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Click on image to go to Author website. "THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT." Eccl. 9:11

Saturday, 9 August 2014

A Common Theme For Fantasy Romance Novels Based In England

By Tanisha Berg


Everyone loves a gripping tale full of intrigue, with interesting characters and story-lines that revolve around human relationships. In the myths and legends of olden times, fantastical creatures and a bit of magic often increased the drama. Even today these elements still make for a gripping read. A common theme for contemporary fantasy romance novels based in England is the legends of long ago, particularly the stories of Camelot.

Fantasy romance is a genre of literature that combines the elements of two other genres, those of fantasy and of romance. Fantasy books deal with magic and myth, while the romance genre deals with romantic love. Many of the stories in Arthurian legend are a perfect combination of these themes, with magic helping or hindering lovers.

Nobody knows whether King Arthur actually existed. According to legend, he was king of Britain in the fifth or the sixth century. At the time, England was a place of conflict: Anglo-Saxon invasions, the spread of Christianity to the detriment of the old religions, and endless struggles for power. Arthur supposedly brought peace with the help of his knights, who would convene around a round table at his castle, the legendary Camelot.

One of the most famous love stories in Arthurian legend is that of Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot is one of King Arthur's most trusted Knights of the Round Table. He was raised in Avalon, the magic kingdom of the Lady of the Lake, and among his brave exploits is his killing of a dragon. The relationship between him and Guinevere, the king's wife, makes for a tragic love triangle which eventually helps to bring Arthur's kingdom to a fall.

Lancelot and Guinevere's is not the only love triangle in Arthurian legend. One that inspired a famous opera is the story of the knight Tristan and his uncle's bride, Iseult. It is a love potion that brings these two lovers together and causes mayhem at the court of Mark, the King of Cornwall.

There are also some beautiful stories that have a happy ending. One of these is the tale of Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnelle. Gawain marries Ragnelle, a truly ugly woman, in order to save Arthur's life. This act partially breaks the spell that destroyed Ragnelle's looks in the first place and Gawain, through his chivalry, eventually breaks the spell completely to restore Ragnelle's beauty.

Several classic works in literature are based on the stories of King Arthur. Contemporary novels, especially those in the fantasy genre, are often inspired by the legends of Camelot too. Sometimes the authors take the old stories and give them a contemporary setting. More often, though, they tell a specific Arthurian story but from a different angle, such as in the extremely popular 'The Mists of Avalon'.

To find stories based on Arthurian legend in your local bookstore or library, look in the sections marked 'fantasy' or 'romance'. You'll find the older versions under the 'classics'. If you want to make the search much easier, simply go online. This way you can also use the reviews to decide whether a specific novel will be for you.




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Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Best Science Fiction Books To Read

By Annabelle Holman


Probably you love reading. Conversely, you cannot seem to get the right book for you to quench your love for science. The following best science fiction books will give you the field to choose. Ranging from classic pieces, these pieces will feed your appetite.

Top on the list is Ringworld, a Larry Niven works. In this book, luck is a genetic trait that is controllable. This storyline begins on earth and ends up in the world of the puppeteers. These creatures are indestructible by matter and humans have to devise other ways to beat them. The book looks into the aspect of war between planets and the chances the human race has to survive.

The Demolished Man is a captivating piece which will leave your imagining what if the prepositions in it were a reality. The state where the mind is able to pick up the intentions of the person next to you. The peepers as they are referred to in the book shape the society and how people behave. This led to a 70 year drought of calculated death cases. This switched the levels of crime to more sophisticated levels as you could not lie to a police officer.

Gateway by Frederik Pohl was done in 2010. It analyses the extent to which humans in the future will be willing to go to make ends meet. The fact that life is a gift, only makes sense if you have the gift itself. In other terms, being rich is actually living. So, humans stumble upon interstellar ships left behind by Heechee. They hop on not knowing where these ships will take them. Though these ships are programmed on where to take them, many still go. Few come back rich while others perish.

Done by John Brunner, Stand on Zanzibar, houses two characters. House and Hogan. Hogan is in the forefront of a conglomerate that is poised to take over a country in Africa. The company he leads is called general technics and also deals with genetic engineering products. Hogan on other hand is his spy and takes a geek personality to conceal his true intention. In the end he dies but after successfully getting the solution to genetic engineering.

