"[This] novel has immense power in its climax," said The Encyclopedia of Fantasy about Darrell Schweitzer's 1982 novel, THE SHATTERED GODDESS. Now, at last, here's the companion volume to that work, a cycle of eleven stories set "in the time of the death of the Goddess." This is an Earth of the far future, when the planet has declined into chaos, and darkness looms at the end of human history. Here you'll meet...a dadar, a wizard's shadow attempting to become a man; two sorcerers grotesquely transformed by their fratricidal hatred; a musician who becomes the lord of death; a boy-priest consumed by divine visions; and a witch who loves a god, among many others. Here's strangeness, wonder, and terror in the tradition of Clark Ashton Smith's Xothique or Jack Vance's The Dying Earth. Schweitzer is a master fantasist, whom anthologist Mike Ashley once called "today's supreme stylist." Great fantasy reading, now collected into book form for the first time!

"It is a grand thing to be mad" A rich, self-confessed madman meets a poor girl and, wishing to marry her, he puts on a "normal" persona and a fake smile. The girl’s family pushes her into his arms, but when the madman finds out that she is in love with someone else his true colours start to show. Similar to Joker (2019) starring Joaquin Phoenix, A Madman's Manuscript gives us an understanding of the inner workings of a seriously delusional and mentally ill person. Unnerving but very fascinating. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English author, social critic, and philanthropist. Much of his writing first appeared in small instalments in magazines and was widely popular. Among his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).

A teenager is missing, and Officer Katherine Ward is assigned the case, never expecting it to parallel her own kidnapping experience seventeen years before. In Skagway, Alaska, the usual crimes faced by the police department's small force are DUIs and missing bikes. With the chief in the hospital and one officer missing, they're not prepared for the kidnapping of a billionaire's daughter. Misty Morgan thought running off with a college boy would get her father's attention. Now she and another teenager are praying for their lives. Stuck in China, Misty's father knew his daughter was up to something, so he asked his longtime friend and a former fellow-Marine, Vince Nanini, to fly to Alaska and stop Misty. Problem is Vince arrives too late. The college boy is dead, Misty is missing, and the police aren't eager to let him help. When Katherine realizes the same man who kidnapped and raped her years ago is the one holding Misty and the other teenager, the terror of those months in captivity resurfaces. Vince is the one who finds her drunk and in tears, and he's with her when she realizes the kidnapper has struck again. Together they must figure out where this man has taken three people, and they must find him fast.

Echoes of Terror: A Collection of Chilling and Horror Tales Step into the eerie and unsettling world of "Echoes of Terror," where each tale brings a unique flavor of fear and suspense. From haunted houses to cursed artifacts, this collection of ten chilling stories delves into the darkest corners of the supernatural. The Whispering Shadows - Follow Sarah and Mark as they uncover the tragic past of their haunted Victorian home and help a restless spirit find peace. The Phantom Train - Join Emily and Ben on a spine-tingling journey to lay to rest the lost souls of a ghostly train. The Witch's Curse - Witness Eliza confront her ancestor's dark legacy and break a centuries-old curse that threatens her village. The Dollmaker's Secret - Experience Alyssa's terror as she battles malevolent spirits trapped in her grandmother's haunted dolls. The Haunting of Crimson Manor - Enter Crimson Manor with Amelia and Jack, where a seductive succubus and a tormented spirit blur the lines between pleasure and horror. The Cursed Portrait - Discover the sinister power of a cursed painting that captures souls and the brave effort to break its hold. The Lighthouse Keeper's Ghost - Take refuge in an abandoned lighthouse and help a restless spirit find peace amidst a stormy night. The Mirror of Lost Souls - Confront the seductive power of an ornate mirror with Sarah and Mark, and escape its deadly grasp. The Demon's Contract - Uncover the dark pact of Ravenscroft Manor and witness Professor James Hawthorne's ultimate sacrifice to end a demonic curse. These thirteen stories weave a tapestry of horror and intrigue, each one a haunting echo that lingers long after the final page is turned. Prepare to be captivated, terrified, and unable to look away as you delve into the chilling pages of "Echoes of Terror."

This book assesses the key definitions, forms, contexts and impacts of terrorist activity on the arts in the modern era, using historical and contemporary perspectives. Its empirical case studies include theatre, literature, music, visual art, mass media, film and the mores of ‘ordinary life.’ While its immediate reflective context is Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, the book reviews a broader range of definitions and counter-definitions of 'terrorism', 'state terrorism' and 'states of terror,' examining uses of the terms through a series of comparative analyses. Chapters focus on the intersection of these definitional questions with heuristic analysis of art forms, cultural activities and their socio-historical contexts. This book will be of interest to scholars in art history, terrorism, politics and the media, and visual culture.