Virtual Light

The millennium has come and gone, leaving in its wake only stunned survivors. In Los Angeles, Berry Rydell is a former armed-response rentacop now working for a bounty hunter. Chevette Washington is a bicycle messenger turned pickpocket who impulsively snatches a pair of innocent-looking sunglasses. But these are no ordinary shades. What you can see through these high-tech specs can make you rich—or get you killed. Now Berry and Chevette are on the run, zeroing in on the digitalized heart of DatAmerica, where pure information is the greatest high.

San Francisco in the nearish future. Ex-cop Berry Rydell's lost one job he didn't much like and landed another he likes even less. Some sunglasses—actually high-end kit infused with super-sensitive data—were stolen from a courier, and a man named Warbaby's been charged with retrieving them. And Warbaby needs Rydell's help. But, with SFPD Homicide involved, an abandoned bridge populated by freaks and misfits, and some weirdness involving the Republic of Desire and a 'Death Star', it's turning out to be a very strange and dangerous scene indeed . . .

In this classic work, Alasdair MacIntyre examines the historical and conceptual roots of the idea of virtue, diagnoses the reasons for its absence in personal and public life, and offers a tentative proposal for its recovery. While the individual chapters are wide-ranging, once pieced together, they comprise a penetrating and focused argument about the price of modernity.

Luna Aeris never asked to be chosen by fate. In a world where power defines your worth and classes shape your future, Luna is labeled a failure. Her class is Threadspinner. Her weapon is a needle. Her skill is sewing. To everyone else, she's weak. Easy to overlook. Easier to eliminate. But thread can do more than mend cloth. When a black portal pulls her into a deadly realm meant for elites, Luna doesn’t break. She adapts. She is forced to learn how to survive, and begins to spin something far more dangerous than fabric. Her thread begins to sense. To bind. To protect. To kill. She ...

Previously published as Milf - Naughty Neighbors by Nina Sestina. After Mona caught her husband cheating for the third time, she finally ended it. He was immature, irresponsible, and finally out of her life for good. As soon as the divorce was settled, she went on a two month vacation for rest and recovery. She wasn't interested in dating,she just wanted some decompression time to relax. After that was over, she returned home and met her new neighbor Ryan. He was tall, chiseled, handsome, mature, and successful. He was also 15 years younger than her. That didn't stop her head from turning ...

Science Fiction Stories 1 is a gripping science fiction anthology that takes readers on a journey through the unknown, exploring dystopian futures, post-apocalyptic worlds, and thrilling adventures in space. Explore the Unknown Embark on a mission in "Rising" where a lone survivor scours a devastated world, driven by a dream of rebuilding civilization. Witness the eerie events in "In The Grip" as a military officer navigates the cultural complexities of an alien world. Experience the haunting "The Spires Of Sapporo" where remnants of an ancient civilization hold secrets that could alter ...

Entrepreneurs often suffer from "superhero syndrome" - the misconception that to be successful, they must do everything themselves. They are not only the boss but also the salesperson, HR manager, copywriter, operations manager, online marketing guru, and so much more. It's no wonder so many people give up the dream of starting a business - it's just too much for one person to handle. But outsourcing expert and "Virtual CEO" Chris Ducker knows how you can get the help you need with resources you can afford.

In the year 2038, there’s only one destination that can play host to the world’s wealthiest adventure seekers: the Pengalaman Island Resort and Virtual Reality Theme Park. Located on a private South Pacific island, guests here live out their wildest fantasies in custom-made virtual reality simulations while also enjoying the usual amenities of an exclusive five-star getaway. All is relatively breezy until famed billionaire and avid guest, Mr. Wagner, goes missing within a virtual simulation. His only hope? A daring rescue led by Derek Ambrose and his ragtag search party.

I moved across the country to go to Dogson University to experience real life, not the sheltered existence I led through high school under the thumbs of my ultra-religious parents. Drinking, partying, the works… but what I never expected was to feel the way I do about my new dorm neighbor, Jack. I’ve never had a girlfriend before. Never even cared. So why is it this intimidating frat-boy rock climber has gotten such a hold of me? He’s the kind of guy who would’ve kicked my ass in high school, but instead, he loves doing something else to it. It’s all just for fun, but how can we ...

Indigo Taylor-Anderson thought she had it all — until her husband's betrayal shattered her world. With newfound courage, she walks away from a life of mistreatment, leaving everything behind. Indigo finds herself navigating the tough streets of Philadelphia, facing challenges only the truly resilient woman can endure. Amidst the trials, she meets Quesnel "Quest" MacQuoid, a former drug lord freshly out of a decade-long imprisonment. Like Indigo, Quest returns to a life stripped of familiar comforts and support. Drawn together by their shared struggles and a need to rebuild, Indigo and ...

