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An Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel. Praised by authors and critics around the globe, The Guards is the first novel in the Jack Taylor series and heralded the arrival of prominent Irish writer Ken Bruen as an essential voice in contemporary crime fiction. Still stinging from his unceremonious ouster from the Garda Siochana--The Guards, Ireland's police force--and staring at the world through the smoky bottom of his beer mug, Jack Taylor is stuck in Galway with nothing to look forward to. In his sober moments Jack aspires to become Ireland's best private investigator, not to mention its first--Irish history, full of betrayal and espionage, discourages any profession so closely related to informing. But in truth Jack is teetering on the brink of his life's sharpest edges, his memories of the past cutting deep into his soul and his prospects for the future nonexistent. Nonexistent, that is, until a dazzling woman walks into the bar with a strange request and a rumor about Jack's talent for finding things. Odds are he won't be able to climb off his barstool long enough to get involved with his radiant new client, but when he surprises himself by getting hired, Jack has little idea of what he's getting into. Stark, violent, sharp, and funny, The Guards is an exceptional novel, one that leaves you stunned and breathless, flipping back to the beginning in a mad dash to find Jack Taylor and enter his world all over again. It's an unforgettable story that's gritty, absorbing, and saturated with the rough-edged rhythms of the Galway streets.
“Patchett demonstrates just how great the distance is between one- and two-joke writers and the comic masters whose work will be read into the next century.” —Locus Magic, mayhem, and a marauding dragon combine for extraordinary fun in this cheeky Discworld novel from New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett. Insurrection is in the air in the city of Ankh-Morpork. The Haves and Have-Nots are about to face off. Again. It’s old news to Captain Sam Vimes of the city’s ramshackle Night Watch. But this time, something is different—the Have-Nots have found the key to a dormant, lethal weapon that even they can’t fully control, and they’re about to unleash a campaign of terror on the city. Long believed extinct, a draco nobilis can now be seen patrolling the skies above Discworld's greatest city. Not only does this unwelcome visitor have a nasty habit of charbroiling everything in its path, but it’s also soon crowned King. Can Vimes, Captain Carrot, and the rest of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch restore order (before it's burned to a crisp)? The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Guards! Guards! is the 1st book in the City Watch collection and the 8th Discworld book. The City Watch collection in order: Guards! Guards! Men at Arms Feet of Clay Jingo The Fifth Element Night Watch Thud! Snuff
The king offers a prize to anyone who can fool his sharp-sighted guards.
The continued spread of democracy into the twenty-first century has seen two-thirds of the almost two hundred independent countries of the world adopting this model. In these newer democracies, one of the biggest challenges has been to establish the proper balance between the civilian and military sectors. A fundamental question of power must be addressed—who guards the guardians and how? In this volume of essays, contributors associated with the Center for Civil-Military Relations in Monterey, California, offer firsthand observations about civil-military relations in a broad range of regions including Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Despite diversity among the consolidating democracies of the world, their civil-military problems and solutions are similar—soldiers and statesmen must achieve a deeper understanding of one another, and be motivated to interact in a mutually beneficial way. The unifying theme of this collection is the creation and development of the institutions whereby democratically elected civilians achieve and exercise power over those who hold a monopoly on the use of force within a society, while ensuring that the state has sufficient and qualified armed forces to defend itself against internal and external aggressors. Although these essays address a wide variety of institutions and situations, they each stress a necessity for balance between democratic civilian control and military effectiveness.
The unique history of The Micks – the Irish Guards – is chronicled in over 1000 images, starting with their formation in 1900 and taking the reader through to the recent war in Afghanistan. It is the story of a remarkable family regiment that continues to enhance the values, standards and reputation of the British infantry in an ever-changing world. The two world wars are covered in detail with dramatic pictures. The First World War – the brick stacks at Cuinchy under fire, where O’Leary won his VC – and the Second World War – the inferno of the transport ship Chobry off the coast of Norway and the first ever German King Tiger tank seen in action brought to a halt by the Irish Guards without firing a shot. More recently, the Micks were involved in internal security duties in Palestine, Cyprus, Malaya, Aden, Northern Ireland and the Balkans. They led the way into Iraq in the Second Gulf War and shed blood in Afghanistan. The book shows the development of regimental soldiering from the rigidity of the Victorian era, through the horrors of the trenches to armoured warfare in Europe and light infantry soldiering worldwide – all the time upholding the finest traditions of the Foot Guards. In an army that prides itself on the strength of the regimental system, the Irish Guards have created a distinctive and enduring ethos of their own. This is not just a cold regimental history but has been compiled to show the Micks’ ability to find humour even in the most adverse conditions while demonstrating excellence at both operational and ceremonial soldiering. It also contains, in an extensive set of appendices, a remarkable record of facts about the regiment – the people, places and events in the history of the Irish Guards – which will serve as an invaluable source of information for future generations.
Only two things stand between Haven’s law abiding citizens and the city’s notoriously dangerous criminal element: Hawk and Fisher. As Captains of the Haven City Guard, Hawk and Fisher deliver justice, root out corruption, and fight crime with a deadly combination of sharp steel and even sharper instincts. But it isn’t easy. A volatile mix of natural and supernatural violence, Haven is a terrible place to be after dark...and not much better during daylight. Guards of Haven collects books #4 through #6 of New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green’s beloved Hawk & Fisher series. Wolf in the Fold In a risky undercover case, Hawk and Fisher have only 24-hours at a high society funeral to catch a shapeshifting spy with a dangerous secret who hides among one of Haven’s wealthiest families. Guard Against Dishonor When the influx of a deadly new drug threatens Haven, Hawk and Fisher must track down and crush the source, pitting them against Haven’s most powerful politicians, its sleaziest criminals, and...each other. The Bones of Haven Amid tense political negotiations in Haven, Hawk and Fisher join forces with the Special Wizardry and Tactics team to stop a ruthless terrorist who is determined to drag the country into a brutal war.
Set in the same world as Stephen Brust's beloved Vlad Taltos books, The Phoenix Guards is a fantasy rewrite of The Three Musketeers—a swashbuckling tale of adventure. A thousand years before the birth of Vlad Taltos, the Dragaeran Empire is a hotbed of intrigue, sorcery, intrigue, wild adventure, and intrigue. For those who would be heroes, it is a delightful time to be alive—and an easy place to die. Khaavren of the House of Tiassa is a son of landless nobility, possessor of a good sword and "tolerably well-acquainted with its use." Along with three loyal friends, he enthusiastically seeks out danger and excitement. But in a realm renowned for repartee and betrayals, where power is as mutable as magic, a young man like Khaavren, newly come from the countryside, had best be wary. His life depends on it. And so does the future of Draegara. The Khaavren Romances, set in the world of Vlad Taltos's Dragaera: 1. The Phoenix Guards 2. Five Hundred Years After 3. The Paths of the Dead (The Viscount of Adrilankha, Vol. 1) 4. The Lord of Castle Black (The Viscount of Adrilankha, Vol. 2) 5. Sethra Lavode (The Viscount of Adrilankha, Vol. 3) The Baron of Magister Valley [standalone] At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.