The long–awaited sequel to The Mask of Zorro––the blockbuster film that grossed more than $230 million worldwide––is coming in September 2005. . .and we've got the adult novelisation! In the early 19th century Don Diego de la Vega championed the people of Mexico against the tyranny of Spanish rule as the masked swordsman and hero Zorro. Twenty years later an orphan named Alejandro, whom Don Diego trained as a boy, becomes Don Diego's successor, serving up a similar brand of freedom and justice in California, reuniting Don Diego with his long lost daughter Elena and marrying the beautiful young woman . At last, in this riveting novelisation of the latest Zorro film from Sony Pictures and Zorro Productions Inc., the mantel is about to be passed again! Alejandro and Elena's marriage is suffering from the strain of Alejandro's work. They're on the very brink of divorce when Elena finds herself central to a Pinkerton sting operation that threatens to expose Zorro's true identity and risk Alejandro's life as well as place Elena's former beau, a French Count and suspected arms dealer, behind bars. It isn't long before seeking justice becomes a family affair, involving Elena, Alejandro and their beloved son Joaquin. Could this adventure possibly lead to a reconciliation between the two lovers and to the succession, yet again , of the swordThis adaptation of the forthcoming film The Legend of Zorro completes the circle of history established by Isabel Allende's new book exploring the birth, life and times of bon vivant Don Diego, the first generation Zorro, and by the 1998 blockbuster film Mask of Zorro which recounted the assumption of the mask by the equally dashing and principled second generation Zorro, Alejandro with the introduction of a possible third generation Zorro.

A prominent physician debuts as a gifted storyteller in Lie Still, a dazzlingly suspenseful and compulsively readable trip through the dark underbelly of the OR -- where reputations, careers, and lives are on the line. In a sleepy, small-town Arizona hospital, a thirteen-year-old boy lies in a coma after inexplicably suffering a cardiac arrest. His doctors are perplexed. Although emotionally disturbed Henry Rojelio was a frequent visitor to the emergency room -- often for bouts of asthma, but usually just for attention -- no one ever anticipated a battle with death. Surgical resident Malcolm Ishmail began his medical career months before at a busy Phoenix hospital -- a far cry from the small ER deep in the silent heart of the desert, where Henry Rojelio lies. There, Malcolm fell into a secret, exhausting affair with one of his professors, Dr. Mimi Lyle, a beautiful, charismatic brain surgeon who had subtle difficulties in the operating room. In a moment of weakness "Dreamy Mimi" confessed to him her failings as a neurosurgeon; Malcolm reported her to his superiors . . . and promptly lost his job. Now, miles away from Phoenix, Dr. Ishmail struggles to save his young asthmatic patient's life and his future as a surgeon. And with little time and few clues to the cause of Henry Rojelio's sudden collapse, the impressionable doctor wonders whether his former lover may have exacted a disturbing revenge.Rich in medical detail and written with stylish, razor-sharp action and dialogue, Lie Still is a gripping, emotional drama of human failings and devastating consequences that marks the debut of a remarkable new voice.

The nation's capital that serves as the setting for the stories in Edward P. Jones's prizewinning collection, Lost in the City lies far from the city of historic monuments and national politicians. Jones takes the reader beyond that world into the lives of African American men and women who work against the constant threat of loss to maintain a sense of hope. From "The Girl Who Raised Pigeons" to the well-to-do career woman awakened in the night by a phone call that will take her on a journey back to the past, the characters in these stories forge bonds of community as they struggle against the limits of their city to stave off the loss of family, friends, memories, and, ultimately, themselves.Critically acclaimed upon publication, Lost in the City introduced Jones as an undeniable talent, a writer whose unaffected style is not only evocative and forceful but also filled with insight and poignancy.

