The 'Defenestration of Prague', the coup d'etat staged by Protestant Bohemian nobles against officials of the Hapsburg Emperor triggered the Thirty Years War. When Habsburg Spain intervened in support of their Holy Roman Emperor relative, what had started as a localised political and religious dispute in Germany, transformed into a European and global conflict. In seeking to exploit the Bohemian revolt, Spanish Habsburg revanchist ambitions directed by the Spanish Count of Olivarez at the ...

"…offers an interesting insight on his (the author's) two protagonists, namely their (differing) experience of conflict in Eastern Europe." - The Journal of Military History The conflict, personal rivalry and contrast in personality, generalship and command, between the two iconic commanders in the Thirty Years War, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden for the Protestant powers, and Albrecht von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland. More than just commanders at the tactical level they were statesmen...

"…what Pike reports in the book remains intriguing and suspenseful… an excellent, eye-opening book." – The VVA Veteran A forensic study of war, imperial history and international relations, following the Second World War and leading into the Cold War and defeat of Western imperialism in Asia. And above all, the story of the pivotal battle and French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. It shows France's revanchist attempt to regain imperial 'glory' in her former Asian empire following humiliation in t...

An immersive account of 17th-century warfare during the Thirty Years War.A graphic study of military and military revolution in the pivotal 17th century in the context of the Thirty Years War, shown by dramatic battle scenes, personal, heroic and tragic for all levels of society, and all strikingly brought to life. The first 'world war' in Europe was a global conflict, showing that early modern war, despite the Enlightenment argument which contrasts medieval milita...

In this irreplaceable guide, award-winning artist and instructor John Pike shares with artists at all levels of experience the expertise gained through a lifetime of perfecting his craft. All the information watercolorists could possibly want is here — choosing a brush; selecting and composing subject matter; producing a variety of washes, brush strokes, and textures; making corrections; and discovering the properties of common watercolor papers.The author's personal style and his m...

"No bold act is too small to be without consequence."An Astra Militarum AnthologyThis collection of 12 short stories tells tales of the most humble soldiers of the Astra Militarum. No gene-enhanced warriors or mutant juggernauts here just brave men and women rising to the challenge of protecting humanity from all enemies within, without, and beyond.READ IT BECAUSEFew stories are as relatable and inspiring as...

A missing intergalactic artifact valuable enough to inspire murder. A cartoon gag gone bad that leads to a gruesome death. Greek deities unraveling a divine mystery in New York City. A human detective navigating the temptations of Faerie in pursuit of a magical killer. Call them sleuths, call them gumshoes, call them shamuses or dicks or beagles—these private investigators prowl the back alleys of imagination, explaining the unexplainable, seeking answers and justice for two hundred dollar...

The ethics and philosophy of Freemasonry depend on monotheistic religions and the ancient constitution of the Freemasons. The constitution describes the rules and rituals that members must follow. Some of the ceremonies incorporate stonemasonry tools, which symbolize not only the construction of Solomon's Temple, but also the forging of partnerships. While masonic practices are cloaked in secrecy, this collection gathers the best-known sources portraying the statutes, laws, symbols, ritual...

Globalization and climate weirding are two of the leading phenomena that challenge and change the way we need to think and act within the planetary community. Modern Western understandings of human beings, animals, and the rest of the natural world and the subsequent technologies built on those understandings have thrown us into an array of social and ecological crises with planetary implications. Earthly Things: Immanence, New Materialisms, and Planetary Thinking, argues that mor...

Bronson Pike was a hard man, but he also knew his true worth. There would be no argument with his words. He had indeed done the job that the three men had asked him to do. He did the job, with a grim flourish as the corpses that he personally delivered would attest. Or at least they would attest as much, if they were still alive."This Bronson Pike is quite the reliable bounty hunter," one of the men said.

Warriors of Freedom: 70 Memoirs of Union Soldiers is a remarkable anthology that delves into the harrowing experiences and profound reflections of Union soldiers during the American Civil War. This collection presents a wide range of literary styles, from detailed diary entries to eloquent memoirs, capturing the raw and unfiltered perspectives of those who fought on the front lines. Through these diverse narratives, the anthology explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, camaraderie, and the ...

As middle classes in developing countries grow in size and political power, do they foster stable democracies and prosperous, innovative economies? Or do they encourage crass materialism, bureaucratic corruption, unrealistic social demands, and ideological polarization? These questions have taken on a new urgency in recent years but they are not new, having first appeared in the mid twentieth century in debates about Latin America. At a moment when exploding middle classes in the global So...