"Francis Stevens' "The Citadel of Fear" is the fourth installment of our "Lost World-Lost Race Classics" series. During a gold-finding expedition to South America, and American and an Irishman stumble upon the entrance to the lost Aztec city of Tiapallan. There they find not only the remains of an ancient Aztec race, but a black stone containing an unspeakable evil. Before long this ancient evil brings horror to the shores of America in a way that only H.P. Lovecraft could have imagined. "The Citadel of Fear" is a brilliant combination of science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural horror."--Website

The Citadel of Fear, an anthology showcasing the work of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, who wrote under the pseudonym Francis Stevens, is a cornerstone in the foundation of science fiction literature. Within its pages, readers will discover an array of speculative narratives that transcend time and space, weaving together elements of fantasy, horror, and early science fiction. The collection encapsulates the diverse and groundbreaking storytelling techniques of its era, offering a splendid display of Stevens' pioneering imagination and mastery over the speculative. Its standout pieces not only explore the unknown but also delve into the complexities of human emotion and the interplay between fear and curiosity, making it a significant contribution to the genre's evolution. The authors behind these narratives, particularly Stevens, are considered trailblazers in science fiction. Bennett, an unsung heroine of her time, effectively laid the groundwork for future generations of writers within these genres. Through her unique lens, readers are offered a glimpse into the early 20th century's burgeoning fascination with the speculative and the fantastic. The anthology aligns with pivotal moments in literary history, where the boundaries of reality are pushed, and new worlds are conceived, cementing its place within the pantheon of science fiction classics. This collection is recommended for those intrigued by the roots of science fiction and the remarkable breadth of themes it encompasses. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the visionary work of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, whose contributions have significantly shaped the landscape of speculative fiction. The Citadel of Fear serves not only as a portal to imaginative realms but also as a critical resource for understanding the evolution of science fiction. Readers, scholars, and enthusiasts alike will find value in this anthology, for it fosters a greater appreciation of the genre's complexities and the diverse perspectives that have contributed to its enduring legacy.

A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of Western thought, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning—but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.

Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn’t the model of military professionalism—he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship—but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron—what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives… Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people. Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade—her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn’t her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death.

When I went to my neighbor's apartment to investigate strange sounds, I never expected to fall through a portal into another world. Yet here I am, a stranger in an even stranger land...and I'm stranded. In this world, might makes right, men carry swords, and gods walk the earth. Within minutes of arriving, I'm enslaved.Fun place.How do I get home? GREAT question. Wish I had an answer.The one person that might be able to help me is also the one person I want to throttle most. Aron, Lord of Storms, Butcher God of Battle, is my new companion. Or rather, I'm his. As Aron's anchor to the mortal realm, I'm the one that's supposed to be guiding him through his exile in the mortal world.Ha. Joke's on him. I know nothing about this place.But Aron and I have a common goal - get home. And we're bonded - anchor and god - with a bond unlike any other. So we travel together. We bicker. We bathe together. We fight our many, many enemies together. And sure, he's a god, but he's also an arrogant jerk. Brawny, smoking hot, irresistible jerk. I should want nothing to do with him. I certainly shouldn't want to do things to him.Mortals and gods don't mix. We stick to the plan and ignore our attraction. Focused, with one goal in mind. One task. One goal.Focused.I-oh heck, I'm going to end up kissing him again, aren't I?

Claimed opens with the recovery of a mysterious artifact, a strange box bearing an undecipherable inscription, from an uncharted island following an undersea volcanic explosion that nearly dooms the ship that discovers it. Brought back to civilization, the box is purchased by a crotchety old millionaire who quickly comes to regret it. Horrible apparitions of the sea appear at night and frightening dreams plague the old man, his niece and the young doctor who's serving him. While the doctor does what he can to learn of the box's origin and the meaning of the strange writing, the nonstop macabre visions, and occasional deaths, that have appeared in the box's wake eventually lead to the abduction of the old man and his niece by persons unknown. In pursuit of his employer across the high seas, the doctor learns of the box's evil origins from the mad sailor who originally found it. ""One of the strangest and most compelling science fantasy novels you will ever read""

Human children Joe and Sylvia have magical adventures in the land of the snergs, a race of people only slightly taller than the average table.