Constat c literatura mare n-au scris-o, dup 1989, cei care ctigaser puterea, n cultur, sub eticheta biruitoare de postmodernism, ci scriitorii singuratici, indiferent de generaie, indiferent dac unora li s-au pus stigmatul de expirai. Nicolae Breban, o spun de la bun nceput, a dat una dintre marile cri ale literaturii romne moderne i transmoderne, aproape o carte-testament. (...) Singura cale este una dintre cele mai lucide cri care s-au scris vreodat, capodopera-sintez a operei lui Nicolae Breban, susinut la o tensiune narativ excepional. (...) Singura cale este unul dintre marile romane transmoderne, n varianta cinic/kynic.“ – Theodor CodreanuCred c un mare scriitor cum este Nicolae Breban ar merita mult mai mult atenie de ct a avut parte n ultimii douzeci de ani, cnd s-a ncpnat s fac ceea ce a fcut dintotdeauna, indiferent de epoca pe care a traversat-o, indiferent de situaia social pe care a avut-o: s scrie. Ca orice mare creator, Breban a avut mereu puterea de a institui prin scrisul su, n pofida evidenelor, normalitatea.“ – Bogdan Creu)Nicolae Breban, nscut n 1934, continu, de la debutul su literar din 1957 i de la publicarea primului su romn, Francisca, n 1965, s fie o prezen de vrf n literatura romn contemporan. (...) Autorul attor volume a probat, de asemenea, un singular curaj civic, atunci cnd, la nici doi ani de la alegerea sa, exclusiv pentru merite culturale, ca membru supleant al Comitetului Central al Partidului Comunist Romn (august 1969), a dezavuat, la Paris, n mod public, regimul Ceauescu, pentru tezele culturale dogmatice din iulie 1971. Cu acel prilej, i-a dat i demisia din funcia de redactor-ef al principalei reviste literare autohtone, Romnia literar. El a refuzat, totui, exilul i s-a ntors n Romnia, suportnd cu demnitate urmrile gesturilor sale de nesupunere n numele unei contiine scriitoriceti libere...“ – Ion IanoiN. Breban este mai ales unul dintre marii romancieri ai literaturii romne dintotdeauna, cel mai important dintre romancierii notri actuali, sincron, prin formele i substana ficiunii, celei mai semnificative literaturi contemporane universale.“ – Marian Victor Buciu

Prix Médicis ?tranger, Fran?a, 2010Premi Llibreter, Spania, 2011California Book Award, 2008Grace Paley Price, 2007Dac? ideea de ?eliberare prin scris“ are ?n ea o s?m?n?? de adev?r, povestirile cvasiautobiografice din acest volum reprezint? cea mai bun? exemplificare. Obsedat de imaginea unui tat? ciudat, greu de ?n?eles, care pare s? nu-?i fi g?sit nic?ieri locul potrivit, David Vann ?ncearc? s? ?i traseze traiectoria de via??, pentru a-l ?n?elege mai bine ?i pentru a reu?i s? se ?mpace cu el. ??i rememoreaz? mai ?nt?i copil?ria, momentele dureroase sau senine petrecute al?turi de tat?l s?u ori cu g?ndul la el. ??i imagineaz? apoi o c?l?torie cu el ?n Alaska, unde se retrag am?ndoi ?ntr-o regiune nelocuit?, ?n mijlocul naturii s?lbatice, ?ncerc?nd parc? s? transforme ?n realitate atrac?ia dintotdeauna a tat?lui fa?? de ?spiritul de frontier?“, nostalgia unei austerit??i care ar fi putut s? compenseze via?a tr?it? p?n? atunci ?n dezordine, egoism ?i ?n?el?ciune. Cu o intransigen??, dar ?i o ingenuitate remarcabile, b?iatul merge p?n? la cap?t al?turi de tat?l s?u ?i rezolv? ?n mod radical nu at?t enigma acestuia, c?t raporturile sale filiale cu el ?i conflictul moral devastator din via?a tat?lui.Volum tradus ?n 19 limbi

