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The classic science-fiction fantasy novel A Princess of Mars, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs is the first in the series that takes place on the planet Mars also called Barsoom. Mars is seen as a hot, dry planet that houses many kinds of alien races including the green Tharks and the Red Martians. John Carter, a former Civil War soldier, is mysteriously teleported to Barsoom when he explores an ancient cave in Arizona.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra is the fictional account of the travels and teaching of the prophet Zarathustra. One of the more controversial aspects of Nietzsche's work is that he puts forth the idea of human evolution and the transformation of modern humans from their ape-like ancestors. Nietzsche inserts a number of controversial ideas into his fictional account of Zarathustra, including some reoccurring themes such as the superman, a self-mastered individual.

In Politics, Aristotle discusses a variety of different regimes, and methods of community, organizing that would ensure success for the many, providing a convincing argument on the usefulness of Democracy. He also goes into some detail on the structures of different types of governments, including dictatorships, monarchies, and constitutional democracies.

Fey magic and animal magic: that troublemaking imp Trix Woodcutter has both, if not the ability to use them to their full potential. While traveling with his companion - the golden girl Lizinia - to see the King of Eagles, Trix is sent a vision of the Faerie Queen, who is in desperate need of his help.

Usually timid and subservient, councilor Golyadkin has lately become worryingly paranoid. After being humiliatingly thrown out of a party for acting erratically, he runs off into the night where he is shocked to come across a man who appears to be his exact double. The double follows him home and begins to insinuate himself into every part of Golyadkin's life, and alternates between befriending him and cruelly taunting him.

In this acclaimed Plato masterpiece, you travel back in time to attend an elaborate high society dinner. At this party, you meet Plato's mentor, Socrates, and the comic poet Aristophanes. During the banquet, each of these men is invited to praise Eros, the god of love and desire. You witness them deliver speeches that embody their wisdom and philosophies on love. You hear Socrates' celebrated account of Diotima, the prophetess who taught him that love is the manifestation of human goodness. Finally, you even hear from the famous Alcibiades.

Though the Romans were known for having contributed much to culture and the arts, there was one facet that was unrivaled when it came to ancient civilizations: their published works. Philosophy was their forte, and it goes without saying that the meditations by Marcus Aurelius is a superb piece of philosophical writings and musings. What is interesting about this collection is that it chronicles his thoughts during the time of his reign as Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180.

Voltaire's Candide can only be described as a satirical novella that was intended to attack the optimistic and backwards way of thinking that was common during the 18th century. Filled with absurd and darkly humorous content, the short work is a highly debatable and thought-provoking piece. The story centers around Candide, the nephew of a baron, who's teacher, Pangloss, teaches Candide that the world is the way it should be and that everything in it is good.

Alexei Ivanovich is a Russian tutor working in Germany. His employer, the General, is waiting for his wealthy grandmother to die to pay off his debts so that he can marry Mademoiselle Blanche, while Alexei is in love with the General's beautiful but not so kind stepdaughter, Polina, who is scornful of his devotion to her. Alexei dramatically offers to kill himself for Polina, but she asks him instead to place a bet for her at the roulette table of the local casino. Alexei does, and he wins, but still he cannot sway her.

Crime and Punishment follows the story of a boy named Raskolnikov who commits a heinous crime because he believes he is in fact extraordinary. Through an internal battle of whether to confess or not, we follow him through his interactions with a drunk, a prostitute, the government, and his family. We see him do incredible acts of kindness, suffer the consequence of his crime on a physical level, and fall in love with an unlikely character, all while trying to reconcile his ability to be extraordinary.

Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Warlord of Mars is the third novel in his science-fiction series set on the planet Mars. In the second book, John Carter's wife is taken prisoner by the fake god Issus in the Temple of the Sun. The temple's prisoners are kept in cells that slowly rotate so that the cell is only accessible to the outside world once a year. And thus, in this third novel, John Carter must wait an entire year before he can free his beloved Dejah Thoris.

David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding was considered to be one of the most contentious works of its time. Hume's view of reasoning through experience and "sophistry and illusion" in reference to religiously inspired fantasy was extremely controversial in the 18th century.

The Enchiridion and Discourses is a compilation of Epictetus's philosophical teachings. Although Epictetus spent much of his life as a slave, he believed that all people were free to control their emotional well-being and live in harmony with their circumstance and those around them. His works are a guide for applying philosophy to day-to-day living. Although many of the great philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, promoted grand ideas, they never approached the subject of integrating those ideas into everyday life.

Originally published in 1848 as a political pamphlet, The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels would become one of the most influential works of the era. Written as a summary of the authors' political thought, the manifesto is also a reflection of the unrest and the revolutions of the time.

In this classic, coming of age story, the winds of change are sweeping over pre-revolutionary Russia. It is a turbulent era of conflict between the Russian nobles and the radical new ideas of the youth. Two friends, Bazarov and Arkady, find themselves entangled in misunderstandings and romantic intrigues.

Hard Times, set in 19th century England, explores the moral and social thinking of the time. The rise of self-interest and the climb to the top has forced people to dehumanize themselves, and be more like the machines that run their daily lives. The Gradgrind family learns all too well the effects of social status on the soul as the family patriarch masks his own selfish interests in charitable donations and funding of schools.

A Study in Scarlet takes you back to the beginning of one of the most renowned detective duos of all time. After being wounded in the Afghan war, Doctor Watson decides to rent a room from the eccentric scientist, Sherlock Holmes, and is quite intrigued by his new landlord's bizarre behavior. He soon discovers that Holmes is using forensic science to help Scotland Yard solve difficult cases.

Sun Tzu's book, The Art of War, is a detailed outline of how to win a war, taken from principles in Chinese science and philosophy. This ideology is divided up into three different parts and is written in a circular way with the first and last chapters relating to the same ideas and tying it all together.

When a leading authority on antique books is summoned to a remote Northumbrian mansion, he's struck at once by its faded grandeur and the raw beauty of his new surroundings. However, barely has Mr. Middlebrook unpacked his bags before a curious murder mystery is underway.

With his clan's welfare threatened by raiding parties during a harsh winter, Jareth rides to demand restitution from the neighboring first lord, not knowing he will meet the woman of his dreams. Taking her as part of the spoils, he hopes to make her his first lady, not realizing she is the daughter of the first lord. Tensions escalate between the two clans over this beautiful and fiery woman he must make his own.