New Releases by Michael Scott

What is the Christian literary imagination? That question was put to the writers who have contributed to this collection of essays. They were asked, in answering it, to choose and write about a work of literature that seemed to them to illustrate one of the varied ways in which the Christian imagination sees the world, to define by example the meaning of the term. A variety of beliefs (or indeed unbeliefs) are expressed by the contributors and authors they selected to discuss. But what the essays have in common is an inquiry into the nature of belief and the means by which the reader’s imagination can itself be stirred through the work of the author under discussion. The book is structured chronologically, with essays on literature ranging from Anglo-Saxon England to 21st-Century America, but the contributors show a freedom of movement and reference across the centuries in their essays, sometimes deliberately juxtaposing the historical with the contemporary. What emerges from the collection is a shared inquiry into the enduring Christian vision of God’s engagement with the world.

Discover the magical world of the bestselling series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel as a graphic novel! Experience Sophie and Josh''s first adventure like never before in this adaptation complete with stunning full-color illustrations by Chris Chalik. The truth: Nicholas Flamel''s tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. Nicholas Flamel is the greatest Alchemyst to ever live. The records show that he died in 1418, but what if he''s actually been making the elixir of life for centuries? The secrets to eternal life are hidden within the book he protects--the Book of Abraham the Mage. It''s the most powerful book that has ever existed, and in the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. And that''s exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. There is one hope. If the prophecy is true, Sophie and Josh Newman have the power to save everyone. Now they just have to learn to use it.

This visual biography explores the legendary career of motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi, including his victories, rivalries, and racing class transitions across Aprilia, Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati race bikes. From the day he was born into a racing family on February 16, 1979, Valentino Rossi seemed destined for racing greatness. Racing karts and minimotos as a child, he progressed to international motorcycle competition in 1996, riding for Aprilia in the 125cc class; Rossi won his first World Championship the following year. Advancing to MotoGP’s premier class in 2000, Rossi would go on to win nine Grand Prix World Championships and score 89 victories in 371 starts. In this richly illustrated review of the most successful MotoGP career of the twenty-first century, relive Rossi’s incredible battles against the likes of Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau, Dani Pedrosa, and more and how they inspired three films (Faster, Fastest, and Hitting the Apex). Long-time motojournalist and author Michael Scott was at the circuit for nearly all of Rossi''s 432 grand prix races and every one of his 115 grand prix wins. Rossi’s incredible charm, wit, and irreverence earned him a huge fan base and his indomitable will to win cemented his racing legend. Valentino Rossi: Life of a Legend recounts it all.

Myths, legends, and magic are woven together in a collection of enthralling Irish fairy tales from the New York Times bestselling author of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. A haunting midnight dance that steals children away... An eerie fairy island that appears once every seven years... A magical silver horse that emerges from the depths of a dark lake... Venture into the Otherworld with eleven timeless, enchanting Irish fairy tales that uncover the haunting, hidden world of the Sidhe--the fairy-folk. A master of Irish mythology, bestselling author Michael Scott has crafted stories guaranteed to enthrall young readers who love magic, legends, and lore. And don''t miss the companion collection of Irish folktales, Legends & Lore!

Myths, legends, and magic are woven together in a collection of enthralling Irish folktales from the New York Times bestselling author of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. A competition to become King of the Leprechauns... A trick designed to fool the Queen of the Fairies... A terrifying lake monster confronted by the unlikeliest of heroes... Nine Irish legends come to life in these timeless, action-packed folktales about mythological creatures and epic heroes. A master of Irish mythology, bestselling author Michael Scott has crafted stories guaranteed to enthrall young readers who love magic, legends, and lore. And don''t miss the companion collection of Irish fairy tales, Magic & Myth!

