Showing results by narrator "Edward Beesley" in All Categories

From the origin of our planet, to the great civilizations, to the Great War, follow Wells on this ambitious journey spanning thousands of years. Although H.G. Wells is known as “the father of science fiction,” his interest in biology and politics also compelled him to write about the physical world around him. A Short History of the World offers the chance to connect with a great creative mind on a literal and intellectual level. Discover why Albert Einstein recommended this book for understanding the course of civilization throughout history.

She: a very hot 30-something Swedish woman. He: a native of Berlin, on vacation in rural Sweden, seeking solace for his broken heart. They meet. He finds her irresistible. But before their relationship can get off the ground, she vanishes mysteriously, having apparently been abducted. So Martin sets out to rescue Liv from her captors, with the aid of two Swedish detectives in a race against time - and across Sweden. In so doing, Martin and his intrepid detective duo put their very lives on the line.

The Picture of Dorian Gray centers on the character of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man who is the muse for a talented painter. Dorian wishes for a painting of himself to take on the effects of aging instead of him so he can give into any vice he wants - and his wish comes true. The novel follows Dorian Gray’s life of giving into every temptation and moral malfeasance that come his way, ranging from smaller vices like vanity and dishonesty all the way to debauchery and murder.

The novel begins with humans watching the skies closely, fascinated with the worlds beyond Earth’s atmosphere. As astronomers and scientists hone in on some strange occurrences on Mars, their observations soon become frightening - humans are not the only intelligent beings, and those other beings are also curious about humans. Alien spacecraft starts crashing into England and as Martians emerge from the ships, they begin terrorizing the Earth and bringing destruction with every step.

In the crime novella Secrets?, fledgling private investigator Elin Bohlander takes on what looks like an easy assignment - at first: to determine if her client’s boyfriend is having an affair with another woman. To do this, Elin follows him to a secluded cabin in the woods, where she soon discovers that what’s actually transpiring is stranger than anyone thought. Having ventured too far, she’s stumbled upon a hornet’s nest and put her life at risk. But it’s too late. Can Elin win the unequal fight against a gang of brutal child molesters?

The society of the early 19th century in England was not especially kind to orphans, and young Pip is no exception. Forced to live a life of sneaking and stealing from an early age, he has trouble finding a place to belong and make a home for the beginning of his life. When he meets the lonely and reclusive Miss Havisham, it seems that his luck changes, as his relationship with her inspires him to begin making an honest living in a trade. But when he suddenly gains a mysterious inheritance, his life is totally transformed, and he is able to live beyond his wildest dreams.

The story begins with two men discussing an impending marriage proposal. Algernon Moncrieff’s best friend, Ernest, has planned to propose to Algernon’s cousin but has secretly been living a double life. To some, he is named Jack Worthing, to some he is Ernest. His dual personas have different personalities - Ernest is a libertine, while Jack is a serious man. This deception makes Algernon wonder what may happen if he also adopts the Ernest persona

Othello is a tragedy play by William Shakespeare, written in the middle of his career in 1603. The story follows Othello, a general in the Venetian army, and Iago, a treacherous soldier who conspires against him to make him believe that his wife is unfaithful.

Oliver Twist follows the titular character from an early age as a young orphan. He faces a cruel and unfair system of disenfranchisement and is forced to beg and work in grueling workplaces to earn money and food as a child. As he grows older, he runs away to London to seek out a better life but continues to face hardship and villainy along his journey.

Zeke is a homeless guy with an exotic metal plate in his head, living rough in a backstreet. Zirkos is an alien who needs the plate to rebuild his ship's AI. Zirkos should just take the plate and go, but instead finds a way of achieving his own ends without harming Zeke. His actions kickstart a chain of events that will dramatically change the course of Earth's future. The Nubl are an artificial space-faring race with a 'hive' intellect who abhor biological sentience. They will eradicate humanity with extreme prejudice.

As the post-attack chaos forces Earth's governments to realize they no longer have the ability to maintain order, the destiny of mankind falls to a select group of human and artificial intelligence to prepare a defense against annihilation by the Nubl hives.

In this early science-fiction novel, H.G. Wells takes listeners on a journey with Griffin, a scientist who discovers a way to turn one’s self invisible. This mysterious man turns up in a village during a snowstorm and acts strange, wearing excessive clothing and demonstrating unkindness to the village’s townspeople. As his identity is revealed to more people, Griffin takes advantage of his condition to commit violent acts and terrorize the people who cannot see their assailant.

AWA Agent Philus Grady is sent on a clandestine investigation of a terraformed planet suspected of being behind growing hostilities between the CORE Navy and the Allied Worlds. Once there, Grady's unique training quickly uncovers the planet's amazing secret of a repressed truth that will alter history, a truth that almost gets him killed. In a race against time and enemy ships, Grady has to expose the CORE's secret, but will the news spark the war they all fear is coming.

Humanity has managed to develop its fledgling World Space Council, but it's still far from being effective, and there are those who do not want it to succeed at all. Meanwhile, the alien AI, Pod, is the only thing standing between them and those intent on eradicating all biological sentience within the galaxy. It's almost too much for the tiny escape pod that has been left in charge of Earth's safety.

Flynn's work as an arachnologist is interrupted by a teenager insisting he has stumbled across a new species. Having given in to the teen's hounding, Flynn realizes he might be onto something. So, he treks into the mountains, his wife, Steph, and their faithful German shepherd, Solomon, in tow for a weekend of spider-hunting and tourism. Instead, what Flynn uncovers rips their world apart.

As You Like It follows the lives of men and women who have been banished from their home after ruler, Duke Senior, was usurped by his younger brother. Duke Senior’s companions begin living in the forest outside of the duchy, where they encounter a man named Orlando, who has been secretly in love with the Duke’s daughter Rosalind.

Banished to Yorkshire as a boy, Damon Blackbourne had vowed never to return to his family's estate. However, when his father and brother die in a carriage accident, it falls on him to take up the mantle of the Malford dukedom and chaperone his sisters through the London Season - his worst nightmare come to life. He never planned on Lady Grace Mattersley. She stirs him body and soul - until she stumbles across his dark secret.

A tragic event in his youth led Gavin Knight’s mother to whisk him to Rome, where he lived a simple but secluded life - until, on her deathbed, she revealed who he truly was: the duke of Cortleon. Now 29, Gavin has returned to England, determined to learn what happened all those years ago. Despite charming his fellow lords and ladies alike, the new duke disregards any notion of nuptials, as his honor first demands resolution - and retribution.

While the hunt for the former SAS trio continues across Britain, a wave of pro-vigilantism is whipped up by the duplicitous UK media. Detective Inspector Jim Brannigan's world is thrown into turmoil when his partner is inexplicably shot by one of the ex soldiers. As she clings to life, the vengeful copper learns that the elite killers have spread their net to include resurgent terrorists, a strategy that leads to mayhem on the streets of the UK. Unknown to even his comrades, the unit leader plans one final devastating act of revenge.

“What kind of home are we returning to that a man has to be able to defend himself with the sword?” These heavy thoughts preoccupy Bryndor, who is trapped in the Valley of the Cloud Walkers. Violent storms devastate the summit of the Korjinth Mountains, isolating any in the valley. He uses the time to train with the sword to understand his companion and his place in the world. In Aarindorn, Karragin leads missions against grotvonen. But something else lurks among the hordes under the mountains, something that hints at the resurgence of an evil thought long ago vanquished.