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Author: Karl Shaw
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1780338317
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 356
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Book Description
This compendious celebration of ineptitude includes some of history’s most spectacularly ill-conceived expeditions and entirely useless pursuits, and features tales of black comedy, insane foolhardiness, breathtaking stupidity and relentless perseverance in the face of inevitable defeat. It rejoices in men and women made of the Wrong Stuff: writers who believed in the power of words, but could never quite find the rights ones; artists and performers who indulged their creative impulse with a passion, if not a sense of the ridiculous, an eye for perspective or the ability to hold down a tune; scientists and businessmen who never quite managed to quit while they were ahead; and sportsmen who seemed to manage always to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Like Walter Oudney, one of three men chosen to find the source of the River Niger in Africa, who could not ride a horse, nor speak any foreign languages and who had never travelled more than 30 miles beyond his native Edinburgh; or the explorer-priest Michel Alexandre de Baize, who set off to explore the African continent from east to west equipped with 24 umbrellas, some fireworks, two suits of armor, and a portable organ; or the Scottish army which decided to invade England in 1349 – during the Black Death. Entries include: briefest career in dentistry; least successful bonding exercise; most futile attempt to find a lost tribe; most pointless lines of research by someone who should have known better; least successful celebrity endorsement; least convincing excuse for a war; worst poetic tribute to a root vegetable; least successful display of impartiality by a juror; Devon Loch – sporting metaphor for blowing un unblowable lead; least dignified exit from office by a French president; and least successful expedition by camel.
Author: Karl Shaw
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1780338317
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 356
Get Book Here
Book Description
This compendious celebration of ineptitude includes some of history’s most spectacularly ill-conceived expeditions and entirely useless pursuits, and features tales of black comedy, insane foolhardiness, breathtaking stupidity and relentless perseverance in the face of inevitable defeat. It rejoices in men and women made of the Wrong Stuff: writers who believed in the power of words, but could never quite find the rights ones; artists and performers who indulged their creative impulse with a passion, if not a sense of the ridiculous, an eye for perspective or the ability to hold down a tune; scientists and businessmen who never quite managed to quit while they were ahead; and sportsmen who seemed to manage always to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Like Walter Oudney, one of three men chosen to find the source of the River Niger in Africa, who could not ride a horse, nor speak any foreign languages and who had never travelled more than 30 miles beyond his native Edinburgh; or the explorer-priest Michel Alexandre de Baize, who set off to explore the African continent from east to west equipped with 24 umbrellas, some fireworks, two suits of armor, and a portable organ; or the Scottish army which decided to invade England in 1349 – during the Black Death. Entries include: briefest career in dentistry; least successful bonding exercise; most futile attempt to find a lost tribe; most pointless lines of research by someone who should have known better; least successful celebrity endorsement; least convincing excuse for a war; worst poetic tribute to a root vegetable; least successful display of impartiality by a juror; Devon Loch – sporting metaphor for blowing un unblowable lead; least dignified exit from office by a French president; and least successful expedition by camel.
Author: Karl Shaw
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 147211745X
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 452
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Book Description
Prepare to be even more revolted, flabbergasted, appalled and entertained by this incredible follow-up collection of bizarre but absolutely true trivia. Nothing is too distasteful for this astonishing compendium, including scores of eclectic lists to amuse, astonish and appal your friends. Entries include: 10 Road-kill Recipes History’s 10 Most Murderous Regimes 10 Historic Sex Toys 10 People who Married Their Nieces 10 Deaths by Sex 10 People Killed by Falling Animals 10 Ancient Remedies Containing Body Parts 10 Flatalogical Facts 8 Most Violent National Anthems 15 Premature Obituaries 10 Unusual Royal Deaths 10 Cruel and Unusual Punishments 10 Notable Executions 12 Elizabethan Insults
Author: Trisha Telep
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1472105079
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 892
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Book Description
Paranormal romance was never going to be content with just vampires and werewolves - and the fantastic stories within this collection lay claim to much, much more. Here you will find well-loved, bestselling authors writing under pseudonyms, fresh stars, and steadfast favourites, together offering an assorted feast of mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels and mortals with extra-sensitive sensory perception play out the themes of extraordinary desires. If love transcends all boundaries, then paranormal romance is its logical conclusion. From the biggest names around, here are 41 tales to take you to another time and place.
Author: Trisha Telep
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1780330421
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 417
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Book Description
Thrilling tales of romantic suspense set in the emergency room and the hospital as a whole. These are romances which go beyond the classic doctor-nurse romances of yesteryear, having more in common with popular contemporary TV dramas such as House, ER, and Scrubs. This is 'medical romance', reinvented for today with an invigorating injection of edgy modern romantic suspense by Janice Lynn, Dianne Drake, Wendy S. Marcus, Fiona Lowe, Jacqueline Diamond and many more.
