Search Results for: the true bastards

The Traitor concludes the ruthless and gripping epic fantasy series from New York Times bestseller Anthony Ryan, whose books have sold more than a million copies worldwide.

It’s been a long journey for Alwyn Scribe. Born a bastard and raised an outlaw, he’s now a knight and the most trusted advisor to Lady Evadine Courlain. Together they’ve won countless battles and helped to bring order to a fractured kingdom.

Yet Evadine is not the woman Alwyn once knew. As puritanical fury increasingly replaces her benevolent faith, Alwyn begins to question what her true motives really are.

As the kingdom braces itself for one final battle, Alwyn’s conscience fights its own war with his heart. Now, more than ever, he must decide whose side he’s really on.

Praise for the series

‘A gritty, heart-pounding tale of betrayal and bloody vengeance’ John Gwynne

‘The Pariah is Anthony Ryan at his best. A fast-paced, brutal fantasy novel with larger-than-life characters and a plot full of intrigue and suspense’ Grimdark Magazine

‘This is Anthony Ryan’s best book yet’ Michael Fletcher

‘Fantastic writing, an amazing world, a plot that won’t quit, and an unforgettable character . . . Anthony Ryan is one of the best epic fantasy authors out there’ Bookworm Blues

‘Gritty and well-drawn, this makes a rich treat for George R. R. Martin fans’ Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This is the definitive biography of rap supergroup and cultural icons, Wu-Tang Clan (WTC). Heralded as one of the most influential groups in modern music-hip hop or otherwise-WTC created a rap dynasty on the strength of seven gold and platinum albums that launched the careers of such famous rappers as RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and more. During the ’90s, they ushered in a hip-hop renaissance, rescuing rap from the corporate suites and bringing it back to the gritty streets where it started. In the process they changed the way business was conducted in an industry known for exploiting artists. Creatively, Wu-Tang pushed the boundaries of the artform dedicating themselves to lyrical mastery and sonic innovation, and one would be hard pressed to find a group who’s had a bigger impact on the evolution of hip hop.
S.H. Fernando Jr., a veteran music journalist who spent a significant amount of time with The Clan during their heyday of the ’90s, has written extensively about the group for such publications as Rolling Stone, Vibe, and The Source. Over the years he has built up a formidable Wu-Tang archive that includes pages of unpublished interviews, videos of the group in action in the studio, and several notepads of accumulated memories and observations. Using such exclusive access as well as the wealth of open-source material, Fernando reconstructs the genesis and evolution of the group, delving into their unique ideology and range of influences, and detailing exactly how they changed the game and established a legacy that continues to this day. The book provides a startling portrait of overcoming adversity through self-empowerment and brotherhood, giving us unparalleled insights into what makes these nine young men from the ghetto tick. While celebrating the myriad accomplishments of The Clan, the book doesn’t shy away from controversy-we’re also privy to stories from their childhoods in the crack-infested hallways of Staten Island housing projects, stints in Rikers for gun possession, and million-dollar contracts that led to recklessness and drug overdoses (including Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s untimely death). More than simply a history of a single group, this book tells the story of a musical and cultural shift that started on the streets of Shaolin (Staten Island) and quickly spread around the world.

Biographies on such an influential outfit are surprisingly few, mostly focused on a single member of the group’s story. This book weaves together interviews from all the Clan members, as well as their friends, family and collaborators to create a compelling narrative and the most three-dimensional portrait of Wu-Tang to date. It also puts The Clan within a social, cultural, and historical perspective to fully appreciate their impact and understand how they have become the cultural icons they are today. Unique in its breadth, scope, and access, From The Streets of Shaolin is a must-have for fans of WTC and music bios in general.

‘ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL FANTASY SAGAS TO COME ALONG IN YEARS’ Kirkus

The long-awaited war has come in the sweeping conclusion to the Lot Lands trilogy, which began with Jonathan French’s critically acclaimed debut The Grey Bastards.

War has come to the Lot Lands – and Oats stands upon the frontline. The formidable armies on the horizon are bolstered by divine champions, dread sorcerers and gunpowder. But Oats has won impossible fights before. He’s a thriceblood, after all, more orc than man. And he hasn’t forgotten how to kill. He’ll stack the bodies high for his chief and his brethren, if that’s the price of freeing the Lots from human tyranny.

