Riccardo Valla Książki

One of the very best must-read novels of all time'Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power' OBSERVER

W piątym stuleciu po narodzinach Chrystusa Brytania jest na skraju przepaści. Nikną ślady rzymskiej cywilizacji, pogańscy bogowie ustępują przed zalewem chrześcijaństwa, a na rubieżach grasują Saksonowie. Skłócone królestwa Brytanii, którym przewodzi Uther, z trudem jednoczą się do walki z najeźdźcą. Niestety Uther się starzeje, a jego następcą nie jest potężny przywódca, lecz chłopiec urodzony w mroźną zimową noc. Tylko Artur - żołnierz, mąż stanu, podopieczny Merlina, nieślubny syn Uthera - może objąć tron i zjednoczyć poróżnione królestwa. "Zimowy monarcha" to wspaniała opowieść o polityce i wojnie toczonej w kraju, gdzie religia rywalizuje z magią w walce o dusze ludzi.

The third volume of Nicholl's critically acclaimed fantasy - tells the story from the Orc's point of view.

This deluxe series of Robert E. Howard's immortal character, Conan the Barbarian, is an attempt to preserve the Conan tales in their original form. These are quality volumes with a wealth of illustrations by award winning artists.The Hour of the Dragon is the only novel length story in Robert E. Howard's remarkable Conan series. It is issued here as a part of our deluxe Conan editions.This is a volume of Conan's greatest adventures. The massive Cimmerian finds himself pitted against werewolves, a giant ape, pirates and the malignant and mighty sorcerer who is risen from the dead -- the evil Xaltotun.

Die Geschichte spielt weit in der Vergangenheit des Planeten Darkover. Die Nachfahren der gestrandeten Raumfahrer von der Erde haben Psi-Kräfte entwickelt und eine eigene Kultur aufgebaut. Doch noch herrscht das Zeitalter des Chaos, noch ist der Planet in hundert Königreiche zerfallen, die einander bekriegen. Schon viele Dakovaner haben davon geträumt, ihren Planeten zu einen und das Chaos zu beenden, aber zwei kraftvolle Persönlichkeiten nehmen diese Aufgabe nun in Angriff: Varzil und Bard di Asturien. Den einen nennt man "den Guten", der andere ist der einsame Wolf, und beide sind erbitterte Gegner.

W Luwrze zostaje popełnione morderstwo. Jego ofiarą jest kustosz. Zwłoki zostają znalezione w pozycji przypominającej sławny rysunek witruwiański, na którym renesansowy artysta przedstawił idealne proporcje ludzkiego ciała. W zbrodnię zamieszany jest według policji profesor z Harvardu, znawca symboliki religijnej. Sprawy komplikują się, gdyż umierający kustosz pozostawił szereg zagadek, które mają pomóc wskazać winnych tej zbrodni i trzech innych popełnionych tej nocy na wpływowych mieszkańcach Paryża. Ale mają też doprowadzić do czegoś znacznie bardziej istotnego.

The political intrigue, secret treachery, and sinister deeds that have haunted Druid history for generations continue to thrive. Despite Grianne's devotion to the greater good, she still has bitter enemies who covet her seat of power.

50 years from now, our world looks very different. Governments have fallen. Thousands live in fortified strongholds; others roam the landscape as either predator or prey. Standing against the forces that have tipped the balance from good to evil are very few heroes, men and women imbued with magic and sworn to a high destiny.

Nella terra di Maras-Dantia la guerra tra umani e razze antiche sembra non conoscere sosta e i figli del Lupo sono nell'occhio del ciclone. Soli, braccati, bollati dall'infamante accusa di diserzione, vagano per le regioni che gli umani chiamano Centrasia alla ricerca di risposte a interrogativi sempre più pressanti: cosa sono in realtà i manufatti chiamati stelle? Qual è il loro effettivo potere? Perché l'ambizione di possederli ossessiona Jennesta, la spietata regina dell'Orda, così come Kimball Hobrow, capo della fanatica setta degli Uni? E ancora: quale significato attribuire ai sogni di cui è preda il capitano degli orchi Strike? Sono forse profezie? La speranza di un mondo in cui la magia occupi il posto che le compete nell'ordine naturale, un mondo nel quale le razze antiche possano finalmente convivere in pace, libere dalla pestilenziale minaccia dell'uomo, potrà realizzarsi solo dopo aver superato nemici letali e situazioni ai limiti dell'impossibile, in un crescendo di eventi che scateneranno forze oscure, terrificanti incantesimi e arcane potenze da troppo tempo sopite. Prima, però, gli orchi dovranno confrontarsi con le proprie ataviche paure, per porre fine a un'esistenza da mercenari e tornare a essere ciò che sempre sono stati: un popolo fiero, un popolo di guerrieri.

