Goodreads

2019 Reading List

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, )

J.R.R. Tolkien

Published: 1954 | Pages:398

My Rating: 5/5

Description: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind themIn ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.–back cover

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, )

J.R.R. Tolkien

Published: 1954 | Pages:322

My Rating: 5/5

Description: Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin — alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, )

J.R.R. Tolkien

Published: 1955 | Pages:404

My Rating: 5/5

Description: here.The Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures as the quest continues. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and took part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escaped into Fangorn Forest and there encountered the Ents. Gandalf returned, miraculously, and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Meanwhile, Sam and Frodo progressed towards Mordor to destroy the Ring, accompanied by SmEagol–Gollum, still obsessed by his ‘precious’. After a battle with the giant spider, Shelob, Sam left his master for dead; but Frodo is still alive–in the hands of the Orcs. And all the time the armies of the Dark Lord are massing. J.R.R. Tolkien’s great work of imaginative fiction has been labeled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volume 1

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volume 1

Osamu Takahashi

Published: 2006 | Pages:192

My Rating: 3/5

Description: When Shinji starts to get curious about Rei, Asuka needs to figure out if she wants to be just friends with Shinji or something more. But why are so many people keeping an eye on these relationships? People like homeroom teacher Misato, school nurse Ritsuko, and Shinji’s mother and NERV’s chief scientist Yui Ikari… Each volume of Neon Genesis Evangelion features bonus color pages, your Evangelion fan art, letters, and special reader giveaways!

Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 2: Tears of an Angel

Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 2: Tears of an Angel

Yukito Kishiro

Published: 1992 | Pages:207

My Rating: 4/5

Description:

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, #1)

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, )

James S.A. Corey

Published: 2011 | Pages:577

My Rating: 5/5

Description: From a New York Times bestselling and Hugo award-winning author comes a modern masterwork of science fiction, introducing a captain, his crew, and a detective as they unravel a horrifying solar system wide conspiracy that begins with a single missing girl.  Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations—and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.

Star Wars: Thrawn

Star Wars: Thrawn

Timothy Zahn

Published: 2017 | Pages:488

My Rating: 4/5

Description: After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again—even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics, where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy—and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.

Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 1

Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 1

Yukito Kishiro

Published: 1990 | Pages:248

My Rating: 4/5

Description: Daisuke Ido, a talented cybernetic doctor, finds the head of a cyborg in a junk heap. When he rebuilds her body, Alita’s only clue to her past surfaces-her deadly fighting instincts! And now she is determine to find out the truth about who she once was…

2017 Reading List

Spider-Gwen, Vol. 2: Weapon of Choice

Spider-Gwen, Vol. 2: Weapon of Choice

Jason Latour

Published: 2016 | Pages:112

Description: COLLECTING: SPIDER-GWEN 9-13

Spider-Gwen, Vol. 1: Greater Power

Spider-Gwen, Vol. 1: Greater Power

Jason Latour

Published: 2016 | Pages:136

Description: COLLECTING: SPIDER-GWEN 1-6

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal

G. Willow Wilson

Published: 2014 | Pages:120

Description: COLLECTING: MS. MARVEL 1-5, MATERIAL FROM ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW! POINT ONE

Runaways, Vol. 2: Teenage Wasteland

Runaways, Vol. 2: Teenage Wasteland

Brian K. Vaughan

Published: 2006 | Pages:144

Description:

Seveneves

Seveneves

Neal Stephenson

Published: 2015 | Pages:872

Description: A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain . . .Five thousand years later, their progeny—seven distinct races now three billion strong—embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown . . . to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth.A writer of dazzling genius and imaginative vision, Neal Stephenson combines science, philosophy, technology, psychology, and literature in a magnificent work of speculative fiction that offers a portrait of a future that is both extraordinary and eerily recognizable. As he did in Anathem, Cryptonomicon, the Baroque Cycle, and Reamde, Stephenson explores some of our biggest ideas and perplexing challenges in a breathtaking saga that is daring, engrossing, and altogether brilliant.

