SINCE the publication of my larger book, "The Horse Fair," many letters have been received from teachers and their scholars telling of the pleasure derived from the reading of it, and incidentally suggesting that much of its contents is directly in line with the courses of literary instruction pursued in our elementary schools. This suggestion has led me to col-lect certain of the stories into a smaller volume especially adapted for use as a school reading-book.? The eighteen stories in this volume have been chosen with a thought to their educative value as well as for the intrinsic charm of the original narratives, which in various forms have delighted many generations of readers. All have a literary interest connecting them with subjects with which every educated person is supposed to be familiar. In the first four, you will be introduced to the sun myths and season myths of the Greeks and of our Norse ancestors. Following these, the tale of song-inspiring Pegasus is presented in contrast with that of Griffen, the base imitation invented by the romancing poets of the Middle Ages. ? Then in "The Ship of the Plains," you may read of the mythical founding of Athens; and in the sketch that follows, you may enjoy a brief glimpse of Arabic imagery in the story of one of the most interesting episodes in the life of the prophet Mohammed. The story of the twin brethren will acquaint you with the thought of some of the old Latin writers, while the tale of Rakush will give you a taste of Persian literature as it is found in the great epic written by Firdusi. The romances of Charlemagne and his peers are represented by the story of Broiefort and his indomitable master; and the world-famous Don Quixote is introduced by his sorry but scarcely less famous steed, Rozinante.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS discovered America on the 12th of October, 1492. He had spent eighteen years in planning for that wonderful first voyage which he made across the Atlantic Ocean. The thoughts and hopes of the best part of his life had been given to it. He had talked and argued with sailors and scholars and princes and kings, saying, "I know that, by sailing west across the great ocean, one may at last reach lands that have never been visited by Europeans." But he had been laughed at as a foolish dreamer, and few people had any faith in his projects.??At last, however, the king and queen of Spain gave him ships with which to make the trial voyage. He crossed the ocean and discovered strange lands, inhabited by a people unlike any that had been known before. He believed that these lands were a part of India.??When he returned home with the news of his discovery there was great rejoicing, and he was hailed as the hero who had given a new world to Spain. Crowds of people lined the streets through which he passed, and all were anxious to do him honor. The king and queen welcomed him to their palace and listened with pleasure to the story of his voyage. Never had so great respect been shown to any common man.??But there were some who were jealous of the discoverer, and as ready to find fault as others were to praise. "Who is this Columbus?" they asked, "and what has he done? Is he not a pauper pilot from Italy? And could not any other seaman sail across the ocean just as he has done?"??One day Columbus was at a dinner which a Spanish gentleman had given in his honor, and several of these persons were present. They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable.?"You have discovered strange lands beyond the sea," they said. "But what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world."??Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company, "Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?"

"The Man Without a Country" first appeared in the Atlantic Monthlyfor December, 1863. It was the author's wish that it be published anonymously, in the hope that it might be ascribed to some officer of the Navy; but unfortunately, the man who compiled the year's index for the magazine, which was mailed with the December number, recognized Dr. Hale's handwriting, and gave him credit for it in the index. The story was written during the darkest period of the Civil War, and this war is perhaps the gloomiest period in the history of our great republic in the history of our great Republic; it was written at a time when one-half of the people in the United States were burning with patriotism, and were ready to lay down their lives to preserve the Union, while the other half were striving to disrupt what to them was merely a confederation of States, in no wise binding, and were damning the United States, even as did Philip Nolan; at at time when the President was bending low under the weight of sorrow for the loss of thousands of noble men who were falling in battle, and was enduring in pitiful silence the villification that was heaped upon him by the "copper-head" opposition; at a time when patriotism was preached in the pulpit, sung by our poets, and exhaled with every breath. The story launched in such an atmosphere, met with immediate favor. It was reprinted everywhere without regard for copyright, and was translated into several foreign languages. It was accepted by many as a narrative of actual facts, and provoked many discussions as to whether Philip Nolan was a real person; some even went so far as to identify him.

