Daedalus Books

The Maltese Falcon set the standard by which the private eye genre is judged. Sam Spade is hired by the fragrant Miss Wonderley to track down her sister, who has eloped with a louse called Floyd Thursby. But Miss Wonderley is in fact the beautiful and treacherous Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and when Spade's partner Miles Archer is shot while on Thursby's trail, Spade finds himself both hunter and hunted: can he track down the jewel-encrusted bird, a treasure worth killing for, before the Fat Man finds him?

More than the memorable adventures of a young boy, an elfin fairy, and a swarthy pirate who gives new meaning to the phrase right hook, Peter Pan is an enduring tale that speaks of magic and innocence, fair play and personal virtue. The timeless artwork of such masters as F. D. Bedford (the original illustrator), Flora White, Alice Woodward, Mabel Lucie Atwell, Arthur Rackham, and Gwynedd Hudson captures the classic story's dreaminess as it follows the adventures of the boy who wouldn't grow up. From the immortal Wendy and Tinker Bell to Captain Hook and the lost boys, make Neverland foreverland with this beautifully illustrated book that reminds the child in all of us how good it feels to fly.

Illustrated with large floral watercolors by Melissa Sweet — embellished with tiny fairies between the leaves and petals — this box set presents 26 alphabetical flowers on 8 x 10-inch cards. Use them as flash cards for beginning readers or apprentice gardeners, or put them up as cozy country decorations.

When 14 people arrive to colonize the otherwise uninhabited planet of Delmark — O, they quickly discover that their bizarre new world is more dangerous — and much, much stranger — than they ever could have imagined, in this 1970 novel by Philip K. Dick. The colonists have nothing in common, and no idea why they've been sent there. All they know is that there's no way to leave, and one by one they are being killed. A visionary, Hugo Award–winning author, Philip K. Dick was inducted posthumously into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His stories have been made into such blockbuster films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, and he was the first science fiction writer to be included in the Library of America series.

The Department of Precrime has cut major crime by almost 100 percent, in the 1956 short story by Philip K. Dick that inspired the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report. No one doubts the efficiency and fairness of a system that can look into the future, arrest soon-to-be criminals, and punish them before they can commit the crime — until the Precrime Commissioner himself is accused, and must go on the run as a convicted murderer to prove his innocence. Eight other stories are also presented in this collection, including We Can Remember it for You Wholesale, the inspiration for the film Total Recall. A visionary, Hugo Award–winning author, Philip K. Dick was inducted posthumously into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His stories have also been made into other blockbuster films like Blade Runner, and he was the first science fiction writer to be included in the Library of America series.

World War III is raging — or so the millions of people crammed into their underground tanks believe, in this 1964 novel by Philip K. Dick. For 15 years, subterranean humanity has been fed on daily broadcasts of a never-ending nuclear devastation, sustained only by their belief in the all — powerful Protector. But up on the surface, a different kind of reality reigns: East and West are at peace, while across the planet, an elite corps of expert hoaxers preserve the lie for those below. A visionary, Hugo Award–winning author, Philip K. Dick was inducted posthumously into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His stories have been made into such blockbuster films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, and he was the first science fiction writer to be included in the Library of America series.

In this delightful introduction to the art of Henri Rousseau, children explore a tropical jungle while they learn about the colours and themes that make the artist's paintings masterpieces of deceptive simplicity. As a customs official, Henri Rousseau escaped the boredom of his job by creating colourful paintings of a fantastic dream-world — a place where apes and lions cavort, snakes slither, flamingoes stroll, tigers hunt and enigmatic figures entice unsuspecting visitors amid lush, tropical plants and flowers. This book draws children into Rousseau's famous works, pointing out the many elements and symbols he incorporated, and helping them understand the use of perspective and colour that were his trademarks. Biographical information reveals the importance the natural world played in Rousseau's life and the playful text encourages further investigation into the power of imagination.