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J. K. Rowling''s Harry Potter series—but did you know he really lived? You can learn his secrets in the bestselling Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, and discover the Lost Stories—tales of myth, legend, and magic, previously lost to history and never before seen in print! Enter the world of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel like you never have before. The legendary alchemyst Nicholas Flamel and his wife, the sorceress Perenelle, traveled the globe for centuries before they discovered the Twins of Legend, Josh and Sophie Newman. Secrets abound—and now you can discover even more of the Flamels’ story in this volume of eight stories set in the world of the internationally bestselling series. Stand with the Flamels when they find the Codex, the book that holds the secret to their immortality. Follow Machiavelli under the perilous streets of Paris. Join Scatty and her twin, Aoife, as they journey through mysterious Shadowrealms. Within these pages you will meet enemies old and new and forge alliances with characters from history, myth, and legend, all as you uncover new mysteries and discover answers to questions remaining in the original series. The Lost Stories Collection contains never-seen-in-print stories featuring series favorites like Niccolò Machiavelli, Billy the Kid, and Virginia Dare, as well as new characters like Edgar Allan Poe and St. Nicholas. Every myth holds a grain of truth. Discover the truth now!

This illustrated history jam packed with more than 150 stunning photographs celebrates high performance motorbike racing since the start of the world championship in 1949.The daring exploits of motorcycle race legends Valentino Rossi, Barry Sheene, Casey Stoner and John Surtees are all gloriously celebrated in Moto GP: The Illustrated History. Each racing decade is dissected and discussed, as are the big incidents, top personalities and technological innovations. To complete the book, motorcycle racing''s greatest names – including John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and young phenom Marc Marquez – provide exclusive personal insights and accounts of what it is like to race at speeds of 180mph. Moto GP: The Illustrated History is a unique book which brilliantly conveys the exhilarating spirit of this popular sport.

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series—but did you know he really lived? And he might still be alive today! Discover the truth behind Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel with “The Ballad of Black Hawk and Billy the Kid,” an ebook original short story. Billy the Kid is immortal. And his long life has led him down many strange and winding paths—one of which will bring him face to face with another legendary warrior, Black Hawk, for the first time. Now, that lost story is told. . . . An immortal Anasazi sorceress is on the loose, and it’s up to Black Hawk and Billy the Kid to stop her from wreaking havoc on the Americas. The woman has already destroyed her own tribe. She’s determined to wipe out Black Hawk’s people, too. But first, she’ll have to defeat him, and that’s proving more difficult than the sorceress could have ever imagined. “Fans of adventure fantasies like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will eat this one up.” —VOYA Read the whole series! The Alchemyst The Magician The Sorceress The Necromancer The Warlock The Enchantress

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series—but did you know he really lived? And he might still be alive today! Discover the truth behind Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel with “Nicholas and the Krampus,” an ebook original short story. Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel have rescued the world from destruction countless times over—but can they save Christmas as well? Now, that lost story is told. . . . It is the first Christmas after the end of World War II, and something evil is moving through New York. The ancient immortal human Sinter Klaas, better known as Kris Kringle, is being hunted by a terrifying horned creature: the goat-demon called the Krampus. When the Flamels receive a desperate call from their old friend Kris, they must devise a plan to trap the monster—and get it all done before Christmas Eve. “Fans of adventure fantasies like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will eat this one up.” —VOYA Read the whole series! The Alchemyst The Magician The Sorceress The Necromancer The Warlock The Enchantress

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series—but did you know he really lived? And he might still be alive today! Discover the truth behind Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel with “Aoife and Scathach, Shadow Twins,” an ebook original that includes two short stories. Discover two lost stories from the life of the Shadow Twins, Scathach and Aoife, told now for the first time. . . . “Aoife of the Shadows” Lost on a distant Shadowrealm, Aoife is tempted by a crystal skull older than most civilizations. If she worships it, she will be given the power to kill her twin sister, Scathach. “Scathach the Shadow in the Land of Youth” The Warrior Maid Scathach is hiding out in a dangerous Shadowrealm, the Land of Youth, and must use all her skills to prevent a war. “Fans of adventure fantasies like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will eat this one up.” —VOYA Read the whole series! The Alchemyst The Magician The Sorceress The Necromancer The Warlock The Enchantress

