Ride Out Cold

“A fascinating look into the strange and sometimes unbelievable history of hypothermic medicine. Jaekl weaves together a story that is part history lesson and part science thriller. This is truly a must-read for any fan of science and science fiction!” —Douglas Talk, MD/MPH, chief medical consultant, SpaceWorks Inc., Human Torpor Project The meaning of the word “hypothermia” has Greek origins and roughly translates to “less heat.” Its symptoms can be deadly—shivering, followed by confusion, irrationality, and even the illusion of feeling hot. But hypothermia has another side—it can be therapeutic. In Out Cold, science writer Phil Jaekl chronicles the underappreciated story of human innovation with cold, from Ancient Egypt, where it was used to treat skin irritations, to eighteenth-century London, where scientists used it in their first explorations of suspended animation. Throughout history, physicians have used cold to innovate life extension, enable distant space missions, and explore consciousness. Hypothermia may still conjure macabre images, like the bodies littering Mt. Everest and disembodied heads in cryo-freezers, but the reality is that modern science has invented numerous new life-saving cooling techniques based on what we’ve learned over the centuries. And Out Cold reveals a surprisingly warm future for this chilling state.

'Bill Bryson on two wheels' Independent Scaling a new peak of rash over-ambition, Tim Moore tackles the 9,000km route of the old Iron Curtain on a tiny-wheeled, two-geared East German shopping bike. Asking for trouble and getting it, he sets off at the Arctic winter’s brutal height, bullying his plucky MIFA 900 through the endless and massively sub-zero desolation of snowbound Finland. Haunted throughout the journey by the border detritus of watchtowers and rusted razor wire, Moore reflects on the curdling of the Communist dream, and the memories of a Cold War generation reared on the fear of apocalypse – at a time of ratcheting East-West tension. After three months, 20 countries and a 58-degree jaunt up the centigrade scale, man and bike finally wobble up to a Black Sea beach in Bulgaria, older and wiser, but mainly older.

Felicity finds herself getting closer to the sexy, alpha hottie she just met. She could seriously see herself falling for him, but she wonders if she’s ready for a second chance at love. Can she let go of the past and trust Niall? Can she accept him and all he has to offer? Niall is running out of time. His mission to find a mate and discover why the veil between their worlds has lifted means trusting Felicity completely. Can they find a way to work together? Reader Note: This novella is installment number three of a serial romance. This book is for those who are 18+. It contains explicit language, sexual situations, and a cliffhanger. However, if you like shapeshifter romance, a púca shifter who can’t resist his curvy woman, and a dash of humor, then this is the story for you. Please read these books in order. Enjoy!

Felicity finds herself getting closer to the sexy, alpha hottie she just met. She could seriously see herself falling for him, but she wonders if she's ready for a second chance at love. Can she let go of the past and trust Niall? Can she accept him and all he has to offer? Niall is running out of time. His mission to find a mate and discover why the veil between their worlds has lifted means trusting Felicity completely. Can they find a way to work together?

Neil Dalton's foundation is already cracking. Grief, guilt, and PTSD have ruled his life since a terrible crime tore his world apart last year, and he's dreading a holiday visit with the family he simultaneously needs and resents. Then someone from his past shows up and rattles that shaky foundation right out from under him. First a war nearly destroyed Jeremy Kelley, then his family threw him out when he needed them the most. Now he's barely holding on emotionally. He spends his last dollar to get to Chicago and prays his former best friend won't leave him out in the cold. Neil and Jeremy spend the holidays with Neil's family in their hometown of Omaha. They struggle to deal with families, flashbacks... and feelings that haven't even begun to fade since their last failed attempt at more than friends. As they try to repair their fractured psyches and rebuild damaged bridges, they rely on each other more than ever, but they can't deny the mutual attraction that's existed since before they were both emotionally battered and scarred. If they couldn't make it work back then, how in the world can they pull it off now?

When Karl, the schizophrenic, ex-GI with post traumatic issues shows up on Duffy’s caseload talking about governmental conspiracy predictions Duff takes it in stride. When Karl’s terrorist predictions start coming true and he prattles on about the motives of defense contractors, security firms and the profits of war, Duff begins to pay attention. But when Duff suffers his own traumatic brain injury getting knocked out in the ring, Karl doesn’t look so crazy any more. With his own sanity on the line Duffy, Al and Karl travel across the country to foil the terrorists at the Notre Dame football opener and the Columbine-type massacre. Oh yeah, and in the meantime there s that evil basset hound puppymill to deal with. Step into the ring for round three and join Duffy, Al the basset hound, that collection of lovable drunks, the Fearsome Foursome for their greatest adventure yet. Pull up a bar stool, crack a cold Schlitz, let Elvis light up the jukebox and get ready for the most therapeutic social worker moonlighting as a pro boxer. When Duffy hears the bell everyone should keep their guard up. Praise for OUT COLD: “Out Cold floored me with a quick one two of the serious and seriously funny. Schreck’s unique blending of the absurd and the sublime along with his rather oddball cast of characters makes Out Cold a great read.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, two-time Shamus Award winning author of Empty Ever After “Out Cold is a fast, funny, rip-roaring read, and Shreck’s wit and humor shines through on every page. But what I love most about Schreck’s creation, Duffy Dombrowski, is the decency and dignity with which he treats the unforgettable cast of loonies, addicts, and criminals who parade through his office. I haven’t cared this much about a protagonist in a good long while. Duffy is real hero and a true original.” —Blake Crouch, author of Abandon “Tom Schreck will knock you to the mat with a sucker punch of laughs. Out Cold is an expert one-two combination of humor and humanity.” —Mario Acevedo, author of Jailbait Zombie

Cold Wars tells the story of the common cold, the most widespread disease of all. From ancient Egypt to the space age, colds have plagued mankind, and many attempts have been made to find a cure. Today, we spend millions of pounds on remedies and businesses lose millions of pounds through employee sickness- but are we any closer to conquering the cold? In the aftermath of the Second World War, a concerted effort was made in the UK to resolve the scientific conundrum of the common cold. A Common Cold Unit was established near Salisbury, making use of some rather primitive facilities provided by the American Red Cross, and for nearly 50 years was part of the British medical establishment. Much of the research was done on volunteers, who came in large numbers to the CCU to spend days in isolation while scientists attempted to give them a cold. Many eminent scientists, including James Lovelock, were part of the attempt to understand the common cold. This book begins with a brief history of colds through the centuries, describing what earlier generations believed and the strange treatments they tried. That the cold was caused by a virus was only uncovered at the beginning of the last century. The authors vividly describe the establishment of the Common Cold Unit, and its work in uncovering the causes and transmission of the cold and analysing possible treatments. Finally, they assess the progress made in recent years in understanding the psychological aspects of colds, and the latest research on prevention and cures. Cold Wars offers a fascinating account of an eccentric, but effective, attempt to unravel the mysteries of the common cold.

Things that go bump in the night, disembodied voices, footsteps in an empty stairwell, an icy hand on your shoulder… let your imagination run wild as you read about North and South Dakota’s most extraordinary apparitions, sinister spooks, and bizarre beasts.