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The Russian Revolution had a decisive impact on the history of the 20th century. In the years following the collapse of the Soviet regime and the opening of its archives, it has become possible to step back and see the full picture. Starting with an overview of the roots of the revolution, Fitzpatrick takes the story from 1917, through Stalin's "revolution from above", to the great purges of the 1930s.

Tryam dreams about becoming a legendary paladin of old and combating the evil that is falling across Medias like a malevolent shadow. But as a ward of the church, he is forced to obey every whim of an overbearing abbot who preaches peace above all else. Dementhus is a wizard of immense power and even greater ambition.

Ernst Jünger (1895-1998) was a decorated German soldier and author who became famous for his World War I memoir Storm of Steel, published in 1920, shortly after the end of the war. Based on the journal entries he wrote during his time in the trenches, the book describes World War I through the eyes of an ordinary soldier. The book begins with Jünger’s initial deployment in 1915 and ends with him being severely wounded in 1918. He writes about the raiding parties, defending the trenches against British incursions, and simply enduring as shells tore his comrades apart.

In the eastern wilderness of the land of Orem lies an ancient ruin which was once the throne of the tyrant Asteroth. In the present day, the ruins are surrounded by a forest called the Wychwood. A haunted place referred to by local inhabitants in hushed tales that speak of those who disappear in its depths...or return forever changed.

The pastoral quiet of the Orem shrouds a dark and terrible secret. In ancient days, it was the seat of a tyrannical sorcerer-king. Even in recent memory, it was troubled by despots, raiders, and bandits. And now the residents of the region are vanishing. Among them, a spy sent to keep watch should the evils of the distant past resurface. To this end, a warrior named Halsedric arrives on a mission to discover what has become of the spy and investigate the troubling reports sent from the area.

Descending to the depths of Mountainside Lake to find the sunken Celestial Cathedral of Lacapolis, the last-known location of the Tear of Aten, Tryam and his companions are shocked to discover survivors of the great cataclysm living among the ruins of ancient Lacapolis, preserved under a dome of light.

Tryam has arrived at the paladin temple in Secundus to join the ranks of the legendary brotherhood of the warriors of light. However, soon after he begins his training, heralds bring shocking news: An Abyssal-born plague is devastating paladin temples across Medias, leaving no survivors.

A Princess of Mars is a science fantasy novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first of the Barsoom series. Set on Mars, the story is full of heroic feats and interplanetary romance, against the background of a dying planet with an increasingly arid environment. The humanoid Red Martians who are allies of the protagonist, Carter, control the planet’s system of canals. When Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium is captured by the Tharks, Carter recues her.

1971. As Ted Heath's government presides over the collapse of Rolls Royce, and Britain goes over to decimalisation, Brian Oldman is locked up in Brixton Prison. Joseph Oldman pulls every corrupt string in a desperate attempt to get him released; yet no sooner is Brian out than he finds himself back inside. Joseph, however, is on the up: expanding his business through dodgy deals with a Colombian drug cartel and making friends in high places, including Lord Goodman and Margaret Thatcher. Entering the murky world of politics, he becomes an MP and reverts to his old surname, Olinska.

The James Bond Box Set, Books One to Three: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, and Moonraker is an excellent introduction to the world of Ian Fleming’s hero, secret service agent Bond, James Bond. The novels present a more profound and darker edge than the movies. Live and Let Die is the story of Bond's pursuit of Mr Big, who smuggles pirate treasure from the Caribbean to New York and funneling the proceeds to Moscow.

In a seedy tavern, two men meet. One, an old and seasoned guide who knows the way to a tomb where riches are rumored to exist. A place somewhere on the fabled mountain called the Horn of Torgiv, in a region notorious for evil things and dark deeds. The other is a mysterious young man named Halsedric, who seeks something other than wealth. What he seeks is something old, dark, and diabolical. What waits in the dark depths of the tomb? And will it lead to their ruin? Journey to the Horn of Torgiv and discover the dark secret hidden beneath the gray stone of the mountain.

Odo didn't know what was in store for him when the wizard called him into his study. The wizard gave him a simple task—deliver a stone, wrapped, sealed, and warded to a king halfway across the world. And to this end, Odo will be protected by a band of skilled mercenaries, paid a staggering fortune in gold.

Moonraker (1955) is the third novel by the British author Ian Fleming that features secret service agent James Bond. Based on a Fleming screenplay, the plot involves industrialist Hugo Drax and a prototype missile intended for the defense of the United Kingdom. Drax, however, intends to use it for an opposite purpose. The novel’s themes include the idea of the traitor within, the Cold War, totalitarian ideologies, and nuclear apocalypse.

Meet Ollie. He’s eleven years old. He hasn’t yet met a Killer Sudoku he can’t solve, but he finds the world around him difficult. People don’t say what they mean, and he hates being wrong. And now, a sudden tragedy teaches him there is no easy answer to the problem of grief. When Ollie’s happy-go-lucky father, Rich, dies of brain cancer, his mother, Ruth, has no idea how to keep living, and the entire family is thrown into disarray.

The Gods of Mars (1918) is a science fantasy novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs and the second of Burroughs' Barsoom series. It features the characters John Carter and his wife Dejah. The story opens with John Carter’s return to Mars after a 10-year separation, but unfortunately, he materializes in the one place on Mars from which nobody has ever escaped: Valley Dor, the afterlife. It is populated by two dangerous species, Pirates and Therns.

England in 1326 stands on the brink of civil war. Due to the incompetence of Edward II's government, the north is virtually overrun by the Scots, while an invasion fleet is massing across the channel, led by Edward's estranged queen, Isabella, the 'She-Wolf of France'. The first book in the Folville's Law series follows the adventures of Sir John Swale, knight of Cumberland, as he investigates a murder that threatens to bring disaster to Edward's failing kingdom. Along the way he clashes with Eustace Folville and James Coterel, two of the most notorious and brutal outlaws in England. As the death toll mounts, it remains to be seen who will survive and who will perish in the savage game of war and politics.

The Warlords of Mars completes Edgar Rice Burroughs’ action-packed Barsoom Trilogy. In the attempt to rescue his wife Dejah Thoris from captivity, John Carter enters the northern polar regions of Mars where he discovers the previously unknown Yellow Martians of Okar under their tyrant Salensus Oll. The tyrant’s nephew Talu assists Carter to enter the realm, and a rebellion is followed by an invasion of the Heliumite fleet.

Casino Royale, the first novel by the British author Ian Fleming, was published in 1953. As the first James Bond book, it paved the way for a further 11 novels and two short story collections by Fleming, and numerous further Bond novels by other authors. It tells the story of the British secret agent James Bond, gambling at the casino in Royale-les-Eaux to bankrupt the treasurer of a communist union who is a secret member of Soviet state intelligence. The novel is packed with intrigue, action, close escapes, clever spy gadgets, intrigue, and glamorous women.

In a world torn apart by war and pollution, the stage is set for an epic battle of survival. Meet Major, a valiant special forces commander, whose mission to eradicate ruthless raiders takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself stranded on the wrong side of the border. As Major unravels the dark intentions of the oppressive Council of Cities, and the army commanded by the merciless Velnias, he must band together with unlikely allies to combat the looming threat of invasion.

Live and Let Die is the second novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series of stories. Set in London, New York City, Florida, and Jamaica, the story follows Bond's pursuit of "Mr Big, a criminal who works with the Soviet secret service and is involved in the world of voodoo. Mr. Big is smuggling pirate treasure from the Caribbean to New York and funnelling the proceeds to Moscow. Bond‘s job is to sabotage Mr Big’s operation and reclaim the treasure for the United Kingdom.