Operation Dragon


Book Description

Former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey and former Romanian acting spy chief Lt. General Ion Mihai Pacepa, who was granted political asylum in the U.S. in 1978, describe why Russia remains an extremely dangerous force in the world, and they finally and definitively put to rest the question of who killed President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. All evidence points to the fact that the assassination—carried out by Lee Harvey Oswald—was ordered by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, acting through what was essentially the Russian leader’s personal army, the KGB (now known as the FSB). This evidence, which is codified as most things in foreign intelligence are, has never before been jointly decoded by a top U.S. foreign intelligence leader and a former Soviet Bloc spy chief familiar with KGB patterns and codes. Meanwhile, dozens of conspiracy theorists have written books about the JFK assassination during the past fifty-six years. Most of these theories blame America and were largely triggered by the KGB disinformation campaign implemented in the intense effort to remove Russia’s own fingerprints that blamed in turn Lyndon Johnson, the CIA, secretive groups of American oilmen, Howard Hughes, Fidel Castro, and the Mafia. Russian propaganda sowed hatred and contempt for the U.S. quite effectively, and its operations have morphed into many forms, including the recruitment of global terror groups and the backing of enemy nation- states. Yet it was the JFK assassination, with its explosive aftermath of false conspiracy theories, that set the model for blaming America first.




How to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon's Fury


Book Description

Book 12 is the epic finale to the New York Times bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series! The Doomsday of Yule has arrived, and the future of dragonkind lies in the hands of one boy with nothing to show, but everything to fight for. Hiccup's quest is clear... But can he end the rebellion? Can he prove himself to be king? Can he save the dragons? The stakes have never been higher, as the very fate of the Viking world hangs in the balance!




Secret of the Dragon's Eye


Book Description

Secret of the Dragon's Eye is a tale of fantasy for all ages, with a high-spirited dragon named Thaddeus Osbert and three adolescents who befriend him. Faced with danger and intrigue, the children band together with the dragon, to thwart a German top-secret mission, aimed at seizing the mystical and magical sword of King Arthur-Excalibur. By combining their wits, their courage, and their imagination, the children overcome many obstacles to forge friendships as solid as time itself. Yet there is a price to pay for their brave intervention against the forces of evil. Will they be willing to once again battle incredible odds to make amends? What sacrifices will be required to save their mythical, fire-breathing friend from his pre-ordained fate?




Secret of the Dragon's Wings


Book Description

Secret of the Dragon's Wing is the final installment in the adventures of Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby, seventeen-year-olds who struggle with their daily lives in England during the pivotal year of 1945. The war in Europe is drawing to a close, as the German military begins to collapse. The Allies are closing in on Berlin and the Japanese have lost almost all of the land they conquered four years earlier. The Cornish teenagers have repeatedly defeated the forces of evil, but are faced with the last desperate gasp of sick and deranged minds within the collapsing fortress inside Nazi Germany.




Secret of the Dragon's Scales


Book Description

Secret of the Dragons Scales continues the adventures of Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby, fifteen-year-olds who make the best of their young lives in England during the autumn of 1943. World War II rages on, but the tide seems to have turned in favor of the Allies. Three times previously, the teens have defeated Nazi plans to defeat England using evil magic, and three times, there have been new alliances formed with creatures from the hidden worlds of legend and fable. Yet once again, Heinrich Himmler is determined to unleash another strange and horrible weapon from deep within Nazi Germany, while halfway across the world, Allied armies are now tenaciously fighting the Japanese Empire. Secret of the Dragons Scales continues to develop the ongoing influence of Thaddeus Osbert. The dragon has become indispensable in assisting his teenaged charges, as they inadvertently aid the Allied efforts against Nazi Germany. However, the dragon also takes quite seriously his responsibility to instruct Gavin Kane in the ways of justice, honor and above all - compassion. Sir Osbert manages to negotiate a steady source of sugar for his persistent sweet tooth, in exchange for supplying something Winston Churchill needs as well. Once again faced with danger and intrigue, the teens call upon their dragon friend to help them battle the Nazis, who finally commit their own winged monstrosity, with unexpected results.







