Telemachy through Space and Time is a spatiotemporal fantasy fiction with new age characteristics, which refers to dreamlike journeys with a strange connection to reality. The lead character, a bourgeois, Telemachus Andronicus is overweight and works as a clerk in a bank. He learns that he has cancer and has six months left to live. He feels alienated and finds a way out in the complex world of dreams. He is experiencing incarnations in prehistoric (antediluvian) times, in ancient Greece, the fall of Constaninople, siege of Messologgi, the French Revolution, the Second World War two and he travels in other dimensions as well. Common thread of his travelling is on one hand a dark swamp which is an animate evil entity and on the other hand a black dressed man with unearthly mystic powers, who’s been persecuting him ever since. Soon the reality and subconscious are beginning to mingle in his sleep, putting his mental stability to the test. The only person who seems to believe in him is a strange, enigmatic and beautiful woman, who knows more than she lets out. In each of his incarnations he encounters different experiences which although seemingly unrelated, they become the key to unlock the ultimate truth at the end.

Η Τηλεμ?χεια στο Χωροχρ?νο αποτελε? ?να μυθιστ?ρημα φαντασ?α?, που αφορ? σε ονειρικ? ταξ?δια μ?σα στο χρ?νο και την περ?εργη σ?νδεσ? του? με την πραγματικ?τητα. Ο κεντρικ?? χαρακτ?ρα? Τηλ?μαχο? Ανδρ?νικο? ε?ναι ?να? μικροαστ?? 33 ετ?ν, υπ?ρβαρο?, που δουλε?ει ω? τραπεζικ?? υπ?λληλο?. Μ?λι? πληροφορε?ται ?τι π?σχει απ? καρκ?νο και ?χει μ?νο ?ξι μ?νε? ζω??, αποξεν?νεται και βρ?σκει δι?ξοδο στον περ?πλοκο μηχανισμ? των ονε?ρων. Βι?νει ονειρικ?? μετενσαρκ?σει? σε προκατακλυσμια?ε? εποχ??, στην αρχα?α Ελλ?δα, την ?λωση τη? Κωνσταντινο?πολη?, την πολιορκ?α του Μεσολογγ?ου, τη γαλλικ? επαν?σταση, το δε?τερο παγκ?σμιο π?λεμο, ακ?μα και σε ?λλε? διαστ?σει?. Κοιν?? ?ξονα? των περιπλαν?σε?ν του ε?ναι ?να? σκοτειν?? β?λτο?, που μοι?ζει να αποτελε? μια κακ?βουλη ?μψυχη οντ?τητα, και ?να? μαυροντυμ?νο? ?ντρα? με εξωγ?ινε? μυστικιστικ?? δυν?μει?, που τον καταδι?κει στο π?ρασμα των αι?νων. Σ?ντομα η πραγματικ?τητα αρχ?ζει να συγχ?εται με τι? περιηγ?σει? τη? συνε?δησ?? του κατ? τη δι?ρκεια του ?πνου, β?ζοντα? σε δοκιμασ?α τη διατ?ρηση των λογικ?ν του. Το μοναδικ? πρ?σωπο που φα?νεται να τον πιστε?ει ε?ναι μια ?γνωστη, μυστηρι?δη?, ?μορφη γυνα?κα, η οπο?α γνωρ?ζει πολ? περισσ?τερα απ? ?σο δε?χνει. Σε κ?θε του μετεμψ?χωση αποκτ? εντελ?? διαφορετικ?? εμπειρ?ε?, που μοι?ζουν πλ?ρω? ασ?νδετε? μεταξ? του?, αλλ? ?λε? μαζ? αποτελο?ν το κλειδ?, που στο τ?λο? θα ξεκλειδ?σει τη μεγ?λη αλ?θεια.

