ANIMAL FARM is known world wide as a simple story about animals that somehow made an impact far greater than it probably should have.  It's much more than a book about animals, it's a wonderful story about revolution, ignorance, greed, and indifference, and how such behavior prevents any progress towards an even mildly perfect world, as seen through the eyes and ears of animals.

 

Reflecting Orwell's intense distrust and dislike of the Russian Dictator Joseph Stalin, 'Animal Farm' is a stunningly clever fairy tale depicting his frustration with what he believed the British Labor Party, as a reflection of the Russian leadership, should achieve.  He was obviously very disillusioned.

 

The animals, Old Major, the prize white boar, Napoleon, the fierce Berkshire Boar, Snowball, Squealer, and Minimus, all pigs, (is there a message there?) collectively reflect Orwell's socialist beliefs.

 

Its not all about pigs, there are goats, puppies, horses, sheep, even donkeys, all of which/whom, have human equivalents depending on your point of view.

 

'Animal Farm' is an expose on propaganda, corruption, socialism, oppression, and the use of violence to rule, all offensive to Orwell, and in the words of one publisher who refused to publish the story, 'it would be less offensive to the targeted caste if the characters were not pigs!' Enough said.

 

This is a short book, less than 80 traditional pages, that is guaranteed to start you thinking.

 

 

If you enjoyed the movies Avatar and 2012, you will absolutely love this story.

 

SAVING MANKIND was written in 2006, totally independent of the movies, but the eerie similarities make for compelling reading, and like the movies, as the story unfolds, your trust in how our Governments keep us informed will be seriously challenged. Dont expect a conspiracy theory, this is a thoroughly entertaining story of a young man whose bravery and creativity in times of supreme danger not only save the band of fleeing survivors from certain death, but propels them to new and unexpected heights.

 

SAVING MANKIND is the first book in the Iqbal Smith trilogy, an epic adventure enjoyed by readers of all ages. Its the story of a quiet young boy from the suburbs of Sydney Australia whos Einstein like father makes a chance discovery that takes a band of survivors on an action packed journey in search of a new land. Maybe its not quite a chance discovery, he did have the advantage of some Prophesies given to him years before by a mysterious but supremely knowledgeable friend at University which came true one by one, leading to an unimaginable climax.

 

Some of the worlds most powerful people are also involved, but it is the young, reluctant, unlikely, and oddly named hero Iqbal Smith, who is thrust into perilous potentially deadly situations. How he handles these situations, and whether or not he survives, well, we cant tell you too much, grab this book now and sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

Watch for Book 2 written under the working title, SURVIVING STRATOS coming soon.

 

When Arthur Conan Doyle (later Sir) released THE LOST WORLD in 1912, he probably had no idea that he had created a new literary genre that would become known as Science Fiction.  The story of a journey by four Englishmen to a remote plateau in South America where prehistoric creatures roamed is still as fascinating and relevant in today's almost fully discovered world as it must have been unbelievably exotic to readers back then.

 

Not only is the story line fascinating, with pterodactyls, dinosaurs, reptiles, mammals, birds, even cannibals and a race of ape men, but the characters are beautifully drawn and interesting, creating a story with characters that both leap off the page.

 

There's Malone, the journalist, and narrator, who embarks on the journey to impress his uninterested lady love Gladys, Professor Challenger, the bully intent on proving his many critics wrong, Professor Summerlee, the scientist, and Lord Roxton, the imperial adventurer who knew the Amazon and would be their guide.  Unknown to the other three, Roxton had 'left some dogs tied up,' on his last trip, which creates unimaginable dangers for the group.

 

The detail and imagination Doyle has woven into this incredible book is hard to believe.  Today, writers have unlimited access to information courtesy of the net, but back in the early 1900's it is hard to imagine that he could concoct such a wonderfully inventive story that still commands attention from sci fi devotees, in fact, any reader just seeking a fascinating story of exotic adventure.  The ingenious ways the explorers escape from their many predicaments is pure genius.

 

If you haven't read 'The Lost World,' I urge you to download it now.  Let us know how you rate it by lodging your review.

 

Highly recommended

THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO, written in 1844, ranks amongst the highest selling books in history.  A vast story of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, forgiveness, death, and joy, the central elements of many best sellers of every generation, the 'Count' is a masterpiece.

 

Another reason for its immense timeless popularity is the magnificence of the setting, France, Italy, and the islands of the Mediterranean during the historically dramatic events between 1815 and 1838.

 

The entire book spans over 1000 pages in print, the plot far too involved to even begin to outline in any detail, but broadly speaking, Edmond Dantes a sailor, returns to Marseille to marry his fiance, but before he does so, he must deliver a package of the highest order, even the great Napoleon is involved.

 

In time, Dantes enjoys great fortune, so much so that it inspires intense jealousy in some of his friends, and they conspire to have him branded a traitor to France. A series of unfortunate events ends with the unlucky Dantes thrown into prison.

 

During his darkest days, Dantes meets an Italian Priest in the strangest circumstances, a chance meeting that is extremely fortuitous for Dantes. The story follows his life as he bears the suffering and loneliness of imprisonment, the relief of a brilliantly conceived escape, and the dubious joy of wealth and vengeance.

 

This is a story to savour slowly, to ensure you share the roller coaster emotional ride that Dumas takes us on so expertly.

 

This is another book everyone should read.

 

 

RUDYARD KIPLING wrote a wide variety of works, from poetry, to ballads, short stories and epic novels.  This is a collection of some of those. Everyone will find something of interest, in fact any reader seeking time tested entertainment will enjoy this collection immensely.

 

Happy reading.

