Mythical History

With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present, and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.

Described as both “one of the most important novels ever written” and “the gospel of evil,” 120 Days of Sodom was written by the Marquis de Sade, a notorious eighteenth-century aristocrat who waged a campaign of mayhem and debauchery across France, evaded execution, and inspired the word “sadism,” which came to mean receiving pleasure from pain. Despite all his crimes, Sade considered this work to be his greatest transgression.

This history will be of interest to people who know nothing about Japan, but also full of insights for those who do. Lesley Downer takes the listener through the great sweep of Japanese history, focusing on the dramatic stories of larger-than-life individuals—from emperors descended from the Sun Goddess to warlords, samurai, merchants, court ladies, women warriors, geisha, and businessmen who shaped this extraordinary modern society.

Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.

During the 1920s, dozens of expeditions scoured the Chinese and Tibetan wilderness in search of the panda bear, a beast that many believed did not exist. When the two eldest sons of President Theodore Roosevelt sought the bear in 1928, they had little hope of success. Together with a team of scientists and naturalists, they accomplished what a decade of explorers could not, ultimately introducing the panda to the West. In the process, they documented a vanishing world and set off a new era of conservation biology.

Bigfoot is an instantly recognizable figure. Through the decades, this elusive primate has been featured in movies and books, and on coffee mugs, beer koozies, car polish, and CBD oil. Which begs the question: what is it about Bigfoot that's caught hold of our imaginations? Journalist and self-diagnosed skeptic John O'Connor is fascinated by Sasquatch. Curious to learn more, he embarks on a quest through the North American wilds in search of Bigfoot, its myth and meaning.

Full of tragic heroes, intoxicating love stories, and the unstoppable force of fate, there is no conflict more iconic than the Trojan War. Troy is the story of the epic battle retold by Fry with drama, humor, and vivid emotion. Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, Helen, their lovers, and their mortal enemies all burn bright in Fry's compelling prose. This volume invites you to explore a captivating world with a brilliant storyteller as your guide.

She lived before history. He’s yet to be born. Their destiny was forged in battle. Their love, written in the stars. Journey 24,000 years into the dawn of humanity—a prehistoric world of lost tribes and star-born gods. When a falling star shatters her world, Kaya—a warrior fighting to save her tribe—meets Ethan, a young man from a dying future. What begins as a fight for survival becomes an impossible romance that spans all of human history. A fearless heroine. A love that defies fate. An epic time-travel fantasy that begins Beneath a Fractured Sky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “...

Embark on an epic journey into the captivating world of Norse mythology, where gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures come alive with rich detail and vibrant storytelling. Whether you're a curious newcomer or a seasoned enthusiast, this book offers a fresh, accessible gateway into the lore that shaped Viking heritage. Struggling to untangle the complexities of Odin, Thor, and Loki’s adventures? Overwhelmed by dry or overly dense texts? Norse Mythology Unleashed bridges the gap, combining accurate research with engaging narratives that breathe life into ancient tales.

Weird but True Stories from Norwegian Myth and Folklore: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Land of the Midnight Sun takes readers on a haunting and unforgettable journey through one of the most unique storytelling traditions in the world. From the eerie fiddle songs of the water-dwelling nøkk to the undead draugr guarding Viking tombs, and from seductive forest spirits with hidden tails to the serpent of Lake Seljord, this collection uncovers ten chilling and true tales drawn from authentic Norwegian folklore. Rooted in real locations and passed down through centuries of ...

Sword And Fire - The Mercian Chronicles ‘I was hooked from the very start! This series is a must-read for fans of rich high fantasy adventure.’ A Reader The war drums sounded through the foothills surrounding the mighty fortress. Their low ominous beat a warning of impending, inevitable doom. Death was coming, he could feel it. Meloc came to Welfasten to warn Feitar, the city chief of an evil presence growing in the darkness and the disappearances of the Mercian magikborne. However, he had not made it past the great city walls and had been thrown in prison accused of practising illegal ...

