Bøker av Ian Thompson

A Short Horror Tales omnibus featuring 3 more dark, sinister stories... THE LITTLE MEN: Frozen suicides, gunshot victims and shredded corpses. What the hell is going on in Shilsville? Two men investigate: Dave Renfield, a Native American detective, and Nick Guggenheim, a retired old cop. What begins as a series of baffling deaths evolves into a battle against a horror the police can barely believe in. The Little Men have been unleashed and their sole purpose is to slaughter... COLD CALLERS: How far will a mother go to protect her infant child? Marcie and her baby are alone in the creepy old house they call home. A frantic knocking on the front door heralds the arrival of the Cold Callers - and a night of harrowing terror begins for the mother and her child. The house is under siege by creatures than are neither human nor animal... Creatures with horrific intent... ACID RAIN: After a weekend stopover in the big city, the passengers of a double-decker bus encounter a truly hellish storm... This rain is raw, searing acid. Just a drop on human skin is enough to inflict an agonising burn - anyone caught in the downpour suffers horrendously. Chaos consumes the streets as victims go wild from excruciating pain. Vehicles collide in the panic and the bloodshed escalates... Short Horror Tales are quick reads written to captivate the reader with thrills, chills and unexpected twists. Reviews from this author's horror releases: "...thoroughly spooky, enticing and well written from start to finish.""...great... I could feel the fear...""...shows true mastery of the short horror story... a wildly imaginative antagonist unlike anything I've read before... a quick, captivating read full of horror and thrills. The tense action and suspense of Glancing Blow make it incredibly hard to put down..."(Glancing Blow - Short Horror Tales #1)"...When the blood starts to splatter, Nigel's day gets really rough. Thompson has devised a brilliantly brutal creature to sic on his leading man. Creative and twisted, the monster is a total terror... Hooker is an absolutely insane, blood-pumping ride... With a wicked cool monster and a page-turning climax, this is one Creature Feature you won't want to miss out on..."(Hooker - Short Horror Tales #2)"Great short story..."(Ignition Source - Short Horror Tales #4)"...well-written, descriptive and enthralling page-turner, that's not for the faint-hearted... The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat..."(God Of War)"...extremely well written and very dark. The author did a great job of creating a palpable sense of doom that surrounds the main character from the beginning, and then creating more tension and horror as the story went on..."(Into The Hole)

A Short Horror Tales omnibus featuring another 3 nightmarish stories... KILL HIM, SLOWLY: Mr Slowly is a deadly, ruthless hit man. He never fails in an assignment - never fails to kill his target. His new job is to kill Joshua J. Woods, a millionaire who lives in a secluded mansion. Woods has security measures - including teams of guards and trained dogs... but Mr Slowly doesn't see these as an obstacle. One problem the assassin couldn't foresee is that Woods isn't human. He's a supernatural horror, surrounded by his evil brood... And bullets aren't going to stop him. THE BURNING RIDER: A childish legend or a merciless supernatural executioner? For over three centuries, no one has entered the village of Lydchurch at night and survived. There have been over six hundred reports of the apparition, and untold numbers of deaths and disappearances. When a small team investigates the abandoned village at night, their task begins with grisly discoveries and evolves into nightmarish horror. Soon the survivors are trying desperately to escape the molten wrath of the Burning Rider... TROLL: An urgent message sends Steve rushing to the home of his old friend Tom Howard. He expects to find Tom relapsed into drug addiction, but instead finds something far more sinister. The condition of the house is grotesquely, unnaturally strange. And Tom is living in the basement, almost starved to death and totally fixated upon the internet. Tom tells a story so incredible that Steve doubts his sanity - until he sees the truth for himself... The Troll is coming, to feast on misery, pain... and human flesh. Short Horror Tales are quick reads written to captivate the reader with thrills, chills and unexpected twists. Reviews from this author's horror releases: "...thoroughly spooky, enticing and well written from start to finish.""...great... I could feel the fear...""...shows true mastery of the short horror story... a wildly imaginative antagonist unlike anything I've read before... a quick, captivating read full of horror and thrills. The tense action and suspense of Glancing Blow make it incredibly hard to put down..."(Glancing Blow - Short Horror Tales #1)"...When the blood starts to splatter, Nigel's day gets really rough. Thompson has devised a brilliantly brutal creature to sic on his leading man. Creative and twisted, the monster is a total terror... Hooker is an absolutely insane, blood-pumping ride... With a wicked cool monster and a page-turning climax, this is one Creature Feature you won't want to miss out on..."(Hooker - Short Horror Tales #2)"Great short story..."(Ignition Source - Short Horror Tales #4)"...well-written, descriptive and enthralling page-turner, that's not for the faint-hearted... The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat..."(God Of War)"...extremely well written and very dark. The author did a great job of creating a palpable sense of doom that surrounds the main character from the beginning, and then creating more tension and horror as the story went on..."(Into The Hole)