Author: Arthur Veno
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1780334044
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 648
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Book Description
The definitive collection of first-hand accounts of the world's outlaw motorcycle gangs, with contributions by Sonny Barger, Hunter S. Thompson, Ed Winterhalder, William Queen and many more Outlaw bikers consider themselves 'the last free people in society', unconstrained by the regulations that hem in ordinary citizens. And they guard their privacy jealously. Drawing on seventeen years of studying and participating in biker culture, the author has compiled this one-of-a-kind collection of original biker writing. Here are insider accounts of landmark incidents in biker folklore, including reprints of classic writing from biker-originated magazines, handouts, websites and books. Gangs featured include the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, Henchmen MC, the Outlaws, the Mongols, the Annihilators, the Diablos, the Gypsy Jokers, the Rebels, the Straight Satans and the Vagos. And with contributors such as Freewheelin' Frank (one-time secretary of the Hells Angels), Edward Winterhalder (among the most powerful members of the Bandidos) and Sonny Barger (founder of the Hells Angels). Also included are those rare accounts by outsiders who have succeeded in 'looking in' on the gangs: Hunter S. Thompson's Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Modern Saga; writing by William Queen, the undercover agent who infiltrated America's violent outlaw motorcycle gang the Mongols; and Daniel R. Wolf's account of riding with the Rebels.
Author: Alex Dally MacFarlane
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1472111710
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 619
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Book Description
Women have always written powerful, important science fiction stories. This anthology showcases the most exceptional stories written by women in recent decades, from classic stars Ursula K. Le Guin and James Tiptree Jr, science fiction greats Nancy Kress, Lois McMaster Bujold and Karen Joy Fowler, new award-winning talents Elizabeth Bear and Aliette de Bodard and many more! Whether crossing the stars or constructing the future of our planet, women’s contributions to science fiction are unforgettable.
Author: Sean Wallace
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1472110765
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 403
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Book Description
A stellar collection of short fantasy fiction from authors who have made an impact over the last decade, along with some bestselling favourites. These stories of life-and-death struggles and magical force, used for good and evil, by Elizabeth Bear, Jay Lake, Tanith Lee, K. J. Parker, Carrie Vaughn and many others provide thrills and entertainment aplenty.
Author: Maxim Jakubowski
Publisher: C & R Crime
ISBN: 1849012490
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 819
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Book Description
Leading anthologist Maxim Jakubowski presents the very best in crime writing from around the world - 40 short stories from an all-star line-up of international writers. They cover the full spectrum of crime fiction, from noir and thrillers, to whodunnits and procedurals, with settings that include Italy, Cuba, Scandinavia, Russia, USA, Japan, Germany, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Among the writers presented are: Ian Rankin, bestselling author of compelling, cerebral crime fiction set in Edinburgh, featuring the much-loved Inspector Rebus. John Mortimer, the English barrister and writer, famous for his much-loved fictional character Horace Rumpole of the Bailey. Boris Akunin, whose eccentric characters and surprising, inventive plots have earned him a reputation as one of the finest contemporary writers of classic crime fiction. Mark Billingham, whose series of taut procedural thrillers featuring London policeman Tom Thorne have won him numerous fans. Giorgio Faletti, author of the 5 million copy seller I Kill. Jo Nesbo, a hugely succesful Norwegian writer with a series featuring Detective Harry Hole, set in Oslo. Jeffrey Deaver, one of the very best US crime writers. His psychological thrillers feautring Lincoln Rhyme have been bestsellers around the world. Ruth Rendell, one of the UK's most respected crime writers.
Author: Stephen Jones
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1780332807
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 870
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Book Description
Modern masters of the macabre bring the dead to life in this specially re-vamped edition of the classic compilation every horror fan will want to sink their teeth into. From an award-winning editor who knows the genre backwards, here is the very best in vampire fiction: from tales of tempting sirens to contemporary serial killers; from the dark origins of fairy tales to a modern reinterpretation of the King of the Undead himself, Count Dracula. This revised edition features over a dozen new stories, including Tina Rath's A Trick of the Dark and Kim Newman's Andy Warhol's Dracula, as well as classic novellas such as Hugh B. Cave's Stragella and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Investigating Jericho. There are contributions by Nancy Kilpatrick, Christopher Fowler, Paul Mcauley, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Tina Rath, Neil Gaiman, Harlan Ellison and Kim Newman.
Author: Tom Friedman
Publisher: Workman Publishing
ISBN: 0761193677
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 195
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Book Description
The president who left the nuclear launch codes in a suit at the dry cleaners. The novelist who put the orange juice outside and the kitten in the refrigerator. The Russian general who left home in full military dress . . . minus his pants. The famous sex goddess who blew the same line through 52 takes. And the rock star who no longer remembers 1975. Filled with classic lapses, gaffes, and mental bloopers, 1,000 Unforgettable Senior Moments is a fabulous and witty gift for anyone of a certain age. And now it is updated, revised with more than 20 percent new stories, and repackaged in two color, making it an even more vibrant, visually appealing, fresh, and compellingly readable book. Anyone who’s ever had a mental lapse will empathize with relative spring chicken Nicki Minaj, who, while accepting a BET Viewers’ Choice Award, forgot why she was receiving the statuette (on live national television, no less). Or the team of astrophysicists who believed they had discovered proof of alien life—only to discover the signals were coming from the lunchroom microwave. Here’s a best man forgetting to show up at the wedding, a musician leaving his priceless cello in a cab, the bank robber who wrote a holdup note on a paycheck stub that had his name and address printed on it, and the Fox studio chief who, when pressed by his leading lady to remember her name, offered “. . . Cleopatra?”