Like artist's everywhere, Paul Cezanne painted what was familiar to him: his family, his surroundings, the objects in and around his home. He delighted in the most basic elements of colour, size, and shape. This captivating look at the artist's life uses Cezanne's numerous paintings of his studio to explore his methods and technique, and his portraits of his family and friends to reveal Cezanne's personal history. It also points out details from his greatest masterpieces, encouraging young readers to investigate for themselves just as Cezanne explored the brilliance of the French countryside — its light and hues, textures and shadows — in a way no other artist ever has.

A Christmas cavalcade! Here's a festive feast of folktales and contemporary stories by popular and classic authors such as Joan Aiken, Adele Geras, Beverly Cleary, Hans Christian Andersen and Alf Proysen. From traditional tales, such as the story of Brer Rabbit's Christmas dinner and the legend of Baboushka's Christmas gifts to contemporary writing about drama-packed nativity plays and starlit sleigh rides with Santa Claus, this sparkling treasury captures all the magic, excitement and wonder of Christmas. It's an ideal stocking filler!

There's always time for a story... Children love storytime — especially when their parents have time to share it with them. This anthology contains 22 delightful stories, all carefully selected to be both brief and entertaining. It is perfect for parents struggling to make time for reading with their children. Ideal for reading aloud at bedtime or any time, and accessible enough for newly independent readers to tackle alone, every tale from this versatile collection has the power to transport children to other worlds, introduce them to unforgettable characters, and feed their imaginations — in just five minutes!

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) became a worldwide political focal point. The war, marked the rise of Japan as a world power, paved the way for the Russian Revolution, and made Theodore Roosevelt the first American ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. It engaged the fervent attention of Asia, Europe and the United States — so much so that the Milton Bradley Co. created a popular board game based on the war. But more than this, the Russo-Japanese conflict was the first war to be fully recorded by the international media. Journalists, photographers, and filmmakers poured into the areas, capturing the battles in words and visuals, and creating in the process a flood of images remarkable for their vibrancy and power. A Much Recorded War examines the Russo-Japanese conflict from the viewpoint of its artistic legacy, exploring the ways in which it was represented, promoted, and mythologized. Featuring more than 80 objects — from woodblock prints, lithographs, watercolors, and photographs to film, postcards, and even garments — the book discusses the origins and history of the war, the development of its imagery in Japanese art, and the groundbreaking role of photography and film. Published to mark the 100th anniversary of the Portsmouth Treaty, which ended the war, this is both a remarkable work of historical scholarship and a brilliant compendium of period graphic art.

Interspersed with charts, graphs, and various crossword puzzles, A Book of Evil Marauders, Purple Blobs, and Some Other Things... features some of today's best authors spinning new tales ranging from the spooky to the strange. George Saunders tells the story of a father who takes caution to dangerous extremes in Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Father and Husband. In ACES by Phone, a small boy finds a cellphone that lets him listen in on the thoughts of dogs, and in Small Country, Nick Hornby introduces a country too small for a postal system but, unfortunately for one bookish boy, just big enough for a football team. Each story features full-color illustrations by artists including Barry Blitt, Lane Smith, David Heatley, and Marcel Dzama. The collection includes previously unpublished children's stories from Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything is Illuminated), Nick Hornby (High Fidelity), Neil Gaiman (Sandman), George Saunders (CivilWarLand in Bad Decline), Kelly Link (Stranger Than Fiction), and Jon Scieskza (Stinky Cheese Man). The dust jacket folds into a unique aerogram, which factors into a special contest involving a story written partly by Lemony Snicket, partly by thousands of children.

Join Arthur Dent, earthling, jerk, kneebiter and time-traveler; sexy space cadet Trillian; mad alien Ford Prefect; unflappable Slartibartfast; two-headed, three-armed ex-head Honcho of the Universe Zaphod Beeblebrox... and learn to fly. Is it the end? With Douglas Adams it's always up in the air!