S? fii un tat? minunat pare o sarcin? de-a dreptul imposibil? uneori. Se a?teapt? de la tat?l modern s? poat? face orice – s? poarte ?ntotdeauna de grij? familiei, s?-i motiveze pe copii, s? fie un bun ?ndrum?tor, consilier, educator, gestionar, asistent medical, nutri?ionist, ofi?er de securitate... iar lista r?m?ne deschis?.Autorul le d? o speran?? tuturor ta?ilor care, p?n? acum, s-au descurcat ?i ei cum au putut, oferindu-le un ghid complet pentru a se implica direct ?n via?a copiilor lor, din momentul concep?iei ?i p?n? c?nd ace?tia ajung la v?rsta adult?. O lucrare necesar? at?t proaspe?ilor t?tici ?i celor cu state vechi, c?t ?i oric?rui b?rbat care sper? s? devin? ?ntr o bun? zi tat?.

Biblioteca pentru toi copiii“ cuprinde cele mai preuite opere ale scriitorilor clasici ai literaturii romne i universale. Crile de neuitat ale copilriei sunt disponibile astzi si in format e-book.Capodoper a literaturii pentru copii i adolesceni, Robinson Crusoe rmne i astzi o carte fundamental a primelor lecturi. Creat n 1719, ea a legnat copilria multor generaii, fiind rspndit pe toate meridianele lumii. Jean-Jaques Rousseau considera romanul un excelent tratat de educaie, iar André Malraux l aaz pe nlimile atinse de Cervantes i de Dostoievski. Mereu vie, cartea lui Daniel Defoe ne nva s fim nelepi i curajoi, s sperm i s nvingem.“

Am ales cazul de ruptur n evoluia unor exponeni proemineni din literatura romn actual, ruptura care a dus fie la impas, fie la regenerare. Pentru termenii conflictului un factor hotrtor l-a constituit n condiiile date epoca n formele ei de constrngere i de emulaie. Sunt convins c n alte circumstane ecuaia ar fi avut componente diferite. Nu sugerez c ar fi obligatorie restrngerea n ilustrarea pe care o propun, s-ar mai fi putut aduga cu aceeai ndreptite, recunosc, i alte aplicaii. Analizele nu sunt exhaustive, ele insist asupra unui fenomen caracteristic. Deruta ivit la unii pe traseu, parial sau total, s-a articulat pe planul angajrii civice i al nchegrii estetice. Trebuie s remarc o diferen n abordare, deoarece unii din cei selectai (G. Clinescu, M. Preda) nu mai sunt n via, aadar pentru ei e exclus posibilitatea unei schimbri de destin. A survenit pentru toi necesitatea unei racordri la orizontul epocii moderne, la presiunea raporturilor de for, la nvala dogmatismului, la ansele unei sincronizri cu Europa. Imperios necesar a fost lepdarea de prejudecile naionaliste i provinciale, ieirea din comarul ideologiei i al somaiei dure.“ – S. Damian

Cu ani ?n urm?, Lyra Davis l?sa ?n urm? o lume de bog??ie ?i privilegii, precum ?i pe cei pe care ?i iubea cel mai mult ?n lume, incapabil? s? ?mpace a?tept?rile familiei sale cu n?zuin?ele propriei inimi s?lbatice. Acum duce o existen?? lini?tit? pe insula Capri, ?nv???nd s? e bucure cu adev?rat de via??, al?turi de b?rbatul pe care ?l consider? sufletul pereche.Fiica ei, Pell, acum ?n v?rst? de 16 ani, ?i sora ei mai mic?, Lucy, ?nc? ?i duc dorul mamei care le-a p?r?sit c?nd erau copii. Pell crede c? ?tie motivele pentru care Lyra le-a abandonat, ?i, dup? moartea tat?lui lor, va traversa lumea ca s? o g?seasc? pe mama pe care ?i-o aminte?te ?i s? afle adev?rurile ad?nc ascunse, pe care Lyra nu a putut s? le dezv?luie p?n? acum.Un albastru infinit este o poveste despre dragoste, familie ?i prietenie ?n vie?ile a dou? femei care se re?nt?lnesc ?n locul unde ?ncep visele – ?i unde se pot ?mplini ?n cele din urm?.

Un roman de excep?ie, cu o intrig? de prima m?n?. Un roman care se cite?te cu sufletul la gur?.