Slaughter At Ghastar is the first in an all-new spin-off series of novellas set in the apocalyptic Era Of Darkness. Hordes of demonic warriors swarm from beyond the great Wall of Light. They crush opposing armies. They eradicate towns and villages. They have already slaughtered the Unseen Gods... This is an invasion like no other. Their purpose is not to expand their territory, to instil their doctrines on other people or to plunder the riches of their prey, but simply to destroy every living thing. At dawn, the demon forces reach the peaceful Human village of Ghastar - and an atrocious massacre ensues... Amid the fleeing villagers are four friends. Nidel is a strong but fearful nineteen-year-old man, who is desperate to protect his younger sister Dansel. Tanner and Lul are brothers and traders; Tanner is fifty and a stout boastful liar; Lul is half his age, very intelligent but quiet-natured. A fourteen-year-old girl named Vina joins the group and they reach the outskirts of Ghastar... Here the refugees meet Tygis, an old hermit believed to be an addled fool. They retreat into his small cabin - and discover there is more to the hermit that anyone could have ever believed. Yet soon the cabin is surrounded and under siege by demons. Makeshift barricades won't last long under the mammoth onslaught. The six villagers will have to fight for their lives against the overwhelming invaders... Can anyone survive? Whereas Era Of Darkness tells the story of the demonic invasion on a huge scale, Survival depicts it from the perspective of a small group of refugees - not great warriors or leaders of nations, but ordinary people caught up in a catastrophe. Homeless and terrified, they are already victims of war. To make it through to the end of one terrible day, each character will need to summon up more courage than they ever knew they possessed. Reviews for the Era Of Darkness saga: "Wow! The world Ian Thompson created for Era of Darkness is immense, and his cast of characters is huge. Luckily, Mr. Thompson is a fantastic guide. He drops you in the middle of the action and leads you through a world bracing itself against its inevitable demise. The action is intense, the battles are brutal, and the characters are complex and very real. What a great story! ...I did thoroughly enjoy this story, and I will be picking up Era of Darkness Volume II: Extinction. If you love heart-pumping action and vicious battles, you have to read this book. However, I must warn. The action is brutal and gruesome. If you're squeamish about blood (or organs exploding or bones shattering), you may want to avoid this one.""...vividly descriptive with an almost metered artistry...""...Fast and furious paced action fantasy. Great characters that you really care for. Battles are huge and bloodthirsty. Cool races and well-designed monsters. A cracking-good read... ""I was impressed by the quality of the storytelling... an enthralling mix... a solid read""...intense battles, incredible dark magic... so many twists and turns... I loved it""I was completely sucked in and captivated from the first page""...mixture of fantasy, mystery, loyalty that make it a one of a kind story""Wonderful characters and an even better story""This was my first peek at this series and author. I'll definitely be reading more from him. This is an interesting short read. Lots of action and sometimes gory descriptive details. It's a nice introduction to a couple of the characters and really sets the stage for what's to come. This appears to be a vast new world that I'm ready to learn more about."