να σγχρονο βιβλο, κοινωνικοπολιτικο και φιλοσοφικο περιεχομνου, που πινει λε τι κοινωνικοπολιτικ εκφνσει μια σγχρονη κοινωνα. Πω ταν, πω εναι και πω θα πρεπε να εναι η ανθρπινη κοινωνα; Τι σημανουν οι κοινωνικοπολιτικο ροι: Κοινωνα, κυβρνηση, πολτη, βουλευτ, δημοκρατα κτλ. Πω λειτουργον και πω θα πρεπε να λειτουργον; Υπρχει διαφθορ και διολσθηση και ποια εναι αυτ; Υπρχει πραγματικ ελευθερα; Ο πολτη λειτουργε αληθιν; Που βαδζουμε και τι ελπζουμε με τα σημεριν κοινωνικοπολιτικ συστματα; Αυτ και λλα πολλ αναφρονται στο παρν βιβλο, αναλοντα με σειρ και αναφροντα περιληπτικ ολκληρη την πορεα του ανθρπου, αν κοινωνικοπολιτικ κφανση, απ την κοινωνικοποησ του μχρι σμερα. Μσα στο βιβλο αυτ σγουρα ο αναγνστη θα βρει αρκετ σκψει δικ του. Η φιλοδοξα εναι να ενισχυθον και να ενεργοποιηθον. λλε πλι μπορε να εναι μερικ ολικ διαφοροποιημνε. Αυτ θα προκαλσουν συγκρσει, προβληματισμο σκψει και επαναπροσδιορισμ των παγιομνων σκψεν του. Πντω λε, ακολουθντα διαφορετικ δια-δρομ, θα τενουν στον προβληματισμ και στην αναζτηση μια ιδανικτερη κοινωνα. Σγουρα θα συναντσει ο αναγνστη πρα πολλ που συμβανουν στη σγχρονη διεθν κοινωνα και λλα που συνβαιναν παλιτερα. Σε λα αυτ καλεται ο αναγνστη να προβληματιστε και να δσει απαντσει, επιλγοντα το ορθτερο κατ’ αυτν. Σε μια εποχ λοιπν πολιτικ αδιαφορα, ισοπδωση, ωχαδερφισμο, απολιτικ συμπεριφορ απ τη συντριπτικ πλειοψηφα των πολιτν και πολιτικ αλαζονεα απ του ‘πολιτικο’, το βιβλο τοτο φιλοδοξε να οδηγσειστην - σο το δυνατν περισστερο - πολιτικοποιημνη συμπεριφορ του πολτη. Λσει υπρχουν! Αρκε για μα και μνο φορ να βροντοφωνξουμε: Ναι! Εγ θα σσω την ανθρωπτητα! Φανεται ουτοπικ αλλ καθλου δεν εναι. λλωστε, καμι φορ, χρειζεται να ψξουμε και μσα στην ουτοπα, σπου να βρομε ναν αληθιν αξιλογο στχο στη ζω μα. Αρκε να μην ξεχαστομε εκε βεβαω. Το παρν σγγραμμα λοιπν δε φιλοδοξε να δσει συνταγ, λσει και απαντσει. Φιλοδοξε να προβληματσει και να προκαλσει αντιδρσει. Δεν πιστεει στην αυθεντα, ρα, δε θα βρετε αφορισμο, καννε δογματικ αρχ. Οι ποιοι αφορισμο μεγλων πνευματικν προσωπικοττων που υπρχουν στο βιβλο, απ την αρχαιτητα μχρι σμερα, σκοπ χουν μνο το προβληματισμ και την υπενθμιση τη συνεχο αναζτηση. Ο σκοπ του βιβλου δεν εναι ββαια να αναπτξει να πλρε πολιτικ σστημα. Ορισμνω, παρουσιζονται διφορε προσωπικ ιδε, προσαρμζονται κποιε λλε στο δη υπρχον πολιτικ σστημα και αναδεικνονται κποιε κατευθνσει και ορματα. Αλλ μχρι εκε. Καθ θα προχωρει, ο αναγνστη θα συναντσει μια συνεχ αναμχλευση και ενσχυση αυτν που ο διο χει βαθι μσα στι σκψει του. Κατ’ ουσα, το βιβλο αυτ θλει να ‘ωθσει’, να ‘ενισχσει’, να ‘αναμοχλεσει’ και να ‘υπενθυμσει’ κθε τι που βρσκεται μσα στον αναγνστη, στε να προβληματιστε, να αυτοστοχαστε και να αντιδρσει αντστοιχα που απαιτεται. Στχο, να υπρξει - στο βαθμ που μπορε - κποια ανατραξη των στσιμων υδτων που προκαλον την δυσοσμα τη σημεριν ανθρπινη κοινωνα. λοι αναγνωρζουν τι κτι πρπει να γνει. Αυτ η στασιμτητα, ο ωχαδερφισμ, ο εφησυχασμ και η αδιαφορα δηλητηριζουν καθημεριν τη ζω μα και δε μα βοηθνε στην πε-ραιτρω εξανθρωποποησ μα. Απεναντα, διολισθανουμε αργ αλλ σταθερ προ την απανθρωποποησ μα με τον γνωστ τρπο του ‘μιθριδατισμο’. φθασε η ρα να αντιδρσουμε, να πολιτικοποιηθομε και να διεκδικσουμε την ανθρπινη κοινωνα που πραγματικ μα αξζει; ρθε η ρα να απαιτσουμε τα δικαιματ μα, μσα σε κλμα σεβασμο, αυτοσεβασμο και αλληλοσεβασμο; Οι πρξει μα θα το δεξουν!

