Since its 2001 release, Nintendo's crown jewel, "Super Smash Bros. Melee," has inspired multiple generations of players to sustain a grassroots community. The Book of Melee is a deep dive into the universe of competitive Melee, gaming's greatest and most unlikely underdog story.In The Book of Melee, longtime Melee enthusiast and gaming journalist Edwin Budding covers the history of competitive Melee through the lens of its greatest legends, including "The Five Gods of Melee." Simultaneously absurd, heartwarming, and tear-jerking, The Book of Melee tackles the evolution of the most passionate cult following of the 21st century, from crowded restaurant basements to packed arenas.

In a world where most video game players crave the newest hardware or the latest game, one tight-knit global gaming community, thousands strong, has stood alone for nearly two decades: the competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee (SSBM) scene. SSBM's release for the Nintendo GameCube in 2001 signaled an exciting moment in gaming history: a continuation of the popular Smash Bros. franchise, boasting even more characters and iconography from players' favorite Nintendo properties. Melee is Broken argues that SSBM's unique staying power is sourced from its reliance on hardware objects from the early 2000s, through which new life is breathed into ostensibly "dead" media objects. Through blending textual analysis with artistic research-creation, this book interrogates the ideologies and principles that have sustained the competitive SSBM scene for so many years through examining hardware, software, community discourse, and the formation of universally adopted techniques both in- and out-of-game. This groundbreaking work aims to invite everyone from long-time SSBM competitors to those on the peripheral of SSBM, or even gaming in general, to inquire and learn more about the passion and dedication that defines competitive SSBM.

Many modernist artists in the early years of the 20th century preferred solitary lives, but just as many thrived in small, nebulous groups, such as the Futurists & Imagists. Cohen demonstrates how these groups fostered artistic innovation & bore responsibility for nearly all avante-garde agitation.

How hard can it be to run a marina in the tropics? Freshly divorced for the third time and fired from his "allowance"-paying job in the family oil business by his father as a result, George Marshall is invited by his friends Ricky and Katie May to join them on a sailing trip around the Caribbean. A few weeks later, George and his friends stumble upon the idyllic island of Sao Jorge, where they are welcomed by expat marina owner Tracker Doorn who extols the virtues of Caribbean living-not entirely without ulterior motives. Determined to prove that he is more than a spoiled, womanizing, overage adolescent, George buys the marina to show his skeptical father and family that he has what it takes to achieve business success without their assistance and without having to work too hard. At times raucous, at times touching, Marina Melee is a fun voyage to the Caribbean island of Sao Jorge, where living the easy life is hard work!

He went searching for a fresh start. He didn't expect to find unusual friends, fierce enemies, and primal powers. Jason thought that it was the end of his life after being attacked and hunted by a band of ruthless thugs. Instead, he tapped into the source of creation and emerged from his Death Experience with magical powers. Rescued by a mountain troll and a battle mage, he becomes part of an unlikely group of housemates, defending a mystical old mansion from those who want to destroy it. Joined by a cheerful granny, an incubus who is entirely too attractive, and a tiny fierce kitten, Jason finds a new sense of belonging and purpose. The band of misfits are on the losing side of the mage war until Jason discovers the rules of magic are not as set in stone as they appear to be. Jason has little power, but he discovers he can see magic and manipulate it at a microscopic level. What he detects begins his journey into discovering how his new powers really work, and just might be the edge they need to survive. If you like witty dialogue, diverse characters, magic that feels real, and intense action, then you will love this LGBTQ urban fantasy. If you like Harry Dresden or Iron Druid, or enjoy a thriller grounded in magic, then buy Misfit Mage today and step into a whole new enchanted world. "I liked this book so much I read it in a day." - Suzanne Reed "I enjoyed the improvements in his magical path that was so different than anything else I've ever read." - Melissa Jane "Characters draw you into their world. Looking forward to the next one. Author has a good sense of humor." - Samantha Vincent "I was caught by the characters and plot right away. I enjoyed it from start to finish and look forward to the second book. This book pulls you into itself and you can't put it down." - Tina Kinkade

After getting punched in the face by a golem, Jason discovers he desperately needs two things: a much better offense and a much better defense.To a hammer, everything looks like a nail, and to a mage, everything is solved with magic. That is, unless your magic is small and restricted like Jason's. Since he can't use charms, create shields or throw fireballs, he needs to find a different way to win battles.Fortunately, Tyler is back, and as a Natural, he is ready to teach Jason the Way of the Fist. Among other things. (Nudge nudge, wink wink)And he'll need all the help he can get, because with Isobel gone, the Louisville Mages are in disarray. That should have been the end of the threat to Jason, his friends, and the House. But she left behind a terrible legacy, and now there is a battle royale for power.As the last person standing, Jason must find a way to defend the House and get his friends back on their feet. If he can't do it with magic, then he'll have to do it as a fighter. He will have to become the Melee Mage.