Occasionally, Mother Earth realizes what a mess we have made of the planet. When this happens, there are mass extinction events that allow evolution to start over. Seventy-seven thousand years ago, a supervolcano in Sumatra, Indonesia, called Toba erupted. It is one of the earth’s largest known explosive eruptions. This eruption caused a genetic bottleneck, nearly ending all human life on earth. The survivors should have been a small band of Druids and a nonhuman species called the Urus. According to Druid legends, a group called the Protectors gathered about five hundred humans. They allowed them to survive in a remote corner of Africa. The survivors of the Toba eruption caused an environmental catastrophe on this planet. This is not their story. This is the story of what happened to the Urus and the small band of Druids. It contains glimpses of the utopia this planet should have become.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Hope blooms anew for the Four Lands in this riveting conclusion, not only to the Fall of Shannara series but to the entire Shannara saga—a truly landmark event over forty years in the making! Since he first began the Shannara saga in 1977, Terry Brooks has had a clear idea of how the series should end, and now that moment is at hand. As the Four Lands reels under the Skaar invasion—spearheaded by a warlike people determined to make this land their own—our heroes must decide what they will risk to save the integrity of their home. Even as one group remains to defend the Four Lands, another is undertaking a perilous journey across the sea to the Skaar homeland, carrying with them a new piece of technology that could change the face of the world forever. And yet a third is trapped in a deadly realm from which there may be no escape. Filled with twists and turns and epic feats of derring-do—not untouched by tragedy—this is vintage Terry Brooks, and a fitting end to a saga that has gathered generations of readers into its fold.

In a kingdom built on bloodshed, he was sent to steal her heart. As the last druid priestess, Bria is cursed to marry and bear a child to continue the legacy of the druids, despite the fact that the birth will drain her power and kill her. But Bria is determined to break the curse, even if it means dying alone and ending her bloodline. Until she meets Theodore Blackwin, a man determined to win the heart of the druid to please his tyrannical mother, the queen. As an undeniable bond grows between them, Bria faces a choice: succumb to passion and birth an heir, or break the deadly curse and cause the kingdom’s ruin. SACRIFICE FOR THE STANDING STONES is a romantic fantasy about destiny, desire, and the high cost of magic. Pick up this standalone novel in the Prophecy of Dusk and Dawn series today!

The triumphant conclusion to both the Fall of Shannara series and the entire Shannara saga - a truly epic final adventure from the master of modern fantasy. As the Four Lands reels under the Skaar invasion, its defenders must decide what they will risk to save their home. As one group remains to protect the Four Lands, another undertakes a perilous journey across the sea to the Skaar homeland, carrying with them a new piece of technology that could change the face of the world forever. And yet a third is trapped in a deadly realm from which there may be no escape. Packed with all of the hallmarks of Terry Brooks's magnificent storytelling, The Last Druid is a fitting end to a saga that has enthralled millions of readers around the world. Praise for Terry Brooks: 'I can't even begin to count how many of Terry Brooks's books I've read (and re-read) over the years' Patrick Rothfuss 'Terry's place is at the head of the fantasy world' Philip Pullman 'I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara' Peter V. Brett 'A master of the craft . . . required reading' Brent Weeks

In book two of this enthralling science fiction series, the Thalin brothers and their families must survive battles raging around their walled city. Their continuing family saga began in book one, To Rule a World. This story begins as the brothers have just settled into a peaceful period when a new threat arises, and the search for a culprit is unsuccessful. In a lesson for the young, these are the words of wisdom: “Druids and wizards are different as night and day in philosophy but are similar in abilities. One is really no different than the other in battle, but in healing and life in other times the druid has the advantage.” In a twist of fate, a Thalin grandchild named Christof is able to wield a sword that could not be held by anyone else. Does this mean that peace can be restored in their world of Dracos?

TWO MONTHS AFTER their disastrous holiday, Orlagh and Jerry are at home in Ireland recovering from their terrifying ordeal. The Belgae Torc is at last on display at the National Museum and Orlagh is under increasing pressure to divide her time between her work at the museum and heading up an archaeological dig in County Meath. She is convinced that an ancient battle between Iron Age tribes took place here and is determined to prove her theory, but as archaeologists begin to unearth the truth, they are faced with some unexpected surprises. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Jack Harrington is making discoveries of his own and finds himself juggling personal and professional commitments. His organisation is still recovering from recent events in the Mediterranean and is loathed to be drawn into another deadly conflict, but like it or not, there are unresolved issues that cannot be avoided. The Phoenix Legion is about to implement the final phase of its master plan and this time Schiffer is convinced that nothing can stop him from realising his goal. With the past merging with the present, the elements of a deadly conclusion are finally coming together. Will history repeat itself or can another worldwide catastrophe be avoided? Also by Kevin Marsh: The Belgae Torc, The Gordian Knot