Back on Earth with nothing more to show for his long, strange trip through time and space than a ratty towel and a plastic shopping bag, Arthur Dent is ready to believe that the past eight years were all just a figment of his stressed-out imagination. But a gift-wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription, the mysterious disappearance of Earth's dolphins, and the discovery of his battered copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy all conspire to give Arthur the sneaking suspicion that something otherworldly is indeed going on... God only knows what it all means. And fortunately, He left behind a Final Message of explanation. But since it's light-years away from Earth, on a star surrounded by souvenir booths, finding out what it is will mean hitching a ride to the far reaches of space aboard a UFO with a giant robot. But what else is new?

Shortlisted for Russia's national bestseller prize and translated into twelve languages, Give Me marks the debut of a literary wunderkind, a gifted writer with a fine-tuned ear and unforgettable voice. The stories in Give Me are bracingly authentic and deeply felt — vibrant snapshots colored by vodka, drugs, and young love that capture life at a certain age in a specific part of the world while reflecting the universal emotions of a generation. Too young to identify with life in the Soviet era, the frank, funny, appealingly tough characters in Give Me are forced to find their identities in the chaotic atmosphere of a country recovering from systemic collapse. They reach out to each other in ways that are sometimes affectionate, sometimes cruel, and always desperate for connection. A young soldier on leave from the Chechen war laments the meaninglessness of civilian life — «all that goddamned self-expression» — while his girlfriend ponders the elegant arch of her best friend's eyebrows; a teacher at a summer camp is appalled, disgusted, and frightened by her out-of-control charges and the retribution she could suffer at the hands of their powerful parents; love and loyalty become entangled as a young woman sleeps with friends of her unattainable object of desire to feel closer to him; a suicidal teenager finds salvation in the unlikely duo of a beefy security guard and his Rottweiler; the object of a university student's crush unknowingly pushes her buttons from afar when he neglects to return her anonymous love notes; and Death visits an Internet chat room after politely accepting the offer of a cup of tea. Full of electricity, humor, controversy, and above all, humanity, these pitch-perfect stories put to use the possibilities of language and perception to give a glimpse of Russia's youth and their struggle to grow up, find their way, and, ultimately, love.

The snow is falling on the ancient streets of Rome. And in the heart of the city, under the Pantheon’s great dome, a woman’s body lies on the marble floor, carefully positioned with a gruesome carving on her back....In David Hewson’s ingenious new thriller, this horrific murder hurtles Rome’s police force into a collision with U.S. agents – and a secret that has festered for fifteen years, now unraveling in the world’s most enigmatic city. When Detective Nic Costa arrives at the scene, he is unprepared for what he finds, or for the ambush that leaves his only witness vanished into the night. The dead woman was American. Within hours, U.S. agents descend with a take-no-prisoners style and a shocking story to tell: the killer has struck before, in monuments all over the world, leaving the same cryptic message carved onto the bodies of the victims. But one agent, beautiful, blond Emily Deacon, has yet another story to tell Nic – about a stunning act of deception that may lead back to the U.S. government, and her own chilling, personal connection to the killer. Now, as the first murder leads to more grisly slayings and a motley crew of veteran Roman cops jousts with the Americans, Nic is pulled into a woman’s harrowing search for the truth…a search that will take them both into the mind of a madman, into a shocking conspiracy – and into a dark episode in a nation’s long-forgotten past. From its haunting opening to its nerve-shattering climax, The Sacred Cut defies all our expectations, proving once again the unique and compelling genius of David Hewson.

For years, Jina, Irene, Mary, and Alice have been telling their secrets over sushi. But when struggling novelist Alice finally writes a bestseller, the other three are horrified to see their lives in its pages. Alice says she never meant to hurt anyone. But her novel could very well destroy them all. In search of answers and healing, these four women journey into the wilderness together. There they face their greatest test-one of physical and emotional endurance that will reveal more about them than any tell-all book. Author Biography: Christy Yorke grew up in Los Angeles. She lives with her husband and two young children in Boise, Idaho, and writes mornings while her children are at school.

