Kirjahaku

"Great depth and a satisfyingly inventive history." -- Booklist. In the distant future, Mars monitors activity on its rival planet Nightshade with "haunt-tech" -- powerful objects possessed by spirits of the dead. When the technology reveals a threat to a young messiah, a Martian warrior attempts to protect the girl from Nightshade's assassins. An atmospheric blend of fantasy and science fiction shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2006.

A beautifully presented directory of occult history and artefacts and an essential guide for anyone interested in the occult. Explore the mysterious and fascinating world of the occult from ancient Egypt to London’s Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the 19th century with this visual cabinet of curiosities. Compendium of the Occult is divided into seven main sections: Ancient Origins, Divination, Ritual and Rites, Charms and Talismans, Curses and Hexes, Secret Societies and Sites of Significance. Each is packed with original manuscripts, sacred symbols and ritual objects to explore. Expert commentary on eclectic topics, ranging from Ancient Egyptian curses to the history of demonology, is further illuminated by excerpts from historical texts and a wide range of beautiful archive imagery. Unearth the meaning of the word 'occult' and the differences between occultism and magic; discover arcane rituals and the belief systems behind them; and unlock the mysteries of ancient customs, sacred sites and secret societies.

Handfasting is quickly becoming a widely practiced tradition, not only for pagans, but for people from all walks of life. This book is a thorough resource that shares ritual scripts, sample vows, and all the information you need to plan your own ceremony or serve as a celebrant for others. In Modern Handfasting, you will discover the history, practicalities, legal considerations, logistics, and magic of the big day. Author Liz Williams a priestess and long-time celebrant guides you through opening the ceremony, creating a circle, consecration, calling the quarters, vows, tying the knot, and closing the ceremony. You will also discover tips and stories from other celebrants as well as practical information for finding a celebrant, early planning, troubleshooting, working with ceremonial tools, and choosing colours, dates, and other details with magical correspondences.

In the far-distant future Vali Hallsdottir, assassin of an organisation known as the Skald, is sent on a mission to the world of Nhem. Her assignment is to eliminate the destructive patriarchal regime of the Hierolath. But shortly after her arrival, Vali finds herself betrayed by her mission partner, who is not the man he seems. Frey, once Vali’s lover, has undergone a genetic transformation to disguise himself and has his own agenda for travelling to Nhem. After Vali’s escape from the clutches of the Hierolath’s militia she goes in search of Frey in order to discover the reasons for his betrayal. Her journey takes Vali to Darkland, where sinister forces known as the vitki wreak havoc… Praise for Liz Williams and her novel BANNER OF SOULS: ‘A vivid adventure . . . that lingers long after the last page is turned’ K. J. Bishop ‘A gothic feast for the imagination that places Liz Williams in the first rank of visionary science fiction writers’ Charles Stross ‘Liz Williams is this generation's answer to Margaret Atwood and Sheri Tepper' Chris Moriarty

A bold and provocative novel of the future. Millions of years ago, alien beings seeded Earth with their genetic strands to create a new outpost of intelligent life. Now their descendants have returned to Earth's skies, drawn by their detection of a Receiver, a human with the genetic ability to tap into alien communications. It is the signal that Earth is ready to be absorbed into a vast galactic empire. Jaya Nihalani has been a prophet, a crusader, and terrorist fighting for the rights of her own despised Untouchable caste. Now she lies in an Indian hospital, dying of a hideous disease. Her head is filled with voices and visions; her body is aging rapidly, inexplicably. But the voices and visions are no disease. Jaya is the Receiver whom the aliens intend to heal, enlighten . . . and use. Soon the subcontinent erupts in riots and chaos as powerful forces attempt to co-opt the enigmatic alien emissaries, and a shocked world await sits fate. Jaya must somehow discover the plans of her perfect and powerful 'friends'. Have they come to end human suffering, or to make it worse? Should she help them -- or lead the impossible fight against them? 'Crafted and polished science fiction, with an involving cast of characters - easily strong enough never to be upstaged by the astonishing an ingenious plot, sets and technology' Tanith Lee

Introducing Singaporean DI, Wei Chen. “This exotic amalgam of police procedural, SF, comic fantasy, and horror is a delight from start to finish” (Locus). When the fourteen-year-old daughter of Singapore Three’s most prominent industrialist dies of anorexia, her parents assume that Pearl’s suffering has come to an end. But somewhere along the way to the Celestial Shores, Pearl’s soul is waylaid, lured by an unknown force to the gates of Hell. To save their daughter from eternal banishment, they come to Detective Inspector Wei Chen, whose jurisdiction lies between this world and the next.A round-faced cop who is as serious as his beat is strange, Chen has a demon for a wife and a comfort with the supernatural that most mortals cannot match. But finding Pearl Tang will take him further into the abyss than ever before—to a mystifying place where he will have to cooperate with a demonic detective if he wants to survive. It’s easy, Chen will find, to get into Hell. The hard part is getting out.Snake Agent is the first of the five Detective Inspector Chen Novels, which continue with The Demon and the City and Precious Dragon.