Change Agent

Change Agent

Daniel Suarez

Published: 2017 | Pages:416

Description: New York Times bestselling author Daniel Suarez delivers an exhilarating sci-fi thriller exploring a potential future where CRISPR genetic editing allows the human species to control evolution itself.On a crowded train platform, Interpol agent Kenneth Durand feels the sting of a needle— and his transformation begins. . . .    In 2045 Kenneth Durand leads Interpol’s most effective team against genetic crime, hunting down black market labs that perform “vanity edits” on human embryos for a price. These illegal procedures augment embryos in ways that are rapidly accelerating human evolution—preying on human-trafficking victims to experiment and advance their technology.   With the worlds of genetic crime and human trafficking converging, Durand and his fellow Interpol agents discover that one figure looms behind it all: Marcus Demang Wyckes, leader of a powerful and sophisticated cartel known as the Huli jing.   But the Huli jing have identified Durand, too. After being forcibly dosed with a radical new change agent, Durand wakes from a coma weeks later to find he’s been genetically transformed into someone else—his most wanted suspect: Wyckes.   Now a fugitive, pursued through the genetic underworld by his former colleagues and the police, Durand is determined to restore his original DNA by locating the source of the mysterious—and highly valuable—change agent. But Durand hasn’t anticipated just how difficult locating his enemy will be. With the technology to genetically edit the living, Wyckes and his Huli jing could be anyone and everyone—and they have plans to undermine identity itself.

Secret Warriors, Volume 3: Wake the Beast

Secret Warriors, Volume 3: Wake the Beast

Jonathan Hickman

Published: 2010 | Pages:144

Description: Collecting: Secret Warriors 11-16

Deadly Heat (Nikki Heat, #5)

Deadly Heat (Nikki Heat, #5)

Richard Castle

Published: 2013 | Pages:403

Description: Complicating Heat’s mission to bring the rogue spy to justice and thwart the looming terror event, a serial killer begins menacing the Twentieth Precinct and her homicide squad is under pressure to stop him, and soon. The frightening murderer, known for his chilling stealth, not only has singled out Nikki as the exclusive recipient of his taunting messages, he then boldly names his next victim: Detective Heat.

Secret Warriors, Volume 5: Night

Secret Warriors, Volume 5: Night

Jonathan Hickman

Published: 2011 | Pages:112

Description: The Last Ride of the Howling Commandos, an even more determined Nick Fury sets his endgame in motion. Join us as Jonathan Hickman begins to bring all his mad plans to fruition and we rocket towards the jaw-dropping conclusion of what ComicBookResources.com calls “a great, anything-goes series!”Collecting: Secret Warriors 20-23

Secret Warriors, Volume 6: Wheels Within Wheels

Secret Warriors, Volume 6: Wheels Within Wheels

Jonathan Hickman

Published: 2011 | Pages:112

Description: Wheels within Wheels.Collecting: Secret Warriors 24-28

Secret Warriors, Volume 4: Last Ride of the Howling Commandos

Secret Warriors, Volume 4: Last Ride of the Howling Commandos

Jonathan Hickman

Published: 2010 | Pages:112

Description: ComicBookRecources.com raves that Secret Warriors is “a surprisingly tense and engrossing black-ops story”.Collecting: Secret Warriors 17-19, Siege: Secret Warriors

Secret Wars

Secret Wars

Jonathan Hickman

Published: 2016 | Pages:312

Description: Collecting: Secret Wars 1-9 & materiel from FCBD 2015: Secret Wars 0

Batgirl, Volume 2: Family Business

Batgirl, Volume 2: Family Business

Cameron Stewart

Published: 2016 | Pages:176

Description: All-star creative team Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher and Babs Tarr continue their fan-favorite run in BATGIRL: FAMILY BUSINESS, featuring guest-appearances by Dick Grayson, Batwoman, Spoiler, the students of Gotham Academy and more!Over the past few months, Barbara Gordon has made some big changes to her Batgirl alter ego. She has a new look, new support team and new home base in Burnside—Gotham’s trendiest neighborhood. But just when she’s hitting her stride, her father drops a bombshell: Babs isn’t the only masked crime-fighter in the family anymore. Jim Gordon is the new Batman.After the original Batman fell fighting the Joker, the former police commissioner was given a high-tech super-suit and asked to take up the mantle. With a team of G.C.P.D. officers watching his every move, Jim Gordon’s new law-and-order Batman has zero tolerance for vigilantism. He’s been ordered to arrest any unsanctioned superhero in Gotham—and Batgirl is next!Collecting: Batgirl #41-45, Annual and DC Sneak Peek: Batgirl .