Vol I: The Apocalypse Begins Hatred, distrust and conflict divide the nations of the world of Emeran - at a time when an apocalyptic threat is rising. Hordes of demonic warriors swarm from beyond the great Wall of Light. They crush opposing armies. They eradicate towns and villages. They have already slaughtered the Unseen Gods... This is an invasion like no other. Their purpose is not to expand their territory, to instil their doctrines on other people or to plunder the riches of their prey, but simply to destroy every living thing... Experience the rising conflict through the lives of characters across Emeran... Inside the walled city of Tremok, the Human princesses Lar and Pec suddenly find themselves in command of a Kingdom, even while they mourn the loss of their father. Lar, a trained warrior, must lead the defence of the city; her mystic sister sets off on a suicidal quest against their enemies... The traveller Cu'si'war returns home to warn his people of the oncoming threat and to urge the pacifist Graex to revert to their former warrior ways... In the Callis lands, a condemned coward named Corfel struggles frantically to save his family... The Callis Captain Plynn and the Human Captain Ku are unaware of the invasion - and are about to engage their armies in a great, futile battle of their own... And The Death, a member of the hunted and now-rare Vere race, continues on a solitary mission of vengeance... Plunge into a realm facing annihilation: Epic battles and gritty action. Dark magic and horrendous monstrosities. Soul-crushing choices. Impossible odds, defeat and despair. Witness the fall of the Wall of Light and the first encounters with the invading hordes. Be at the centre of conflicts erupting all over Emeran: in the forest townships of the Callis; at beautiful Mesamir, capital of the Graex; on Deshnere Plain where vast armies collide; and inside the city of Tremok, under assault by hundreds of thousands of invaders. Join the desperate mission behind enemy lines. Feel the wealth of emotions embroiled in this war-torn saga - from love and unswerving loyalty, to the bitterest sorrow, to savage bloodlust and unbridled terror. Against the coming of the Era of Darkness, heroism, desperation and self-sacrifice will surely not be enough. Vol II: Extinction Hundreds of thousands of warriors have already perished in the war against the demon invaders. Now the conflict reaches a devastating conclusion... Queen Lar's defence of Tremok has inflicted massive casualties upon the demon hordes. In response, the invaders amass all their forces from across the world of Emeran to besiege and annihilate the walled city. The Demon Masters know that once Tremok falls, all hope is lost for Emeran. The raw heroism of Tremok's defenders faces a force which utterly outnumbers and outmatches them. Battles become more and more desperate. Human numbers dwindle in every slaughter. Survivors are exhausted and losing hope... Can the unexpected arrival of reinforcements possibly turn the tide of the conflict in Lar's favour? And what of the new demon reinforcements? More lethal warriors. More terrible weapons. More horrific allies... Yet, worse is to come... What has happened to Pec's expedition to the Demon Masters' citadel? Has an insidious betrayal consigned the nations of Emeran to extinction? Reviews for this saga: "The action is intense, the battles are brutal, and the characters are complex and very real...""Fast and furious paced action fantasy. Great characters that you really care for. Battles are huge and bloodthirsty. Cool races and well-designed monsters... ""...intense battles, incredible dark magic... so many twists and turns...""...mixture of fantasy, mystery, loyalty that make it a one of a kind story""Wonderful characters and an even better story"

