Books with author Michael Rains

For a long time, Chester, we... that is, Auntie and I and William, and well, a whole lot of people, well, we only sort of felt that something might be happening around us, something we weren't really sure what it was... When Chester visits his Uncle William's stuffy house, he's only trying to avoid cleaning the hall bathroom. But a single clue written on a gum wrapper will send them all on a frantic journey - across many cities and through places unknown to society. At every step along the way, they may even meet new and interesting people. They may need a few cases of bubblegum toothpaste. And they may be tossed into a terrible war between unimaginable forces, a battle that no one even knows about...

Ten years have passed since the vanishing prince and Helenia is a despondent kingdom. Many of Helenia’s young men and women have been conscripted to construct a mighty tower, seen by many as a monument a tyranny and persecution, casting a shadow across the revered Helenfield and the souls of Helenia’s citizens alike.The people of Helenia have long given up any hope on the return of the vanishing prince. Even Grace Smith begins to doubt that the vanishing prince will ever re-appear.However, in a twist of fate, Grace make an astonishing discovery, a discovery that could change Helenia forever. Together with three friends and her trusted dog, Grace embarks on a series of adventures to unravel the mystery of the 1000th dragon.

The king is coming to the end of his reign as ruler of Helenia. He has two sons, who were born simultaneous and under difficult circumstances, making it impossible to determine the first-born prince and the rightful successor to the throne of Helenia.The king makes his decision as to the next king but the chosen prince is not happy at the prospect of being king. With the help of his mother, the chosen prince persuades the king to hold a kingdom-wide election to determine which of the two princes will be the next king of Helenia. Neither of the princes wish to be king and both set out to ensure that they are not elected as king.One of the princes accepts a set of duties that take him far away from the kingdom, leaving the second prince is left to spread word of the election across the length and breadth of Helenia. Urged on by his mother to accept his destiny to be king, one of the princes eventually agrees to do his utmost to be elected. However the Fates play their hand and things do not go as planned.

Although rock music continued to dominate the music scene, the sounds of the 1970s and 80s differed greatly from the music of the preceding decades, reflecting newer social realities. The aggressive sounds of punk music began to appeal to youth, while disco reached across cultures and brought diverse crowds together in dance clubs. New Wave had a playful, chill feel, while the electronic guitar-laden sounds heavy metal were anything but. Readers examine the various styles of music that defined the 1970s and 80s, profiling the artists who captured the spirit of rapid social and cultural change.

Germany's complex past is riddled with both stunning triumphs and staggering failures. Once little more than a federation of tribes, over the course of its history, it formed various alliances, some of which were broken while others survived and allowed Germany to become a significant power in Europe and the world. And although a sense of German national identity was centuries in the making, folk traditions, regional culture, and a robust intellectual tradition have endured throughout the ages and produced world-famous musicians, artists, and writers. Still, Germanys roles in both World Wars remains a significantand appallingpart of its history. This all-encompassing volume profiles Germany from antiquity to the present day, examining its layered past, including its transition from a world power to a divided state and the major economic strides it has made since unification.

Many Americans associate Islam-and Islamist terrorism-exclusively with the greater Middle East. Yet the countries with the largest Muslim populations are actually located in Asia, where Islamic extremism is also a significant and growing concern. This volume provides essential background and surveys recent trends. It examines a variety of homegrown Asian terrorist groups, detailing their goals, methods, and links with international organizations such as al-Qaeda. It also outlines the options available to U.S. policymakers and to Asian governments as they attempt to stem the tide of militant Islam.

Boasting vivid graphics, rapid pacing, and complex narratives, electronic games have evolved both visually and substantially since the early days of Spacewar! and Pong. By allowing users to explore fictional universes, engage in stealth missions, play like their favorite athletes or musicians, and imagine realities both similar to and far-removed from their own, electronic games appeal to a variety of individuals and interests. This absorbing volume details the development of electronic gaming including arcade and early home video consoles through massive multiplayer online games, and examines some of the most popular games of all time.

As neighbors and early rival nations, Portugal and Spain have been associated for much of their histories. Yet despite their geographic proximity on the Iberian Peninsula and shared past, each boasts distinct social, cultural, and economic identities. Readers will examine the evolution of each country, witnessing the rise of their earliest civilizations, their dramatic rivalry during the Age of Discovery, their days as empire-builders, their struggles through authoritarian regimes, and their emergence as independent nations and members of the European Union.