The Dog by the Cradle, the Serpent Beneath

The Dog by the Cradle, the Serpent Beneath
Author: Erika Ritter
Publisher:
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2009
Genre: Humor
ISBN:

It is no secret that we humans have a special relationship with the animal world. According to statistics, 63 per cent of all households have at least one pet. In 2004 alone American pet-owners plunked down $36 billion worth of pet product expenditures. More money was spent in 2004 on pet food than on baby food. In a recent survey about attitudes fully 70 per cent of respondents identified the family pet as a “member of the family.†On the other hand, millions of cows and chickens are unceremoniously slaughtered each year to feed our unappeasable lust for "Whoppers" and "McNuggets." The world waits breathlessly transfixed on the latest news of a single whale foundering in the surf. Meanwhile millions of tons of fish are hauled from the ocean by commercial fishermen. As Erika Ritter explores in this fresh, fascinating and eye-opening new book, at the heart of this relationship is a paradox—a relationship that is almost schizophrenic in its absurdity: we humans are animals, too. How to account for how and why we have developed this odd relationship with our “fellow†animals. Through interviews conducted around the world with philosophers, scientists, farmers, poets, pundits and commentators, Ritter makes her way through this strange maze of human contractions about our animal brethren to produce a work that reveals as much about “us†as about “them.â€

Serpent Daughter

Serpent Daughter
Author: D.J. Butler
Publisher: Baen Books
Total Pages: 797
Release: 2020-11-03
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1625797974

DRAGON AWARD–NOMINATED SERIES. New entry in the Witchy War series, blending alternate history, Appalachian Folklore, and epic fantasy. Sarah Calhoun has taken her father’s throne and ascended into her goddess’s presence in Unfallen Eden as her father never did. And Sarah Calhoun is dying. Her uncle Thomas Penn isn’t done with her. Armed with new powers conferred upon him by the Necromancer and with new allies won via his impending marriage, Penn aims to remove Sarah from her throne—and from the world of the living. In the meantime, Sarah has fallen out with one of her best allies. Against Sarah’s advice, her brother Nathaniel heads into Imperial Philadelphia with the reckless and likely impossible aim of healing the Emperor Thomas. On the shores of the northern seas, agents of Franklin’s Conventicle with an unlikely connection to the Emperor struggle to win allies among the pole-dwelling giants, who are torn between seizing land covertly from the Firstborn of the Ohio and entering the war openly on the side of Simon Sword. In the west, the Heron King rides an explosive storm into war, crushing the mortal kingdoms in his path and bearing down on Sarah’s Cahokia. To survive—and to gain the strength she needs to fight this impossible war—Sarah must unite the Moundbuilder kings to enact an ancient rite that will propel her beyond mortality. To do so, she must not only win over doubters among the Firstborn kings, but she must also beat back a rebellion among the Handmaids of her goddess—for there are some of the goddess’s priestesses who long for the dark days of human sacrifice, and who are willing to throw Sarah herself upon the altar. Praise for Witchy Winter: “Butler follows Witchy Eye with a satisfying second tale of a magic-filled early America. . . . Deep and old magic influences both places and characters, and the story is tightly focused on the determined Sarah . . . Fans of epic and alternate historical fantasy will savor this tale of witchery and intrigue.”—Publishers Weekly "For readers who love history-based fantasy, steampunk, or urban fantasy . . . this series that gives the genre a new twist."—Booklist Praise for Witchy Eye and D.J. Butler: “ . . . you can’t stop yourself from taking another bite . . . and another . . . and another . . . I didn’t want to stop reading . . . Kudos!”—R.A. Salvatore “Excellent book. I am impressed by the creativity and the depth of the world building. Dave Butler is a great storyteller.”—Larry Correia “Witchy Eye is an intricate and imaginative alternate history with a cast of characters and quirky situations that would make a Dickens novel proud.” —Kevin J. Anderson "Butler’s fantasy is by turns sardonic and lighthearted; ghoulish shadows claw into the most remote areas and heroism bursts out of the most unlikely people. Sarah is the epitome of the downtrodden hero who refuses to give up until she gets what she needs, and her story will appeal to fantasy readers of all stripes."—Publishers Weekly "David's a pro storyteller, and you're in for a great ride."—Larry Dixon " . . . a fascinating, grittily-flavored world of living legends. Hurry up and write the next one, Dave."—Cat Rambo "This is enchanting! I'd love to see more."—Mercedes Lackey “Goblin Market meets Magical Musketpunk . . . A great ride that also manages to cover some serious cultural terrain.” —Charles E. Gannon "Witchy Eye is a brilliant blend of historical acumen and imagination, a tour-de-force that is at once full of surprises and ultimately heart-warming. This is your chance to discover one of the finest new stars writing today!"—David Farland “A gritty, engrossing mash-up of history, fantasy, and magic. Desperate characters careen from plot twist to plot twist until few are left standing.”—Mario Acevedo "Captivating characters. Superb world-building. Awesome magic. Butler fuses fantasy and history effortlessly, creating a fascinating new American epic. Not to be missed!"—Christopher Husberg "[A] unique alternative-history that is heavily influence by urban and traditional fantasy and steeped in the folklore of the Appalachians. . . . Fans of urban fantasy looking to take a chance on something with a twist on a historical setting may find this novel worth their time."—Booklist

