The Drums Of Chaos

CAN A HANDFUL OF HEROES STOP AN APOCALYPSE CENTURIES IN THE MAKING? Escaped gladiator-slave Simon of Gitta returns to Judea — during the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth — on a mission to avenge the deaths of his parents, seeking revenge in blood against the Roman officials who committed the murders and sold Simon into slavery. But as Simon travels the Holy Lands with his mentor Dositheus and their students Menander and llione, they gradually become entangled in a complex occult plot designed to call down a monstrous alien entity to herald a new aeon on Earth. The mysterious time traveler John Taggart (from Tierney's The Winds of Zarr) also becomes involved with Simon as their separate quests converge toward a common goal of saving all life on Earth from extinction. But can a handful of travelers really thwart a covert scheme backed by the power of the Roman Empire? As the apocalyptic supernatural events slowly unfold, Simon and his allies are in a race against time to prevent the devastation of the world. Using mystery cults and early Christian Gnosticism as his vehicle, with meticulously researched Roman history and Biblical scholarship, this is author Richard Tierney’s magnum opus: an epic Lovecraftian alternate history dark fantasy novel that features Tierney's most famous characters, Simon of Gitta and John Taggart. This novel will appeal to fans of historical fantasy and sword & sorcery fiction in the vein of Robert E. Howard, and the elements of cosmic horror and the Cthulhu Mythos will satisfy many fans of H.P. Lovecraft.

The Drums of Chaos thunder to a shattering crescendo. . . . The two worlds of Glandair and Iomard move magically together once every generation, allowing those with special powers to Walk between the worlds. This is a dangerous time when the worlds can be destroyed . . . or renewed. On Iomard, Cymel's father has been murdered by the images, and she has been trapped in the body of a white bird. Her other-world companion, Breith, has crossed from Glandair to rescue her. Lyanz, the only one who can save his world from the coming chaos, is sequestered far away. But if he is to be of any use in the upcoming conflict, he must leave his safe haven behind. Bestselling author Jo Clayton died before she could complete her masterwork, the Drums of Chaos series. Her friend and protégé, Kevin Andrew Murphy, a successful author himself, has worked closely with the outline and early chapters she completed. The result is a satisfying conclusion to this irresistible tale.

A REBEL AGAINST ROME Simon of Gitta, an escaped slave turned magician, roves the Roman Empire battling dark magic and demons, all the while pursued by Caesar’s soldiers. Join Simon as he flees across the ancient world evading cultists and Legionaries, outwitting sorcerers and Centurions, and fighting gladiators and gods, even the deities of the Cthulhu Mythos. Yet all these foes cannot prepare him for his greatest challenge: the pursuit of his lost soul-mate Helen, a love so deep even death can’t stand in its way for long. These stories were one of the inspirations for the Cthulhu Invictus campaign for the Call of Cthulhu role playing game by Chaosium. Enjoy sixteen stories combining superbly researched historical fiction with sword & sorcery and Lovecraftian horror, including: The Sword of Spartacus The Fire of Mazda The Seed of the Star-God The Blade of the Slayer The Throne of Achamoth The Emerald Tablet The Soul of Kephri The Ring of Set The Worm of Urakhu The Curse of the Crocodile The Treasure of Horemkhu The Secret of Nephren-Ka The Scroll of Thoth The Dragons of Mons Fractus The Wedding of Sheila-Na-Gog The Pillars of Melkarth Vengence Quest (poetry)

The author of the best-selling Diadem series presents the first novel in a series involving two worlds that magically conjoin once in each a generation and the good and evil wizards who move between them. Reprint.

"Haitian carnival offers a lens into popular power and politics. Political demonstrations in Haiti often manifest as musical performances. Studying carnival and political protest side by side brings insight to the musical engagement that ordinary citizens and celebrity musicians often cultivate and revere in contemporary Haiti. This book explores how the self-declared president of konpa Sweet Micky (Michel Martelly) rose to the nation's highest office while methodically crafting a political product inherently entangled with his musical product. It offers deep historical perspective on the characteristics of carnivalesque verbal play-and the performative skillset of the artist (Sweet Micky) who dominated carnival for more than a decade-including vulgarities and polemics. It moreover demonstrates that the practice of leveraging the carnivalesque for expedient political function has precedence in Haiti's history. Yet there has been profound resistance to this brand of politics led by many other high-profile artists, including Matyas and Jòj, Brothers Posse, Boukman Eksperyans, and RAM. These groups have each released popular carnival songs that have contributed to the public's discussions on what civic participation and citizenship in Haiti can and should be. Author Rebecca Dirksen presents an in-depth consideration of politically and socially engaged music and what these expressions mean for the Haitian population in the face of challenging political and economic circumstances. After the Dance, the Drums Are Heavy centers the voices of Haitian musicians and regular citizens by extensively sharing interviews and detailed analyses of musical performance in the context of contemporary events well beyond the musical realm"--