For years, the embarrassing secret of the Singapore Three police department was Detective Inspector Chen—a specialist in the supernatural whose jurisdiction extended to Heaven and Hell. But when a rampaging goddess nearly destroyed the city, only to be stopped by Chen and his demonic partner, Zhu Irzh, the department was forced to reward them, resulting in the kind of attention that both cops loathe. Their new assignment is an affair of state, escorting the Heavenly functionary Mi Li Qi on a diplomatic mission to the underworld. By the time they’re finished, Chen and Zhu Irzh will wish they had remained forgotten. Soon after they check in to their hellish hotel, Miss Qi vanishes into the abyss. They follow her into the bowels of the demonic bureaucracy, where they will be forced to dodge all manner of otherworldly dangers if they wish to avoid a political incident with apocalyptic implications. Precious Dragon is the third of the five Detective Inspector Chen Novels, which begin with Snake Agent and The Demon and the City.

A supernatural detective in Singapore tries to save his wife—and the universe—in this “thoroughly original fantasy” by the author of Snake Agent (Publishers Weekly).Detective Inspector Chen is getting used to visiting Heaven. It is a peaceful place, but the eerie calm and ever-present scent of peaches make him yearn for the chaos of Singapore Three. He has come to visit Mhara, the Emperor of Heaven, who ascended to the celestial throne after his father went mad and launched an ill-advised invasion of Hell. Order has been restored to the cosmos, and Mhara is characteristically serene, but trouble is lurking for this handsome young god. Someone is trying to kill the Emperor of Heaven, and Chen does not have his demonic partner, Zhu Irzh, to fall back on. Zhu Irzh has vanished, Chen’s wife is in danger, and a psychotic Bollywood star is on the warpath. It’s another day in the office for the occult detective—a day that, if he doesn’t restore order quickly, could be the universe’s last.The Shadow Pavilion is the fourth of the five Detective Inspector Chen Novels, which begin with Snake Agent and The Demon and the City.

A supernatural mystery set in Singapore featuring a “detective whose beat reaches to the fringes of Heaven and Hell,” by the author of Snake Agent (Booklist).No mortal has ever heard of the Book, and few in Heaven even believe it is real. Instead, they regard the stories of a bound volume older than time itself as something of a creation myth. But Mhara, the Emperor of Heaven, knows the Book is very real, very powerful, and very much missing. It has a mind of its own, and it appears to have wandered off—taking the secrets of the universe with it. To find it, Mhara calls Detective Inspector Chen, a supernatural sleuth with previous experience in saving the universe. Chen has a lot on his plate at the moment: His wife is pregnant, his demonic partner is tracking the movement of an immortal horde, and he hasn’t had a vacation in years. But for the sake of the Emperor, he’ll do his best to return order to the cosmos. If he doesn’t, who will?The Iron Khan is the final volume of the Detective Inspector Chen Novels, which begin with Snake Agent and The Demon and the City.

What if being a librarian was the most dangerous job in the world? Worldsoul, a great city that forms a nexus point between Earth and the many dimensions known as the Liminality, is a place where old stories gather, where forgotten legends come to fade and die — or to flourish and rise again. Until recently, Worldsoul has been governed by the Skein, but they have gone missing and no one knows why. The city is also being attacked with lethal flower-bombs from an unknown enemy. Mercy Fane and her fellow Librarians are doing their best to maintain the Library, but...things...keep breaking out of ancient texts and legends are escaping into the city. Mercy must pursue one such dangerous creature. She turns to Shadow, an alchemist, for aid, but Shadow — inadvertently possessed by an ifrit — has a perilous quest of her own to undertake.

