August 1940. On the streets of London, locals watch with growing concern as German fighter planes plague the city's skyline. But inside the famous Ritz Hotel, the cream of society continues to enjoy all the glamour and comfort that money can buy during wartime – until an anonymous man is discovered with his throat slashed open.Detective Chief Inspector Coburg is called in to investigate, no stranger himself to the haunts of the upper echelons of society, ably assisted by his trusty colleague, Sergeant Lampson. Yet they soon face a number of obstacles. With the crime committed in rooms in use by an exiled king and his retinue, there are those who fear diplomatic repercussions and would rather the case be forgotten. With mounting pressure from various Intelligence agencies, rival political factions and gang warfare brewing either side of the Thames, Coburg and Lampson must untangle a web of deception if they are to solve the case – and survive.

Gerhard Wicklein expected life to settle down after the intrigue and violence that preceded the rise of the new Parteileiter in Nazi Germany. But this was only the beginning. Between the Nazi factions in Berlin who resented Heinrich Schloss’s promotion and those in Munich who distrusted both Schloss and Wicklein, Gerhard discovered he had to pay attention to everything. Things appeared to reach a climax in June when the Führer, Adolf Hitler, was killed in a plane crash. But that only marked the beginning of the conflict. Adding to Gerhard’s unease, the Parteileiter acted as though he didn’t know Gerhard. The man Wicklein regarded as a friend barely acknowledged him. Gerhard moved from one confrontation to the next as the tension between Schloss and Himmler built. Gerhard’s boss, Karl Rainer, still supported and mentored him as they both struggled to survive the ultimate contest to replace Hitler.

It's Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, 2013. Hamilton "Hamfist" Hancock is in command of a Boeing 777, over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,when most of the electronic equipment on the aircraft becomes inoperative. Hamfist must decide where to take his aircraft that will best protect the safety of his 200 passengers. And he must make that decision soon. Very soon.It's Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, 2013. Hamilton "Hamfist" Hancock is in command of a Boeing 777, over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, flying from London to Chicago. Suddenly, without warning, most of the electronic equipment on the aircraft becomes inoperative. Fortunately, the communication radios still work, and Hamfist determines that every other airplane over the Atlantic has suffered the same malfunctions. And none of the aircraft are able to talk to anyone on the ground.Hamfist must decide where to take his aircraft that will best protect the safety of his 200 passengers. And he must make that decision soon. Very soon.This is a SHORT 5200-word novella that follows Hamfist Hancock in his life as an airline pilot. It was written as part of a writer's group endeavor where each author pens a different vignette describing one aspect of the consequences of a massive power failure caused by a coronal mass ejection, similar to the "Carrington Event".

Shocking acts of terrorism have erupted from violent American far-right extremists in recent years, including the 2015 mass murder at a historic Black church in Charleston and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. These incidents, however, are neither novel nor unprecedented. They are the latest flashpoints in a process that has been unfolding for decades, in which vast conspiracy theories and radical ideologies such as white supremacism, racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, and hostility to government converge into a deadly threat to democracy.God, Guns, and Sedition offers the definitive account of the rise of far-right terrorism in the United States—and how to counter it. Leading experts Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware trace the historical trajectory and assess the present-day dangers of this violent extremist movement, along with the harm it poses to U.S. national security. They combine authoritative, nuanced analysis with gripping storytelling and...

This Christmas, there’s a special gift for more than one paranormal entity. This special time of year embraces the mystical communities, showering them with love. The special gift of claiming their mates makes this Christmas extra special. These Christmas stories by The Mystical Box Set Babes is a Paranormal Romance Anthology. This group of amazing talented authors want to give their readers a Ch