Robin ?tia c? Paul nu era perfect. Dar fiindc? el i-a spus c? sunt foarte noroco?i c? s-au ?nt?lnit, ea l-a crezut. ?n atmosfera stranie a Marocului, Paul e a?a cum a visat Robin: pasional, talentat, competent. E convins? c? aici va r?m?ne ?n sf?r?it ?ns?rcinat?. C?nd ?ns? Paul dispare brusc, iar Robin se treze?te principala suspect? ?n ancheta poli?iei, totul se schimb?. Pe m?sur? ce ?ncepe s? afle adev?rul, Robin r?t?ce?te din atmosfera decadent? ce ?nv?luie Casablanca ?n ar?i?a nemiloas? a de?ertului Sahara, prins? ?ntr-un v?rtej tot mai terifiant din care nu ?tie dac? va reu?i s? scape. Cu talentul s?u de a scrie romane care te ?in cu sufletul la gur?, dar te ?i ?ndeamn? la medita?ie, Douglas Kennedy te invit? ?ntr-o c?l?torie palpitant? ?n inima ?ntunericului, adres?ndu-?i totodat? o provocare: ce ai face dac? via?a ta ar depinde tocmai de aceast? c?l?torie? "Kennedy are o ?n?elegere profund? a personajelor feminine sofisticate, dar nefericite."?Daily Mirror "O poveste de dragoste?noir, superb scris?."?The Times "O aventur? psihologic? sub soarele arz?tor al de?ertului."?New Statesman

Un roman tulbur?tor despre via??, iubire ?i moarte.Unde se afl? via?a noastr? con?tient?? E posibil s? o transfer?m altcuiva? S? o p?str?m intact??Hope, Josh ?i Luke sunt trei studen?i la neuro?tiin?e, lega?i inseparabil printr-o priete?nie necondi?ionat? ?i o idee genial?.C?nd unul dintre ei ajunge pe moarte, hot?r?sc s? ?ncerce imposibilul ?i s?-?i pun? ?n practic? proiectul lor ie?it din comun.Emo?ionant, misterios ?i ?n acela?i timp plin de umor, Orizontul r?sturnat e o poveste de dragoste etern? cu un dez?nod?m?nt uluitor."Cea mai bun? carte a lui Marc Levy! Teribil de captivant?!" - Le Parisien

