Showing results by narrator "James A. Gillies" in All Categories

It is the year 1307 and the ancient Order of the Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon is in grave danger. The King of France and Pope Clement V are plotting its destruction and scheming to appropriate the Order's most sacred and dangerous secret. This is taken away by Etienne de Congost, a battle-weary but incorruptible man who flees through a world in ruin, dodging plots and papal spies in a life-and-death struggle. Will he keep the secret from the evil hands of king and pope?

Herbert George Wells was one of the most prolific and visionary British writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. H. G. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels, although he wrote across many genres, including nonfiction. His fiction embraces history, science fiction, horror, satire, fantasy, and social commentary. Wells was also a futurist, foreseeing air travel, tanks (as in “The Land Ironclads” - part of this anthology) space travel, nuclear weapons, and even satellite television.

Breakthroughs such as personalized genomics, drones, self-driving vehicles, and artificial intelligence could make our lives healthier, safer, and easier. On the other hand, the same technologies raise the specter of a frightening future - eugenics, a jobless economy, a complete loss of privacy, and ever-worsening economic inequality. Wadhwa says that we need to ask three questions about every emerging technology: Does it have the potential to benefit everyone equally? What are the risks and the rewards? And does it promote autonomy or dependence?

Theodora: Actress, prostitute, mistress, feminist. And Byzantine Empress of the civilized world. Stephen: Handsome Syrian boy, wizard's apprentice, palace eunuch. And Secretary to the Empress. How does this unlikely pair become such allies that one day Empress Theodora asks Stephen to write her biography? From a very young age, Theodora, daughter of a circus bearkeeper in Constantinople, sets her sights well above her station in life. Her exquisite beauty sets her apart on stages and in the eyes of men.

In "The Necklace Affair", Captain Lacey agrees to help a society matron discover what has become of her expensive diamond necklace and to clear her maid, who has been arrested for its theft. Lady Clifford declares that the rival for her husband's affections has stolen the necklace, but Lacey soon realizes that the problem is not so simple.

What is a time? Is it a life? Is it a series of lives? It is the day of the devil's earth; and the Great Red Dragon is on the hunt for the illusive woman that could bring about the end of its reign. Concealing time and history as faith and science collide, God's plan takes form.

When Gisela Anne Balewyne comes face-to-face with handsome knight Dominic de Terre, she fears her dangerous secrets have caught up with her. The small town of Clovebury seemed the perfect place to hide from her abusive husband, raise her young son, and earn a living as a tailor while she saved to move north and start a new life. Seeing Dominic—the lord she loved and then lost when he went on crusade—renews her desire for him, but she can never be with him again, and not just because she's a commoner and he's a nobleman. Loving him would mean risking too much, including his life.

James Partridge was 18 years old in 1977 when his face and body were severely burned in a car accident. Refusing to succumb to society's expectations, James chose not to hide in the shadows, but to succeed despite his distinctive face and live a happy and hugely successful life, both personally and professionally. Face It tells the story of James' recovery and the work he has done ever since to support others with physical differences to cope with the isolation and discrimination they so often face.

The founder of the Humem State Foundation portends and advocates the next stage in our cultural evolution - the creation of a state for our extended presences - our personal imprint on the world exterior to our bodies. Brook advocates establishing formally recognized citizen-like entities, called humems, each encompassing an individual's digital extended presence, within a dedicated landless state environment - the humem-state. He demonstrates how this revolutionary but imminently feasible system can be incrementally instituted within existing jurisdictions....

A deception of royal proportions had thrust Ian MacEwen into the very center of the ton's marriage mart, forcing him to choose a bride who would be queen. He'd wanted only to uncover answers that had denied him all his life. Instead, he found Claire Wentworth, a fearless woman with grass-green eyes who needed his protection - and his love - whether she admitted it or not!

The story of how Jesus was tricked into thinking he was the son of God by a shape-shifting monster known as the Rauschmonstrum. It is a tale about love, cruelty, misunderstanding, agonizing despair, walking on water, healing the sick, and one unusual case of a person being impersonated after their death.

Semitic Tales contains bed-time stories. Each story teaches your child Hebrew, without their realizing it. The stories are written in English, but the opposing page provides the option of inserting a few Hebrew words (at your discretion). All the Hebrew words come from the book of Jonah. If your child is not careful, they will accidentally learn how to read the book of Jonah - in the original Hebrew. The book of Jonah only contains, approximately, 100 unique Hebrew words. Semitic Tales is designed to acquaint your child with a large portion of those Hebrew words.

When I taught, it was my duty to begin each class with a premise - the more provocative, the better. Each minute in this book draws a student into a debate. Who wins the debate is less important than making sure a student has both feet in the argument. It is impossible to listen to this book without growing. Unless learning is fun, your student won't care.

Germany, 1922: Tabner and Emrick are young ne'er do wells hiding from Paragraph 175, legislation over a half-century old that forbids homosexual activity. Emrick sleeps through the days so he can enjoy the cabaret culture. Tabner is his semi-willing partner-in-crime, though of late he has become obsessed with his pen pal, Florence Balcombe, the widow of Bram Stoker. When F.W. Murnau's infamous film Nosferatu is about to premier, both Tabner and Emrick find themselves beguiled, yet distressed, by a strange older man met at the cabaret.

Rayna is getting ready for the best day of her life, but it turns into the worst instead. Charged with emotions and eyes filled with a menacing rage, she will get her revenge.

Decision Making in a Nuclear Middle East analyzes the implications of a nuclear Iran by applying lessons from the Cold War. It takes a hard look at the assumed stability of the Cold War, the judgment of Soviet and American leaders, technology glitches, incidents and events that brought the superpowers closer to a nuclear exchange than they ever planned or expected.

The first short story collection from Philip K. Dick Award-winning author James Blaylock features sixteen thought-provoking forays into the fantastic-from a tale of alien influence on an ordinary neighborhood to the story of one man's self-destructive obsession with a dragon.

As the story opens, young Alexander Hamilton marches with the Continentals at Fort Lee, New Jersey. He is frustrated by being relegated to the end of the line and missing out on the action. He desperately wants to make a name for himself. His fortunes soon change at the Raritan River when the vanguard of British infantry catches up to Washington's army. Hamilton and his cannons are the only defense line available to prevent the army from being destroyed. Successfully protecting the Continental army and allowing their escape with his rear-guard action, Hamilton catches the attention of George Washington.

On his deathbed, Ezra Stevenson’s grandfather bequeaths him a macabre tale of domestic violence. Driven to investigate his grandfather’s account of the four Mackenzie children and their monstrous family history, Ezra embarks on a horrific voyage of discovery, deception, and revelation.

These 18 stories range from magical realism to the Gothic and macabre. Whether describing a burg of one-legged miners, a bizarre brother/sister relationship, or salty seamen telling their favorite real-life horror tales, Eric McCormack disturbs and enchants.