 

VOLUME I

DEPARTMENTAL DITTIES

 

Prelude

General Summary

Army Headquarters

Study of an Elevation, in Indian Ink

A Legend of the Foreign Office

The Story of Uriah

The Post that Fitted

Public Waste

Delilah

What Happened

Pink Dominoes

The Man Who Could Write

Municipal

A Code of Morals

The Last Department

 

OTHER VERSES

Recessional

The Vampire

To the Unknown Goddess

The Rubaiyat of Omar Kal'vin

La Nuit Blanche

My Rival

The Lovers' Litany

A Ballad of Burial

Divided Destinies

The Masque of Plenty

The Mare's Nest

Possibilities

Christmas in India

Pagett, M. P.

The Song of the Women

A Ballad of Jakko Hill

The Plea of the Simla Dancers

Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House

"As the Bell Clinks"

An Old Song

Certain Maxims of Hafiz

The Grave of the Hundred Head

The Moon of Other Days

The Overland Mail

What the People Said

The Undertaker's Horse

The Fall of Jock Gillespie

Arithmetic on the Frontier

One Viceroy Resigns

The Betrothed

A Tale of Two Cities

 

 

 

VOLUME II

BALLADS

 

The Ballad of East and West

The Last Suttee

The Ballad of the King's Mercy

The Ballad of the King's Jest

The Ballad of Boh Da Thone

The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief

The Rhyme of the Three Captains

The Ballad of the "Clampherdown"

The Ballad of the "Bolivar"

The English Flag

Cleared

An Imperial Rescript

Tomlinson

Danny Deever

Tommy

Fuzzy-Wuzzv

Soldier, Soldier

Screw-Guns

Gunga Din

Oonts

Loot

"Snarleyow"

The Widow at Windsor

Belts

The Young British Soldier

Mandalay

Troopin'

Ford O' Kabul River

Route-Marchin'

 

 

VOLUME III'

THE PHANTOM 'RICKSHAW AND OTHER

 

GHOST STORIES

The Phantom 'Rickshaw

My Own True Ghost Story

The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes

The Man Who Would Be King

"The Finest Story in The World"

 

VOLUME IV

UNDER THE DEODARS

 

The Education of Otis Yeere

At the Pit's Mouth

A Wayside Comedy

The Hill of Illusion

A Second-rate Woman

Only a Subaltern

In the Matter of a Private

The Enlightenments of Pagett. M. P.

 

VOLUME V

PLAIN TALES FROM THE HILLS

 

Lispeth

Three And an Extra

Thrown Away

Miss Youghal's Sais

"Yoked With an Unbeliever"

False Dawn

The Rescue of Pluffles

Cupid's Arrows

His Chance in Life

Watches of The Night

The Other Man

Consequences

The Conversion of Aurellan McGoggin

A Germ-destroyer

Kidnapped

The Arrest of Lieutenant Golightly

In The House of Suddhoo

His Wedded Wife

The Broken-link Handicap

Beyond The Pale

In Error

A Bank Fraud

Tods' Amendment

In The Pride of His Youth

Pig

The Rout of The White Hussars

The Bronckhorst Divorce-case

Venus Annodomini

The Bisara of Pooree

A Friend's Friend

The Gate of The Hundred Sorrows

The Story of Muhammad Din

On The Strength of a Likeness

Wressley of The Foreign Office

By Word of Mouth

To Be Filed For Reference

The Last Relief

Bitters Neat

Haunted Subalterns

 

VOLUME VI'

THE LIGHT THAT FAILED

 

VOLUME VII'

THE STORY OF THE GADSBYS

 

Preface

Poor Dear Mamma

The World Without

The Tents of Kedar

With Any Amazement

The Garden of Eden

Fatima

The Valley of the Shadow

The Swelling of Jordan

 

VOLUME VIII

FROM MINE OWN PEOPLE

 

Bimi

Namgay Doola

The Recrudescence Of Imray

Moti Guj, Mutineer

 

DRACULA is by far the most famous vampire novel of all time.  The mere mention of the name conjures up frightening images of blood, neck bites and evil bloodthirsty creatures of darkness, testament to the raw power of the novel written way back in 1897!

 

The story begins when one of the narrators, English Solicitor Jonathon Harker, travels by train to Transylvania to advise Count Dracula on a real estate deal.  Harker stays in the run down castle, forbidden to venture outside his room at night.  Eventually he realizes he is a prisoner, and in an effort to escape, disobeys the Counts strict instructions, only to fall under the spell of female vampires.  

 

Meanwhile, a Russian ship runs aground at Whitby, England, during a savage storm.  Only one body is found, lashed to the wheel, along with the ships log.  It is discovered that the ship was carrying silver sand and mould, (yes mould,) - from Transylvania!

 

The plot thickens by way of revelations from various diaries, letters and journal entries, suspicious illnesses, deaths, attacks by wild animals, blood transfusions, telepathy, and outright vampire attacks.  Eventually, all roads lead to Count Dracula.

 

It takes drastic and precise action to counter the power of the Count.  Are they up for it?

 

You'll have to read this fantastic horror story written over a hundred and ten years ago to find out.

 

Highly recommended for those brave readers who love being frightened.

 

 

 

 

AN ANTARCTIC MYSTERY, yet another of Jules Verne's 'extraordinary voyages' is the story of an expedition to the Antarctic in search of a vessel that disappeared in mysterious circumstances.  Aboard the vessel 'Halbrane,' a wealthy American, Mr Joerling, narrates the tale as Captain Guy pilots his ship through the dangerous waters in search of his lost brother.

 

They discover an iceberg with an entombed body that provides clues as to the fate of the missing ship and her crew, which leads them on an intriguing and fascinating adventure in the freezing waters of the wilds of the worlds most unexplored place.

 

Another example of Verne's incredible imagination.