The Master Mind of Mars introduces Ulysses Paxton, an Earthman who finds himself transported to the planet Mars. Under the guidance of Ras Thavas, Paxton acquires knowledge about the workings of Martian society.

After a ten-year hiatus, John Carter returns to Mars and finds himself in the Valley Dor, a place no one is meant to leave. This is the Martian version of the afterlife. Here, Carter unearths a sophisticated plot masterminded by the Therns, who have used bogus religious promises to trick the other races of Barsoom for millennia. In addition to his ally Tars Tarkas, Carter makes new friends in the Thern princess Phaidor and the slave girl Thuvia. Together, they encounter many dangerous situations, such as fights with the fearsome Black Pirates of Barsoom. The political and social complexity of Burroughs' Martian universe is further explored in this sequel to A Princess of Mars, which also presents the protagonist with new allies and foes as it explores themes of deceit, colonialism, and the pursuit of both individual and societal salvation. Though clearly science fiction, it is recognized for having had a significant impact on the planetary romance subgenre, fusing exotic locales, speculative science, and daring adventure. It differs from space operas in that it places more of an emphasis on surface locations than spacecraft. This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

John Carter, a Confederate veteran, finds himself transported to Mars after the Civil War, where he discovers he has extraordinary physical abilities due to the planet's different gravity and atmosphere. Amidst Mars' diverse species and complex politics, Carter becomes a leader among the Tharks, a tribe of fierce green Martians, and embarks on a perilous adventure to save Dejah Thoris, the princess of the red Martians. His quest throws him into the heart of Martian conflicts, pitting him against the predatory Zodanga state, escalating his adventures into a grand battle for peace and justice. A Princess of Mars marks a pivotal point in the evolution of science fiction literature. This novel not only pioneered the planetary romance subgenre - blending elements of fantasy with adventurous swordplay and distant worlds - but also integrated themes from Westerns, setting its narrative on a desolate, dying Mars, as imagined through the once-popular astronomical theories of Percival Lowell. Its profound influence extended beyond literature, inspiring future science fiction legends and scientific minds alike, shaping both the narrative style and the thematic exploration of space and extraterrestrial civilizations in modern sci-fi. This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

A RUSA Award-winning novel! The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer.... When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case. With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

“Filled with deep emotion and intense spark, Marcella Bell brings grit, spark and brilliance to western romance! Marcella Bell is one to watch!”—Maisey Yates, New York Times bestselling author The world watches on as reality TV meets rodeo in this competition like no other. In front of the cameras, Lil and AJ are each other’s biggest rivals. Off-screen, it’s about to get a whole lot more complicated… At thirty-six, undefeated rodeo champion AJ Garza is supposed to be retiring, not chasing after an all-new closed-circuit rodeo tour with a million-dollar prize. But with the Houston rodeo program that saved him as a wayward teen on the brink of bankruptcy, he’ll compete. And he’ll win. Enter Lilian Sorrow Island. Raised by her grandparents on the family ranch in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Lil is more a cowboy than city boy AJ will ever be. It shows. She’s not about to let him steal the prize that’ll save her ranch, even if he is breathtakingly magnificent, in pretty much every way going… This summer, in this bold, uplifting novel, Marcella Bell reminds us that even when it comes to rodeo, romance is the wildest ride of all! A Closed Circuit Novel

SOON TO BE A NEW FILM, STREAMING ON MAX FALL OF 2024 • #1 BESTSELLER • Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem’s Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book. "A master storyteller." —The Los Angeles Times When two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Mears begins to realize that something sinister is at work. In fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small New England town. With this, his second novel, Stephen King established himself as an indisputable master of American horror, able to transform the old conceits of the genre into something fresh and all the more frightening for taking place in a familiar, idyllic locale.

Bridging the fields of conservation, art history, and museum curating, this volume contains the principal papers from an international symposium titled "Historical Painting Techniques, Materials, and Studio Practice" at the University of Leiden in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from June 26 to 29, 1995. The symposium—designed for art historians, conservators, conservation scientists, and museum curators worldwide—was organized by the Department of Art History at the University of Leiden and the Art History Department of the Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science in Amsterdam. Twenty-five contributors representing museums and conservation institutions throughout the world provide recent research on historical painting techniques, including wall painting and polychrome sculpture. Topics cover the latest art historical research and scientific analyses of original techniques and materials, as well as historical sources, such as medieval treatises and descriptions of painting techniques in historical literature. Chapters include the painting methods of Rembrandt and Vermeer, Dutch 17th-century landscape painting, wall paintings in English churches, Chinese paintings on paper and canvas, and Tibetan thangkas. Color plates and black-and-white photographs illustrate works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.