Batgirl, Volume 1: Batgirl of Burnside

Batgirl, Volume 1: Batgirl of Burnside

Cameron Stewart

Published: 2015 | Pages:176

Description: But she barely slips on her new DIY costume before Batgirl starts trending as Gotham’s first viral vigilante — and attracting a new wave of enemies who want her social-media spotlight for themselves. Meanwhile, the girl beneath the gear’s got a whole new crew of friends, college classes that are kicking her Bat-butt and a dating scene that can make anyone want to swipe left on life. This bat’s done living in the shadows. But will the bright lights of Burnside burn her for good?Collects: Batgirl #35-40 and a story from Secret Origins #10.

2016 Reading List

Influx

Influx

Daniel Suarez

Published: 2014 | Pages:528

Description: The bureau’s mission: suppress the truth of sudden technological progress and prevent the social upheaval it would trigger. Because the future is already here. And it’s rewards are only for a select few.When Grady refuses to join the BTC, he’s thrown into a nightmarish high-tech prison housing other doomed rebel intellects. Now, as the only hope to usher humanity out of its artificial dark age, Grady and his fellow prisoners must try to expose the secrets of an unimaginable enemy—one that wields a technological advantage half a century in the making.

Secret Warriors, Volume 1: Nick Fury, Agent Of Nothing

Secret Warriors, Volume 1: Nick Fury, Agent Of Nothing

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2009 | Pages:168

Description: Collecting: Secret Warriors 1-6, material from Dark Reign: New Nation

Secret Warriors, Volume 2: God of Fear, God of War

Secret Warriors, Volume 2: God of Fear, God of War

Jonathan Hickman

Published: 2010 | Pages:128

Description: Collecting: Secret Warriors 7-10, Dark Reign: The List Secret Warriors

Alias, Vol. 3: The Underneath

Alias, Vol. 3: The Underneath

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2003 | Pages:160

My Rating: 4/5

Description:

Alias, Vol. 2: Come Home

Alias, Vol. 2: Come Home

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2003 | Pages:128

My Rating: 4/5

Description:

Raging Heat (Nikki Heat, #6)

Raging Heat (Nikki Heat, #6)

Richard Castle

Published: 2014 | Pages:292

Description: New York Times Bestselling author Richard Castle’s newest novel, an illegal immigrant falls from the sky and NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat’s investigation into his death quickly captures the imagination of her boyfriend, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Jameson Rook. When he decides to work the case with Heat as his next big story, Nikki is at first happy to have him ride-along. Yes, she must endure Rook’s usual wild conspiracy speculations and adolescent wisecracks, but after reuniting following his recent assignment abroad, she’s glad for the entertainment, the chance to bounce ideas, and just to be close to him again and feel the old spark rekindle. But when Rook’s inquiry concludes that Detective Heat has arrested the wrong man for the murder, everything changes.Balancing her high stakes job with a complicated romance has been a challenge ever since Nikki fell for the famous reporter. Now, her relationship lurches from mere complexity into sharp conflict over the most high-risk case of her career. Set against the raging force of Hurricane Sandy as it pounds New York, Heat battles an ambitious power broker, fights a platoon of urban mercenaries, and clashes with the man she loves. Detective Heat knows her job is to solve murders. She just worrie sthat solving this one will be the death of her relationship.

Alias, Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones

Alias, Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2005 | Pages:168

My Rating: 4/5

Description:

Elite: Tales From The Frontier (Elite: Dangerous)

Elite: Tales From The Frontier (Elite: Dangerous)

