Thrilling conclusion to the explosive Darkwar Saga . . . "At this very moment, a dome of black energy is being expanded in a vale in the far north. This is not merely an invasion, but the beginning of a colonization, a process that will end with the complete annihilation of every life-form on...  more

Thrilling conclusion to the explosive Darkwar Saga . . . "At this very moment, a dome of black energy is being expanded in a vale in the far north. This is not merely an invasion, but the beginning of a colonization, a process that will end with the complete annihilation of every life-form on this world." The Darkwar rages upon Midkemia and Kelewan, bringing bleak days of destruction and despair. To save the future of both worlds, the powerful sorcerer Pug and select members of the secretive Conclave of Shadows must journey deep into the dangerous realm of the bloodthirsty Dasati, there to carry out an audacious mission that has little, if any, chance of succeeding. In Midkemia, young warriors Tad and Zane, and their fellow soldiers, protect the Kingdom from raiders. And Pug's beloved wife, Miranda, finds herself a prisoner of the Dasati and, even more ominously, of Pug's nemesis, the evil sorcerer Leso Varen. Salvation may come from a friend thought long dead, an unlikely ally whose remarkable powers will be sorely needed in the momentous battle to come ... a final, fevered onslaught against the most malevolent agents of evil ever known.

The last remnants of an ancient advanced race, the Clan of the Seven Stars, are returning at long last to their lost homeworld, Midkemia -- not as friends, but as would-be conquerors. Led by the conjurer Laromendis, they are fleeing the relentless demon hordes that are sweeping through their...  more

The last remnants of an ancient advanced race, the Clan of the Seven Stars, are returning at long last to their lost homeworld, Midkemia -- not as friends, but as would-be conquerors. Led by the conjurer Laromendis, they are fleeing the relentless demon hordes that are sweeping through their galaxy and destroying the elves' vast empire planet by planet. Only by escaping to Midkemia and brutally overtaking the war-weary world can the last remnants of a mighty civilization hope to survive . . . if the Dread Legion does not pursue them through the rift. The magician Pug, Midkemia's brave and constant defender, is all too familiar with the Demon King Maarg and his minions and their foul capacity for savagery and horror, and he recognizes the even graver threat that is following on the heels of the elven invasion. The onslaught to come will dwarf every dire catastrophe his imperiled world has previously withstood, and there is no magical champion in all of Midkemia powerful enough to prevent it. Only one path remains for Pug and Midkemia's clandestine protectors, the Conclave of Shadows: forging an alliance of formidable magical talents, from the demon-dealing warlock Amirantha, brother of Pug's hated foe, and the demon-taming cleric Sandreena, to the elven Queen Miranda, to the warrior Tomas. However, uniting enemies and bitter, vengeful former lovers will be no easy task, and even together they may ultimately be unable to turn the death tide. But a failure to do so will most certainly ensure Midkemia's doom.

Ten years after the terrible Darkwar finally ended, catastrophe once again threatens to engulf Midkemia and Kelewan, as the demon hordes continue their relentless quest to infiltrate this realm of magic and wonder. . . . At the Gates of Darkness Book Two of the Demonwar Saga To protect...  more

Ten years after the terrible Darkwar finally ended, catastrophe once again threatens to engulf Midkemia and Kelewan, as the demon hordes continue their relentless quest to infiltrate this realm of magic and wonder. . . . At the Gates of Darkness Book Two of the Demonwar Saga To protect their world from the savage demon hordes, the Black Sorcerer Pug and Midkemia's clandestine protectors, the Conclave of Shadows, forged an uneasy alliance of formidable magical talents. Together, this brave band of wizards, demon masters, warriors, and elves defeated the brutal Demon King Maarg and turned back the onrushing death tide. But Maarg's fall has not stopped the demonic onslaught, and danger now looms greater than ever before. Amid the barren ridges of the Valley of Lost Men, in the shadows of an ancient Keshian fortress, the fearsome demon Dahun and the mad necromancer Belasco have joined forces, creating an unstoppable union of deathly black magics that even Pug and a united Conclave may not be strong enough to withstand. Battling the Demon Legion has taken a heavy blood toll on the valiant and dedicated magician, claiming the lives of nearly all those he loves. Though he is racked by despair and rage, Pug knows that the time for mourning must wait. Putting aside his pain, he and the Conclave and their allies—the cold-blooded master spy Jim Dasher; the fearsome young Knight-Adamant Sandreena; her former lover the necromancer Amirantha; two renegade Star Elves; and Pug's surviving son, Magnus—must marshal their resources against this latest threat. None can forget the dozens of worlds overrun by the demon plague and the millions of dead left behind in their wake. At the gates of darkness, where shadows hide even deeper shadows, these magical defenders will face what is sure to be the bloodiest, nastiest fight their land has ever seen. And as evil, mayhem, and dark magic are unleashed, none can predict if they—and Midkemia itself—will survive.

Once again, Midkemia, the author’s brilliantly conceived fantasy milieu, is in gravest danger from outside invaders -- and from treacherous forces within -- as the death of a powerful leader throws the world into chaos and threatens all hope of enduring peace. Returning in A Crown...  more

Once again, Midkemia, the author’s brilliantly conceived fantasy milieu, is in gravest danger from outside invaders -- and from treacherous forces within -- as the death of a powerful leader throws the world into chaos and threatens all hope of enduring peace. Returning in A Crown Imperiled are some of Feist’s most memorable characters -- including the great sorcerer, Pug, who has been a fan favorite since his introduction in the author’s beloved classic, Magician -- and the action, as always, comes fast and furious.

As it began, so shall it end—in magic, mystery, and majesty . . . An uneasy quiet has settled upon Midkemia in the wake of a surprise invasion. But the land is far from peaceful. Leaderless, the Kingdom is on the brink of anarchy and civil war, unless Hal conDoin, Duke of Crydee, and...  more

As it began, so shall it end—in magic, mystery, and majesty . . . An uneasy quiet has settled upon Midkemia in the wake of a surprise invasion. But the land is far from peaceful. Leaderless, the Kingdom is on the brink of anarchy and civil war, unless Hal conDoin, Duke of Crydee, and his brothers can rally their allies to crown a new king. Yet the bravery of determined warriors—brothers in blood and arms—is not enough to ensure the Kingdom's preservation without the magic of the Master Sorcerer Pug. But to save Midkemia—and everything he has fought for and all he cherishes—Pug will have to pay the ultimate price.

A hilarious book of country humor and trivia that gathers together jokes, slang, stories, folklore, and facts on a broad range of topics.

Lawyer Atticus Finch defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic, Puliter Prize-winning novel--a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes of Atticus's children, Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unanswering honesty the...  more

Lawyer Atticus Finch defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic, Puliter Prize-winning novel--a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes of Atticus's children, Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unanswering honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930's.

Using the highest strength grade of Velcro, a 160-pound person will stick to a wall with only a four-inch square. During toasting, hot air in the oven causes the kernels of Rice Krispies to expand to several times their original size. As the puffs of rice swell, air pockets are formed. When...  more

Using the highest strength grade of Velcro, a 160-pound person will stick to a wall with only a four-inch square. During toasting, hot air in the oven causes the kernels of Rice Krispies to expand to several times their original size. As the puffs of rice swell, air pockets are formed. When milk is poured on the cereal, these pockets start to break, which is why they snap, crackle and pop. There are 2,598,960 possible hands in a five-card poker game. At the state's widest point, the distance across Texas is greater than the distance between New York City and Chicago. Rats have sex up to 20 times a day.

With wit and charm, Oh Say Did You Know serves up 300 intriguing events and ideas that helped shape the United States. Gain valuable insight into the intricacies of every period of American history, from colonial days to the historic election of the first African American president. Five...  more

With wit and charm, Oh Say Did You Know serves up 300 intriguing events and ideas that helped shape the United States. Gain valuable insight into the intricacies of every period of American history, from colonial days to the historic election of the first African American president. Five chapters cover a variety of topics, including government, politics, economy, commerce, science, education, innovation, medicine, daily life, and arts and entertainment. Myth-debunking sidebars and fun tidbits about lesser-known historical figures are dispersed throughout the book, along with lists such as "Cup o'Canary, Wench!" (long-forgotten drinks serves in colonial taverns) and "America's Ten Highest-Grossing Movies" (from Gone With the Wind to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). Whether you're a history buff or a lover of miscellany, you won't be able to get enough of these fascinating anecdotes. You'll find engaging tales and facts, including these examples: *"Gambling in the Colonies"-Gambling was a fact of life in early America, and the governments of all 13 colonies used lotteries to help finance road building and numerous other public projects. *"The Costly Epizootic of 1872"-Less than a decade after the Civil War, a fast- moving equine influenza swept down from Canada into the United States, crippled virtually all of the nation's horses, and left the economy in ruins. *DIDN'T HAPPEN sidebar: "Betsy Ross's Flagging Reputation"-Sheer hearsay put Betsy Ross into history books as the person who designed the American flag. The more likely designer was Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. *OUR NATIVE TONGUE sidebar: "Atomic Slang"-Words and terms coined in the early years include go ballistic, more bang for the buck, blast (a great party) and bombed (seriously inebriated). REVIEW

Horror hides behind an attractive face in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', Oscar Wilde's tale of a notorious Victorian libertine and his life of evil excesses.

Over the last 18 years of his life, Les Paul -- inventor, musician, and rascal of a man -- phoned Chicago radio legends Steve King and Johnnie Putman each week, and spent an hour or so talking about his remarkable life. This book includes the "best of" over 60 hours of his interviews, as well as...  more

Over the last 18 years of his life, Les Paul -- inventor, musician, and rascal of a man -- phoned Chicago radio legends Steve King and Johnnie Putman each week, and spent an hour or so talking about his remarkable life. This book includes the "best of" over 60 hours of his interviews, as well as personal accounts from Duane Eddy, Charlie Daniels, Doyle Dykes, Tommy Emmanuel, Muriel Anderson and many more of guitar picking's elite. Readers will experience numerous "I didn't know that!" moments as they read Les's stories. (Did you know that he created the "chipmunk" sound that became the voices of David Seville's "Alvin and the Chipmunks"?) It's fun and fascinating reading about one of the most important men in modern American music recording.