Showing results by narrator "Ryan Burke" in All Categories

An Ordinary Youth is a novel drawn directly from the author's boyhood in Nazi Germany. Nine-year-old Walter's family is moving house when the novel opens, but Walter's main concerns are his tin soldiers and his older brother's jazz records, his father's fluctuating moods, and his mother's ministrations and anxieties. While Walter is absorbed by his private life, the extraordinary accumulation of contemporary idioms that accompany his point of view—dialogue, song, literary quotations, commercials, and political slogans—tell a different story.

When Pete Etchells was 13, his father died from motor neurone disease. In order to cope, he immersed himself in a virtual world - first as an escape, but later to try to understand what had happened. Etchells is now a researcher into the psychological effects of video games, and was co-author on a recent paper explaining why WHO plans to classify "game addiction" as a danger to public health are based on bad science and (he thinks) are a bad idea. In this, his first book, he journeys through the history and development of video games via scientific study....

An alien pyramid has appeared on Earth, squatting in the middle of Chicago. It is growing, destroying the city as it does, and nothing seems able to stop it, not even the might of the US military. Somehow, the alien device is snatching people and for unknown reasons transporting them into worlds of mythology. Dr. Lukacs is one of the victims. Granted, he's an expert on mythology. But myths are not something he'd thought to encounter personally. Or wanted to!

As Jack’s reputation increases, so does the size of the bounty on his own head, but that’s not the worst of it.... The conspiracy he’s uncovered points to a doomsday scenario, an impending act of depraved violence with steep collateral damage—and it’s set to happen right on his home planet.

Sleep-deprived Faith Daniels is desperate for help to plan the charity bachelor auction for the fall festival. Surprisingly, her best friend agrees to chip in, but the offer comes with strings attached. Faith must toss a coin into the infamous "Fountain of Love" and then undergo a complete makeover. She knows it's all just a ridiculous ploy to get her back into the dating pool, but she would be crazy to say no. Besides, it's not like wishes in that fountain come true.

A portal back to Earth. Disappearing AI. The final battle has begun. After living inside a video game for months, Clay now has the rare chance to log out. The only problem is: the game's AI guardians have run off to Earth themselves. The fate of all reality now hangs in the balance. With new powers and a new mission, Clay and his pals have three days to trek across post-apocalyptic Earth and recapture the runaway AI guardians. If they fail, both worlds online and off will cease to exist.

Necrotis has raised an armada to make our sector tremble. Hundreds of warships have begun to overwhelm the Confederacy, and we don't have nearly enough magic or ships to defend every world. Our only real hope is resurrecting the Vagrant Fleet. We have the Spellship, and our demon allies control the Earthmother's Bulwark. I'm the captain of the Word of Xal, our most powerful offensive ship in the fleet. We're strong, but Necrotis is stronger, and the gap is growing.

Before he became an archmage to topple an empire, before he met the legendary Eradicator Xal, Saghir was born a free ratkin, living on the streets of Gateway, a perilous desert city at the edge of the Blasted Lands. Each month, the free laborers must pay their tithe in coin, or blood. Every ratkin in Saghir's tribe searches for something of value, lest their whole people be enslaved. Ruthless Corax, carnivorous scarabs, and worse infest the city. There are countless ways for a rat to die, and all it takes is one mistake. There are no second chances.

I write software at a San Francisco startup. I have my dream job, but I also have a secret. We are not alone. The last time I was taken I was 14. Three weeks ago I celebrated my 21st birthday, and I know that the grey men will soon come again. I devoted my life to technology so I'd be ready when they returned. Others have prepared too, and I will find them. Together we will harness the abilities they have given us. We are Project Solaris. It's time to fight back.

Technical Chief "Pappy" Gunther is a grizzled, burning out commando in the United Earth Armed Forces. He ponders a return to civilian life, yet feels a strong sense of belonging to his elite team. When colonists on a far-flung world request aid, a task force from several allied systems is assembled. Pappy and his crack unit are sent to investigate and to engage a mysterious alien force from beyond.