Besides, the invading forces are getting a damned sight more than they bargained for. They’re not facing a handful of half-orc hoofs, but a true army – one forged from all the peoples of the Lots. At its head are Fetching, in full command of the ruinous power that runs through her veins, and Jackal, armed with the blessings of a dead god.

Brimming with epic battles, surprising sorcery and fiendish twists, The Free Bastards is the rousing final instalment to Jonathan French’s vastly popular Lot Lands trilogy.

Praise for the Lot Lands series:

‘An addictively readable – and undeniably cool – fantasy masterwork’ Kirkus

‘If you’re looking for a filthy, fierce, fun-fuelled read, then the Bastards have got you covered’ Fantasy Hive

‘A gritty adventure with a fantastic, foul-mouthed voice’ Django Wexler

‘A bloody good tale of battle, betrayal and war pigs’ Brian McClellan

‘Jonathan French has to be lauded for his plot ingenuity, bawdry charm and vicious characters.’ Fantasy Book Critic

‘I’d like to raise a tankard to The Grey Bastards‘ brilliance’ Fantasy Faction

This is the definitive biography of rap supergroup, Wu-Tang Clan (WTC). Widely regarded as one of the most influential groups in modern music–hip hop or otherwise–WTC has released seven albums [including four gold and platinum studio albums, as well as the genre-defining Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)] and has launched the careers of famous rappers like RZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and more. Beyond the musicians in the group itself, WTC has also collaborated with many of the biggest names in the game-from Busta Rhymes and Redman to Nas and Kanye West), and one is hard pressed to find a group who’s had a bigger impact on the evolution of the hip hop genre.

S.H. Fernando, Jr. is a journalist who has interviewed WTC several times over the past several decades for publications like Rolling Stone, Vibe, and The Source. Over the years, he has “built up a formidable archive–including over 100 pages of unpublished transcribed interviews, videos of the group in action in the studio, and several notepads of accumulated memories and observations.” The result is a startling portrait of innovation, collaboration, and adversity, giving us unparalleled access to the highs and lows of the WTC’s illustrious career so far. And this book doesn’t shy away from controversy–along with stories of the group’s musical success, we’re also privy to stories from their childhoods in the crime-and-cocaine infested hallways of Brooklyn and Staten Island housing projects, stints in Rikers for gun possession and attempted murderer, and million-dollar contracts that led to recklessness and drug overdoses (including Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s untimely death). Even more than just a history of a single group, this book tells the story of a musical and cultural shift that encapsulates and then expands beyond NYC in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Though there have been biographies written about the band, both from members (like RZA) and collaborators (like Cyrus Bozorgmehr), most of the material that’s been published so far has either focused on a single member of the group’s story, or a narrow timespan of their work. This book will not only feature interviews with all living WTC members and a comprehensive look at their discography, it also includes never-before-revealed insight into their childhoods and the neighborhoods that shaped them growing up. It’s unique in its breadth, scope, and access–a must-have for fans of WTC and music bios more generally.

‘IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A FILTHY, FIERCE, FUN-FUELLED READ, THEN THE BASTARDS HAVE GOT YOU COVERED’ Fantasy Hive

Following the runaway success of Jonathan French’s critically acclaimed fantasy adventure The Grey Bastards comes book two in the Lot Lands series – The True Bastards.

Fetching was once the only female rider in the Lot Lands. Now she is the leader of her own hoof, a band of loyal half-orcs sworn to her command. But the hoof she inherited is on the brink of collapse.

Tested to the breaking point by the burdens of leadership, Fetching battles desperately to stave off famine, desertion and the scorn of the other half-orc chieftains, even as orcs and humans alike threaten the Lots’ very existence.

Then an old enemy finds a way to strike at her from beyond the grave – and suddenly only one faint hope for salvation remains.