Timescape, a proud piece by Gregory Benford is an award winning book. This book involves the idea of teleporting to the future and making the necessary measures to correct a current mistake from causing a calamity in future. Gregory in this book involves drama and science to high level that will keep you going and going. A group of scientists from 1998 and 1962 are all that stood at the center of the future of the human race.

Alfred Beester wrote the book Tiger! Tiger! In the 1950s. Little did he know a reprint in 2011 under, The Stars is my Destination, was going to catapult the content value if this piece to huge heights. In the original piece, he assesses a character who uses teleporting as the perfect tool to evade arrest in time of problem. This shakes the world and in turn poises danger to everyone.

The Snowcrash virus created by a pizza guy in the Snowcrash novel was all it took to solve the hacking menace. This piece by Neal Stephenson, leads us to the future where the nation is in a state of helplessness as a result of cybercrimes that even the government cannot handle. As a result, many people are affected and the pizza guy is one. He sets out on a revenge mission. Just like the bulb invention process, he came with the whopping tool which is Snowcrash.




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Monday, 4 August 2014

Explore The Best Science Fiction Books For A Journey Of Imagination

By Annabelle Holman


With the sheer variety of literary genres, it's almost surprising that so many book lovers get stuck reading only one type of book. Some serious readers even go so far as to read only novels that have won a slew of prizes or are considered classics and they won't think about reading a 'light' genre such as sci-fi. Little do they know that many of the award-winning classics they prefer are also some of the best science fiction books in history.

The science fiction is normally simply called sci-fi. It encompasses a vast range of ideas and themes. Whether you want to read about aliens and outer space, time travel, cyberspace, scientists gone mad or 'what if' scenarios, you'll find something in the genre. What these books have in common is that they put forward ideas that are almost beyond imagination and where technology is often a central part of the theme.

Sci-fi ideas in literature date back to as long ago as the 2nd century. However, 'Somnium' by Johannes Kepler, written in the early 17th century, is often considered the first work in the genre. Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' is pure sci-fi, as is Mary Shelley's popular 'Frankenstein'.

The Industrial Revolution and the innovation that came with it became inspiration for many a writer. Two of the most influential were H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. They're often regarded as the 'fathers of science fiction'. Wells explored themes such as time travel and alien invasion while Verne imagined fantastic journeys into the depths of Earth.

Among the most famous and most acclaimed sci-fi writers are Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Some of the works of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley can be regarded as sci-fi too, such as 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and 'Brave New World'. The latter, which centered around cloning, is an example of a novel where an idea that seemed far-fetched at the time later became a scientific reality.

Many writers who aren't normally known for sci-fi have written classics in the genre. Mark Twain did it with 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', featuring time travel. Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote some sci-fi poems. Among the Nobel Prize laureates who explored sci-fi themes are British writer Doris Lessing, Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges and Portuguese writer Jose Saramago.

Many sci-fi novels have been made into movies. They include several film versions of 'Frankenstein', 'Planet of the Apes' and the works of Jules Verne. Other classics include 'The Andromeda Strain', the 'Jurassic Park' series, 'A Clockwork Orange', '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Dune' and 'A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe'.

While the 'Sci-fi' shelves in the library or at the bookstore are the obvious place to look for good books, don't forget to browse through the 'Classics' section as well. You can also order novels online. The advantage of this is that you can first read the reviews to see whether the book will be for you.




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Sunday, 3 August 2014

Review Of An Adventure Novel Based In England

By Annabelle Holman


Brilliant novel writer Rosemary Sutcliff is remembered for writing young adult books as well as fiction about history. Among her works include her adventure novel based in England known as Eagle back in the nineteen fifties.

Ninth Legion of Rome disappears after marching to the north of Britain responding to a disagreement among Caledonian tribes. Four thousand soldiers lose their lives. One of the commanders of the commanders is the father of Marcus. Marcus is a leader of soldiers belonging to the second Legion. He goes to refresh his soldiers accompanied by his troop towards a bordering fort. Soon, his camp is attacked by local natives, which acted as his base.

