Here it is: the first collection of the funniest and most touching stories from Midwestern humorist Gary Anderson. Forty-nine witty and touching stories, dealing with some of life's most common situations, from a very uncommon perspective. Gary's gentle combination of humor and poignancy brings these off-beat essays to life, and you'll find yourself laughing right up to the moment you feel a tear rolling down your cheek.
Fan favorite Wong takes readers to a whole new level with this blistering sequel to the cult sensation "John Dies at the End," soon to be a movie starring Paul Giamatti.
Spiders are among the most diverse groups of terrestrial invertebrates, yet they are among the least studied and understood. This first comprehensive guide to all 68 spider families in North America beautifully illustrates 469 of the most commonly encountered species. Group keys enable identification by web type and other observable details, and species descriptions include identification tips, typical habitat, geographic distribution, and behavioral notes. A concise illustrated introduction to spider biology and anatomy explains spider relationships. This book is a critical resource for curious naturalists who want to understand this ubiquitous and ecologically critical component of our biosphere.
Just as he did in his first book, Spider’s Night on the Boom, Gary Anderson takes aim at the both the heart strings and the funny bone in this new collection of stories from one of the Midwest’s premiere humorists. With his latest batch of stories, Anderson turns his unique blend of humor and poignancy to subjects as diverse as the importance of keeping promises to children, the incredible “Don’t Boil Over” diet, the intricacies of Quantum Fishing, and how to get free if you ever find yourself hanging upside down by a boot heel from the top of an eight-foot chain link fence. The laughter and tears will flow as Anderson gently guides you through these forty tales of the silly and sublime.
In the literary imagination, Chicago evokes images of industry and unbridled urban growth. But the tallgrass prairie and deep forests that once made up Chicago’s landscape also inspired musings from residents and visitors alike. In Of Prairie, Woods, and Water, naturalist Joel Greenberg gathers these unique voices from the land to present an unexpected portrait of Chicago in this often charming, sometimes heart-wrenching anthology of nature writing. These writings tell the tale of a land in transition—one with abundant, unique, and incredibly lush flora and fauna, a natural history quite elusive today. Drawing on archives he uncovered while writing his acclaimed A Natural History of the Chicago Region, Greenberg hand-selected these first-person narratives, all written between 1721 and 1959. Not every author is familiar, but every contribution is distinctive. From a pioneer’s hilarious notes on life in the Kankakee marsh to Theodore Drieser’s poignant plea for conservation of the Tippecanoe River to infamous murderer Nathan Leopold’s charming description of a pet robin he kept in prison, the sources included are as diverse as the nature they describe. The excerpts conclude with insightful biographical essays and traverse a wide area of greater Chicagoland, from the Illinois River to southwest Michigan, from southern Wisconsin to the Limberlost swamp of northeastern Indiana. A fascinating record of Chicago’s changing environmental history, Of Prairie, Woods, and Water captures the natural world in a way that will inspire its continued conservation. Errata: We have learned the title of a book by the Chicago ecologist and writer May Theilgaard Watts has been incorrectly rendered in the selections attributed to Mrs. Watts. The correct title of her book is Reading the Landscape of America (Nature Study Guild Publishers, see http://naturestudy.com). This will be corrected in the next printing. We very much regret the error.
“Masterfully flips the first installment on its head... James makes the mythic tantalizingly real.’” —Esquire "Even more brilliant than the first.” —Buzzfeed An Instant New York Times Bestseller and NPR Best Book of 2022 pick From Marlon James, author of the bestselling National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the second book in the Dark Star trilogy. In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Sogolon the Moon Witch proved a worthy adversary to Tracker as they clashed across a mythical African landscape in search of a mysterious boy who disappeared. In Moon Witch, Spider King, Sogolon takes center stage and gives her own account of what happened to the boy, and how she plotted and fought, triumphed and failed as she looked for him. It’s also the story of a century-long feud—seen through the eyes of a 177-year-old witch—that Sogolon had with the Aesi, chancellor to the king. It is said that Aesi works so closely with the king that together they are like the eight limbs of one spider. Aesi’s power is considerable—and deadly. It takes brains and courage to challenge him, which Sogolon does for reasons of her own. Both a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.
Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #51-52, Spider-Man: Master Plan, Spider-Man: Reptilian Rage and Material from Marvel Action Origins #1. In a whole Spider-Verse of spectacular super heroes, you just can't beat the original, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Celebrate the ever-amazing Peter Parker and his crazy, nonstop life with these sensational adventures in web-slinging! First, discover - along with Peter - why with great power, there must also come great responsibility in an all-action retelling of Spidey's origin! Join the wall-crawler and his biggest critic, J. Jonah Jameson, in the clutches of the Kingpin of Crime! See Peter's Broadway plans ruined by the machinations of the Crime Master! And as the ol' Parker luck strikes yet again, feel the reptilian rage of the deadly Lizard - and learn whether Spidey must sacrifice his own future to save the day!
Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #143-164, Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) #10, material from Marvel Special Edition Treasury (1975) #1. Peter Parker's life has never been easy, but it's hard for things to get worse after your dead girlfriend shows up on your doorstep. Uh-oh, we've challenged that infamous Parker luck - which means things will definitely get worse! Spidey…you've been cloned! In the storyline that shocked the comics world, the scheming Jackal has cloned both Gwen Stacy and Spider-Man, and now Spidey must face one of his greatest personal tragedies! Then, Doc Ock returns - and he's brought the ghost of Hammerhead with him! And they're not the only ones back from the grave. The Kingpin is out to resurrect his son - and he can, if Spider-Man dies! This Epic Collection isn't all reanimation-a-go-go, though. Peter and Mary Jane's relationship blossoms in these pages - and they even share their first kiss!
