Author: Mark Rudman
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
ISBN: 0819572195
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 195
Book Description
Powerful meditations on the nature and limits of human understanding.
Realm of Unknowing
Author: Mark Rudman
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
ISBN: 0819572195
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 195
Book Description
Powerful meditations on the nature and limits of human understanding.
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
ISBN: 0819572195
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 195
Book Description
Powerful meditations on the nature and limits of human understanding.
Realm of the Banished
Author: Jennifer M Waldrop
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781737493914
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
At the onset of her training, they'd all but anointed Vera the Chosen One. Their hero who would retrieve the ancient relic capable of ending their banishment and returning the Skyborne to their beloved home realm, Idia. Yet, ten years later, she never fully developed what they'd convinced her of. She had only a hairsbreadth more than the Common Power. They'd expected more from her. If she had failed, it didn't matter. To them she was a tool. They deemed her expendable, but Vera's know-how and prowess proved undefeatable. Now free from the confines of a life shrouded with secrets and those whose only goal is to use her; she faces a new challenge. But this time, the consequences are far more lethal. Something is awry in the Realm of the Banished. Unrest permeates the territories. Regent Karish's handsome son is out for revenge after discovering Vera's betrayal. The ember is missing, and a new enemy is breeding an aerial army of creatures capable of blocking the Skyborne from their source of power. With skepticism clouding her vision, she is torn between accepting her fate and losing the freedom she fought so valiantly to attain. Her unexpected tie to this ancient and powerful relic catapults her down a path she never believed in and will force her to reveal long-hidden truths and prove to herself that she can achieve the impossible. Find out what happens in Realm of the Banished, a captivating new adult fantasy adventure! Content/Trigger Warning: Includes strong language, physical violence, consensual sex, and sexual assault.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781737493914
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
At the onset of her training, they'd all but anointed Vera the Chosen One. Their hero who would retrieve the ancient relic capable of ending their banishment and returning the Skyborne to their beloved home realm, Idia. Yet, ten years later, she never fully developed what they'd convinced her of. She had only a hairsbreadth more than the Common Power. They'd expected more from her. If she had failed, it didn't matter. To them she was a tool. They deemed her expendable, but Vera's know-how and prowess proved undefeatable. Now free from the confines of a life shrouded with secrets and those whose only goal is to use her; she faces a new challenge. But this time, the consequences are far more lethal. Something is awry in the Realm of the Banished. Unrest permeates the territories. Regent Karish's handsome son is out for revenge after discovering Vera's betrayal. The ember is missing, and a new enemy is breeding an aerial army of creatures capable of blocking the Skyborne from their source of power. With skepticism clouding her vision, she is torn between accepting her fate and losing the freedom she fought so valiantly to attain. Her unexpected tie to this ancient and powerful relic catapults her down a path she never believed in and will force her to reveal long-hidden truths and prove to herself that she can achieve the impossible. Find out what happens in Realm of the Banished, a captivating new adult fantasy adventure! Content/Trigger Warning: Includes strong language, physical violence, consensual sex, and sexual assault.
Riders of the Realm: Across the Dark Water
Author: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062415417
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 333
Book Description
The first book in an exciting, action-packed trilogy—from the imagination of Guardian Herd series author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. Perfect for fans of Lisa McMann’s Going Wild, Brandon Mull’s Wild Born, or Erin Hunter’s Warriors series. Twelve-year-old Rahkki is a stable groom for the Riders in the Sandwen army, who must battle deadly spit dragons and hordes of warring giants. The Sandwens believe they have tamed all the wild pegasi in the lush jungles of the Realm and turned them into flying warhorses. But when a herd of wild steeds flies over their village, Rahkki and his clanmates are stunned. Meanwhile, a small herd of pegasi have journeyed across a treacherous ocean to settle in a new, and free, land. Led by Echofrost and Hazelwind, the Storm Herd steeds are unaware of the Sandwen clan. But when the unthinkable happens, Echofrost and the rest of Storm Herd will have to come to trust the Sandwens, or both may not survive.
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062415417
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 333
Book Description
The first book in an exciting, action-packed trilogy—from the imagination of Guardian Herd series author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. Perfect for fans of Lisa McMann’s Going Wild, Brandon Mull’s Wild Born, or Erin Hunter’s Warriors series. Twelve-year-old Rahkki is a stable groom for the Riders in the Sandwen army, who must battle deadly spit dragons and hordes of warring giants. The Sandwens believe they have tamed all the wild pegasi in the lush jungles of the Realm and turned them into flying warhorses. But when a herd of wild steeds flies over their village, Rahkki and his clanmates are stunned. Meanwhile, a small herd of pegasi have journeyed across a treacherous ocean to settle in a new, and free, land. Led by Echofrost and Hazelwind, the Storm Herd steeds are unaware of the Sandwen clan. But when the unthinkable happens, Echofrost and the rest of Storm Herd will have to come to trust the Sandwens, or both may not survive.
The Unknown Realm
Author: Prashant Wason
Publisher: Notion Press
ISBN: 9386009684
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
Young Sam led a busy and mundane life. Between managing a part-time job and school simultaneously, his passion for football was his only solace. He had only a couple of friends to call his own, unsure of where his family was. His life was torn asunder after he started hearing a mysterious voice and befriended a new girl at school, Elizabeth Swift. He learned the truth about the voice within him. It was his soul: Frazen, who was speaking to him. Now, he and his friends must make a perilous journey to the most desolate place in the world to release Frazen and others into another dimension: a magical world where they belonged, one where a war has been raging for a century, guided by an ancient prophecy. Driven suddenly into the heat of battle, fumbling between legends and myths from the past and unearthing deep secrets about himself and his family, can Frazen end the war? Can he restore order and find peace before a wicked veil covers Sam?s material world?
Publisher: Notion Press
ISBN: 9386009684
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
Young Sam led a busy and mundane life. Between managing a part-time job and school simultaneously, his passion for football was his only solace. He had only a couple of friends to call his own, unsure of where his family was. His life was torn asunder after he started hearing a mysterious voice and befriended a new girl at school, Elizabeth Swift. He learned the truth about the voice within him. It was his soul: Frazen, who was speaking to him. Now, he and his friends must make a perilous journey to the most desolate place in the world to release Frazen and others into another dimension: a magical world where they belonged, one where a war has been raging for a century, guided by an ancient prophecy. Driven suddenly into the heat of battle, fumbling between legends and myths from the past and unearthing deep secrets about himself and his family, can Frazen end the war? Can he restore order and find peace before a wicked veil covers Sam?s material world?
Defender of the Realm
Author: Mark Huckerby
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 0545936845
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
For hundreds of years the United Kingdom has been protected by a mysterious guardian known as the Defender. Part myth, part superhero, few truly believed the Defender existed... until now. Alfie thinks he knows his destiny. As Prince Alfred, heir to the throne of Great Britain, he's fated to become the most disappointing king in the nation's history. Alfie longs for a way to prove himself, but little does he realize that with the throne of England comes an ancient secret. He who wears the crown must protect the country as the legendary hero -- the Defender of the Realm.Hayley is an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life. She certainly never believed in the mysterious superhero, the Defender. Then, after witnessing a very public battle at the Tower of London, everything is different, and Hayley is left with no doubt. The Defender is real.Two kids with two very different lives are about to get caught up in a centuries-long battle for the fate of a nation. Monsters and criminals, villains and dragons, together Hayley and Alfie must protect their home at all costs.
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 0545936845
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
For hundreds of years the United Kingdom has been protected by a mysterious guardian known as the Defender. Part myth, part superhero, few truly believed the Defender existed... until now. Alfie thinks he knows his destiny. As Prince Alfred, heir to the throne of Great Britain, he's fated to become the most disappointing king in the nation's history. Alfie longs for a way to prove himself, but little does he realize that with the throne of England comes an ancient secret. He who wears the crown must protect the country as the legendary hero -- the Defender of the Realm.Hayley is an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life. She certainly never believed in the mysterious superhero, the Defender. Then, after witnessing a very public battle at the Tower of London, everything is different, and Hayley is left with no doubt. The Defender is real.Two kids with two very different lives are about to get caught up in a centuries-long battle for the fate of a nation. Monsters and criminals, villains and dragons, together Hayley and Alfie must protect their home at all costs.
Realm
Author: Alexandrea Weis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781944109486
Category : Greece
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
A WOMAN UNLIKE ANY OTHER, SHE WILL CONQUER THE UNCONQUERABLE AND BE LOVED BY A MAN WHO IS WORSHIPPED AS A GOD. Based on a true story. When her homeland is conquered by the mighty Alexander the Great, Roxana--the daughter of a mere chieftain-is torn from her simple life and thrown into a world of war and intrigue. Terrified, the sixteen-year-old girl of renowned beauty is brought before the greatest ruler the world has ever known. Her life is in his hands; her future his to decide. Without formal education or noble blood, Roxana is chosen by the Greek conqueror to be his bride. Soon she comes to know profound happiness and unyielding desire in her warrior's arms. However, being the king's consort comes at a heavy price. To survive her husband's treacherous kingdom, she must endure continuous warfare, deadly plots, jealous rivals, victory-hungry generals, and the stigma of being a barbarian. Persian blood will keep her from claiming the grandest title of all--queen--but her reign will seal the fate of an empire. History tells his story. This is hers.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781944109486
Category : Greece
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
A WOMAN UNLIKE ANY OTHER, SHE WILL CONQUER THE UNCONQUERABLE AND BE LOVED BY A MAN WHO IS WORSHIPPED AS A GOD. Based on a true story. When her homeland is conquered by the mighty Alexander the Great, Roxana--the daughter of a mere chieftain-is torn from her simple life and thrown into a world of war and intrigue. Terrified, the sixteen-year-old girl of renowned beauty is brought before the greatest ruler the world has ever known. Her life is in his hands; her future his to decide. Without formal education or noble blood, Roxana is chosen by the Greek conqueror to be his bride. Soon she comes to know profound happiness and unyielding desire in her warrior's arms. However, being the king's consort comes at a heavy price. To survive her husband's treacherous kingdom, she must endure continuous warfare, deadly plots, jealous rivals, victory-hungry generals, and the stigma of being a barbarian. Persian blood will keep her from claiming the grandest title of all--queen--but her reign will seal the fate of an empire. History tells his story. This is hers.
King of the Unblessed
Author: Michelle M. Pillow
Publisher: The Raven Books LLC
ISBN: 1625010540
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
A scintillating romance: When the elfin king Merrick tricks Lady Juliana into entering his realm, he plans on seducing her and claiming her as his own. Can she resist his temptations or will she give in to his immortal will? (Bookbub) A high fantasy paranormal romance by NYT Award Winning Author Michelle M. Pillow Immortality has a way of changing fate. The choice is simple: go with him or die. Merrick, dark elfin King of Valdis, had once been heir to all that was good--happiness and pleasure his domain. Now, trapped as the ruler of mischief, king of necessary evil, he stands on a precipice of choice. On one side, his estranged brother, now ruler of what should have been Merrick's, and on the other, King Lucien of the Damned. Both would sway him. Damnation is winning. Lady Juliana of Bellemare is from a human family, protected by the Blessed, coveted by the Damned. Betrothed to an old friend of her father's, Juliana is resigned to living out her days close to her childhood home, longing for an adventure, never dreaming she'd get what she wished for. When her fiancé is murdered and the children of Bellemare are stolen, Juliana is sent on a quest in a strange realm where appearances are deceiving. Merrick brings more adventure and passion than any woman could want. Can she withstand the temptations of the Unblessed king? The spell she weaves over him is more than he can resist and, desperate to be the one to rule her, Merrick offers her a choice; either come with him until he tires of her...or die. Warning: This book contains love, violence, trickster goblins, overly helpful sprights, a king of necessary evil who lives to get his way and a woman who would dare to deny him. Book One of the Realm Immortal Series ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Praise For King of the Unblessed Road to Romance, Recommended Read "This reviewer has re-read The King of the Unblessed several times since it first arrived on her desk, and each time, has discovered new layers and nuance to Ms. Pillow's tale of dark love, passion, and ultimately redemption." Niniri Theriault, The Road to Romance "...an intriguing tale of love, lust, and what happens when you're not careful what you wish for." Marissa, Novelspot 5 STARS! "This was an intricately plotted fantasy that would be at home on the bookshelf next to any classic story of that genre." Kirra Pierce, JERR "Ever watch a video or concert and feel the singer is singing to you? The same phenomenon happens, very rarely, when reading fiction.It is not often a writer possesses the ability to give the narrator such voice, such presence, that the words float off the page and whisper through the reader's mind, as if the narrator is speaking directly to the reader. ... Michelle M. Pillow's vivid storytelling, unique characters, and action-packed adventures make Realm Immortal: King of the Unblessed a must-read for all readers of fantasy! Ms. Pillow's fantasies will definitely be on my auto-buy list after this steamy romance." Joyfully Reviewed 5 Wands! "This is a gripping tale of fantasy, romance, intrigue and humour, boasting a fabulous, unforgettable cast of characters both human and fairy. Magical creatures, wizards, possessions, divinations - it's all here." Autiotalo, Enchanted Ramblings 5 HEARTS! "Ms Pillow has penned such a rich world with multi-dimensional characters that leap off the pages...her fans will love it for sure." Valerie, Love Romances Realm Immortal series: King of the Unblessed Faery Queen Stone Queen Length: Long Novel Plus Genres: Dark, High Fantasy, Epic, Medieval, Historical, Paranormal, Other-World Romance, fairies, elves, demons, fanciful creatures, shapeshifter, Psychic, paranormal romance, elf, fantasy romance, Wizards, Sorcery, action and adventure, alpha male, bad boy hero, damaged hero, dark romance, fae, fantasy, hea, kick ass heroine, kick butt chick, legends, labyrinth, magic, myths, romantic adventure, shifter romance, bird shifter, werebird, Wizards & Witches, sprights, knights, nobility, royalty, supernatural books for adults, morally gray hero
Publisher: The Raven Books LLC
ISBN: 1625010540
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
A scintillating romance: When the elfin king Merrick tricks Lady Juliana into entering his realm, he plans on seducing her and claiming her as his own. Can she resist his temptations or will she give in to his immortal will? (Bookbub) A high fantasy paranormal romance by NYT Award Winning Author Michelle M. Pillow Immortality has a way of changing fate. The choice is simple: go with him or die. Merrick, dark elfin King of Valdis, had once been heir to all that was good--happiness and pleasure his domain. Now, trapped as the ruler of mischief, king of necessary evil, he stands on a precipice of choice. On one side, his estranged brother, now ruler of what should have been Merrick's, and on the other, King Lucien of the Damned. Both would sway him. Damnation is winning. Lady Juliana of Bellemare is from a human family, protected by the Blessed, coveted by the Damned. Betrothed to an old friend of her father's, Juliana is resigned to living out her days close to her childhood home, longing for an adventure, never dreaming she'd get what she wished for. When her fiancé is murdered and the children of Bellemare are stolen, Juliana is sent on a quest in a strange realm where appearances are deceiving. Merrick brings more adventure and passion than any woman could want. Can she withstand the temptations of the Unblessed king? The spell she weaves over him is more than he can resist and, desperate to be the one to rule her, Merrick offers her a choice; either come with him until he tires of her...or die. Warning: This book contains love, violence, trickster goblins, overly helpful sprights, a king of necessary evil who lives to get his way and a woman who would dare to deny him. Book One of the Realm Immortal Series ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Praise For King of the Unblessed Road to Romance, Recommended Read "This reviewer has re-read The King of the Unblessed several times since it first arrived on her desk, and each time, has discovered new layers and nuance to Ms. Pillow's tale of dark love, passion, and ultimately redemption." Niniri Theriault, The Road to Romance "...an intriguing tale of love, lust, and what happens when you're not careful what you wish for." Marissa, Novelspot 5 STARS! "This was an intricately plotted fantasy that would be at home on the bookshelf next to any classic story of that genre." Kirra Pierce, JERR "Ever watch a video or concert and feel the singer is singing to you? The same phenomenon happens, very rarely, when reading fiction.It is not often a writer possesses the ability to give the narrator such voice, such presence, that the words float off the page and whisper through the reader's mind, as if the narrator is speaking directly to the reader. ... Michelle M. Pillow's vivid storytelling, unique characters, and action-packed adventures make Realm Immortal: King of the Unblessed a must-read for all readers of fantasy! Ms. Pillow's fantasies will definitely be on my auto-buy list after this steamy romance." Joyfully Reviewed 5 Wands! "This is a gripping tale of fantasy, romance, intrigue and humour, boasting a fabulous, unforgettable cast of characters both human and fairy. Magical creatures, wizards, possessions, divinations - it's all here." Autiotalo, Enchanted Ramblings 5 HEARTS! "Ms Pillow has penned such a rich world with multi-dimensional characters that leap off the pages...her fans will love it for sure." Valerie, Love Romances Realm Immortal series: King of the Unblessed Faery Queen Stone Queen Length: Long Novel Plus Genres: Dark, High Fantasy, Epic, Medieval, Historical, Paranormal, Other-World Romance, fairies, elves, demons, fanciful creatures, shapeshifter, Psychic, paranormal romance, elf, fantasy romance, Wizards, Sorcery, action and adventure, alpha male, bad boy hero, damaged hero, dark romance, fae, fantasy, hea, kick ass heroine, kick butt chick, legends, labyrinth, magic, myths, romantic adventure, shifter romance, bird shifter, werebird, Wizards & Witches, sprights, knights, nobility, royalty, supernatural books for adults, morally gray hero
The Cloud of Unknowing
Author: William Johnston
Publisher: Image
ISBN: 0307809056
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 210
Book Description
THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING and THE BOOK OF PRIVY COUNSELING are the first explorations in the English language of the soul’s quest for God. Written in Middle English by an unknown fourteenth-century mystic, THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING expresses with beauty a message that has inspired such great religious thinkers as St. John of the Cross and Teilhard de Chardin, as well as countless others in search of God. Offering a practical guide to the life of contemplation, the author explains that ordinary thoughts and earthly concepts must be buried beneath a “cloud of forgetting,” while our love must rise toward a God hidden in the “cloud of unknowing.” THE BOOK OF PRIVY COUNSELING, also included in this volume, is a short and moving text on the way to enlightenment through a total loss of self and a consciousness only of the divine. William Johnston, an authority on fourteenth-century mysticism and spirituality, provides an accessible discussion of the works, detailing what is known about the history of the texts and their author. In a new foreword, Huston Smith draws on his extensive knowledge of the varieties of religious experience to illuminate the relevance of these works for contemporary readers.
Publisher: Image
ISBN: 0307809056
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 210
Book Description
THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING and THE BOOK OF PRIVY COUNSELING are the first explorations in the English language of the soul’s quest for God. Written in Middle English by an unknown fourteenth-century mystic, THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING expresses with beauty a message that has inspired such great religious thinkers as St. John of the Cross and Teilhard de Chardin, as well as countless others in search of God. Offering a practical guide to the life of contemplation, the author explains that ordinary thoughts and earthly concepts must be buried beneath a “cloud of forgetting,” while our love must rise toward a God hidden in the “cloud of unknowing.” THE BOOK OF PRIVY COUNSELING, also included in this volume, is a short and moving text on the way to enlightenment through a total loss of self and a consciousness only of the divine. William Johnston, an authority on fourteenth-century mysticism and spirituality, provides an accessible discussion of the works, detailing what is known about the history of the texts and their author. In a new foreword, Huston Smith draws on his extensive knowledge of the varieties of religious experience to illuminate the relevance of these works for contemporary readers.
The Realm of the Impossible
Author: John Pugmire
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781545339220
Category : Conduct of life
Languages : en
Pages : 430
Book Description
"...a landmark anthology, which establishes that the crafting of brilliant short impossible crime fiction is not an exclusively Anglo-American endeavor."Publishers Weekly (Starred review) Here is a groundbreaking collection of 26 impossible crime stories from over 20 countries, demonstrating the global reach of this most fiendishly ingenious tale. Several stories appear here for the first time, many have never been anthologized, and a few classics are included. Also included are 12 short anecdotes of real-life impossibilities: How can a man locked in his room without alcohol get drunk every night? How can heavy stone coffins in a sealed crypt be moved? How can hundreds of rare French books be stolen from an ancient library? These are just a few of the actual impossibilities that are explained in The Realm of the Impossible. In his Foreword, Otto Penzler writes: "The range of authors collected in this surprising and welcome volume, and the diversity of their backgrounds, is a tribute to the detective skills of the editors, who have somehow unearthed a cornucopia of virtually unknown stories that deserve the attention they will now receive. It is... well... impossible to applaud loudly enough..."John Pugmire is the publisher of Locked Room International, whose books have appeared in Washington Post and Publishers Weekly "Best of" lists for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Brian Skupin is the co-publisher of Mystery Scene Magazine, for which he has won the Mystery Writers of America Ellery Queen Award, the Poirot Award from Malice Domestic, and the Anthony award from Bouchercon.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781545339220
Category : Conduct of life
Languages : en
Pages : 430
Book Description
"...a landmark anthology, which establishes that the crafting of brilliant short impossible crime fiction is not an exclusively Anglo-American endeavor."Publishers Weekly (Starred review) Here is a groundbreaking collection of 26 impossible crime stories from over 20 countries, demonstrating the global reach of this most fiendishly ingenious tale. Several stories appear here for the first time, many have never been anthologized, and a few classics are included. Also included are 12 short anecdotes of real-life impossibilities: How can a man locked in his room without alcohol get drunk every night? How can heavy stone coffins in a sealed crypt be moved? How can hundreds of rare French books be stolen from an ancient library? These are just a few of the actual impossibilities that are explained in The Realm of the Impossible. In his Foreword, Otto Penzler writes: "The range of authors collected in this surprising and welcome volume, and the diversity of their backgrounds, is a tribute to the detective skills of the editors, who have somehow unearthed a cornucopia of virtually unknown stories that deserve the attention they will now receive. It is... well... impossible to applaud loudly enough..."John Pugmire is the publisher of Locked Room International, whose books have appeared in Washington Post and Publishers Weekly "Best of" lists for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Brian Skupin is the co-publisher of Mystery Scene Magazine, for which he has won the Mystery Writers of America Ellery Queen Award, the Poirot Award from Malice Domestic, and the Anthony award from Bouchercon.
Journeys to the Underworld and Heavenly Realm in Ancient and Medieval Literature
Author: John C. Stephens
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476634971
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 184
Book Description
Concepts of heaven and hell are among the oldest, most widespread religious beliefs in history. In Western literature, they are frequently embedded in stories of underworld explorations and celestial journeys--stories examining the nature of the universe, life on earth and the existence of the gods. The author analyzes tales of wonder in both ancient and medieval European literature. Other-worldly narratives appeared in literary contexts in the ancient world, including mythology, poetry and philosophical writings. In medieval times, they remained a popular form of literary expression. These stories are primarily religious in nature, describing fantastic worlds filled with miracles and supernatural beings.
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476634971
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 184
Book Description
Concepts of heaven and hell are among the oldest, most widespread religious beliefs in history. In Western literature, they are frequently embedded in stories of underworld explorations and celestial journeys--stories examining the nature of the universe, life on earth and the existence of the gods. The author analyzes tales of wonder in both ancient and medieval European literature. Other-worldly narratives appeared in literary contexts in the ancient world, including mythology, poetry and philosophical writings. In medieval times, they remained a popular form of literary expression. These stories are primarily religious in nature, describing fantastic worlds filled with miracles and supernatural beings.