Do you want to live until you're ninety but always feel like you're twentyDo you want to find out about the most recent breakthroughs in nutrition, weight loss, disease prevention, cognitive enhancement, and anti-agingDo you want the very best body you've ever had -- one that will last you a lifetime?Oz Garcia's The Healthy High-Tech Body is the first comprehensive guide to the finest health supplements, procedures, products, techniques, and technology in the world today. Whether you're looking for remedies to boost your energy level, reliable sources for nutraceuticals, information on the latest European cell treatments, secrets to youthful aging, or the latest in cosmeceuticals for skin, nails, and teeth, it's all here. Renowned nutritional consultant Oz Garcia shares an unmatched array of health information and resources, along with information from some of the most famous and sought-after doctors, scientists, and health authorities in the world, including Dr. Barry Sears, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, Clinique La Prairie of Switzerland, Dr. Peter Proctor, Ann Louise Gittleman, and Dr. Pamela Peeke. Together they present the essential building blocks of health and fitness for our time. Only Oz Garcia's The Healthy High-Tech Body offers: ?A global resource guide of health products, services, and technology ?Secrets to youthful aging, from European cell shots to the use of human growth hormones ?The Paleotech Diet, a revolutionary nutritional program, including dozens of deliciously healthy recipes ?The seven steps to successful fat burning and permanent weight loss ?The secrets of maintaining sexual pleasure and potency throughout your life ?Updated information on injectables, stem cell implants, cosmeceuticals, and body scans ?Interviews with the top experts and pioneers in the fields of nutrition, fitness, life extension, cosmetic surgery, integrative medicine, and bioengineering ?CD-ROM including an interactive version of Life Extension's 945-page reference book Disease Prevention and Treatment, archives of articles from Life Extension magazine, and useful Web links You can start today, at any age, to develop a Healthy High-Tech Body by taking advantage of the newest inventions, innovations, approaches, and techniques to enhance your living experience. Armed with the information in this book, you will be able not only to prolong your life, but also to maintain and extend your youthfulness in ways you never thought possible.

The dead woman was an artist recently arrived from Washington State, cruelly cut down in the early stages of a promising career. Now all that remains of Rochelle Baxter lies on a cold slab in the Cochise County morgue, and Sheriff Joanna Brady knows that murder has once again infected her small desert community. But there is more to this homicide than initially meets the eye -- and more to the victim, who died while supposedly under the conscientious protection of the government. A big-city legal establishment has no faith in the abilities of a small-town Sheriff, let alone a female sheriff. Instructed to swallow her indignation, Joanna awaits the arrival of the "help" Washington's attorney general is sending her: the newest member of the state's Special Homicide Investigation team -- a man named Beaumont. Bisbee, Arizona, is the last place J.P. Beaumont wants to be. The ghosts of a painful past are too numerous there, and his reluctant "partner," Sheriff Brady, resents his intrusion and cannot help but make her feelings known. But the road they are forced to travel together is taking some unexpected turns, running two dedicated servants of the law headfirst into the impenetrable stone walls of a shocking conspiracy of silence. For Brady and Beaumont's hunt is disturbing a very deadly nest of rattlers, and suddenly trust is the only option they have. On their own in the Arizona desert, they know death can be cold and quick. And nobody is watching their backs here...they'll have to watch each other's.

After the death of her adoptive mother, thirty-six-year-old Chelsea Kane is consumed by the need to uncover her biological heritage. Taking a break from her successful architecture career, she arrives in the New Hampshire town where she was born, determined to learn the truth, her only clue a tarnished silver key.One of her first discoveries, however, is something quite unexpected: the irresistibly attractive Judd Street. Buoyed by love and resolution, the determined Chelsea slowly begins to uncover the dark mystery of her past. But as she inches closer to the truth, she realizes that someone is trying to stop her, first by scaring her, then by trying to harm her. The danger escalates until one terrifying night when all secrets are laid bare.With memorable characters and writing that will stir the hearts and minds of all readers, The Passions of Chelsea Kane is the kind of compelling narrative that has earned Barbara Delinsky an ever-widening readership.

To his legions of fans, Charles Bukowski was and remains the quintessential counterculture icon. A hard-drinking wild man of literature and a stubborn outsider to the poetry world, he wrote unflinchingly about booze, work, and women, in raw, street-tough poems whose truth has struck a chord with generations of readers.Edited by John Martin, the legendary publisher of Black Sparrow Press and a close friend of Bukowski's, The Pleasures of the Damned is a selection of the best works from Bukowski's long poetic career, including the last of his never-before-collected poems. Celebrating the full range of the poet's extraordinary and surprising sensibility, and his uncompromising linguistic brilliance, these poems cover a rich lifetime of experiences and speak to Bukowski's immense intelligence, the caring heart that saw through the sham of our pretenses and had pity on our human condition (New York Quarterly ). The Pleasures of the Damned is an astonishing poetic treasure trove, essential reading for both longtime fans and those just discovering this unique and legendary American voice.