Keep it keto with this guide to pre-made weeknight meals that are always ready to go A little planning and prepping go a long way toward success on the ketogenic diet. In Keto Meal Prep, you'll make healthy, homemade keto meals a regular part of your routine with tips, lists, and instructions for preparing your meals in advance. This keto guide sets you up for success on the ketogenic diet with: Weeknight meals, ready to serve-With your meals organized and ready five days a week, sticking to a keto diet is easier than ever. Keto meal prep 101-Get a crash course on the best practices for meal prep, including batch cooking, storage tips, and finding the right schedule for you.Three meal-plan sections-Work through 10 days of meal prep for each type of plan: beginners, those who work out regularly, and longer-term keto eaters looking to maintain results.Get the keto diet book that keeps it simple with a straightforward plan for weekly meals from the ultimate keto meal prep book.

Drawing on her extensive practical experience, Liz Williams provides a highly accessible and much-needed guide to promoting positive behaviour in early years settings. In this book, she explains why children may act in the way that they do and how behaviour should be understood differently in children of different ages. She demonstrates that social and emotional capacities differ greatly in these crucial development years and how this impacts on the support needed at each stage. The book considers a host of factors influencing positive behaviour, such as environments and the importance of planning, and looks beyond the child to show the vital role that staff and parents have in promoting appropriate behaviour. Written in clear and understandable language, this book is full of ideas that early years workers can easily implement in their day-to-day work.

This highly accessible and much-needed resource sets out practical advice on positive behaviour management in primary schools, exploring how to support children effectively with their personal, social and emotional development.With an emphasis on implementable strategies, this book will give primary school teachers and staff an understanding as to why children may behave as they do, and what steps can be taken by the school to support a child's development. Considering a variety of factors that influence positive behaviour, such as environment, mental health, parents, and the importance of planning, this book is full of ideas that can be dipped in and out of for support in the classroom. Bite-sized and practical, this is a perfect book for busy teachers.

Miracles of Our Own Making is a historical overview of magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. We explore the beliefs of the Druids, the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, the alchemy of the Elizabethan court and the witch trials. We encounter grimoires, ceremonial magic and the Romantic revival of arcane deities. The influential and well-known – the Golden Dawn, Wicca and figures such as Aleister Crowley – are considered alongside the everyday `cunning folk’ who formed the magical fabric of previous centuries. Ranging widely across literature, art, science and beyond, Liz Williams debunks many of the prevailing myths surrounding magical practice, past and present, while offering a rigorously researched and highly accessible account of what it means to be a pagan today.

Now available in B-format paperback, Miracles of Our Own Making is a historical overview of magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. We explore the beliefs of the Druids, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, the alchemy of the Elizabethan Court and the witch trials. We encounter grimoires, ceremonial magic and the Romantic revival of arcane deities. The influential and well known – the Golden Dawn, Wicca and figures such as Aleister Crowley – are considered alongside the everyday ‘cunning folk’ who formed the magical fabric of previous centuries. Ranging widely across literature, art, science and beyond, Liz Williams debunks many of the prevailing myths surrounding magical practice, past and present, while offering a rigorously researched and highly accessible account of what it means to be a pagan today.

Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs from ancient Britain to the present day. From Bonfire Night to Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd and Twelfth Night, along with events like street football and the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, Liz Williams reveals the roots and roles of violence, mockery, protest and public shaming. She also looks at alternative culture and modern protests, such as the Battle of the Beanfield and the Stonehenge Free Festival, as well as interaction between racism and traditions involving blackface, alongside the emergence of all-female Morris sides.This engaging book offers an entertaining and revealing look at British folklore and culture.

Covering work with glass, metal, wood, plastics, fabrics, paper and card, this book has ideas of the many ways children in the Foundation Stage can work safely while exploring resistant materials.

A contemporary tale of four fey sisters, united in their desire to find their mother, Alys - a former Vogue cover model who disappeared a year ago without warning or explanation. They have help, of course, from the star spirits and the no-longer-living, but such advice tends to be cryptic and is hardly the most dependable of guides.

Rediscover your sense of wonder. The sequel to Comet Weather.The Fallow Sisters: Bee, Stella, Serena, Luna; four fey sisters drawn ever further from the familiar world of contemporary London and their Somerset home, from motorways, fashion design and music, into darker realms where no one is who they seem and nothing is to be trusted. When Serena's latest collection is mysteriously shredded on the eve of fashion week, the arrival of a wealthy benefactor seems a Godsend, but is he all he seems, and what of the green-skinned girl Bee takes in after finding her cowering in a churchyard? How are these connected to the magpie changeling (who claims to be an angel) sent to watch over Stella or the timeslips Luna is experiencing with ever greater frequency now that she's pregnant...? Something is coming for the Fallow sisters, their lovers and their friends, but they have no idea what, and their mother Alys is no help as she's gone wandering again, though she did promise to return by Christmas, and December is already here...