Bøker av Stephen Elder

Swan Song is the companion volume to Stephen Elder's first collection of essays (Little Book of Essays) published in 2012. Topics range from political satire ("Hurricane Isaac and the Republicans") to social commentary ("The Slenderman Horror") to musings concerning literature ("Jane Eyre") to personal observations ("About Saint Francis"). The entertaining collection combines insight with humor to provide a clear-eyed window on our times.

"Rhymes For Our Times" is a collection of poems (including some that actually rhyme) ranging from prayer for professions to last thoughts of a dying insect, published and unpublished song lyrics, and questions of existence.

Enginewitch is a diatribe masked as a sci-fi novel. It is based on current events that add new fodder daily (and much faster than can be digested). The Enginewitch is Shiloh Alderman, a young woman who can control electricity with her mind. She is recruited into the CIA where she is drawn into a daring plot. The president's total lack of government experience, clueless foreign policy, incessant lying, disregard for law, and delusional tweets have marked him as America's greatest security risk according to an analysis by the intelligence agencies. Their conclusion that America will soon be either at war with China, or embroiled in a civil war. An act without precedent is called for. Enter the Enginewitch, who faces a terrible conflict between patriotism and personal belief. Her decision can save or doom the country.

The narrator of The Edenite Case is Ellit2, a detective in the Galactic Union's Division 51. Cephs are loners by temperament. When Ellit2 is assigned a partner, a human no less, the Ceph is very unhappy. The two detectives gradually reach a working accord that becomes deep respect and affection. Ellit2 and Rae Maxxon are tasked with investigating atrocities committed by one group of humans (militant Edenites) against another (non-militant Edenites). They travel to several worlds where they are forced to be both diplomats and warriors. They also have to navigate emerging intrigues within the Galactic Council. With the help of a talented crew of several species, the two detectives manage to solve the case and avoid entrapment in the Council intrigue.

A look at life through the eyes of Grift and Graft, corvine students of mankind. The Crow Chronicles describes how two crows move from the open countryside into town. The two friends have to adjust to a lot of things, such as traffic, pizza, and several raccoons who have already made the transition to city life. Their biggest adjustment is to humans. Grift and Graft even learn to read in order to better study the twoleggers. Along the way, the crows make several new friends, but things do not turn out at all like they imagined. This humorous exploration of the similarities between humans and animals is aimed at older children, but adults will also enjoy it.

A fascinating look at the world through the eyes of various beings. Angels, Love, & Crows has something for everyone, from humorous short stories about creatures, to science fiction, romance, and a children's story. As the title promises, there are also several stories about angels. "A most enjoyable afternoon," says author Tori Napoli.

College student Sandra Neuermann is abducted and brutally assaulted. She escapes her captors, but cannot escape the depression that follows. An alert counselor figures out what she needs: revenge! He refers her to Nemesis, a secret organization that targets rapists and sex traffickers. The field operatives of Nemesis are called "e;Furies"e; and they are formidableand successful! Neuermann dismantles a cruel trafficking mob in New York City while Nemesis manages to keep below the government's radar. When Neuermann begins a relationship with a handsome and gentle elementary school teacher, the straight line of her life is disrupted. She struggles to find a balance between the two very different worlds of being a Fury and being in love. "e;Neuermann is a well-established protagonistThe ending may shock more than a few readers, but it definitely packs a dramatic punchAn assassin story that delivers action while shrewdly examining the consequences."e; -Kirkus Reviews

When a stranger named Frank shows up at a small housing development, everything seems to take a turn for the better. The new head carpenter soon gains the respect and admiration of everyone he meets. But a routine background check on Frank turns out blank, and this soon attracts government attention. An investigation uncovers some details about Frank, but the incredible reality of his life remains a mystery. Frank's real past has left him completely unprepared for his present involvement, and departure seems to be the only way out. But it's not that easy - the people whose lives Frank has touched vow not to let that happen, and Frank is caught in the middle.

The Shining Man and his wife return on another mission. When Filiae Mundi, a wealthy but secretive organization, nominates Elaine to its governing Council, Frank and Elaine go to Washington, a nexus of power and multilayered danger. Elaine proposes an initiative to put more women into elective office in an effort to fix the dysfunctional Congress. If successful, her plan may save the world, but it could mean exposing Frank as well as the organization itself to unwanted public attention. Frank manages to maintain his ongoing ministry to the animal world, but an unexpected turn of events taxes his powers to their limit.

At the end of Frank, Saint Francis was released from his centuries-long emissary duty to marry Elaine Azerian, a small-town veterinarian. In The Shining Man's Wife, the saint is recalled to "active duty," and is sent west on a mission to a national park where a startling chain of events unfolds. A local TV station films Frank and Elaine's dramatic rescue of a bison herd, and "Ride through Fire" goes nationwide. Elaine appears on Larry King and Oprah, and Ms. Winfrey inspires her to start up a foundation to help the underfunded national parks. Frank and Elaine soon attract the attention of a secretive philanthropic organization called Filiae Mundi (Daughters of the World). The Daughters ask them to solve an environmental problem at their remote mountain headquarters. In between helping the Park Service and Filiae Mundi, Frank and Elaine discover that their godson has a strange healing power and they must protect him from unwanted attention.

"Ye Gods!" 1. exclamation of surprise 2. collection of short stories ranging from dark whimsy to scathing satire. Warning: this collection contains occasional wry humor, biting political commentary, social criticism, and dire prognostication. Side effects include but are not limited to: laughter, head shaking, and 3 AM epiphanies. Occasional tears have been reported. Characters are taken from various pantheons (Zeus, Shiva), classical literature/mythology (Icarus), history (Custer), and real life (Bigfoot, space aliens). This collection is intended to relieve the symptoms of boredom and ennui. It may be taken straight or with a grain of salt. Store in brightly lit areas such as beside a comfortable chair or on a bedside table.