Quercus/MacLehose Press

Exactly ten days after I'd come back to care for my dad, it occurred to me that I had turned into a housewife. Not just any housewife. My mother. Kill me now Meredith does things for other people. She irons clothes for her boyfriend, she attends her ex-best friend's horrendous hen party for her brother (who's about to marry the girl) and she moves back to her parents' house to look after her dad when his leg is broken. She's a good girl and that matters. But when she gets back home, all is not as Meredith remembered. Especially Scott, that geeky teenager from her old class at school. He's definitely different now. And so, it seems, is she. One by one, her family and old friends start to tell her some home truths and Meredith begins to realise she's not so perfect after all. Maybe it is time she stopped being everyone else's girl and started living for herself.

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been taking stunning images of space for 20 years. It is one of the largest and most versatile space telescopes and its orbit outside the distortion of Earth's atmosphere allows it to take extremely sharp images with almost no background light. As an observatory in space, Hubble is one of the most successful scientific projects of all time, both in terms of scientific output and its immediate public appeal. It has consistently delivered super-sharp images and clean, uncontaminated spectra over the entire near-infrared and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Hubble's observations have opened up new scientific territory and have led to major breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as accurately determining the rate of expansion of the Universe. Hubble — Window on the Universe is a celebration of Hubble's astonishing scientific and technical achievements told via 200 glorious full-colour images. This stunning oversized volume showcases all of the most spectacular — and most recent — images taken by the HST so far. The chapters of the book are arranged thematically (The Solar System in Perspective, A New View of the Stars, Beyond the Milky Way, Exploring Space and Time) revealing the most recent views of a dizzying array of celestial objects such as Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, the birth and death of stars, the beautiful Butterfly Nebulae, Omega Centauri, Stephen's Quintet and the mysteries of dark matter. Feature spreads chart the fascinating history of the Hubble project from its origins and launch in 1990, the discovery and emergency repair of a defective mirror, the impact of four subsequent servicing missions and finally, what the future holds in store for one of the most amazing scientific instruments ever made.

Science is a visually stunning introduction to all the major scientific disciplines, covering chemistry, physics, geology, biology and cosmology. Each section begins with a lively introduction to the scientific branch under investigation, before moving on to a more in-depth exploration of its constituent components and themes. The end result is a magnificent introduction to all that is currently understood about the natural world. Piers Bizony begins with physics and the basic building blocks of matter, offering a lucid and usefully illustrated account of the extraordinary and often baffling world of atomic and subatomic particles. There follows a discussion of chemistry and the main phases of matter such as solids, liquids, gases, compounds, and the Elements, all illustrated in a large-format Periodic Table. This leads to geology and the ever shifting world beneath our feet, including volcanoes, fault lines, plate tectonics and rock strata. Having established a clear outline of the material world, the author then takes a look at its most extraordinary feature: life. DNA, RNA, cells, algae, plants, sponges, reptiles, mammals and man are all surveyed within these pages. The book concludes with the infinite world above our heads: planets, stars, galaxies, and the irresistible forces that govern our ceaselessly expanding universe. Replete with large scale schematics, diagrams, photographs, fact boxes and maps, Science is an essential purchase for anyone with an interest in science.

Laura is content enough with her marriage, two children and part-time job. That is, until a lover from her past comes back into her life. Suddenly passion and excitement are rekindled, and she realises how stagnant her life has become. But how much happiness has she a right to expect? Unknown to Laura, many others in her Sussex village are living with their own unresolved inner dramas. None of them guesses at her crisis. Yet every decision they take has an impact on those around them. The hidden longings of a large cast of characters interweave in a gripping plot that reveals ordinary life at its richest: comic and tragic, poignant and cruel, surprising and moving — and brilliantly entertaining.

When the Sex Pistols swore live on tea-time telly in 1976, there was outrage across Britain. Headlines screamed. Christians marched. TVs were kicked in. Thirty years on, all those words are media-mainstream — bandied about with impunity on TV and in the papers. This is the story of our bad language and its three-decade journey from the fringes of decency to the working centre of a more linguistically liberal nation. Silverton takes a clear, comprehensive and witty look at swearing and the impact of its new acceptability on our language, our manners, and our society. He considers how we have become more openly emotional, yet more wary about insulting others. And how it's seemingly become alright to say and but not or. This is the story of that cultural revolution, written by one who was there at the start, proudly striking some of the first blows in the long struggle for the right to reclaim filthy English and use it.