‘[An] action-packed sequel . . . . Imagine an outlaw biker gang of half-orcs riding giant war pigs and you’ve captured this saga’s gloriously dirty soul’ Kirkus

Praise for the series:

‘An addictively readable – and undeniably cool – fantasy masterwork’ Kirkus

‘A gritty adventure with a fantastic, foul-mouthed voice’ Django Wexler

‘A bloody good tale of battle, betrayal and war pigs’ Brian McClellan

‘Jonathan French has to be lauded for his plot ingenuity, bawdry charm and vicious characters.’ Fantasy Book Critic

‘I’d like to raise a tankard to The Grey Bastards‘ brilliance’ Fantasy Faction

A year has passed since the fall of Lightspire. The Inquisitor Miles Hampstedt rules Noveris with a blood-soaked iron fist. Tilla and her friends have become hardened rebels in the Unbroken, a band of guerilla fighters hiding out on the fringes of the Kingdom protecting the true queen, Lyriana Volaris. Even as they fight, they know their cause is doomed–that with every passing day Miles’s army of Bloodmages spreads across the continent. But at least they have each other…and some halfway-decent drinks.

After a daring rescue mission, the group frees two vital prisoners: the Raven, a mysterious informant with a deep personal connection to Tilla, and Syan Syee, a strange girl from the Red Wastes who demonstrates an incredible new kind of magic and speaks of a secret civilization hidden in her isolated homeland. With Miles’s forces closing in, a ragtag team sets out on an eleventh-hour mission: form an alliance with Syan’s people that could turn the tide of the war. But what they discover in the Red Wastes changes everything, including their very understanding of the magic that runs through Noveris—magic that has brought the Kingdom to the brink of ruin.

In the epic conclusion to the Royal Bastards trilogy, Tilla faces an impossible choice: unthinkable destruction in the name of peace…or an uncertain future that means confronting a terrible past.

“Murderous, unexpected, and immensely satisfying.”
-Stephanie Garber, New York Times best-selling author of Caraval and Legendary

Tilla, bastard of House Kent, has it made. Safe from her murderous father in the dazzling capital of Lightspire, she lives a life of luxury under the protection of the Volaris King, alongside her boyfriend, Zell, and best friend, Princess Lyriana.

So why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s the whispers and stares that follow her wherever she goes, as the daughter of the traitor waging war against Lightspire. Or maybe it’s the memories of her beloved brother, Jax, who lies cold in his grave even as she tries to settle into a life in the city’s prestigious University.

Then Tilla stumbles upon the body of a classmate-a friend. The authorities are quick to rule it a suicide and sweep it under the rug, but when Tilla herself is attacked by a mysterious man with terrifying powers, she’s convinced of a conspiracy. Her friends beg her to stay silent; what she’s suggesting is impossible . . . and treasonous.

But Tilla can’t-won’t-let it go. And the deeper she digs, the more questions she uncovers. How is the West beating the supposedly invincible Lightspire mages in battle? Is it connected to the shadowy cult wreaking havoc in Lightspire? Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame.

Being a bastard blows. Tilla would know. Her father, Lord Kent of the Western Province, loved her as a child, but cast her aside as soon as he had trueborn children. At sixteen, Tilla spends her days exploring long-forgotten tunnels beneath the castle with her stablehand half brother, Jax, and her nights drinking with the servants, passing out on Jax’s floor while her castle bedroom collects dust. Tilla secretly longs to sit by her father’s side, enjoying feasts with the rest of the family. Instead, she sits at the Bastards’ Table. But when Tilla and Jax is lead the visiting Princess Lyriana on a late-night escapade with their fellow bastards, they stumble upon a crime they were never meant to witness–a brutal coup. The group flees for their lives, relentlessly pursued by murderous mercenaries. The bastards band together, realizing they alone have the power to prevent a civil war that will tear their kingdom apart-if they can warn the king in time. And if they can survive the journey . . .

‘AN ADDICTIVELY READABLE – AND UNDENIABLY COOL – FANTASY MASTERWORK’ Kirkus

BRING ON THE ORCS . . .

Jackal is proud to be a Grey Bastard, member of a sworn brotherhood of half-orcs. Unloved and unwanted in civilized society, the Bastards eke out a hard life in the desolate no-man’s-land called the Lots, protecting frail and noble human civilization from invading bands of vicious full-blooded orcs.

But as Jackal is soon to learn, his pride may be misplaced. Because a dark secret lies at the heart of the Bastards’ existence – one that reveals a horrifying truth behind humanity’s tenuous peace with the orcs, and exposes a grave danger on the horizon.