Pe Nicolae Breban l-am citit, din primul an de facultate, a?a cum i-am citit pe marii scriitori: de la primul la ultimul titlu. ?n cazul s?u, mai mult poate dec?t ?n al oric?rui alt romancier postbelic, acest exerci?iu de fidelitate este obligatoriu. Romanele sale nu sunt indiferente unul fa?? de altul, ci comunic?, toate, ?ntre ele, alc?tuind un sistem omogen, ?n care fiecare pies? este necesar? ?i contribuie la armonia ?ntregului. De altfel, Breban a avut ?nc? de la primele c?r?i ambi?ia operei monumentale, displ?c?ndu-i fragmentarismul ?i proiectele care ?ncep ambi?ios, dar sucomba levantin. Romanele care au ap?rut p?n? ?n 1990, dup? care cititorii s?i fideli de p?n? atunci ?nc? mai suspin? nostalgic, ?n care marile sale teme sunt clar delimitate, reprezint? un reper nu doar pentru literatura rom?n? a ultimei jum?t??i de secol, ci ?i pentru opera ulterioara a scriitorului. C?r?ile publicate ?n ultimii dou?zeci ?i ceva de ani pierd mult dac? sunt citite ??n sine“, f?r? a fi raportate la ?ntregul operei brebaniene. Mai mult dec?t ?nainte, scriitorul a ?nceput s? se ?ntoarc? din ce ?n ce mai des la propriile crea?ii, s? le lege ?ntr-un silogism epic nu ?ntotdeauna facil de sesizat. Cine nu proiecteaz? ?ns? personajele, cazurile contorsionate, ac?iunile din ultimele ispr?vi epice ale autorului la vechile sale realiz?ri pierde imaginea de ansamblu, pierde poate chiar ?i ?calea de acces“ c?tre nucleul acestei opere majore. (Bogdan Cre?u).Ai o imens? ?tabl? de ?ah“, care se ?nt?mpl? s? fie lumea, manevrat? de dou? sisteme aparent antagonice (dar care se ?n?eleg foarte bine, fiindc? au fost de aceea?i parte a frontului ?n r?zboi), c?rora li se subsumeaz? unele subsisteme cu interese colaterale (cum a fost Lumea a treia sau alian?a ??rilor nealiniate). Dincolo de milioanele de mici episoade locale sau regionale care coloreaza jocul, unde se consuma nevroze f?r? num?r ?i mistific?ri extrem de sofisticate, dou? mize profunde r?m?n mereu pe tabl?, estompate ca relevan?? sau voit obscurizate, pentru a nu le vedea adversarul: planetarizarea surselor de energie ?i necesitatea cre?rii unui sistem inovator de control informa?ional, din care va ie?i, ?n cele din urm?, lumea Internetului de azi. Adic?, daca ne g?ndim bine, chiar cele dou? domenii ?n care comuni?tii au fost pu?i s? piard? partida, intr?nd apoi ?n colaps sistemic ?i ?n insolven??. Aminti?i-v? de ce se spunea dup? '89: c? Ceau?escu a fost mefient fa?? de computere. N-a fost singurul, din lumea comunista. Q.e.d. (?tefan Borbely)

Roman inspirat din istoria contemporan?, Puzzle realizeaz? o viziune cuprinz?toare a voca?iei rom?nilor de-a armoniza ?ntr-un mod necunoscut celorlalte ??ri europene (Constantin Noica) dou? mentalit??i istorice?te opuse: oriental? ?i occidental?. ?n centrul c?r?ii se afl? un singur personaj – profesorul pensionar Neghibaur – ?n jurul c?ruia se dispun faptele ?i oamenii ca pe un ecran al imagina?iei, observa?iei ?i experien?ei fostului dasc?l. Construc?ie dens? ?i insolit?, romanul se re?ine ?i prin deschiderea de amploare ?i de ad?ncime asupra mecanismelor ascunse ale reac?iilor suflete?ti individuale determinate de importantele schimb?ri sociale intervenite ?n via?a ??rii dup? Revolu?ia din Decembrie, 1989.

Cin? cu langustine, ap?rut ini?ial ?n anul 1987 (Editura Cartea Rom?neasc?), se constituie dintr-o suit? de schi?e ?i povestiri av?nd, ca numitor comun, spa?iul geografic al Peninsulei Iberice. Stilul prozelor este alert, cu nota?ii scurte, imprim?nd un ritm viu lecturii. Este o proz? care angajeaz? subtil interesul cititorului, provoc?ndu-l ?ntr-un registru discret la reflec?ie ?i coresponden?e de tr?iri. Povestirile iberice ar putea fi ?i un posibil vestibul de p?trundere ?n lumea uneori fabuloas? a celuilalt cap?t de orizont al Europei. Mihai Giugariu (n. 1929), este autorul unei literaturi beletristice variate, cu predilec?ie romane, proz? scurt?, dar ?i eseuri ?i traduceri. Din portofoliul activit??ii sale literare pot fi re?inute romanele: Condotierul, O vacan?? at?t de lung?, Magdalena, Spre sear?, C?l?uza, precum ?i volumul de eseuri M?rul lui Paris. Romanul Destine, editat ?n 1990 ?i reeditat ?n 2003 a fost distins (ex aequo) cu premiul pentru proz? din anul 1992 al Academiei Rom?ne.