He led his soldiers in defense of their camp against the tribes. Out of that war, he got injured so badly, only to recover after days. He saved his soldiers though his injuries could not allow him to return to his duties. He had to end his career. His ambitions too were lost. His uncle who lived nearby took him. The uncle had retired after the end of his career.

He lives with his uncle and his leg recovering slowly. Marcus goes to visit Saturnalia Games. He buys Enter Esca, a gladiator who loses in a fight to death battle as his personal slave. The two form a relationship more than the normal master and slave. Like Marcus father, the father of Esca too was a commander.

Rumors emerge that suggest that the Ninth eagle was with other tribes. Marcus granted his slave freedom in a promise that he would be loyal. They left together to pursue the said rumors. They came to a place known as Dun which was under the leadership of Dergian and stayed there for some time. Marcus got a chance to attend ceremony only to see the eagle of their Legion although it had no wings. He knew that the Ninth must have been killed attempting to rescue it. Marcus was able to observe that it was not well guarded. The thought came of stealing. The night of vacating, Esca stole and hid it.

The two escape without many challenges until when the tribes finds them, halfway the journey. Marcus fakes it pretending to be in a state of confusion and accepts to be searched. They do not find eagle and so they go ahead to look for it. Esca goes back for eagle from the hiding place and takes it. They start running for their safety.

The two required speed in order to escape the attention of the pursuers. They feared everyone, even those who did not know them. The condition Marcus derailed their speed since he had not yet healed. However they could not dare to stop either. They encountered the pursuers once more. This time they were not many. The two had to hide in a nearby building to seek refuge. At last, they were successful with their journey.

At last, they reach home. They present it to the uncle of Marcus celebrating about their victory. However the return of Eagle fails to transform it. Marcus thought of achieving fails somehow.




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Saturday, 2 August 2014

Why Read Young Adult Book Reviews

By Annabelle Holman


Young people between the ages of 13 and 21 often find that books written for adults do not appeal to them. They want stories where exciting, extraordinary, and enthralling events happen. When it comes to painful matters like emotional illness, abuse and bullying, they want stories that address these issues head on. Fortunately, there are many books written specifically for this age group. When looking online for young adult book reviews, thousands of results appear.

These reviews are written by people from all types of different backgrounds, ages and with different levels of skill. Some even make money from those they write and may not be altogether honest. In such a situation there may be some confusion about which reviews to rely on.

All teenagers are familiar with social networking. This is one opportunity to find information about books from reviewers that can be trusted. Information about what what is being read and recommendations are being provided by friends. They are known personally and may often have a similar taste in books.

There are a vast number of review sites available and some are better than others. To find the best ones, it may be useful to find lists listing the top ones and to find out what sites friends are using. These sites are not specifically devoted to a certain age group and one has to select a particular genre and go to recommendations for books suited to young adults. Once certain books have been purchased, recommendations for others like it may be given.

When joining a review site run by peers, this offers an opportunity to relate to others of the same age in a unique way. Perhaps some of the reviews are not polished and they may even be badly written. However, they are often brutally honest. Sometimes they are glowingly enthusiastic and this may just spark a response. A site like this will often have lists of books read most recently and provide updates on new books.

Following a favorite author on Twitter may be something else for someone of this age to enjoy. Authors of books for this age group will often recommend fellow authors and other novels. They may even tweet about the next book of the series they are writing, giving a bit of a sneak preview.

Some individuals have enjoyed reading as a child but but once they reach adolescence they have all the distractions of social media and also feel that books written by adults are irrelevant to them. It is worth encouraging them to give online platforms a try and they may just change their minds. They may discover books they can really relate to, especially when they interact with others of their own age group and discuss certain novels together.

If they think that adult books are irrelevant to them, they will be astounded at the huge variety of fiction addressed specifically to them. Many adults even secretly find these books highly entertaining. All kinds of genres are covered and all sorts of relevant issues dealt with in a way that is honest and easily understood.

There are many methods used online to encourage young adults to read. Competitions, fan clubs and discussion groups are just some of these. They can explore the multitude of opportunities and are sure to find something that stimulates their interest.