Starfinder Adventure Path: Serpents in the Cradle (Horizons of the Vast 2 Of 6)

Starfinder Adventure Path: Serpents in the Cradle (Horizons of the Vast 2 Of 6)
Author: Hillary Moon Murphy
Publisher:
Total Pages: 64
Release: 2021-09-07
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 9781640783539

As the heroes continue to explore their newfound alien world, they discover an ancient monastery deep underground. Exploring this ruin reveals intriguing glimpses at the planet's long history, but as the PCs return to the surface, they find a small Aspis Consortium-connected village established illegally in their territory. When things start going wrong in their own settlement, the PCs must establish whether it is just bad luck or deliberate sabotage on the part of these troublesome newcomers! "Serpents in the Cradle" is a Starfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for four 3rd-level characters. This adventure continues the Horizons of the Vast Adventure Path, a six-part, bimonthly campaign in which the heroes are at the forefront of exploring and charting a newly discovered world filled with mystery. This volume also includes a look at the shady Aspis Consortium, relics of a philosophy of balance and renewal, and a selection of diverse alien creatures. Each monthly full-color softcover Starfinder Adventure Path volume contains a new installment of a series of interconnected science-fantasy quests that together create a fully developed plot of sweeping scale and epic challenges. Each 64-page volume of the Starfinder Adventure Path also contains in-depth articles that detail and expand the Starfinder campaign setting and provide new rules, a host of exciting new monsters and alien races, a new planet to explore and starship to pilot, and more!

The Serpent's Tale

The Serpent's Tale
Author: Ariana Franklin
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 396
Release: 2008-01-31
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101207701

The follow-up to Mistress of the Art of Death- in the national bestselling series hailed as "the medieval answer to Kay Scarpetta and the CSI detectives." When King Henry II's mistress is found poisoned, suspicion falls on his estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The king orders Adelia Aguilar, expert in the science of death, to investigate-and hopefully stave off civil war. A reluctant Adelia finds herself once again in the company of Rowley Picot, the new Bishop of St. Albans...and her baby's father. Their discoveries into the crime are shocking- and omens of greater danger to come.

A Library of the World's Best Literature - Ancient and Modern - Vol.XXIX (Forty-Five Volumes); Pereda-Poe

A Library of the World's Best Literature - Ancient and Modern - Vol.XXIX (Forty-Five Volumes); Pereda-Poe
Author: Charles Dudley Warner
Publisher: Cosimo, Inc.
Total Pages: 426
Release: 2008-07-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1605202231

Popular American essayist, novelist, and journalist CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER (1829-1900) was renowned for the warmth and intimacy of his writing, which encompassed travelogue, biography and autobiography, fiction, and more, and influenced entire generations of his fellow writers. Here, the prolific writer turned editor for his final grand work, a splendid survey of global literature, classic and modern, and it's not too much to suggest that if his friend and colleague Mark Twain-who stole Warner's quip about how "everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it"-had assembled this set, it would still be hailed today as one of the great achievements of the book world. Highlights from Volume 29 include: . the writings of Jos Maria de Pereda . the fairy tales of Charles Perrault . the poetry of Petrarch . the folklore of Pilpay . the philosophy of Plato . the comic verse of Titus Maccius Plautus . the writings of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger . the fiction of Edgar Allan Poe . and much, much more.

The Serpent’S Last Secret

The Serpent’S Last Secret
Author: Gail Logan
Publisher: iUniverse
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2017-06-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1532026250

A missing gem containing the secrets of the universe becomes a cause clbre when the nearest solar system powers intervene in planet Earths future. Included in the effort to obtain the ruby known as the Serpents Last Secret is Earths twenty-first-century time traveler John Pelletier; the giant mole Murdock (first minister of Mars); Earth physicist Prof. Whitfield; and the sorcerer Vorelis, who, with his two lovely daughters, presides over a fragment of the lost continent of Mu. Written with humor and wit, the novel comes to a stunning conclusion when the nearest solar system powers gather on Mars sixteen thousand years ago in a last ditch effort to save twenty-second-century planet Earth and their own worlds too.

The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney Electronic Content
Total Pages: 418
Release: 2012-05-01
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1423163273

He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all.