On the heels of the ultimate betrayal, Jackal must scramble to stop a devastating invasion – even as he wonders where his true loyalties lie.

A standout adventure fantasy debut that’s down, dirty and damn good fun – perfect for fans of Joe Abercombie, Markus Heitz’s Dwarves series and Stan Nicholl’s Orcs series.

‘A gritty adventure with a fantastic, foul-mouthed voice . . . Fans of Abercrombie’s The First Law . . . will like this a lot’ Django Wexler

‘A bloody good tale of battle, betrayal and war pigs’ Brian McClellan

‘Jonathan French has to be lauded for his plot ingenuity, bawdry charm and vicious characters. The Grey Bastards has instantaneously catapulted him into my must-read list’ Fantasy Book Critic

‘I’d like to raise a tankard to The Grey Bastards’ brilliance’ Fantasy Faction

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend…with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee plan a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, Cassia isn’t exactly in need of heroics–she’s claimed her birthright as Eturia’s queen, but has inherited a war-torn planet simmering with rebellion. Cassia must make alliances, and Kane, the bastard son of a merchant, isn’t a choice that will earn her any friends. Kane knows he will never find someone to replace Cassia–and is certain she returns his feelings–but how can he throw away his own promising future waiting on a queen?

When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family’s complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is.

A scorching forbidden love threatens to tear a rift through the Black Dagger Brotherhood in J. R. Ward’s newest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Xcor, leader of the Band of Bastards, convicted of treason against the Blind King, is facing a brutal interrogation and torturous death at the hands of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Yet after a life marked by cruelty and evil deeds, he accepts his soldier’s fate, his sole regret the loss of a sacred female who was never his: the Chosen Layla.

Layla alone knows the truth that will save Xcor’s life. But revealing his sacrifice and his hidden heritage will expose them both and destroy everything Layla holds dear – even her role of mother to her precious young. Torn between love and loyalty, she must summon the courage to stand up against the only family she has for the only man she will ever love. Yet even if Xcor is somehow granted a reprieve, he and Layla would have to confront a graver challenge: bridging the chasm that divides their worlds without paving the way for a future of even greater war, desolation and death.

As a dangerous old enemy returns to Caldwell, and the identity of a new deity is revealed, nothing is certain or safe in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, not even true love . . . or destinies that have long seemed set in stone.

Meet the hottest billionaire in town . . .

‘This sizzling hot read will take you to places you’ve never been before’ The Sun

People call me many things: CEO, billionaire, bastard. Q.

I love women. I love sex. I love money. I love hot, wild nights with no promise of a future, because a future is one thing I don’t have. I’m twenty-eight years old. I won’t live to see thirty, and I don’t care. Or I didn’t, until her.

Nobody plans for a life like this. Some of us just end up here.

They call me Lucky, though luck has never been on my side. Before I met Q, my life was a big, twisted mess. Never enough money, never anyone to trust. No way out. With Q, the shame and fear disappear. Instead I feel pure pleasure, and that’s something I’ve never had before. But if what I’ve just learned is true, we’d better enjoy every second together while we can . . . before our time runs out.

Praise for Beautiful Liar:

‘An exotically filthy, devastatingly beautiful story, that will captivate and tease you long after the book is finished’ Audrey Carlan, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

‘Zara Cox is known for scorching reads and she delivers again with Beautiful Liar. Add in a twisty plot and the pages fly by on this read!’ Jana Aston, New York Times bestselling author

‘Wow! This book is so well written, it blows me away! Do whatever you have to do before you start reading, because you won’t be able to put the book down once you start it, and prepare yourself for a fabulous, smoking hot read which will wring out your emotions and leave you totally satisfied!’ Tabitha A Lane, bestselling author of Trade

‘This is Fifty Shades and then some. I recommend it to anyone that loved Mr Grey. As well as raunchy sex scenes, the emotional power is immense and will stay with you long after you finish the book’ Rachael Stewart

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS I, PORN STAR

My name is Jaxson Albright. My friends call me Jax. I was brought up privileged, and I was supposed to follow in my father’s footsteps and move into politics, but I had other plans. To my family’s disgust, I’m inked, I’m pierced and I own and run a tattoo parlour in the hip suburb of Newtown, Sydney. I fit in here. I can be the man I was destined to be.

