There are stories no one knows. Hidden stories. I love those stories. And since I work in the National Archives, I find those stories for a living. Beecher White, a young archivist, spends his days working with the most important documents of the U.S. government. He has always been the keeper of other people's stories, never a part of the story himself... Until now. When Clementine Kaye, Beecher's first childhood crush, shows up at the National Archives asking for his help tracking down her long-lost father, Beecher tries to impress her by showing her the secret vault where the President of the United States privately reviews classified documents. After they accidentally happen upon a priceless artifact - a 200 hundred-year-old dictionary that once belonged to George Washington, hidden underneath a desk chair, Beecher and Clementine find themselves suddenly entangled in a web of deception, conspiracy, and murder. Soon a man is dead, and Beecher is on the run as he races to learn the truth behind this mysterious national treasure. His search will lead him to discover a coded and ingenious puzzle that conceals a disturbing secret from the founding of our nation. It is a secret, Beecher soon discovers, that some believe is worth killing for. Gripping, fast-paced, and filled with the fascinating historical detail for which he is famous, The Inner Circle is a thrilling novel that once again proves Brad Meltzer as a brilliant author writing at the height of his craft.

Originally published: New York: Ballantine Books, 1993.

Hey, all you cool cats and vampires, I'm witch and bounty hunter Sylvie Orion. Or at least, I was. Who and what I am seems to be up for debate these days. I mean, other than the fact I'm now the world's most wanted witch. (The reward is buy-your-own-island money. I even want to turn myself in) Currently, I'm missing my soul and all the magic that comes with it. For extra athame-in- the-eye fun, I'm being held prisoner by Shifter Nation. Whoa Goddess, do they have plans for me. Plans no sane witch would ever agree to be a part of. I never wanted to start a war. I just wanted to live a quiet, witchy life. But my soul has its own destiny, and if I don't get it back, I'll have no say in what happens next. Hold on to your wands, beyotches, because this witch never says die. "Motherducking Witches is a highly unexpected and brilliantly exciting continuation of this fun and amazing series. It allows us to take a deeper look into this beautifully complex storyline that has wrapped itself around my heart and won't let go." "This is such a fun, action-filled story with interesting characters. Sylvie Orion, a bounty hunter witch with very limited magic, is in the fight of her life to get back her stolen soul. I really like Sylvie and how she cleverly makes up for her weak magic as she battles stronger paranormal creatures. Another terrific story in the Bad Magic Bounty Hunter series. Can't wait to see what happens next!" Keywords: paranormal romance, fantasy romance, urban fantasy, shifter romance, bear shifters, steamy romance, shifters, alpha heroes, alpha shifters, myth, mythology, love story, werewolf, werewolf romance, action adventure, vampire, witch, demon, devil, psychic, shapeshifter, alpha, vampires, vampire series, shapeshifter werewolf romance, fantasy, lycan, mate bond, vampire, vampire romance, immortal, vampire slayer, fae, Laurel K. Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, Gena Showalter, K.F. Breene, J.R. Ward, JR Ward, Shannon Mayer, Ruby Dixon, Vampire Diaries, Twilight, Crave, Tracy Wolff, The Vampire Diaries, Bella Forrest, A Shade of Vampire

The mathematics behind some of the world's most amazing card tricks Magical Mathematics reveals the secrets of fun-to-perform card tricks—and the profound mathematical ideas behind them—that will astound even the most accomplished magician. Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham provide easy, step-by-step instructions for each trick, explaining how to set up the effect and offering tips on what to say and do while performing it. Each card trick introduces a new mathematical idea, and varying the tricks in turn takes readers to the very threshold of today's mathematical knowledge. Diaconis and Graham tell the stories—and reveal the best tricks—of the eccentric and brilliant inventors of mathematical magic. The book exposes old gambling secrets through the mathematics of shuffling cards, explains the classic street-gambling scam of three-card Monte, traces the history of mathematical magic back to the oldest mathematical trick—and much more.

An illustrated foray into the hidden truth about the use of psychoactive mushrooms to connect with the divine. • Draws parallels between Vedic beliefs and Judeo-Christian sects, showing the existence of a mushroom cult that crossed cultural boundaries. • Contends that the famed philosophers' stone of the alchemist was a metaphor for the mushroom. • Confirms and extends Robert Gordon Wasson's hypothesis of the role of the fly agaric mushroom in generating religious visions. Rejecting arguments that the elusive philosophers' stone of alchemy and the Hindu elixir of life were mere legend, Clark Heinrich provides a strong case that Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric mushroom, played this role in world religious history. Working under the assumption that this "magic mushroom" was the mysterious food and drink of the gods, Heinrich traces its use in Vedic and Puranic religion, illustrating how ancient cultures used the powerful psychedelic in esoteric rituals meant to bring them into direct contact with the divine. He then shows how the same mushroom symbols found in Hindu scriptures correspond perfectly to the symbols of ancient Judaism, Christianity, the Grail myths, and alchemy, arguing that miraculous stories as disparate as the burning bush of Moses and the raising of Lazarus from the dead can be easily explained by the use of this strange and powerful mushroom. While acknowledging the speculative nature of his work, Heinrich concludes that in many religious cultures and traditions the fly agaric mushroom--and in some cases ergot or psilocybin mushrooms--had a fundamental influence in teaching humans about the nature of God. His insightful book truly brings new light to the religious history of humanity.

As Ein delves deeper into Ishtarica’s greatest secrets, he’s suddenly reminded of the legend Professor Oz once shared with him. The prince tries to connect these puzzle pieces when he receives a troubling report from across the ocean—Heim is gearing up to invade its neighbors while Euro has been overrun by mysterious creatures known as chimeras. Unable to let these heinous acts slide, Ein and the Ishtaricans quickly take action against Heim’s devious machinations. But while doing so, the crown prince comes face-to-face with a shocking revelation regarding his most trusted confidants. Can Ein save the world and destroy the roaming chimeras, even with the deck so stacked against him? And more importantly, can he find the strength to stand on the front lines of a grisly war in order to protect his loved ones?