M aplec critic spre o literatur nc insuficient cunoscut, marcat n ultimele decenii i de obsesia sau complexul Premiului Nobel. Atitudinea noastr comun fibrileaz excesiv de relativizant sau absolutizant, ncercnd s devin acionar i s provoace reaciuni ntr-un domeniu artistic universal, cu suport multilingvistic. Rmn la convingerea c exemplaritatea este efectul stranietii privit ca insolit familiaritate. Testez, cum am mai spus, fondul autohton i forma universal, n epic romneasc din secolul XX, evideniind experimentului substanial, n msura n care se integreaz n – i face sau ncearc diferena de – epic occidental. Dincolo de valoarea intrinsec, prin traducere merituoas i meritat, se va arta c literatura romn, chiar i prin proz, vine ntr-un (de)mers firesc, de vie comunicare, spre doritul i hulitul Premiu Nobel...“ – Marian Victor Buciu

iganii lui Miron Radu Paraschivescu nu sunt arztorii gitanos andaluzi rzboindu-se cu la guardia civil, ci biei oameni nevoiai, obedieni, care-i cnt iubirile arzoaie, se blestem, se prsc, viseaz, iar nfruntrile cele mai sngeroase dintre ei nu depesc vendeta mrunt din Ric, ce aduce aminte de strlucitul cntec btrnesc Toma Alimo.“ – Ilie Constantin

Mamele, care fac at?t de multe lucruri, spun adesea despre ele c? stau ?n cas? ?i nu fac nimic. Se simt singure, invizibile ?i ne?nsemnate. ?i asta de?i fiecare mam? ??i preg?te?te copilul pentru societatea ?n care tr?im cu to?ii. ?ntreaga civiliza?ie depinde de munca mamelor. ?i nu sunt vorbe prea mari. Via?a social? ar fi haotic? f?r? contribu?ia at?t de ?nsemnat? a mamelor. Dac? ele se simt lipsite de importan??, atunci cu siguran?? valoarea muncii lor nu este apreciat? cum se cuvine. Cartea Ce fac mamele este scris? cu scopul de a ilustra nu doar motivele pentru care meseria de mam? merit? toat? admira?ia noastr?, ci ?i influen?a pe care noi to?i o avem ?n acest sens. Cu to?ii suntem conecta?i la universul acesta al mamelor.Atunci c?nd o femeie ?ncepe s? le spun? celor din jur c? este ?ns?rcinat?, se simte uneori de parc? ar fi p??it pe un teren minat. Pentru fiecare ?ntrebare posibil? legat? de ea ?i de copilul ei, exist? cel pu?in dou? ?coli opuse de g?ndire. Fiecare ?coal? de g?ndire ??i consolideaz? principiile prin intermediul unui atac la adresa ?colii ?inamice“, cu previziuni ?nfrico??toare privitoare la ceea ce se va ?nt?mpla dac? mama va c?dea prad? influen?ei acesteia. Au ap?rut o mul?ime de c?r?i care le ?ndeamn? pe mame s? urmeze regulile sau instruc?iunile personale ale autorilor, deoarece acestea, chipurile, le-ar u?ura munca. Dar c?t de util este un set de reguli? Tr?im ?ntr-o societate tolerant?, iar dreptul de a alege este o consecin?? pre?ioas? a acestui fapt. Totu?i, mamele se simt adesea etichetate ?n func?ie de alegerile pe care le fac ?i respinse de femeile care au luat decizii diferite. Autoarea ?ncearc? ?ns? s? ne spun? c?, ?n spatele alegerilor noastre individuale, exist? teme fundamentale, comune mai tuturor mamelor. Le ?mp?rt??im oriunde am locui ?i indiferent de epoc?. Rolul de mam? se concentreaz? asupra dragostei pe care o ofer? copilului s?u. Cartea ??i propune s? ofere pe de o parte ?ncuraj?rile de care au at?ta nevoie mamele, pe de alta, un reper ferm pentru oricine ?ncearc? s? le ?n?eleag?.