But I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my saviour, Candice. My pink haired angel. We grew up in the same circle – like me, she’s an outcast. I have been in love with her for as long as I can remember. I can’t get her out of my head. She still owns my damn heart.

If you loved the emotional journey J.L. Perry took you on in BASTARD and HOOKER, you’ll lose yourself entirely in JAX.

‘J.L. Perry has captured every gut wrenching emotion in this poignant story of love, betrayal and reconciliation . . . Loved every word.’ CLiK Book Blog

‘An incredibly powerful, sexy and touching love story that will always hold a place in my heart.’ RBTL Book Promotions

‘What can I say, if I could give this more than 5 stars I would. You’ll laugh, cry and scream your heart out because it is a beautiful story.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A rollercoaster of a ride for these two and I felt like I was with them through it all.’ Amo and Sarah’s Book Corner

‘WOW!!!! This book blew me away and broke me into pieces. I’ve been intrigued by Jax, and his story, since reading Bastard and couldn’t wait for this.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘J. L. Perry you are exceptional. Jax’s book was everything. It deserves way more than 5 stars.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘As soon as I started Jax I couldn’t put it down. It had me up until 2 am where I finally admitted I needed sleep at 50%. Needless to say, the first thing I did when I woke up was dive back into Jax’s story and I didn’t stop reading until I finished.’ Lost to Books

‘Highly recommended read for lovers of true romance, hot sex scenes, a great sense of humour and not afraid to shed a tear – believe me my heart broke several times whilst reading Jax.‘ Goodreads Reviewer

‘What did I just read??!! This novel gripped me from page one and never let go. It had everything you can imagine. By the 35% mark I had laughed until tears, cried from the hurt, and was swooned by Jax. Goodreads Reviewer

‘OMG where do I start with this book? I now have a new hero in my life under the name of Jax Albright!!’ A Book Lovers Emporium Book Blog

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home?but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend…with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee plan a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, Cassia isn’t exactly in need of heroics–she’s claimed her birthright as Eturia’s queen, but has inherited a war-torn planet simmering with rebellion. Cassia must make alliances, and Kane, the bastard son of a merchant, isn’t a choice that will earn her any friends. Kane knows he will never find someone to replace Cassia–and is certain she returns his feelings–but how can he throw away his own promising future waiting on a queen?

When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family’s complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is.

‘Complex and engrossing; fans of George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie should particularly take note’ – Publisher’s Weekly

‘A truly epic read full of intrigue and betrayal anchored in wonderful characters’ – John Gwynne, author of MALICE

EVERY CROWN IS TARNISHED BY THE BLOOD OF AMBITION.

In a divided kingdom, some will do anything to seize the crown.

A BASTARD LORD, rising up against his tyrant cousin, sheds more blood than he bargained for.

A ROYAL CHILD, believed dead, sets his eyes on regaining his father’s stolen throne.

A DUKE’S WIDOW, defending her daughter, defies the ambitious lord who’d control them both.

And TWO BROTHERS, divided by ambition, will learn the true meaning of treachery.

All of this will come to pass, and nothing will remain as it once was. Royal houses will fall, empires will be reborn, and those who seek the Falcon Throne will pay for it in blood.

Nobody is innocent. Every crown is tarnished. Welcome to the start of a major new epic fantasy series from the million-copy bestselling Karen Miller.

Books by Karen Miller:

Kingmaker, Kingbreaker Series
The Innocent Mage
The Awakened Mage
A Blight of Mages

Godspeaker
Empress of Mijak
The Riven Kingdom
The Hammer of God

Fisherman’s Children
The Prodigal Mage
The Reluctant Mage

Tarnished Crown
The Falcon Throne
Prince of Glass

Now the Sunday Times bestselling series continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King…

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle- with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything- and everyone- at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated with the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response- or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out… or tortured legacy take over?

‘J.R. Ward’s unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!’ New York Times bestselling author, Suzanne Brockmann

‘Erotic and frighteningly addictive . . .Ward has earned an Anne Rice-style following, deservedly so’ Publishers Weekly

Oliver Reed may not have been Britain’s biggest film star – for a period in the early 70s he came within a hairsbreadth of replacing Sean Connery as James Bond – but he is an august member of that small band of people, like George Best and Eric Morecambe, who transcended their chosen medium, became too big for it even, and grew into cultural icons.