A contemporary book of social-political and philosophical content which depicts all the social-political occurances of the modern society. What was it like and what should the human society be like? What do the social political terms: Society, State, Citizen, Member Of Parliament, Democracy etc mean? How do they function and how should they? Is there corruption and degrading and in what form? Does real freedom exist? Does the citizen really function? Where are we heading to and what do we expect with the contemporary social political systems? Such issues and a lot more are mentioned in the present book, analyzing according to order and mentioning concisely the whole process of man’s evolution with regard to his social political involvement since his socialization. In this book, the reader will definitely find his own thoughts. The books ambition is to en-force and activate them. Some others, however, may be partially or completely differentiated. Those will provoke comparison, contemplating and redetermining old solidified beliefs. However, all of them, following various routes will tend to questioning and the pursuit of a more ideal society. The reader will definitely recognize a lot of practices which occur in the contemporary international society and others which used to exist in the past. The reader is asked to question themselves and find answers, choosing the most appropriate to his mind. In an age of political indifference, levelling, selfishness, apolitical behaviour on the part of the smashing majority of the citizens and political arrogance on the part of the supposed politicians, this book aspires to lead to the citizen’s politicized behaviour to the greatest extent. Solutions do exist! All it takes is that we for once shout with all our might: "Yes! I shall save humanity!". It may sound utopian but it is not at all. Indeed, we sometimes do need to search even in the realms of utopia until we find a truly considerable aim in our life. Provided we do not get captured there. The present writing does not aspire to offer formulas, solutions and answers. It aims to tempt and provoke reactions. It does not believe in authenticity so you will not find aphorism, regulations or dogmatic principles. Any quote of intellectual people since ancestry, wishes to cause questioning and become a reminder of perpetual pursuit. The aim of this book is definitely not to develop a complete political system. In some cases, some personal views are presented, some others are adjusted to the already existing political system and some directions or even “visions” appear. But that’s just it. As the book moves on, the reader will experience constant stirring and enforcement of those which they already have in their reflections. In essence, this book means to push, to empower, to stir and remind everything that already exists within the reader so that they question themselves, meditate and react in accordance with what is demanded. The aim is - to the extent that it can happen - to agitate the stagnant water which causes the stench of the contemporary human society. Everybody recognises that this stagnation this attitude to downplay crucial issues, the reliance, and the indifference poison our everyday life and do not help us in our further humanization. On the contrary, we are sliding downwards, slowly but steadily to our dehumanization in the familiar way of mithridatism. Is it about time we reacted, became politically active and asserted the human society we truly deserve? Is it the right time to demand our rights in an atmosphere of respect, self-respect and inter-respect? Our actions shall prove it!

Ο ?ρη?, ?να? ταξιδι?τη? τη? ζω?? που αεν?ω? παρατηρε? τα τεκταιν?μενα γ?ρω του, αδυνατε? να κατανο?σει και να αποδεχτε? τι? αντιθ?σει? του κ?σμου γ?ρω του. Βρ?σκεται ολο?να και πιο βαθι? εγκλωβισμ?νο? σε σκ?ψει? βασανιστικ??. Μια σαγηνευτικ? παρουσ?α εξουσι?ζει το μυαλ? του. Στην πορε?α συναντ? την ?ννα που προσπαθε? να εξιχνι?σει το μυστ?ριο τη? Δυτικ?? Πτ?ρυγα? του Νοσοκομε?ου στο οπο?ο εργ?ζεται. Ο δρ?μο? τη? την φ?ρνει σε επαφ? με ?να μυστηρι?δη ?νδρα καθ?? και στην παν?μορφη Γυ?λινη Πολιτε?α. Θα καταφ?ρει ?ραγε η ?ννα να λ?σει το μυστ?ριο και θα μπορ?σει ο ?ρη? να βρει την ?ξοδο του σκοτεινο? του διαδρ?μου; Ο αναγν?στη? μπα?νει στο μυαλ? των ηρ?ων και ζει ?ντονα ?λα τα συναισθ?ματα και τι? σκ?ψει? του? μ?χρι την κ?θαρσ? του?.