Jonas Lie is sufficiently famous to need but a very few words of introduction. Ever since 1870, when he made his reputation by his first novel, "Den Fremsynte," he has been a prime favourite with the Scandinavian public, and of late years his principal romances have gone the round of Europe. He has written novels of all kinds, but he excels when he describes the wild seas of Northern Norway, and the stern and hardy race of sail-ors and fishers who seek their fortunes, and so often find their graves, on those dangerous waters. Such tales, for instance, as "Tremasteren Fremtid," "Lodsen og hans Hustru," "Gaa Paa!" and "Den Fremsynte" are unique of their kind, and give far truer pictures of Norwegian life and character in the rough than anything that can be found elsewhere in the literature. Indeed, Lie's skippers and mates are as superior to Kjelland's, for instance, as the peasants of Jens Tvedt (a writer, by the way, still unknown beyond his native land) are superior to the much-vaunted peasants of Bj?rnstjerne Bj?rnson. But it is when Lie tells us some of the wild legends of his native province, Nordland, some of the grim tales on which he himself was brought up, so to speak, that he is perhaps most vivid and enthralling. The folk-lore of those lonely sub-arctic tracts is in keeping with the savagery of nature. We rarely, if ever, hear of friendly elves or companionable gnomes there. The supernatural beings that haunt those shores and seas are, for the most part, malignant and malefic. They seem to hate man. They love to mock his toils, and sport with his despair. In his very first romance, "Den Fremsynte," Lie relates two of these weird tales (Nos. 1 and 3 of the present selection). Another tale, in which many of the superstitious beliefs and wild imaginings of the Nordland fishermen are skilfully grouped together to form the background of a charming love-story, entitled "Finn Blood," I have borrowed from the volume of "Fort?llinger og Skildringer," published in 1872. The re-maining eight stories are selected from the book "Trold," which was the event of the Christmas publishing season at Christiania in 1891. Last Christmas a second series of "Trold" came out, but it is distinctly inferior to the former one. TALES: THE FISHERMAN AND THE DRAUGJACK OF SJOHOLM AND THE GAN-FINNTUG OF WAR."THE EARTH DRAWS"THE CORMORANTS OF ANDVAERISAAC AND THE PARSON OF BRONOTHE WIND-GNOMETHE HULDREFISHFINN BLOODTHE HOMESTEAD WESTWARD IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS"IT'S ME."

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS “THE ORIENT MAGIC” The Talking Bird, The Singing Tree, and the Golden WaterThe Story of the Fisherman and the GenieThe History of the Young King of the Black IslesThe Story of Gulnare of the SeaThe Story of Aladdin; Or, the Wonderful LampThe Story of Prince AgibThe Story of the City of BrassThe Story of Ali Baba and the Forty ThievesThe History of Codadad and His BrothersThe Story of Sinbad the Voyager The Talking Bird:It will be sufficient to break off a branch and carry it to plant in your gardenThe Fisherman and the GenieThe smoke ascended to the clouds, and extending itself along the sea and upon the shore formed a great mist The Young King of the Black IslesWhen he came to this part of his narrative the young king could not restrain his tearsGulnare of the SeaAnd she proceeded to burn perfume and repeat spells until the sea foamed and was agitatedAladdinAt the same time the earth, trembling, opened just before the magician, and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with a brass ring fixed into the middlePrince AgibAnd when the boat came to me I found in it a man of brass, with a tablet of lead upon his breast, engraven with names and talismans Prince AgibAt the approach of evening I opened the first closet and, entering it, found a mansion like paradiseThe City of BrassAnd when they had ascended that mountain they saw a city than which eyes had not beheld any greaterThe Story of Ali Baba and the Forty ThievesCassim ... was so alarmed at the danger he was in that the more he endeavoured to remember the word Sesame the more his memory was confoundedThe History of Codadad and His BrothersAs it drew near we saw ten or twelve armed pirates appear on the deckSecond Voyage of SinbadThe spot where she left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no possibility of getting out of the valleyThird Voyage of SinbadHaving finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he lay and fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder.. Little excuse is needed, perhaps, for any fresh selection from the famous "Tales of a Thousand and One Nights," provided it be representative enough, and worthy enough, to enlist a new army of youthful readers. Of the two hundred and sixty-four bewildering, unparalleled stories, the true lover can hardly spare one, yet there must always be favourites, even among these. We have chosen some of the most delightful, in our opinion; some, too, that chanced to appeal particularly to the genius of the artist. If, enticed by our choice and the beauty of the pictures, we manage to attract a few thousand more true lovers to the fountain-book, we shall have served our humble turn. The only real danger lies in neglecting it, in rearing a child who does not know it and has never fallen under its spell. You remember Maimoune, in the story of Prince Camaralzaman, and what she said to Danhasch, the genie who had just arrived from the farthest limits of China? "Be sure thou tellest me nothing but what is true or I shall clip thy wings!" This is what the modern child sometimes says to the genies of literature, and his own wings are too often clipped in consequence."The Empire of the Fairies is no more. Reason has banished them from ev'ry shore;Steam has outstripped their dragons and their cars,Gas has eclipsed their glow-worms and their stars."?douard Laboulaye says in his introduction to Nouveaux Contes Bleus: "Mothers who love your children, do not set them too soon to the study of history; let them dream while they are young.

