglas MacArthur by Bentley LittleRobot Heaven by Jamie LackeyBeyond the Veil by Robert B. Marcus, Jr.Prisoner of Peace by David TallermanA Feast of Meat and Mead by Christine MorganBe Quiet At The Back by William MeikleCages by Peter GiglioHammerhead by Simon ClarkMarvel at the Face of Forever by Kelly DunnThe Unfinished Lunch by Trevor DenyerI Was The Walrus by Steve CameronThe Devil's Backbone by Larry HodgesThe Death of E. Coli by Benjamin Kane EthridgeFinal Testament of a Weapons Engineer by Emily C. SkaftunAcclimation Package by Joe McKinneyHellevator by Josh StrnadIn and Out the Window by Allan Izen With Max Barry in the Nearer Precincts by John Langan

The Log of a Cowboy

Fiction & Literature

Widely considered the most authentic narrative of cowboy life ever written, The Log of a Cowboy follows the passage of Tommy Moore, a young cowboy helping to drive 3,000 circle-dot long horns along the Great Western Cattle Trail from Brownsville, Texas to Montana in 1882. The books is based on author Andy Adams's actual experiences on the trail. Adams wrote The Log of a Cowboy to counter the unrealistic cowboy stories that were being written at that time in American history. The Log of a Cowboy is a compelling American classic, it was first published in 1903 and and is still in print today. Readers with an interest in the Old West will encounter an entertaining read and a great historical resource on the American cowboy.

Fiction River: Recycled Pulp

Fiction & Literature

The old becomes new again as fifteen talented authors go back to the lurid pulp titles of yesteryear through today’s rich, nuanced storytelling. Enjoy original tales featuring rebel angels fighting a heavenly enforcement squad, a cop whose life might depend on ordering the right deli sandwich, and a wizard who has just three days to pay off the loan on his tower or lose his very soul. Whatever your taste in stories, Recycled Pulp is sure to have something that will amaze, surprise, and delight you. “…a unique collection 15 tales worthy of the Fiction River name. … Don’t miss Recycled Pulp for a great set of unique and fast-paced tales of the imagination!” —Astro Guyz Table of Contents “The Revolt of the Philosophers of Fomalhaut” by Phaedra Weldon “Marvelous Contrivances of the Heart” by Cat Rambo “The Flower of the Tabernacle” by Annie Reed “Lost in the Tarnished Cube” by Thomas K. Carpenter “Crypt of the Metal Ghouls” by Angela Penrose “The Imperfect Otter Empire” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Unknowable Mansion of the Night” by Sandra M. Odell “The Portal of Wrong Love” by Dean Wesley Smith “Sacred Poet from the Future” by Kelly Cairo “Swamp of the Prehistoric Clan” by Christy Fifield “The Magnificent Citadel” by Rebecca M. Senese “Night of the Dancing Champions” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “The Delicatessen from Beyond the Monolith” by Lisa Silverthorne “Prism of the Crab Gods” by Kelly Washington “The Gleaming Crater” by Thea Hutcheson

Murder Tightly Knit

Fiction & Literature

Something is amiss at The Cat’s Meow yarn shop. Even before she heard of Owen Esch’s death, Hannah Troyer knew something wasn’t right. The yarn store has been closing at odd times, the ever-dependable Mary isn’t always at her post . . . and an Englisch man has been loitering around back.Now, as leaves of brown, gold, and orange blanket Middlebury, Indiana, Owen lies dead on the Pumpkinvine Trail. The only clues to the murderer’s identity point in two very different directions—one of them leading right to The Cat’s Meow.The police call in a federal investigator, but Hannah and village manager Amber Bowman are in no mood to wait for them to figure out what they already know—that no one from the Amish Village killed Owen Esch. In a town where Amish and Englisch mingle daily, mutual suspicions build.Amber and Hannah need to work quickly to solve the murder mystery and bring harmony back to the Amish community. Sweet and cozy Amish mysteryPart of the Amish Village Mystery Series. Book 1: Murder Simply Brewed; Book 2: Murder Tightly Knit; Book 3: Murder Freshly BakedBook length: 85,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