Ο ?ρωτα? ε?ναι αποκλειστικ?τητα, τ?φλωση, μαγε?α, μαν?α. Κλε?νει ?λο τον κ?σμο ?ξω. Δεν μπορε? να εισχωρ?σει καν?να? και τ?ποτα... Συγχωρε? ο ?ρωτα?; Ο Μ?ριο πρ?πει να μ?θει αν ?ργησε. Θα βρεθε? στη Θεσσαλον?κη του 1916. Τ?ποτα δεν ε?ναι ?πω? φα?νεται. Διαπιστ?νει πω? βαδ?ζει σε ?ναν λαβ?ρινθο απ? ψ?ματα, πολιτικ?? ?ντριγκε? και ανεξιχν?αστε? δολοφον?ε?. Πρ?πει να δει αυτ? που δεν βλ?πει αν θ?λει να φτ?σει στην ?ξοδο. Κ?τι που δεν ε?ναι στη θ?ση του. Κ?τι που θα ?πρεπε να ε?ναι... Στου? κ?κλου? του ?ρωτα, του θαν?του και του χρ?ματο?, ποιο? ε?ναι ο τ?ταρτο? κ?κλο? που εφ?πτεται των τρι?ν;

If you loved A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, you’ll love The Fine Colour of Rust. Single mother Loretta Boskovic may have fantasies about dumping her two kids in the orphanage and riding off on a Harley with her dream lover, but her reality is life in a dusty country town called Gunapan. A self-dubbed ‘old scrag’, Loretta’s got a big heart and a strong sense of injustice. So, when Gunapan’s primary school is threatened with closure, and there’s a whiff of corruption wafting through the corridors of the local council, she stirs into action. She's short of money, influence and a fully functioning car, but she does have loyal friends who’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to the scrap of world that is home. The Fine Colour of Rust is a wryly funny, beautifully observed, life-affirming novel about friendship, love and fighting for things that matter. In Loretta Boskovic, Paddy O’Reilly (writing as P A O'Reilly) has created a truly endearing heroine who gives us all permission to dream.

The dead hand of a long-defeated Nazi Third Reich reaches out to Portugal, London and Marrakech in Deighton’s second novel, featuring the same anonymous narrator and milieu of The IPCRESS File, but finds Dawlish now head of the secret British Intelligence unit, WOOC(P). The Ipcress File was a debut sensation. Here in the second Secret File, Horse under Water, skin-diving, drug trafficking and blackmail all feature in a curious story in which the dead hand of a long-defeated Hitler-Germany reaches out to Portugal, London and Marrakech, and to all the neo-Nazis of today's Europe. The detail is frightening but unfaultable; the story as up to date as ever it was. The un-named hero of The Ipcress File the same: insolent, fallible, capricious - in other words, human. But he must draw on all his abilities, good and bad, when plunged into a story of murder, betrayal and greed every bit as murky as the waters off the coast of Portugal, where the answers lie buried.

Based on the troubadour culture that rose in Provence during the High Middle Ages, this panoramic, absorbing novel beautifully creates an alternate version of the medieval world. The matriarchal, cultured land of Arbonne is rent by a feud between its two most powerful dukes, the noble troubador Bertran de Talair and Urte de Miraval, over long-dead Aelis, lover of one, wife of the other and once heir to the country's throne. To the north lies militaristic Gorhaut, whose inhabitants worship the militant god Corannos and are ruled by corrupt, womanizing King Ademar. His chief advisor, the high priest of Corannos, is determined to irradicate the worship of a female deity, whose followers live to the south. Into this cauldron of brewing disaster comes the mysterious Gorhaut mercenary Blaise, who takes service with Bertran and averts an attempt on his life. The revelation of Blaise's lineage and a claim for sanctuary by his sister-in-law sets the stage for a brutal clash between the two cultures. Intertwined is the tale of a young woman troubadour whose role suggests the sweep of the drama to come.

The highly anticipated return of Dalziel and Pascoe, the hugely popular police duo and stars of the long-running BBC TV series, in a new psychological thriller. Caught in a huge Semtex explosion, it seems the only thing preventing Superintendent Andy Dalziel from death is his size – and sheer bloody-mindedness. An injured DCI Peter Pascoe is convinced there’s a conspiracy at work, despite the security services concluding the blast was in fact an accident. Who, then, are the mysterious Knights Templar with their gruesome acts of vengeance? And what of a hit-and-run on one of Pascoe’s colleagues? And, most importantly, will Dalziel ever wake up to hear the truth…?