Poe a világ egyik legismertebb és legnagyobb hatású elbeszél?je, ?A holló” cím?, magyarra is t?bbsz?r lefordított k?ltemény szerz?je. Novellái k?z?tt megtalálhatjuk a fantasztikus irodalom, a detektívt?rténet, a lélektani rémt?rténet szinte minden alaptípusát. K?tetünk ezekb?l az írásaiból ad válogatást.

Bár témája miatt a Charles Dickens regényét feldolgozó filmes adaptációkat általában karácsony táján szokták játszani, mi azt ajánljuk, hogy bármikor vegyék kézbe ezt a t?rténetet. Mi Mikes Lajos klasszikus fordításában adjuk k?zre.

A hetvenes évek elején, Buenos Aires tartomány egyik kisvárosában meg?lték Tony Duránt. Tony, a sármos, rejtélyes idegen egy New Jerseyben nevelkedett Puerto Ricó-i szerencsevadász. Míg élt, az érdekl?dés k?zéppontjában állt, volt, aki csodálta, más figyelte minden lépését. ? volt a gy?ny?r? és kül?nleges Belladona ikerlányok szeret?je, az ?reg Belladonának, a vidék egyik leggazdagabb urának a bizalmasa. A b?ntényt k?vet?en a maga módján mindenki a tettes után nyomoz, ugyanakkor az esettel kapcsolatba hozott figurákon keresztül az olvasó el?tt feltárul a korabeli argentin társadalom minden ellentmondásossága, s kiderül, hogy a társadalmi-politikai visszásságok - korrupció, f?ldspekuláció, feketegazdaság - ágyaztak meg a gyilkosságnak. ?s hogy mi az igazság? Erre a kérdésre - a korrupt államügyészen kívül - Croce rend?rf?n?k és Luca Belladona t?nkrement gyártulajdonos, valamint a f?városi tudósító, Emilio Renzi keresi a választ. Az igazság azonban sokarcú, mély filozófiai fogalom. Piglia regénye árulásokról és piszkos üzletekr?l, egy ártatlan és egy igazi b?n?sr?l, szenvedélyekr?l és csapdákról szól. De leginkább az igazság viszonylagosságáról. Ricardo Piglia a kortárs argentin prózairodalom legkimagaslóbb írója, aki a regényeiben felvázolt eszmékkel, lebilincsel? ábrázolásmódjával, karakterteremt? m?vészetével kiérdemelte, hogy a kritika Borges méltó utódának tartsa.

