Author: Stephen Hunter File Type: epub FromStarred Review The idea that Stephen Hunter could write a Bob Lee Swagger novel in which the legendary Vietnam sniper doesnt pull a single trigger seems inconceivable. Not that there isnt plenty of trigger-pulling by others in this tale of a contemporary marine sniper gone rogue. Swagger, now in his 60s, is drafted by the FBI to find Sergeant Roy Cruz, who was presumed dead after his attempted assassination of an Afghan warlord went awry. The warlord has now changed sides and is being groomed as our man in Kabul, but the resurfaced Cruz isnt buying the conversion and appears determined to finish his original mission. Swagger, charged with stopping any attempt on the Afghan leaders life, soon finds himself sympathizing with his fellow sniper and convinced that CIA generals are behind a secret program to ramp up the war on terror. Its a juicy premise, which Hunter admits adapting from Patrick Alexanders 1977 Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal transformed to a contemporary setting, it evokes the government-treachery themes of 24 but does so with less cartoony derring-do and a considerably more nuanced exploration of the psychology of the soldier. Only the revelation of a connection between Swagger and Cruz seems a bit artificial, but this is a top-notch thriller all the same, showing that Bob the Nailer is just as (well, almost as) compelling a hero without his guns. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY I, Sniper, Hunters previous Swagger novel (85,000 hardcovers in print), remained on the New York Times best-seller list longer than any of his previous novels, and this one will ride the same wave. --Bill Ott Review[A] juicy premise, which Hunter admits adapting from Patrick Alexanders 1977 Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal transformed to a contemporary setting, it evokes the government-treachery themes of 24 but does so with less cartoony derring-do and a considerably more nuanced exploration of the psychology of the soldier. . . . A top-notch thriller.Booklist (starred review) Stellar . . . Solid characterization complements the tight, fast-moving plot._Publishers Weekly_ (starred review) In Hunters latest, Bob Lee Swagger stalks Bob Lee Swagger. Well, just about. If anyone could be more valorous, more skilled and resourceful, more uncompromisingly upright, and at the same time more downright deadly than Bob Lee Swagger, it would have to be Gunnery Sergeant Ray Cruz. . . . [An] intricate, interchanging game of predator to prey and prey to predator._Kirkus Reviews_ Like good Scotch, Swagger ages marvelously and, in a similar way, even seems to mellow. . . . Recommended for readers who enjoy a lot of satisfying action, adventure, violence, and an extremely engaging hero._Library Journal_

Author: Branko Gjurgjan File Type: pdf

Author: Murasaki Shikibu File Type: epub Expressions of passion and heartbreak, written by Murasaki Shikibu 1,000 years ago, transcend time and culture in this new translation of the poetry in the first 33 chapters of The Tale of Genji. It is the relationship between the novels characters and the poetry that creates the beauty and sustained erotic tone of Lady Murasakis story. For the first time, these 400+ poems are presented in the increasingly popular format of tanka (5-7-5-7-7), along with extended notes that reveal the hidden details and depth of meaning in Murasakis real and fictional worlds.**

Author: Alberta Andreotti File Type: pdf Globalised Minds, Roots in the City utilises empirical evidence from four European cities to explore the role of urban upper middle classes in the transformations experienced by contemporary European societies. ul lPresents new empirical evidence collected through an original comparative research about professionals and managers in four European cities in three countriesl lFeatures an innovative combination of approaches, methods, and techniques in its analyses of European post-national societiesl lReveals how segments of Europes urban population are adopting exit or partial exit strategies in respect to the nation statel lUtilises approaches from classic urban sociology, globalization and mobility studies, and spatial class analysisl lIncludes in depth interviews, social networking techniques, and classic questions of political representation and valuesl ul **