Gather, analyze, and decode data to reveal hidden facts using Python, the perfect tool for all aspiring secret agents About This Book Discover the essential features of Python programming: statements, variables, expressions, and many of the built-in data types Use Python’s standard library to do more sophisticated data gathering and analysis Written by a Python programming expert, with over 35 years' experience as a consultant, teacher, author and software developer Who This Book Is For This book is for Secret Agents who have some exposure to Python. Our focus is on the Field Agents who are ready to do more sophisticated and complex programming in Python. We'll stick to simple statistics for the most part. A steady hand with a soldering iron is not required, but a skilled field agent should be able to assemble a working Arduino circuit to gather their own sensor data.What You Will Learn Upgrade Python to the latest version and discover its latest and greatest tools Use Python libraries to extract data from log files that are designed more for people to read than for automated analysis Summarize log files and extract meaningful information Gather data from social networking sites and leverage your experience of analyzing log files to summarize the data you find Extract text and images from social networking sites Parse the complex and confusing data structures in a PDF file to extract meaningful text that we can analyze Connect small, intelligent devices to our computer to use them as remote sensors Use Python to analyze measurements from sensors to calibrate them and use sensors efficiently In Detail Python is easy to learn and extensible programming language that allows any manner of secret agent to work with a variety of data. Agents from beginners to seasoned veterans will benefit from Python's simplicity and sophistication. The standard library provides numerous packages that move beyond simple beginner missions. The Python ecosystem of related packages and libraries supports deep information processing. This book will guide you through the process of upgrading your Python-based toolset for intelligence gathering, analysis, and communication. You'll explore the ways Python is used to analyze web logs to discover the trails of activities that can be found in web and database servers. We'll also look at how we can use Python to discover details of the social network by looking at the data available from social networking websites. Finally, you'll see how to extract history from PDF files, which opens up new sources of data, and you’ll learn about the ways you can gather data using an Arduino-based sensor device. Style and approach Each chapter will include a background briefing that covers an essential Python technology. After some in-depth exploration of the features, the chapter will conclude with a mission that is a concrete application of the Python tools and techniques covered.

Master the skills required to implement CitrixXenApp7.6 to deploy a complete Citrix?-hosted application from scratch About This Book Learn to implement and configure components of CitrixXenApp7.6, which are XenServer?, XenApp?, CitrixLicense server, PVS, Storefront, CitrixReceiver, and Netscaler to secure WAN traffic Build the XenApp7.6 environment independently and perform tests to make sure the components are working as expected for internal and external traffic Implement advanced tools in CitrixXenAppto build and manage a cost effective, secure, and high-performing application delivery infrastructure with this comprehensive guide Who This Book Is For This is book is for administrators who are currently managing the implemented environment and want to learn how to deploy the CitrixHosted virtualization solution for the application in a windows server 2012 R2 environment. A reasonable knowledge and understanding of core XenAppelements and concepts used during virtualizing applications are assumed. What You Will Learn Understand how to set up Hypervisor, install the management console, configure the storage repository, and create a virtual machine on hypervisor Set up an Infrastructure component and explore ways to tune them up so that they can be used for Citrixenvironment Set up a Domain controller, DHCP, Certificate authority, and SQL server for static database for CitrixXenAppValidate the CitrixXenApp7.6 solution to make sure components are communicating properly Manage the essential Citrixcomponents – Director, Licensing, and Policies with the Help of Citrixstudio Optimize the behavior of an Application and share desktop via Policies Installing and configuring CitrixProvisioning services to deliver CitrixXenApp7.6 virtual machines Secure the external Delivery of an application and shared desktop via netscaler to enjoy mobility In Detail CitrixXenAppis one of the leading pieces of Application delivery software that delivers Windows compatible apps to users on any device, anywhere. CitrixXenAppalso gives administrators the ability to manage and control the freedom of mobility by increasing the security and saving costs at the same time. This book will provide you with all the knowledge required to successfully deploy and master a complete Citrixhosted application. First, it will cover essential concepts of the architecture of XenApp?. You will then learn how to set up Hypervisor and how to set up Infrastructure components. Next you will learn how to Set up CitrixComponents, XenAppresources, PVS, and Netscaler. We will further look at how to prepare the environment for Rollout. Additionally, you will learn how to configure the Citrixcomponents such as CitrixDirector. Moreover, you’ll learn about shared desktop for delivery to end users and the application of policies for effective and secure delivery. Finally, you will learn how to implement provisioning services for a CitrixXenApp7.6 environment. Style and approach This book is based on a course outline and hence takes a very practical approach so you will understand how to implement the components of XenAppin a production environment. Complemented with many best practices and troubleshooting concepts of XenApp?, this book will help you master XenAppswiftly.