– A rosszak gyztek – kérdezte csalódottan a lány. Lecvekelt, és a kórházfolyosó fehérre festett falához simult, mintha ezzel is jelezni akarná, hogy nem hajlandó annyiban hagyni a dolgot. – Ez nem gyerekmese, kislány! A küzdelem gyakran a gonosz boszorka és a tzokádó sárkány kzt dl el – tárta szét a kezét Varga –, a bátor lovag már az elején meghalt szifiliszben.” Egyetlen, kiskaliber golyó a fejbe. A tettes profi bérgyilkos. Varga László nyomozó ügyész számára nagyon hamar személyes kérdéssé válik a megbízó felkutatása: három olyan n is belekeveredik az ügybe, aki fontos neki. A hajsza tbb szálon fut, a víg zvegy, az ukrán kokaincsempészek és a polgármester is célkeresztbe kerül. A fejesek legszívesebben eltussolnák az egészet, de a helyi média lecsap a botrányra. Kzben Varga félreérthetetlen üzenetet kap: jobban tenné, ha visszavenne az elánból. s még a helyi futballcsapat bennmaradása is tle függ. Egyszer féltékenység, alvilági leszámolás vagy politikai gyilkosság Melyik az a pont, ahol Varga végre rájn, hogy bábként rángatják Albert Levente krimisorozatának els ktete. Hiteles karakterek, váratlan fordulatok, elképzelt vidéki nagyváros, foci, szerelem, gasztronómia és humor. Sok humor.

A tévéproducer Laurie Moran boldog, amikor A gyanú árnyékában cím?, megoldatlan b?nügyekkel foglalkozó reality-drámájának kísérleti epizódja sikert arat. ?s most megtalálta az ideális esetet, mely a k?vetkez? rész témája lehet: ez A Hamupip?ke-gyilkosság. Amikor Susan Dempsey-t, a gy?ny?r? és tehetséges Los Angeles-i egyetemistát holtan találták, a gyilkosság számos kérdést vetett fel. Miért parkolt az autója kilométerekre a holttestét?l? Megjelent egyáltalán azon a meghallgatáson, amelyre egy felt?rekv? filmrendez? várta az otthonában? Miért akarja Susan barátja elkerülni a kapcsolatukra vonatkozó kérdéseket? ?sszefüggésben volt az elt?nése egy ellentmondásos egyházzal? Ragyogó m?szaki érzéke miatt állt k?zel a számítástechnika-tanárához, vagy t?bbr?l volt szó? ?s miért hiányzott Susanr?l az egyik cip?je, amikor felfedezték a holttestét? Laurie tudja, hogy a t?rténet t?kéletesen alkalmas a képerny?re, kül?n?sen, hogy a korábbi gyanúsítottak k?z?tt ott vannak Hollywood elitjének tagjai és a technika milliárdosai. De vajon a gyilkos is így gondolja-e? Mary Higgins Clark és Alafair Burke? ?rengeteg intrikát és izgalmat” szállítanak a sorozat új, idegfeszít? darabjában. - Publishers Weekly Talán a perg? iram, talán a sokrét? karakterek miatt, de az els? oldaltól az utolsóig találgat az olvasó.? – Booklist

A Gavallérok cím? kisregény a kortársi valóságról fest képet, pontosabban a Mikszáthot nagyjából egyforma er?vel vonzó és taszító dzsentri életmódot veszi célba, leleplez? leleménnyel. Hiteles szemtanúként számol be egy Sáros megyei esküv?r?l, s azt a folyamatot igyekszik bemutatni, miként teszi vakká a kívülállót egy jól megrendezett színjáték illúziója, s hogy miként kerekedik felül a kiábrándító valóság. Az ábránd varázslata azonban csak addig tart, míg a jól poentírozott kisregény vissza nem rántja olvasóját a valóság talajára.

