Three installments of the New York Times–bestselling series set in a land of enchantment filled with magic, surprises, adventure, and—best of all—puns! The world of Xanth is a wacky one full of offbeat heroes and surprising journeys. In these three volumes of this hilarious series, characters bumble their way through many misadventures to find their happy ending on the other side, aided and hindered by puns along the way. Board Stiff: Thanks to a mental typo and an ornery wishing well the once beautiful Irrelevant Kandy is now a board of wood—with mind control powers. And Ease wishes everything wasn’t so easy. Fortunately, Humfrey the Good Magician is there to provide them with a quest: saving the puns of Xanth. But who released a virus that could destroy Xanth’s essence, and will Kandy and Ease figure out how to stop it in time? Five Portraits: Astrid Basilisk is a sweet girl whose very glance is deadly. As she embarks on a selfless mission to save five difficult children from future Xanth, she must fight the pun virus that threatens to destroy the magical world. Isis Orb: Hapless has the ability to conjure any musical instrument he wants, but he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. All he wants is to learn to play an instrument and get a girlfriend. When the Good Magician hears about his desperate desire, he sends Hapless on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess guarding it isn’t going to let him simply take it.

Romance. Adventure. Mystery. This book has none of these things. What it does have in spades is a bunch of very short stories, many of which were first published in the local newspaper. For too long, short stories have not been nearly short enough. The collection you're holding in your hot little hands aims to remedy this. The Meaning of Life (And Other Short Stories) is a collection of Stuart McCullough's best writing. Rest assured that the short stories included in this collection have all either been hand-picked or (at the very least) right mouse clicked and dragged, to ensure that only the absolute cream of the crop has ended up between the covers.

Kandy may be bored stiff, but a magical mishap makes her problem literal in this hilarious novel in the New York Times–bestselling Xanth series. In the land of Xanth, where everyone has a unique magical talent, adventures come easily to most. But two inhabitants find themselves quite bored . . . until they’re inadvertently thrust together on a mission to save Xanth from an anti-pun virus that could turn their world into just another Mundania. Irrelevant Kandy is gorgeous, but thanks to a mental typo and an ornery wishing well, she’s now an actual board—with mind control powers. So much for her big plans for adventure, excitement, and romance. And Ease has his own problems, namely that everything is just too easy. He craves a challenge. Fortunately, Humfrey the Good Magician is more than happy to provide them with a quest. The duo—along with a basilisk bodyguard in the form of a young woman and nefarious android Com Pewter—is tasked with saving the puns of Xanth. But who could have released a virus that would destroy Xanth’s essence, and can Kandy and Ease figure out how to stop it in time?

New York magazine was born in 1968 after a run as an insert of the New York Herald Tribune and quickly made a place for itself as the trusted resource for readers across the country. With award-winning writing and photography covering everything from politics and food to theater and fashion, the magazine's consistent mission has been to reflect back to its audience the energy and excitement of the city itself, while celebrating New York as both a place and an idea.

Author Lena Malouf is a renowned expert in the special events industry. She has won countless accolades for her work, including a recent Lifetime Achievement Award from The Special Event, and has served in major leadership positions in several industry organizations, including as International President of the International Special Events Society and an advisory board member for The Special Event. This book will feature straightforward advice on operating a successful special events business, gleaned from Malouf's 40+ years in the event planning industry. The book will include guidance on developing a strategy, identifying potential clients, developing proposals, building an event budget, coordinating with contractors, and much more. And beyond the business components, the book will also include a section on designing successful events, including tabletop, ceiling, and wall decor, while a chapter on developing thematic concepts will illustrate how an event planner can successfully bring a theme to life. With full-color photos in two 8-page inserts and practical checklists throughout, this will be a must-have reference for industry professionals, special events students, and aspiring event planning professionals everywhere.

A complete guide for anyone wanting to organise their own event, no matter what the event, how large or small. Suitable for first time events organisers or experienced events managers, with a handy section for anyone looking for a career in events management and a comprehensive wedding planning section. This is the complete book black and white version because the book is too big to publish in colour. The colour version is available in 2 parts (1. generic events management 2. wedding planning).