Tricia Williams has been handed over to the Sector Guard, her talent for tranquilizing those around her has become dangerous and uncontrolled. The Sector Guard techs rise to the challenge and in no time, Tricia has been outfitted with a uniform that will let her eat and converse in public without putting her in a bubble. Guardian is her new commanding officer and they have met before. When she was a mediator and he was joining the Alliance, she mediated his contract and he took a place in her nocturnal fantasies from that day onward. Now, assigned to Guardian as a partner, Pax has several things to deal with, and her life depends on his attention to detail. If he would stop staring at her butt, things would go a lot smoother.
The leading ancient world historian and author of Caesar presents “an engrossing account of how the Roman Empire grew and operated” (Kirkus). Renowned for his biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus, Adrian Goldsworthy turns his attention to the Roman Empire as a whole during its height in the first and second centuries AD. Though this time is known as the Roman Peace, or Pax Romana, the Romans were fierce imperialists who took by force vast lands stretching from the Euphrates to the Atlantic coast. The Romans ruthlessly won peace not through coexistence but through dominance; millions died and were enslaved during the creation of their empire. Pax Romana examines how the Romans came to control so much of the world and asks whether traditionally favorable images of the Roman peace are true. Goldsworthy vividly recounts the rebellions of the conquered, examining why they broke out, why most failed, and how they became exceedingly rare. He reveals that hostility was just one reaction to the arrival of Rome and that from the outset, conquered peoples collaborated, formed alliances, and joined invaders, causing resistance movements to fade away.
The relationship between civil society and the armed forces is an essential part of any polity, democratic or otherwise, because a military force is after all a universal feature of social systems. Despite significant progress moving towards democracy among some African countries in the past decade, all too many African militaries have yet to accept core democratic principles regulating civilian authority over the military. This book explores the theory of civil-military relations and moves on to review the intrusion of the armed forces in African politics by looking first into the organization and role of the army in pre-colonial and colonial eras, before examining contemporary armies and their impact on society. Furthermore it revisits the various explanations of military takeovers in Africa and disentangles the notion of the military as the modernizing force. Whether as a revolutionary force, as a stabilizing force, or as a modernizing force, the military has often been perceived as the only organized and disciplined group with the necessary skills to uplift newly independent nations. The performance of Africa's military governments since independence, however, has soundly disproven this thesis. As such, this study conveys the necessity of new civil-military relations in Africa and calls not just for civilian control of the military but rather a democratic oversight of the security forces in Africa.
Jensoria is on the verge of civil war and the crew of Striker couldnt care less. All that Hellion and his crew want is to land a big score before the war erupts. But when an offer draws the Striker crew into the conflict, their actions could fundamentally alter the Kingdom of Jensoria.
Recruiting supernaturally gifted kids to help stop a cataclysmic force from decimating countless worlds, agent Jane Kamali teams up with a telekinetic teen to navigate the madcap schemes of a power-hungry fascist cult.
Fleeing across the sea from enemies unknown, Nikki and the crew of the Wind Runner fight for their lives as they struggle to keep safe their strange and ancient cargo, the unconscious Rogaan and Aren. The crew discovers they need the help of these warriors of old as they battle deadly Tyr super-soldiers intent on taking their ancient cargo for themselves. Nikki suffers terribly the wrath of the Tyr when protecting Rogaan and Aren, hurling her to the brink of death and into the ancient world of mankind’s first civilization reliving the past through the eyes of the aspiring warrior Rogaan and the mystic Aren. Nikki plunges, again, into a world both increasingly familiar yet profoundly strange where a society simultaneously primitive and advanced struggles against corruption and the unseen powers of their ancient gods, alien intelligences, and horrific dangers. As Rogaan and Aren face terrible injustices and challenges, deep questions are raised about the origins of humanity’s battle between good and evil. Astonishing in its scope and detail, taking you into a fully created world beyond your wildest dreams, Primeval Origins: Light of Honor skillfully weaves together humanity’s oldest creation myths, religious beliefs, political landscapes, and prehistoric origins to create a thrilling, fascinating epic rich in characters and compelling plot. Join the world of Primeval Origins now as it reveals the secrets of Creation’s guiding hand: petulant godlings, noisy mortals, and ancient evils confronted by good in the ultimate test of the human soul.
