Uchronia: An Anthology of Alternate Histories & Alternate Worlds features twenty cosmic, uncanny, and macabre fantasy and science fiction stories.A marine navigates close quarters in his wheelchair and the threat of joblessness due to mechanical men. Gremlins battle a bounty huntress in the Weird Wild West. When the Soviet Union invades Mexico, a U.S.-Mexico war veteran rallies Samalayuca refinery workers to fight back. Onboard the Current of Eagles, a dis...

An engaging exploration of how spirits like rum, whisky, and vodka shaped global history, culture, and society.Did you know rum was once the spirit of America? How about tequila being the fuel of a revolution that changed Mexico forever? What about modern drink advertising starting with scotch whisky? These are the kind of timeless cultural links that appear across the history of alcoholic spirits all over the world. To understand these connections is to understand...

Explores the lives and wisdom of history’s greatest philosophers, revealing timeless lessons for modern life.What does it mean to be a philosopher? Being a deep thinker? Taking a stand against the norms of society? Being really good at winning an argument? The beauty of philosophy is that there is no one answer and that it’s worth asking that question across every aspect of the human condition.In History’s Greatest Philosophers: Classical Wisdom for Modern ...

From the demon-killing Minamoto no Yorimitsu to the immortal poet Ono no Komachi, find out about the fascinating world of Japanese warriors and folk-heroes. Japanese mythology is filled with stories of larger-than-life characters that shaped the landscape of Japan. They are the folk heroes who slayed monsters, fought in epic battles and reflected the most complicated emotions of the people who created them. Through a mix of essays, short stories and anecdotes, Japanese Fighting Heroes foll...

Investigates the complex lives of famous Vikings, examining their spirituality, ambitions, and legendary adventures beyond mere conquest.Vikings. One of history’s most recognizable archetypes. These hardy warriors enjoyed fighting and conquering, but there was much more to the culture than physical might.A deep sense of spirituality and purpose permeated the Norse societies that dreamed beyond their borders. And Norse history is a tapestry of adventurers, k...

A collection of simple - and surprisingly relevant - tools from great thinkers throughout history.Focusing on important ideas from Western and Eastern philosophy, sociology, psychotherapy, art, architecture, and literature, this collection of wisdom and insight includes everyone from well know thinkers like Sigmund Freud and Lao Tzu to more unexpected names like Coco Chanel and St Benedict.With original color illustrations for each featured thinker, this bo...

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. It is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, much like Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Chanakya's Arthashastra. There have been various translations made over the years, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking...

Drawing on the mythology of the Green Man and the power of nature, Neil Gaiman, Jane Yolen, and others serve up "a tasty treat for fantasy fans" ( Booklist).There are some "genuine gems" in this "enticing collection" of fifteen stories and three poems, all featuring "diverse takes on mythical beings associated with the protection of the natural world," most involving a teen's coming-of-age. Delia Sherman "takes readers into New York City's Central Park, wh...

New York Times BestsellerOne of the Guardian's "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" — "A modern feminist classic."From the internationally acclaimed classicist and New York Times best-selling author comes this timely manifesto on women and power.At long last, Mary Beard addresses in one brave book the misogynists and trolls who mercilessly attack and demean women the world over, including, very often, Mary ...

This book invites you to cultivate stillness and contentment in an ever-changing, uncertain world, inspired by ancient and contemporary Japanese wisdom.Drawing on a thousand years of Japanese literature, culture, and philosophical ideas to explore the true nature of time and what it means to be human, *Kokoro–*which mysteriously translates as "heart-mind"–is a meditation on living well.Join Japanologist Beth Kempton on this life-changing pilgrimage far beyo...

This is the second annual edition of the Long List Anthology. Every year, supporting members of WorldCon nominate their favorite stories first published during the previous year to determine the top five in each category for the final Hugo Award ballot. Between the announcement of the ballot and the Hugo Award ceremony at WorldCon, these works often become the center of much attention (and contention) across fandom. But there are more stories loved by the Hugo voters, stories on the longer...

Once upon a time in Japan, there was a province where parents who reached the age of sixty had to be abandoned deep in the woods on a hill called Ubasute-yama... Was the story based on a real practice?History is written and re-written by the victors of history, but folktales are told and retold by folks of the ordinary. The truths they intend to convey can differ greatly...A collection of 28 Japanese folktales coupled with a digestible explanation of the cultural and histor...