Hundreds of thousands of warriors have already perished in the war against the demon invaders. Now the conflict reaches a devastating conclusion... Queen Lar's defence of Tremok has inflicted massive casualties upon the demon hordes. In response, the invaders amass all their forces from across the world of Emeran to besiege and annihilate the walled city. The Demon Masters know that once Tremok falls, all hope is lost for Emeran. The raw heroism of Tremok's defenders faces a force which utterly outnumbers and outmatches them. Battles become more and more desperate. Human numbers dwindle in every slaughter. Survivors are exhausted and losing hope... Can the unexpected arrival of reinforcements possibly turn the tide of the conflict in Lar's favour? And what of the new demon reinforcements? More lethal warriors. More terrible weapons. More horrific allies... Yet, worse is to come... What has happened to Pec's expedition to the Demon Masters' citadel? Has an insidious betrayal consigned the nations of Emeran to extinction? The Era Of Darkness is about to consume Emeran forever. Reviews from this author's fantasy releases: ...for the Era Of Darkness saga: "Wow! The world Ian Thompson created for Era of Darkness is immense, and his cast of characters is huge. Luckily, Mr. Thompson is a fantastic guide. He drops you in the middle of the action and leads you through a world bracing itself against its inevitable demise. The action is intense, the battles are brutal, and the characters are complex and very real. What a great story! ...I did thoroughly enjoy this story, and I will be picking up Era of Darkness Volume II: Extinction. If you love heart-pumping action and vicious battles, you have to read this book. However, I must warn. The action is brutal and gruesome. If you're squeamish about blood (or organs exploding or bones shattering), you may want to avoid this one.""...vividly descriptive with an almost metered artistry...""...Fast and furious paced action fantasy. Great characters that you really care for. Battles are huge and bloodthirsty. Cool races and well-designed monsters. A cracking-good read... ""I was impressed by the quality of the storytelling... an enthralling mix... a solid read""...intense battles, incredible dark magic... so many twists and turns... I loved it""I was completely sucked in and captivated from the first page""...mixture of fantasy, mystery, loyalty that make it a one of a kind story""Wonderful characters and an even better story""This was my first peek at this series and author. I'll definitely be reading more from him. This is an interesting short read. Lots of action and sometimes gory descriptive details. It's a nice introduction to a couple of the characters and really sets the stage for what's to come. This appears to be a vast new world that I'm ready to learn more about."...for the Hector Reborn saga: "...I couldn't put it down. Amongst all the fantasy and action, the strongest part of the story is Hector's character. He is governed by honour and loyalty - which not only leads him into conflict, but leads him to cause a disaster. We see many sides of him, from his personal strength, to his heartbreak and loss, to a desperation to fix the terrible things he causes... to him being almost destroyed by another twist in the novel... very cleverly written - I highly recommend this book."

Hatred, distrust and conflict divide the nations of the world of Emeran - at a time when an apocalyptic threat is rising. Hordes of demonic warriors swarm from beyond the great Wall of Light. They crush opposing armies. They eradicate towns and villages. They have already slaughtered the Unseen Gods... This is an invasion like no other. Their purpose is not to expand their territory, to instil their doctrines on other people or to plunder the riches of their prey, but simply to destroy every living thing... Experience the rising conflict through the lives of characters across Emeran... Inside the walled city of Tremok, the Human princesses Lar and Pec suddenly find themselves in command of a Kingdom, even while they mourn the loss of their father. Lar, a trained warrior, must lead the defence of the city; her mystic sister sets off on a suicidal quest against their enemies... The traveller Cu'si'war returns home to warn his people of the oncoming threat and to urge the pacifist Graex to revert to their former warrior ways... In the Callis lands, a condemned coward named Corfel struggles frantically to save his family... The Callis Captain Plynn and the Human Captain Ku are unaware of the invasion - and are about to engage their armies in a great, futile battle of their own... And The Death, a member of the hunted and now-rare Vere race, continues on a solitary mission of vengeance... Plunge into a realm facing annihilation: Epic battles and gritty action. Dark magic and horrendous monstrosities. Soul-crushing choices. Impossible odds, defeat and despair. Witness the fall of the Wall of Light and the first encounters with the invading hordes. Be at the centre of conflicts erupting all over Emeran: in the forest townships of the Callis; at beautiful Mesamir, capital of the Graex; on Deshnere Plain where vast armies collide; and inside the city of Tremok, under assault by hundreds of thousands of invaders. Join the desperate mission behind enemy lines. Feel the wealth of emotions embroiled in this war-torn saga - from love and unswerving loyalty, to the bitterest sorrow, to savage bloodlust and unbridled terror. Against the coming of the Era of Darkness, heroism, desperation and self-sacrifice will surely not be enough... Extinction is inevitable. Reviews for the Era Of Darkness saga: "Wow! The world Ian Thompson created for Era of Darkness is immense, and his cast of characters is huge. Luckily, Mr. Thompson is a fantastic guide. He drops you in the middle of the action and leads you through a world bracing itself against its inevitable demise. The action is intense, the battles are brutal, and the characters are complex and very real. What a great story! ...I did thoroughly enjoy this story, and I will be picking up Era of Darkness Volume II: Extinction. If you love heart-pumping action and vicious battles, you have to read this book. However, I must warn. The action is brutal and gruesome. If you're squeamish about blood (or organs exploding or bones shattering), you may want to avoid this one.""...vividly descriptive with an almost metered artistry...""...Fast and furious paced action fantasy. Great characters that you really care for. Battles are huge and bloodthirsty. Cool races and well-designed monsters. A cracking-good read... ""I was impressed by the quality of the storytelling... an enthralling mix... a solid read""...intense battles, incredible dark magic... so many twists and turns... I loved it""I was completely sucked in and captivated from the first page""...mixture of fantasy, mystery, loyalty that make it a one of a kind story""Wonderful characters and an even better story"