If they can stay alive long enough, they can find the way to a new future. Thorbardin remains closed against the world as two violent factions of dwarves clash in a brutal civil war. Neither side can prevail, and violence threatens destruction of the entire kingdom. Brandon Bluestone returns home to Kayolin to find himself a wanted fugitive. His nation has changed drastically since his departure. Bolstered by the courage of a beautiful dwarf priestess, he battles an ancient enemy, struggles to right a great wrong, and tries to take the only step that allows for a peaceful and prosperous future for all the dwarves of Krynn. And with the fate of two nations hanging in the balance, it falls to the lowest of the low to put the wheels of history in motion.
Edition v3.5 now available! The fate of earth’s 9 billion souls lies in their hands when humanity’s ancient past collides into our foretold future! She scoffs at the legends of long-ago civilizations. He grew up battling deadly dinosaurs. When their lifelines intersect, the final battle between the primeval forces of evil and good begins! Can Nikki and Rogaan survive humanity's genesis as chronicled in our oldest myths and legends and triumph the challenges of our apocalyptic end times deciding the destinies of our Eternal Souls? Join Nikki, Rogaan, and allies on their action filled journey revealing humanity’s spark and the creation of our angelic heralds! Live the excitement of the Primeval Origins Epic Saga, crafted by the multiple award-winning author B.A. Vonsik. A fantasy / sci-fi series like no others winning 37 literary awards and honors. An epic story 65 million years in the making. Buy book one, now! Primeval Origins® A Young Adult (YA) dystopian action-adventure saga written for teens, young adults, and adults alike. Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish (Book #1 in this Epic Saga, 3rd Edition) AWARD-WINNING Bolivia, 2080s. Nikki Ricks dedicates her life to scientific truth. So when the book-smart graduate student discovers a perfectly preserved blue-steel sword among the fossilized bones of a Cretaceous-era dinosaur, she struggles to accept what should be an anachronism. And when the ground gives way, she finds herself plunged into the memories of a prehistoric young man. 65 million years BC. Rogaan yearns to claim a place among his tribe’s heroes. Already a skilled archer and metalsmith, he chafes at his father forbidding him from his planned foray into adulthood by joining the town hunt. Defying his family’s command and going anyway, the brash would-be warrior reveals a forbidden weapon... and draws the attention of an assassin. With Nikki torn between her physical body and her mental journey, she grapples to hold on to the logic of reality... despite a fierce conviction that a mystical doomsday is looming. And as Rogaan fights to dodge death from a powerful sect, he realizes the world is more complex and dangerous than his wildest imaginings. Are the tangled senses of this strange pair fated to bring about the end of mankind? Buy Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish to wield the secrets of the ages today! Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish - Book #1 in the epic story revealing mankind's undiscovered history, the ancient origins of 666...the Beast, and the rise of the legendary Four Horsemen. Join Nikki, a paleo-archeology graduate student suffering life altering events turning her life upside-down and sending her on the run from forces unknown as she learns of humanity's undiscovered and hidden history. A history filled with terrible tyrannies, deadly dinosaurs, brutal beasts, ancient gods, and heroic hearts as the origins of our End Times is revealed, answering the question, "What if all of our myths and legends are true?" Back of the Book Myths and Legends...just fables and fantasies for those taught to scoff at the misunderstood, as I was taught when a graduate student in the sciences; scorn and ridicule the forbidden. Myths are just...myths. Legends are just...legends. Then, I discovered different, in a South American dig where my life went upside down after finding what should not be with what we thought we knew so much about. My consciousness, my Light, plunged through a maelstrom bound to those of our undiscovered history. I witnessed through the eyes of ancient warriors, Rogaan and others, a wondrous human civilization of old, grand beasts and dinosaurs, and celestial gods of myth in what the modern Hopi and Maya branded our First World-Age. An age deep in blood and conflict born of gods and new man covetous of true powers and self-motivations loosing upon their world tyrannies, energy forces...sorceries, and abominations affronting Creation. Sealing the fates of the age, sword-messengers, warrior angels, risen new to bring forth the Harbinger of Creation’s Judgments, slayers of civilizations...both of men and gods, the Horsemen. I am bound to them. In the here and now, standing at the precipice at the end of mankind’s Fourth World-Age, I fear what is to come from the others...the Horsemen of Prophecy. And yet, I have hope for what follows. As our ancients did in tablets of clay teaching us our undiscovered past, I Nikki, now share these steel bound epics with you before the sounding of the trumpets. Visit the Primeval Origins websites at: celestialfurypublishing.com or visit Facebook/Primeval Origins. The websites are loaded with news, the Primeval Origins Encyclopedia and Lexicon (all the background elements that you just can't stuff into the books).
