Aurora Award Finalist Think of human emotion as a geography, with peaks of pleasure and valleys of pain. Imagine a drug that flips the valleys and makes them peaks, too. You react now to an event based not on the pleasure or pain it brings, but solely on the intensity of the emotion created. Pain brings pleasure, grief gives joy, horror renders ecstasy. Now give this drug to a soldier. Tell them to kill. Not in the historically acceptable murder of war, but in a systematic corporate strategy--of xenocide. They will kill. And they will revel in it. Welcome to the world of Scream. Jarrod is a Scream-addicted soldier forced to take part in the destruction of entire races. But when his unit encounters the Be’nan, aliens who hold the secret to true enlightenment, no one is prepared for the result. "…reaches far past the muddled mediocrity of swashbuckling tales forgotten before the page is turned to the next story. I enjoyed the alien anthropology and the details are tremendous…in this tale of tremendous sacrifice" —Tangent Online "My favourite of the selection was 'Enlightenment' by Douglas Smith. A strange story indeed about Earth people engaged in strip-mining planets and relocating indigenous populations. ... The end is horrific in many respects but it's also thought-provoking." —SF Crowsnest Reviews "…[tells of] a spiritual undertaking by a member of a brutal planetary occupation force who "goes native" in which Douglas Smith provides a riff on Ray Bradbury's famous rationale of space travel: for Man to find God in the cosmos. A science fictional depiction of the mistreatment of "aliens" to subvertly criticize the atrocities of imperialist colonization." —SF Site "... unexpected twists and a superb ending; the story is as powerful as any in the [Chimerascope] collection (A++)" —Fantasy Book Critic "Douglas Smith…succeeds in evoking an alien society with mythic/religious overtones in his moving tale ‘Enlightenment’." —New Hope International Review Online "Another strong story, looking at humanity's treatment of indigenous people." —Best SF "...oppressed inhabitants of distant worlds making the ultimate sacrifice in order to bring mankind back to the realisation of what right and wrong truly mean." —Whispers of Wickedness reviews "Nicely judged depictions of alien customs…" —SF Site "...was my favourite of the issue. ‘Enlightenment’ went exactly where I expected it to, but that was where I wanted it to go--I was there for the ride" "Stories [were] great, particularly ‘Enlightenment.’ [I] was just engrossed in the whole thing...and applaud it thoroughly!" "…just blew me away…I was taken away by the lovely prose." "...provoked some really interesting ideas…" "…mind-blowing…" —InterZone readers forum

Roudine est admis dans le salon de Daria Lassounska. Il brille par son éloquence, séduit les ?mes, s'installe comme interlocuteur privilégié de la ma?tresse de maison, ravissant jusqu'au coeur de Natalie, la fille de Daria. Est-ce un tartuffe ? Un beau parleur ? Qui peut dire si Roudine, homme de paroles et d'idées, est capable d'éprouver une passion véritable ? Dimitri Roudine, publié en 1856, marque durablement Henry James, qui déclare Tourguéniev premier romancier de son temps.

A la même époque, il y avait à Ferrare une jeune damoiselle du nom de Valéria. Elle passait pour être l'une des plus grandes beautés de la ville, encore qu'on ne la v?t guère, car elle menait un genre de vie fort retiré et ne sortait de chez elle que pour se rendre à l'église, ou à la promenade, les jours de fête. Elle habitait avec sa mère, une veuve noble, mais peu fortunée, dont elle était l'unique enfant. Quiconque la croisait dans la rue, éprouvait aussit?t un sentiment d'involontaire surprise, due à sa beauté, et de tendre respect, inspiré par sa modestie : la jeune fille semblait ne pas se rendre compte du charme qui émanait de toute sa personne.

Assez ! me disais-je à moi-même, en gravissant péniblement le flanc d’une montagne escarpée qui s’élevait depuis les rives d’un fleuve paisible. Assez ! me répétai-je, en humant l’haleine résineuse d’un bosquet de sapins, particulièrement odorante dans la fracheur du crépuscule… Assez ! me dis-je de nouveau en m’asseyant sur un tertre moussu qui surplombait le fleuve, les yeux fixés sur les vagues sombres et paresseuses que dominaient les tiges vert clair des joncs… Assez,assez remué, assez erré : il est temps de rentrer en soi-même, de se prendre la tête à deux mains, et d’ordonner à son cur de ne plus battre.