The Era Of Darkness... A world facing annihilation. Epic battles and gritty action. Dark magic and horrendous monstrosities. Impossible odds. Defeat and despair. The Fate Of Luminar is a tale from the Era Of Darkness, set in the Human village closest to the mysterious Wall of Light. What the villagers of Luminar endure may soon befall an entire world... After a hard day working in the fields, Deris visits the tavern with his friend Roden before returning to his wife and children for the night. He goes to sleep as normal - unaware that his rest will be broken by sinister events... First, the Wall of Light will fall - plunging Luminar into darkness, something its inhabitants have never experienced.>Amid the appalling chaos and slaughter, Deris tries desperately to save his family and friends. But can anyone in Luminar possibly survive? This is a standalone story taken from Era Of Darkness Volume I. It is the third in the Short Tales series. Both war-torn volumes of the Era Of Darkness Saga are now available, plus the first in the Survival spin-off series: 'Slaughter At Ghastar'. Reviews from this author's fantasy releases: ...for the Era Of Darkness saga: "Wow! The world Ian Thompson created for Era of Darkness is immense, and his cast of characters is huge. Luckily, Mr. Thompson is a fantastic guide. He drops you in the middle of the action and leads you through a world bracing itself against its inevitable demise. The action is intense, the battles are brutal, and the characters are complex and very real. What a great story! ...I did thoroughly enjoy this story, and I will be picking up Era of Darkness Volume II: Extinction. If you love heart-pumping action and vicious battles, you have to read this book. However, I must warn. The action is brutal and gruesome. If you're squeamish about blood (or organs exploding or bones shattering), you may want to avoid this one.""...vividly descriptive with an almost metered artistry...""...Fast and furious paced action fantasy. Great characters that you really care for. Battles are huge and bloodthirsty. Cool races and well-designed monsters. A cracking-good read... ""I was impressed by the quality of the storytelling... an enthralling mix... a solid read""...intense battles, incredible dark magic... so many twists and turns... I loved it""I was completely sucked in and captivated from the first page""...mixture of fantasy, mystery, loyalty that make it a one of a kind story""Wonderful characters and an even better story""This was my first peek at this series and author. I'll definitely be reading more from him. This is an interesting short read. Lots of action and sometimes gory descriptive details. It's a nice introduction to a couple of the characters and really sets the stage for what's to come. This appears to be a vast new world that I'm ready to learn more about."...for the Hector Reborn saga: "...I couldn't put it down. Amongst all the fantasy and action, the strongest part of the story is Hector's character. He is governed by honour and loyalty - which not only leads him into conflict, but leads him to cause a disaster. We see many sides of him, from his personal strength, to his heartbreak and loss, to a desperation to fix the terrible things he causes... to him being almost destroyed by another twist in the novel... very cleverly written - I highly recommend this book."