Anthology of French Literature

Fiction & Literature

Over 50 classic French stories and books are collected in this giant anthology. An active table of contents helps you get to the desired author/work easily.Authors/works include:Honore de Balzac:Father GoriotAn Historical MysteryLost IllusionsThe Physiology of Marriage: Part 1,2,3Alexandre Dumas:The Count of Monte Cristod'Artagnan RomancesThe Three MusketeersTwenty Years AfterThe Vicomte de BragelonneTen Years LaterLouise de la VallièreThe Man in the Iron MaskGustave Flaubert:Madame BovaryOver Strand and FieldSalammboA Simple SoulTemptation of St. AntonyThree short worksJules Verne:20,000 Leagues Under the SeasAround the World in Eighty DaysFrom the Earth to the MoonA Journey to the Interior of the EarthThe Mysterious IslandMadame de Lafayette:The Princess of ClevesGuy de Maupassant:The Complete Stories of MaupassantJean Jacques Rousseau:The Confessions of Jean Jacques RousseauA Discourse Upon The Origin And The Foundation Of The Inequality Among MankindEmileVictor Hugo:The History of a CrimeThe Hunchback of Notre DameLes MiserablesThe Man Who LaughsThe Memoirs of Victor HugoNapoleon the LittleVoltaire:CandideLetters on EnglandPhilosophical DictionarySocratesZadigEmile Zola:The Downfall Germinal

Ominous Realities

Fiction & Literature

We don't know what the future might hold. Until now.Offering a collection of terrifying stories of science fiction and speculative fiction horrors, OMINOUS REALITIES is a dark thrill ride to explore what might be in store for mankind.This wicked journey isn't limited by time or gravity. It takes you on an exploration of futuristic and post-Apocalyptic worlds, to experience societies where dark corporations rule, where humanity must consider terrifying alternatives, and to the dangerous realities that may be in store, dragging you through horrifying speculative scenarios that pose dire consequences for the existence of mankind.FEATURING:HOW TO MAKE A HUMAN by Martin RoseA race of robots with the ability to resurrect humanity after the apocalypse has dire consequences.ANGIE by John F.D. TaffA divorced couple fights for survival after society collapses and realize the horror of true devotion.ON THE THRESHOLD by William MeikleTwo scientists aiming to prove we are not alone find the danger that exists beyond the threshold.DOYOSHOTA by Ken AltabefResidents of a Nevada town are suffering the debilitating effects of a strange hum and believe it's a black ops program, others are convinced of far darker origins.THIRD OFFENSE by Gregory L. NorrisIn an oppressive society where advertising is all-pervasive, a factory worker attempts to escape enslavement with horrifying results.METAMORPHOSIS by J. Daniel StoneSiblings discover the unique bond has the ability to affect humanity in the darkest of ways.WE ARE HALE, WE ARE WHOLE by Eric Del CarloGlobal climate change has reshaped the world, and multi-national corporations control every aspect of life. To what horrifying lengths will they go in the struggle to maintain profit?PURE BLOOD AND EVERGREEN by Bracken MacLeodVictims of ethnic cleansing, two boys struggle for survival only to put the lives of everyone they know in danger.JOHN, PAUL, XAVIER, IRONSIDE AND GEORGE (BUT NOT VINCENT) by Hugh A.D. SpencerUnder attack by mysterious biomechanical entities, one man spends his last days with an enigmatic client who may holds the fate of Earth in his hands.AND THE HUNTER, HOME FROM THE HILL by Edward MorrisAre superheroes real? It could be that the old man living down the street is hiding his own dark secrets.BORN BAD by Jonathan BalogRaised by the church, Lucien harbors a frightening secret that may have dire circumstances for mankind.THE LAST BASTION OF SPACE by Ewan C. ForbesPrivatization has run amok and simple pleasures come at a premium. For one young couple the only option is to turn their minds over to insidious corporate control.EVERY SOUL IS A GRIMOIRE by Allen GriffinA shadowy government official is responsible for a man with dangerous skill that blurs reality and opens the door to terrifying evil.FROM THE EAST by Alice GoldfussDriven by conviction, a scientist struggles to determine the cause of a global cataclysm and finds herself in a struggle for the existence of humanity.DECIDING IDENTITY by Paul WilliamsFaced with the collision of two worlds, the citizens of each are offered the choice to decide who will live or die.THE LAST ELF by T. Fox DunhamHaving spent a lifetime chasing the enemies of Nazi Germany, a sociopathic concentration camp commanderfinds himself on the verge of his crowning achievement: ultimate extermination.Proudly presented by Grey Matter Press, the multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated independent publisher.Grey Matter Press: Where Dark Thoughts Thrive