Elképeszt? lélektani thriller – a Hátsó ablak találkozása a Holtodiglannal. Rachel ingázó, minden reggel felszáll ugyanarra a vonatra. Tudja, hogy minden alkalommal várakozni szoktak ugyanannál a fénysorompónál, ahonnan egy sor hátsó udvarra nyílik rálátás. Már-már kezdi úgy érezni, hogy ismeri az egyik ház lakóit. Jess és Jason, így nevezi ?ket. A pár élete t?kéletesnek t?nik, és Rachel sóvárogva gondol a boldogságukra. ?s aztán lát valami megd?bbent?t. Csak egyetlen pillanatig, ahogy a vonat tovahalad, de ennyi elég. A pillanat mindent megváltoztat. Rachel immár részese az életüknek, melyet eddig csak messzir?l szemlélt.? Meglátják; sokkal t?bb ?, mint egy lány a vonaton. Paula Hawkins els? thrillere azonnal a bestsellerlisták els? helyezettje lett. Harmincnégy országban megjelent, vitathatatlan, hogy az elmúlt évek legnagyobb sikerk?nyvét tartja kezében az olvasó.

Pride And Prejudice, the story of Mrs. Bennet's attempts to marry off her five daughters is one of the best-loved and most enduring classics in English literature. Excitement fizzes through the Bennet household at Longbourn in Hertfordshire when young, eligible Mr. Charles Bingley rents the fine house nearby. He may have sisters, but he also has male friends, and one of these—the haughty, and even wealthier, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy—irks the vivacious Elizabeth Bennet, the second of the Bennet girls. She annoys him. Which is how we know they must one day marry. The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and Darcy is a splendid rendition of civilized sparring. As the characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, Jane Austen's radiantly caustic wit and keen observation sparkle.

Rachel Jenner csak egy pillanatra engedett, csak egy pillanatra fordult el, és ennyi elég volt, hogy nyolc éves fia, Ben elt?nj?n. Vajon mi t?rténhetett azon a szürke, es?s délutánon ott az erd?ben, ahova csak a szokásos kutyasétáltatásra mentek. Végzetes hibát vétett Rachel? Vagy bárkivel megeshetett volna? Az anya legrettenetesebb rémálmát éli át, és még a k?zvélemény is ellene fordul. Nem bízhat meg sem a volt férjében, sem a n?vérében, sem a barátn?jében. Egyedül maradt. Nincs kivel megossza gondolatait, kétségeit, egyre er?s?d? félelmét, vajon hol lehet Ben, mi lehet vele, egyáltalán él-e még. A rend?rség nyomoz, de ott is emberek dolgoznak… Az óra pedig ketyeg… Ebben a regényben semmi és senki nem az, mint aminek hiszed. Akaratlanul is elgondolkodsz: talán te sem? Szívbemarkoló, letehetetlenül izgalmas regény, téged sem hagy majd nyugodni a gondolat, mi lett a kisfiúval. Fej?s ?va

Un incredibile tornado si abbatte sul Kansas travolgendo la fattoria della piccola Dorothy e trasportandola, insieme con il suo cagnolino Toto, in un paese lontano e sconosciuto. Qui, dopo aver schiacciato la malvagia Strega dell'est, la bambina è accolta come un'eroina dal popolo che la megera teneva in ostaggio. Ma per tornare a casa Dorothy dovrà affrontare mille avventure accompagnata da uno Spaventapasseri, un Taglialegna di Latta e un Leone Vigliacco. Insieme sperano di incontrare il potente Mago di Oz nella splendida città di Smeraldo, l'unico che si dice sarà in grado di aiutarli.

Prequel to Frank Herbert & Bill Ransom’s Pandora Sequence. The starship Earthling, filled with thousands of hybernating colonists en route to a new world at Tau Ceti, is stranded beyond the solar system when the ship’s three Organic Mental Cores—disembodied human brains that control the vessel’s functions—go insane. An emergency skeleton crew sees only one chance for survival: to create an artificial consciousness in the Earthling’s primary computer, which could guide them to their destination . . . or could destroy the human race. This is Frank Herbert’s classic novel that begins the epic Pandora Sequence, which also includes The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor.