Author: Rick Gekoski
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 1472133838
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 211

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Book Description
The Times Best Literary Non-fiction Books 2021 - 'a super yarn' 'Rick Gekoski's encyclopaedic knowledge of rare books is matched only by the enthusiasm and brio with which he writes about them' Ian Rankin Rick Gekoski has been traversing the rocky terrain of the rare book trade for over fifty years. The treasure he seeks is scarce, carefully buried and often jealously guarded, knowledge of its hiding place shared through word of mouth like the myths of old. In Guarded by Dragons, Gekoski invites readers into this enchanted world as he reflects on the gems he has unearthed throughout his career. He takes us back to where his love of collecting began - perusing D.H. Lawrence first editions in a slightly suspect Birmingham carpark. What follows are dizzying encounters with literary giants as Gekoski publishes William Golding, plays ping-pong with Salman Rushdie and lunches with Graham Greene. A brilliant stroke of luck sees Sylvia Plath's personal copy of The Great Gatsby fall into Gekoski's lap, only for him to discover the perils of upsetting a Poet Laureate when Ted Hughes demands its return. Hunting for literary treasure is not without its battles and Gekoski boldly breaks the cardinal rule never to engage in a lawsuit with someone much richer than yourself, while also guarding his bookshop from the most unlikely of thieves. The result is an unparalleled insight into an almost mythical world where priceless first editions of Ulysses can vanish, and billionaires will spend as much gold as it takes to own the manuscript of J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard. Engaging, funny and shrewd, Guarded by Dragons is a fascinating discussion on value and worth. At the same time, Gekoski artfully reveals how a manuscript can tell a thousand stories.

Author: Briony Stewart
Publisher: Univ. of Queensland Press
ISBN: 0702256463
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 46

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Book Description
Kumiko doesn't like going to bed. She can't sleep, and the reason she can't sleep is because of the giant dragon that sits outside her bedroom window, every single night. So one night she plucks up the courage to ask the dragon to leave, not knowing that the truth she is about to discover is more thrilling than anything she could ever have imagined. This delightful story will take the young readers on a soaring dragon adventure, as Kumiko discovers a strength she never even knew she had.

Author: Joe Nigg
Publisher: Fair Winds Press
ISBN: 9781931412179
Category : Animals, Mythical
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
The beasts that inhabit the realms of ancient myth and folklore are among the most compelling creatures of imagination. This is a modern collection of animal lore in the tradition of natural histories, including beasts from all over the world.

Author: Zoya Agnis
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 1838740473
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Discover a whole new world of dragons in this beautifully illustrated book on the scaliest of magical creatures. From every detail of their wings to the history of their treasure, you'll learn about famous dragons from around the world. The latest research into dragon culture will be revealed, and you'll meet some incredible dragon leaders along the way. If you thought the world's most famous fire-breathing creatures lived only in myth and fairytale, think again. Dragon researchers will introduce you to amazing beasts from tiny to huge, from sweet to ferocious. Soon you'll be a dragon expert to rival them all!

Author: Janet Lee Carey
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101559683
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
On Wilde Island, there is no peace between dragons, fairies, and humans. Wilde Island is in an uproar over the recent death of its king. As the uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans begins to fray, the royal witch hunter with a hidden agenda begins a vengeful quest to burn girls suspected of witchcraft before a new king is crowned.. Strong-willed Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet, wants more for herself than a husband and a house to keep. But in times like these wanting more can be dangerous. Accused of witchery, Tess and her two friends are forced to flee the violent witch hunter. As their pursuer draws ever closer they find shelter with a huntsman in the outskirts of the forbidden Dragonswood sanctuary. But staying with the mysterious huntsman poses risks of its own: Tess does not know how to handle the attraction she feels for him—or resist the elusive call that draws her deeper onto the heart of Dragonswood.

Author: Sean Mcmullen
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0312712162
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 641

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Book Description
Sean McMullen, one of Australia's leading genre authors, delivers Glass Dragons, the scintillating sequel to Voyage of the Shadowmoon which Kirkus Reviews called "a brilliantly inventive, marvelously plotted sea-faring fantasy that both mocks and surpasses genre expectations. . . . Australian author McMullen writes like Roger Zelazny at the peak of his powers: his dashing, flamboyant, cleverly resourceful characters trade off insults and reveal surprising abilities as they swagger bravely from one hair-raising scene to another. Exciting, suspenseful, vividly believable, and great, clever fun: a major fantasy-award contender." Glass Dragons continues the tale of Laron, the chivalrous 700-year-old vampire, the appallingly dangerous and beautiful Velander, and the long-suffering Terikel, as they investigate a secret project of arcane magic, a magic so dangerous it could destroy their world. A project which threatens to fall into the wrong hands. Glass Dragons is a broad and complicated tale, filled with wonderful characters both new and old, woven through with low humor and great courage, built upon grand acts of heroism and love. Enjoy. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Author: Emily Drake
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101167068
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
As the Magickers seek the third and most important Gate into the magic-filled land of Haven, the elder members are being stricken by a strange ailment that drains their power and ages them. And the Dark Hand is more than willing to take advantage of the Magickers' weakness to strike...

Author: Margaret Weis
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1429915188
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 384

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Book Description
As Anne McCaffrey is to science fiction, Margaret Weis is to fantasy . . . for she is the genre's Mistress of Dragons Mistress of Dragons is the first volume in an epic fantasy trilogy entitled The Dragonvald. Here is a world where men and dragons coexist amid political intrigue and dark magic, where the uneasy balance of power between the two is on the verge of becoming undone, threatening to unleash waves of destruction that will pit humans against humans as well as dragons against men for the domination of the world. Humanity's very survival is at risk . . . . The power to hold the chaos at bay, the terrible secret that maintains the balance, rests in the hands of a new and inexperienced Mistress of Dragons At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Author: Bella Mackie
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1647008107
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 355

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Book Description
Bella Mackie’s How to Kill Your Family is a darkly humorous debut novel that follows a cunning antihero as she gets her revenge. When I think about what I actually did, I feel somewhat sad that nobody will ever know about the complex operation that I undertook. Getting away with it is highly preferable, of course, but perhaps when I’m long gone, someone will open an old safe and find this confession. The public would reel. After all, almost nobody else in the world can possibly understand how someone, by the tender age of twenty-eight, can have calmly killed six members of her family. And then happily got on with the rest of her life, never to regret a thing. When Grace Bernard discovers her absentee millionaire father has rejected her dying mother’s pleas for help, she vows revenge and coldly sets out to get her retribution—by killing them all, one by one. Compulsively readable, Bella Mackie’s debut novel is driven by a captivating first-person narrator who talks of self-care and social media while calmly walking the reader through her increasingly baroque acts of murder. But then, Grace is imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit. Outrageously funny, compulsive, and subversive, How to Kill Your Family is a wickedly dark romp about class, family, love . . . and murder. “Funny, sharp, dark, and twisted.” —Jojo Moyes

Author: Stella Caldwell
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1681887398
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
This beautifully illustrated series will have you captivated. Stunning illustrations, intriguing facts, and a large format make an engaging reference to revisit time and again. This magical menagerie will lead you on a thrilling journey through the fantastical realm of dragons. Meet fire-breathing monsters, ferocious serpents, wise and gentle giants, and multi-headed beasts. From the hundred-headed Typhon of Ancient Greek mythology to the dazzling Aztec dragon Quetzalcoatl, all sorts of magnificent beasts are brought to life from across the globe and many different cultures. Fascinating facts accompany each illustration so you can find out which dragon darted from tree to tree, how Shenlong was master of the rain and wind, and which creature could hypnotize people with its blazing eyes.