Includes the whole series! Nicholas Flamel appeared in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter—but did you know he really lived? And he might still be alive today! Discover the truth in Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, now in a complete 6-book collection: The Alchemyst, The Magician, The Sorceress, The Necromancer, The Warlock and The Enchantress. The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. The legend: Nicholas Flamel discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It''s the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That''s exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won''t know what''s happening until it''s too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time. “[A] A riveting fantasy…While there is plenty here to send readers rushing to their encyclopedias…those who read the book at face value will simply be caught up in the enthralling story. A fabulous read.”—SLJ, Starred

Ashton Taylor was a hypochondriac-justifiably so-with multiple and sometimes self-diagnosed issues that turned him into a bit of a misfortune teller. Always knowing he would die young-ish, and anticipating what would otherwise have been an unorganized and messy affair for others, he had thoughtfully left behind a step-by-step post-mortem plan. Choreographing circumstances and conveyors, Ash had arranged for his cremains to be distributed to the places he cherished in this world, by the people who meant the most to him-especially his patient and tolerant partner of the past twenty years, Rich Dreadfulwater. Rich, who is known by his family as Limping Rabbit, on account of a childhood tumble from a moving pickup truck, is a Seattle-based Native American defense lawyer suddenly grappling with grief, his caseload, and the task of divvying up the four pounds of his ash-rendered boyfriend into nineteen pre-labeled black plastic 35mm film canisters. Struggling with everything he''s lost, he finds himself coping with a whole lot more than his partner''s ashes. In honoring the final wishes of the man he never imagined he could live without, the mourning lawyer embarks on a quest to find his Inner Indian ... and the destiny that has always been his birthright to seize.

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series—but did you know he really lived? And he might still be alive today! Discover the truth behind Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel with the lost story “Nicholas Flamel and the Codex,” an ebook original short story. Before Nicholas Flamel became the most famous alchemist who ever lived, he was merely a mortal—until the day a mysterious hook-handed man sold him a book and changed his life, and the world, forever. Now, that lost story is told. . . . The Codex helped Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel unlock the secrets of immortality. But first, it almost killed them. With this exclusive ebook, Michael Scott offers readers a never-before-seen short story from the world of the bestselling Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series: the tale of how the Flamels became to be Guardians of the Codex through Nicholas’s first encounter with Marethyu, the hook-handed man—and their subsequent battle with John Dee’s legendary predecessor, the devious Dr. Mirabilis: Sir Robert Bacon and his mechanical man. “Fans of adventure fantasies like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will eat this one up.” —VOYA Read the whole series! The Alchemyst The Magician The Sorceress The Necromancer The Warlock The Enchantress

Building on over 20 years of virtual tape experience, the TS7760 now supports the ability to store virtual tape volumes in an object store. This IBM Redpaper publication helps you set up and configure the new cloud object storage support for IBM Cloud Object Storage (COS) or Amazon Web Services (AWS). The TS7700 supported off loading to physical tape for over two decades. Off loading to physical tape behind a TS7700 is used by hundreds of organizations around the world. By using the same hierarchical storage techniques, the TS7700 can also off load to object storage. Because object storage is cloud-based and accessible from different regions, the TS7760 Cloud Storage Tier support essentially allows the cloud to be an extension of the grid. In this IBM Redpaper publication, we provide a brief overview of cloud technology with an emphasis on Object Storage. Object Storage is used by a broad set of technologies, including those technologies that are exclusive to IBM Z®. The aim of this publication is to provide a basic understanding of cloud, Object Storage, and different ways it can be integrated into your environment. This Redpaper is intended for system architects and storage administrators with TS7700 experience who want to add the support of a Cloud Storage Tier to their TS7700 solution.

