The young Eryn grows up cut off from the world in the remote mountain region of Ardeen. In the clan community of the Fenn, far removed from any sort of magic, he is taught to spurn sorcery and to believe in the power of the Gods. When war ravages the country, he finds himself drawn into the vortex of events. Abducted by his enemies, he is taken to the Lowlands, where mages accidentally discover his great potential for magic, and a completely new world opens up to him. Arduous years of study begin, during which Eryn tries to decipher the secrets that weave themselves around him. Here, nothing is as it first appears. The world of Ardeen is a place full of magic and mythical creatures. With wit and irony, the story develops through a series of smaller, self-contained episodes which quickly make clear that even the best mages have to struggle with rather ordinary everyday problems.

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This volume, the earlier of the two-volume official History of Aberdeen, provides a comprehensive picture of the development of the two historic burghs of Old Aberdeen and New Aberdeen over their first seven centuries, from 1100 to 1800. As early as the 14th century, Aberdeen was: recognized as one of the 'four great towns of Scotland'. Early settlement, the growing townscape and social change over the centuries are all traced. Aberdeen's contacts with the sea and other towns overseas and its economy and politics, both local and national, are assessed. And Aberdonians themselves, the vital forces behind the history of the two burghs, are highlighted: their faith and culture, homes and health, and their education and pastimes are all rediscovered.

Aberdeen is full of mysteries, marvels and strangeness, and this book is a comprehensive guide to them all. Here you will encounter magic, witchcraft, folklore and superstitions; contemporary urban legends; gargoyles and graveyards; graverobbers and murderers; stone circles and prehistoric burial sites; UFOs and freak weather; and tales of horror, madness, humour – and dangerous porridge. Many forgotten aspects of the city’s strange history are here, from the disturbing (spontaneous human combustion, William Wallace’s dismembered limbs, the man who died of fright after a mock execution, and the bodysnatching professors) to the downright bizarre (a talking statue, a wedding celebration which was mistaken for an alien invasion fleet, and golf with giant skulls). The Guide to Mysterious Aberdeen is the tenth in Geoff Holder’s acclaimed series. As with the previous volumes, it is profusely illustrated with over 100 photographs and draws on both ancient and modern sources. Full access and location details are given for both driver and walker alike, making this the indispensable companion for anyone exploring the Granite City.

Situated in southeastern Harford County and edged by the Chesapeake Bay and the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers, the U.S. Army bases known as Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood Arsenal, and Fort Hoyle have been home to ordnance, chemical, technology, and artillery commands. The photographs in this volume include scenes of the fertile farmlands of Aberdeen, Edgewood, and Michaelsville, and their transformation, which began in 1917, into the military base known today as Aberdeen Proving Ground, or APG. Views of daily life on base include the "Toonerville" Trolley, a small-scale train that shuttled commuting personnel between the main gate and the buildings on post. The images document changes in the ways wars have been fought and changes in society as a result of war. Brave officers voluntarily tested the effects of mustard agent and other chemical weapons on protective clothing and gas masks. Local women sewed gas masks for troops and civilians. Women moved into key jobs on base during World War II, manufacturing and maintaining tanks and weapons systems as the need for great numbers of troops depleted the workforce of civilian males. APG scientists led the way into the computer age when they developed ENIAC, the first electronic digital computer.