The Era Of Darkness... A world facing annihilation. Epic battles and gritty action. Dark magic and horrendous monstrosities. Impossible odds. Defeat and despair. For half a millennia, the Wall of Light formed a gigantic prison barrier around an unknown land and a forgotten race... Today, the Wall of Light falls - and the apocalypse is unleashed. Witness this event from two perspectives: a simple shepherd watching over his herd of Garganipedes and a peaceful cult at worship. What they encounter will engulf their lives with terror. Out Of The Light originally featured two short tales, set as the demonic invasion commenced. One was a stand-alone tale from Era Of Darkness Volume I, the other was exclusive to that release. As a special bonus, the two-parter 'Spirit Spy' has also been added to the collection. This is the second of the range of Short Tales From The Era Of Darkness. Both war-torn volumes of the Era Of Darkness Saga are now available, plus the first in the Survival spin-off series: 'Slaughter At Ghastar'. Reviews from this author's fantasy releases: ...for the Era Of Darkness saga: "Wow! The world Ian Thompson created for Era of Darkness is immense, and his cast of characters is huge. Luckily, Mr. Thompson is a fantastic guide. He drops you in the middle of the action and leads you through a world bracing itself against its inevitable demise. The action is intense, the battles are brutal, and the characters are complex and very real. What a great story! ...I did thoroughly enjoy this story, and I will be picking up Era of Darkness Volume II: Extinction. If you love heart-pumping action and vicious battles, you have to read this book. However, I must warn. The action is brutal and gruesome. If you're squeamish about blood (or organs exploding or bones shattering), you may want to avoid this one.""...vividly descriptive with an almost metered artistry...""...Fast and furious paced action fantasy. Great characters that you really care for. Battles are huge and bloodthirsty. Cool races and well-designed monsters. A cracking-good read... ""I was impressed by the quality of the storytelling... an enthralling mix... a solid read""...intense battles, incredible dark magic... so many twists and turns... I loved it""I was completely sucked in and captivated from the first page""...mixture of fantasy, mystery, loyalty that make it a one of a kind story""Wonderful characters and an even better story""This was my first peek at this series and author. I'll definitely be reading more from him. This is an interesting short read. Lots of action and sometimes gory descriptive details. It's a nice introduction to a couple of the characters and really sets the stage for what's to come. This appears to be a vast new world that I'm ready to learn more about."...for the Hector Reborn saga: "...I couldn't put it down. Amongst all the fantasy and action, the strongest part of the story is Hector's character. He is governed by honour and loyalty - which not only leads him into conflict, but leads him to cause a disaster. We see many sides of him, from his personal strength, to his heartbreak and loss, to a desperation to fix the terrible things he causes... to him being almost destroyed by another twist in the novel... very cleverly written - I highly recommend this book."

Frozen suicides, gunshot victims and shredded corpses. What the hell is going on in Shilsville? And what are the Little Men? Two men investigate: Dave Renfield, a Native American detective, and Nick Guggenheim, a retired old cop. A combination of tough youth and grizzled dedication. What begins as a series of baffling deaths evolves into a desperate battle for survival against a horror the police can barely believe in. The Little Men have been unleashed and their sole purpose is to slaughter... It's kill or be killed - with the lives of an entire town hanging in the balance. A single Little Man is lightning-fast, vicious and utterly deadly... Dave and Nick face a horde of these grotesque beings. The pair emerge from one conflict wounded and exhausted, only to rush for a final lethal showdown... Can they destroy their relentless aggressors or will the town of Shilsville be exterminated in a wave of relentless carnage? 'The Little Men' is is the tenth in the series of Short Horror Tales - quick reads written to captivate the reader with thrills, chills and unexpected twists. Reviews from this author's horror releases: "...thoroughly spooky, enticing and well written from start to finish.""...great... I could feel the fear...""...shows true mastery of the short horror story... a wildly imaginative antagonist unlike anything I've read before... a quick, captivating read full of horror and thrills. The tense action and suspense of Glancing Blow make it incredibly hard to put down..."(Glancing Blow - Short Horror Tales #1)"...When the blood starts to splatter, Nigel's day gets really rough. Thompson has devised a brilliantly brutal creature to sic on his leading man. Creative and twisted, the monster is a total terror... Hooker is an absolutely insane, blood-pumping ride... With a wicked cool monster and a page-turning climax, this is one Creature Feature you won't want to miss out on..."(Hooker - Short Horror Tales #2)"Great short story..."(Ignition Source - Short Horror Tales #4)"...well-written, descriptive and enthralling page-turner, that's not for the faint-hearted... The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat..."(God Of War)"...extremely well written and very dark. The author did a great job of creating a palpable sense of doom that surrounds the main character from the beginning, and then creating more tension and horror as the story went on..."(Into The Hole)