I was asleep when the world burned. Zain Stone is a rising star at tech giant Thanatos Industries, developing the technology to stop death. But when the building comes under attack, he risks life and limb to protect his research. When he wakes in a cryo chamber, twenty years into the future, everything has changed. The world, which once valued technology so much, has come to despise it. And the girl who woke him up–the beautiful Amy, with strawberry blonde hair and a sweet disposition–might be a cyborg he designed himself. Soon, Zain finds that it’s not just that he needs to survive ...

She's paid to be your best friend on your big day... but she never expected murder to be part of the deal. Emelia Walsh has one of the most unusual jobs on the planet—she's a Professional Bridesmaid. Armed with an emergency kit that would impress MacGyver, Emmy steps into strangers' weddings and becomes whatever the bride needs: a confidante, an emotional buffer, or a human fire extinguisher. When Emmy arrives at the picturesque Evergreen Summit Resort for Monica Turner's winter wedding weekend, she's prepared for the usual challenges: wardrobe malfunctions, family tensions, and ...

Rydell is on his way back to near-future San Francisco. His job has him convinced that his career is going nowhere, but his friend Laney, phoning from Tokyo, says there's more interesting work for him in Northern California. And there is, although it will eventually involve his former girlfriend, a Taoist assassin, the secrets Laney has been hacking out of the depths of DatAmerica, the CEO of the PR firm that secretly runs the world and the apocalyptic technological transformation of, well, everything.

Thirteen-year-old Colby Custer and Seamus Gilead know something is wrong with their dads. And they’re not the only ones. Ever since the murders began, adults have been acting... different. Too perfect. Too distant. Too something. What starts as a whisper of suspicion spirals into a terrifying discovery—linking parasites, soulcrafting, and ancient rituals in a hidden world. As Colby and his friends dig into myths, they uncover something far older and far more dangerous than they ever imagined. And the closer they get to the truth, the more they realize: The monsters aren’t coming. ...

Be sure your sins will find you out. Ambition…envy…lust. But murder is the deadliest sin of all. Isabella Farquar was found murdered outside the Manhattan theatre where she was to star as Titania in an experimental production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But which sin caused her death? As Casey and her misfit team of detectives uncover ambition, envy and lust at every turn, the multiplicity of motives leaves them swimming in a sea of suspects. Casey’s only ambition is to catch the killer. But her lover, Carval, is opening the blockbuster exhibition that will cement his own ambition...

Lio Aetos is the Young Aristocrat and heir apparent to a legendary Greek sect, a prodigious talent born and bred for glory. Solus is a slave, a disgraced patrician from the fallen city of Rome with nothing to his name. They're as different as the East is from the West. Yet both of them hunger—to cast off the threads of Fate they’ve been given. To reach for a higher purpose. In this world of ruined empires and long-forgotten gods, the Young Aristocrat and the Son of Rome share an unyielding conviction.

Trapped on a space wreck, alone. My only hope is a grumpy, sexy voice on the other side of the line. Arianna It’s my worst nightmare, stuck all alone in outer space. Did I mention alone? I’m not hero material, I’m the school dropout, the misfit. Now I have to save myself. When I manage to send out an SOS, the grumpy alien voice that answers sets my blood on fire. Why do I always fall for the broody, silent type? Now I need to convince him to rescue me, without scaring him off. I hope he can reach me before I run out of food. But the ship that finds me first… It isn’t his. Da’vi ...

A Monster Girls & Dungeons LitRPG He inherited a Dungeon Core. Now he has to survive it… When Cade inherits his eccentric uncle’s storage unit, he expected junk. What he finds is a glowing crystal pulsing with arcane energy—a Dungeon Core, tethered to a collapsing realm of magic, monsters, and power. The moment he touches it, Cade becomes its new Keeper—teleported into a dying dungeon on the brink of destruction. Now, he must: Rebuild the core’s mana flow Survive invaders and greedy adventurers And bond with the monster girls who power the entire system Because in this world, ...

“Funny, Sexy, Romantic. Each book is adorable, but if you only read one, read book five. In Love.” -- RomanceLMHLaugh out loud and fall in love with a fake fiancé, a baseball super star, a genius, and tortured soulmates in this captivating Rom-Com bundle.Whether you like your heroinesAmbitious…but in loveSporty…but fascinatedBookish…but enthralledUnflappable…but with a secret fortuneorSweet…but determinedThis series has a book for you. Read along as these couples find their happily-ever-after.Now available--the complete series:Book 1: Fake Fiancé for Christmas (Chance & ...

Gods, contrary to popular belief, are surprisingly messy when they die. In Varennes, the sun has vanished. As it turns out, someone has murdered the Sun Keeper, which is an impolite act at the best of times, and these are not the best of times. Julien, an immortal being, is tasked by the ruler of the realms with an errand: venture into the afterlife and gather what remains of the Sun Keeper’s soul. His search leads him to odd places and odder beings. He’s forced to engage in small talk with a ghost who can’t remember her name, dodge mildly apocalyptic artifacts of dubious usefulness, ...