ntmplri reale despre oamenii i experienele care aduc linite sufleteasc i bucurie femeilor Cu toii avem de nfruntat adversiti din cnd n cnd. Cu toii suntem uneori triti. Cu toii suntem cteodat prea ocupai, prea mulumii de noi nine sau prea apsai de povara propriilor probleme ca s mai apreciem lucrurile pozitive din vieile noastre. Colecia Poveti adevrate“ i aduce cazuri reale, ntmplri din viaa unor oameni obinuii, ce ne vorbesc despre curaj i buntate, despre binecuvntrile i miracolele vieii, amintindu-ne c nu suntem singuri, c putem rzbate chiar i n cele mai ntunecate zile, c nc exist buntate n lume. O nmormntare i o coresponden prin e-mail readuc mpreun dup zeci de ani o familie nstrinat de divor. S mplineti patruzeci de ani nu nseamn renunarea la orice scop n via, ci poate fi momentul n care s ncepi a avea grij i de tine, nu doar de familia ta. Dup multe lecii dureroase, vei descoperi c este mai bine s fii tu nsi dect s ncerci a fi Iubita Perfect. 42 de ntmplri adevrate despre dragoste, prietenie i puterea femeilor de a merge mai departe.

Vrei s? afli secretul suprem al s?n?t??ii ?i al frumuse?ii? Nu-l c?uta ?n cutia cu medicamente, caut?-l aici!Apel?nd la doar c?teva schimb?ri de regim alimentar:vei ob?ine o str?lucire tinereasc? a pieliivei sc?pa de acnee, petele de pe ten ?i ridurivei avea un p?r cu un luciu s?n?tos ?i unghii tarite vei descotorosi de kilogramele ?n plus ?i nu vei mai calcula niciodat? caloriile!?Nu-mi place s? ?in diet?. ?mi place s? m?n?nc s?n?tos ?i tocmai ?n asta const? filosofia lui Kim. E genial?.“ – Drew BarrymoreKimberly Snyder, nutri?ionist? ?i expert? ?n ?nfrumuse?are, este cunoscut? ?n lumea celebrit??ilor din industria divertismentu-lui, pe care le ajut? s? arate excep?ional. Acum ai ?i tu posibilitatea s? beneficiezi de tratamentul vedetelor.Kim avea probleme cu p?rul aspru, st?ri de disconfort fizic ?i o burtic? ?nc?p???nat?, p?n? c?nd a ?nceput s? c?l?toreasc? prin lume ?i a aflat secrete ale frumuse?ii vechi de c?nd lumea.Astfel a descoperit c? ceea ce m?n?nci constituie cel mai bun produs pentru frumuse?e ?i a elaborat un program de anvergur? care cur??? organismul de toxine astfel ?nc?t s? po?i ar?ta splendid ?i s? te sim?i minunat.?Cartea lui Kimberly Snyder este o lectur? obligatorie, care scoate ?n eviden?? importan?a introducerii ?n alimenta?ie a c?t mai multor legume ?i fructe. Ea ?i ?nva?? pe cititori cum s? valorifice la maximum ceea ce m?n?nc?.“ – Dr. Mehmet Oz

ntmplri reale ale unor oameni obinuii care te vor nva s apreciezi frumuseea vieiiCu toii avem de nfruntat adversiti din cnd n cnd. Cu toii suntem uneori triti. Cu toii suntem cteodat prea ocupai, prea mulumii de noi nine sau prea apsai de povara propriilor probleme ca s mai apreciem lucrurile pozitive din vieile noastre. Colecia Poveti adevrate“ i aduce cazuri reale, ntmplri din viaa unor oameni obinuii, ce ne vorbesc despre curaj i buntate, despre binecuvntrile i miracolele vieii, amintindu-ne c nu suntem singuri, c putem rzbate chiar i n cele mai ntunecate zile, c nc exist buntate n lume.Un diagnostic necrutor i o vindecare miraculoas. O femeie care, atunci cnd dezndejdea provocat de singurtate i de dificultile financiare e gata s o copleeasc, descoper, datorit bieelului su de ase ani, ct de norocoas e, de fapt, i c un tort de cear poate fi cel mai frumos cadou. O nunt pe care nici mcar accidentul care l las pe mire fr mini i fr un picior nu o poate opri. ... de ntmplri adevrate care i vor nclzi inima, i vor ridica moralul i te vor nva s preuieti bogiile din viaa ta.