Gli umani sono arrivati nella terra di Maras-Dantia, e con essi la morte e la distruzione. Gli occhi terrorizzati delle creature fantastiche che abitano quel regno vedono cadere l'una dopo l'altra le razze antiche e mitologiche, esseri dai poteri magici, gnomi, elfi, e sfortunatamente anche orchi. Cacciati dalla loro foresta, da una natura che da millenni alimenta segretamente le loro vite, gli orchi devono rinascere e combattere la crudeltà degli uomini, mai così feroce, mai così memorabile come in questa storia. Sarà compito dell’orco Stryke guadagnarsi un riscatto che pare impossibile... Grande romanzo di pura azione, violento, diretto e pieno di rabbia, I guardiani dei lampi è il primo volume della trilogia Orchi, accolta in Inghilterra come l'avvento del fantasy barbarico, genere dove il consueto cast di dame e cavalieri eleganti - vagamente disneyano e politicamente corretto - non esiste più e dove i piani del rapporto fra uomo e creature mostruose vengono completamente ribaltati.

Fifty years from now, our world is unrecognisable. Pollution and warfare have poisoned the skies, the water and the soil. Pockets of society still exist, living in highly fortified strongholds, while those outside the walls roam the landscape - either predator or prey. But even these isolated compounds are not safe; armies of demons and once-men assault their defences, and inevitably, one by one, they succumb. Civilisation has fallen and anarchy is the only law. Logan Tom and Angel Perez are the last two Knights to stand against the forces of chaos. These two extraordinary people have the ability to resist the dark tide, and to them will fall twin tasks: to find and protect a very old and a very new magic. They are humanity's last hope. Although the odds are stacked against them, Logan and Angel have the power to halt the destruction of the Old World. It will be up to others to usher in the New.

The New York Times bestseller A LOVE THAT TRANSCENDS HEAVEN AND HELL What happens to us after we die? Chris Nielsen had no idea, until an unexpected accident cut his life short, separating him from his beloved wife, Annie. Now Chris must discover the true nature of life after death. But even Heaven is not complete without Annie, and when tragedy threatens to divide them forever, Chris risks his very soul to save Annie from an eternity of despair. Richard Matheson's powerful tale of life---and love---after death was the basis for the Oscar-winning film starring Robin Williams.

The past is always with us, but sometimes we fail to recognise it for what it is.'These were Jair Ohmsford's final thoughts as he walked away from the carnage at Dun Fee Aran, having destroyed at last the book of dark magic known as the Ildatch. Following this great event, told in The Wishsong of Shannara, Jair discovers that he can draw on a form of magic that allows him to transform into other living creatures, both human and non-human. The magic is both powerful and seductive, for Jair can feel himself wanting to remain in each new form that he tries.Jair sets out for the family home of Shady Vale, seeking peace from the temptations of his unwanted gift. But fate has other plans for the heir to the elven magics of Shannara, and the shade of the Druid Allanon sets him, and his sister Brin, on a new path. The way is perilous, but Jair can provide protection with his new magical ability. Of course, that may be the most dangerous path of all . . .

A member of the Terran Spaceforce finds himself drawn into the unmapped heart of the Darkovan mountain ranges, away from the trade city into an ancient battle that is to shape the destiny of more than one world. From the author of CASTLE TERROR and THENDARA HOUSE.

The great epic of Darkover did not begin with the Terrans' arrival. For in those years, the power of the matrix was first learned--and misused in a power struggle that could have made Darkover a duplicate of Terra.

MAGIC KINGDOM FOR SALE/SOLD! is the first volume in a gripping fantasy of mystery, magic and adventure from the author of the bestselling Shannara series.