For the first time Reed’s close family has agreed to collaborate on a project about the man himself. The result is a fascinating new insight into a man seen by many as merely a brawling, boozing hellraiser. And yet he was so much more than this. For behind that image, which all too often he played up to in public, was a vastly complex individual, a man of deep passions and loyalty but also deep-rooted vulnerability and insecurities. Why was a proud, patriotic, intelligent, successful and erudite man so obsessed about proving himself to others, time and time again?

Although the Reed myth is of Homeric proportions, he remains a national treasure and somewhat peculiar icon.

Praise for other books by Robert Sellers:

Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole, and Oliver Reed:
‘So wonderfully captures the wanton belligerence of both binging and stardom you almost feel the guys themselves are telling the tales.’ GQ.

Vic Armstrong: The True Adventures of the World’s Greatest Stuntman:
‘This is the best and most original behind-the-scenes book I have read in years, gripping and revealing.’ Roger Lewis, Daily Mail.

Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down: ‘…a rollicking good read… Sellers has done well to capture a vivid snapshot of this exciting time.’ Lynn Barber, Sunday Times.

They know who they are and what they’re capable of – cross them at your peril.

No real hard bastard needs to brag or bully; most are modest, thoughtful and quiet. They have nothing to prove, as opposed to wannabe tough guys, who may pump themselves full of steroids or devote themselves to the study of a martial art, but can they handle themselves during an aggressive confrontation?

It is the real hard bastard’s absolute willingness to fight literally anyone, his ability to be uncompromisingly violent, his complete lack of fear, and unwillingness to admit defeat that makes him stand out in a crowd. A real hard bastard exudes an unmistakable air of confidence and authority.

The full list of Hard Men is: Geoff Thompson (Former British nightclub bouncer and world-famous martial artist. Now a BAFTA-award-winning writer); Thomas Silverstein (America’s most dangerous prisoner); Arthur White (Once one of London’s most notorious debt collectors. Now reformed and a Christian); Tom Taylor (A former US Presidential bodyguard); Don Murfet (Minder to the rock band Led Zeppelin); Charlie Bronson (Britain’s most violent prisoner – also an artist and writer); Gary Alexander (Full-contact fighting champion of North America); Roy Shaw (British bare-knuckle fighting champion; Ali vs Tyson; Hard Bastards: what exactly are they?; Noel ‘Razor’ Smith (Former British gangster serving multiple life sentences); Street Kings & Bare-Knuckle Fighters (the toughest of them all); Mike Tyson (Boxer); The Krays (Britain’s most infamous gangsters); Dave ‘Boy’ Green (British boxer); Luciano Leggio (Sicilian gangster); Bob Honiball (Martial arts expert currently training Eastern European special forces); Peter Rollack aka ‘Pistol Pete’ (New York City gang member); Gregory Peter John Smith (Australian bandit); John Brawn (Ireland’s hardest man, martial artist and bouncer); William Coss (Just a regular US citizen put in an extreme situation); Mickey Francis (Manchester’s most notorious football thug and gangster, now a professional wrestler); Jake LaMotta (Boxer); Vladimir Bogomolov (Soviet bodyguard); Big Joe Egan (Probably the hardest white man on the planet); Dennis Martin (Doorman, bodyguard and Liverpool’s hardest man).

Meet M. Dylan Raskin , “MDR” to friends. At 22, he’s the opposite of hip: a working-class college dropout who lives with his mother in Queens , “Flushing-Stinking-Queens,” to be precise. It’s not that he doesn’t like New York, exactly, it’s just that lately he’s felt more and more at odds with everything , his family, his generation, his hometown, even himself. One day he gets fed up and decides to take his freedom on the road, setting off for Chicago in a quixotic attempt to turn his life around. Little New York Bastard is the story of an outsider for the ages, a mixed-up kid who knows what he wants in life but has no idea how to get it. Raskin’s anger is palpable and his wounds are unabashedly raw, and readers will appreciate the immediacy and honesty of his story. Equal parts road story, coming-of-age memoir, and existential manifesto , this debut is in the tradition of cult classics like Youth in Revolt and The Fuck Up.