Join us on an incredible journey to the most spectacular destinations in the world. This once-in-a-lifetime experience surveys every continent on the planet and selects the most spectacular, heart-stirring natural wonders and man-made creations — sights and locations so breathtaking that once seen they are never forgotten. Part reference, part travel guide, Dream Destinations contains a unique combination of inspirational photography, descriptive narrative and travel information: it will inspire and inform in equal measure. The 50 'must-see' sites featured in the book have been carefully selected by acclaimed travel writer Mary-Ann Gallagher. Geographically grouped and presented in easily accessible spreads, these features take you on an unforgettable tour of world's most amazing destinations: from astonishing natural wonders such as the spectacular Northern Lights, the majestic Victoria Falls, and the stunning wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, to the awesome scenery of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. Some of the man-made marvels include the Great Wall of China, St Petersburg, the Darjeeling Railroad, the Forbidden City, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal and many, many more. Packed with travel tips and advice, as well as fascinating facts and descriptions of the world's most memorable locations, Dream Destinations allows the intrepid traveller to plan a trip of a lifetime or simply explore the very best locations around the planet from the comfort of an armchair.

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder — and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history. But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.

Millennium publisher Mikael Blomkvist has made his reputation exposing corrupt establishment figures. So when a young journalist approaches him with an investigation into sex trafficking, Blomkvist cannot resist waging war on the powerful men behind this lucrative industry. When the journalist and his girlfriend are found murdered in their apartment, Lisbeth Salander's fingerprints are found on the weapon left at the scene. Now hunted by the entire Swedish police force and officially branded a danger to society, she is forced to go undercover. But how can she prove her innocence? With her computer-hacking skills she is anything but the helpless victim.

Salander is plotting her revenge — against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.

The past. Caught behind the lines of Hitler's Final Solution, Saul Laski is one of the multitudes destined to die in the notorious Chelmno extermination camp. But he will soon fall into the clutches of an evil far older and greater than the Nazis themselves. The present. A rare few individuals have the Ability — the psychic power to influence the minds of others. Each year they meet to discuss their ongoing campaign of debauchery and slaughter. But this year things are not going according to plan... The story that follows spans decades and continents and penetrates the darkest recesses of the 20th century, as one man seeks to justify his belief that a secret society of powerful beings is behind many of the world's most horrific catastrophes. As well as ranking among the greatest reinventions of the vampire legend, Carrion Comfort explores humanity's attraction to violence and what it means for our future.

Salander is plotting her revenge — against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.

On an amateur dig in Israel, two students discover what appears to be the femur of a very large humanoid, and there's compelling evidence to suggest that it's the thigh bone of the Biblical giant, Goliath. Back in New York, they head into the subway carrying the carefully wrapped bone when a hitman attempts to kill them. Hammer comes to their rescue. It is only the beginning of their troubles. Some people will stop at nothing to get their hands on the precious item, each for their own nefarious reasons. Hammer and his loyal assistant Velda assure once again that the decent guys triumph in this cracking new thriller from an acknowledged master of the genre.

Invaders have exploded the sun's nearest star. Will the death of Earth's sun be next? While trying to keep up with his school studies and ensuring his football team stays top of the league, it's Johnny's job to safeguard planet Earth. When invaders turn a nearby star into a supernova, Johnny must act to protect the sun. Johnny and his sister Clara prepare to travel in their space ship to the galactic capital for help, but their mission is stalled when Johnny discovers that his mysterious elder brother Nicky is on the side of the invaders... So begins an epic adventure across space involving killer clones, a spy trial and devious alien twins. Will Johnny save his brother, and planet Earth, in time? Keith Mansfield's vivid space adventure will wow fans of action stories and science fiction.

Conn's quest to save his city's magic has become urgent: his power stone is lost and Shadowmen, ruthless assassins, are stalking the city's people. But when Conn blows up Wizard Nevery's beloved home, he is banished by his own master. Determined to return and save Wellmet, he travels to Desh, a glittering city in the desert, home to the Shadowmen and run by a mysterious Sorcerer-King... Sarah Prineas has created a terrific adventure that crosses new magical lands. Conn meets new friends and enemies and his quest to discover the truth about magic takes on exciting twists. The second Magic Thief novel is as un-put-downable as the first.

