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  Serviceman J - The Untold Story...

  Jamie Pennell

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  A gripping memoir by a former NZSAS commander on serving in Afghanistan over four deployments and operating at the edge of his limits 
    
  'Frighteningly, devastatingly real.' - The Post  
  In 2011, following the Taliban siege on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, an SAS soldier identified only as Serviceman J was awarded New Zealand's second highest military honour by showing outstanding gallantry in the face of danger. After eighteen years in the New Zealand SAS, ex-commander Jamie Pennell is now ready to tell his story. 
  Having survived the famously tough SAS selection course and excelled during its brutal training, Jamie was sent on four deployments to Afghanistan and played a critical role in New Zealand's operations. From patrols across desert territories run by warlords to hostile fire and near-death combat, Serviceman J is a heart-stopping account of life inside one of the world's most elite military forces.   
  HarperCollins Australia 2024

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  Maya Mythology - The Sacred...

  Matthew Fillard

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  Maya mythology stands as one of the most intricate and profound systems of stories and beliefs in the ancient world, reflecting the depth of a civilization that thrived for thousands of years. These myths, preserved through oral traditions and later written texts such as the Popol Vuh, reveal the Maya’s understanding of the cosmos, their relationship with nature, and their spiritual connection to the divine. To study these myths is to step into a world where gods, humans, and nature are inseparably intertwined in a sacred dance of creation, destruction, and renewal.  
  The mythology of the Maya was not an isolated system of stories—it was deeply embedded in every aspect of their daily lives. From the way they organized their cities to the structure of their calendar, mythology shaped their worldview and guided their actions. The Maya believed that time itself was sacred, governed by cycles dictated by the gods, and their myths often sought to explain these patterns. The stories told by the Maya were not mere entertainment but vital teachings that conveyed the origins of life, the roles of the gods, and humanity’s responsibilities within the cosmic order.  
  A central feature of Maya mythology is its focus on creation. Myths like those found in the Popol Vuh detail the origins of the world, the struggles of the gods, and the creation of humanity. These stories emphasize the cyclical nature of existence, portraying creation and destruction as ongoing processes that ensure balance in the universe. For the Maya, myths served as reminders of humanity’s dependence on divine forces and the need to honor the gods through rituals, ceremonies, and offerings. 

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  Submarines and the World Wars:...

  Editors Charles River

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  During World War I, German U-boats operated solo except on one occasion. Initially, the British and nations supplying England with food and materiel scattered vessels singly across the ocean, making them vulnerable to the lone submarines. However, widespread late war re-adoption of the convoy system tipped the odds in the surface ships' favor, as one U-boat skipper described: “The oceans at once became bare and empty; for long periods at a time the U-boats, operating individually, would see nothing at all; and then suddenly up would loom a huge concourse of ships, thirty or fifty or more of them, surrounded by a strong escort of warships of all types.” 
  World War I proved the value of submarines, ensuring their widespread employment in the next conflict, and one critical innovation in World War II's Atlantic U-boat operations consisted of wolf-pack tactics, in which Admiral Karl Dönitz put great faith: “The greater the number of U-boats that could be brought simultaneously into the attack, the more favorable would become the opportunities offered to each individual attacker. 
  Meanwhile, submarines exercised a decisive impact on the outcome of the Pacific Theater in World War II. The U.S. submarine fleet, largely though not exclusively under the overall command of Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood, strangled the supply lines and shipping traffic of the Empire of Japan. Their commerce raiding crippled both Japan's ability to keep its frontline units supplied and to manufacture the weapons, vessels, and vehicles needed to successfully carry on the struggle. Though constituting only 1.6% of the total U.S. Navy’s tonnage in the Pacific, the submarine fleet inflicted massive losses on the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japan's crucial merchant marine. Submarines sank 55% of the merchant shipping lost, or approximately 1,300 vessels

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  Broken by the Cowboy Studs (Gay...

  Archer Vale

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  “Here at the stud ranch, you’ll learn how to train even the most aggressive males. You’ll learn how to wear away independence, coaxing them into a state of docile obedience.” 
  It sounded like an incredible opportunity—working as a ranch hand up in the mountains for the summer. I didn’t realize why I was actually hired though… 
  Alone in the barn with three older ranchers, I stand naked while they run a brush through my hair and tell me what a pretty pony boy I am. It feels so good…I want this. 
  The heavy scent of their sweat causes my legs to tremble as I sink to the filthy ground. On my hands and knees, I’m ready to be mounted for the first time. 
  I’m a college football stallion. 
  I’m being broken. 
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  CONTAINS EXPLICIT GAY SEXUAL CONTENT. 
  For exclusive stories, visit www.ArcherVale.com.

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  Gilded Age - The Rapid...

  Kelly Mass

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  The Gilded Age was a period in American history that covered the late 19th century, from the 1870s till around 1900. The Gilded Age was a period of great financial development in the United States, specifically in the North and West. The time saw an increase of countless European immigrants as American incomes were considerably higher than those in Europe, specifically for experienced workers, while industrialization demanded an ever-increasing common labor force. 
  Between 1860 and 1890, the quick growth of market led to a sixty percent boost in real salaries, which was dispersed over an ever-increasing manpower. The typical annual wage for a commercial worker (consisting of men, women, and kids) increased by 48 percent from $380 in 1880 to $564 in 1890. On the other hand, the Gilded Age was also a time of severe poverty and inequality, as countless immigrants-- many from poor parts-- gathered to the United States, bringing with them a high concentration of wealth that ended up being more obvious and controversial.

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  Monsters of West Virginia -...

  Rosemary Ellen Guiley

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  Wild and wonderful West Virginia takes a turn for the weird with these accounts of Mothman, the Grafton Monster, Sheepsquatch, and more.   Every state and region has its own stellar cast of supernatural creatures, and West Virginia is no exception. Rosemary Ellen Guiley, the pioneering paranormal investigator, has spent a great deal of time in the Mountain State on the trail of entities, creatures, and all sorts of phenomena. These are her findings, featuring accounts of Mothman, the Grafton Monster, the Wampus Cat, the White Things, and other bizarre creatures, including Bigfoot, lizard people, and out-of-place panthers.  “Featuring tales of Mothman, the Sheepsquatch, and a host of lesser known West Virginia weirdness, Monsters of West Virginia is the perfect book for anyone with even a passing interest in West Virginia cryptozoology . . . a quick read by one of the most knowledgeable researchers of the paranormal in the country.” —Theresa’s Haunted History of the Tri-State

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