The Frankenstein story is updated to the 21st century by the great American storyteller Dean Koontz. Now someone new is playing god. They are stronger, heal better and think faster than any humans ever created — and they must be destroyed. But not even Victor Helios can stop the engineered killers he has set loose on a reign of terror through modern-day New Orleans. The mad genius had not imagined that his creations would develop minds — and purposes — of their own. And as Deucalion and Detectives O'Connor and Maddison race to uncover an age-old conspiracy, they will discover that Victor's new, improved models have infiltrated every level of New Orleans society... and far beyond. Dean Koontz, the master storyteller, creates a bold new legend.

The Frankenstein story is updated to the 21st century by the great American storyteller Dean Koontz. Now someone new is playing god. Frankenstein lives! And so too does his monstrous creation... but this creature of legend is a monster no more and his scarred face bears witness to his maker's wrath. His name is Deucalion. As a devastating hurricane approaches New Orleans, Victor Helios, once know as Frankenstein, has unleashed his benighted creatures onto the streets. As New Orleans descends into chaos, his engineered killers spin out of control, and the only hope rests with Victor's first and failed attempt to build the perfect human, whose damned path has led him to the ultimate confrontation with his pitiless creator. But first, Deucalion must destroy a monstrosity not even Victor's malignant mind could have imagined — an indestructible entity that steps out of humankind's collective nightmare with one purpose: to replace us. This is a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time.

Published in advance of the amazing third movie in the trilogy by Peter Jackson, this is the OFFICIAL Hobbit Annual, packed with stills, characters and information from the movie sensation. Join Bilbo Baggins for the resolution of his journey across the wilds of Middle-Earth This book is the perfect gift for all Hobbit and movie fans. Packed with character profiles, Hobbit activities and information, this is the perfect companion to the blockbuster movie trilogy.

From the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, a powerful new novel-her first in seven years: a story of love and race centred around a young man and woman from Nigeria who face difficult choices and challenges in the countries they come to call home. As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu-beautiful, self-assured-departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze-the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor-had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion-for their homeland and for each other-they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.

Saucy. Sophisitcated. Scandalous. Welcome to Swell Valley... The Flint Hamiltons have owned Furlings, the 'big house' in Lymington for the last two hundred years and as Rory FH's only, much beloved child, 27 year old 'It Girl' Tati has always believed she was in line to inherit not only Furlings, but a substantial trust fund to boot. But, when her father dies and she returns to Lymington for the reading of the will, she discovers she has in fact been left with nothing. Terrified it would all go on drugs, Rory left the lot to Tati's cousin, a womanising Australian entrepreneur called Brett Cranley. Broken by her father's death and 'betrayal', and determined to get Furlings back by hook or by crook, Tati cleans up her act and decides to stay on in Lymington taking a job at the local primary school. Scandalously, Tati marries Brett and Angela's 23 year old son, besotted pianist Jason Cranley, in secret the day after he comes into his own trust fund. She uses his cash to start her own private school in London, which becomes hugely successful, a money making machine. Jason struggles as a pianist in London, while Tati single mindedly and ruthlessly pursues her dream of wealth. Will Tati succeed in trouncing Brett and getting him out of Lymington for good, or does he still have an ace up his sleeve?

Who was the real Jane Austen? A spinster who sat in a vicarage confining her novels to the small canvas of village life? Or a woman who knew the turbulent world around her and who took the bold decision to remain unmarried and fashion herself as a professional writer? In this new biography, best-selling author Paula Byrne (Perdita, Mad World) explores the forces that shaped the interior life of Britain's most beloved novelist: her father's religious faith, her mother's aristocratic pedigree, her eldest brother's adoption, her other brothers' naval and military experiences, her relatives in the East and West Indies, her cousin who lived through the trauma of the French Revolution, the family's amateur theatricals, the female novelists she admired, her residence in Bath, her love of the seaside, her travels around England and her long struggle to become a published author. Byrne uses a highly innovative technique whereby each chapter begins from an object that conjures up a key moment or theme in Austen's life and work-a silhouette, a vellum notebook, a topaz cross, a laptop writing box, a royalty cheque, a bathing machine, and many more. The woman who emerges is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow. Published to coincide with the bicentenary of Pride and Prejudice, this lively and scholarly biography brings Austen dazzlingly into the twenty-first century.

