RIDDLES, TREASURE, AND SORCERY Here is a web to catch the wind - And a loom to weave a lay. Riddles play on words, my friend - Play on these and play you may. This simple riddle was the clue that started the sword-for-hire Corson and her sorceress companion, the Lady Nyctasia, on, a hunt for the greatest treasure ever hidden. But this long-abandoned treasure is the hoard of the dread Cymvelan Circle, whose scattered members are coming together again to claim what is theirs...
The mercenary swordswoman Corson and her sorceress companion, Lady Nyctasia, follow a mysterious riddle to a long-abandoned, unparralled treasure, but the ruthless Cymvelan Circle gathers its forces to claim its own
"Part primer, part parable, part elegy for the depth and decency we sacrifice daily to the order of self-possession, The Wind invites us to enjoy it inventively .... A philosopher coming up against the limits of philosophy's forms of communication ("Philosophy, without being in touch, is always abstract"), Bendik-Keymer courts a thoughtfulness in which wonder practically circumvents theory. Energized by "utopian anger," he invokes the clearing, shaking energies of wind against the violent social rigidities we accept as normal. The wind, impersonal, is the figure through which to keep the dynamic inter-personal in view. ... I admire this book's inventiveness, its willingness to break with discipline in pursuing a wider vision of accountability." (Sarah Gridley, author of "Weather Eye Open" and "Loom") A process begun in Pisa, Italy in April of 2016 during a workshop on political theory in the Anthropocene, The Wind An Unruly Living is a philosophical exercise (askêsis, translated, following Ignatius of Loyola, as "spiritual exercise"). In his exercise, Bendik-Keymer throws to the void: the ideology of self-ownership from a society of possession. By using the Stoic kanôn, the rule of living by phûsis, he follows an element. Unhappily for the Stoic and happily for us, the wind is unruly. A swerve of currents through a social fabric, it's full of holes, all holely. Stretch and stitch as you want, it might settle more shapely tattered into light, but it will never become whole. The wind's only holesome.
“Nature, rightly questioned, never lies.” —A Manual of Scientific Enquiry, Third Edition, 1859 Scott Huler was working as a copy editor for a small publisher when he stumbled across the Beaufort Wind Scale in his Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary. It was one of those moments of discovery that writers live for. Written centuries ago, its 110 words launched Huler on a remarkable journey over land and sea into a fascinating world of explorers, mariners, scientists, and writers. After falling in love with what he decided was “the best, clearest, and most vigorous piece of descriptive writing I had ever seen,” Huler went in search of Admiral Francis Beaufort himself: hydrographer to the British Admiralty, man of science, and author—Huler assumed—of the Beaufort Wind Scale. But what Huler discovered is that the scale that carries Beaufort’s name has a long and complex evolution, and to properly understand it he had to keep reaching farther back in history, into the lives and works of figures from Daniel Defoe and Charles Darwin to Captains Bligh, of the Bounty, and Cook, of the Endeavor. As hydrographer to the British Admiralty it was Beaufort’s job to track the information that ships relied on: where to lay anchor, descriptions of ports, information about fortification, religion, and trade. But what came to fascinate Huler most about Beaufort was his obsession for observing things and communicating to others what the world looked like. Huler’s research landed him in one of the most fascinating and rich periods of history, because all around the world in the mid-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in a grand, expansive period, modern science was being invented every day. These scientific advancements encompassed not only vast leaps in understanding but also how scientific innovation was expressed and even organized, including such enduring developments as the scale Anders Celsius created to simplify how Gabriel Fahrenheit measured temperature; the French-designed metric system; and the Gregorian calendar adopted by France and Great Britain. To Huler, Beaufort came to embody that passion for scientific observation and categorization; indeed Beaufort became the great scientific networker of his time. It was he, for example, who was tapped to lead the search for a naturalist in the 1830s to accompany the crew of the Beagle; he recommended a young naturalist named Charles Darwin. Defining the Wind is a wonderfully readable, often humorous, and always rich story that is ultimately about how we observe the forces of nature and the world around us.
Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read. This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." Illustrations in this ebook appear in vibrant full color on a full-color device and in rich black-and-white on all other devices. Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books. Whether enjoyed in the classroom or for homeschooling or independent reading, Charlotte's Web is a proven favorite.
From coral reefs to stargazing and everything in between, Wind, Wings, and Waves is your personal guide to nature in Hawai‘i. With color illustrations throughout, this engaging book introduces you to the islands' natural world and helps to identify common plants, birds, and fish. More than a hundred self-guided field trips on six islands will inspire you to get outdoors and explore nature on your own. In Wind, Wings, and Waves, you'll find a knowledgeable and good-humored friend telling fascinating insider facts on this magical place: How, when, and where you can listen to whales singing. Where to see unique Hawaiian plants and birds. Why coral reefs are teeming with weird, wonderful life forms, and the best reefs to visit. Why Hawai‘i is the best place in the world for stargazing. How Hawai‘i became a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, including a mini-guide to the unique foods of the islands. How volcanoes make new Hawaiian islands, and the forces that make these islands travel and eventually disappear. How plants and animals made their way to the most isolated place on the planet, and what makes Hawai‘i a natural laboratory for evolution. The amazing story of Polynesian voyagers who navigated to Hawai‘i by the stars. By sharing his love for the natural wonders of Hawai‘i, biologist Rick Soehren helps you make the most of your time in the islands, whether you are having the vacation of a lifetime or lucky enough to live in Hawai‘i.
Named as one of '50 Writers You Should Read Now' by The Guardian. From the award-winning author of The Rift, Nina Allan, The Silver Wind is a remarkable narrative exploring the nature of time itself. Martin Newland is fascinated by time. Watches and clocks are for him metaphorical time machines, a means of coming to terms with the past and voyaging into the future. But was his first timepiece a Smith, given to him on his fourteenth birthday, or the Longines he received four years later? Was it the small brass travelling clock unearthed in the run-down house for which he is to act as estate agent? And who is the maker of these time machines?