Chris Booker

Published: 2014 | Pages:462

Description: Orbital scrap yard worker Oliver dreams of exploring the galaxy, but when the return of a long lost friend sparks a terrible disaster, can Oliver deal with some uncomfortable truths about his own life? – A Game of Death Chenoa O’Laundy is on a mission to find her missing father and bring him home safely, but can either of them escape the Calite Corporation, determined to reclaim their property at any cost? – A Question of Intelligence Myles Jarek is a company man on a far flung exploratory mission with a hired crew. Will he be able to return to his previous life or will the Children of Zeus stay with him forever? – Children of Zeus These are three of 15 scintillating tales in this eclectic collection where characters from the Elite universe seek honour, truth, retribution and in one case a place to sell 300 year old Lavian brandy. The Stories Crossing The Line by Chris Booker The Comet’s Trail by Darren Grey A Question of Intelligence by Lisa Wolf The Easy Way Out by Ramon Marett The Maledict by Tim Gayda Children of Zeus by Christopher Jarvis Pinacotheca by Alexander G Saunders Blood is Thicker by Ulla Susimetsä Beyond Civilisation by Marko Susimetsä Cat’s Cradle by Rose Thurlbeck Nature’s Way by Gaz Bailey A Game of Death by Allen L Farr Mission (almost) Completed by Matthew Benson Research Purposes by Fred Burbidge Ode to Betty Cole by Nicholas Hansen and Darren Grey 10% of the proceeds of this book will be donated to Plan who do wonderful work promoting child rights to end child poverty, worldwide.

Age of Ultron: The Complete Event

Age of Ultron: The Complete Event

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: | Pages:456

Description: COLLECTING: Age of Ultron 1-10, 10AI, Avengers Assemble 14AU -15AU , Fantastic Four 5AU , Fearless Defenders 4AU, Superior Spider -Man 6AU , Ultron 1AU , Uncanny Avenger s 8AU , Wolverine & the X-Men 27AU

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2013 | Pages:136

Description: There’s a new rule in the galaxy: No one touches Earth! But why has Earth suddenly become the most important planet in the galaxy? That’s what the Guardians of the Galaxy are going to find out! Join Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, Groot and–wait for it–the Invincible Iron Man as they embark upon one of the most explosive and eye-opening chapters of Marvel NOW! The secrets these galactic Avengers discover will rattle Marvel readers for years to come! But while London deals with a brutal invasion by the Badoon, the fate of the Guardians may have already been decided millions of miles away! Why wait for the movie? It all starts here! Collecting: Guardians of the Galaxy 0.1, 1-3; & Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Comic

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)

George R.R. Martin

Published: 2005 | Pages:1061

My Rating: 4/5

Description: Crows will fight over a dead man’s flesh, and kill each other for his eyes.Bloodthirsty, treacherous and cunning, the Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne in the name of the boy-king Tommen. The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life.The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow’s Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles. From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel.Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, )

George R.R. Martin

Published: 2000 | Pages:1177

My Rating: 4/5

Description: an alternate cover for this ISBN can be found hereHere is the third volume in George R.R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Together, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces manoeuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords…

The Greatest Castles in America (The Greatest Series Episode 1)

The Greatest Castles in America (The Greatest Series Episode 1)

W.E. Salud

Published: | Pages:73

My Rating: 2/5

Description: The Greatest Castles in America!
The Greatest Castles in America is on the search for the grandest, most awe-inspiring castles in America. Castles? Yes, there are castles in America and we’ve found the greatest of them all right here in America for you and your family to visit. Find out: • The “mad king” who built his own medieval castle! • One of the grandest castles not just in America but the world! • The castle right in the middle of a major American city! • And Much More! Complete with photographs of the awe- inspiring castles, take a whirlwind tour of The Greatest Castles in America!

The Road to Civil War

The Road to Civil War

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2007 | Pages:120

My Rating: 4/5

Description: COLLECTING: New Avengers: Illuminati One-Shot, Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #529-531, Fantastic Four (1997) #536-537

Giant Days, Vol. 1 (Giant Days, #1)

Giant Days, Vol. 1 (Giant Days, )

John Allison

Published: 2015 | Pages:112

My Rating: 3/5

Description: Collects issues -4.

Civil War: Black Panther

Civil War: Black Panther

Reginald Hudlin

Published: 2007 | Pages:168

My Rating: 4/5

Description: Civil War-ravaged United States, for a meeting with none other than the point man for the U.S. government’s implementation of the Superhuman Registration Act’s Tony Stark, T’Challa’s former Avengers teammate. Will the Black Panther and Storm decide to get off the sidelines of the Civil War and get involved?Collecting: Black Panther 19-25

Alias, Vol. 1

Alias, Vol. 1

Brian Michael Bendis

Published: 2002 | Pages:208

My Rating: 4/5

Description:

Spider-Gwen, Vol. 0: Most Wanted?