The Sherlock Holmes Megapack: 25 Modern Tales by MastersThis volume assembles a mammoth collection of modern Sherlock Holmes stories -- no less than 25 tales by modern masters, such as Carla Coupe, Gary Lovisi, Richard A. Lupoff, Robert J. Sawyer, Mike Resnick, and many more! (It's also an authorized edition, produced under license from Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd.)THE ADVENTURE OF THE ELUSIVE EMERALDS, by Carla CoupeTHE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND ROUND, by Mark WardeckerTHE ADVENTURE OF THE MIDNIGHT SEANCE, by Michael MalloryTHE CASE OF THE TARLETON MURDERS, by Jack GrochotTHE TATTOOED ARM, by Marc BilgreyTHE INCIDENT OF THE IMPECUNIOUS CHEVALIER, by Richard A. LupoffSHERLOCK HOLMES—STYMIED! by Gary LovisiYEARS AGO AND IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, by Michael KurlandA STUDY IN EVIL, by Gary LovisiTHE ADVENTURE OF THE AMATEUR MENDICANT SOCIETY, by John Gregory BetancourtTHE ADVENTURE OF THE HAUNTED BAGPIPES, by Carla CoupeSUN CHING FOO'S LAST TRICK, by Adam Beau McFarlaneDr WATSON’S FAIRY TALE, by Thos. Kent MillerTHE CASE OF VAMBERRY THE WINE MERCHANT, by Jack GrochotA HOUSE GONE MAD, by Sherlock Holmes as edited by Bruce I. KilsteinBE GOOD OR BEGONE, by Stan TrybulskiCUTTING FOR SIGN, by Rhys BowenTHE STAGECOACH DETECTIVE, by Linda RobertsonTHE DEAD HOUSE, by Bruce KilsteinTHE ADVENTURE OF THE VOORISH SIGN, by Richard A. LupoffTHE CURIOUS CASE OF THE PEACOCK STREET PECULIARS, by Michael MallorySECOND FIDDLE, by Kristine Kathryn RuschTHE CASE OF THE NETHERLAND-SUMATRA COMPANY, by Jack GrochotYOU SEE BUT YOU DO NOT OBSERVE, by Robert J. SawyerTHE ADVENTURE OF THE PEARLY GATES, by Mike Resnick

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What would have happened if history had been different-if the major events that shaped our times had occurred in a different way-or not at all? From a Confederacy that won the Civil War to a Europe converted to Viking paganism, these bold excursions in time depict bizarre new worlds--oddly familiar, disturbingly different--a glimpse of WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. "A Sleep and a Forgetting" (Robert Silverberg) "The Old Man and C" (Sheila Finch) "The Last Article" (Harry Turtledove) "Mules in Horses' Harness" (Michael Cassutt) "Lenin in Odessa" (George Zebrowski) "Abe Lincoln in McDonald's" (James Morrow) "Another Goddamned Showboat" (Barry N. Malzberg) "Loose Cannon" (Susan Shwartz) "A Letter from the Pope" (Harry Harrison and Tom Shippey) "Roncesvalles" (Judith Tarr) "His Powder'd Wig, His Crown of Thornes" (Marc Laidlaw) "Departures" (Harry Turtledove) "Instability" (Rudy Rucker and Paul Di Filippo) "No Spot of Ground" (Walter Jon Williams)

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The start of BRAND NEW SERIES from bestselling author of 'The Tobacco Girls' Lizzie LaneBristol 1936 Jenny Crawford has resigned herself to a loveless marriage living hand to mouth with their two children. Like many others, husband Roy struggles to find work at the docks but a chance encounter turns the family's fortunes around. Not only does he get regular work but they are also allocated a council house on Coronation Close on the outskirts of the city. Jenny and the children are overjoyed, this is the fresh start she could only ever dream of. But trouble feels never too far away. With Roy spending more time with Sir Oswald Molsey bullying black shirts, Jenny is left to her own devices and eager to fit in begins to make new friends. Thankful of peace, Jenny has her head turned firstly by an old love and then by her knight in shining armour. Does she allow herself to glimpse a chance of happiness? Whatever happens the consequences...

The year 1946 begins quietly for Heinrich Schloss. No major wars threaten Germany, and Schloss focuses on planning an election for the fall. The Yuletide Zentrum putsch was spectacular in its failure and succeeded in destroying the leadership of the organization. But the unfortunate side effects of the event eliminated the political party of the center and its chances of winning an election against the Nazis. Another event demonstrating a lack of permanence in the political landscape was the Italian Foreign Minister’s coup against Galeazzo Ciano. Later, the death of two key leaders in Vichy France challenged the governing coherence in that land. Schloss is challenged by the instability of the lands bordering Germany while also facing challenges from the regional leadership at home. The Gauleiters, most appointed by Hitler, actively opposed the scheduled election and expressed their displeasure to the Reich Chancellor. All these events collude to present Schloss with the challenge of his life in this tenth story about the Accidental Nazi.