The blockbuster author of Jurassic Park “provides plenty of misdirection to keep you on your toes” in his very first novel (Publishers Weekly). To rob the finest resort in fascist Spain, three Americans need to blend in among the Mediterranean elite. And to do so, they will each need a gorgeous girl as cover. They find a depraved millionaire, a drug-addled nymphomaniac, and an assistant hotel manager who enjoys mingling with her handsome guests after hours. The would-be thieves have used an IBM supercomputer to plan the perfect heist. Their crime has been calculated to the last detail, with every possible contingency planned for, save one: the women. The Hotel Reina is crawling with femmes fatales, and these crooks will be lucky to escape with the shirts on their backs. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Michael Crichton including rare images from the author’s estate.

Susan O'Leary recounts the miraculous and triumphant fight of her then 9-year-old son to survive and recover from a devastating burn covering 98% of his body. The book unveils a truth of universal importance, namely, by helping others in need we canbecome their miracles.

From the popular Book of Odds website, this stylish and accessible reference book offers a fascinating peek at the probabilities that govern every aspect of human life Did you know that your odds of dying from drowning are higher than the odds of meeting your mate on a blind date? That the odds a child has seen Internet porn are the same as the odds a person is right-handed? That nearly one in three adults believes in UFOs and nearly one in six has reported seeing one? Drawing from a rigorously researched trove of more than 400,000 statements of probability, based on the most accurate and current data available, The Book of Odds is a graphic reference source for stats on the everyday, the odd, and the outrageous—from sex and marriage, health and disease, beliefs and fears, to wealth, addiction, entertainment, and civic life. What emerges from this colorful and captivating volume is a rich portrait of who we are and how we live today.

Have you ever known a genius? A real, flesh and blood hunk of mental brilliance with a one-tracked mind, a gambling habit, and not an ounce of common sense? Meet Xando Pri, five-thousand years into the future. For almost twenty-five Terran years, Xando has planned to escape his politically powerful "Father", Tobal Pri, the man he was genetically engineered for. On the verge of escape, Xando runs into some extra-universal interference. When a gigantic copy of an ancient sumo wrestler appears, Xando cannot refuse the challenge of learning why the strange being has come, and what is hidden in that alien intelligence. The eccentric Terran genius does not know that the alien has been sent into the universe on a deadly mission, one that could destroy the Tau-Gamma Universe. The massive alien has suffered a lapse of memory. Will the alien remember why he was created by the Masters and what he must do? Will Xando be able to stop him?

The very first novel by Michael Crichton, the legendary creator of Jurassic Park and ER Steven Jencks has planned the perfect crime. Working with two skilled associates, he will hit the Reina, a super-luxury hotel off the coast of Spain, and then walk away with the haul of a lifetime. As the ultimate pro, Jencks has even run his plan through a complex computer simulation to account for every possible variable ... Except three. Their names are Annette, Cynthia, and Jenny. And no computer could ever simulate what these three femmes fatales have up their sleeves. With a new introduction by Sherri Crichton

From the bestselling author of the Funny Kid series, Matt Stanton, comes The Odds, the start of a hilarious and heartwarming graphic novel series about identity, imagination, and the joy of discovering who you really are. Kip is a quiet kid in a loud city. She's easy to miss and that's the way she likes it. Then one day Kip's quiet life is suddenly interrupted. Ten of her favorite characters have stepped out of their worlds and into hers. But what happens when a dragon-hunting rabbit leaves his comic strip? When an old man leaves his picture book? When a ninja leaves her TV show, a race-car driver leaves their video game, and a dinosaur turns up from Kip's nightmares? It’s a hilariously touching graphic novel from all-star author Matt Stanton about finding friendships and the fears of growing up.

In basketball, as in most sports, a large part of a coach’s responsibility is to prepare his or her team for games. Yet, little time in practice is typically devoted to readying the players and coaches for specific game situations. For instance, what are the various ways to use dead ball moments to maximum advantage? What adjustments should be made to launch a comeback in particular circumstances? When is it favorable to purposefully miss a foul shot? In Odds-On Basketball Coaching: Crafting High-Percentage Strategies for Game Situations, Michael J. Coffino presents an innovative system for coaches to prepare for specific game scenarios. Coffino challenges coaches to think differently about what they emphasize in practice, placing greater value on preparing for recurring game situations, crafting strategies by assessing the odds, and creating a culture that elevates how players think about the game. Each chapter begins with an actual game scenario that illustrates the chapter’s content and includes discussions of notable college and professional basketball games in order to demonstrate specific points. Odds-On Basketball Coaching provides a framework for making game decisions beyond instincts and habits. It is intended, more than anything, to stimulate coaches and players to think comprehensively and realistically about how to approach games and practices, fostering an environment where everyone can more incisively make game-time decisions. While high school and youth basketball coaches will find this book most helpful, coaches at all levels will benefit from this novel approach to the game.