Greg thinks of himself as an average American teenager, until he learns that his parents are Soviet spies. When their operation is exposed, their hasty retreat to Russia marks the beginning of an odyssey and awakening for Greg. His quest to return to the only life he knows and to Jessica, a girl he recently met, only becomes possible when he befriends Alexei, a red Army vet determined to defect.Their attempted escape is laced with humor, as well as tragedy, as the Chernobyl nuclear...

Most of the vast audience attracted to the subject of Dracula know him only in his fictional, one-dimensional form: vampire! Yet the truth behind the historical character--voevode, warlord--of 15th C. Romania is at least as equally fascinating as any contrived account of his supernatural persona.Vlad Dracula faithfully follows his life story as hostage, fugitive, prince, and prisoner, as well as his legend. His principality of Wallachia was caught between two voracious predators: th...

Read Sid Jaconson's posts on the Penguin BlogTwo legends of the comic book industry bring to life the story of gore and lust that inspired Dracula.Vlad the man had a devilish streak-a vicious temper, a passion for women, and a thirst for revenge.Vlad the ruler was a true devil-a relentless torturer, a brutal murderer, and a paranoid leader whose megalomania would be his own undoing.Responsible for the merciless deaths of thousands, ...