A new version of this much-loved anthology, with a brand-new story featuring the brand-new Thirteenth Doctor from literary sensation Naomi Alderman! Twelve wonderful tales of adventure, science, magic, monsters and time travel - featuring all twelve Doctors - are waiting for you in this very special Doctor Who book. And now they''re joined by a very exciting, and very exclusive, new tale - written by Naomi Alderman, author of The Power - that will star the Thirteenth Doctor, as she battles to save the universe with her three close and trusted friends. Other authors featured are: Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy, Neil Gaiman, and Holly Black.

Michael Scott Moore, a journalist and the author of Sweetness and Blood, incorporates personal narrative and rigorous investigative journalism in this profound and revelatory memoir of his three-year captivity by Somali pirates—a riveting,thoughtful, and emotionally resonant exploration of foreign policy, religious extremism, and the costs of survival. In January 2012, having covered a Somali pirate trial in Hamburg for Spiegel Online International—and funded by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting—Michael Scott Moore traveled to the Horn of Africa to write about piracy and ways to end it. In a terrible twist of fate, Moore himself was kidnapped and subsequently held captive by Somali pirates. Subjected to conditions that break even the strongest spirits—physical injury, starvation, isolation, terror—Moore’s survival is a testament to his indomitable strength of mind. In September 2014, after 977 days, he walked free when his ransom was put together by the help of several US and German institutions, friends, colleagues, and his strong-willed mother. Yet Moore’s own struggle is only part of the story: The Desert and the Sea falls at the intersection of reportage, memoir, and history. Caught between Muslim pirates, the looming threat of Al-Shabaab, and the rise of ISIS, Moore observes the worlds that surrounded him—the economics and history of piracy; the effects of post-colonialism; the politics of hostage negotiation and ransom; while also conjuring the various faces of Islam—and places his ordeal in the context of the larger political and historical issues. A sort of Catch-22 meets Black Hawk Down, The Desert and the Sea is written with dark humor, candor, and a journalist’s clinical distance and eye for detail. Moore offers an intimate and otherwise inaccessible view of life as we cannot fathom it, brilliantly weaving his own experience as a hostage with the social, economic, religious, and political factors creating it. The Desert and the Sea is wildly compelling and a book that will take its place next to titles like Den of Lions and Even Silence Has an End.

The quote on the cover of this simple and completely empty journal has been made popular by the television comedy "The Office," and is a response to an innocent sounding statement that ends up creating a humorous and obscene joke. Makes a great gift for a couple newly engaged, just married, or celebrating an anniversary, and a sentimental gift for pranksters and jokesters, fans of "The Office" and Michael Scott, Steve Carell, and the rest of the cast. *** This journal alternates between 8 LINED pages for writing and 2 BLANK pages for sketching/drawing throughout - no text. Size 5.2" x 0.2" x 8" with 110 pages total. *** Its pages can be used as a diary of milestones, a record of special memories, a place for random sketches and diagrams, a very long bucket list, a notebook for tips and tricks, and much more. Make the journal even more special by stuffing a gift certificate or a little cash into the folds. On the BACK COVER: Motion Picture: "The Office" A response to an innocent sounding statement that ends up creating a humorous and obscene joke for those who are paying attention - made even more popular by Michael Scott (Steve Carell) at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

From the day he was born into a racing family on February 16, 1979, Rossi was destined for racing greatness. Rossi started his international racing career in 1996, riding for Aprilia in the 125cc class, and won his first World Championship the following year. Rossi’s career would see him go on to win nine Grand Prix World Championships, score 87 wins in 500cc/MotoGP, and many more accolades. This visual biography covers this incredible racer’s journey, his victories, rivalries, and transitions from brand to brand. See his incredible battles against the likes of Max Biaggi, Sete Ginbernau, and Dani Pederosa, and why they inspired three films (Faster, Fastest, Hitting the Apex). Get to know Rossi’s incredible charm and wit, and why he has achieved rock-star status among racing fans.

