Showing results by narrator "Grant Cartwright" in All Categories

This tumultuous global story begins with democracy's radical core idea: We can collaborate, as equals, to determine our own lives and futures. John Keane traces how this concept emerged and evolved, from the earliest "assembly democracies" to European-style electoral democracy to our present system of "monitory democracy." Today, governments answer not only to voters on Election Day, but to intense public scrutiny (monitoring) every day. Keane calls this media- and communication-driven system "the most complex and vibrant form of democracy yet"-but it is not invulnerable.

My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies - making me a stealthy operative. I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners - assassins - takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous.

In an unjust land, the only law is vengeance. In Cython’s slave camps, it’s the timid and obedient who survive – and Tali is neither, for she has sworn to bring her mother’s killers to justice. Her dramatic escape precipitates Cython’s war on Hightspall and, when Tali is rescued by Rix, heir to Hightspall’s greatest fortune, they flee through a land in turmoil.

As the Synth-Hastur begin to exterminate life in the Milky Way, the crew of the Deus Ex faces the monumental challenge of stopping their advance. Yet, as they embark on their mission, they discover the galaxy they once knew has undergone unexpected changes. An old adversary resurfaces with an agenda that will turn the Galactic Federation itself against them. On the run from everything they've ever known, grappling with hidden truths and conflicting loyalties, the shakedowners with a knack for the unconventional embark on a journey to safeguard the galaxy.

Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It considers how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time, as well as the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections. Drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, James Loxton examines the life cycle of authoritarian regimes.

The most terrifying thing that you can possibly imagine is your own body in the hands of a monster. Or worse, in the hands of another human being. In this definitive anthology of body horror selected by a World Horror Grandmaster, you'll find the unthinkable and the shocking: a couture designer preparing for an exquisitely grotesque runway show; a vengeful son seeking the parent who bred him as plasma donor; a celebrity-kink brothel that inflicts plastic surgery on sex workers; and organ-harvesting doctors who dissect a living man without anesthetic.

The once beautiful land of Hightspall is being carved up by warring armies led by figures from out of legend. One army is headed by the charismatic brute, Axil Grandys, and the other by Lyf, resurrected sorcerer-king and Axil's ancient nemesis. Only the escaped slave Tali and her unreliable magic stand in their way, but Tali's gift grows more painful every time she uses it.

In the apocalypse, the first weapon Adrian will have to upgrade is himself. The end of the world as we know it couldn’t come at a worse time for him. One minute, he’s an operations manager who’s overseeing a construction job in the wilderness. The next, an unknown energy force changes the very nature of life itself, from the smallest organism to the top of the food chain. The Earth’s surviving inhabitants, its environment, and the very laws of physics have all undergone fundamental transformations. Many of those changes aren’t pretty.

Zaina thought she could run from her secrets, but they have finally caught up to her. She's willing to risk her life for those she loves, but even that might not be enough to stop what's coming. Einar has finally let down his guard, but when the woman he trusts takes off in the middle of the night with his people's only hope for a cure, he realizes what a mistake that was. They have been living under the shadow of the same monster for longer than either of them realize. But it's up to them to decide whether that makes them enemies or allies.

Online shopping is more popular than ever, and e-commerce is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. Isn't it time for you to claim your share? If you've been wondering how to start an online business, or get your current business thriving online, this comprehensive guide shares everything you need to know.

Leo Fisher is the outward picture of respectability, just like his parents raised him to be. But when he inherits a crumbling terrace house from his great-uncle, he also inherits a tenant who turns his world upside down. Tristan is brazen, gorgeous, experienced and utterly fabulous. He's everything Leo is not—so why is Leo drawn to him? Leo has always made the right choices—the sensible choices—yet here he is, hooking up with his tenant, who's a rent boy.

Management teams and boards are facing disruption on all sides, from morphing customer preferences to the COVID pandemic to climate change. At the same time they are floundering in strategy confusion with too many concepts and not enough clarity. In this book, strategy expert and regular Harvard Business Review author Graham Kenny releases managers and directors from their strategy haze. His simple and effective framework allows managers to navigate the current maze of ideas and approaches and maximize their competitive advantage.

Do you want to invest in shares but don't know where to start? Find out how in this comprehensive yet easy-to-understand bible on all things shares. This updated edition provides new examples and resources, plus information on investing using the internet and spotting winners to pack into your portfolio.

When the Alpha Event struck Earth, the rules of reality itself were rewritten. Millions died as the world was transformed into a lethal realm of magic and monsters. Yet somehow, an overweight, out-of-shape construction supervisor managed not just to survive the apocalypse, but inadvertently became an reluctant hero after saving thousands from one of the many monsters spawned by the mana storm.

To supplement his income while he's completing his degree, Harry Townsend hires himself out as a terrible date—he'll horrify parents and family members in all sorts of ways. But when it comes to actual relationships—and sex—Harry doesn't get the appeal. He doesn't get the same tingly feelings everyone else seems to when they meet someone. And he’s fine with that.

Adrian and his companions continue their journey toward Melbourne. The pathway through the post-apocalypse landscape continues to be harrowing; as they travel, they run into dysfunctional towns that need their help, and they must find unorthodox solutions to defeat the monsters that plague the landscape, some of which are extinction-level threats.

A marriage that could save them both. A truth that might destroy them. And a choice that will break her heart. All Aika ever wanted was a family—until hers was standing on opposite ends of a war. Trapped between her loyalty to a monster and her love for a man who despises her, she must decide who she's willing to lose. And who she's willing to betray.

In the year 2035, humanity broke the dimensional barrier and attached its world to another. Unfortunately, something was waiting on the other side. Nearly 150 years later, humanity is in a never-ending war to hold what is left of its world. Vic is a military asset for the United Forces of Humanity (UFH), and his job is to kill the Invader Orcs and their kin.

In the dead of night, a figure flits through the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey, searching for a hidden document he knows could change the course of history. The journal he discovers, by a young soldier, David Erskine, records an extraordinary story.

The ferocious warrior race, the Merdrun, have finally succeeded in invading the beautiful world of Santhenar, in the culmination of a plan they’ve been working on for 10,000 years. But they have only 55 days to build the Sapphire Portal, the greatest tower in the history of the Three Worlds, and put their dreadful plan into effect. Karan, Llian and their dubious and untrusting allies have only 55 days to destroy the reborn summon stone that gives the Merdrun their power.