Ben Thompson—author of Badass, creator of the epic website badassoftheweek.com, and the Internet’s foremost expert on badassitude—is back to enthrall lovers of skull-smashing, bone-crushing bad behavior with his latest compendium, Badass: The Birth of a Legend. Like its macho predecessor, Badass: The Birth of a Legend celebrates fearless berserkers of every stripe, male and female, but this time pulls them from the hoary pages of mythology, fantasy fiction, and the silver screen—from Zeus to Beowulf to Dirty Harry Callahan, the most merciless gods, monsters, heroes, villains, and mythical creatures ever envisioned. Forget your whiny Twilight vampires and werewolves, these badasses kick butt!

Masculinity and Patriarchal Villainy in the British Novel: From Hitler to Voldemort sits at the intersection of literary studies and masculinity studies, arguing that the villain, in many works of contemporary British fiction, is a patriarchal figure that embodies an excess of patriarchal power that needs to be controlled by the hero. The villains' stories are enactments of empowerment fantasies and cautionary tales against abusing patriarchal power. While providing readers with in-depth studies of some of the most popular contemporary fiction villans, Sara Martín shows how current representations of the villain are not only measured against previous literary characters but also against the real-life figure of the archvillain Adolf Hitler.

This comprehensive bibliography covers writings about vampires and related creatures from the 19th century to the present. More than 6,000 entries document the vampire's penetration of Western culture, from scholarly discourse, to popular culture, politics and cook books. Sections by topic list works covering various aspects, including general sources, folklore and history, vampires in literature, music and art, metaphorical vampires and the contemporary vampire community. Vampires from film and television--from Bela Lugosi's Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood and the Twilight Saga--are well represented.

Ideas of masculinity and femininity become sharply defined in war-reliant societies, resulting in a presumed enmity between men and women. This so-called battle of the sexes intensifies in tandem with dispositions to fight actual wars. These are among the fascinating discoveries Tom Digby shares in Love and War, which describes the making and manipulation of gender in both militaristic and nonmilitaristic societies and the consequences for men and women in their personal, romantic, sexual, and professional lives. Drawing on cross-cultural comparisons and examples from popular media, including sports culture, the rise of ÒgonzoÓ and ÒbangbusÓ pornography, and ÒInternet trolls,Ó Digby shows how misogyny and toughness are deployed to construct masculinity in ways that undermine relations between women and men. Through diverse philosophical methodologies, he identifies the cultural elements that contribute to heterosexual antagonism, such as an enduring faith in male force to solve problems, the glorification of violent men who suppress caring emotions, the devaluation of menÕs physical and emotional lives, an imaginary gender binary, male privilege premised on the subordination of women, and the use of misogyny to encourage masculine behavior. Digby tracks the Òcollateral damageÓ of this disabling misogyny in the lives of both men and women, but ends on a hopeful note. He ultimately finds the link between war and gender to be dissolving in many societies: war is becoming degendered, and gender is becoming demilitarized.

Former Navy SEAL and military sniper Brandon Webb reveals the tips and basic training necessary to become an efficient sniper. Details on advanced sniper training for maritime, helicopter, and urban sniper operations. Also touches on the latest research, development, testing, and evaluation of sniper weapons systems and optics. From trajectories and wind speed to camouflage and best vantage points and targets.

In book 3 of this rebirth series, we find that Legend le Fay has matured into a fine young woman. After graduating from one of Boston's Ivy League colleges, she temporarily joins her stepmother's law firm, whose client base is predominantly court appointees. An unexpected visit from her high school love, Sinye Tse, a US marshal, immediately places them in harm's way. The high-profile criminal who's dubbed himself Ed Ward the Ogre means to put an end to this lawman's dogged pursuit. Guided by an evil slug implanted in his brain by none other than Normand, the one-eyed boogeyman, he is able to seek revenge on behalf of the haunter and rid himself of Sinye Tse once and for all.Legend finds herself back at the compound in Avalon, mourning the death of her former lover. The ruling council of elders has taken a keen interest in huntsman John-Quinn's stepdaughter. As a result, they will dictate the terms of this and any future rebirths that might be granted to this remarkable young woman.Legend's fate leads her on a path least traveled, a reunion with her Avalonian family, and a fortuitous partnership with huntsman John-Thunder, her stepfather's adoptive son. The headstrong, handsome woodsman soon finds his match in this Earth woman who appears to be unwittingly on a path of self-destruction.Add a wizard, two unusual pups, and a myriad of creatures to the mix, along with a smattering of humor, and our heroin is sure to delight the early followers of Legend le Fay.

Sometimes I’m with the baby and I think: you’re my heart and my soul, and I would die for you. Other times I think: tiny moron, leave me the fuck alone A year has passed since Ari gave birth and still she can’t locate herself in her altered universe. Sleep-deprived, lonely and unprepared, she struggles through the strange, disjointed rhythms of her days and nights. Her own mother long dead and her girlhood friendships faded, she is a woman in need. When Mina – older, alone, pregnant – moves to town, Ari sees hope of a comrade-in-arms. Perhaps the hostile terrain could be more easily navigable together. With purifying anger and outrageous humour, Elisa Albert unleashes on a culture that turns its new mothers into exiles, and expects them to act like natives. And as she defines the raw experience of motherhood, Albert offers a hilarious and devastatingly honest examination of how we become the women we are.

Growing a baby? Got to name it? No sweat. Take naming inspiration from the ultimate, most kick ass men and women in history. This baby name book is an A-Z of total badasses, explains what gives them serious swagger and the reasons why they are worthy of being your future son or daughter's moniker. From the world-changers and fearless adventurers, to the whip-smart inventors and scientists of the last five centuries, why not name your little bundle after humans to admire, celebrate and love? Take name ideas from those who kicked Fascist ass to the kings and queens taking bravery to another level, or from a doctor with so much badassitude he saved his own life blindly removing his appendix in the middle of the Antarctic. This is the book for every parent-to-be looking for inspirational name ideas for their future badass baby.

I recently discovered something very interesting. Everyone you chance to meet has a true "snake story". Some are good, some bad, some ugly; most are humerous; a rare few are incredible. I have gathered together a couple dozen of the best. Read the stories in any order; read them one at a time, over a period of time; but do yourself a big favor...READ them! Some stories may be a tad scary...most are funny. "Truth IS stranger than fiction and these stories are TRUE...they really happened!"

Machinations of the Space Princess is a Science-Fantasy role-playing game. That means it's very much about style over substance, mixing science-fiction, magic and psionics in a game world that owes much more to Metal Hurlant and Star Wars than it does to 2001 or Bova's Grand Tour. This is a game of strangeness and fun, of space pirates and beautiful alien princesses, of living planets and robot hordes, of blasters at noon. This is... Sexy, sleazy, swords and sci-fi! A full game combining old and new school thinking, packed with GM and player advice and with simple tools for creating your own monsters, adversaries, weapons, armour, ships and alien races.