In derelict Dresden a cultivated, middle-class family does all it can to cope amid the Communist downfall. This striking tapestry of the East German experience is told through the tangled lives of a soldier, surgeon, nurse and publisher. With evocative detail, Uwe Tellkamp masterfully reveals the myriad perspectives of the time as people battled for individuality, retreated to nostalgia, chose to conform, or toed the perilous line between East and West. Poetic, heartfelt and dramatic, The Tower vividly resurrects the sights, scents and sensations of life in the GDR as it hurtled towards 9 November 1989.
Tales of haunting from one of the world’s most terrifying landmarks. The Tower of London’s most horrific tragedies are well known; the gruesome deaths of the two boy princes in the Bloody Tower, Anne Boleyn’s execution, the Jesuit priests and heretics who suffered the agonies of the rack and thumbscrew. Is it any wonder, then, that there are frequent reports of bloodcurdling screams and moans, of unexplained footsteps and ghostly headless figures? Here, recorded for the first time, is an account for all to read—but preferably not at night—when you only think you are alone! Ghosts of the Tower of London is part of The Paranormal, a series that resurrects rare titles, classic publications, and out-of-print texts, as well as publishes new supernatural and otherworldly ebooks for the digital age. The series includes a range of paranormal subjects from angels, fairies, and UFOs to near-death experiences, vampires, ghosts, and witchcraft.
"No summary can do justice to the strange appeal of this unusual, short book, which is at once a crime novel, a comic novel and a serious political satire on contemporary Ukraine." —Anne Applebaum, The Wall Street Journal With the collapse of the Soviet Union, newly-free Ukraine is a shell-shocked land . . . In poverty-and-violence-wracked Kyiv, unemployed writer Viktor Zolotaryov leads a down-and-out life with his only friend, Misha, a penguin that he rescued when the local zoo started getting rid of animals it couldn't feed. Even more nerve-wracking for Victor: a local mobster has taken a shine to Misha and wants to borrow him for events. But Viktor thinks he’s finally caught a break when he lands a well-paying job at the Kyiv newspaper writing “living obituaries” of local dignitaries—articles to be filed for use when the time comes. The only thing is, the time always seems to come as soon as Viktor finishes writing the article. Slowly understanding that his own life may be in jeopardy, Viktor also realizes that the only thing that might be keeping him alive is his penguin.
Venture into the gothic realm of Joseph Vargo and discover the passion, mystery and horror that lie in wait deep within the shadows of The Dark Tower. This sequel to the acclaimed anthology Tales From The Dark Tower continues the Gothic saga of the vampire Lord Brom and his battle against the forces that lurk in the citadel of shadows known as The Dark Tower. No one is certain how long The Dark Tower has stood. It is believed to be a place of great evil, haunted by dark angels and spirits of the restless dead. Legends say the Tower was once the ancient fortress of the Dark Queen, Mara, and her infernal legions. Other tales tell of a warrior knight—once a man, but now an immortal creature of darkness—who stands vigil over the fallen queen’s tomb.
A modern, summery spin on the classic The House That Jack Built, in which Lola's day at the beach leads to new friends and a giant sandcastle. Lola is building her dream sandcastle--one with a tall, tall tower and sea glass that sends signals to mermaids. But the beach is crowded, and soon enough, a boy steps on her castle. Not to worry! Lola recruits him to build a wall. When a toddler with a bulldozer starts digging too close the walls, Lola decides he can be in charge of digging the moat. As the sandcastle grows, so does Lola's friendly group of helpers. There's only one thing that Lola doesn't want near the sandcastle: a wave! Will the new friends be able to salvage the mermaids' castle when their hard work is washed away?
Amazing Alabama: A Potpourri of Fascinating Facts, Tall Tales and Storied Stories chronicles a brief history of the state, famous personages associated with Alabama, a discussion of state firsts, unique occurrences, antiquated laws and other fascinating topics.
Richard Tames describes how London has been chronicled, described, celebrated, named, and mapped over the twenty centuries of its existence to become a city treasured even by those who have never set foot in it as a byword for innovation and diversity. This book has been written for those who, knowing London, know that it is too vast, too complex, too elusive ever to be fully known but yet would like to know it better still.
Massachusetts—a New England state with a proud history and a vibrant culture. But there is more to this place than white church steeples and town greens. In the forests, meadows, and beaches surrounding quaint, colonial towns lurk screeching ghosts, cursed treasures, sea serpents and other strange creatures, and even the Devil himself, all awaiting the next hiker to stumble down the trail… For years, tales of these mysterious beings and places existed only in whispers and campfire tales, but now for the first time these legends have been collected and retold in one volume: Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Massachusetts. Alongside each of these captivating tales is the necessary route and trailhead information brave readers will need to go beyond their town lines and test their nerve. With dozens of stories and hikes throughout, readers will discover and explore the legends and forgotten histories from the Berkshires to the Bay.
In Crime and Management, and Other Tall Tales, Carmine Cacciaguida gets a toy car for his fifth birthday. He checks his fathers car to see if it works the same way and discovers a dead body in the trunk. Years later, he becomes boss of his fathers gang but hates the violence. He and his daughter Claire devise a way to manage violent crime, similar to the way HMOs manage health care. Constituents pay insurance, the proceeds of which go to the criminals to ensure that they dont commit crimes. Victims of crime are reimbursed from this collected money reducing what the criminals get. So the criminals have no incentive to commit crimes. The story traces Carmines idea from its birth to implementation through deals with politicians and the contentious but humorous heads of the twelve major crime families in New York City. After one year, crime is down thirty-four percent in the city and Carmine makes plans to extend the network outside of the city. The six other tall tales reflect the quests for emotional intimacy of a dying Nobel laureate, a reluctant Don Juan, and the point of view of a surprised frog, an icon and a teapot, an artist who takes liberties with a statue, and a politicians wife. Exciting, readable, humorous, full of multicultural flavorsbut beneath all that is the ingenious comparison of ways of dealing with medical needs and a potential way of dealing with crime. Robert Kahn, Director, Institute for Social Research
A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian wilderness, where snowdrifts reach the eaves of her family’s wooden house and there is truth in the fairy tales told around the fire. Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention of Morozko—Frost, the winter demon from the stories—and together they saved her people from destruction. But Frost’s aid comes at a cost, and her people have condemned her as a witch. Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey. But after Vasilisa prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself. Praise for The Girl in the Tower “[A] magical story set in an alluring Russia.”—Paste “Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review) “[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “[Katherine] Arden once again delivers an engaging fantasy that mixes Russian folklore and history with delightful worldbuilding and lively characters.”—Library Journal
