Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Fountains of Paradise

In the 22nd century, Dr Vannevar Morgan is a famous structural engineer who hopes to develop the 'space elevator' from a theoretical concept to reality and enlists the resources of his employers to carry out experiments. But the only suitable starting point (Earth station) for the elevator lies at the summit of a mountain in Taprobane occupied by an ancient order of Buddhist monks who implacably oppose the plan.

Light by Michael Grant

It's been over a year since all the adults disappeared. Gone.
In the time since everyperson over the age of fourteen disap-peared from the town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia. Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis, Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power struggle?

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

voyage on the great titanic

it was after midnight and i could still hear people moving about in the passageway. before i had time to go out and join them there was a sharp knock on my door. i opened it to see Robert. he was smiling but his eyes looked urgent. good evening miss Brady he said. you need to put on something warm and report to the boat deck with your life belt. miss Brady he said you need to put on something warm and report to the boat deck with your life belt miss Brady when i heard that i felt alarmed for the first time but i was also startled a routine drill he said no need to fret. i knew he needed to go get on with his duties so i found a smile for him and nodded robert started for the next stateroom but then stopped you will not want to take your time margaret he said in a very quiet voice it didnt seem possible but maybe this was not a drill.

Redwall

An animal world as compelling as that of the wind in the willows… this epic adventure contains elements of all grand quests, whith heroic archetypes that will keep fans os Tolkien and king Arthur tales engaged the final battle

By Brain Jacques

Friday, December 12, 2014

Inside out and back again by Thanhha Lai

Hà has only ever known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope—toward America.

The sum of all fears by Tom Clancy

Peace may finally be at hand in the Middle Eastas Deputy Director of the CIA Jack Ryan lays the groundwork for a peace plan that could end centuries of conflict. But ruthless terrorists have a final, desperate card to play: they have their hands on a nuclear weapon and have placed it on American soil in the midst of an escalation in tension with the Soviet Union. The terrorists hope to rekindle cold war animosity and prevent reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. With one terrible act, distrust mounts, forces collide, and the floundering U.S. president seems unable to cope with the crisis. With the world on the verge of nuclear disaster, Ryan must frantically seek a solutionbefore the chiefs of state lose control of themselves and the world.

Fear by Michael Grant

It's been one year since all the adults disappeared. Gone.
Despite the hunger, despite the lies, even despite the plague, the kids of Perdido Beach are determined to survive. Creeping into the tenuous new world they've built, though, is the worst incarnation yet of the enemy known as the Darkness: fear.
Within the FAYZ, life breaks down while the Darkness takes over—turning the dome-world of the FAYZ entirely black. A will to survive and a desire to take care of those they love endure in this ravaged band, even in the bleakest moments. But in darkness, the worst fears of all emerge, and the cruelest of intentions are carried out. After so many months, is all about to be lost in the FAYZ?

Atlas of Military History

Whether you are a history buff, or fascinated by the military this large format book is just what you ve been looking for. With authoritive text and plenty of photographs, maps and illustrations this book takes readers on an expedition back in time to prehistoric battles, and up to the present world of drones, and computer guided missiles and everything in between. Although the nature of war has changed, the reasons for war remain constant; wars are still waged over territory, resources, hatred, intolerance, and vengeance, or glory. This book will not only explain the major wars & battles but also the reasons those battles were waged. War may be hell but this book is heaven for military history buffs. - This large format 8.5 x 11 book is 320 pages long - Filled with 100 s of full color and black & white art, maps, timelines, illustrations and archival as well as current photographs - Each section offers a clear and consist explanation of the conflict and the outcomes - A great resource for your family library especially helpful for writing term papers and reports

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Shadows in Flight By Orson Scott Card

Bean stole away from the wars of Earth with three of his children-the three who share his genetic mutation that gives brilliance and a short life. A ship to the stars  will give them a chance-a chance for the scientists of Earth to find a treatment, if not for him, then for his children. As long decades on Earth flash by in a moment on their near-lightspeed ship, they flee into the future.

The three, Ender, Carlotta, and Sergeant, work to learn enough to help in the effort. But Earth holds no minds more brilliant then those of Bean and his children, and there is no cure. As the generations pass, there comes a time when no one on Earth remebers them, save as a voice on the ansible, a distant whisper from the stars.

And then their ship's life support begins to fail, and Bean's children must save themselves.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Gone Away Lake, by Elizabeth Enright

“When Portia sets out for a visit with her cousin Julian, she expects fun and adventure, but of the usual kind: exploring in the woods near Julian’s house, collecting stones and bugs, playing games throughout the long, lazy days.
But this summer is different.
On their first day exploring, Portia and Julian discover an enormous boulder with a mysterious message, a swamp choked with reeds and quicksand, and on the far side of the swamp…a ghost town.
Once upon a time the swamp was a splendid lake, and the fallen houses along its shore an elegant resort community. But though the lake is long gone and the resort faded away, the houses still hold a secret life: two people who have never left Gone-away…and who can tell the story of what happened there.”

Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams

The unhappy inhabitants of planet Krikkit are sick of looking at the night sky above their heads--so they plan to destroy it. The universe, that is. Now only five individuals stand between the white killer robots of Krikkit and their goal of total annihilation.
They are Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered space and time traveler, who tries to learn how to fly by throwing himself at the ground and missing; Ford Prefect, his best friend, who decides to go insane to see if he likes it; Slartibartfast, the indomitable vicepresident of the Campaign for Real Time, who travels in a ship powered by irrational behavior; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-head honcho of the Universe; and Trillian, the sexy space cadet who is torn between a persistent Thunder God and a very depressed Beeblebrox.
How will it all end? Will it end? Only this stalwart crew knows as they try to avert "universal" Armageddon and save life as we know it--and don't know it!

A Clash of Kings By George R.R Martin

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.