Secret of the Dragon's Breath


Book Description

Secret of the Dragon's Breath continues the adventures of Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby, thirteen-year-olds who continue to struggle with their daily lives, during the spring of 1941. While relatively safe on the north Cornish coast, the teens are well aware that England is under constant threat, as the Germans continue to bomb London and the surrounding industrial cities. While these friends have learned to cope with air raid sirens and strict rationing, they're soon faced with another sinister attempt to bring Britain to her knees. Yet with the addition of several new characters, the teenagers discover the true meaning of friendship from these unusual allies. Secret of the Dragon's Breath also marks the return of that high-spirited dragon, Sir Thaddeus Osbert, who not only breathes fire, but also craves sugar. Faced with danger and intrigue, the teens call upon their dragon friend to help them battle the Nazis, who are determined to win the war, no matter what the cost. With a terrible new force threatening their beloved England, it's up to Gavin, Bunty, and Emily to seek out a magical solution. When their favorite dragon unleashes yet another secret power, you can be assured the outcome will not only be exciting, but full of long-lasting implications as well.




Slaying the Dragon


Book Description

Dungeons & Dragons. It’s the fantasy role-playing game first conceived over fifty years ago by the now-legendary company TSR ,which has enthralled millions of devoted gamers around the world for generations. It’s a test of skill, intelligence, audacity, and survival. But no D&D game ever played could compare to the stunning behind-the-scenes melee for power and dominance that was the true story of TSR. Slaying the Dragon chronicles the rise and fall of TSR (Tactical Studies Rules), how the brilliant and wild minds of the legendary Gary Gygax and his co-creator Dave Arneson gave birth to a game that would capture the imagination of outsiders and underdogs throughout the world. From its humble beginnings in the small town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to its emergence as a cultural phenomenon, TSR soon spawned an unlikely empire of games and geekdom—with Dungeons & Dragons leading the way—that was decades ahead of its time, inviting both hyper-devoted fans as well as hysteria surrounding the game’s supposed corrupting influence on America’s youth. TSR was in the news, in the money, and on top of the world. But success soon took its toll, with creative control and rivalries within the firm threatening the stability of TSR. Former allies grew apart personally and professionally, and the formerly fun, freewheeling firm founded by a band of misfits collapsed into a desperate struggle for survival. Despite attempts to grow in a changing market, setbacks and management decisions put TSR in a downward spiral in the 1990s which resulted in the company's death and then resurrection by the most unlikely of saviors. With author access to previously unreleased documents and insider stories, and interviews with former TSR employees and associates who witnessed the high-stakes machinations and maneuvering that would eventually seal the company’s fate, Slaying the Dragon is a fascinating, revealing tale of friends turned enemies, success and failure, and loyalty and betrayal that no roll of the die could predict... "Riggs has written a fascinating and dishy account of the business hits and whistling misses of a band of dreamers, writers, artists, and geeks... A must-read for fighters, magic-users, and even bards -- and everyone else, too." — Brad Ricca, Edgar-nominated author of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes and True Raiders"Far from a fluff piece on a beloved hobby, this book goes behind the GM's screen to take a hard-nosed look at the people and circumstances that first gave rise to D&D, then nearly killed it -- twice. Riggs takes you on a roller-coaster from boom to near bankruptcy, but never loses sight of the individuals involved, the good, the bad, and the geeky." — Marie Brennan, Hugo-Award nominated author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent series




Secret of the Dragon's Claw


Book Description

Secret of the Dragons Claw continues the adventures of Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby, fourteen-year-old teens who struggle with their daily lives in England during the winter of 1941 and into the spring of 1942. War has forced everyone to settle into an uncomfortable daily pattern, while England is still under siege, as U-boats relentlessly attack vital convoys. Halfway across the world, British, American, and Allied forces are now also fighting the Japanese Empire. Twice before, the teens have helped battle the forces of darkness, but once again face strange and wicked creatures sent from deep within Nazi Germany. Secret of the Dragons Claw further develops the friendship and alliance between this teenage trio and the eccentric Sir Thaddeus Osbert. The dragon has become accustomed to battling a myriad of dangerous foes over the ages, but protecting Gavin, Emily, and Bunty has become a full-time endeavor. Thaddeus must deal with his nagging sweet tooth, which this time gets him into several compromising situations. However, the dragons addiction to sugar has unforeseen benefits too. The children band together with their dragon friend, of course, but they also discover magical powers are commonplace throughout the United Kingdom. Will a hasty alliance with a senile old wizard be enough to prevent something so horrible, so unimaginable, that it threatens to plunge the entire world into permanent darkness?




Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society


Book Description

An exciting fantasy adventure based on a true incident that took place in China during the Second World War. It is inspired by the many stories Adeline Yen Mah wrote as a schoolgirl in Shanghai to escape the lonliness of her own childhood. Ages 12+