Puppet Master Volume 5

For the first time in nearly 30 years the Bodega Bay Inn is open for business. Families, business men, and couples just looking to get away have flocked to the isolated ocean-side hotel. Even the puppets have been behaving under the guidance of Anthony. But some people just can t let a good thing last. VACANY collects issues 16-18 of the ongoing Puppet Master series!"

In this fifth and final volume of Miyuki Miyabe’s monumental work, Koichi Amikawa’s book Killer At Large championing Kazuaki Takai’s innocence becomes an instant bestseller, and as his celebrity burgeons Amikawa’s control over Takai’s sister Yumiko tightens. Humiliated professionally and with her marriage in tatters, Shigeko Maehata begins investigating Amikawa’s background and the truth begins to dawn on her, leading her to his lodge. A final dramatic showdown brings the series to a thrilling close. Available in e-book format in five separate volumes. Other e-books in English by Miyuki Miyabe: Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo The Book of Heroes ICO: Castle in the Mist Brave Story Praise for Miyabe: “A window into contemporary Japanese life.” -San Francisco Chronicle “Enormously compelling… combining expert pacing and psychological nuance to ultimately haunting effect.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review “Miyabe is a subtle observer of a country on the cusp. Her American readers can only hope for more chances to see through her eyes.” -The Los Angeles Times “Absorbing… an artful blending of puzzle-solving and social commentary.” -Washington Post

This book is a comprehensive history of the most successful straight-to-video horror franchise of all time: Puppet Master. It provides an in-depth exploration of all 14 films to date--including a made-for-TV crossover and a theatrical reboot--and the action figures, comics, and other merchandise that have helped to keep the brand alive for the past 30 years. Puppet Master was the first film for independent producer extraordinaire Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment, launching a franchise and a micro-budget studio that have both continued to this day. What led to the film's success? How did a little movie about killer puppets, designed to cater to the then-booming video market, wind up surviving video stores themselves? How did a series that had never even had a theatrical entry wind up with an unusually successful toy series? All of these questions are answered within these pages. Featuring new interviews with some of the biggest creative minds behind the franchise, as well as dozens of behind-the-scenes photos, this book is the ultimate guide to horror's most murderous marionettes.

Now in Mass Market. An Epic Battle Against Mind-Controlling Alien Invaders as Only Robert A. Heinlein, the Best-Selling Grand Master of Science Fiction, Could Tell It. “One of the most influential writers in American literature.” —The New York Times Book Review. First came the news that a flying saucer had landed in Iowa. Then came the announcement that the whole thing was a hoax. End of story. Case closed. Except that two agents of the most secret intelligence agency in the U.S. government were on the scene and disappeared without reporting in. And four more agents who were sent in also disappeared. So the head of the agency and his two top agents went in and managed to get out with their discovery: an invasion is underway by slug-like aliens who can touch a human and completely control his or her mind. What the humans know, they know. What the slugs want, no matter what, the human will do. And most of Iowa is already under their control. Sam Cavanaugh was one of the agents who discovered the truth. Unfortunately, that was just before he was taken over by one of the aliens and began working for the invaders, with no will of his own. And he has just learned that a high official in the Treasury Department is now under control of the aliens. Since the Treasury Department includes the Secret Service, which safeguards the President of the United States, control of the entire nation is near at hand .

This report examines the use of these entities in nearly all cases of corruption. It builds upon case law, interviews with investigators, corporate registries and financial institutions and a 'mystery shopping' exercise to provide evidence of this criminal practice.

In volume 4 of Miyuki Miyabe’s blockbuster mystery, the police investigation into the serial killings focuses on identifying the women depicted in a stash of horrific photos and videos found in Hiromi Kurihashi’s Tokyo apartment, and locating the killers’ hideout. Meanwhile, Shigeko Maehata’s journalistic career takes off with her in-depth reports on the serial killings. A stroke of good fortune brings her into contact with Yumiko Takai as well as Koichi Amikawa, also known as Peace, who has taken Yumiko under his wing and is supporting her claims that her brother was innocent. Available in e-book format in five separate volumes, to be released through summer 2016. Other e-books in English by Miyuki Miyabe: Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo The Book of Heroes ICO: Castle in the Mist Brave Story Praise for Miyabe: “A window into contemporary Japanese life.” ?San Francisco Chronicle “Enormously compelling… combining expert pacing and psychological nuance to ultimately haunting effect.” ?Publishers Weekly, starred review “Miyabe is a subtle observer of a country on the cusp. Her American readers can only hope for more chances to see through her eyes.” ?The Los Angeles Times “Absorbing… an artful blending of puzzle-solving and social commentary.” ?Washington Post

From riches to rags, Milena is growing up in the city of Prague at the turn of the twentieth century. Her parents' once prosperous theatre lies in disrepair and her life seems to be in ruins, and has been since that fateful night her father died in a tragic accident and Milena's beautiful, talented Mother went missing. No trace of her has been found. But Milena has never lost hope that she will come back. The day she meets the flamboyant Puppet Master and his menacing protégés, the twins Zdenko and Zdenka, under the shadow of Prague's famous Astronomical Clock in the Old Town square is, coincidentally, the date of her mother's birthday. And it's the day Milena's grandmother chooses to reveal to her the story of her ancestors... and of her legacy. Or perhaps it's not such a coincidence. Joanne Owen's debut novel skilfully mingles the legends of Bohemia in a story rich in the traditions of circus, theatre and magic, all set in a city waiting to lay bare a myriad of secrets. Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2009 and the Carnegie Medal.

Gentleman adventurer Nick Ward has tracked down a third installment of Charlie Small’s incredible life story. The battered journal was found beneath the seat of a bus shelter in Pimlico. Passed into the hands of a collector of dubious repute, it took swift work from Nick to prevent the story from vanishing forever! Having finally escaped from the perfidious pirates, Charlie travels though icy waters and hair-raising mountains and encounters man-eating bats, a wild dog whose bark is worse than his bite, and ultimately finds himself ensnared by the evil Puppet Master, a figure of pure unadulterated evil. Will Charlie manage to escape his clutches, or will he remain a puppet forever, never to adventure again? Charlie Small is a keen amateur explorer. His interests include climbing trees, collecting things, playing computer games, and football. He also enjoys conversing in the secret language of the gorillas. His present whereabouts is unknown, but we understand that he’s hoping to be home in time for tea.