Aurora Award Finalist.? The colony ship, The Last Chance, has fled a plague-poisoned Earth with the remnants of the human race. Launched before completion of its biosphere, the ship is only partly self-sustaining. Humanity has to find a new home—and time is running out. It isn’t called The Last Chance for nothing. When they find the planet, it seems a dream come true. Earth-like, breathable atmosphere, unpopulated. They name it Aurora, for the beauty that dances in its skies. At least, it had seemed beautiful at the time. Now they aren’t so sure. Now people are dying. Gar Franck is the ship’s communication expert. When signs point to a non-human intelligence on the planet, Gar becomes the key to communicating with it. But how can he communicate with an alien being when he can’t even talk to his autistic son, Anton, or his increasingly distant wife, Clara? "There are two stories in "Symphony"...both converge in a spectacular, explosive finale. Smith's prose is poetic and evocative. He creates an intricate fabric of light, color, and sound with effortless flair. The story’s fluid style and the abundance of complex, wrenching emotions [make this] another recommended story in this issue." —Eugie Foster and Marsha Sisolak, Tangent Online "A strong SF-nal story about a 'sentient light symphony' that objects to humans colonizing 'its planet.' How would you communicate with such and how would it react to a baby who lacks all 'human baggage' are some of the issues addressed here. (A+)" —Fantasy Book Critic

Aurora Award Finalist.? Alexander King has everything--wealth, power, a business empire over which he rules. But lately, the corporate game in which he excels has lost its thrill for him. He needs a new game. And then, on the crowded streets of Toronto, in the dead cold of winter, she appears before him. The Dancer. Achingly beautiful, half-naked, and dancing to a song that only she and King seem to hear, she becomes King’s new obsession, an obsession that draws him into a journey through a secret world hidden within the city he thought he knew…and to a very special club. "'The Dancer at the Red Door,' with its mix of oblique horror, urban fantasy, and monsters ... recalls British horror novelist Clive Barker at his most disturbingly fanciful." —Quill and Quire "An excellent story … urban fantasy at its best." —Fantasy Book Critic "...intriguing meditation on escapism...evoking Gaiman's Neverwhere, the obligatory helping of Lovecraft, plus a touch of something like Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut" —Strange Horizons "Just as the song of the city leads King throughout his journey, so too does it lead the reader throughout Douglas Smith's beautifully crafted 'The Dancer at the Red Door.' The writing is lean and evocative; every element of the story works double-time as setting informs character, action creates mood, and nothing is superfluous. The song becomes a living, breathing creature which, more so than hearing, I could feel viscerally as I read Doug's wonderful story. Highly, highly recommended." —Rainbow Dragon Recommends

Vaya is an immortal Valkyrie and favorite daughter of Odin All Father, sworn to carry dead heroes from the battlefields of Earth to live forever in Valhalla. One day, she intervenes on the battlefield to save the life of a soldier who has captured her heart, and is forced by Odin to choose between immortality and the man she loves. Vaya chooses love, not knowing that the hardest choice still lies ahead of her. "…exemplifies the best elements of Douglas Smith’s writing. A Valkyrie falls for her hero, gives up her immortality for him then has to make that inevitable and awful choice afterwards. As always, even for such a brief time, there is so much life in these characters. I don’t bother to marvel at how quickly I come to care for Douglas Smith’s people anymore, it’s a given." —SF Crowsnest Reviews "A gripping portrayal of Vaya, a Valkyrie, and the ultimate sacrifices one makes for love." —SFRevu

—Küsi, kuidas saad v?ita ühe tunni aega— Maria O’Connore’il on palju suuremaid probleeme kui see fakt, et tema kell seiskus kell 3:57. Kui ta viib oma kella lahke parandaja juurde, ootamatult selgub, et ta sai kummalise auhinna – v?imaluse taaselada ühe tunni oma elust. Aga saatusel on ranged reeglid mineviku torkimise suhtes, sealhulgas range hoiatus, et ei tohi tekitada aja-paradoksi. Kas Maria saab teha rahu oma k?ige kahetsusv??rsema veaga siin maailmas? "Nukker, lühike P?hjamaade mütoloogiast p?rit osund. Aeg on kingitus, ja m?nikord viimane v?imalus…" —Dale Amidei, autor "V?ga sisutihe ja dramaatiline lugu… Kas me muudaksime oma minevikku, kui meil oleks v?imalik seda teha?" —Lugeja arvamus "Saada unikaalset v?imalust, et parandada oma sügavaim viga on ainulaadne v?imalus!" —Lugeja arvamus Mis siis, kui saaksid eluhetke parandada ja seda uuesti teha? * Eesti keel - Estonian language