In this exhilarating, moving novel set in modern and ancient Provence, Guy Gavriel Kay casts brilliant light on the ways in which history – whether of a culture or a family – refuses to be buried. Ned Marriner, fifteen years old, has accompanied his photographer father to Provence for a six-week “shoot” of images for a glossy coffee-table book. Gradually, Ned discovers a very old story playing itself out in this modern world of iPods, cellphones, and seven-seater vans whipping along roads walked by Celtic tribes and the Roman Legions. On one holy, haunted night of the ancient year, when the borders between the living and the dead are down and fires are lit upon the hills, Ned, his family, and his friends, are shockingly drawn into this tale, as dangerous, mythic figures from conflicts of long ago erupt into the present, claiming and changing lives.

A brilliant new psychological serial killer thriller featuring homicide detective Carson Ryder, hero of the bestselling ‘The Hundredth Man’ and ‘Her Last Scream.’ Blood was everywhere, like the interior had been hosed down with an artery … The gore-sodden horror that greets homicide detective Carson Ryder on a late-night call out is enough to make him want to quit the case. Too late. Now he and his partner Harry are up to their necks in a Southern swamp of the bizarre and disturbing. An investigation full of twists and strange clues looks like it's leading to the city's least likely suspects – a powerful family whose philanthropy has made them famous. But behind their money and smiles is a dynasty divided by hate. Their strange and horrific past is about to engulf everyone around them in a storm of violence and depravity. And Ryder's right in the middle of it …

A terrifying vision of the future from one of the twentieth century’s most renowned writers – J. G. Ballard, author of ‘Empire of the Sun’ and ‘Crash’. Following the energy crisis of the late twentieth-century America has been abandoned. Now, a century later, an expedition from Europe returns to the deserted continent. But America is unrecognisable – the Bering Strait has been dammed and the whole continent has become a desert, populated by isolated natives and the bizarre remnants of a disintegrated culture. The expedition sets off from Manhattan on a cross-continent journey, through Holiday Inns and abandoned theme parks. They will uncover a shocking new power in the heart of Las Vegas in this unique vision of our world transformed. This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard’s works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (including Ned Beauman, Ali Smith, Neil Gaiman and Martin Amis) and brand-new cover designs.

A tremendously vivid, page-turning and plausible novel that depicts the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, the most spirited, independent and courageous of Henry’s queens, as viewed from both the bedrooms and the kitchens of the Tudor court. Everyone knows the story of Anne Boleyn. Henry VIII divorced his longstanding, long-suffering, older, Spanish wife for a young, black-eyed English beauty, and, in doing so, severed England from Rome and indeed from the rest of the western world. Then, when Henry had what he wanted, he managed a mere three years of marriage before beheading his wife for alleged adultery with several men, among them his own best friend and her own brother. This is the context for Suzannah Dunn's wonderful new novel, which is about – and told by – two women: Anne Boleyn, king's mistress and fated queen; and Lucy Cornwallis, the king's confectioner, an employee of the very highest status, who made the centrepiece of each of the feasts to mark the important occasions in Anne's ascent. There's another link between them, though: the lovely Mark Smeaton, wunderkind musician, the innocent on whom, ultimately, Anne's downfall hinged… Suzannah Dunn has all the equipment needed for literary-commercial success: wit, a mastery of dialogue, brilliant characterization, lack of pretence, and good humour. The Queen of Subtleties adds to that mix a wonderfully balanced, strong story; Dunn has plumped for a fascinating retelling of one of the most often-told, most compelling stories of our islands' history. In doing so, she's turning from contemporary stories to historical fiction. The result is sensational.

A hugely entertaining and glamorous book, from an exciting new voice in young women’s fiction Stunning and sexy, Dionne Summers is a girl who speaks her mind. Brought up on the mean streets of Detroit, she is determined that nothing will stop her from becoming the world’s next supermodel. Beautiful and innocent, Alyson Wakefield is desperate to escape her upbringing. She decides it is time to take hold of her life and follow her dreams. Heading to the chic streets of Paris, the girls move in with a maverick young designer, Ce Ce Bouvier. Born to a life of luxury and glamour, Ce Ce is determined to stand on her own two feet and take the fashion world by storm. The girls vow to make it to the top, but their friendship is about to be tested to the limits when deception, betrayal and tragedy are played out in the glare of the paparazzi flashbulbs. Can the three girls overcome the ghosts of the past – or will the catwalk consume them?