Only the trio of returning Ark Lords has a prayer of stopping Nox, but they face problems of their own. Blair and Liz arrive in Northern California to find Angel Island deserted, and San Francisco controlled by a kingdom of deathless. Jordan and Trevor return to Peru where werewolves have founded a new religion worshiping the Mother. A religion that preaches that Trevor is the ancient enemy and must be destroyed. Only Jordan can save him, if he can finally learn to trust an old enemy.

World War III is three months old. After attacking and sinking the Destroyer USS Stacy Heath, the Chinese took possession of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The US sends 20,000 soldiers and Marines in to support India. The Russians use the opportunity to invade Ukraine, which leaves NATO with no choice but to counterattack. A full-fledged European ground war begins.

Hawke Moonsnow is a brilliant alchemist. He's a prodigy of his time. He knows it. Everyone else knows it. There's just one problem… He has the common sense of a golden retriever. After an accident leaves his old shop in smoking ruins, Hawke takes a loan from the Adventurers' Guild to open a new location in the town square. Now, he has to work to pay back that loan despite charging lower prices to guild members, inventing new cures, and trying to catch the attention of the fetching waitress at the tavern—all while continuing forbidden research into a dangerous plague.

When an ancient evil threatens the galaxy, all that stands in the way is a bounty hunter with a plan… but no plan survives contact with the enemy. Jack walks right into a trap, inadvertently giving the Predecessor Cult exactly what they want; the means to unleash a devastating new weapon. Without immediate and decisive action, death and destruction will wash across the entire galaxy, wiping out human and Tahni alike. A threat of this magnitude cannot be thwarted by a lone bounty hunter.

Flint, Wren, and Ace, along with Charles, are now members of the Eureka, a state-of-the-art vessel heading for a world in the far reaches of a new galaxy. Sixty years ago a colony ship was sent there, along with someone close to their benefactor. But when they arrive, they find getting to the surface isn’t as easy as they thought. With a crash-landing, and news that shocks the entire crew, they must collectively find a way to get the Pilgrim off-planet and into the fight against the Watchers.

Clay has arrived on the evil continent of Arethkar with one simple goal: to free the brutally enslaved players. With the help of a long-lost acquaintance, Clay sets his eyes on conquering the powerful fortress of Iron Citadel. He has seven days to complete the task. If he succeeds, he will bring a new era of peace and prosperity to Arcane Kingdom Online. If he fails, the world will plunge into greater darkness.

Some enemies just won’t die.... Return to the star-spanning human Republic of Duty, Honor, Planet as Chief of Fleet Intelligence Jason McKay and his deadly Executive Officer Shannon Stark take on another dire threat to humanity! General Antonov’s Protectorate returns to menace the Republic from without, while a possible military coup gestates within its borders. Are the two connected? Will McKay and Stark be able to put the pieces together before it’s too late?

Four centuries ago, the Stewards rained ash on the heartland of an empire for a year and a day, murdering the Elentian Empire and orphaning the Hasran Imperium where I was born. The stories say the ash drains magic and that any who venture into the Ashlands will need to contend with the armies of unliving swimming beneath the ash—unliving as old as the Mad Imperator Jhordil himself.

Kril Granger has gathered a good crew and managed to finish a profitable job. But things are a little too hot in their usual regions, so it's time to pick up stakes and head coreward. Along the way, they'll be passing through the dark spaces of the galaxy and turning up threats ranging from overprotective AIs to invasive nano-using overlords. All this while dealing with a mixed, quarrelsome crew that would rather die than give up their secrets. It's a hard life being a scrapper. It's a harder death if they get it wrong...

Surrounded by enemies and suffering from heavy casualties, Clay and his motley crew are in their toughest spot yet. Making things worse, their greatest enemy is about to be crowned emperor of Arethkar, granting him unbridled power and abilities. With a new quest and class unlocked, Clay and his pals have 10 days to sneak into the foreign capital, establish disguises, and assassinate the emperor-to-be. Sounds easy, except for the extra tight security, corrupt nobles, and monsters roaming the sewers beneath.