Aurican and Darlantan, mighty serpents of gold and silver, have been nurtured in a world of wisdom, meditation, and sublime faith. On the other side of Ansalon, Crematia, a dragon of red, inherits the Dark Queen's legacy of betrayal, violence, conquest, and plunder. The advent of a worldwide war sweeps these powerful beings and many more into desperate strife. Battles rage over Krynn with a fury that threatens to annihilate nations and whole races - even dragonkind.

There is no magic on Prospect Hill—or anywhere else, for that matter. But just on the other side of the veil is the world of the Fae. Generations ago, the first farmers on Prospect Hill learned to bargain small trades to make their lives a little easier. Much of that old wisdom was lost as the riverboats gave way to the rail lines and the farmers took work at mills and factories. Alaine Fairborn’s family, however, was always superstitious, and she still hums the rhymes to find a lost shoe and to ensure dry weather on her sister’s wedding day.

The never-before-seen history of Westeros and the lands beyond. With hundreds of pages of all-new material from George R.R. Martin.If the past is prologue, then George R.R. Martin's masterwork - the most inventive and entertaining fantasy saga of our time - warrants one hell of an introduction. At long last, it has arrived with The World of Ice and Fire.

A fart-blasting griffin. A bull-headed beast with a stink to wake the dead. And a slime-powered squad stuck in ancient Crete with nothing but rainbow gas and a burping book to save the day. When the Ooze Almanac zaps Max, Zara, Sludge, and their legendary flatulent warthog, Puddles, into the Slime Labyrinth of myth, they discover a rotten plan centuries in the making. The fearsome Mingotaur is about to awaken the ancient Stink-Titan, a goo-monster so foul it could turn the whole galaxy into a reeking mess. Armed with skidding Skiffs, exploding slime grenades, and Puddles’ explosive butt-...

Three years after her fateful journeys through the forbidding mountains of Vystrana, Mrs. Camherst defies family and convention to embark on an expedition to the war-torn continent of Eriga, home of such exotic draconian species as the grass-dwelling snakes of the savannah, arboreal tree snakes, and, most elusive of all, the legendary swamp-wyrms of the tropics. The expedition is not an easy one.

Given life by gods, the Ogres were the most intelligent and beautful of the early races on Krynn, and they reigned supreme in their perfect kingdom.... Until that fabled race was weakened by clan rivalries and evil ambition, their downfall orchestrated by the hand of the Dark Queen, Takhisis.... Until the once-proud Ogres were cursed by their own mistakes and transformed into one of Krynn's most ugly, despised, and villainous species.... All except a small group, the Irda, who learned to accept goodness, fight for their freedom, and escape to build a utopian civilization of their own on a paradise island in the Dragon Isles.

The Tale of Creatures & Gods brings to life the mystical beings and powerful deities of old Sweden, blending history, folklore, and immersive storytelling. Deep in the forests of Sweden, where mist curls through ancient trees and lakes shimmer under the moonlight, myths and legends whisper through the ages. Step into the shadows of the forest, where the Skogsrå watches from the trees, Näcken lures travelers with his haunting violin, and trolls stir beneath moss-covered boulders. Venture into the world of the Norse gods, where Odin seeks wisdom, Thor battles giants, and Loki weaves chaos ...

The lost city wasn’t built to be found. It was built as a cage—and what was once chained just broke the locks. The seas boil. The deep trembles. The lost city rises, releasing powers older than time. Amid the chaos, Kaya, an ancient warrior, and Ethan, a man from a dying future, are pulled together once more. Their son carries the spark that could heal the world… or unmake it. Now, their love is all that stands against the dark. A mother’s fury. A father’s sacrifice. A child destined to decide the fate of worlds. And a darkness that has waited since the stars first fell to rise ...

‘Relatable heroes and evil nemeses! The perfect mix of science fiction, fantasy, history, and adventure.’ ★★★★★ “Alwyn weaves science fiction elements—like extraterrestrial shapeshifters and high-stakes battles—together with ancient myths and legends, creating a story that feels both timeless and refreshingly original.” -Amazon Customer. Embark on a mesmerizing journey through a captivating fusion of science fiction, fantasy, and ancient legends in this transcendent epic. Embark on a journey across time and space where extraterrestrial shapeshifters influence human ...