Strands of the Web


Book Description

A collection of just about all of the existing short stories written by Harry Stephen Keeler back in the early 20th century. Edited by Fred Cleaver, the 22 short stories are followed by a complete bibliography of Keeler's short fiction.




Because Internet


Book Description

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!! Named a Best Book of 2019 by TIME, Amazon, and The Washington Post A Wired Must-Read Book of Summer “Gretchen McCulloch is the internet’s favorite linguist, and this book is essential reading. Reading her work is like suddenly being able to see the matrix.” —Jonny Sun, author of everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too Because Internet is for anyone who's ever puzzled over how to punctuate a text message or wondered where memes come from. It's the perfect book for understanding how the internet is changing the English language, why that's a good thing, and what our online interactions reveal about who we are. Language is humanity's most spectacular open-source project, and the internet is making our language change faster and in more interesting ways than ever before. Internet conversations are structured by the shape of our apps and platforms, from the grammar of status updates to the protocols of comments and @replies. Linguistically inventive online communities spread new slang and jargon with dizzying speed. What's more, social media is a vast laboratory of unedited, unfiltered words where we can watch language evolve in real time. Even the most absurd-looking slang has genuine patterns behind it. Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch explores the deep forces that shape human language and influence the way we communicate with one another. She explains how your first social internet experience influences whether you prefer "LOL" or "lol," why ~sparkly tildes~ succeeded where centuries of proposals for irony punctuation had failed, what emoji have in common with physical gestures, and how the artfully disarrayed language of animal memes like lolcats and doggo made them more likely to spread.




The Afghan Mission


Book Description

The Afghan Mission is the sequel to The Minot Mission by author Stephen Knight. It is payback time for the United States, following the Soviet Union masterminded treasonous mission to detonate a nuclear missile in its silo at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The same main characters (as in The Minot Mission), Gerry Williams and Peter Shelby have been apprehended and dispatched to Afghanistan to assist the Mujahideen freedom fi ghters and Afghans to defeat the occupying Soviet Red Army. Following their arrest by INTERPOL in Australia, after being trained in black operations by the CIA, their payback mission takes them to Pakistan, the very remotest parts of Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and China. It includes leading disruptive violent rebel raids into Uzbekistan, being imprisoned for several months in an Afghan prison and attempting a perilous escape through the highest mountains in the world.




Janice VanCleave’s Crazy, Kooky, and Quirky Biology Experiments


Book Description

How do flies eat? How do crickets make sound? Why are penguins' wings so good for swimming? In this diverse collection of twenty-four crazy, kooky, and quirky biology experiments, young scientists will learn the answers to these questions. They will perform fun, hands-on experiments that enlighten them on all kinds of creatures in the animal kingdom. Students will also gain insight into the basic biological component of the cell, learn how temperature affects smells, and even connect with their own heartbeats in this lively installment from Janice VanCleave featuring color illustrations and safe, simple step-by-step instructions.




Welcome to the Circular Economy


Book Description

Looking to live a life that goes beyond 'sustainability'? Welcome to the circular economy. But what it is exactly? Taking inspiration from nature, the circular economy is a series of interconnecting systems that make everyday life more sustainable. Plus, we can all be part of it: you, your second cousin, that guy that lives down the street and the person you follow on Instagram on the other side of the world. In this handy book, Claire Potter helps explain what the circular economy is, how we as individuals fit into a bigger landscape, how we can demand more of brands, corporations and governments - and how all the decisions we make really do make a difference.




Existential Reasons for Belief in God


Book Description

Lived faith involves doctrines, evidences and rational coherence—but it includes much more. Philosopher Clifford Williams puts forth an argument as to why certain needs, desires and emotions have a legitimate place in drawing people into faith in God. Addressing the strongest objections to these types of grounds for faith, he shows how the personal and experiential aspects of belief play an important part in coming to faith and in remaining a believing person.




The Working


Book Description

A modern coven must thwart a looming eco-cataclysm and find the key to the bright future we need. Betsy's a modern-day Witch with an ageless problem: she's worried about screwing up her coven's ritual. Again. But the coven has a bigger issue to face — the destruction of their home thanks to a fracked gas pipeline. And then an even bigger problem — a greed-fueled entity will soon obliterate Earth’s ability to support life. Tarot cards indicate the coven must sort among allies and threats, human and ethereal. Follow Betsy, Sail, Fire, Mari, and Tal as they disentangle the truth and seek the magic to avert the cataclysm.




This Is 18


Book Description

A stunning celebration of girlhood around the world, from the New York Times Featuring and photographed by young women, This Is 18 is an immersive look at what it means to be on the cusp of adulthood around the world and across cultures. Twenty-two empowering and uniquely personal profiles, expanded from the New York Times interactive feature and curated by Gender Editor Jessica Bennett, with Sandra Stevenson, Anya Strzemien, and Sharon Attia, give teen readers a rare glimpse at the realities and interests of their contemporaries. With stunning photography and a gifty design, This Is 18 is a perfect tribute to girlhood for readers of all ages.




Outlook


Book Description




The Door to the Lost


Book Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mark of the Dragonfly comes a thrilling fantasy adventure about two magical friends living as refugees in a world that doesn't trust magic. Perfect for fans of Serafina and the Black Cloak and the School for Good and Evil series! There was no warning the day magic died in Talhaven. It happened with a giant explosion and the arrival of a skyship full of children, all with magic running through their veins and no memory of home. Rook and Drift are two of those children, and ever since that day, they've been on the run, magical refugees in a world that doesn't trust magic. Because magic doesn't die right away--it decays, twists, and poisons all that it touches. And now it's beginning to poison people. Try as they might, Rook and Drift can't remember anything about their lives before Talhaven. But it's beginning to look like they're the only ones who can save their adopted world . . . if that world doesn't destroy them first. Praise for The Door to the Lost "This fun, exciting story...and the many well-rendered, imaginative and heartfelt scenes along the way make this journey worthwhile."--The New York Times Book Review "Themes of refugees and found families are addressed in a way that retains fantasy flavor while realistically presenting the brutality of ignorance and beauty of humanity. Your new favorite fantasy."-Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "Johnson's immersive world building is vivid...and the fast-paced action, compelling characters, and one cute magical fox will keep fantasy-loving kids hooked."--Booklist "With heartfelt explorations of the meanings of friendship and family...fans of portal fantasies, steampunk, and action-driven books will find this an entertaining read and will be left wanting more."--School Library Journal Praise for The Mark of the Dragonfly: "This magnetic middle-grade debut . . . [is] a page-turner that defies easy categorization and ought to have broad appeal." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "Heart, brains, and courage find a home in a steampunk fantasy worthy of a nod from Baum." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "A fantastic and original tale of adventure and magic. . . . Piper is a heroine to fall in love with: smart, brave, kind, and mechanically inclined to boot." --School Library Journal, Starred Review