Book #19 in the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. After carving a free state for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia must contend with France's infamous Cardinal Richilieu, who is determined to keep his grip on power no matter what history says. France, 1636 . . . It has been twenty years since King Louis took A_a Maria Mauricia, daughter of Spain's King Philip III, as his wife, and their union has not yet produced an heir. Under the guidance of his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, a plan is developed to remedy that situation. Once she is with child, Queen Anne goes into seclusion to guard her health and protect her from those who would prefer that the child is never born¾Frances foreign enemies as well as schemers such as Monsieur Gaston dOrleans, the Kings younger brother and heir. When the Crowns opponents make their move, factions inside and outside France must choose sides and help determine the future and fate of the Kingdom. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About 1636: The Devil's Opera: _Another engaging alternate history from a master of the genre.Ó¾Booklist _. . . an old-style police-procedural mystery, set in 17th century Germany. . . . the threads . . . spin together . . . to weave an addictively entertaining story. . . . a strong addition to a fun series.Ó¾ Daily News of Galveston County About Eric Flints Ring of Fire series: _This alternate history series is ã a landmarkãÓ¾Booklist _[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.Ó¾Booklist _ãreads like a technothriller set in the age of the MedicisãÓ¾Publishers Weekly
Updates and expands science fiction scholar James Gunn's definitive, Hugo Award-winning critical volume about Isaac Asimov and his contributions to the science fiction genre.
This major critical work from one of the preeminent voices in science fiction scholarship reframes the genre as a way of understanding today’s world. As the application of technoscience increasingly transforms every aspect of life, science fiction has become an essential mode of imagining the horizons of possibility. Though the broad scope of science fiction may vary in artistic quality and sophistication, it shares a desire to imagine a collective future for the human species and the world. A strikingly high proportion of today’s films, commercial art, popular music, video games, and non-genre fiction are what Csicsery-Ronay calls “science fictional” —stimulating science-fictional habits of mind. We no longer treat science fiction as merely a genre-engine producing formulaic effects, but as a mode of awareness, which frames experiences as if they were aspects of science fiction. The Seven Beauties of Science Fiction describes science fiction as a constellation of seven diverse cognitive attractions that are particularly formative of science-fictionality. These are the “seven beauties” of the title: fictive neology, fictive novums, future history, imaginary science, the science-fictional sublime, the science-fictional grotesque, and the Technologiade, or the epic of technoscience’s development into a global regime.
Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C.S. Lewis, was a respected academic, writer, and speaker. While he might be best known for his works of fantasy, especially the Chronicles of Narnia and Space Trilogy series, he also wrote many books on Christian apologetics, including Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain. While Lewis was a lecturer at Oxford, he became close friends with fellow lecturer J.R.R. Tolkien, future author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Both authors participated in an informal writing group, The Inklings, where they critiqued and debated each other’s texts and ideas. His works have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe stands out as his most popular fantasy work. Initially, the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia, though chronologically the second by order, it tells of the adventures of children who magically arrive in a magical country called Narnia. In Narnia, magic comes as no surprise, animals both speak and act, and good strives against evil. Lewis weaves Christian themes throughout the Chronicles of Narnia in a manner that is both accessible and picturesque for readers young and old. Attentive readers will also spot elements of Roman and Greek mythology as well as British and Irish folklore. Contents: Fantasy Classics - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Prince Caspian - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - The Silver Chair - The Horse and His Boy - The Magician's Nephew - The Last Battle Science Fiction Novels - Out of the Silent Planet Religious Studies - Mere Christianity - The Screwtape Letters - Screwtape Proposes a Toast
The Roman Catholic Church has long been the target of suspicion and hostility. But how much of this is based on ignorance and prejudice and how much is the fruit of thoughtful consideration of the facts? This book separates fact from fiction. Without excusing or justifying wrongdoing, author Christopher Kaczor clarifies official Catholic teaching and demonstrates that much popular opinion about Catholicism is based on misunderstanding and misinformation. He also provides robust and lucid arguments for Catholic belief and practice. No one book can answer everyone's questions or objections about Catholicism, but this work examines seven of the most controversial and most common myths about the Catholic Church. The Seven Myths: The Church Opposes Science: The Myth of Catholic Irrationality The Church Opposes Freedom and Happiness: The Myth of Catholic Indifference to Earthly Welfare The Church Hates Women: The Myth of Catholic Misogyny Indifferent to Love, the Church Banned Contraception: The Myth of Opposition between Love and Procreation The Church Hates Gays: The Myth of Catholic "Homophobia" The Church Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Because of Bigotry: The Myth That There Is No Rational Basis for Limiting Marriage to One Man and One Woman Priestly Celibacy Caused the Crisis of Sexual Abuse of Minors: The Myth of Priestly Pedophilia
In a world where every word and gesture is copyrighted, patented or trademarked, one girl elects to remain silent rather than pay to speak, and her defiant and unexpected silence threatens to unravel the very fabric of society. Speth Jime is anxious to deliver her Last Day speech and celebrate her transition into adulthood. The moment she turns fifteen, Speth must pay for every word she speaks (“Sorry” is a flat ten dollars and a legal admission of guilt), for every nod ($0.99/sec), for every scream ($0.99/sec) and even every gesture of affection. She’s been raised to know the consequences of falling into debt, and can’t begin to imagine the pain of having her eyes shocked for speaking words that she’s unable to afford. But when Speth’s friend Beecher commits suicide rather than work off his family’s crippling debt, she can’t express her shock and dismay without breaking her Last Day contract and sending her family into Collection. Backed into a corner, Speth finds a loophole: rather than read her speech—rather than say anything at all—she closes her mouth and vows never to speak again. Speth’s unexpected defiance of tradition sparks a media frenzy, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps, and threatens to destroy her, her family and the entire city around them.