In 1983, at the age of thirty, dissident artist Ma Jian finds himself divorced by his wife, separated from his daughter, betrayed by his girlfriend, facing arrest for “Spiritual Pollution,” and severely disillusioned with the confines of life in Beijing. So with little more than a change of clothes and two bars of soap, Ma takes off to immerse himself in the remotest parts of China. His journey would last three years and take him through smog-choked cities and mountain villages, from scenes of barbarity to havens of tranquility. Remarkably written and subtly moving, the result is an insight into the teeming contradictions of China that only a man who was both insider and outsider in his own country could have written.
EARTHQUAKE! Somewhere off the coast a sudden submarine landslide has caused a massive tsunami, the likes of which Queensland has never seen.… The First Wave is an edge of your seat thriller set in the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Australia. What starts as an ordinary day fast turns into a disaster, with the fight for survival pushing Amy Jacobs and her husband Mark to lengths they never thought possible. … What would you do? Where would you go? Amy starts the day like most days, pulling on her sneakers and taking her baby and 4-year-old in the pram along the ocean boardwalk. when the water pulls back, she knows something is deadly wrong. Amy’s husband Mark is getting a haircut when he gets the emergency text to head to higher ground. With nothing but flat ground as far as the eye can see, he makes for the only high ground around - the penthouse of the holiday apartment building.… Gazing out the window of her Brisbane office building, Nikki Bush is contemplating her next coffee when she suddenly notices strange readings on the Bureau of Meteorology’s deep sea buoys. Realising a tsunami is imminent, she begins the emergency warning protocol, knowing that the communities on the ground don’t have enough time to evacuate. Powerless to stop the unsurvivable weather events, Nikki must battle bureaucracy and her own lack of confidence in order to be believed and warn the public. … Impossible to put down from page one, The First Wave takes you to the Sunshine Coast of Australia, and asks can ordinary people survive extraordinary events? The First Wave is an edge of your seat thriller set in the beautiful Queensland Coast that you won’t be able to put down. Katherine Franks brings a uniquely Australian voice to her novels and in her second novel, she has taken one of Australia’s most idyll locations; a favourite holiday spot for thousands and turned it into your worst nightmare. Katherines first book, Beneath the Red Dust, has sold thousands of copies internationally. Katherine writes fast paced thrillers and Aussie mysteries. Katherine has a Masters degree in Politics and has worked as a University teacher. She has four children and lives in one of Australia’s most picturesque locations – Queenslands Sunshine Coast. The First Wave is a perfect holiday thriller and readers will be taken away on an adventure on the beautiful, but deadly, Aussie Coast.
Acclaimed author Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal-winning novel-in-verse explores the life of fourteen-year-old Billie Jo growing up in the dust bowls of Oklahoma. Out of the Dust joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!"Dust piles up like snow across the prairie. . . ."A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better -- playing the piano -- is impossible with her wounded hands.To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma -- and in the surprising landscape of her own heart.
A powerful post-nuclear holocaust novel described by the author as, 'my cry against the monstrous weapons men have made'. Everyone thought, when the alarm bell rang, that it was just another fire practice. But the first bombs had fallen on Hamburg and Leningrad, the headmaster said, and a full-scale nuclear attack was imminent . . . It's a real-life nightmare. Sarah and her family have to stay cooped up in the tightly-sealed kitchen for days on end, dreading the inevitable radioactive fall-out and the subsequent slow, torturous death, which seems almost preferable to surviving in a grey, dead world, choked by dust. But then, from out of the dust and the ruins and the desolation, comes new life, a new future, and a whole brave new world...
