Showing results by narrator "Michael Langan" in All Categories

Today, the majority of the peoples of the planet live in nation-states, based upon the idea, if never the reality, of a single people, a single culture, a single rule of law, and a single source of sovereign authority. But will they continue to do so in the future? None of the major challenges that confront humanity today—from climate change to disease, from terrorism to mass migration—can be handled effectively by single nation-states, no matter how powerful.

Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard is on leave when the police are summoned, but this murder case is so big, the detective leading the investigation needs all the help he can get. When a series of mistakes leads to Matthew being put in charge of the case, he's happy to have another murder to solve, but he should be careful of what he wishes for.

Sherlock Holmes is no stranger to humanity's most fiendish crimes. In fourteen classic stories, Holmes and Dr. Watson confront exceptionally challenging and notoriously vicious cases. Can guilt be used as a murder weapon? When does beauty become a deadly lure? Are even the most seemingly innocent members of society capable of killing in cold blood? Cloaked in terror and tragedy, dangerous and often bloody, these are adventures which plunge Holmes and Watson into the realm of nightmares.

In thirteen classic pastiche stories, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson confront confounding and puzzling problems. Why do white roses fall from the sky, heralding death to follow? Who is the veiled man hiding in a manor, and why does he refuse to show his face? What diabolical creature lurks inside a child's painted travelling trunk, and has an ancient priestess's curse descended upon an archeologist's family? Twists and turns abound as Holmes investigates some of the most mysterious cases in his career.

Additional revelations from the despatch box of Doctor John Watson. These seven stories previously featured in various volumes of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories and other anthologies. They come together in their own collection for the first time. The Adventure of the Disappearing Prisoner The Adventure of the Drewhampton Poisoner The Adventure of the Returning Spirit The Adventure of Miss Anna Truegrace The Adventure of Mr Fairdale Hobbs The Adventure of the Conk-Singleton Forgery The Adventure of the Grand Vizier

The Dark Tide is rising. Forgotten by most of Secramore, a race of demons is determined to resurrect their dark god, Ocranthos. Essential to their plans are three elements: the Silver Sigil, the Key, and a Vessel, all of which are nearly in their grasp. As the demons seek to recover the triad, the only force that stands to oppose them is in turmoil. Loyalties are in question, and inner strife threatens to crumble the fragile unity among Kariayla, her daughter Charasida, Wraith, Scorch, and the Demon.

What's behind a series of mysterious deaths among the favourite concubines of Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Hamid II? Suspecting a plot against himself, the Sultan has called on Sherlock Holmes to investigate. However, as a man, the detective is clearly unable to penetrate the exotic enclosed world of the harem, so he reluctantly enlists the help of his landlady, Mrs Hudson. Together with Dr Watson, they travel across Europe by Orient Express to Constantinople, on the way encountering Holmes's old enemy, Baron Mauterpuis.

Vampire turned Runner, John Grissom, is a founding member of Bow Street's new clandestine investigative division, Odd Crimes. He finds himself witnessing an assassination attempt on the Foreign Secretary. He then discovers London's most notorious purveyor of stolen goods at the bottom of it.

John Grissom, vampire bacteriologist, has found a new purpose in life, joining up with friends Henrietta Isherwood and Gerhardt Van Helsing to comprise the off-book Bow Street Odd Crimes Division. What Mulder and Skully were to the FBI, John and Henrietta are to Bow Street.

This is the 15th story from the Art of Sherlock Holmes project and first appeared in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XII.

This is the 37th story from the Art of Sherlock Holmes project and first appeared in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part VI.

Dickie Metcalfe was not your typical secret agent, but he was larger than life in more ways than one. Unlike many other agents who were part of the Double Cross System during the Second World War, he did not defect; nor was he blackmailed into becoming a spy. Instead, using his father's connection with Sir Vernon Kell, the first director of MI5, Metcalfe volunteered his services. Recently cashiered from his infantry regiment, he had an ulterior motive.

He has no name but is known by many. He is a Demon, surrounded by the chaos inherent in his own shadowy nature, and it is the magic of Shadow that is killing him. Unwilling to accept his imminent demise, the nameless Demon embarks on a mission to find the witches who may hold his cure. He discovers the alternative to his death may be a greater price than he is willing to accept, and what is acceptance in a world full of Humans?

On the eve of Newgate Prison's demolition, Watson spies Holmes leaving a public sale of the prison's miscellany in the company of a beautiful stranger, and in possession of an unusual trophy–the death mask of a woman who, more than 20 years earlier, had been executed for the murder of her three children. Holmes agrees to satisfy Watson's curiosity about the memento by recounting the decades-old history of its subject.

In the last thirty years, the developing world has undergone tremendous changes. Overall, poverty has fallen, people live longer and healthier lives, and economies have been transformed. And yet many countries have simply missed the boat. Why have some countries prospered, while others have failed? Stefan Dercon argues that the answer lies not in a specific set of policies, but rather in a key "development bargain," whereby a country's elites shift from protecting their own positions to gambling on a growth-based future.

Unsupervised examines the fast-emerging technologies and tools that are already starting to completely revolutionize our world. Beyond that, the book takes an in-depth look at how we have arrived at this dizzying point in our history, who holds the reins of these formidable technologies, mostly without any supervision. It explains why we as business leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, educators, lawmakers, investors or users and all responsible citizens must act now to influence and help oversee the future of a technological world.

Black Ice. It is a substance of magic mined from the earth, an Enhancement of the senses, and a diversion for the aristocracy who consume it. To Arythan Crow, “Dark Wizard of Cerborath,” it is nothing more than a black crystal, and his role is to harvest and purify it. But when this crystal becomes the object of attacks, a kidnapping, and the near demise of the prince, he has to wonder what more is to be learned of this Enhancement.

The British constitution is regarded as unique among the constitutions of the world. What are the main characteristics of Britain's peculiar constitutional arrangements? How has the British constitution altered in response to the changing nature of its state—from England, to Britain, to the United Kingdom? What impact has the UK's developing relations with the European Union caused? These are some of the questions that Martin Loughlin addresses in this Very Short Introduction.

Fourteen stories, all in classic style, introduce Holmes to new clients with strange and quirky problems. Clues to a fortune are hidden in a ludicrous painting, a modern mummy walks, and a novel tourist attraction holds the key to why an unattractive lady is suddenly pursued by an amorous admirer.

In this Very Short Introduction, Roger Trigg argues that all faith needs reason. He puts contemporary discussions into historical perspective, particularly in the context of Christianity. The author argues that faith also involves a commitment to action and that matters for all social life.