If the past is prologue, then George R. R. Martin's masterwork-the most inventive and entertaining fantasy saga of our time-warrants one hell of an introduction. At long last, it has arrived with The World of Ice and Fire. This lavishly illustrated volume is a comprehensive history of the Seven Kingdoms, providing vividly constructed accounts of the epic battles, bitter rivalries, and daring rebellions that lead to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO's Game of Thrones. In a collaboration that's been years in the making, Martin has teamed with Elio M. Garcia, Jr., and Linda Antonsson, the founders of the renowned fan site Westeros.org-perhaps the only people who know this world almost as well as its visionary creator. Collected here is all the accumulated knowledge, scholarly speculation, and inherited folk tales of maesters and septons, maegi and singers. It is a chronicle which stretches from the Dawn Age to the Age of Heroes; from the Coming of the First Men to the arrival of Aegon the Conqueror; from Aegon's establishment of the Iron Throne to Robert's Rebellion and the fall of the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, which has set into motion the present-day struggles of the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, and Targaryens. The definitive companion piece to George R. R. Martin's dazzlingly conceived universe, The World of Ice and Fire is indeed proof that the pen is mightier than a storm of swords.

Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love-all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

One morning in the small town of Coldwater, Michigan, the phones start ringing. The voices say they are calling from heaven. Each call is greeted differently — some with love, some with religious zeal, some with fear. The question of whether these calls are a miracle or a hoax drives Sully Harding, a grieving single father with an inquisitive and hopeful son, to uncover the truth. A page-turning mystery and a meditation on the power of connecting with a loved one you cannot see, this latest novel is a virtuosic feat of history, love, and redemption.

A brilliant, hilarious one-off novel in the Skulduggery Pleasant universe, from number-one-bestselling author Derek Landy This time, the bad guys take the stage. Tanith Low, now possessed by a remnant, recruits a gang of villains — many of whom will be familiar from previous Skulduggery adventures — in order to track down and steal the four God-Killer level weapons that could hurt Darquesse when she eventually emerges. Also on the trail of the weapons is a secret group of Sanctuary sorcerers, and doing his best to keep up and keep Tanith alive is one Mister Ghastly Bespoke. When the villains around her are lying and scheming and plotting, Tanith needs to stay two steps ahead of her teammates and her enemies. After all, she's got her own double-crosses to plan — and she's a villain herself...

Enter into the world of reading with My Very First I Can Read! This comprehensive emergent reading program addresses all the components of reading mastery based on the latest early literacy research. Written by educator and reading specialist Dr. Julie M. Wood, with lively illustrations by Sebastien Braun, this Common Core-aligned program stars Tug the Pup and an endearing group of characters who will lead beginners through the proven steps for successful reading. The Learn to Read with Tug the Pup program features important Common Core State Standards connections, including sight word vocabulary, simple text, strong picture support, and character and plot development. The eleven short stories in box set three are Guided Reading Levels E-G, which means the vocabulary, sentence structure, and plots are still simple, but richer than box sets one and two. Each box set also comes with reward stickers and a Parents' Guide that provides hours of additional reading activities.

Enter into the world of reading with My Very First I Can Read! This comprehensive emergent reading program addresses all the components of reading mastery based on the latest early literacy research. Written by educator and reading specialist Dr. Julie M. Wood, with lively illustrations by Sebastien Braun, this Common Core-aligned program stars Tug the Pup and an endearing group of characters who will lead beginners through the proven steps for successful reading. The Learn to Read with Tug the Pup program features important Common Core State Standards connections, including sight word vocabulary, simple text, strong picture support, and character and plot development. The eleven short stories in box set two are Guided Reading Levels C-E, which means the stories are still very simple but include dialogue and are slightly more advanced than the A and B level stories. Each box set also comes with reward stickers and a Parents' Guide that provides hours of additional reading activities.

Enter into the world of reading with My Very First I Can Read! This comprehensive emergent reading program addresses all the components of reading mastery based on the latest early literacy research. Written by educator and reading specialist Dr. Julie M. Wood, with lively illustrations by Sebastien Braun, this Common Core-aligned program stars Tug the Pup and an endearing group of characters who will lead beginners through the proven steps for successful reading. The Learn to Read with Tug the Pup program features important Common Core State Standards connections, including sight word vocabulary, simple text, strong picture support, and character and plot development. The eleven short stories in box set one are Guided Reading Levels A-C, which means it's the perfect entry point for new readers, with simple and predictable stories. Each box set also comes with reward stickers and a Parents' Guide that provides hours of additional reading activities.