On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched a massive three-pronged attack on the Soviet Union, and in days his troops were within reach of Moscow. The attack was stunning, but Stalin's response was even more astonishing. During the invasion, the mighty Soviet military stood in place while its soldiers were slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands. Drawing on a wealth of newly available documents, from classified Politburo papers and diaries of key generals to diplomatic cables and secret police memos, the Russian historian Constantine Pleshakov paints a startling portrait of Stalin, one of history's most feared despots, as a vulnerable and paralyzed leader. Refusing to believe that the Germans would strike first, despite repeated warnings, he continued to supply them with war materials in the days before the attack, then tied his generals' hands in the crucial first hours of the invasion. For more than a week, while Hitler rolled over Soviet territory, Stalin cowered in his dacha, leaving the country rudderless and — as Pleshakov reveals here — nearly losing power. The Red Army's effort to regain the territory lost in those first ten days cost more than 10 million Soviet lives. Stalin's Folly is a dramatic hour-by-hour account that sheds light on an enigmatic and ruthless figure while providing a new and far deeper understanding of Russian history.

Stephanie Plum and her partner, Lula, are clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. A robbery leads to an explosion, which leads to the destruction of yet another car. It would be just another day in the life of Stephanie Plum...except that she becomes the target of a gang. And the target of an even scarier, more dangerous force that comes to Trenton. With super bounty hunter Ranger acting more mysteriously than ever (and the tension with vice cop Joe Morelli getting hotter), Stephanie is racing against the clock in her most suspenseful novel yet. Ten Big Ones is page-turning entertainment and Janet Evanovich is the best there is.

In this third Erast Fandorin mystery, set in 1877, Russia is at war with the Ottoman Empire, and the brilliant detective is searching the Russian army for a Turkish spy. He is followed by a young woman with revolutionary ideals, who has disguised herself as a boy to find her fiancé at the front. Her coldness toward Fandorin, a «lackey of the throne», begins to change as she comes to respect his courage, deductive powers, and piercing gaze. The «Russian Sherlock Holmes» who starred in «The Winter Queen» and «Murder on the Leviathan» returns in this novel by Russian literary phenomenon Boris Akunin.

From the Vanderbilts' Biltmore and the Rockefellers' Kykuit to the Duponts' museum-like Winterthur and William Randolph Hearst's legendary San Simeon, American country houses evoke the grandeur of a vanished world of privilege, yet more often than not reflected their builders' insecurities about how they were expected to proclaim their wealth and position. Clive Aslet, known for his acclaimed study of English country houses, here offers a heavily illustrated history of their American cousins, drawing on the rich and often amusing writings of contemporaries to evoke the life the buildings served as well as the architectural features they boasted.

Nine men — Oppenheimer, Teller, Fermi, Bohr, Lawrence, Bethe, Rabi, Szilard, Compton — brilliant men who believed in science and who saw before anyone else the amazing workings of an invisible world. Some of them were fleeing Nazism in Europe, others quietly slipping out of university teaching jobs, all gathering in secret wartime laboratories to create the world's first atomic bomb. At a secret laboratory in the mountains of northern New Mexico, they would crack the secret of the nuclear chain reaction and construct the most fearsome weapon mankind had ever known. Together they built a device that could incinerate a city and melt human beings so thoroughly that the only thing left would be their scorched outlines on the pavements. During the war, few of the atomic scientists questioned the wisdom of their desperate endeavour, but afterwards they were forced to deal with the sobering legacy of their creation. Some were haunted by the dead of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and would become antinuclear weapons activists; others would go on to build bigger and even deadlier bombs.

A must for every family bookshelf! This comprehensive collection of the greatest poems in the English language written by our greatest poets. Includes Keats, Longfellow, Coleridge, Shakespeare, Pope, Browning. More than 1,400 poems.

In 1918 Ernset Hemingway went to the war to end all wars, in the ambulance service in Italy. He was wounded and twice decorated. Here he recreates the fear, comradeship, and the courage of his young American volunteer and the men an women he meets in Italy.