Aurora Award WINNER. The Walker is a child of the two Realms of the Continuum, a prince of Order and of Chaos—and a rebel against both. When he falls in love with an ephemeral, a mortal woman who is the key to the balance between the Realms, he triggers a struggle for her life—and the fate of her universe. "A very different sort of tale. ... A cosmic story of gods which seems to be inspired by the works of Michael Moorcock, and I think he would not be ashamed of it." —SF Crowsnest Reviews "A tale of epic love when a mortal gets caught between a battle of the gods. Smith reminds us that we have the potential to change the world around us and that self-sacrifice can be a means of making the world around us better." —Speculating Canada "The descriptions here have cosmic sweep…" —Locus Online

King Arthur and the Kinghts of the Round Table Complete Works World's Best Collection This is the best King Arthur Collection available, including the most complete set of the Arthurian legends plus many extra free bonus materials. The Most Complete Collection Available In this irresistible collection we include all 11 complete Books (more than 130 chapters) from Thomas Malory (published by William Caxton) of the legendary epic ‘Le Morte D’ Arthur’. We also give you all the other, rare stories of the other famous Knights of the Round Table. Plus, we include additional bonuses covering Arthur related mythologies, including Celtic Mythology and other British and European Legends. Everything Arthur related in one, amazing comprehensive compilation. Works Included: Le Morte D’ Arthur -The legendary, famous compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of romance? tales about the legendary King Arthur. One of the best-known works of the English language and Arthurian literature. It coves the grand adventures and complete stories of the beloved characters, from Arthur himself, to Merlin, to Tristram, Launcelot and Guinevere, Morgan le Fay, Arthur’s sister, and even Mordred, Arthur’s villainous son. Who was the Real King Arthur? -?A special analysis of the 'suspects', written specifically for this collection. Additional Sir Gawayne Stories -?Additional stories of the popular Sir Gawayne, including the well known fairy tale: ‘Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight’ The Mabinogion -?11 classic stories from Welsh and Celtic mythology, known as prime examples of folktales, and early medieval and Iron age narratives, even including more stories of King Arthur. Myths And Legends Of The Celtic Race -?Devoted to explaining the fascinating and expansive Celtic mythology, as well as chapters on Celtic history and information on the Druids. Hero-Myths Of The British Race And Legends Of The Middle Ages -?A rich exploration into more British, as well as European and Middle Age mythology. It includes chapters about many Heroic Sagas, such as Charlemagne, Beowulf, and Robin Hood. Get This Collection Right Now This is the best King Arthur and Arthurian Legends collection you can get, so get it now and start enjoying and being drawn into the magnificent world of myth and legend like never before!

La suite du Ch?teau noir... Les noces dont il est question dans le titre concerne Ivana et notre sympathique reporter...

Le roman para?t, sous le titre La Poupée sanglante, 2e partie : Gabriel, en 41 feuilletons quotidiens du journal Le Matin entre le 10 ao?t et le 19 septembre 1923. L'?uvre est reprise en volume l'année suivante chez Tallandier. Bien que La Machine à assassiner ait été publiée initialement dans un volume indépendant, la plupart des éditions modernes l'incluent à la suite de La Poupée sanglante en ne conservant que ce dernier titre sur la couverture.

A classic western from one of the masters of the genre.

