The Petrovitch Trilogy

Samuil Petrovitch is a survivor. He survived the nuclear fallout in St. Petersburg and hid in the London Metrozone - the last city in England. He's lived this long because he's a man of rules and logic. For example: GETTING INVOLVED = A BAD IDEA.But when he stumbles into a kidnapping in progress, he acts without even thinking. Before he can stop himself, he's saved the daughter of the most dangerous man in London. And clearly: SAVING THE GIRL = GETTING INVOLVED.Now, the equation of Petrovitch's life is looking increasingly complex: RUSSIAN MOBSTERS + YAKUZA + SOMETHING CALLED THE NEW MACHINE JIHAD = ONE DEAD PETROVITCH.But Petrovitch has a plan - he always has a plan - he's just not sure it's a good one.

The Six Degrees of Samuel Petrovitch: * Michael is an AI of incalculable complexity trapped under the remains of Oshicora Tower. Petrovitch will free him one day; he just has to trust Michael will still be sane by the time he does.* Maddy and Petrovitch have trust issues. But Petrovitch is pretty sure she loves him.* Sonja Oshicora loves Petrovitch too. But she's playing a complicated game and it's not clear that she means to save him from what's coming.* The CIA wants to save the world. Well, just America, but they'll call it what they like.* The New Machine Jihad is calling. But Petrovitch killed it. Didn't he?* And the Armageddonists tried to kill pretty much everyone by blowing the world up. Now, they want to do it again.Once again, all roads lead back to Petrovitch. Everyone wants something from him, but all he wants is to be free . . .

THEOREM: Petrovitch has a lot of secrets.PROOF: Secrets like how to make anti-gravity for one. For another, he's keeping a sentient computer program on a secret server farm - the same program that nearly destroyed the Metrozone a few months back.THEOREM: The city is broken.PROOF: The people of the OutZone want what the citizens of the Metrozone have. And then to burn it to the ground. Now, with the heart of the city destroyed by the New Machine Jihad, the Outies finally see their chance.THEOREM: These events are not unconnected.PROOF: Someone is trying to kill Petrovitch and they're willing to sink the whole city to do it.

Black holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science?You do? Well fear not, for help is at hand.Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff that you really need to know, not only because it matters, but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.'Let me show you another, perhaps less familiar side of Science; her beauty, her seductiveness and her passion. And let's do it quickly, while Maths isn't looking' Ben Miller

Clarise Robinson has never walked on the wild side, much less ran naked through it. But when she hits 30, she decides it's time to loose some inhibitions. And of course, a weekend getaway with the girls at work is the perfect occasion to let down hair-literally. The best place to do it? Tampa during the Gasparilla Festival. And when the one person she's always had a crush on shows up, she knows that things are really going to get interesting. Ethan Eubanks was never on the same level as the others at work. He's the boss. And he's never seen shy Clarise let go of the passions she's hidden down deep. What he finds shocks him completely. He never knew that the wallflower camouflage was hiding a bona fide siren. And he sure never suspected that by being with Clarise, he could fulfill his own wild, frenzied fantasies.Clarise knows that Ethan is out of her league, plain and simple. But during festival season, who knows what can happen?

Willie Nelson has spent the last 30 years on that higher plane of celebrity where he signifies many things to many people--American folk hero, national treasure, Outlaw, tax dodger, country traditionalist, actor and friend of the farmer amongst many others. Acclaimed biographer and journalist Joe Nick Patoski offers a frank and thorough portrait, adding some surprising insight on this beloved performer. From his humble beginnings in Waco, TX, cared for by his grandparents, to learning to play guitar at 6 and wrote his first song at 7 to his remarkable rise to legendary status as a genre-bending music maker and a bona fide Hollywood darling, Patoski draws from his own association with Nelson, a relationship that began in the 1970s when Patoski began writing about the man and his music. Why does Nelson keep going down the road, steady as a mountain stream, creating an illusion for the millions that sit in awe of him as he sings the same repertoire night after night? With relish, Willie delves into these questions and more as Patoski reveals the true motivations for the Texanmost Texan.

In the year of our Lord 1141, August comes in golden as a lion, and two monks ride into the Benedictine abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul bringing with them disturbing news of war- and a mystery. The strangers tell how the strife between the Empress Maud and King Stephen has destroyed the town of Winchester and their priory. Now Brother Humilis, who is handsome, gaunt and very ill, and Brother Fidelis, youthful, comely- and mute- must seek refuge at Shrewsbury.From the moment he meets them, Brother Cadfael senses that they are bound by something deeper than their common vows. What the link is he can only guess; what it will lead to is beyond imagining. But as Brother Humilis's health fails, Brother Cadfael faces a poignant test of his discretion and his beliefs as he unravels a secret so great it can destroy a life, a future, and a holy order.