The Hard Blokes Of Sparta


Book Description

Monsters. Daemons. Dragons. Spartans? The Hard Blokes of Sparta are gaining a reputation as high-class adventures-for-hire, always willing to lend a magically-strengthened hand in the monster-slaying department...for a fair price, of course. But though they are going up in the world, the world in question remains full of secrets and mysteries. And if they are to get home, they must understand the deeply strange workings of Level 31. Why were they drawn here? What power makes the place so unstable? And even more pressing...is something going wrong with it? When it becomes apparent an especially evil daemon has been engaged to slay the Hard Blokes, Dave decides the only sensible course of action is a pre-emptive strike. But taking on a daemon on their home turf was never going to be easy, especially when the daemon in question is horribly ancient, exceptionally sneaky, and addicted to stealing fragments of souls. And when you lose a part of your soul, it turns out that one thing it throws into question is your understanding of the past... Now everything Dave and his friends thought they knew seems uncertain, and the danger isn't only the horrible monsters, but the Hard Blokes themselves... To prevail, they must go on a journey that will take them into the strange secrets which lurk at the heart of Level 31. "The knowingly silly and sarcastic narration is pitch-perfect," - ***** Goodreads reviewer "The writing is seriously intelligent stuff. I loved how clever it all was,"- ***** Goodreads reviewer




The Hard Blokes of Sparta


Book Description

Three spartans. One princess. Various monsters. What could go wrong?Back on earth, in Ancient Greece, they were the hardest guys around. But since being sucked through a Reality Vortex to the mysterious Level 31, Dave and his friends are really struggling to be the muscle-for-hire which is the only way they know to earn a living.Now they have one last chance: rescue a princess from a tower, or fail to make their rent, and face eviction and involuntary enrolment in a less-than-pleasant brutal-fighting-pit scenario.But how can a man - even a spartan - compete with orcs and goblins, chimeras and cockatrice?Dave might have an idea, though he doesn't think his friends will like it...This is the first of three stand-alone but linked comic fantasy novellas charting the fortunes of The Hard Blokes of Sparta.***** "Wonderful!" Amazon Reviewer***** "Full of warmth and humour" Amazon Reviewer




Beast Be Gone - A Fantasy Fiction Comedy Book


Book Description

Creatures in your basement? Undead spooking your castle? Infestation of goblins? Beast Be Gone will clear out those pesky pests and save your health and business - (no dragons) Adventurers rampage across the land, stealing everything from bread rolls to ancient heirlooms, slaughtering countless innocent monsters in their hunt for glory. Eric, the owner of Beast Be Gone pest control, knows that most creatures can be removed with a bit of repellent, however the adventurers want to do things the flashy way; blowing up half of the dungeon with fireballs in the process. With no work left, Eric is broke and desperate. That is until a young woman equipped with mechanical gadgets becomes his apprentice. Together they uncover the mystery of a diabolical plot that answers the timeless questions about adventuring... Why are there so many Chosen Ones? Are goblins inherently evil or are they just misunderstood? Why do all the shopkeepers say they have the best swords in the land? What are the socio-economic implications of all these sword merchants? Somebody wants a world full of adventurers, but why...? Terry Pratchett meets Ghostbusters in an RPG world. Beast Be Gone is a hilarious new fantasy comedy novel, which explores the stories of the underdogs of fantasy tales, sometimes known as NPC's. They're normal folk just wanting to go to the shops without getting stabbed by a sneaky guy in a cape who got bored of hunting goblins. A must-read for anyone who loves RPG's and online games (although you'll never be able to play them again without feeling bad for the men who have to clear up the mess you left behind in dungeons). Suitable for adults, YA and teens. Available in kindle, ebook and paperback. First published August 2021.










Blazing Combat


Book Description

A volume of reproductions from the influential war-comics magazine offers insight into the periodical's controversial publication of anti-war tales, in a collection that includes the classic short, "Landscape," in which a jaded Vietnamese rice farmer becomes a victim of circumstance. Reprint.




Understanding Football Hooliganism


Book Description

Football hooliganism periodically generates widespread political and public anxiety. In spite of the efforts made and resources invested over the past decades, football hooliganism is still perceived by politicians, policymakers and media as a disturbing social problem. This highly readable book provides the first systematic and empirically grounded comparison of football hooliganism in different national and local contexts. Focused around the six Western European football clubs on which the author did his research, the book shows how different clubs experience and understand football hooliganism in different ways. The development and effects of anti-hooligan policies are also assessed. The emphasis throughout is on the importance of context, social interaction and collective identity for understanding football hooliganism. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in football culture, hooliganism and collective violence.




Odysseus


Book Description

After ten years at war, Odysseus returns to Ithaka to find his palace in the hands of violent men. These mortal enemies are overcome but the ghosts of war are not so easily vanquished. Drawing on the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, and loosely following the model of classical Greek drama, Peter Oswald explores the personal journey behind the fantastic one, and asks what it means to be a hero.