All the practice you need for a top score in the Cambridge English: Key (KET). With the realistic test papers and helpful advice in Collins Practice Tests for Cambridge English: Key, you will feel confident and fully prepared for what to expect on the day of the test. It contains: * 4 complete practice tests with answer keys and model answers * Free online practice module that guides you through a complete test with tips for success * An MP3 CD and audio scripts for the Listening and Speaking papers * Visual materials for the Speaking paper, plus model answers (on the CD) * A mini-dictionary of difficult words from the tests, taken from our COBUILD dictionaries With Collins Practice Tests for Cambridge English: Key, students will know what to expect from the real test: * Material and layout has been carefully prepared to replicate the real test (both paper-based and computer-based) * Introduction contains a full guide to the different sections of the test, along with tips and practical advice on how to revise and prepare for the test * Sample answer sheets from Cambridge English are included Suitable for Elementary or Pre-intermediate students (CEF level A1-A2) preparing to take the Cambridge English: Key (KET)

All the practice you need for a top score in the Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET). With the realistic test papers and helpful advice in Collins Practice Tests for Cambridge English: Preliminary, you will feel confident and fully prepared for what to expect on the day of the test. It contains: * 4 complete practice tests with answer keys and model answers * Free online practice module that guides you through a complete test with tips for success * An MP3 CD and audio scripts for the Listening and Speaking papers * Full colour section with visual materials for the Speaking paper, plus model answers (on the CD) * A mini-dictionary of difficult words from the tests, taken from our COBUILD dictionaries With Collins Practice Tests for Cambridge English: Preliminary, students will know what to expect from the real test: * Material and layout has been carefully prepared to replicate the real test (both paper-based and computer-based) * Introduction contains a full guide to the different sections of the test, along with tips and practical advice on how to revise and prepare for the test * Sample answer sheets from Cambridge English are included Suitable for Pre-intermediate and Intermediate students (CEF level A2-B1) preparing to take the Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET)

This dictionary introduces children to their first 500 French words with colorful illustrations and example sentences to help children remember words and translations from English to French. Listed in English-to-French alphabetical order, and with themed pages, the Collins Very First French Dictionary provides curriculum-matched support for young learners of French.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'It doesn't matter if you're born in a duck yard, so long as you are hatched from a swan's egg!' (from 'The Ugly Duckling') This collection brings together some of Hans Christian Andersen's most popular fairy tales — including 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'Thumbelina' — in a celebration of one of the world's most widely recognised children's authors. With universal themes and dark humour at their heart, these moralistic tales have delighted readers since first publication in the nineteenth century and continued to be well loved today. The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, a storyteller of great importance to Western literature, have inspired many films, ballets and plays, and entertained generations of children and adults alike.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'Struck dead by an angel of God! Yet the angel must hang!' It is the end of the eighteenth century, and the navy recruits the eponymous hero — the 'Handsome Sailor' — to its fleet. Accused of mutinous behaviour, Billy Budd is forced to defend himself, but his fearful, silent response soon gives way to a terrible act of violence. The consequences are disastrous, and nothing can prevent the force of judgment and eventual justice upon him. Discovered among Melville's papers after his death and published posthumously in 1924, 'Billy Budd' is a powerful tale of guilt and innocence, crime and punishment, and the cost of adhering to duty. From the author of 'Moby Dick', Melville's allegorical tales are loaded with symbolism, and showcase his distinctive writing style and themes in shorter form.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the Heart's affections and the truth of the Imagination.' One of the most popular of the Romantic poets, Keats' poetry is suffused with adoration for natural beauty, exploration of joy and pain, and ideas on the transience of life. This new collection combines many of Keats' well-loved poems — from 'Ode to a Nightingale' to 'Bright Star' — with his letters, often studied, analysed and admired in parallel and offering a fascinating insight into the life and mind of the famous poet. Despite a lack of recognition during his own lifetime, Keats' work has touched the hearts and minds of many, and deserves its place in the canon of English literature.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'They were smiling at each other as if this was the beginning of the world.' The lights of Hollywood do little to distract Cecelia as she watches Monroe Stahr, wunderkind studio executive and object of her desire, descend into a reckless and ardent love affair with an auspicious starlet — an affair that threatens to destroy his reign as the Silver Screen's golden boy. In this tragic tale Fitzgerald exposes the corruption, sex and towering ambition at the dark heart of 1930s Hollywood. Unfinished at the time of his death, F. Scott Fitzgerald bids his own poignant farewell to the themes that inspired 'The Great Gatsby', 'Tender is the Night' and 'The Beautiful and Damned'.