Compelling insightful often sombrely beautiful Sunday Telegraph Moving beyond travelogue The Masque of Africa considers the effects of belief (in indigenous animisms the foreign religions of Christianity & Islam the cults of leaders & mythical history) upon the progress of African civilization. Beginning in Uganda at the centre of the continent Naipauls journey takes in Ghana & Nigeria the Ivory Coast & Gabon & ends as the country does in South Africa. Focusing upon the theme of belief -- though sometimes the political or economical realities are so overwhelming that they have to be taken into account -- Naipaul examines the fragile but enduring quality of the old world of magic. To witness the ubiquity of such ancient ritual to be given some idea of its power was to be taken far back to the beginning of things. To reach that beginning was the purpose of this book. Naipaul travels he asks he listens attentively & above all else he notices often seeing what others do not or cannot. That acute gift has never left him.. .he is sustained by the old ideal of unadorned truth-telling New Statesman The quality of Naipauls writing -- simple concise engaging -- rarely varies... Above all Naipauls latest African journey is eyewitness reporting at its best Time ...

But if modern manhood had let me down at least the past boasted brighter specimens. To wit the Scarlet Pimpernel the violet Gentian & the Pink Carnation that dashing trio of spies who kept Napoleon in a froth of rage & the feminine population of England in another sort of froth entirely. Modern-day student Eloise Kelly has achieved a great academic coup by unmasking the elusive spy the Pink Carnation who saved England from Napoleon. But now she has a million questions about the Carnations deadly nemesis the Black Tulip. & shes pretty sure that handsome Colin Selwick has the answers somewhere in his familys archives. While searching through Lady Henriettas old letters from 1803 Eloise stumbles across something more exciting than she ever imagined: Henrietta & her old friend Miles Dorrington were on the trail of the Black Tulip & had every intention of stopping him in his endeavour to kill the Pink Carnation. But what they didnt know was that while they were trying to find the Tulip
- & trying not to fall in love in the process
- the Black Tulip was watching them...

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Preparations are under way for the ball of the century. But as any true Blue Blood knows it's the after-party that counts. & the cunning Mimi Force is getting ready to make sure her masquerade ball is the place to be for the Young Fabulous & Fanged. But Schuyler Van Alen has more on her mind than fancy dresses even if her crush Jack Force is sure to make an appearance. She's getting closer to finding out what's been preying on the young vamps
- & discovering the deadly secrets hiding under the masks... Rich with glamour attitude & vampire lore this second instalment in the Blue Bloods saga will leave readers thirsting for more.
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Robin & Prudence Merriot have been dissemblers since they were children. & in this age of slippery politics they need to be. So it is nothing for them to rescue a rich heiress from her abductor. But once committed to their masquerade they must see it through. ...

Mass Effect 3" lead writer Mac Walters returns to comics for the most revealing journey to date into the Mass Effect universe! The Illusive Man sits at the center of many of the galaxys greatest mysteries & is a key figure of Mass Effect 2 & beyond. Now for the first time anywhere the origin of the Illusive Man is revealed in a story exclusive to this graphic novel! Created by the " Mass Effect: Redemption" team of Walters John Jackson Miller (" Star Wars: Knight Errant"; & " The Invincible Iron Man") & Omar Francia (" Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2") this is comics sci-fi story of the year." ...

Mass Effect 2" lead writer Mac Walters reveals an essential moment in the life of Commander Shepard the galaxy's greatest hero only in " Mass Effect: Redemption"! The eagerly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster science-fiction epic IGN.com named the number 1 Xbox 360 game of all time " Mass Effect 2" begins with the disappearance of Commander Shepard. The story of what happens next
- exclusive to this graphic novel
- will have the commander's companion Dr. Liara T' Soni undertake a deadly mission of extraordinary importance in the Milky Way's lawless Terminus Systems."

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Mass Effect 2 & 3 lead" writer Mac Walters returns with an essential story from Bio Wares massively anticipated video game " Mass Effect 3"! The Omega space station is the center of lawlessness in the galaxy a den of vice ruled by the deadly asari Aria. It is also a strategic foothold in a galaxy-wide power struggle & when the station comes under attack from a new threat unleashed by the humanity-first organization Cerberus Aria is forced to become more ruthless than ever to protect her home
- & her dominion."
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Mass Effect 3" lead writer Mac Walters masterminds this new collection of action-packed tales from different corners of the " Mass Effect" universe! These four essential stories from Walters & the writers of " Mass Effect 3" star characters central to Bio Wares latest epic including James Vega Tali Garrus & Liara in adventures that reveal their unbreakable connections to their homeworlds. With " Mass Effect 3" shattering records & blowing minds dont miss these canonical pieces of the " Mass Effect" saga!" ...

Location: Our galaxy at a time set far in our future.. . Every 50 000 years a race of machines returns to harvest the galaxys organic life forms. In the first MASS EFFECT game it is the year 2183 & the machines are about to return once again. This book will be a bridging novel set between the first & second MASS EFFECT games. ...

Humanity has reached the stars joining the vast galactic community of alien species. But beyond the fringes of explored space lurk the Reapers a race of sentient starships bent on 'harvesting' the galaxy's organic species for their own dark purpose. The Illusive Man leader of the pro-human black ops group Cerberus is one of the few who know the truth about the Reapers. To ensure humanity's survival he launches a desperate plan to uncover the enemy's strengths
- & weaknesses
- by studying someone implanted with modified Reaper technology. He knows the perfect subject for his horrific experiments: former Cerberus operative Paul Grayson who wrested his daughter from the cabal's control with the help of Ascension project director Kahlee Sanders. But when Kahlee learns that Grayson is missing she turns to the only person she can trust: Alliance war hero Captain David Anderson. Together they set out to find the secret Cerberus facility where Grayson is being held. But they aren't the only ones after him. & time is running out.

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