Spider-Gwen, Vol. 0: Most Wanted?

Jason Latour

Published: 2015 | Pages:136

My Rating: 4/5

Description: COLLECTING: EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE , SPIDER-GWEN 1-5

A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)

A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)

George R.R. Martin

Published: 2011 | Pages:1125

My Rating: 4/5

Description: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B004XISI4AIn the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance—beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys’s claim to Westeros forever.Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone—a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

Make: Electronics: Learn by Discovery

Make: Electronics: Learn by Discovery

Charles Platt

Published: 2008 | Pages:349

Description: –Hans Camenzind, inventor of the 555 timer (the world’s most successful integrated circuit), and author of Much Ado About Almost Man’s Encounter with the Electron (Booklocker.com) “A fabulous well written, well paced, fun, and informative. I also love the sense of humor. It’s very good at disarming the fear. And it’s gorgeous . I’ll be recommending this book highly.”–Tom Igoe, author of Physical Computing and Making Things TalkWant to learn the fundamentals of electronics in a fun, hands-on way? With Electronics , you’ll start working on real projects as soon as you crack open the book. Explore all of the key components and essential principles through a series of fascinating experiments. You’ll build the circuits first, then learn the theory behind them! Build working devices, from simple to complexYou’ll start with the basics and then move on to more complicated projects. Go from switching circuits to integrated circuits, and from simple alarms to programmable microcontrollers. Step-by-step instructions and more than 500 full-color photographs and illustrations will help you use — and understand — electronics concepts and techniques.

Raspberry Pi Projects for the Evil Genius

Raspberry Pi Projects for the Evil Genius

Donald Norris

Published: 2013 | Pages:224

Description: TAB, an imprint of McGraw-Hill Professional, is a leading publisher of DIY technology books for makers, hackers, and electronics hobbyists.

Star Wars Adventures: Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya

Star Wars Adventures: Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya

Jeremy Barlow

Published: 2009 | Pages:80

Description: Before they ever met Luke Skywalker or Princess Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca had already lived a lifetime of adventures. In this action-packed tale, Han and Chewie are caught between gangsters and the Empire, and their only help is Han’s former partner—who may be worse than either!Star Wars Adventures is a series of graphic novellas designed for readers of all ages!

Star Wars: Empire, Vol. 1: Betrayal

Star Wars: Empire, Vol. 1: Betrayal

Scott Allie

Published: 2003 | Pages:104

My Rating: 4/5

Description:

Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles, #11)

Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles, #11)

Tess Gerritsen

Published: 2014 | Pages:330

Description: Boston Detective Jane Rizzoli is on the case of a big game hunter found dead in his apartment, alone with the body of a beautiful white snow leopard he had recently been commissioned to procure and stuff for a high-profile museum in the area. Medical examiner Maura Isles connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard’s kill. Rizzoli follows the puzzling trail of clues all the way to Botswana, where she uncovers the unsolved mystery of a deadly camping safari six years prior. When she realizes the two cases are connected, Rizzoli must track down the sole survivor of the tragic trip to discover who – or what – is behind these gruesome deaths.Story Locale: Boston, MA

Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

Jeff Ryan

Published: 2011 | Pages:292

Description: The story of Nintendo’s rise and the beloved icon who made it possible. Nintendo has continually set the standard for video-game innovation in America, starting in 1981 with a plucky hero who jumped over barrels to save a girl from an ape. The saga of Mario, the portly plumber who became the most successful franchise in the history of gaming, has plot twists worthy of a video game. Jeff Ryan shares the story of how this quintessentially Japanese company found success in the American market. Lawsuits, Hollywood, die- hard fans, and face-offs with Sony and Microsoft are all part of the drama. Find out about: * Mario’s eccentric yet brilliant creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, who was tapped for the job because was considered expendable. * Minoru Arakawa, the son-in-law of Nintendo’s imperious president, who bumbled his way to success. * The unexpected approach that allowed Nintendo to reinvent itself as the gaming system for the non-gamer, especially now with the Wii. Even those who can’t tell a Koopa from a Goomba will find this a fascinating story of striving, comeuppance, and redemption.

A Clash of Kings  (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, )

George R.R. Martin

Published: 1998 | Pages:969

Description: It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel…and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.Here is the second volume in George R.R. Martin magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R.R. Martin stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

The Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War

The Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War

J. Michael Straczynski

Published: 2007 | Pages:168

Description: COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man #532-538.