Shortlisted for the 2017 Aurealis Awards ‘The Undercurrent is gripping and action-packed...Paula Weston has created an ambitious thrilled that presents us with an alarming look at Australia’s near future and where our technological advances could be taking us.’ Readings Eighteen-year-old Julianne De Marchi is different. As in: she has an electrical undercurrent beneath her skin that stings and surges like a live wire. She can use it—to spark a fire, maybe even end a life—but she doesn’t understand what it is. And she can barely control it, especially when she’s anxious. Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he’s a soldier—part of an experimental privatised military unit that has identified Jules De Marchi as a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she’s tried so hard to hide? Or because of her mother Angie’s history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business? It’s no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time—he’s under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way. Paula Weston, author of the much-admired Rephaim series, returns with a standalone work: a futuristic thriller that is only slightly futuristic—but utterly and undeniably thrilling. Great writing, heart-burning characters, probing questions about where technology is taking us—and a plot that zips and zings like an electrical current itself. This is a great young-adult writer at the peak of her powers. Paula Weston is a Brisbane-based author. She has more than twenty years’ experience as a professional writer—first as a print journalist and then as a government communication and media specialist. She co-owns a writing/design consultancy. ‘The Undercurrent has everything you could possibly ask for in a YA novel—illegal human experimentation, military groups for hire, companies with hidden agendas, government mismanagement of environmental threats, romance, X-Men-style abilities, a nuanced mother-daughter relationship and non-stop action and intrigue. The characters are endearing and believable, the romance meaningful without being saccharine and the plot races along with impeccable timing...The Undercurrent is a worthy companion to beloved Australian speculative novels such as The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn and John Marsden’s Tomorrow series.’ Books+Publishing ‘A fast-paced, sensational ride, which screams “read me”.’ Scott Moore, South Australian Weekend Review ‘The Undercurrent is a real rollercoaster of a read, packed full of thrills and tension and non-stop action. The characters are captivating and nuanced. The plot is fast-paced and high-powered. Most importantly, it is a tightly written and eminently satisfying standalone book.’ Booktopia ‘A readable and believable dystopian tale of nuclear energy, genetically modified crops, and corporate greed, further enlivened by a budding romance.’ Age ‘The Undercurrent presents a compelling portrait of a young woman finding agency and purpose that will appeal to both an adolescent audience and older readers.’ Otago Daily Times ‘When it comes to speculative fiction, Paula Weston can deliver, and deliver, moreover, on recognisably Australian soil...The Undercurrent is a well-written suspense thriller, political mystery, family saga, slow-burning romance and, above all, prescient picture of our own far-too-possible future.’ Magpies ‘Late for dinner, late for work, late late late. Thanks so much, Paula Weston. I picked up Shimmer and forgot everything else.’ Adelaide Advertiser ‘Superbly written, action-packed fiction with interesting, brilliantly flawed characters.’ Fictional Thoughts ‘Some books you crave. You keep returning to the cover art and re-reading the blurb, you stalk the authors’ Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads profiles in the hopes of gleaning morsels of information...you count-down to release day. Paula Weston is something special indeed.’ ALPHA Reader ‘Weston has written a high-voltage story full of explosive action and a zing of romance. The Undercurrent is a fast-paced, thrilling, futuristic action-packed YA novel that will have you zapped to your seat.’ Nadia L King ‘The Undercurrent is action-packed and thrilling...There is romance, family drama and mystery that all blend well to keep the pace flowing and the plot moving.’ Obsession with Books ‘Paula Weston raises the bar for an intelligent, page-turning speculative young adult thriller full of complex issues and wonderfully varied and sculpted characters worth caring about. A superbly written book with a gorgeous cover that will make you think and learn and hide away until you’ve read the last page.’ Kids Book Review ‘Paula Weston has done it again. The Aussie who blessed us with the Rephaim series doesn’t miss a beat as she unveils a new cast of well-rounded, flawed and believable characters in a fast-paced tale...Another page-turner!’ SA Weekend ‘A cleverly constructed tale of mysterious and uncontrollable powers, government cover-ups, love and duty from the author of the classic Rephaim series.’ Adelaide Advertiser, Favourite Books of the Year ‘Paula Weston has done it again. The Aussie who blessed us with the Rephaim series doesn’t miss a beat as she moves away from the world of half-angels in this new thriller. Weston unveils a new cast of well-rounded, flawed and believable characters in a fast-paced tale...Weston tackles important issues without letting the pace drop in another page-turner.’ Daily Telegraph ‘This LoveOzYA Sci-Fi is sure to please with its sweet romantic subplot and poignant back drop of a not-so-distant future Australia.’ The Adventures of Sacakat