Explore the Yorkshire town of Whitby in this fully illustrated A-Z guide to its history, people and places.

This book weaves in all the reasons why the residents of Scotland love to live here; landscape, beautiful scenery, an air of mystery and the great history of the land. Thompson conveys Verne's deep fascination with Scotland and takes the reader on a journey with Verne from his beloved Heart of Midlothian' to exploring in the Highlands. This book also explains how Verne's love for Scotland flooded into his literature. Jules Verne, pioneer in the science fiction genre, wrote world- famous books including Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Around the World in 80 Days. His literary legacy is still celebrated today, his books have scarcely been out of print and have spawned a host of films and TV adaptations. BACK COVER I still see, as in a vision, beautiful picturesque Edinburgh, with its Heart of Midlothian, and many entrancing memories; the Highlands, world-forgotten Iona, and the wild Hebrides. JULES VERNE, 1895Jules Verne's first visit to Scotland lasted a mere five days, but that was enough to instil within him a lifelong passion for the small country; a passion which had a profound impact on his literary work and fuelled his creative imagination. Two journeys, 20 years apart, and five novels set partly or wholly in Scotland, show how the influence of the country rippled all the way through his life. Jules Verne's Scotland guides the reader through Verne's journeys, first in 1859 and again in 1879, where he witnessed the majesty of Edinburgh and the industrial buzz of Glasgow together with the unspoilt beauty of the Highlands and Islands. As well as providing insights into Verne's travels in Scotland, Ian Thompson provides analysis of novels such as The Underground City and The Green Ray that immortalise Scotland in their pages. Thompson evokes the history of the land, the rugged scenery and the enduring spirit of Scotland, which remained in Verne's memory all his life and was evoked with passion in his storytelling.

A valuable reference and pedagogical tool for teachers and teacher educators on key issues related to teaching pupils from disadvantaged and impoverished backgrounds.

Whitby is a beautiful fishing town on the North Yorkshire coast, best known for its fish and chip restaurants and its connections with the world's most famous vampire - Dracula. But, did you know that Whitby has more secrets locked away among the narrow streets and beneath the tall cliffs?Why are Easter celebrations a result of a meeting in Whitby? What Whitby innovation kept people safe at sea until the invention of radar? Who or what is buried in the mysterious grave with the skulls and crossbones? And what secrets lurk beneath the waves off its coast?In Secret Whitby you'll find the answers to these questions, and many more revelations that will surprise you and keep you guessing with every turn of the page.

DRACULA is such an iconic figure that he has inspired hundreds of films and television programmes for over a century. He has appeared in over 215 films and, since its publication in 1897, Dracula has never been out of print. Most people have a very strong image of Dracula and for many the seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire is a big part of this. Indeed, many of the scenes in Dracula were places that Bram Stoker regularly visited. Ian Thompson has had a lifelong interest in horror films and scary stories, and Dracula is a story that has fascinated him. As a result, he has made many pilgrimages to Whitby. In this fascinating book, the reader is taken around Dracula's Whitby, to the very places Bram Stoker and his Dracula frequented. This book will inspire not only fans of Bram stoker's literary creation, but also visitors and residents alike.

Teaching and Learning Early Number is a bestselling guide for all trainee and practising Early Years teachers and classroom assistants. It provides an accessible guide to a wide range of research evidence about the teaching and learning of early number.

The book examines the three principal value systems which influence landscape architectural practice: the aesthetic, the social and the environmental and seeks to discover the role that the profession should follow.