Iron Man: Civil War

Iron Man: Civil War

Christos Gage

Published: 2007 | Pages:160

Description: Civil War.Captain America has fallen into a clash with his government and his friends, and the people close to him are paying the price. The life of Cap’s girlfriend, Agent 13, is torn apart as her superiors use her divided loyalties against her. Elsewhere, a new villain emerges; the Red Skull begins to make himself known; and the Winter Soldier again comes face-to-face with Cap. Meanwhile, get inside the mind of of Tony Stark, and learn why he feels superhuman registration is necessary – and why he’s taken it upon himself to lead the charge for its implementation. Big changes are in store for Iron Man in the post-Civil War landscape, and the build-up begins here.Collecting: Iron Man 13-14, Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War, Civil War: The Confession

Star Wars: Crimson Empire

Star Wars: Crimson Empire

Mike Richardson

Published: 1998 | Pages:160

Description:

Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More

Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More

Kelly Sue DeConnick

Published: 2014 | Pages:136

My Rating: 4/5

Description: COLLECTING: CAPTAIN MARVEL 1-6

Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event

Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event

Mark Millar

Published: 2006 | Pages:208

Description: Whose side… are you on?The Marvel Universe is changing.In the wake of a tragedy, Capitol Hill proposes the Super Hero Registration Act, requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government. Divided, the nation’s greatest champions must each decide how to react—A decision that will alter the course of their lives forever.It’s time to choose and take a side. This conflict has been brewing from more than a year, threatening to pit friend against friend, brother against brother… and all it will take is a single misstep to cost thousands their lives and ignite the fuse.Collecting: Civil War -7, written by
Mark Millar
(‘The Ultimates’ (2006)) and illustrated by
Steve McNiven
(‘New Avengers’ (2006)).Age Rating: 13–18+ Years Old / Eighth Grade+Edition MSRP: $24⁹⁹ US / $27⁹⁹ CAN (ISBN 978-0-7851-2179-4)Printed in the USA

Troublemaker (Barnaby and Hooker Graphic Novels #1)

Troublemaker (Barnaby and Hooker Graphic Novels )

Janet Evanovich

Published: 2007 | Pages:106

Description:

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, )

George R.R. Martin

Published: 1996 | Pages:835

Description: alternate cover editions can be found here, here and hereLong ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, Volume 1

The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, Volume 1

James Roberts

Published: 2012 | Pages:128

Description: Last Stand of the Wreckers and sends the Transformers on an epic quest to the farthest reaches of the Transformers Universe — and beyond in the three-part story “Lirars, A to D!”Collects issues -3 of The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye and the one-shot Death of Optimus Prime.

Reamde (Crypto, #2)

Reamde (Crypto, )

Neal Stephenson

Published: 2011 | Pages:1044

My Rating: 4/5
A generally good read with a nice twist early on. Its main issue is that it has so many layered plot elements, many which seem to go nowhere that it ends up feeling a little too long for its own good.

Description: For Richard, the game was the perfect opportunity to launder his aging hundred dollar bills and begin his own high-tech start up—a venture that has morphed into a Fortune 500 computer gaming group, Corporation 9592, with its own super successful online role-playing game, T’Rain. But the line between fantasy and reality becomes dangerously blurred when a young gold farmer accidently triggers a virtual war for dominance—and Richard is caught at the center.In this edgy, 21st century tale, Neal Stephenson, one of the most ambitious and prophetic writers of our time, returns to the terrain of his cyberpunk masterpieces Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon, leading readers through the looking glass and into the dark heart of imagination.

2015 Reading List

Rocket Raccoon, Vol. 1: A Chasing Tale

Rocket Raccoon, Vol. 1: A Chasing Tale

Skottie Young

Published: 2015 | Pages:136

Description: Collecting: Rocket Raccoon 1-6

The Li'l Depressed Boy, Volume 0: Lonely Heart Blues

The Li’l Depressed Boy, Volume 0: Lonely Heart Blues

S. Steven Struble

Published: 2011 | Pages:96

Description:

The Martian

The Martian

Andy Weir

Published: 2011 | Pages:384

My Rating: 5/5

Description: Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?