Showing results for "The Attempt" in Literature & Fiction

Prince Roger MacClintock, Tertiary Heir to the Throne of Man, was a spoiled rotten, arrogant, whiny, thoroughly useless young pain in the butt. But that was before an assassination attempt marooned the Royal Brat and his bodyguards on the planet Marduk, and before they had to march half way around the entire planet, through 120-degree heat and five-hour rainstorms in jungles full of damnbeasts, capetoads, killerpillars, and atul-grak, not to mention hostile peoples, to make their way back to port.

Saskia could see that the ice near the shore was several centimetres thick. Pieter had told her that the lake never froze over entirely, that there was always an expanse of water at the centre which remained liquid.

Ryan Hart is an 18-year-old adventurer on a mission. To get himself to Mount Everest and check out the truth about the world's highest peak. Friends have told him dark stories about the mountain, outrageous things that he wants to see for himself. Just a few hours after Ryan arrives at Everest Base Camp a lethal earthquake strikes. Avalanches pound the glacier, burying Ryan's climbing buddy and killing many others.

>i>Keyboard Jihad is an attempt to rectify some of the misperceptions and misrepresentations of Islam and Muslims that resulted from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This book is a collection of original essays that were written over the years by Abdul Karim Bangura. These essays were not compiled to defend Islam-a deen, meaning in Arabic a complete way of life. Rather, Keyboard Jihad seeks to dispel common misperceptions and misrepresentations of Islam that can lead to prejudice and racism.

In this charming short story, Nebula-nominated author Jake Kerr tells the tale of a young nerd who wants nothing more than to be popular. He creates a time machine and goes back in time again and again to attain the popularity that has always eluded his grasp. His final leap back in time ends in a surprising—and heart-warming—result.

Ralph has it bad. He's in love with Helen, who doesn't know he exists. His plan is to send her letters on a regular basis and sooner or later she's bound to give in. Ralph's friend Tom is not so sure that's such a great idea, you know, with the stalking laws and all. But Ralph persists and personally hands Jerry, the mailman, another of his convincing letters to personally deliver to Helen. Will Helen file a restraining order? Will Tom keep teasing Ralph? Will Jerry get sick of Ralph's letters to Helen?

When marriages, friendships, and families come undone, to what lengths do we go to keep it all together? That question lies at the heart of Brendan Mathews's buoyant and unforgettable debut collection of moving and darkly witty stories. From rock-star flameouts to church burnings to ordinary people trying not to fall out of love, these stories are packed with vivid detail, emotional precision, and deft, redemptive humor.

The Republican National Convention is off to a rocky start after Morlinda Tromp’s speech is found to be plagiarized word-for-word from the hit film, Jurassic Mark. Now it’s up to hotshot speechwriter Perper Tunk to craft a perfect speech for Domald Tromp...with a slight catch. In order to avoid any accusations of plagiarism, Domald has requested that all facts, concrete plans, or rational logic be removed from the statement, leaving only a haze of vaguely patriotic fluff. The speech is a success, but when a physically manifested version of the political rhetoric ends up at Perper’s hotel room, he’s faced with the consequences of what it means to create something that looks beautiful on the outside but is completely vacant within.

To the outside world, Ron has it all: a great career and a drop-dead gorgeous wife. The missing piece? Sex. No matter what he tried, his wife was not interested. In his desperation to save his marriage, Ron makes a fateful decision: to give his wife a dose of specially concocted drug guaranteed to light a fire in any libido.

Ron's confusing weekend continues with more second-hand stories of his wife's sexual adventures, but he resists believing it. It's possible the stories he's hearing are all made up in a continuing effort to humiliate him. But even if the stories are fiction, he can't deny the excitement they generate within him. Is his naive wife even capable of the acts she's credited with? The story culminates in a turning point for their marriage. Will the couple survive after their unbridled weekend getaway?

To the outside world, Ron has it all: a great career and a drop-dead gorgeous wife. The missing piece? Sex. No matter what he tries, his wife is not interested. In his desperation to save his marriage, Ron makes a fateful decision: to give his wife a dose of a specially-concocted drug, guaranteed to light a fire in any libido.