This volume contains writing from 1995 to 1998 on a variety of subjects, including the eating of sheep faces, Sin City, the ugliness of comics, the parallel world where comics legend Stan Lee dies in a horrific plumbing accident, how to write for comics, and why Michael Moorcock scares the hell out of him!

    If you have a "next big thing" in mind you want to do because you know it will be awesome (starting the business, making the big move, launching the nonprofit, writing the book) but are afraid of doing what it would take to make that thing happen, then you should read this.The universe is very big. You are very small. In fact, you're so small and so insignificant in the big picture that you don't even register to the eye of the cosmos. The universe was here before you were born and will be here long after you're gone, and your life is but a blip on its vast, vast radar. If your life is to matter, it's not going to matter to the universe. It's up to you make your life matter in the only way you can: by doing things that make a difference to you, to those around you, and to those whose lives you touch. Time is short. You have exactly NOW to do whatever it is you're here to do, or to let the inexorable passage of hours and days and years kill your potential like fruit left to die on a vine. The universe doesn’t hate you, but it doesn’t love you, either. You’re just an atom in its infinite workings. The universe doesn’t care if you live, die, suffer, or thrive. Whatever your life here will mean is up to you. Stop worrying so much about what others think and start being who you're supposed to be. It's time to do some epic shit.

    As an Air Forces Fire Protection Specialist, Ace has seen his fair share of infernos from fires in the sky, to chemical buildings, and even forest fires. While running into a burning building is no big deal for him, he dreads the call. He understands the devastation and destruction fires can cause, not to mention the loss of life as he lost his first girlfriend to a fire while in high school.  His job is get people out of the fire and contain it at the same time. So, when he watches a car crash unfold while on leave, he jumps into action. He’s prepared to do what it takes to save the young women in the car… And protect his heart from the burning desire she awakes in his soul. While heading home to help her mother with a legal problem, Lexi Aberdean is T-Boned and her car bursts into flames. Lucky for her, a good Samaritan saves her life and now all she wants to do is find a way to repay him. Only, he wants nothing to do with her. That is until a series of unexplained events, including a fire, makes Lexi believe the accident was no accident at all.

    This is the "intelligence trap," the subject of David Robson’s fascinating and provocative book.The Intelligence Trap explores cutting-edge ideas in our understanding of intelligence and expertise, including "strategic ignorance," "meta-forgetfulness," and "functional stupidity." Robson reveals the surprising ways that even the brightest minds and most talented organizations can go wrong—from some of Thomas Edison’s worst ideas to failures at NASA, Nokia, and the FBI. And he offers practical advice to avoid mistakes based on the timeless lessons of Benjamin Franklin, Richard Feynman, and Daniel Kahneman.

    

    From 1836 to 1837, Emerson presented a series of lectures on the philosophy of history at Boston's Masonic Temple. These lectures were never published separately but many of Emerson's thoughts were later used in Self-reliance. In this book, first published in 1841, Emerson clearly illustrates the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and to follow his or her own instincts and ideas. Here, Andrew Holmes' interpretation of Self-reliance illustrates the timeless nature of Emerson's insights by bringing them to life through 52 modern case studies. This brilliant interpretation of Self-reliance is an entertaining accompaniment to one of the most famous books on strategy ever written.

    Should we believe in God? In this new book, written for a new generation, the brilliant science writer and author of The God Delusion, explains why we shouldn't.Should we believe in God? Do we need God in order to explain the existence of the universe? Do we need God in order to be good? In twelve chapters that address some of the most profound questions human beings confront, Dawkins marshals science, philosophy and comparative religion to interrogate the hypocrisies of all the religious systems and explain to readers of all ages how life emerged without a Creator, how evolution works and how our world came into being.For anyone hoping to grapple with the meaning of life and what to believe, Outgrowing God is a challenging, thrilling and revelatory read.

    Matthew “Wolf” Steele and his wife Caroline are with Trevor on a road trip to central Washington to assess the lodge for renovation. Honor Carpenter is a beautiful, intelligent, shy woman, emotionally scarred and still recovering from a horrifying experience from her past. She is alone, returning to Seattle from her first solo vacation. She has a flat tire while getting gas at a truck stop and learns of a major snowstorm looming ahead of her. Fortunately, she runs into Trevor, Wolf and Caroline, who offer to help her. A strong physical attraction develops between Honor and Trevor almost immediately. During dinner Wolf notices five dangerous looking men have taken a strong interest in them, but neither Wolf or Trevor recognize them. When the men leave, Trevor and Wolf dismiss their presence as chance. The snowstorm causes the roads to close and Trevor invites Honor to stay with them and the four of them use the lobby in the lodge as shelter. Honor grows closer to Trevor and sparks fly, but the romance must be put on hold. They soon discover the men from the diner have followed them and brought backup, surrounding the lodge and disabling Trevor’s truck. In the middle of central Washington, with no communication and few resources, Wolf and Trevor must unravel the mystery as to why they are being followed. Facing overwhelming odds Trevor and Wolf vow to protect protect Honor and Caroline at at any cost. WARNING: This book contains an explicit sex scene. Protecting Honor is action packed from start to finish. The romance sizzles.