Numeroase descoperiri arheologice, aparent misterioase, i multe indicii din scrierile strvechi ale omenirii l-au determinat pe Erich von Dniken s porneasc n cutarea unor explicaii pentru misterele neelucidate ale trecutului. Concluziile uimitoare la care ajunge autorul ne-ar putea convinge s ne revizuim imaginea despre istoria timpurie a Pmntului. Ele deschid deopotriv perspective noi asupra progresului tehnicii de azi i de mine.“ Cu aceste cuvinte era anunat, n 1968, apariia crii de fa, care a declanat, prin concluziile sale surprinztoare, ce nu se limitau la arheologie, un val de indignare n rndurile oamenilor de tiin, dar, pe de alt parte, i un viu entuziasm n rndul publicului larg.Erich von Dniken a susinut c Pmntul a fost vizitat n timpuri strvechi de ctre fiine inteligente extraterestre, i c acestea au creat de fapt homo sapiens. Chiar dac i-a argumentat teza prin cercetri ntreprinse cu rigurozitate n lumea ntreag, ea a ramas destul de controversat. Totui, succesul enorm al crii sale a demonstrat c subiectul abordat este unul de mare interes. n decurs de doi ani, cartea a atins numai n Germania un tiraj de peste cinci sute de mii de exemplare.Cercetrile i descoperirile lui Erich von Dniken nasc i astzi discuii aprinse. Numrul adepilor si crete de la an la an. Din acest motiv, am considerat oportun reeditarea n limba romn, ntr-o traducere nou i necenzurat, a crii sale de debut, care nu a pierdut nimic din caracterul exploziv, incitant i senzaional, att n privina limbajului, ct i a coninutului. n prefaa nou a crii, Erich von Dniken analizeaz reaciile pro i contra strnite de tezele sale, pe care le reexamineaz n contextul cunotinelor recent dobndite.

n cei peste o sut de ani care s au scurs de la publicarea lui, Gora a fost interpretat n multe feluri i din diferite puncte de vedere, n special n India i n mediile culturale anglofone. S-a spus adesea c, prin acest roman, Tagore a iniiat dezbaterea despre identitatea cultural a Indiei i despre locul religiei i al castei n cadrul ei. Dar problemele legate de religie i cast implic altele privitoare la gen i clas.Romanul ridic multe alte chestiuni la fel de importante, precum statutul femeii, autoguvernarea, reconstrucia rural, educaia naional etc.Dat fiind arta romanesc a lui Tagore – neinovatoare n form sau tehnic narativ, trgndu-i fora nu din aciune, ci din analiz psihologic i dezbatere de idei –, o perspectiv cultural asupra lui Gora este, ndeosebi ntr-o prefa, mai interesant dect una strict literar. Spre deosebire de celelalte romane ale sale, aici personajul central nu este unul feminin. Gora, biatul nou nscut al unui cuplu de irlandezi din Calcutta mori n timpul rscoalei sipahilor (1857), a fost adoptat n secret de o familie de brahmani liberali, fr ca acetia s dezvluie cuiva adevrata sa origine. Numele pe care i l-au dat (gora nseamn alb“ n bengali) este totui o marc identitar evident. Crescut i educat ca un indian din societatea bun, Gora s-a identificat – n ciuda nfirii sale europene – cu India, ajungnd ca dup terminarea studiilor universitare s adopte cea mai strict ortodoxie hindus i s militeze deschis mpotriva dominaiei britanice. Adevrul despre originea sa, ce i se dezvluie abia la finalul romanului, vine ca o surpriz doar pentru el nsui.Cititorul este prevenit chiar de la bun nceput, fapt care i pune aciunile i discursurile ntr o explicit perspectiv ironic. Motivul orfanului domin profilul celor mai importante personaje din roman. Nu numai Gora, dar i Binoy i Sucharita au mame sau tai surogat. Acetia ns se apropie mult mai mult de modelul printelui ideal dect mamele i taii biologici ai celorlalte personaje. Paresh Babu i Anandamayi se nscriu n galeria acelor nobile figuri ce nu pot fi uitate i nu e deloc o surpriz c, n cele din urm, Gora i recunoate ca noii si prini spirituali. Naterea este aadar tema n jurul creia se construiete drama eroului principal. i nu ntmpltor. n hinduismul ortodox, naterea determin att casta, ct i religia, mrci comunitare ce nu pot fi schimbate individual. Cineva se nate hindus i brahman – de pild –, nu poate s devin dect cel mult un bun hindus“ sau un bun brahman“, cum ar fi spus un reprezentant al ortodoxiei de la noi.

