The Head Beneath the Altar


Book Description

In the beginning, says the ancient Hindu text the Rg Veda, was man. And from man’s sacrifice and dismemberment came the entire world, including the hierarchical ordering of human society. The Head Beneath the Altar is the first book to present a wide-ranging study of Hindu texts read through the lens of René Girard’s mimetic theory of the sacrificial origin of religion and culture. For those interested in Girard and comparative religion, the book also performs a careful reading of Girard’s work, drawing connections between his thought and the work of theorists like Georges Dumézil and Giorgio Agamben. Brian Collins examines the idea of sacrifice from the earliest recorded rituals through the flowering of classical mythology and the ancient Indian institutions of the duel, the oath, and the secret warrior society. He also uncovers implicit and explicit critiques in the tradition, confirming Girard’s intuition that Hinduism offers an alternative anti-sacrificial worldview to the one contained in the gospels.







Revelation


Book Description

The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.







Cormyr A Novel


Book Description

The epic historical saga of the most powerful nation in the Forgotten Realms— as told by the world's co-creators Aided and abetted by a powerful family of wizards, the Obarskyr family has ruled Cormyr since its inception one and a half millennia ago. Now, Cormyr's benevolent king, Azoun IV, lies overcome by a deadly malady from which he may not recover. When the vultures begin to circle, hoping to usurp the throne for their own, many question the loyalty of the king’s wizard and advisor, Vangerdahast. It is against this crisis of state that the history of the Forest Kingdom unfolds, relaying the previously untold story of a nation, its rulers, and its wizards.













Catching Phantoms


Book Description

At the edge of the Pennine Moors, Detective Sergeant Blackshaw and his rookie colleague, Detective Constable Lumb, are called to the scene of a double murder committed on a burial ground. They discover that the case is connected to an ancient Celtic cult, in the remote village of Pen Crags. Desperate for career advancement and obsessed with solving the mystery, DC Lumb immerses himself in the group - and soon disappears. Amid a chain of unexplained deaths, Sergeant Blackshaw attempts to unravel the sinister plot. But with scarce evidence, can he prove his theory - or will he have to accept that there is no way to catch a phantom?




Cryptic Clues


Book Description

A collection of three mystery novels by Ian Taylor & Rosi Taylor, now available in one volume! Catching Phantoms: At the edge of the Pennine Moors, Detective Sergeant Blackshaw and his partner, Detective Constable Lumb, are faced with a harrowing double murder on a sacred burial ground. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a chilling connection to an ancient Celtic cult thriving in the remote village of Pen Crags. Consumed by ambition and an insatiable thirst for answers, DC Lumb becomes entangled with the enigmatic group and mysteriously vanishes. With a string of inexplicable deaths haunting their pursuit, Sergeant Blackshaw must race against time to unravel the sinister plot. The Gatekeeper: In the quiet English village of Low Moor, young vicar Paul Milton finds himself thrust into a web of darkness when his wife mysteriously vanishes. Uncovering the town's ominous energy, Paul becomes entangled in a dangerous conflict between a malevolent Celtic sorceress and a determined Christian geomancer, each vying for control over a potent mystical power hidden beneath the surface. As tensions escalate and a gateway to the darkest forces of the Otherworld opens, Paul must summon all his courage to rescue his wife. Time Of The Demon: After a mysterious object crashes in a field near the Half Moon Inn, the disappearance of two barmaids sets off a chain of bizarre events. Jan Barnes, a local reporter, becomes intrigued by the strange occurrences and joins forces with the enigmatic paranormal investigator, Gregory Houseman. As they delve deeper into the unfolding mystery, they uncover a web of government conspiracy and unimaginable supernatural forces. With their lives at stake, Jan and Gregory must navigate this disturbing world to uncover the truth. But can they survive the perilous journey and expose the secrets hidden within?