The human race is dying. An unknown enemy came from the stars with one goal Kill all the humans! Our technology, as impressive as it is with colonists spread across a large portion of the galaxy, is useless in the face of this new threat. One small ship, the Lost Cavalier, hatches a desperate plan to find a new weapon against this unstoppable enemy; magic. The desperate crew attempt to travel back in time to retrieve the Last Wizard of Earth. They need to alter or even avoid the war that mankind cannot afford to lose. Their journey is fraught with peril, for the enemy is hunting down the battered ship and they must find new allies in order to complete the mission at all costs! For if they fail, humanity itself will disappear forever!

Young Arestus lives comfortably in the kingdom of the Pale Prince, until his friend Cirin embarks on yet another adventure this time across the seas. The pair are shipwrecked on the island of Hallowell, a kingdom on the brink of war. Their only hope is an exiled Wizard who lives at the end of the world, but can Arestus reach him in time?

Our fear of the world ending, like our fear of the dark, is ancient, deep-seated and perennial. It crosses boundaries of space and time, recurs in all human communities and finds expression in every aspect of cultural production - from pre-historic cave paintings to high-tech computer games. This volume examines historical and imaginary scenarios of apocalypse, the depiction of its likely triggers, and imagined landscapes in the aftermath of global destruction. Its discussion moves effortlessly from classic novels including Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, to blockbuster films such as Blade Runner, Armageddon and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Lisboa also takes into account religious doctrine, scientific research and the visual arts to create a penetrating, multi-disciplinary study that provides profound insight into one of Western culture's most fascinating and enduring preoccupations.

Throughout all of this, the Catholic Church declared a ban on any form of contraception in South America, Mexico, Central America, and Africa. In these poor countries the Church felt it still had significant influence. This action only added to the already staggering population growth. People not killed off by disease died from starvation. The rise of the Christian Right, who were no more than fascists, added their considerable weight to the crisis. This movement managed to influence the U.S. federal government, particularly the executive and judicial branches. Their influence had U.S. Presidents reject the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Accords, using the excuse that participating in them would hurt American business interests. In true Fascist tradition, the American military industrial complex and right wing Christian ideologues, were cozily in bed with each other. When the developing nations saw the United States pay no more than lip service to Kyoto and Bali, they followed suit. Debt national, corporate, and personal was staggering. The Christian Right became deeply entrenched in government, the military, and business. But they needed Democrats and began to court them like a rich old geezer courts a Playboy centerfold. Payment rendered by the Democrats was the gutting of the Constitution and the repeal of Roe v. Wade. The Christian Right was very close to creating their ideal Christian Nation but took one huge misstep. Nuclear missiles were shaken by their political puppets like a stick shaken by an armchair general scolding a poor ally. China and India, considered godless by the Right, were the targets of this saber rattling, even though they held most of this nations debt. When they had had enough, they called in the debt. The United States went financially belly-up and because of the inter-connectedness of the global economy woven between nations, so did other countries. This worldwide governmental bankruptcy, combined with things previously mentioned, brought about total collapse. Governments capitulated and civil order became non-existent, ushering in The Age of Anarchy. The world, now more than ever, needed heroes.

Traumatized by a tragic accident at the wizardry school where he is a student, Tvrdik retreats to the solitude of the ancient forest. But his fragile peace is shattered when his old Master shows up to recruit him for a classic battle of good and evil. Tvrdik may be the only person who can tip the balance, and the stakes are frighteningly high. If he is to succeed, he must team up with Lady Jorelial Rey, the spirited, dragon-riding regent of a kingdom in chaos, and they must convince the established powers of the land to embrace decidedly unconventional methods of winning the fight. Together with a ragtag assortment of courageous allies, including dragons, unicorns, bards, talking beasts, and one very wild water sprite, the pair set about saving their beloved homeland from a ruthless usurper, using their wits, creativity, and a sprinkling of magic. But will hope and determination be enough for the very last wizard of Eneri Clare, and his friends, to meet the daunting challenges ahead, and set the trajectory of history itself back on course? This is a story about finding a new way to fight for what is precious, an adventure filled with second chances, surprise twists, and, above all, the power of hope, fellowship, and love, to move mountains.

Originally published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea marks the first of the six now beloved Earthsea titles. Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

Kyros' tyrannical ruler, King Gjanion, has convinced his subjects that he is the last wizard. While seeking to crush the rebellion that has risen against him, Gjanion encounters Mara -- the true last wizard. Fearing the exposure of his lies, the King tries to silence Mara, who fights to protect those she loves. Her adoptive parents, Zhira and Gant, use alchemy to support her journey, to find the rebellion, and to help end the King's reign.