When founding the Pilawin preserve in 1901 my intention was limited to the breeding of elk, which still have their native haunts not very far away to the north, but have for many years ceased to inhabit these forests. No one, to my knowledge, has hitherto attempted to naturalise these splendid deer in enclosed parks; but the fact that Pilawin forms a part of their original habitat induced me to try the experiment, which has thus far proved an unqualified success. The first big game introduced in Pilawin were thus elk; but soon after their introduction I had the opportunity when in England of visiting the famous park of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn, and the wonders there seen enlarged my ideas with regard to Pilawin. Without any thought of rivalling the marvels of Woburn, I accordingly decided to add to the Pilawin park such of the deer of North America and Asia as appeared likely to thrive in Russia. Consequently I lost no time in obtaining specimens of American and Siberian wapiti, as well as of Caucasian red deer and the Manchurian Dybowski’s deer, after which I continued to add other new inhabitants to the park as opportunity occurred. In 1905, thanks to the kind intervention of Prince Victor Kotchoubey, who is at the head of the Imperial estates, I received from H.M. the Emperor of Russia the valuable gift of three bison from the Imperial preserves of Bielowicz; while in the following year a pair of their American relations, imported by Hagenbeck, was added to the herd.Much work still remains to be done before Pilawin is placed on such a level that will make it of real interest and importance to the study of natural history. If possible, I should like to make it the home of all such species of big game to which the climate and other local conditions prove suitable. And when established, I want them to live practically in their wild and natural state, breeding freely, and lacking any sense of confinement and limitation. I want, in fact, to see Pilawin, not a zoological garden, but a wild forest, where the noblest kinds of game may enjoy the largest possible amount of freedom, and where the sportsman may find the enjoyment of real sport and the naturalist a great field for study.Before concluding, I may avail myself of the opportunity of tendering my best thanks to all who have so kindly assisted me in the enterprise. My first thanks are due to H.M. the Emperor; and I have next to thank the Duke of Bedford for the promise of a young American bison, which I hope will reach Pilawin during the spring. To the Princes A. S. and F. Radziwill, to Count Constantin Potocki, and to Mr. Zalenski I am indebted for elk. To Mr. Poklewski-Roziell my acknowledgments are due for Siberian roe; while I have to thank Madame Ouwaroff for the valuable gift of a couple of beavers. I have likewise the pleasure of acknowledging the valuable services of the firm of Hagenbeck of Hamburg, who carried out to my entire satisfaction all orders regarding the importation of living animals into Pilawin.To the author of this little volume I desire to express my deepest gratitude and warmest thanks; and I am both proud and pleased that the first description of Pilawin should come from the pen of such a well-known naturalist as Mr. Lydekker. Last, but not least, my gratitude is due to the publisher for the man-ner in which this account of Pilawin is presented to the world. JOSEPH POTOCKI. Antoniny, January 1908.

