Johannes Verne was soon to be rescued by outlaws, but no one could save him from the lasting memory of his grandfather’s eyes, full of impenetrable hatred. Raised in part by Indians, then befriended by a mysterious woman, Johannes grew up to become a rugged adventurer and an educated man. But even now, strengthened by the love of a golden-haired girl and well on his way to making a fortune in bustling early-day Los Angeles, the past may rise up to threaten his future once more. And this time only the ancient gods of the desert can save him.

    He visited them and brought them sweets. He treated them like sons. He trained them to be assassins.Now he is trying to have them killed.

    Gangs, looters, and vandals have seized the streets. The decent few can only pray for a leader to protect them. Luckily, one of the survivors is Ben Raines. Rebel mercenary, retired soldier, and tireless patriot, Raines is searching for his missing family in the aftermath of this devastating war. His relentless pursuit through the ruined cities of the west unites him with the civilians of the Resistance forces. They become his recruits for a revolutionary army dedicated to rebuilding America. Then comes the final outrage: an armed attack by government forces. With the fate of America's New Patriots hanging in the balance, Raines vows--government be damned--to survive, find his family, and lead this once great nation out of the ashes.

    nemesis square off In a Spanish tavern, each hoping to walk away with the crucial Lubyanka Report. The report somehow lands in the hands of Eroica, who hopes to trade it to the Major in exchange for The Man in Purple, the painting he covets -- which Iron Klaus happens to possess. To capture the Earl, Klaus finds himself a reluctant ally to Saleem, the Kuwaiti oil magnate who Eroica swindled once before.

    NATO, the CIA and even the KGB conspire to lure the world's most elegant art thief away from the world's most irresistible jewels. Will Eroica take the bait? Meanwhile, in a second story, the Major's past is exposed. A trip down Klaus's memory lane is bound to be anything but warm and fuzzy. Or is it? Under orders from his superior officers, he reluctantly attends a class reunion, where he learns a very different lesson from the one they intended.

    [4] of cover.

    For the first time, all Rebel warships are being brought together to form a single, giant armada. Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia have made their way to Tatooine to rescue Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster, Jabba the Hutt. Little do they know the Rebellion is doomed. The Emperor has ordered construction of a new armored space station more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star Spotlight editions are printed on high-quality paper and with reinforced library bindings specifically printed for the library market. Grades 6-12.