Publisher: Alien Ebooks
This edition contains eight stories about the school boy and his gang, The Outlaws. Stories feature Violet Elizabeth getting her way (again); a witch; Esmeralda; and William train-stopping.
The discovery seemed harmless enough. An engineer working on the Moon uncovers what appears to be a fossilized plant and sends it back to Earth for study. When botanist Peter W. Merrill examines the specimen, he realizes something astonishing—it may not be dead after all. Soon the strange organism is planted in Merrill’s garden, where it begins to grow quietly beneath the soil. At first the plant appears unremarkable, barely larger than a small weed. But below the surface its roots spread outward in enormous underground networks, quietly reshaping the world around it. Subtle vibrations ripple through the ground. Scientists begin to notice strange gravitational distortions. Everyday objects tilt. Water falls at strange angles. Something beneath the Earth’s crust is pulling with increasing force—and every clue points back to the harmless-looking moonplant. As panic spreads and millions flee the planet, scientists race to understand what the plant is really doing. Each passing day brings stronger tremors, sharper gravitational shifts, and a growing realization that the organism may not simply be growing. It may be preparing for something far larger. Jack Sharkey’s Old Friends Are the Best blends cosmic scale with sly humor. What begins as a quiet scientific curiosity expands into a planetary crisis driven by one small plant with a very long memory. The story moves from quiet wonder to escalating disaster, revealing how easily a seemingly harmless discovery can reshape an entire world. Jack Sharkey wrote science fiction throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and into the 1970s, publishing stories in leading magazines such as Galaxy Science Fiction, Fantastic Universe, and If. His fiction often blended sharp humor with ambitious speculative ideas, giving even large cosmic concepts a playful edge.Show book
Richard the reindeer had a gift. He had incredible hearing. He could hear what was being said from miles away. Richard always wanted to be part of Santa’s team of reindeer but he never got the chance. Then one Christmas Eve there was a great storm and it looked like Santa wasn’t going to be able to get the sleigh off the ground. Someone remembered Richard and his astounding hearing ability. Richard was able to guide the sleigh and he saved the day.Show book
A daring thief. A noble knight. A journey filled with courage, mystery, and destiny. In The Black Thief and Knight of the Glen, Andrew Lang presents a captivating fairy tale woven from adventure, folklore, and timeless themes of honor and transformation. Set in a world of shadowed glens, hidden dangers, and heroic quests, this classic tale follows unlikely heroes whose choices will shape their fates and reveal the true measure of courage. Filled with legendary knights, cunning outlaws, enchanted landscapes, and the enduring struggle between appearance and character, this beloved story captures the magic and wonder that have made Andrew Lang's fairy tales treasured for generations. Beautifully narrated by Estelle Belong Smirtnikova, this audiobook brings warmth, excitement, and vivid storytelling to a timeless tale of bravery and redemption.Show book
Dive into a world of wonder and delight with "Bedtime Bites: Magical Creatures And Their Amazing Abilities"! This enchanting collection of 8 short stories will captivate young listeners ages 8-10 and spark their imagination before bedtime. Each chapter introduces a different magical creature - from a sleepy sloth with the power to put people to sleep, to a dazzling dancing firefly, to a color-changing chameleon and more! Through these whimsical tales, children will discover fascinating facts, develop empathy and problem-solving skills, embrace the joy of listening, spark imagination and wonder, and also enjoy quality family time! For a whimsical bedtime routine that sparks learning, empathy, and joy, curl up with "Bedtime Bites: Magical Creatures and Their Amazing Abilities." It's a treasure trove of bedtime stories your 8-10 year old won't want to miss!Show book
The Petite Picassos and the Shooting Stars groups are working together on a big project: creating a space-themed art piece and growing plants in water, just like they do in space. Not only is it worth four points on the Astro Mission chart, Astrid is finally working with her best friend, Hallie. But Astrid’s excitement doesn’t last long when they are grouped with her archnemesis, Pearl. What’s worse is that Hallie actually agrees with some of Pearl’s ideas for the project. Isn’t she supposed to be on Astrid’s side? And when the plants start to be stinkier than normal, Astrid thinks something—or someone—is trying to hurt their chances at winning the larger mission. Can Astrid, Pearl, and Hallie figure out a way to make their project out of this world? A Junior Library Guild SelectionShow book
A quiet journey through abandoned roads and silent cities becomes something far more unsettling when instinct pulls a lone survivor toward a place long left behind. What begins as simple movement turns into a slow, haunting exploration of a world shaped by human science and irreversible choices. The tension builds not through action, but through atmosphere — through memory, scent, and the uneasy sense that the past is not finished with those who remain. Every step forward carries emotional weight, as loyalty and survival begin to pull in opposite directions. Keepers of the House is a deeply moving work of classic science fiction that unfolds from an unusual perspective, revealing the aftermath of humanity’s ambition without lectures or spectacle. The story examines what happens when scientific solutions solve the wrong problems too well, leaving behind a planet stripped of balance and meaning. Quiet, relentless, and profoundly human despite its viewpoint, this is science fiction that lingers — a meditation on devotion, loss, and endurance in a world where answers came too late. Lester del Rey was one of the central figures of science fiction’s Golden Age, known not only for his writing but for his lasting influence as an editor and advocate for the genre. His stories often grounded speculative ideas in emotional reality, focusing on consequences rather than heroics. In Keepers of the House, del Rey delivers one of his most restrained and powerful works, proving that the most devastating science fiction doesn’t need explosions — only the courage to follow an idea to its end.Show book