Lord Montcliffe się żeni

Fiction & Literature

Umierający Robert Cameron pragnie, aby Ametyst, jego jedyna córka i dziedziczka kupieckiej fortuny, poślubiła arystokratę. W ten sposób chce zapewnić jej poważanie i opiekę. Jego wybór pada na Daniela, lorda Montcliffe, który uchodzi za wzór cnót, ale przez rodzinne długi może utracić majątek i trafić do więzienia. Mimo że małżeństwo dla pieniędzy wydaje się Danielowi niehonorowe, panna Ametyst przekonuje go do siebie urodą i ujmuje wyjątkową szczerością. Daniel nie wie jednak, że ona skrywa wstydliwą tajemnicę…

Essays and Lectures

Fiction & Literature

It is merely one facet of that speculative spirit of an innovation, which in the sphere of action produces democracy and revolution, and in that of thought is the parent of philosophy and physical science; and its importance as a factor of progress is based not so much on the results it attains, as on the tone of thought which it represents, and the method by which it works.

The Sayings Of Confucius

Fiction & Literature

Promoting virtues such as filial devotion, compassion, loyalty, and propriety, these dialogues between the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius and his disciples comprise the crux of Confucianism.

Lowball

Fiction & Literature

Soon to be a show on Hulu! Rights to develop Wild Cards for TV have been acquired by Universal Cable Productions, the team that brought you The Magicians and Mr. Robot, with the co-editor of Wild Cards, Melinda Snodgrass as executive producer. Decades after an alien virus changed the course of history, the surviving population of Manhattan still struggles to understand the new world left in its wake. Natural humans share the rough city with those given extraordinary—and sometimes terrifying—traits. While most manage to coexist in an uneasy peace, not everyone is willing to adapt. Down in the seedy underbelly of Jokertown, residents are going missing. The authorities are unwilling to investigate, except for a fresh lieutenant looking to prove himself and a collection of unlikely jokers forced to take matters into their own hands—or tentacles. The deeper into the kidnapping case these misfits and miscreants get, the higher the stakes are raised. Edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin and acclaimed author Melinda M. Snodgrass, Lowball is the latest mosaic novel in the acclaimed Wild Cards universe, featuring original fiction by Carrie Vaughn, Ian Tregillis, David Anthony Durham, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Mary Anne Mohanraj, David D. Levine, Michael Cassutt, and Walter John Williams.Perfect for old fans and new readers alike, Lowball delves deeper into the world of aces, jokers, and the hard-boiled men and women of the Fort Freak police precinct in a pulpy, page-turning novel of superheroics and mystery.The Wild Cards UniverseThe Original Triad#1 Wild Cards#2 Aces High#3 Jokers WildThe Puppetman Quartet#4: Aces Abroad#5: Down and Dirty#6: Ace in the Hole#7: Dead Man’s HandThe Rox Triad#8: One-Eyed Jacks#9: Jokertown Shuffle#10: Dealer’s Choice#11: Double Solitaire#12: Turn of the CardsThe Card Sharks Triad#13: Card Sharks#14: Marked Cards#15: Black Trump#16: Deuces Down#17: Death Draws FiveThe Committee Triad#18: Inside Straight#19: Busted Flush#20: Suicide KingsThe Fort Freak Triad#21: Fort Freak#22: Lowball#23: High StakesThe American Triad#24: Mississippi Roll#25: Low Chicago#26: Texas Hold 'EmAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Moby Dick

Fiction & Literature

Moby Dick, Herman Melville. Revised version of http://ota.ox.ac.uk/id/1828 . Moby Dick Melville, Herman, 1819-1891 s.n. s.l. s.d Originally transcribed and deposited by Prof. Eugene F. Irey, University of Colorado

A Cry In the Night

Fiction & Literature

When Jenny MacPartland meets the man of her dreams while working in a New York art gallery, she's ecstatic. Painter Erich Krueger -- whose exquisite landscapes are making him a huge success -- is handsome, sensitive...and utterly in love with her. They marry quickly and Jenny plans a loving home on Erich's vast Minnesota farm. But lonely days and eerie nights strain her nerves to the breaking point and test her sanity. Caught in a whirlpool of shattering events, Jenny soon unearths a past more terrifying than she dares imagine...tragic secrets that threaten her marriage, her children, her life.

