An anthology of the writings of the celebrated German novelist and Nobel laureate.

    Le Guin, Maureen F. McHugh, Mike Resnick, and others.Contents ix • Summation: 1996 • essay by Gardner Dozois1 • Immersion • (1996) • novella by Gregory Benford47 • The Dead • (1996) • shortstory by Michael Swanwick56 • The Flowers of Aulit Prison • [Probability Universe] • (1996) • novelette by Nancy Kress82 • A Dry, Quiet War • (1996) • novelette by Tony Daniel99 • Thirteen Phantasms • (1996) • shortstory by James P. Blaylock109 • Primrose and Thorn • [Primrose] • (1996) • novelette by Bud Sparhawk142 • The Miracle of Ivar Avenue • (1996) • novelette by John Kessel167 • The Last Homosexual • (1996) • shortstory by Paul Park178 • Recording Angel • (1996) • shortstory by Ian McDonald188 • Death Do Us Part • (1996) • shortstory by Robert Silverberg203 • The Spade of Reason • (1996) • shortstory by Jim Cowan218 • The Cost to Be Wise • (1996) • novelette by Maureen F. McHugh254 • Bicycle Repairman • [Chattanooga] • (1996) • novelette by Bruce Sterling279 • The Weighing of Ayre • (1996) • novelette by Gregory Feeley311 • The Longer Voyage • (1996) • novelette by Michael Cassutt330 • The Land of Nod • [Kirinyaga • 10] • (1996) • novelette by Mike Resnick350 • Red Sonja and Lessingham in Dreamland • (1996) • shortstory by Gwyneth Jones362 • The Lady Vanishes • (1996) • shortstory by Charles Sheffield373 • Chrysalis • (1996) • novelette by Robert Reed407 • The Wind Over the World • [Silurian Tales] • (1996) • novelette by Steven Utley430 • Changes • (1996) • shortstory by William Barton445 • Counting Cats in Zanzibar • (1996) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe457 • How We Got In Town and Out Again • (1996) • novelette by Jonathan Lethem475 • Dr. Tilmann's Consultant: A Scientific Romance • (1996) • novelette by Cherry Wilder492 • Schrödinger's Dog • (1996) • novelette by Damien Broderick518 • Foreign Devils • [War of the Worlds] • (1996) • novelette by Walter Jon Williams535 • In the MSOB • (1996) • shortstory by Stephen Baxter539 • The Robot's Twilight Companion • (1996) • novella by Tony Daniel590 • Honorable Mentions: 1996 • essay by Gardner Dozois

    Plus, you'll find a perplexingly frank introduction by the author himself, giving a behind-the-scenes look at each book and the zany radio series that inspired them. But that's not all! You also get a ferocious giggle of a short story, starring the two-headed, three-armed, ex-president of the Universe -- Zaphod Beeblebrox. The saga begins and ends...The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy--Arthur Dent, mild-mannered, out-to-lunch kind of guy, is plucked from Earth just before it is demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Towel in hand, he begins his journey through space and time with his rescuer Ford Prefect, a traveling research for the Guide.The Restaurant at the End of the Universe--where the floor show is Doomsday and Arthur and Ford dine with Zaphod Beeblebrox, well-appendaged, ex-head honcho of the universe, and Trillian, his human girlfriend. The four friends begin their quest for answers to some of the most confounding questions challenging mankind. When will they finish eating? What is the question to the ultimate answer? (which happens to be 42).Life, the Universe and Everything--Everything important and then some is examined in this third book, when Arthur Dent and his companions find they must avert Armageddon and save the Universe for life as we know it (or think we know it!).So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish--Galaxy-weary space traveler Arthur Dent returns to Earth With his new voidoid gang to discover that it has been mysteriously reinstated. But more pertinent questions remain: Why did all the dolphins disappear? What is God's Final Message to His Creation? What really happened the day the Earth was demolished?And finally, in Young Zaphod Plays it Safe--the two-headed hero travels to the depths of the ocean floor to investigate the mysterious destruction of the ship that "could one hundred percent positively never crash." with the annoying assistance of the Safety and Civil Reassurance Administration, Zaphod learns some disturbing secrets...If you're just discovering Douglas Adams's galactic gangbuster of a series, don't panic--The More Than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide is your chance to have it all! (Towel not included.)--jacket

    But when his creature first stirs, he realizes he has constructed a monster. Abandoned by its maker and shunned by everyone who sees it, the monster turns on its creator and haunts Dr. Frankenstein with murder and horrors to the very ends of the earth. Artist Frazer Irving's cinematic and moving portrayal of the doctor and his creation is sympathetic and powerful.