Believing he has made the deal of a lifetime when he purchases an oversized antique mirror, shop owner Jonathan Frazer discovers that the mirror possesses malevolent properties, causing death for those who look into it.

Introduction to Counseling by Michael Scott Nystul provides an overview of counseling and the helping professions from the perspective of art and science—the science of counseling that generates a knowledge base proven to promote competency and efficacy in the practitioner, and the art of using this knowledge base to build skills that can be applied sensitively to clients in a multicultural society. The Fifth Edition has been organized into three sections: (1) an overview of counseling and the counseling process, (2) multicultural counseling and counseling theories, and (3) special approaches and settings. It continues to address key topics and issues, including gender, culture, and sexual orientation, and offers ways to integrate multiculturalism into all aspects of counseling, rather than view it as a separate entity. Highlighting emerging trends and changes in ethical codes, as well as reflecting the latest updates to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5), the book successfully illustrates the importance of art and science to modern-day counseling.

In Shakespeare''s Tragedies: All That Matters, Michael Scott explores and explains the secrets that have made Shakespeare''s tragedies so enduring that they continue to be performed, watched and studied by millions of people every year. Professor Scott concentrates on the four great tragedies - Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth - and builds an argument based around Shakespeare''s use of language to prompt the audience''s imagination and thought. This original little book, and its companion volume, Shakespeare''s Comedies, will help you understand each of the plays in the context of its oeuvre and the changing concept of Shakespearean tragedy across the centuries. Appealing to both students and general readers, this book gives a fascinating introduction to Shakespeare''s tragedies - and what matters most about them.

There are more exciting things to do around a campfire than just roast s''mores. With that in mind, Michael Scott shares a collection of ghost stories and pranks sure to instill a creepy yet fun atmosphere that will create long-lasting memories for both older children and adults for years to come. Scott-who has been writing and telling stories around campfires for several years-offers a glimpse into dark places that stimulate the imagination to travel to frightening possibilities. A mother must pay the ultimate price for cursing God. John is an apprentice at the county morgue when he decides to play a prank that goes horribly wrong. Toby, who has just returned to the community where he grew up, is about to discover that coming back may have been a bad decision. Included with the stories are fun activities, pranks, and games sure to instigate fun moments in any crowd. Book of Fears is the perfect accompaniment to a night spent by a campfire when the fire just is not enough.

Twelve bestselling authors, twelve Doctors, twelve brilliant adventures in time and space for all Doctor Who fans! This collection features all twelve original Doctor Who eshort stories, covering each of the twelve Doctors and written by a selection of wonderful children''s authors.

In Shakespeare''s Comedies: All That Matters, Mike Scott explores and explains the secrets that have made Shakespeare''s comedies so enduring that they continue to be performed, watched and studied by millions of people every year. Professor Scott focuses in turn on The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night''s Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice and builds an argument based around Shakepeare''s use of language to prompt the audience''s imagination and thought. This original little book, and its companion volume Shakespeare''s Tragedies, fills a major gap in the market for a book which will enable readers to understand a Shakesperean play in the context of its ouevre. This accessible and readable book will appeal both to students and general readers, giving a fascinating intoruduction to Shakespeare''s comedies - and what matters most about them. "''Comedy is a serious business'' says Michael Scott - it is, and his splendid short book takes it very seriously as it should, but remains lively and wonderfully readable withall." Dr Drummond Bone, Master of Balliol College, Oxford "An authoritative and expert overview of the entire fields of Shakespearean Comedy and Tragedy combined with persuasive and eminently accessible close readings of particular plays. Michael Scott brings to the task and infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of their theatrical, literary and cultural significance and he provides a clear and compelling endorsement of their continued relevance. These books provide an exemplary introduction to the complex world of Shakespearean drama, full of insights, observations, and ideas, all of which are brought firmly to bear on the abiding question of what these plays mean for us today." John Drakakis, Professor of English at the University of Stirling "Everything is so clear - no academic jargon, for instance. With Shakespeare''s Comedies, even the most critical scholars can learn something... as well as students at the start of their encounter with Shakespeare and the same for regular theatre goers. To address all three at once... has to be an accomplishment... from the Introduction to the Conclusion... to the last sentence: (the) reader will readily grasp why this series of books is called All That Matters." Professor M.L.Wine, Evanston, USA