The nineteenth book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell. 'America's most chilling writer of crime fiction' The Times Kay Scarpetta has arranged to meet an inmate at the high-security Georgia Prison for Women. The prisoner is a convicted sex offender and the mother of a vicious and diabolically brilliant killer. Against advice, Scarpetta is determined to hear this woman out - she believes she may hold some answers to the murder of her former deputy. But soon she finds connections to a string of grisly killings. As she learns more, Scarpetta is compelled to conclude that this is only the beginning of a terrifying terrain of conspiracy on an international scale. And she is the only one who can stop it . . . Praise for the groundbreaking series: 'One of the best crime writers writing today' Guardian 'Devilishly clever' Sunday Times 'The top gun in this field' Daily Telegraph 'Forget the pretenders. Cornwell reigns' Mirror 'The Agatha Christie of the DNA age' Express

Sześcioro młodych ludzi, pełnych fantazji i pragnienia przygód, wyrusza w głąb meksykańskiej dżungli, by odnaleźć zaginionego brata jednego z nich. Ignorując ostrzeżenia, zapuszczają się w głąb puszczy i odkrywają tajemnicze wzgórze pokryte winoroślą, które staje się ich śmiertelną pułapką. Bez wody i zapasów żywności, otoczeni przez agresywnych Indian, muszą stawić czoła nieustającemu zagrożeniu, w grze o życie. Mimo prostej fabuły, autor tworzy zaskakująco dobrze skonstruowany i świetnie napisany horror, w którym duszny klimat, poczucie zagrożenia oraz precyzyjnie nakreślone postaci i ich relacje stanowią największe atuty. Rzadko eksplorowany motyw inteligentnych, krwiożerczych roślin dodaje powieści wyjątkowego charakteru, zadowalając miłośników literackiej grozy. Opowieść rozgrywa się w upalnej atmosferze Meksyku, wypełnionej smrodem przetrawionego alkoholu i gnijącej dżungli. To historia o winorośli, tajemnicy w jej pnączach i pułapce, z której nie ma ucieczki. Natura wydaje swój osąd, ukazując swoją żarłoczność i okrucieństwo, a autor serwuje prawdziwy horror, który na długo pozostaje w pamięci czytelnika.

The title story, Supertoys Last All Summer Long, soon to be a major film directed by Steven Spielberg, tells of a young boy who, whatever he does, cannot please his mother. He is puzzled by this, not realising that he is an android, a cunning construct of artificial intelligence - as is his one ally, his teddy bear. It was a story that hugely affected Stanley Kubrick (director of 2001) and Steven Spielberg (who perhaps saw in his forthcoming movie AI (Artificial Intelligence) a complement to his ET!). This collection contains three SUPERTOYS stories, and they are the fabric of Spielberg's movie. The other stories in the collection, whether SF, utopian fantasy or dark fable show a master writer at the peak of his considerable powers.

Examines the century-old series of murders that terrorized London in the 1880s, drawing on research, state-of-the-art forensic science, and insights into the criminal mind to reveal the true identity of the infamous Jack the Ripper.

Al tramonto dell'Età dei Cento Regni, un antico conflitto tra i clan di Hammerfell e di Storn insanguina ancora la Terra di Darkover...

Il noto autore di science fiction descrive in questo libro un futuro ormai prossimo dove la fantascienza è diventata realtà: computer che leggono la mente umana, banche degli organi sempre fornite grazie alle tecniche di clonazione, viaggi interstellari effettuati tramite tunnel che attraversano i buchi neri...

Dopo la lotta finale al fianco dello stregone Arngrim contro la regina Jennesta, gli orchi della banda dei Figli del lupo sono riusciti ad attraversare la porta d'accesso, tornando così nel loro mondo d'origine. Qui, lontano dalle minacce delle terre di Maras-Dantia, prima fra tutte l'invasore umano, Strike e i suoi compagni hanno finalmente trovato la pace... Una pace voluta, ma anche difficile per dei guerrieri assetati di sangue come gli orchi. Così, quando attraverso un portale giunge un messaggio di Arngrim, il quale chiede nuovamente l'aiuto degli orchi, Strike e i fidati Haskeer e Coilla non esitano a riunire i Figli del lupo, arricchiti di nuovi membri, e a utilizzare le cinque stelle magiche che consentono loro di saltare da un mondo all'altro. Dopo un breve ritorno a Maras-Dantia per recuperare Jup, l'unico nano della banda, sbarcheranno su Acurial, un mondo in cui gli orchi sono ancora schiavi e nel quale scopriranno che la strega-regina Jennesta non solo non è morta ma, con nuove forze, progetta di trasformare tutti gli orchi in un esercito di non-morti al suo servizio. Inoltre, un manipolo di misteriose creature, votato alla ricerca delle stelle magiche, è sulle tracce di Strike e dei suoi compagni, deciso a strappare loro il potere di viaggiare tra i mondi.