What is beneath the Red Dust Deep within the earth, two hundred metres under the surface, a tiny black bacteria sat nestled into a sandstone nook. Its nook was cool, dark and eons old. No one had seen the nook, or the bacteria in this lifetime. Or the lifetime before. It had been so long since someone had seen the bacteria that it had been forgotten. Completely forgotten by man and humanity. Completely forgotten by the people who had vowed to make sure it did not get forgotten. Completely forgotten by the people who absolutely should remember it. How it had been forgotten was not important. Maybe someone who had been meant to pass the knowledge down to their children had died unexpectedly. Maybe a whole race of people had died unexpectedly. Or been murdered. So the bacteria sat there, in silence, not dying but not exactly living either. Existing. And no one knew it was there. Poppy Geordanis figured taking a job at a remote research station as the head chef would be a dream come true. Partly for the experience, and partly to escape the constant questions from her family about when she is going to marry – as a woman of thirty, it’s a solid option. Or is it? Twenty floors under the earth, a life or death battle has begun in a secret research station. Poppy is caught in the middle, but she doesn’t know it yet. As well as cooking dinner for fifty staff, she must use all her wits to survive when a well-trained, gun toting force invades. With the help of her best friend Amber, scientist Gary and head of security Jonah, Poppy attempts to protect her friends and colleagues from the mercenaries. That’s a tough ask when you're 5 foot 3, as graceful as an elephant and scared shitless of guns. Poppy also has a growing suspicion that resident heartthrob- chemist Nick- is not who he says he is, but Nick suggests maybe it is in fact Jonah who is a double operative. Unsure who to believe, Poppy knows she must act to prevent the force from killing those she cares about. But is the station's research the bigger risk to her and her friends? Katherine Franks is an author from the Sunshine Coast, Kabi Kabi Country, Queensland. She writes thriller, mystery, and romantic suspense novels. Katherine has taught at University, been a Governess on remote cattle stations, written policy for the government, designed health policy and worked in social work. She has a Masters degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Social Science. Based on her experience working in the outback and living by the bush, Katherine’s novels feature rugged Australian landscapes and characters. Check out Katherines other books: Beneath the Red Dust is an action thriller set in the Outback of Australia, and The First Wave is a thriller set on the Coast of Queensland. Devil Tree Road is a romantic suspense starring a new start, a handsome national parks worker and possible murder. You can read more Katherine Franks at katherinefranks.com or check out Katherine Franks on socials.
Embark on an interstellar adventure with Jack Williamson’s classic science fiction novel, "The Prince of Space." This thrilling tale takes you on a journey through the cosmos, where daring escapades and cosmic battles await. What extraordinary adventures await the Prince of Space, and how will he confront the challenges of a universe teeming with danger and wonder? Williamson’s imaginative storytelling brings to life a vivid sci-fi landscape filled with excitement and intrigue. Prepare to be transported to distant galaxies and encounter alien worlds as you follow the Prince’s quest for justice and exploration. Perfect for fans of space opera and adventurous science fiction. Are you ready to blast off into the universe with "The Prince of Space" and experience a thrilling sci-fi odyssey? Join the intergalactic adventure with "The Prince of Space." Get your copy now and experience a classic tale of space exploration and heroism that will captivate your imagination!
Jasmine Apple has just moved into her new home in the Australian bush. But when property developers come knocking, followed closely by National Parks, will her new start become a false start? Hardly 5 minutes after she moves into her new house - an inherited cement bunker like place nestled in the middle of nowhere in the Australian hinterland - National Parks come knocking accusing Jasmine of environmental crimes. It doesn't help things that National Parks worker Hugh Samson, with years of experience of entitled landowners, has an axe to grind and holds a mean grudge. Hot on the heels of National Parks come the property developers. Jasmine discovers that a plot like hers is worth a packet to the right people. And money would come in handy now she has finally divorced her self absorbed ex husband and is bringing up their 5 year old son by herself. Should she stay or go? Will the mystery around her fathers death help make up her mind or harden her resolve to stay? Will she chuck it in and head back to where she came from? Or stay and face down the threats lining up to knock her down? With themes of conservation, connection to place, community and beginning again, this is your must have holiday suspense read. Katherine Franks is a Queensland Author of mystery and suspense novels. She is the author of the incredibly popular 'Beneath the Red Dust', and 'The First Wave'. Check out her other books at amazon, and read more at katherinefranks.com
