The hero of this historical novel is Martin Olden. The story is set against the researched facts of Magellans voyage to Asia. In 1494 the division of the globe into two spheres of influence, between Portugal and Spain, left a vital question unanswered: which countrys sphere encompassed Asia particularly the fabulously wealthy Spice Islands? In 1519 Captain-General Ferdinand Magellan led a Spanish expedition, sailing westwards, to disprove Portugals claim to the Spice Islands and establish that much of the rest of Asia were Spains possessions. The voyage saw a series of dramatic events - by the time Magellans fleet reached the Magellan Strait, mutinies had left all his Spanish Captains dead or marooned and there was appalling deprivation on the long voyage across the unexpectedly vast Pacific to the Philippines. It was there that Magellan, disregarding the Spanish kings orders, attacked Lapulapu a local ruler of Mactan Island. Prior to being captured on Mactan Island, Martin Olden helped Princess Lalu, Chief Lapulapus half-sister, a skilful healer and powerful Shaman when she was assaulted by Santos a misogynistic Spanish sailor. Captured by Lapulapus warriors, Martin subsequently witnessed the fate of Magellan and fell in love with Lalu.

Presents step-by-step directions for drawing the national flag, a palace, an eagle, and other sights and symbols of Philippines.

The First Voyage around the World is also a remarkably accurate ethnographic and geographical account of the circumnavigation, and one that has earned its reputation among modern historiographers and students of the early contacts between Europe and the East Indies.

Since the late 1960s, the novels of Sjowall and Wahloo's Martin Beck detective series, along with the works of Henning Mankell, Hakan Nesser and Stieg Larsson, have sparked an explosion of Nordic crime fiction--grim police procedurals treating urgent sociopolitical issues affecting the contemporary world. Steeped in noir techniques and viewpoints, many of these novels are reaching international audiences through film and television adaptations. This reference guide introduces the world of Nordic crime fiction to English-speaking readers. Caught between the demands of conscience and societal strictures, the detectives in these stories--like the heroes of Norse mythology--know that they and their world must perish, but fight on regardless of cost. At a time of bleak eventualities, Nordic crime fiction interprets the bitter end as a celebration of the indomitable human spirit.