    Happily ever after? Not so much. Evan and Annie are deeply in love, but that hasn’t stopped tension from creating cracks in their relationship. Determined not to fail his wife, Evan takes action before those cracks become craters, damaging their marriage irreparably. Over the Fourth of July weekend, he’ll reignite Annie’s passion with his own brand of fireworks.Stand back and watch the sparks fly. *Break out the fireworks and get ready to kick off your summer with this HOT new collection of stories. Sparks Fly is part of the Red Hot and BOOM! multi-author series (stands alone for reading enjoyment) Sparks Fly is a 12K word short story.

    Brandon Sanderson is one of the most innovative and prolific authors writing today, and Tor Books is proud to share with you two of his most exciting series: The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn.This electronic sampler contains part one of The Way of Kings, book one in The Stormlight archive, and the first five chapters of Mistborn, book one of the Mistborn series.We hope that you'll enjoy this look into the rich imagination of #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

    L. Montgomery might be the perfect husband and father—if he loves her.Jared is used to getting what he wants, so he can't understand Paige's reluctance to marry him. Is she just a gold digger hoping to make him want her more by playing it cool? Or the most independent—and sexy—woman he's ever met?What will it take for Jared to see Paige as more than an acquisition, and for Paige to get her elevator cowboy back?The story concludes in Nine Months Part 3.

    The science fiction/fantasy anthology ALTERED PERCEPTIONS, is kind of like a bonus DVD full of deleted scenes and alternate versions of some of your favorite authors’ books.Ally Condie: the foreword; Dan Wells the introduction; Annette Lyon: An unpublished chapter from her retelling of the Finnish fairy tale, THE KALEVALA; Aprilynne Pike: TBA; Brandon Mull: Deleted scenes from BEYONDERS 2; Brandon Sanderson: five completely rewritten chapters from THE WAY OF KINGS, where Kaladin makes the opposite choice of what he makes in the published novel; Bree Despain: an alternate ending to THE LOST SAINT, and an alternate beginning to THE SHADOW PRINCE; Brodi Ashton: the first chapter from her YA novel about an unwilling alien fighter who has to rescue the boy she loves; Claudia Gray: a deleted scene from A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU; Dan Wells: the original John Cleaver free-write that inspired I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER; Erin Bowman: a deleted scene from TAKEN; Howard Tayler: a creative non-fiction story about life with mental illness; J Scott Savage: three original chapters that led to writing FARWORLD; Jennifer Moore: a deleted scene from BECOMING LADY LOCKWOOD; Jessica Day George: a deleted scene from PRINCESS OF GLASS, where the main character plays poker with a witch; Josi Kilpack: the original opening scene to TRES LECHES CUPCAKE; Kiersten White: an original short story, set in a dystopian, sci-fi world; Larry Correia: a deleted fight scene from SWORDS OF EXODUS; Lauren Oliver: two deleted scenes from PANDEMONIUM, plus a hilarious scene about the plotting process; Luisa Perkins: a short story, “Seeing Red”–a modern-day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood; Mary Robinette Kowal: deleted scene from VALOUR AND VANITY (the scene was cut because readers thought the scene was trying to depict depression); Nancy Allen: bonus scene from BEAUTY AND THE CLOCKWORK BEAST; Robison Wells: an epilogue to FEEDBACK and the VARIANT duology; Sandra Tayler: a creative non-fiction piece called “Married To Depression”; Sara Zarr: a story featuring characters from one of Sara’s previously published novels; Sarah Eden: “Farewells” for LONGING FOR HOPE and HOPE SPRINGS; Seanan McGuire: The original opening for DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON; Shannon Hale: ”Ravenous,” a previously unpublished scifi short story; SJ Kincaid: the original first chapter of VORTEX, before it was entirely rewritten

    And now that Bethany's proposed a marriage of convenience to Tony, Christopher may have an instant family.Tony's having second thoughts about the wedding since Bethany confessed her secret. It shouldn't make a difference—their marriage is supposed to be temporary anyway. But he's finding it harder to imagine a future without her. What dreams must he give up to make the marriage work?The story concludes in Marriage by Contract Part 3.