Demersul Antoanetei Olteanu, reputat? traduc?toare de limba rus? ?iexpert? ?n istoria cultural? a Rusiei, se distinge at?t prin calitatea informa?iilor, adesea inedite, c?t ?i prin compozi?ia complex?, care ?mbin? viziunea sintetic? cu o perspectiv? transcultural? exersat?. Cartea se recomand? de la sine at?t cititorului profesionist, care g?se?te aici o serie de date altfel greu accesibile, c?t ?i celui interesat de istoria ?i cultura Europei ?n ansamblu. Dup? cum anun?? ?i subtitlul, lucrarea reconstituie o istorie cultural? a secolului al XIX-lea, realiz?nd, ?n fapt, o fresc? a uneia dintre cele mai captivante perioade din istoria Rusiei, cea imperial?. Datele prezentate acoper? practic toate Aspectele vie?ii politice, sociale, economice ?i culturale ale acestui interval de timp, marcat at?t de aura ?arilor, c?t ?i de nenum?ratele revolte populare. Tabloul evenimentelor majore este ?ntregit cu minu?ioase inventare de titluri nobiliare, cu date economice consemnate cu acribie, cu o expunere vie a panoramei cutumelor sociale, familiale ?i religioase, merg?nd de la modalit??ile de confec?ionare a juc?riilor sau a bijuteriilor p?n? la istorii ale ceaiului sau vodcii. Atmosfera epocii cap?t? un contur des?v?r?it prin citarea unor fragmente din lucr?ri ?tiin?ifice de referin??, din jurnalele de c?l?torie ?i din publicistica vremii, dar ?i din operele marilor scriitori ai vremii, ca Dostoievski, Gogol ?i Tolstoi. Se contureaz?, astfel, o imagine neconven?ional? a Rusiei, o na?iune confruntat? permanent cu tensiunea unei alegeri fundamentale, care pune ?n opozi?ie modelul str?in ?i inegalabila for?? intern?. Autoarei ?i revine meritul de a fi surprins aspectele esen?iale ale acestei tensiuni, cu ample ecouri ?n perioadamodern? ?i cu evidente efecte asupra mentalit??ii contemporane.

"Le bon père achevait de dire sa messe, quand on lui amena les prisonniers. C'était dans un coin sauvage des monts Arichulégui. Une roche éboulée, où un figuier géant enfon?ait sa tige tordue, formait une sorte d'autel recouvert – en guise de nappe – d'un étendard carliste aux franges d'argent."

"Samedi, soir de paye. Dans cette fin de journée, qui est en même temps une fin de semaine, on sent déjà le dimanche arriver. Tout le long du faubourg, ce sont des cris, des appels, des poussées à la porte des cabarets. Parmi cette foule d'ouvriers qui déborde du trottoir et suit la grande chaussée en pente, une petite ombre se h?te furtivement, remontant le faubourg en sens inverse."

Tarascon, mené par le glorieux Tartarin, entreprend de coloniser une ?le du bout du monde. Cette conquête se révèle malheureusement plus difficile que prévu, et le mental tarasconnais est bien affecté par les emb?ches rencontrées... Inspiré d'un histoire vraie, cette aventure de Tartarin est toujours aussi distrayante et nous procure un vrai rayon de soleil tarasconnais. Pour autant, elle montre un Tartarin désabusé et amer, abandonné par ses proches.

'Le Petit Chose' para?t en feuilleton en 1867. Daudet s'inspire des souvenirs d'une jeunesse douloureuse : humiliations à l'école, mépris pour le petit proven?al, expérience de répétiteur au collège et enfin coup de foudre pour une belle jeune femme. L'écrivain manifeste une tendresse, une pitié et un respect remarquables à l'égard des malchanceux et des déshérités de la vie.