The speaker had just pushed his horse over the brow of a slope which he and his servant had for some time been mounting, through the steamy warmth of a foggy May morning. The thick haze which lay heavy in this region of marshy ground had hidden the surrounding country from them hitherto; but as they reached the summit of the gradual rise they had been ascending, the cloud wreaths suddenly drifted away, and the sun began to shine out upon the undulating plain stretched before their eyes; and lo, the plain was alive with squadrons of soldiers—infantry, cavalry, artillery—drawn up in battle array; and the note of the bugle rang through the air, whilst away in the distance, on the opposite side of the plain, there was a movement which told that already the battle had begun. A sullen roar from the guns boomed forth, and the whole plain shook with the reverberation. Great masses of smoke rolled along and slowly dispersed after each salvo; but it was upon the evolutions of the bodies of horsemen and footmen that the keen eyes of the youthful traveller were intently fixed. "Dicon," he cried, "this is in all sooth a battle; and where the battle rages, there will the great victor of Blenheim be. We have not chanced upon this route in vain. Men warned us of the perils of seeking passage through a country which has become the theatre of war; but fortune's star has befriended us thus far, and now, if I mistake me not, we stand within sight of the greatest warrior of the age. For greatly shall I be astonished if the Duke of Marlborough himself be not conducting the evolutions of yonder squadrons."The brilliant dark eyes of the young man lighted with a great glow of excitement and admiration. He shaded them with his hand, and intently followed the evolutions of the moving masses in the plain stretched before his eyes. He was looking upon the village of Tavières and the mound of Ottomond, and the waters of the Mehaign rolled below at his feet. The right wing of the French army rested here, as he quickly saw; but for the moment the main activity lay over in the distance beyond Ramillies and Offuz, in the direction of Anderkirk. Yet as the traveller stood intently gazing, he saw a movement in the line of the allied army on this nearer side, and he exclaimed aloud in his excitement,— "See, Dicon, see! That attack yonder is but a feint. The key of the position lies here beneath us at Tavières, with its Tomb of Ottomond. See yonder those regiments of marching soldiers creeping round beneath the shelter of that rising ground! They will fling themselves upon the enemy's right, whilst the French general is diverting his available forces to protect his left. Villeroi, my friend, you did not well to dispose your forces in concave lines. You lose time in passing from place to place; and with such a general as our English Duke pitted against you, you cannot afford to lose any point in the game. Ha! See that? The Dutch and English soldiers are charging down upon Tavières! Watch how they come on—a great resistless tide of well-drilled veterans. See how they sweep all before them! See how the French fly forth! Ha, Villeroi, what think you now? Yes, you see your error; fain would you hurry back your reserves from left to right. But the time has gone by. They are miles away, and here are the Allies carrying all before them! Hurrah for old England! hurrah for the great Duke! Dicon, have you stomach for the fight? Do you remember Barcelona and Mountjuich? If we were men enough to help there, why not here too?"

Loongunis need constant changes to thrive, while the strange-haired Earthmen hate the endless moving around. When a sabotage impairs the shift engines of their traveling Box, the forced immobility might drive all Loongunis mad… unless their translator can work out a solution!?? Science fiction adventure at its best, told by multiple award-winning author Michèle Laframboise.?? ?? If you like first-contact situations featuring an alien POV, this one is for you! A chunky 7000-word SF story.?? ? * "The author does a good job narrating from the point of view of an alien who thinks in very different ways from a human." --Tangent Online "...the psychological and mathematical elements of the tale come even more to the fore and they are quite interesting." -- Featured Futures

Can mere clouds threaten their now home?? Blanche, a young paraplegic girl, watches the clouds dancing in the Phoenix sky.? She wonders if their coordinated figures signal a threat. But the adults are too busy to listen, even her big sister Lupianne worries more about the air production’s failing quotas than? some weird clouds. Then, as the dances grow complex and temperatures rise, the sisters must hurry to prevent the annihilation of their budding settlement. A clever planet-opera featuring a disabled heroine, told by multi-award winning author Michèle Laframboise.?The French version of this novel received the 2001 Cecile Gagnon Award for best first YA novel. "We can only be fascinated by the powerful images?born from the descriptions, by the originality?and coherence of her universe (...)"?-- Le Devoir ?An excellent introduction to science fiction?and to a number of questions about the environment,?social relations and communication.? --Hélène Marchetto,?Les vagabonds du rêve

Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (1850 – 1943) was an American writer. She born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a high-profile family. During her life, she wrote over 90 books, including children's, biographies,poetry, and others. A well-known children's poem for which she is noted is theliterary nonsense verse Eletelephony. Her father was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, an abolitionist and the founder of thePerkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. Samuel Gridley Howe's famous pupil Laura Bridgman was Laura's namesake.Julia Ward Howe, Laura's mother, was famous for writing the words to The Battle Hymn of the Republic. In 1871 Laura married Henry Richards. He would accept a management position in 1876 at his family's paper mill at Gardiner, Maine, where the couple moved with their three children.In 1917 Laura won a Pulitzer Prize for Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910, a biography, which she co-authored with her sister, Maud Howe Elliott. Her children's book Tirra Lirra won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1959. A pre-kindergarten to second grade Elementary School in Gardiner, Mainehonors her name. Works:? St. Nicholas Magazine (contributed poetry)? Baby's Rhyme Book (1878)? Babyhood: Rhymes and Stories, Pictures and Silhouettes for Our Little Ones (1878)? Baby's Story Book (1878)? Five Mice in a Mouse Trap (1880)? The Little Tyrant (1880)? Our Baby's Favorite (1881)? Sketches and Scraps (1881)? Baby Ways (1881)? The Joyous Story of Toto (1885)? Beauty and the Beast (retelling, 1886)? Four Feet, Two Feet, and No Feet (1886)? Hop o' My Thumb (retelling, 1886)? Kaspar Kroak's Kaleidoscope (1886)? L.E.R. (privately printed, 1886)? Tell-Tale from Hill and Dale (1886)? Toto's Merry Winter (1887)? Julia Ward Howe Birthday-Book (1889)? In My Nursery (1890)? Captain January (later made into a movie with Shirley Temple, 1891)? Star Bright (Captain January sequel, 1927)? The Hildegarde Series? Queen Hildegarde (1889)? Hildegarde's Holiday (1891)? Hildegarde's Home (1892)? Hildegarde's Neighbors (1895)? Hildegarde's Harvest (1897)? The Melody Series? Melody (1893)? Marie (1894)? Bethsada Pool (1895)? Rosin the Beau (1898)? The Margaret Series? Three Margarets (1897)? Margaret Montfort (1898)? Peggy (1899)? Rita (1900)? Fernley House (1901)? The Merryweathers (1904)? Glimpses of the French Court (1893)? When I Was Your Age (1893)? Narcissa, or the Road to Rome (1894)? Five Minute Stories (1895)? Jim of Hellas, or In Durance Vile (1895)? Nautilus (1895)? Isla Heron (1896)? "Some Say" and Neighbors in Cyrus (1896)? The Social Possibilities of a Country Town (1897)? Love and Rocks (1898)? Chop-Chin and the Golden Dragon (1899)? Quicksilver Sue (1899)? The Golden-Breasted Kootoo (1899)? Sundown Songs (1899)? For Tommy and Other Stories (1900)? Snow-White, or The House in the Wood (1900)? Geoffrey Strong (1901)? Mrs. Tree (1902)? The Hurdy-Gurdy (1902)? More Five Minute Stories (1903)? The Green Satin Gown (1903)? The Tree in the City (1903)? Mrs. Tree's Will (1905)? The Armstrongs (1905)? The Piccolo (1906)? The Silver Crown, Another Book of Fables (1906)? At Gregory's House (1907)? Grandmother, the Story of a Life that Never was Lived (1907)? Ten Ghost Stories (1907)? The Pig Brother, and Other Fables and Stories (1908)? The Wooing of Calvin Parks (1908)? A Happy Little Time (1910)? Up to Calvin's (1910)? On Board the Mary Sands (1911)? Jolly Jingles (1912)? Miss Jimmy (1913)? The Little Master (1913)? Three Minute Stories (1914)? The Pig Brother Play-Book (1915)? Fairy Operettas (1916)? Pippin, a Wandering Flame (1917)? A Daughter of Jehu (1918)? To Arms! Songs of the Great War (1918)? Honor Bright: A Story for Girls (1920)? In Blessed Cyrus (1921)? The Squire (1923)? Acting Charades (1924)? Seven Oriental Operettas (1924)? Honor Bright's New Adventure (1925)? Biographies

Time is running out. Alice only has one year left to win her bet with the Bandersnatch, or be trapped as a prisoner in his garden forever. And Alice isn’t the only one losing heart. The Queen continues to steal peoples hearts, and the refugees from Neverland are the latest victims. For some reason, Alice can’t put them back and Adam refuses to leave Wonderland until they stop her. The pressure is on for Alice to keep the magic books from falling into the wrong hands. The clock is ticking and failure means none of the stolen hearts will be returned, Adam will remain trapped behind the mirror, and Alice will be forgotten in the Bandersnatch’s garden. Forever.