    Lizzie and Celia are the best of friends. But their families, the Miltons and the Slatterys, are the worst of enemies, divided by religion and by status. So their friendship is a carefully guarded secret, for if Celia's father Charlie ever heard of it he would beat her to within an inch of her life.Then one day the unthinkable happens. Joe Slattery, Lizzie's brother, does a good turn for the Milton family and rescues their youngest from a grievous accident. From that day forth, Celia Milton just can't get Joe out of her mind. And, despite himself, Joe Slattery is increasingly drawn to Celia and to a love that seems doomed to heartbreak - unless they can find a way around the prejudice of generations and the terrifying bigotry of Charlie Milton...

    Overnight, Lola's credit cards are refused, her fiance disappears and she finds herself locked out of her own Chelsea mews house. That same day, Evie is abruptly thrown out onto the streets.One woman lies behind their misfortune. With Lola's father lying helpless in a coma, her icy stepmother has seized control of the purse strings - and cut off her spoiled stepdaughter without a penny. The same stepmother who happens to be married to Evie's sugar daddy.Although the two girls loathe one another on sight, Lola and Evie must team up if they are to defeat their common enemy: the Ice Queen herself. Let battle commence.

    

    Jarvis may be an all-round irritant, but he's harmless & deep down he's got a heart of gold. As his oldest (& only) friend reflects on his life with Jarvis Ham, he wonders what it would have been like if they had never met.

    Taking an irreverent and humorous look at the trials and tribulations of motherhood, Radio 4’s Libby Purves has created an invaluable survival guide so that even the most unpromising madonna can cope with the baby years.This is a parenting book with a difference- rather than a serious tome laying down the law, Libby Purves’ lighthearted book shamelessly describes how to cut the corners and bend the rules that never mattered much anyway. Forget the other parenting books that hide the real truth- this is the true battle manual for mothers on the front line!This timeless guide to coping with motherhood has been revised, bringing it up-to-date for a whole new generation of mothers and mothers-to-be.Based on Libby Purves’ own experience of domestic havoc with two babies and on the wit and wisdom of fifty like-minded mothers, this motherhood companion guide is full of down-to-earth tips and hilarious anecdotes.Topics covered include pregnancy, preschoolers, sibling fights, fraught outings, nannies and careers.This is an invaluable guide to being an imperfect mother- and, more importantly, enjoying it.

    Ordinary objects like roller coasters and men's hairpieces make her knees knock loud enough to be a band's rhythm section. Unfortunately, the only job Claire can find is working for her Uncle Gino in his seedy detective agency. Until now, her cases have all be middle-aged men with trophy wives who needed watching. But when Gino retires and leaves her in charge, Claire gets swept up in a murder case despite her fears. Both the client who hired her and the handsome police detective want her off the case. When the wrong person is charged, it's up to the terrified detective to summon all the courage she can to find the true killer.

    53 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more – everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Keeping Faith. This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult.

    His tryst with destiny begins when his father becomes the victim of political violence. He is suddenly the man of the house. In trying to bring together his breaking family, and win back their family home, he experiences life through encounters with some incredible women. Rhea helps inculcate a sense of purpose in his life. Kavya is vivacious, Flirty and sensuous, who makes him bolder. Priya teaches him lessons none else could have, and Ahana is an innocent poet at heart, who makes him shed the garb of the hermit. Till we meet again is a story of a sleepy neighbourhood, which transforms into a modern-day ghetto of gated communities, riding the real estate juggernaut. A story of resilience and determination, it’s a heady cocktail of familial bonds, hope, deceit, vengeance and love.

    Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down. With razor-sharp wit and perfect "Steel Magnolia" poise, Miss Julia speaks her mind indeed-about a robbery, a kidnapping, and the other disgraceful events precipitated by her husband's death. Miss Julia Takes Over - Miss Julia has come to terms with her onetime rival, Hazel Marie, and is now the guardian of Little Lloyd. Now Hazel Marie has disappeared, and Miss Julia has to find her. With Little Lloyd by her side, she sets off across North Carolina, and encounters enough obstacles and adventures to tax even Miss Julia's amazing and ingenious survival skills.

    The Best Of Robicheaux: 'In The Electric Mist With Confederate Dead'; 'Cadillac Jukebox'; 'Sunset Limited'

    Dispatched to assess a failing textile mill, Jenny instead finds herself determined to save it at any cost after befriending its charming employees. That cost might just be her sanity as she stretches her resources, patience, and compassion to the outer limits.As she gets to know the colorful Dalmain clan, Jenny just can't say no when asked to help run a mobile food stand, save the family business, put an overbearing matriarch in her place, rekindle an old romance, or throw a dinner party for sixteen on short notice. Then there's the problem of being attracted to the dashing yet abrasive Ross Grant, who has a way of showing up just when things seem almost sane and manageable.The majestic Scottish highlands, covered in purple heather and dotted with sheep and llamas, provide a dramatic backdrop while Jenny tries to pull everything together in time to save the mill and figure out her increasingly complicated personal life, in this delightful romantic romp.