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Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are widely known as the greatest Russian writers of science fiction, and their 1964 novel Hard to Be a God is considered one of the greatest of their works. It tells the story of Don Rumata, who is sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to influence, but never to directly interfere. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler and a brawler, Don Rumata is never defeated but can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the First Minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play? Hard to Be a God has inspired a computer role-playing game and two movies, including Aleksei German's long-awaited swan song. Yet until now the only English version (out of print for over thirty years) was based on a German translation, and was full of errors, infelicities, and misunderstandings. This new edition—translated by Olena Bormashenko, whose translation of the authors' Roadside Picnic has received widespread acclaim, and supplemented with a new foreword by Hari Kunzru and an afterword by Boris Strugatsky, both of which supply much-needed context—reintroduces one of the most profound Soviet-era novels to an eager audience.
“The best mingling of history with historical magic that I have ever seen.”—Gene Wolfe In a snowbound inn high in the Alps, four people meet who will alter fate. A noble Byzantine mercenary . . . A female Florentine physician . . . An ageless Welsh wizard . . . And Sforza, the uncanny duke. Together they will wage an intrigue-filled campaign against the might of Byzantium to secure the English throne for Richard, Duke of Gloucester—and make him Richard III. Available for the first time in nearly two decades, with a new introduction by New York Times-bestselling author Scott Lynch, The Dragon Waiting is a masterpiece of blood and magic. “Had [John M. Ford] taken The Dragon Waiting and written a sequence of five books based in that world, with that power, he would’ve been George R.R. Martin.” —Neil Gaiman At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
God is dead. I killed him. My name’s Nic Ward. At least, that’s what I’m going by these days. Once, Heaven and Hell alike knew me as Nicariel the Fallen. But it turns out killing the tyrant on the Divine Throne will earn you a bit of a reputation. So I’m hiding out in the human world, keeping to myself. I’d say I’ve more than earned a quiet retirement. But without anyone keeping order up above, the demons in Hell are restless. And Heaven has its own problems, with power-hungry angels scheming to claim the Throne for themselves. It’s easy for defenseless humans to get caught in the crossfire. And no one is interested in looking out for the little guy. No one but me. Guess my retirement won’t be so quiet after all… This omnibus edition contains the first three books of the Nic Ward noir urban fantasy series: Nothing Sacred, Broken Faith, and Crooked Idols.
This is the most complete and compelling account of idols and celebrity in Japanese media culture to date. Engaging with the study of media, gender and celebrity, and sensitive to history and the contemporary scene, these interdisciplinary essays cover male and female idols, production and consumption, industrial structures and fan movements.
Organized by theme, this comprehensive encyclopedia examines all aspects of life in Japan, from geography and government to food and etiquette and much more. Japan, or the "Land of the Rising Sun," is home to more than 126 million people, nearly 10 million of whom live in Tokyo alone. How did this tiny island nation become such a powerhouse in the 21st century, and where will it go from here? Modern Japan examines history and contemporary life through thematic entries organized into chapters covering such topics as geography; history; government and politics; economy; religion and thought; social classes and ethnicity; gender, marriage, and sexuality; education; language; etiquette; literature and drama; art and architecture; music and dance; food; leisure and sports; and media and popular culture. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries on examples of each theme. A chronology covers from prehistoric times to the present, and special appendices offer profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of Japanese society, key facts and figures about Japan, and a holiday chart. This volume is ideal for students researching Japan, as well as general readers interested in learning more about the country.