Publisher: Tales of Terror
Aliens, or extraterrestrial beings, are forms of life which did not originate on Earth. They are a major archetype of horror movies. In this book, film critic Steve Hutchison reviews and ranks 50 of the best horror movies featuring aliens ever released. How many have you seen?
Afrobeats is a fast-growing genre, one that has carved out a distinct and powerful Black identity rooted within the African continent. The first book of its kind, A Quick Ting On: Afrobeats chronicles the social and cultural development of the eponymous music genre, tracing its rich history from the African continent all the way to the musical centre of the Western world. This exciting new book takes a unique look at the music of the African diaspora and their children, delving into how Afrobeats and its sub-genres have provided new articulations of Black identity and pride. It remembers the Afrobeats pioneers and memorable cultural moments, as well as investigating the impact of African migration, travel and modernisation on the genre. A Quick Ting On: Afrobeats provides an insightful look at how Afrobeats became the explosive music genre it is today.Show book
It’s Spidmas in Spider Webdon. But this year, it’s no ordinary Spidmas. As Spid wraps presents and gets ready to welcome his friends, little does he know this will be a Spidmas he will never forget. This heart-warming Christmas audiobook features two songs: 'A Faraway Spidmas Wish' and 'Spidmas Day'. You can also find music videos of the songs at https://spidthespider.com and https://www.youtube.com/spidthespider. Spid is a lowly spider, who wants to better himself, write songs, and marry his girlfriend Bid, though he is prone to hilarious mishaps mostly of his own making. He is hard-working, cool, and a role model for young children. As well as encouraging children to read and love books, Spid's adventures also teach valuable life lessons, including determination and what psychologists call a 'growth mindset' (desire to better oneself and succeed), the importance of friendship, and sustainability. With very creative prose, Spid's adventures are fun for parents, and teachers to read to, and with, their children. They present lots of opportunities to invest dramatic licence thus helping adults and children interact and engage. The humour works at multiple levels from silly and slapstick to more sophisticated wordplay and concepts. Thus, children will discover more and enjoy reading the stories multiple times. For more resources to entertain and help children learn to read, grow and succeed in life, go to https://spidthespider.com/fun-childrens-activities/Show book
UNLOCK THE MAGIC OF THEATRE THIS CHRISTMAS - GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH WEST END LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL IN HIS FIRST MEMOIR 'Love, laughter and tears abound in this warm, entertaining read' Woman and Home 'Glittering' Daily Mail'Wonderful' The SunIn 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical Aspects of Love. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; the show featured his smash hit song, Love Changes Everything, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career. Over three decades later, Michael returned to a new production of the same show where he made his name, and with a lifetime's worth of stories to tell.In Different Aspects, Michael takes us backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while also diving back into his memories to share untold anecdotes and explore a glittering career that has made him a household name - from his first stage experiences in Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera, to delighting and shocking his audiences in equal measure in Hairspray and Sweeney Todd, as well as his chart-topping musical success (and some howlers too!). Exploring Michael's life, career and relationships alongside the pitfalls and pratfalls of modern theatre, Different Aspects is the story of a life lived on the stage. There will be laughter, tears and an abundance of heart. There's even some Roger Moore, though, famously, not quite enough.Take your seats ladies and gentlemen, the lights are dimming, the performance is about to start.Readers are loving Different Aspects...'A very funny, insightful glimpse of the highs and lows of a musical theatre star''If you love Michael Ball, you'll love this''His story made me smile''Filled with wonderful little stories''Interesting, honest and revealing'Show book
A heartwarming philosophical meditation on how to live a fulfilling life—inspired by the inherent happiness of dogs. If you have spent any part of your life with a dog, you may have found certain questions popping, unbidden, into your mind: Is my dog living a fulfilled life? Is my dog a good dog? Does my dog love me? Addressing these questions compels you to confront not just your dog's life but yours as well—to think about what fulfillment, and meaning, in life really is. In The Word of Dog, philosopher Mark Rowlands explores these questions and suggests that in dogs we can see hints—faint, shrouded, but discernible—of what a better way of living might look like. Perhaps none of us can be happy in the way a dog can, but The Word of Dog shows us we could do a lot better than we're doing simply by listening to the unspoken wisdom our dogs reveal to us every day of their happy, uncomplicated lives.Show book
The origins of Gothic architecture lie in the transition from the Romanesque style that dominated Europe in the early medieval period. Romanesque churches, with their thick walls, small windows, and rounded arches, provided a sense of solidity but limited natural light and height. By the 12th century, new architectural innovations emerged, driven by a desire for greater verticality, spacious interiors, and an infusion of divine light. These aspirations led to the birth of the Gothic style, first appearing in France before spreading across Europe. One of the key figures in this transition was Abbot Suger of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, near Paris. In the 1130s, he initiated the reconstruction of the abbey church, incorporating pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and extensive stained glass windows. Suger believed that light was a manifestation of the divine, and through these architectural changes, he sought to transform the church into a place of spiritual illumination. His innovations set a precedent for what would become the defining characteristics of Gothic architecture. The pointed arch, a hallmark of the Gothic style, replaced the rounded arch of the Romanesque period. This architectural shift was more than an aesthetic change; it allowed for greater structural efficiency, enabling builders to construct taller and more spacious interiors. The ribbed vault, another significant innovation, helped distribute weight more evenly, allowing for thinner walls and the introduction of expansive stained glass windows. These windows, often adorned with biblical scenes, served both a decorative and didactic function, educating the largely illiterate medieval population about religious narratives.Show book
Create lycanthropes. Give them elemental powers. Save the world.Jerrell Hawkins has a plan. He’s going to marry Nadine Hartwell, study magic at University, and serve his kingdom in the ongoing war in the prestigious Orichalcum Company led by the hero of the realm. To do this, he needs to obtain a Class. When his plan to create a new, powerful spellcasting class fails, he fears all is lost. Then an enemy sleeper agent burns down his world and Nadine is infected with lycanthropy.But Jerrell’s pursuit of a new Class leaves him with strange, controversial abilities. He can create and bond lycanthropes. What’s more, he’s learning to use elemental magic. Along with Nadine, now his bonded companion, he enlists in the military to enact vengeance for the destruction of their home.Their enemies are numerous, their abilities make their allies uncomfortable, and nothing is simple. Not even the fate of the world, which just might rest on Jerrell Hawkins’ shoulders.Show book