Create, analyze, maintain, and share 2D and 3D maps with the powerful tools of ArcGIS Pro About This Book Visualize GIS data in 2D and 3D maps Create GIS projects for quick and easy access to data, maps, and analysis tools A practical guide that helps to import maps, globes, and scenes from ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe Who This Book Is For This book is for anyone wishing to learn how ArcGIS Pro can be used to create maps and perform geospatial analysis. It will be especially helpful for those that have used ArcMap and ArcCatalog in the past and are looking to migrate to Esri’s newest desktop GIS solution. Though previous GIS experience is not required, you must have a solid foundation using Microsoft Windows. It is also helpful if you understand how to manage folders and files within the Microsoft Windows environment. What You Will Learn Install ArcGIS Pro and assign Licenses to users in your organization Navigate and use the ArcGIS Pro ribbon interface to create maps and perform analysis Create and manage ArcGIS Pro GIS Projects Create 2D and 3D maps to visualize and analyze data Author map layouts using cartographic tools and best practices to show off the results of your analysis and maps Import existing map documents, scenes, and globes into your new ArcGIS Pro projects quickly Create standardized workflows using Tasks Automate analysis and processes using ModelBuilder and Python In Detail ArcGIS Pro is Esri’s newest desktop GIS application with powerful tools for visualizing, maintaining, and analyzing data. ArcGIS Pro makes use of the modern ribbon interface and 64-bit processing to increase the speed and efficiency of using GIS. It allows users to create amazing maps in both 2D and 3D quickly and easily.This book will take you from software installation to performing geospatial analysis. It is packed with how-to’s for a host of commonly-performed tasks. You will start by learning how to download and install the software including hardware limitations and recommendations. Then you are exposed to the new Ribbon interface and how its smart design can make finding tools easier.After you are exposed to the new interface, you are walked through the steps to create a new GIS Project to provide quick access to project resources. With a project created, you will learn how to construct 2D and 3D maps including how to add layers, adjust symbology, and control labeling. Next you will learn how to access and use analysis tools to help you answer real-world questions.Lastly, you will learn how processes can be automated and standardized in ArcGIS Pro using Tasks, Models, and Python Scripts.This book will provide an invaluable resource for all those seeking to use ArcGIS Pro as their primary GIS application or for those looking to migrate from ArcMap and ArcCatalog. Style and approach This book includes detailed explanations of the GIS functionality and workflows in ArcGIS Pro. These are supported by easy-to-follow exercises that will help you gain an understanding of how to use ArcGIS Pro to perform a range of tasks.