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Friday, 1 August 2014

An Overview Of Free Book Giveaways

By Annabelle Holman


When individuals have become addicted to the pleasures of the written word, they should look for opportunities to get new titles whenever possible. By visiting some regional free book giveaways, men and women can look for works of literature that they would be happy to own. Because titles at these events are given away for free, all should be well.

Finding a a good community calendar will help the process along. People can examine the calendar to see when important events are going to be happening. With luck, they can find a giveaway or two on most weekends of the year. People who live in large cities should not forget to check the community calendars of the surrounding towns.

Books of all kinds can likely be found at these events. If men and women have long loved Dickens and Hemingway, they should be able to find some works of classic literature that will fit their style. While many of the older paperbacks will come without any introductions, they'll still be perfectly readable for individuals who are interested in the story itself.

Non-fiction will also be available. In fact, shoppers can choose to buy books on all different subjects. If they have long been interested in science and math, they can find titles on geology, physics, chemistry, and biology. History buffs, on the other hand, can locate older titles on American history or world history. As long as individuals love to learn about the planet, they'll surely find something superb.

Parents should also get a few interesting things for their kids to enjoy. When they can find a few books that revolve around the Sesame Street characters, for instance, everyone will be more than happy with the outcome. In fact, kids who learn to read at an early age will be much more likely to continue to enjoy the activity for the rest of their lives.

Books make excellent holiday gifts. They can be wrapped in beautiful paper and tied with beautiful bows to present to loved ones and friends. Much of the wrapping paper available these days features lovely gold and silver etchings will add to the elegance. When works of literature are being given as gifts, givers should do their shopping as early as possible.

While giveaways are usually concentrated on giving away things for free, shoppers might be prepared to spend a bit of money on accessory items. Some nice bookmarks, for example, will go well with the publications. Bookmarks are still highly popular these days and come in many different shapes and colors. Lovers of reading will be happy to have a few on hand.

In the end, getting some reading material that the whole family will enjoy is a good idea. As long as men and women put some thought into the process and stick to their guns, they should be fine. Both adults and children can begin reading as much as they want going forward.




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What You Need To Know About Hiring Custom Written Essays

By Annabelle Holman


Students who do not have enough time to complete or do their essays can now find professional help. This is because there are a good number of reliable websites that have profession writers. However, the student must ensure to conduct a thorough search because some companies are not reliable. When looking for help with custom written essays, conduct thorough online queries.

The current world and lifestyle requires quality education. This is the main reason why parents are encouraged to educate their children to the highest level they can. In schools, students are given different set of assignments to gauge their level of understanding on every subject. These assignments can at times overwhelm the student and it is a good idea to seek professional writing help.

The good news is that, there are several companies, which help students with their essays. When this is done, you can be assured of getting quality work that would translate into high scores from the lecturer. This also gives a good opportunity to read widely for the next main exams.

When looking for writing help, it is important to find a reliable company. The truth is that, there are many websites offering these services, but not all can be trusted. To a void much stress, you need to conduct a comprehensive search to find the best writing help. It is also necessary to know some of the factors to consider when hiring these services.

When hiring these companies, consider the qualifications of writers. Some companies have ensured to hire only writers with highest qualifications on different subjects. However, this should not cheat you because some companies do not have qualified personnel to help get good grades. So, it is best to communicate with the support team and request them to assign only highly qualified writers to your projects.

The right service provider to appoint for the writing of your papers should have been in the industry for quite some time. This needs to be considered since your main aim is to work with experienced professionals. When searching, you would obtain several service providers in this industry, but only a handful have been in the market for a good duration. Never appoint newer firms to manage your papers even if they offer the lowest rates. Ensure to review sample papers they have too.

The cost of service is another important factor to consider. When looking for writing help, you will find companies offering different rates. However, what you need is quality work because you do not want to fail in your projects. It is advised to conduct a thorough price search and compare what each company is offering. You should also read testimonials from past customers of the company to help you make a good decision.

Students are normally given excess class work, which they do not have enough time to complete. In this scenario, it would a good idea to hire professional writing companies. These professionals can easily be found by searching on the internet. Before you trust any company with your essays, ensure to look at their experience and credential of writers. You must also consider knowing the rates charged.




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