Showing results by author "J. R. Smith" in All Categories

Join the last vestiges of Humanity and their alien allies (the reptilian Thrynn, the insectoid Velox, and the plant-based Elowan) as they attempt to carve out their own territory in a sector of space filled with wondrous opportunity and deadly threats. Brave explorers seek out new worlds to colonize while merchants cruise from starport to starport, their holds laden with exotic goods. Not all in this futuristic setting have noble intent. For every prospector and trader attempting to make a difference, a dozen pirates, smugglers, and mobsters engage in all manner of criminal enterprise.

Mental manipulation happens every day without most people noticing it. So, sit down next to the fireplace, and let me tell you how the power of persuasion and manipulation works. Through these three books, you will discover how to influence people and learn how to read them as if they were an open book and have them ready to tell you even their most hidden secrets. You will discover how to put thoughts into people's minds by convincing them that they are their own.

Once every 10,000 years, the walls between worlds grow thin. The stars align and Hell is close. It is the time of The Sha'Daa. The mysterious Johnny The Salesman is up to his usual tricks, offering dark magic trades if one is brave enough to barter with him. Johnny's latest ally, the immortal tattoo artist Haumea, just might have the answer to saving the planet from destruction, if she can create enough supernatural tattoos at Mom's Bane tattoo parlor to turn the tide against evil.

We are all influenced every single day of our lives by both the positive and well as the negative. Influencing people requires you to have a certain power over them.

In this book you will find a collection of thirteen unsettling stories from some of the most talented independent horror authors on the scene today. From otherworldly creatures to tales of revenge, vicious pirates to religious zealots, K is for Kidnap will keep you guessing until the end of each story.

Buckle up for an explosive ride into the heart of battle with 'Contested Landing' – the ultimate anthology of military science fiction that'll leave you on the edge of your seat! Get ready to dive headfirst into the fray as fearless defenders clash with relentless invaders in heart-pounding actions across the cosmos. From pulse-pounding firefights to jaw-dropping heroics, these adrenaline-fueled tales will thrust you into the heart of interstellar conflict like never before.

Crucibles: History's Most Formidable Rites of Passage explores fourteen elite organizations, with a special emphasis on the onerous trials designed to cull initiates from aspirants. It analyzes the underlying commonalities of such trials, describing how they work, why people are willing to subject themselves to such rigors, and how such tests benefit or harm the organizations that require them.