We cannot properly understand history without a full appreciation of the spaces through which its actors moved, whether in the home or in the public sphere, and the ways in which they thought about and represented the spaces of their worlds. In this book Michael Scott employs the full range of literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence in order to demonstrate the many different ways in which spatial analysis can illuminate our understanding of Greek and Roman society and the ways in which these societies thought of, and interacted with, the spaces they occupied and created. Through a series of innovative case studies of texts, physical spaces and cultural constructs, ranging geographically across North Africa, Greece and Roman Italy, as well as an up-to-date introduction on spatial scholarship, this book provides an ideal starting point for students and non-specialists.

A comprehensive narrative history of the ancient world''s center, from its founding to its modern rediscovery The oracle and sanctuary of the Greek god Apollo at Delphi were known as the "omphalos"—the "center" or "navel"—of the ancient world for more than 1,000 years. Individuals, city leaders, and kings came from all over the Mediterranean and beyond to consult Delphi''s oracular priestess; to set up monuments to the gods; and to take part in competitions. In this richly illustrated account, Michael Scott covers the history and nature of Delphi, from the literary and archaeological evidence surrounding the site, to its rise as a center of worship, to the constant appeal of the oracle despite her cryptic prophecies. He describes how Delphi became a contested sacred site for Greeks and Romans and a storehouse for the treasures of rival city-states and foreign kings. He also examines the eventual decline of the site and how its meaning and importance have continued to be reshaped. A unique window into the center of the ancient world, Delphi will appeal to general readers, tourists, students, and specialists.

The Winter Chronicles record many tales of the folk who fled out of the west seeking refuge from the spreading dominion of the Ice. The savage, soulless warriors had destroyed the ancient civilisations, and all that survived was legend. Among those legends is the extraordinary story of Alya, a seer''s son. Still struggling to control the magic he has inherited from his father, Alya is cast adrift in a hostile land. With nothing left to lose, he embarks on a quest - to avenge the slaughter of his kin, and to rescue the girl he loves. It is a quest that will lead Alya through a world in turmoil - a world of magic and ice.

Life on Earth was intolerable - and yet Man had stayed there, his dreams and potential suffocating under the dead weight of bureaucracy. The stars were attainable - thanks to the Infall Drive - but only a few heard the call of deep space. Some had already gone to colonise a new world. The second ship was ready at last. Ready to escape the Earth''s prison; ready to seek refuge in deepest space. But it wasn''t only freedom that awaited it...

Sail away to a world of magic! Steve is a hollow man, both in his job and his personal life, until one night, near the docks of his home city. A night that changes his life. As a dockyard fight turns into something much more fantastic and deadly, Steve finds himself drawn into a world he neither understands nor believes - at first. His meeting with the mercurial Jyp leads to a raid on his office by beings not-quite-human, and the kidnapping of Clare, his secretary. Aware of strong feelings for the first time in years, Steve enlists the aid of Jyp and his roisterin friends to sail after Clare ad her captors...to Chase the Morning.

Maxie''s in trouble! Again. Only, this time it''s serious. Driving a stolen Ferrari Testarossa off a motorway flyover at something approaching Mach 1, with the police in hot pursuit, is no way to make old bones. But it''s child''s play to what follows. For Maxie, small-time thief and general low-life, has crashed into the Spiral, a strange whirlpool of time and space, where, it seems, almost anything can happen, and anyone appear. The two Elizabethan alchemists, for instance, who are convinced that Maxie can help them with their magickal endeavours. And the swashbuckling band of spectral pirates who promise Maxie power and riches beyond his wildest dreams - if only he''ll join them.