Design, build, and create your own applications using the full range of features available in Android 6 About This Book Learn how to utilize the robust features of Android 6 to design, develop, and publish better Android applications Get useful guidance on creating new apps or migrating existing apps to support features such as app permissions, app links, fingerprint authentication, etc A fast paced guide, packed with hands-on examples that ties all the features such as API, audio, video, camera, tab customization together under a single cover Who This Book Is For This book is for Android developers who are looking to move their applications into the next Android version with ease. What You Will Learn Familiarize yourself with the features of Android 6 Code with the new Android permissions model Use apps auto backup and restore lost data automatically Increase user engagement with apps through an assistant using triggers and providing contextual assistance Assess and handle proper usage of the API Work with Audio, Video,Camera in Android 6 Utilize the new features in Android for professional purposes Understand and code Chrome’s custom tabs In Detail Android 6 is the latest and greatest version of the Android operating system, and comes packed with cutting edge new features for you to harness for the benefit of building better applications. This step-by-step guide will take you through the basics of the Android Marshmallow permissions model and beyond into other crucial areas such as the Audio,Video,Camera API and Android’s at work features. Learn how to create, deploy, and manage Android applications with Marshmallow’s API and the latest functionalities. The combination of instructions and real-world examples will make your application deployment and testing a breeze. Style and approach This easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorial provides explanations and examples to add the new Android 6 features to your skill set. Each chapter provides sequential steps and detailed information about the API, as well as best practices and testing options.

At her friend Ivy's behest, Emily reluctantly agrees to attend a party at the sprawling English country estate of Lord Fortescue, a man she finds as odious as he is powerful. But if Emily is expecting Lord Fortescue to be the greatest of her problems, she is wrong. Her host has also invited Kristiana von Lange, an Austrian countess who was once linked romantically with Emily's fiancé, the debonair Colin Hargreaves. What Emily believes will be a tedious evening turns deadly when Fortescue is found murdered, and his protégé, Robert Brandon—Ivy's husband—is arrested for the crime. Determined to right this terrible wrong and clear Robert's name, Emily begins to dig for answers, a quest that will lead her from London's glittering ballrooms to Vienna's sordid backstreets. Not until she engages a notorious anarchist in a game of wits does the shocking truth begin to emerge: the price of exonerating Robert can be paid only by placing Colin in deadly peril. To save her fiancé, Emily must do the unthinkable: bargain with her nemesis, the Countess von Lange.

Van Gogh-ing...going...gone! Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this , as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this, as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this, as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.

In Salthill-on-Hudson, a half-hour train ride from Manhattan, everyone is rich, beautiful, and -- though they look much younger -- middle-aged. But when Adam Berendt, a charismatic, mysterious sculptor, dies suddenly in a brash act of heroism, shock waves rock the town. But who was Adam BerendtWas he in fact a hero, or someone more flawed and human?

In the year 1202, tens of thousands of crusaders gather in Venice, preparing to embark for Jerusalem to free the Holy City from Muslim rule. Among them is a lowly vagabond Briton, rescued from damnation by a pious knight who burns with zealous fire for their sacred undertaking. And so they set sail, along with dedicated companions—and with a beautiful, mysterious Arab "princess" whom the vagabond liberates from a brutish merchant. But the divine light guiding their "righteous" campaign soon darkens as the mission sinks ever deeper into catastrophe, disgrace, and moral turpitude—as Christians murder Christians in the Adriatic port city of Zara, tragic events are set in motion that will ultimately lead to the shocking and shameful fall of Constantinople. Impeccably researched and beautifully told, Nicole Galland's Crossed is a stunning tale of the disastrous Fourth Crusade—and of the hopeful, brave, and driven who were caught up in and irrevocably changed by a corrupted cause and a furious battle beyond their comprehension or control.

What shall we do, all of usAll of us passionate girls who fear crushing the boys we love with our mouths like caverns of teeth, our mushrooming brains, our watermelon hearts?What's real is what's imagined in nine tales of transformation by Francesca Lia Block.

When Anna decides it's time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn't know where to turn. Rob has completely won over her parents, and the entire community, with his good looks and smooth charm. Only Anna has seen his dark side. Desperate, she runs to the only place she's ever felt completely safe—the Amish Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, where Anna met life-long friend Katie Brenneman. The family welcomes her in, and with few questions asked allows her to stay, dressed in Plain clothing, and help around the inn. Katie's older brother Henry is the only one who doesn't take too kindly to the intrusion. He tries to ignore Anna, knowing no good would ever come from caring for an Englisher like her. But as he gets to know Anna, he discovers her good heart and is surprised with her readiness to accept their lifestyle. The more time Anna spends with the Amish, the more she feels she's found a true home. But how can she deny the life she left behindAnd will her chance for happiness be stolen away by the man from her past?

