The Afghan-Pakistan Borderlands are pivotal to international security. They are often dangerous strategically crucial & little explored by outsiders. Robin Brooke-Smith provides a new perspective on Northwest Pakistan in this first-hand account of his years in this troubled region. Tracing the build-up to 9/11 & the upheaval that has followed this is a captivating behind-the-scenes look into the regional fulcrum of global jihad. Recounting his experiences as Principal of the prestigious Edwardes College in Peshawar the author explores the creation & growing influence of the Taliban & provides a unique & close-up view into this fascinating area. This book is illuminating reading for all those interested in Pakistan Afghanistan & the turbulent recent history of the borderlands of the Af Pak region. ...

Still recovering from the harrowing case that ended his police career Doug Michie returns to his boyhood home of Ayr on Scotland's wind-scarred west coast. He hopes to rebuild his shattered life get over the recent failure of his marriage & shed his demons but the years have changed the birthplace of the poet Robert Burns. When Doug meets his old school-day flame Lyn however he feels his past may offer the salvation of a future. But Lyn's son has been accused of murder & she begs Doug to find the truth. Soon Doug is tangled in a complicated web of corrupt politicians frightened journalists & a police force in cahoots with criminals. Only Burns' philosophical musings offer Doug some shelter as he wanders the streets of Auld Ayr battling The Storm Without. ...

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle Thistle Tricks Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty & sparkling personality won the hearts of the public but after her uncles death there are those who dont want to see her ascend to the throne. Able to wield thunder & lightning wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build & thunderous power make him one of the wyrs best weapons. & hes sent to protect Tricks when shes almost assassinated in Chicago. Soon both Tiago & Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them
- a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds.
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When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6 Alex has to take part in gruelling SAS training exercises. Then armed with his own special set of secret gadgets he's off on his first mission to Cornwall where Middle-Eastern multi-billionaire Herod Sayle is producing his state-of-the-art Stormbreaker computers. Sayle has offered to give one free to every school in the country
- but there's more to the gift than meets the eye.
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This is a bold & stylish reissue of the groundbreaking & hugely popular graphic adaptation of Alex Rider's very first mission. Forcibly recruited into MI6 after the mysterious death of his guardian fourteen-year-old Alex is sent to infiltrate the organization of a sinister billionaire. Within days he's gone from schoolboy to superspy
- & it looks like his first assignment may be his last... This is a slick clean stylishly crafted & coloured graphic adaptation bringing to life all the adventure thrills & spills of this bestselling story. Following the triumphant international publication of Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel" the whole graphic novel series has gained wide recognition among reviewers fans & literacy experts. Recent government initiatives encourage us to examine the reading habits of boys
- with literacy levels among children in the UK lower than ever. This is a series of books that may offer an accessible & compelling alternative for otherwise reluctant readers."

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Stormcloud has all the bad habits of an ex-rodeo pony rolled into one. He nips & bites bucks & rears kicks out & rides through the bit. Worse still he tunes in to a nervous riders worst fears. Keiras uncle Kevin has rescued Stormy from the sale barn paying rock bottom price for a worn out world weary horse that no one wants. He brings him to Black Pearl Ranch saying If you can make something of him & sell him on to a decent owner you can keep the profit." Keira jumps at the challenge
- taking Stormy back to basics re-schooling him & treating him right. Will Stormy respond? Or have years of mistreatment soured him for good?"
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Readers can discover all the foul facts about the STORMIN NORMANS including why Norman knights slept with a dolly which pirate hung up his eye-patch & became a saint & why Crusader ships were defended with barrels of pee. With a bold accessible new look & a heap of extra-horrible bits these bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Dear fans ...

Fascinating facts about big bad Bill the Conqueror & his bully-boys who battled at Hastings Terry Deary & Martin Brown s brilliant books about the nastiest periods in history have now with the help of some astounding actors been transformed into a series of audio extravaganzas. Featuring new extra material not found anywhere in the books these sound spectaculars are just as thrilling & spilling funny & fast as their printed counterparts. Horrible Histories are guaranteed to bring you history with the nasty bits left in! Everyone knows about 1066 & how William the Conqueror s men scored a bull s eye at the Battle of Hastings. Or rather a King s eye. But why did William like conquering so much? Were the Normans abnormal? Probably not King Harold & his men were just as fond of cutting off bits of people they didn t like. But that didn t help them when it came to the Battle of Hastings a fight that had more needle than the Bayeux Tapestry. You can also hear about William the Conqueror s disgusting death. But a word of warning: when you open up this audio hold your nose! History has never been so horrible! ...

A hit West End theatre production of a classic Hollywood movie transfers to Broadway in this humorous backstage novel. Judith Gold grande dame of the British theatre has brought her acclaimed stage production of All About Eve to Broadway. As ever Judith is at loggerhead with everything & everyone who doesnt live up to her exacting standards especially two of her co-stars method film actress Mindy Blue & arrogant has-been TV actor Digby Weston. Meanwhile Judiths possessions are being systematically sabotaged while her demand for theatrically ascending chandeliers is declined by producer Wesley Bartlett. At least Rupert Blake her favourite leading man is there to rely on
- & to attempt to keep the peace. Is Broadway ready for a loud-mouthed opinionated English actress with attitude & in the most American of plays?
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Reduner nomads have massacred the Quartern's Rainlords leaving its cities vulnerable to the relentless desert. Now Stormlord Shale must stretch his powers to bring rain or his people will die
- if they don't meet a Reduner knife first. However Shale can't hold out alone for much longer & those who seek to exploit him are closing in. Rainlord Kaneth has spurned these politics for war & plans to defeat the Reduner leader from his desert stronghold. But there are spies in Kaneth's camp. Terelle has been Shale's secret weapon until now covertly boosting his powers. But her Uncle's magic compels her to travel to distant Khromatis
- & if she disobeys him it will destroy her. Yet Khromatis gave the desert its first Stormlord so Terelle may find hope there as well as great danger.. .

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