The original American full dramatization as broadcast on National Public Radio.Bilbo Baggins, a gentle hobbit who loves the comforts of home, reluctantly joins a company of dwarves on a journey to recover plundered gold from a fierce dragon. It's a tale of high adventure and astonishing courage—and a magical prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The game under the tree looked like a hundred others Peters and Judy had at home. But they were bored and restless and, looking for something interesting to do, thought they'd give Jumanji a try. Little did they know when they unfolded its ordinary-looking playing board that they were about to be plunged into the most exciting and bizarre adventure of their lives. Since its original publication, Jumanji has been honored with many awards, including the Caldecott Medal and a National Book Aw...

The original American full dramatization as broadcast on National Public Radio.War rages in the west-a titanic battle of will and strategy between the great wizard Gandalf and Sauron, the dark lord. Meanwhile, eastward in Mordor, Frodo and Sam approach the end of their improbable quest, bearing the One Ring ever closer to the Cracks of Doom-and to a final confrontation with the very essence of evil.

Using original archives from the Western Front, this historic account uncovers the stories of seven men whose remarkable bravery in 1916 won them the Victoria Cross, Britain’s most prized military medal. Interviews with modern-day family members reveal the personal stories of each man, exploring the differing fortunes they experienced and the variety of reasons for which they fought.

Originally broadcast on Christmas Eve 1994, A Prairie Home Christmas is a delightful compilation of all-time-favorite highlights from past holiday broadcasts of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.Contents:Christmas Time's a Comin'; Jordan Carols; Shop for Christmas Presents; Scrooge; Children, Go Where I Send Thee; The Twelve Days of Christmas; Christmas Gifts for the Staff; If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas; Settin' by the Fire; Nothing But a Child;...

The original American full dramatization as broadcast on National Public Radio.The Fellowship is broken; the quest to destroy the Ring seems already shrouded in disaster. But as the evil lord Sauron readies his armies for war, Frodo and Sam continue their lonely journey toward Mordor, guided only by Gollum-a deceitful and tortured creature, helplessly in thrall to the Ring's dark power.

On the last page of the Caldecott-winning book Jumanji, young Danny Budwing is seen running after his brother, Walter, with a game tucked under his arm. Now twenty years later, Chris Van Allsburg is ready to reveal what happened when Danny and Walter rolled the dice. This time the name of the game is Zathura, and the battling Budwing boys are in for the ride of their lives. Soon Zathura unleashes intergalactic challenges that require the quarreling brothers to learn how to work together as...

In a truly unprecedented literary achievement by author and editor Lawrence Block, this newly-commissioned anthology of seventeen superbly-crafted stories, each inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper. Contributors include Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Olen Butler, Michael Connelly, Megan Abbott, Craig Ferguson, Nicholas Christopher, Jill D. Block, Joe R. Lansdale, Justin Scott, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Warren Moore, Jonathan Santlofer, Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, and Lawrence B...

Ebo's sister left months ago. Now his brother has disappeared too, and Ebo knows that, to see them again, he must follow in their footsteps and make the hazardous voyage from Ghana to a safe haven in Europe. So the twelve-year-old sets off on an epic journey that takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli and finally out to the merciless sea. Powerful and timely, this novel brings to life Ebo's unquenchable hope for a new life in the face of daunting and perilou...

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.They call him the Sun-Slayer, the legendary hero who ended the long night by butchering a god-in-waiting. But for Caelum Dravenscar, victory tastes like ash and sounds like a deafening, soul-crushing silence. Five years into a fragile peace, the man behind the myth is a ghost drowning in cheap ale-until the kingdom he saved starts rotting from the head down.Summoned back to the viper’s nest of Aethelgard, Caelum is no longer a w...

There are few topics in the field of story development that are less discussed than how to develop stories with large casts. Stories with large casts of characters pose specific challenges to writers and require particular skill sets and tools if they are going to contribute to the telling of a story, rather than detract. Alas, most writers have no clue how even to begin writing multiple-character, stories and so they fall back on the only advice "out there" in the consensus writing commun...

Hosts and listeners select their favorite stories from the National Public Radio archives, celebrating life, love, hope—and cookies.Every NPR listener has had at least one “driveway moment” and probably more. You’re so captivated by a story on All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Morning Edition, News & Notes, or another NPR program that you stay in the car to hear it through—even if you've arrived at your own driveway. This eclectic collection gathers all-time favorites, includ...