The critics have been effusive in their praise for Richard Bausch's Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America and All the Ships at Sea.His hardover sales have also never been higher.Taking its title from Walter Winchell's famous radio salutation, Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America opens in Washington, DC, in 1964, just after the Kennedy assassination, telling the story of Walter Marshall, an idealistic 19-year-old who lives with his widowed mother and studies to be a journalist like his hero, Edward R. Murrow. In this coming-of-age novel in the truest sense of the phrase, young Marshall fumbles toward manhood in a nation that is itself in the midst of cataclysmic change.With the same elegance and precision that has distinguished his other novels, Richard Bausch has evoked a sense of time and place in a different America and brings the last 30 years of history profoundly and vividly to life.

Two magical-realist coming-of-age Weetzie Bat stories from Francesca Lia Block: Witch Baby and Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys.

The legend of King Arthur has been told many times—but never with the strength and resonance, passion and richness granted it in Stephen R. Lawhead's masterfulPendragon CycleDrought, plague, and war have left the Isle of the Mighty battered and its heart, the beloved Arthur, grievously injured—until a secret relic is brought before the dying KIng; a Holy Grail that heals his wounds and restores his vigor.But soon evil enters the royal court in the guise of a beautiful maiden; a soulless, malevolent force capable of seducing the King's loyal champion, confounding the sage whom some call Merlin, and carrying the sacred Grail—and Arthur's adored Queen—off into the dark unknown. And now Arthur faces the greatest challenge of his sovererignty: a quest of recovery that must lead the noble liege through realms of magic and the undead, on a trail that winds inexorably toward a grim confrontation with his most foul nemesis . . . and his destiny.Drought, plague and war have left the Isle of Mighty battered and its heart, the beloved Arthur, grievously injured. But, astonishingly, the High King lives—his wounds healed and vigor restored by a sacred and secret relic: the Holy Grail.At Ynys Avallach, a dying Arthur was miraculously renewed. And now, in this time of rampant disease and death, the great king wants to share the Grail's curative powers with all who require it. A shrine will be built to house the holy treasure—and Arthur's fabled Kingdom of Summer will at long last come to be.But evil has entered the royal court in the guise of a beautiful maiden. Unbeknownst to Arthur, to his devoted warriors, to his adored Gwenhwyvar. . .even to the bard Myrddrin, the sage Emrys whom some have called "Merlin," malevolent forces, soulless and cunning, seduce the King's most loyal champion. And in an unthinkable unguarded moment, the Grail is carried off, vanishing somewhere into the dark unknown.Now Arthur faces the greatest challenge of his sovereig.

For more than four decades, Ursula K. Le Guin has enthralled readers with her imagination, clarity, and moral vision. The recipient of numerous literary prizes, including the National Book Award, the Kafka Award, and five Hugo and five Nebula Awards, this renowned writer has, in each story and novel, created a provocative, ever-evolving universe filled with diverse worlds and rich characters reminiscent of our earthly selves. Now, in The Birthday of the World, this gifted artist returns to these worlds in eight brilliant short works, including a never-before-published novella, each of which probes the essence of humanity.Here are stories that explore complex social interactions and troublesome issues of gender and sex; that define and defy notions of personal relationships and of society itself; that examine loyalty, survival, and introversion; that bring to light the vicissitudes of slavery and the meaning of transformation, religion, and history. The first six tales in this spectacular volume are set in the author's signature world of the Ekumen, "my pseudo-coherent universe with holes in the elbows," as Le Guin describes it -- a world made familiar in her award-winning novel The Left Hand of Darkness. The seventh, title story was hailed by Publishers Weekly as "remarkable . . . a standout." The final offering in the collection, Paradises Lost, is a mesmerizing novella of space exploration and the pursuit of happiness.In her foreword, Ursula K. Le Guin writes, "to create difference-to establish strangeness-then to let the fiery arc of human emotion leap and close the gap: this acrobatics of the imagination fascinates and satisfies me as no other." In The Birthday of the World, this gifted literary acrobat exhibits a dazzling array of skills that will fascinate and satisfy us all.