From a rising young novelist comes an artful meditation on love and life in contemporary London. When David Pinner introduces his former teacher, the American artist Ruth Marks, to his friend and flatmate James Glover, he unwittingly sets in place a love triangle loaded with tension, guilt and heartbreak. As David plays reluctant witness (and more) to James and Ruth's escalating love affair, he must come to terms with his own blighted emotional life. Set in the London art scene awash with new money and intellectual pretension, in the sleek galleries and posh restaurants of a Britannia resurgent with cultural and economic power, Nick Laird's insightful and drolly satirical novel vividly portrays three people whose world gradually fractures along the fault lines of desire, truth and jealousy. With wit and compassion, Laird explores the very nature of contemporary romance, among damaged souls whose hearts and heads never quite line up long enough for them to achieve true happiness.

The second in the rip-roaring adventure series of ‘Treasure Island’ prequels for fans of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Once comrades-in-arms, now sworn enemies, Joseph Flint and Long John Silver have a score to settle. Marooned on a remote Caribbean island with his loyal crew and a fortune in buried treasure, Silver awaits the return of the man who left him there. In order to defeat Silver and claim the island back as his, Flint will need to raise an army – no easy feat for the man most wanted by the Royal Navy. But with disease running rampant on the Island and the net closing on Flint, time is running out for both men. But who will survive – and who will get the gold?

Rebellion is brewing in Napoleonic Paris, in the new action-packed novel from the author of the bestselling Ratcatcher October 1812: Britain and France are still at war. France is engaged on two battle fronts - Spain and Russia - and her civilians are growing weary of the fight. Rebellion is brewing. Since Napoleon Bonaparte appointed himself as First Consul, there have been several attempts to either kill or overthrow him. All have failed, so far… Meanwhile in London, Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood has been seconded to the foreign arm of the Secret Service. There, he meets the urbane Henry Brooke, who tells him he’s to join a colleague in Paris on a special mission. Brooke's agent has come up with a daring plan and he needs Hawkwood's help to put it into action. If the plan is successful it could lead to a negotiated peace treaty between France and the allies. Failure would mean prison, torture and a meeting with the guillotine…

Matthew Hawkwood, ex-soldier turned Bow Street Runner, goes undercover to hunt down smugglers and traitors at the height of the Napoleonic Wars in this thrilling follow-up to Ratcatcher. For a French prisoner of war, there is only one fate worse than the gallows: the hulks. Former man-o'-wars, now converted to prison ships, their fearsome reputation guarantees a sentence served in the most dreadful conditions. Few survive. Escape, it's said, is impossible. Yet reports persist of a sinister smuggling operation within this brutal world – and the Royal Navy is worried enough to send two of its officers to investigate. But when they disappear without trace, the Navy turns in desperation to Bow Street for help. It's time to send in a man as dangerous as the prey. It's time to send in Hawkwood…

A lyrical and profoundly moving story of love, loss and civil war, set in Sri Lanka, London and Venice. When author Theo Samarajeeva returns to his native Sri Lanka after his wife’s death, he hopes to escape his gnawing loss amid the lush landscape of his increasingly war-torn country. But as he sinks into life in this beautiful, tortured land, he also finds himself slipping into friendship with an artistic young girl, Nulani, whose family is caught up in the growing turmoil. Soon friendship blossoms into love. Under the threat of civil war, their affair offers a glimmer of hope to a country on the brink of destruction… But all too soon, the violence which has cast an ominous shadow over their love story explodes, tearing them apart. Betrayed, imprisoned and tortured, Theo is gradually stripped of everything he once held dear – his writing, his humanity and, eventually, his love. Broken by the belief her lover is dead, Nulani flees Sri Lanka to a cold and lonely life of exile. As the years pass and the country descends into a morass of violence and hatred, the tragedy of Theo and Nulani's failed love spreads like a poison among friends sickened by the face of civil war, and the lovers must struggle to recover some of what they have lost and to resurrect, from the wreckage of their lives, a fragile belief in the possibility of redemption. Beautifully written, by turns heartbreaking and uplifting, `Mosquito’ is a first novel of remarkable and compelling power.

Against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. Can Atticus, and the fledgling Roman navy, staffed with inexperienced sailors and unwilling legionaries, outwit and outfight his opponents. SHIP OF ROME, full of magnificent sea-battles, packed with strong characters, torn between two powerful empires, is the first book in a new series, MASTERS OF THE SEA, by a brilliant new author.