One man’s journey to uncover the final resting place of the historical King Arthur • Pinpoints the exact locations of Arthur’s tomb, the ruins of Camelot, and the sword Excalibur using literary research and the latest geophysics equipment • Examines previously unknown ancient manuscripts preserved in the vaults of the British Library--including one written within the living memory of Arthur’s time • Reveals the mythic king as the real-life leader Owain Ddantgwyn, who united the British to repel invasion from Germany around 500 AD One of the most enigmatic figures in world history, King Arthur has been the subject of many fantastical tales over the past 1500 years, leading many scholars to regard him and his fabled city of Camelot simply as myth. But, as Graham Phillips shows through a wealth of literary and scientific evidence, King Arthur was a real man, Camelot a real place, and the legendary Excalibur a real sword--and Phillips has located them all. Phillips examines the earliest stories of Arthur as well as previously unknown ancient manuscripts preserved in the vaults of the British Library in London, such as the work of the 9th-century monk Nennius, to pinpoint the exact locations of Arthur’s tomb, the ruins of Camelot, and the sword Excalibur. He reveals the mythic king as the real-life leader Owain Ddantgwyn, who united the British to repel invasion from Germany around 500 AD. Moving his quest from library vaults to the real sites of Arthur’s life, the author confirms his research through a Dark Age monument, hidden away in the mountains of western Britain, that bears an inscription about a powerful warlord who went by the battle title “Arthur.” He visits archaeological excavations at the ruins of Viroconium, near Wroxeter in Shropshire, clearly identifying the ancient city as Camelot, the fortified capital of Arthur’s Britain. Working with specialist divers and marine archaeologists, he surveys the depths of an ancient lake in the English countryside to reveal the resting place of Excalibur. Enlisting a team of scientists and sophisticated geophysics equipment, he uncovers the lost grave of the historical King Arthur, buried with his shield, just as told in legend. The culmination of 25 years of research, including new translations of primary source material, this book provides the necessary evidence to allow King Arthur to finally be accepted as the authentic British king he was.

A practical guide to creating plant extracts, essences, and complexes for use in Druidic sex magic rituals • Explores the identification, harvesting, and magical properties of more than 70 flowers and trees • Details the careful and meticulous spagyric preparation of plant extracts and complexes • Demonstrates how plant compounds are used in Druidic sex magic rituals by both couples and groups In this practical guide to Druidic plant magic, Jon G. Hughes reveals the gentle alchemy of converting plant essences into potent compounds for working sex magic rituals. Examining the identification, harvesting, and magical properties of more than 70 flowers and trees, he details the careful and meticulous spagyric preparation of plant extracts and complexes as well as the process of obtaining or creating suitable alcoholic spirits for the base of these preparations. He includes instructions to make all necessary tools and explores how to prepare yourself to work with plant essences and properly use the magical compounds you create. Hughes explains how to release the energies, healing attributes, and magical capacities of flowers and trees through the respectful seduction of a plant’s virtue and the 3-step spagyric process of separation, purification, and reunification. He shows how the spagyric process maximizes the power of the acquired essence in preparation for its use in magical ritual. Detailing Druidic sex rituals for both a couple and a group, Hughes demonstrates how plant compounds are used in specific magical rituals and practices as well as the role of the plant complex in sexual potency. Exploring the underlying accord between alchemy and Druidic practices, Hughes provides a valuable manual for anyone wishing to harness the magical potential of plant energy.

Battleplan was an ambitious magazine devoted to providing variants, scenarios, and articles on game strategy for wargaming products by a variety of publishers. Published between 1987 and 1989, the magazine had a great deal of content to appeal to war gamers, including articles and materials for Ambush!, Squad Leader, Advanced Squad Leader, Up Front, and many other games. The periodical lasted nine issues, before it was folded into the Wargamer, Volume 2 periodical.In this issue, published in January/February 1989, the contents include: Editorial Eastern Front Solitaire - Vlasov's Army variant Washing the Spears in Zulu War - Variants for last issue's mini-wargame Bismarck House Rules – Errata and new ideas The Conquest of Britain, AD 43 – A scenario for WEG Druid Drive on Frankfurt Variations – Tinkering with a finely tuned game Axis & Allies 1941 Scenario – The “historical” set-up of a year earlier Nuclear Risk! - Combining Nuclear War and Risk! Empires in Arms - Strategies in Spain Aircraft for Air War - More for this TSR game Quick & Dirty Fortress America Variants – Some fast ideas for this MB game Red, White, and Blue Max – U.S. aircraft for GDW classic Yamamoto's Plan for Midway – A variant for Yaquinto’s CV Ortona - A Canadian Up Front scenario Turning the Tables in FireTeam – U.S. attacks Soviets Expanded Kanev - Variants and new scenario for this S&T game Over the Edge of the Map - Third Reich mega-variant map insert rules A Peek at 5th Ed Third Reich – Whet your appetite with some new rules Third Reich 1940 Scenario – Sealion to Stalingrad Third Reich 1941 Scenario – Mediterranean options and the second front Third Reich 1945 Scenario – Red Star/White Star More Third Reich Variants – 12 player game, plus the WWI scenario revisited Third Reich Local & Limited Wars – Mini-scenarios for teaching beginners AH General Magazine Third Reich Variants Rebuttal – The debate rages on The War of '33 – Rule 33, that is. An analysis of Third Reich variants Writers Guidelines Gamer’s Guide Classifieds Feedback Forum Feedback & Survey Questions Inserts: Third Reich variant countersheet; Third Reich Southeast extension maps