Ithanalin's Restoration

Fiction & Literature

Despite several years of study, Kilisha, an aspiring young apprentice wizard, has much to learn. After gathering ingredients for a lesson, she returns home to find her master, Ithanalin the Wise, transformed into a statue. A tax collector interrupted Ithanalin while working on a spell, a magic mirror tells her, with the result that the wizard's soul has been distributed among the various household objects. "The dish had run away with the spoon" is literally the case here, as all the furnishings have become animated and escaped out the door. In her efforts to track down the runaway objects and restore her petrified master to his former self, a quest that will eventually take her to the Overlord of Ethshar's fortress, Kilisha first tries to involve the Wizards' Guild but ultimately must rely on the few spells she knows and her master's spell book-as well as her own imagination, initiative and ingenuity. "Excellent pacing and naive charm make this good-natured fantasy especially suitable for teens." -- Publishers Weekly "Ebullient fantasy featuring sympathetic characters, fantastic sorceries, and a fairytale plot." -- Library Journal "Lawrence Watt-Evans delivers worlds brimming over with magic, mystery, and danger; fast-paced, action-packed, and thoroughly entertaining." --Realms of Fantasy

Rachel's Garden

Fiction & Literature

An Amish widow must rely on her faith and the kindness of her close-knit community as she mends her broken heart in this compelling novel in the Pleasant Valley series. It has been almost a year since the Amish community of Pleasant Valley lost Ezra Brand to a tragic accident. Since then, his wife Rachel has struggled to raise their three children and run their dairy farm...Rachel’s friends and family have come forward to help. But all of their constant advice, however well intentioned, puts undue pressure on Rachel. And when Ezra’s best friend, Gideon Zook, asks her permission to build the greenhouse that Ezra had always promised her, she finds his presence too painful a reminder of the past.As spring turns to summer, and Rachel puts her heart into growing the plants that have always brought her joy, can she discover the courage to embrace new beginnings?

The Castle of Otranto

Fiction & Literature

The Castle of Otranto is considered to be the first “Gothic” novel—that is, containing a combination of tropes, like hidden passages, haunted paintings, mysterious sounds, skeletal ghosts, ancestral curses, and unexplained deaths, that essentially invented the genre later made famous by authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, or Henry James. Walpole made a point of creating a novel that blends supernatural elements with more realistic depictions of characters and events.The plot centers around Manfred, the lord of Otranto Castle, who has just witnessed the death of his son under mysterious circumstances, just as his son was about to be married. Manfred is thrust into a galloping and melodramatic series of events that lean heavily on the supernatural.Walpole initially published The Castle of Otranto under a pseudonym, claiming that his work was a translation of an ancient Italian manuscript. This framing, along with the purposely archaic writing style, gives the supernatural airs of the novel a decidedly authentic flavor. In later editions Walpole acknowledges his authorship.Otranto remains a fast-paced and familiar read, thanks to the variety of recognizable tropes it introduced and made popular.

Jupiter and the Tortoise

Fiction & Literature

This eBook has a new enhanced version of eBook with special audio, video and illustrations. This story has originated by Aesop. Especially it has included full illustrated story scenes, narrative audio, interactive function, background sound and video for the whole story. Have fun with Read To Me! Read To Me is Trademark of OrangeDigit Inc.

Daredevil, Doctor...Husband?

Fiction & Literature

Falling for her daredevil doc… Summer Pearson thinks she knows all about daredevil paramedic Dr. Zac Mitchell—his playboy antics are the talk of the town! But in fact he's the total opposite…and utterly irresistible! Zac was expecting a warm welcome from pint-size Summer Pearson, yet all he's got so far is winter. But when buttoned-up Summer finally lets him in she captivates Zac in ways no woman has done before. So when Summer's past finally comes knocking can Zac convince her that he's here to stay?

The Crow and the Pitcher

Fiction & Literature

This eBook is a new enhanced version of an eBook with audio, video and illustrations. The story was originally written by Aesop. The eBook has illustrated story scenes, narrative audio, interactive functions, background sound, and a video of the whole story. You can hear the sound by touching the face of the crow in each picture. Have fun with Read To Me and Interactive! Read To Me and Interactive is a Trademark of OrangeDigit Inc.

Strange Portals: Ink Slingers' Fantasy/Horror Anthology

Fiction & Literature

Just in time for a much needed holiday break, twenty-two stories about fairies, vampires, werewolves, zombies, and everything in between. Visit a witch's body swap victims (Samantha's Day), find what happens when a girl is buried alive (Buried Alive), learn the origin story of Harper (from Night Touched Chronicles) and Verchiel (from the Amaranthine series), and much, much more. So kick up your feet, relax, and indulge in a short story by a new favorite author.Includes stories by AK Stein, Adan Ramie, B.G. Hope, Barbara G. Tarn, Bonnie Mutchler, CG Coppola, DM Yates, JK Rosaline, Joleene Naylor, Kay Kauffman, Maegan Provan, Mark R. Hunter, Rami Ungar, Roger Lawrence, Roxanna Mathews, Terry Compton and Tricia Drammeh.

Fiction & Literature Books