Since the beginning of time, great leaders have used their power of oratory to win and inspire followers. This book contains over 50 momentous and thought-provoking speeches from a wide range of historical eras and nations and will both inspire readers and give them a greater understanding of the events of the time. Each speech is accompanied by a comprehensive introduction that explains its historical background, why it was significant and what happened as a result. A biography of each speechmaker explains how they came to be standing at the crossroads of history.

Dru has made it to Schola, the leading school where the vampire-fighting Order is based. There she is up against the capricious Anna, the only other female who shares her powers. Dru must unlock the mystery of who betrayed her mother, battle her intensifying feelings for both Graves and Christophe, and try to stay hidden from Sergej's deadly nosferat — bloodthirsty hunters who'll stop at nothing to destroy her.

A diverting and witty crime novel by the renowned author of A YEAR IN PROVENCE.

Berlin 1934. The Nazis have been in power for just eighteen months but already Germany has seen some frightening changes. As the city prepares to host the 1936 Olympics, Jews are being expelled from all German sporting organisations — a blatant example of discrimination. Forced to resign as a homicide detective with Berlin's Criminal Police, Bernie is now house detective at the famous Adlon Hotel. Two bodies are found — one a businessman and the other a Jewish boxer. As Bernie digs to unearth the truth, he discovers a vast labour and construction racket designed to take advantage of the huge sums the Nazis are spending to showcase the new Germany to the world. It is a plot that finds its dramatic and violent conclusion twenty years later in pre-revolutionary Cuba.

From the esoteric account of the evolution of the species to the occult roots of science, from the secrets of the Flood to the esoteric motives behind American foreign policy, here is a narrative history that shows the basic facts of human existence on this planet can be viewed from a very different angle. At the heart of The Secret History of the World is the belief that we can reach an altered state of consciousness in which we can see things about the way the world works that are hidden from us in our everyday, commonsensical consciousness. This history shows that by using secret techniques, people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton and George Washington have worked themselves into this altered state — and been able to access supernatural levels of intelligence. By the end of the book the reader will see the world differently. It will be evident that a secret philosophy is encoded in the world around us, in public buildings and monuments, in great art and literature, in the arrangement of the pips in an apple, in the names of the days of the week, even in the very stories we tell our children.

From the bestselling author of Fighter Boys and Bomber Boys, this is a magisterial chronicle of a defining episode in British history: the epic struggle of the Royal Air Force with the Luftwaffe. Patrick Bishop's Battle of Britain is a compelling account of Britain's fight for national survival, from the shock defeat and evacuation from Dunkirk in May/June 1940 to fighter Command's assertion of superiority over the Luftwaffe in mid-September. Battle of Britain takes the reader through that summer day by day, revealing the ongoing battle's impact on flyers and civilians alike. By enhancing his narrative with eye-witness accounts, diary extracts and pilot profiles, Bishop brings the often horrific reality of air combat vividly to life. In Battle of Britain Patrick Bishop has written the definitive account of one of the pivotal moments in twentieth-century British history, and a nation's 'finest hour'.

Salander is plotting her revenge — against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.

Arranged thematically, the 130 reproductions of Klimt's most important work are accompanied by Rachel Barnes' expert and insightful commentary on all aspects of the artist's life, influences and paintings.

Pack life is about order, but Bryn is about to push all the limits, with hair-raising results. At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. Alone in the world, she was rescued and taken in by Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been living as a human among the werewolves, adhering to pack rule. Little fazes her. But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage.

Tyler and Lucinda have to spend summer with their Uncle Gideon, a farmer. They think they're in for lots of sheep, horses, and pigs. But when they arrive they discover that Ordinary Farm is, well, no ordinary farm. The bellowing in the barn comes not from a cow but from a dragon. The thundering herd in the valley? Unicorns. Uncle Gideon's farmhouse never looks the same twice. Plus, there's a flying monkey, a demon squirrel, and farmhands with strange powers. The place seems like an adventure. But when darker secrets surface and Uncle Gideon and his creatures are threatened, Lucinda and Tyler must act. Will they be able to save the dragons, the farm — and themselves?