Not every cult is wrong about the end of the world...Believing their late mentor is calling them from the grave, the last surviving members of a modern doomsday cult travel across the country to reclaim his body in preparation for the end-times he preached about. Tracing their leader's echo through a cosmic signal known to them as the Transit Frequency brings them to the rural outback of Arkansas, where its presence has drastic and dangerous effects on any...

How can one be religious yet not believe in gods? Isn’t belief in a god one of the necessary precursors to religion and religious worship? Can one practice rituals, ceremonies and magic without belief in such things as angels and demons? Is magic real? What is the difference between the power of the gods and the power of magic? The intent of this book was not originally to pose such questions or to answer them, however in the writing of this book the answers to those questions and many mor...

Halloween horror, dark fiction and suspense short stories.Carve your pumpkins and turn on the porch light, Halloween frights begin with the sound of…Doorbells at Dusk.Doorbells at Dusk is a treasury of brand-new Halloween tales from both modern masters and rising stars of dark fiction, horror and suspense.Halloween has always gone hand-in-hand with horror. The holiday gives many children their firs...

Who doesn’t love a good apocalyptic story? They come in all kinds, from the nightmare terrors of superflus and zombie invasions to quieter, more reflective tales of loss and survival. Stories that feature people struggling through the end of the world or fighting to survive in what little bits of civilization still remain are always compelling. What better way for readers to safely explore the extremes of the human condition without actually having to fight off the ravening hordes themselv...

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into everyday life has extended beyond functional assistance into the intimate domains of emotion, companionship, and love. AI chatbots and virtual companions are increasingly engaged as emotional confidants, romantic partners, and sources of care, prompting a re-evaluation of how intimacy is constituted and experienced in a technologically mediated society. This Element examines the emergence of what is termed post-humanistic love, defined ...

The Year's Best Crime & Mystery Stories contains the best crime and mystery stories that were originally published in 2015 in either print or electronic format as selected by editors Kristine Kathryn Rusch and John Helfers.Reading through thousands of titles and carefully narrowing their favorite reads down to the ultimate list that is presented in this volume, the editors chose their top picks of notable works from hundreds of anthologie...

From marketing maven to angel of the garbage district—the inspiring authorized biography of Maggie Gobran, the “Mother Teresa of Egypt.”Since 1997, Maggie Gobran and her organization Stephen’s Children have been changing lives in Cairo’s notorious zabala, or garbage slums. Her innovative, transformational work has garnered worldwide fame and multiple Nobel Prize nominations, but her full story has remained untold—until now.Bestselling authors Marti...

Explore twenty-four imaginative tales crafted by some of today’s best writers of science fiction and fantasy, all guests on the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers during its second year, and including several international bestsellers and winners of every major award in the field, as well as newer authors just beginning what promise to be stellar careers.A woman seeking the power to see the evil hiding within others regrets receiving it. Letters written by a wizard in th...

The inspiring, authorized biography of the woman who left a career in marketing to become the "Mother Teresa of Egypt."Since 1997, Maggie Gobran and her organization Stephen's Children have been changing lives in Cairo's notorious zabala, or garbage slums. Her innovative, transformational work has garnered worldwide fame and multiple Nobel Prize nominations, but her full story has never been told—until now.Bestselling authors Martin Makary and Ellen ...

Alan and Denise Jackson's life seemed like a fairy tale: high school sweethearts marry young and leave small-town Georgia to pursue big dreams in Music City. They pay their dues, work hard, weather deep disappointments. Then their dreams come true.In fairy tales, the Jacksons' material success?plus their "perfect" marriage, their three beautiful daughters, and their supportive families?would have signaled a happily-ever-after ending.But real life is different from fairy tal...

Founders of a Continent - 3 Classic European Biographies offers a panoramic view of Europe's intellectual and cultural legacy through the storytelling artistry of Hodgkin, Church, and Oliphant. Spanning diverse literary styles from meticulous historical narratives to engaging biographical sketches, this anthology synthesizes the profound insights and the extraordinary lives of pivotal figures who shaped Europe. With its artful blend of historical accuracy and narrative flair, the collectio...

Dylan Thomas is unusual. A former Maine State Police officer, he decided to become a lawyer and obtained a PI license to pay his way through law school. When he receives an early-morning call from his sister, telling him that her four-year-old daughter, Sandra (aka Sandy), is missing. She believes that police are trying to prove that she and her husband, Oreille Dufore, have done something, possibly killing the child. Dylan comes to their aid. His investigation reveals that an itinerant ha...