In a distant time and galaxy, far from any known planet or star.... It is an era of dominance for the Elof Empire. Many planets have come under its sovereignty, including Hupoge, where it has enslaved the people as a tragic example should any choose to resist the Empire's control. On the remote planet of Quarros, Kyd Lumin—betrayer of the Empire and beacon of hope for the Hupogeans—has taken refuge. Though he has carved out a satisfying life for himself, has a wife he loves and a daughter he adores, every day of his existence he lives in fear that the Empire will one day find him and bring an end to all he cherishes. Meanwhile, Mairel Elof—heiress to the Empress's throne—is pursuing the Empire's betrayer and has discovered his whereabouts. She will capture, kill and conquer anything that stands in her way to carry out that mission successfully. But a revolt is coming. With a ramshackle plan in motion, the Hupogeans call on Kyd Lumin to help them gain freedom from the Empire. Now, he must decide if he will risk his family’s safety to save his people….

From the author of Imaginary Me and SIAOPE comes a book that asks the question: What if there was a world without humor? Meet Jerry Stinson. He's an accountant. He has a roommate named Carl. Carl doesn't work. Jerry does. Until suddenly Jerry doesn't. Then Jerry discovers something unexpected. Unexpected with consequences. His brain tells him to say words that when spoken cause others to react in a never-before-seen way. It's something Jerry can't put a name to because his world has never experienced it before: humor, jokes, laughter. The words cause great joyfulness but also cause great harm. Now Jerry is worried. Does he share what he's discovered with others? Or keep it to himself? Bottle it up? Or pour it out? Whatever he decides will have a lasting impact on the future of his world. The latest book from Desmond Shepherd explores the importance of humor in society and emphasizes that we all have something in life to laugh for.

The final showdown has arrived for... The Holographic Man! After thwarting an attempt to destroy his relationship with his best friends Lanker, Bagger, and Tia, Fram Gage learns they can have something they all thought they’d lost. Their parents! But before they can reunite, The Holographic Man has other plans for them. He’s trapped them within the confines of a holographic world where their forgotten pasts are revealed. What they learn affects them in ways they never imagined possible. They must overcome adversity, heartbreaking revelations, and painful truths in their determination to put an end to the Holographic Man, escape, and ultimately find their parents. Will they succeed?

First came the meteor. Then came the murder. Leon Dweller's life is in shambles. His wife left him, he drinks too much, and his career as a private detective has met a dead end. Late one night, Leon witnesses a strange meteor. Unlike the usual passing spark in the sky, this one moves slowly, methodically, and finally disappears. He wonders what it could be. That same night, a gruesome murder happens in town. An unlikely person asks Leon to find the killer. Reluctantly obligated, he agrees to do it. Convinced that the meteor and the murder are connected, Leon's investigation leads him to unexpected answers. Solving the case is one matter. Learning the implications of his role in it could impact all of humanity is quite another. Will he be able to follow through on the consequences of what he discovers? Combining the suspense of a murder mystery and the intrigue of sci-fi with some humor for good measure, this novel by the author of Imaginary Me unveils a puzzle of a story that ends nowhere near where it begins.

Every hero must accept his past... Every hero must protect those he loves... Without memories of his life before arriving at Biality Orphanage or competing in the holographic room called The Ability Chamber, Fram Gage is determined to uncover the secrets of his origin. Meanwhile... Someone or something at Biality Orphanage wants to use Fram's Infinite ability for their selfish purpose. Attempting to stop them will lead Fram down a path of discovery that might be more than he can handle. Will Fram be able to stop the menace and come to terms with what he learns about himself? This action-packed adventure will take you on a thrilling ride that will show how important friendship and family are for everyone. Includes three novels! The Infinite Ability The Three Adversaries The Holographic Man

This book introduces readers to a wide range of applications for elements in Group 16 of the periodic table, such as, optical fibers for communication and sensing, X-ray imaging, electrochemical sensors, data storage devices, biomedical applications, photovoltaics and IR detectors, the rationale for these uses, the future scope of their applications, and expected improvements to existing technologies. Following an introductory section, the book is broadly divided into three parts—dealing with Sulfur, Selenium, and Tellurium. The sections cover the basic structure of the elements and their compounds in bulk and nanostructured forms; properties that make these useful for various applications, followed by applications and commercial products. As the global technology revolution necessitates the search for new materials and more efficient devices in the electronics and semiconductor industry, Applications of Chalcogenides: S, Se, and Te is an ideal book for a wide range of readers in industry, government and academic research facilities looking beyond silicon for materials used in the electronic and optoelectronic industry as well as biomedical applications.

"Who am I?" I ask Sammy Pruitt that question all the time. She's a four-year-old girl who imagines me. I'm whoever she wants and whatever she needs. I'm her imaginary friend. She definitely needs me, because there's an evil queen who hates her. She treats Sammy in a way no parent ever should. And Sammy's trapped living with her. But Sammy and I have a plan. A way to forever rid life of the evil queen and be happy. It'll take hard work, imagination, and courage to reach our goal. That's why Sammy imagines me. Because I'm her protection and the means to her escape. Desmond Shepherd writes his most emotional and gripping story yet. Filled with smiles, tears, and triumph, take a journey unlike any other and one you'll never forget in Imaginary Me.