It is with great relief to all in the land of Sommerhjem that the challenge to choose a new king or queen has been completed, even if the result of the challenge was very unexpected. What will happen next is unknown. For me, now is the time for reflection. My past catching up to me placed my family in danger. Very few folks know of my wife Ani’s and my involvement with those who secretly provided information to Queen Octavia. Nor do many folks know just how deeply involved I was after the death of Queen Octavia in thwarting the Regent’s intention to prevent Princess Esmeralda from becoming the next ruler of Sommerhjem when she came of age. What is important now is what can I reveal about my past and what do I still need to hold secret? My name is Thorval Pedersen and this is my tale.
Perrin has spent all of her young life preparing to be the next laird of the large landholding Nytt Heimili and leader of her clan. With the scrawl of his signature and the stamping of the royal seal into melting wax, Prince Mallus, the newest ruling prince of Bortfjell has declared that no one who is not of pure Borfjellian blood can hold any positions of power. Because Perrin’s mother is from beyond the borders of Bortfjell and therefore considered to be of foreign blood, Perrin finds herself no longer in line to be the heir to either the landholding or the clan. In addition, there are those of Perrin’s father’s court who decide that the prince’s edict is not enough to solidify a shift of power in Nytt Heimili and are determined to eliminate Perrin, causing her to flee her home. With the help of two loyal companions, a wild hill cat named Kipp, several rover families, and a great deal of luck, Perrin’s journey away from all she has known takes her on an adventure filled with narrow escapes, a blowing snow filled mountain pass, scrutiny by the Sommerhjem border guard, and a number of surprises. Perrin’s journey leads her to a place never in her wildest imagination had she expected to find herself.
Once upon a time Linus Torvalds was a skinny unknown, just another nerdy Helsinki techie who had been fooling around with computers since childhood. Then he wrote a groundbreaking operating system and distributed it via the Internet -- for free. Today Torvalds is an international folk hero. And his creation LINUX is used by over 12 million people as well as by companies such as IBM. Now, in a narrative that zips along with the speed of e-mail, Torvalds gives a history of his renegade software while candidly revealing the quirky mind of a genius. The result is an engrossing portrayal of a man with a revolutionary vision, who challenges our values and may change our world.
A MYSTERY, A QUEST, A COUPLE OF GUTSY TEENAGERS AGAINST ALL ODDS 795 AD: A time of superstitious beliefs and dangerous forces. When Viking marauders burn the monastery on the Scottish Island, Iona, the orphaned Shaughn (14) is forced to flee the only home he ever knew in a desperate attempt to save a precious altar Bible. Not willing to be left behind, his cripple step-brother Connor (14) (with grand illusions of becoming a knight) and Heather (13), a superstitious, street-wise gypsy girl, accompany him on the adventure of a lifetime. Hot on the heels of the relic follows the fierce Viking, Thorvald, who is convinced that the Bible contains a secret recipe (a potion for eternal life). The escaping teenagers are cast into every imaginable medieval drama, from a bewitched castle to an encounter with a nasty Druid and even weird Viking Tournament Things. Shaughn, who passes the time reading Latin (a super-weird hobby for even a medieval teenager!) is clearly not equipped for this mission. Meanwhile, the cynical Connor, who harbours aspirations of becoming a famous knight, notwithstanding a lame foot and serious lack of valour, appoints himself bodyguard to Shaughn. But the brothers can barely stay on top of the spirited horse they fled on! Their only hope lies in the quarrelsome gypsy, Heather. Half Spanish and severely traumatised by the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepparents, her single wish is to find her mother who, according to her, was abducted by fairies when Heather was 6 years old. Skilled as an archer, she saves the naïve boys from various predicaments but her superstitious nature soon drives them crazy. Shaughn, who is focused on his mission, is determined to educate her, whilst Connor finds it hard not to believe all her weird superstitions. As if it isn’t enough that they are being harassed by a group of Vikings and their nasty offspring, an ‘undercover’ witch and each other, the teenagers also have to deal with Heather’s drunken step-father (an ex-communicated monk who wants the Bible’s bejewelled cover), the midget druid and his ogre-like twin brothers who plan to sacrifice the kids on the night of the all-dead, and an eccentric Pilgrim who appears and disappears like a ghost. Their greatest enemy, however, might just be their own insecurities. Through this journey of outsmarting medieval foes, the bickering children, barely equipped to deal with the threatening choices of real life, touch the lives of many hurt and lost people and also find real friendship. The journey teaches them to trust God unconditionally and to find the heroes inside themselves. A note on the Altar Bible: The Book of Kells. Fact: The Gospel of Colmcille is considered the most important treasure contained in the Trinity College Museum, Dublin. During the Viking raids on Iona in 795, the Bible disappeared and mysteriously reappeared at the monastery of Kells, Ireland. How it ended up there nobody knows... Fiction: Well, maybe three canny teenagers rescued it!
Norma Hemming (1928-1960) was Australia's first significant female science fiction writer. This volume brings together all the nineteen stories she published in the 1950s, before her untimely death from breast cancer. Also included are two previously unpublished plays, originally performed at Australian science fiction conventions in the 1950s. She is now commemorated by the Australian Science Fiction Foundation through the Norma K. Hemming Award, inaugurated at the World Science Fiction Convention in Melbourne in September 2010.
The action of the saga takes place at the end of the tenth century, at about the time Scandinavia was converting from worship of Norse gods to Christianity. A masterpiece of medieval literature, the story focuses on two families — that of Hoskuld, a prominent farmer with several sons, and that of Gudrun, the most beautiful woman ever born in Iceland.
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson's 'Arne; Early Tales and Sketches' is a collection of poignant stories that explore the complexities of rural life in Norway during the 19th century. Through vivid descriptions and heartfelt narratives, Bjørnson delves into themes of nature, love, and the struggle for personal identity against societal expectations. His prose is characterized by its simplicity yet profound emotional depth, reflecting the burgeoning Realism movement in literature at the time. Each tale within the collection offers a glimpse into the human experience, showcasing Bjørnson's keen observation of human behavior and relationships. His ability to capture the essence of Norwegian culture and tradition is evident throughout the book, making it a valuable contribution to Scandinavian literature. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, a Nobel laureate in Literature, drew inspiration from his own rural upbringing and political activism to create these stories that resonate with readers of all backgrounds. 'Arne; Early Tales and Sketches' is a must-read for those interested in exploring the beauty and complexity of Norwegian literature and culture.
Valhalla and its pantheon of gods and heroes have always fascinated readers, whether it is how these tales illuminate the Viking world or influence cultural touchstones like J. R. R. Tolkien, whose Middle Earth is heavily indebted to Germanic and Norse mythology, as well as Hollywood and comics culture.In Tales of Valhalla, the Whittocks have dramatically retold these rich stories and set them in context within the wider Viking world. Including both myths—stories, usually religious, which explain origins, why things are as they are, the nature of the spiritual—and legends—stories which attempt to explain historical events and may involve historical characters but are told in a non-historical way and often include supernatural events—Tales of Valhalla is an accessible and lively volume that brings these hallmarks of world literature to a new generation.
Curated new Myths and Tales. Lively, stark and formidable, the imagery of Norse mythology storms through this classic collection. The fierce glory of Odin, Frey, Loki and their fellow gods of Asgard are featured here with all the great adventures, from Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, to the endings of Ragnarok. And from the fabled Bifrost to the forging of Thor’s hammer, each Viking legend is riven with a vitality that speaks to us still. The latest title in Flame Tree's beautiful, comprehensive series of Gothic Fantasy titles, concentrates on the ancient, epic origins of modern fantasy.