Interviuri aprofundate, initiate de Gallup Organization cu mai mult de 80.000 de manageri din peste 400 de companii – cel mai extins studiu de gen, realizat vreodata. Cei mai mari manageri din lume par sa aiba prea putine lucruri in comun. Ei sunt diferiti ca sex, varsta si rasa. Folosesc stiluri foarte diferite si au teluri distincte. Si totusi, in ciuda diferentelor dintre ei, marii manageri au o trasatura comuna: nu se feresc sa incalce toate regulile considerate sacre de managementul traditional. Ei nu cred ca, beneficiind de o pregatire corespunzatoare, o persoana poate realiza orice si-ar propune. Nu incearca sa-i ajute pe oameni sa-si depaseasca slabiciunile. Nu iau in seama deloc regula de aur. Dimpotriva, chiar au angajati favoriti. Aceasta carte extraordinara explica de ce fac toate acestea. Marcus Buckingham si Curt Coffman de la Gallup Organization prezinta rezultatele remarcabile ale studiului aprofundat pe care l-au facut asupra unor manageri aflati intr-o mare diversitate de situatii. Unii erau in pozitii de top. Altii erau simpli supervizori. Unii lucrau in companii aflate pe lista Fortune 500, altii aveau functii cheie in mici companii. Indiferent de pozitia lor, managerii asupra carora s-a concentrat studiul Gallup au fost invariabil cei care excelau in transformarea in performanta a talentului fiecarui angajat. Pe restransa piata a muncii de astazi, companiile se intrec in a-i gasi si a-i pastra pe cei mai buni angajati, rasplatindu-i cu bani, beneficii, promovari si stagii de instruire. Dar aceste eforturi bine intentionate omit adesea esentialul. Cheia atragerii si pastrarii angajatilor talentati este managerul aflat in ?prima linie“, adica in contact direct cu acestia. Oricat de generos ar fi salariul si oricat de celebru stagiul de pregatire, o companie care duce lipsa de manageri ?in prima linie“ va avea de suferit. Buckingham si Coffman explica modul in care cei mai buni manageri aleg un angajat mai degraba in functie de talent, decat in functie de pricepere sau experienta; felul in care acesti manageri definesc asteptarile legate de fiecare angajat, stabilind mai degraba rezultatele de atins, decat pasii de urmat; modul in care isi motiveaza oamenii, stimuland punctele forte unice ale fiecaruia, in loc de a incerca sa le amelioreze slabiciunile si, in sfarsit, felul in care marii manageri sprijina dezvoltarea cuiva, ajutandu-l sa-si gaseasca locul potrivit, nu neaparat sa urce pe treapta urmatoare a carierei. Si, poate cel mai important lucru este faptul ca, din acest studiu care initial a generat mii de intrebari diferite pentru a sonda opinia angajatilor, au rezultat douasprezece intrebari simple care reusesc sa distinga departamentele cele mai puternice ale unei companii de restul departamentelor. Cartea de fata este prima care prezinta acest fundamental instrument de masurare si care demonstreaza legatura intre opiniile angajatilor si productivitate, profit, satisfactia clientilor si rata profitului.

Robert R. Provine p??e?te f?r? team? pe c?r?ri rareori b?tute de al?i oameni de ?tiin?? – ?n c?utarea sughi?urilor, tusei, c?scatului, str?nuturilor ?i a altor comportamente umane, aparent nedemne ?i de joas? spe??. De?i multe dintre activit??ile prezentate ?n Comportamente bizare sunt contagioase, ?n aceast? privin??, niciunul dintre ele nu ?ntrece c?scatul – p?n? ?i simpla citire a cuv?ntului ne poate face s?-i c?dem prad?. Chiar dac?, adesea, ?l privim ca pe un semn de somnolen?? sau plictiseal?, c?scatul ne ofer? indicii despre devoltarea socialit??ii ?i capacit??ii noastre de a empatiza cu ceilal?i. Implacabilul s?u mecanism de transmitere ne reaminte?te c?, uneori, suntem programa?i neurologic s? ne comport?m ca ni?te simple animale de turm? incon?tiente. ?Deschide?i cartea aceasta, care se bazeaz? pe cercet?ri serioase, dar care se cite?te ca un roman poli?ist, ?i descoperi?i lucruri pe care nici nu vi le-a?i fi imaginat vreodat? despre aceste comportamente.“ Frans de Waal, profesor la Universitatea Emory ?i autor al lucr?rii The Age of Empathy(2009)

Lucrarea inedit? a lui Nathan Belofsky se concentreaz? asupra ideilor ?i practicilor medicale acceptate de-a lungul veacurilor, pe scar? larg?, ale doctorilor reali, nu ale vracilor ?i aproape to?i doctorii men?iona?i erau figuri medicale importante ale acelor vremuri. Autorul prezint? c?teva dintre cele mai r?sp?ndite practici ?ocante sau ?ndoielnice din fiecare epoc?, ?ncep?nd cu Antichitatea ?i continu?nd cu Evul Mediu, Rena?terea, perioada modern? ?i secolul al XX-lea. Cartea se afl? sub semnul insolitului ?i readuce la via?a, ?ntr-o manier? narativ? ?i deseori umoristic?, momente mai pu?in cunoscute din istoria medicinei. ,,Cartea este o comoar? de fapte uluitoare.“Los Angeles Examiner