The book is the volume of “The History of Art in Qin and Han Dynasty” among a series of books of “Deep into China Histories”. The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC) and the Bamboo Annals (296 BC) describe a Xia dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) before the Shang, but no writing is known from the period The Shang ruled in the Yellow River valley, which is commonly held to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. However, Neolithic civilizations originated at various cultural centers along both the Yellow River and Yangtze River. These Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations arose millennia before the Shang. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization.The Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) supplanted the Shang and introduced the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rule. The central Zhou government began to weaken due to external and internal pressures in the 8th century BC, and the country eventually splintered into smaller states during the Spring and Autumn period. These states became independent and warred with one another in the following Warring States period. Much of traditional Chinese culture, literature and philosophy first developed during those troubled times.In 221 BC Qin Shi Huang conquered the various warring states and created for himself the title of Huangdi or "emperor" of the Qin, marking the beginning of imperial China. However, the oppressive government fell soon after his death, and was supplanted by the longer-lived Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). Successive dynasties developed bureaucratic systems that enabled the emperor to control vast territories directly. In the 21 centuries from 206 BC until AD 1912, routine administrative tasks were handled by a special elite of scholar-officials. Young men, well-versed in calligraphy, history, literature, and philosophy, were carefully selected through difficult government examinations. China's last dynasty was the Qing (1644–1912), which was replaced by the Republic of China in 1912, and in the mainland by the People's Republic of China in 1949.Chinese history has alternated between periods of political unity and peace, and periods of war and failed statehood – the most recent being the Chinese Civil War (1927–1949). China was occasionally dominated by steppe peoples, most of whom were eventually assimilated into the Han Chinese culture and population. Between eras of multiple kingdoms and warlordism, Chinese dynasties have ruled parts or all of China; in some eras control stretched as far as Xinjiang and Tibet, as at present. Traditional culture, and influences from other parts of Asia and the Western world (carried by waves of immigration, cultural assimilation, expansion, and foreign contact), form the basis of the modern culture of China.

'A fitting testament to this incredible drummer’s life and work' The Wire 'Affectionate insight and intriguing detail . . . The illumination is invaluable' Mojo 'For anyone interested in the mind that created the powerful beats of Can. . . This book is essential' Modern Drummer Jaki Liebezeit is a legendary figure among musicians, best remembered as the groove and power behind the influential German band Can. Until now, though, few have known about his most significant legacy: a complete practical theory of drumming, based on the natural principles of movement he observed during his lifelong research into the discipline. Following Jaki's unexpected death in 2017, producer Jono Podmore and journalist John Payne contacted his drum group Drums Off Chaos and long-term collaborator Burnt Friedman to see if the theory could be pieced together before it was lost or corrupted. Fortunately the basic principles had already been transcribed, and with the help of Jaki's widow Birgit Berger; drummers Reiner Linke, Maf Retter and Gero Sprafke; composer Manos Tsangaris; and discographer Bryan O'Connell, they have assembled a comprehensive account of not only the drum theory, but also Jaki's profound conceptual and pragmatic vision as applied throughout his life. This landmark book features a host of previously unseen photos including reproductions of Jaki's own artwork, alongside the first-ever discography to cover the full, unparalleled range of his recordings.

Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander series blends rich historical fiction with riveting adventure and a truly epic love story. Now, with this convenient eight-volume eBook bundle, discover the novels that have won Gabaldon millions of fans and introduced readers to the brilliant Claire Randall and valiant Highlander Jamie Fraser. “Great fun . . . marvelous and fantastic adventures, romance, sex . . . perfect escape reading.” —San Francisco Chronicle, on Outlander The year is 1946. Claire Randall is a British ex-combat nurse on a postwar second honeymoon with her husband in the Scottish Highlands. Walking alone one afternoon, she passes through a circle of standing stones and is hurled back in time to a Scotland simmering with war in the year of our Lord 1743. Catapulted into an intrigue of rival clans and rising armies that threatens her life, she’s obliged to wed James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, as the only way to survive. Thus begins a series of unrivaled storytelling that has become a modern classic. This bundle includes: OUTLANDER DRAGONFLY IN AMBER VOYAGER DRUMS OF AUTUMN THE FIERY CROSS A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES AN ECHO IN THE BONE THE CUSTOM OF THE ARMY (E-NOVELLA) “Diana Gabaldon is a born storyteller . . . the pages practically turn themselves.” —The Arizona Republic, on Dragonfly in Amber “A feast for ravenous readers of eighteenth-century Scottish history, heroism, and romance.” —Kirkus Reviews, on Outlander