Books with author Mr Ryan Madison

An interactive quiz about Australia's unique animals, including the Dingo,Wedge-tailed Eagle, Sea Eagle, Wombat, Echidna, Platypus, Tasmanian Devil, Plains Kangaroo, Wallaby, Perente, Goanna, Thorny Devil, Water Dragon, Jabiru, Bell Frog, Rainbow Lorikeet, Azure Kingfisher.Large photographs and detailed information supplied for each of the twenty answers.

Hercules sets out to complete his second task, to slay the 9 headed Lernaean Hydra, but becomes involved with Antigone, a beautiful woman who he thinks has deceived him.The Hydra was a special project developed by Hera. It had a huge dragon-like body with nine heads, eight mortal, and one immortal.Hercules discovered the hydra on a hill beside the springs of the Amymone, where was its den. By pelting it with fiery shafts he forced it to come out, and in the act of doing so he seized and held it fast, but the Hydra wound itself about him. Even smashing its heads with his club achieved nothing except that in the place of one head, two more grew. * The Hydra was bred in the Lernaean Swamp, and would ravage people and livestock in the surrounding plain. * Hercules' cousin Iolaus helped him find the secret to prevent the heads from sprouting. * After killing the Hydra, Hercules dipped his arrows in its blood, as it was a deadly poison.The task would only be considered complete after Hercules returned the Hydra's Immortal Head to Hera, from which she would grow another Hydra.However, the head had been buried in a secret spot so that Hercules would have some leverage against Eurystheus and Hera.

Hercules and the Golden Hind of CeryneiaThe Third Task set Hercules by the Gods of Mount Olympus.Having completed the first two tasks, Hercules rerturns home briefly to store some valuables, then proceeds to Oechalia in Euboea, to force the King to honour a precious promise. His father, Zeus, gives him his third task of ten to complete so that he can enter Mount Olympus as a God.The task is to capture the last remaining Golden Hind, and deliver it to Eurystheus at Mycenae.But there are problems. * His wife is suspicious of his reasons for capturing a beautiful young Princess Iole. * A Love Potion she sent him turns out to be poisonous. * The Hind is much faster than he, and is protected by a powerful Goddess, Artemis..Hercules set out on this adventure, and he hunted the deer for a whole year. At last, when the deer had become weary with the chase, she looked for a place to rest on a mountain called Artemisius, and then made her way to the river Lado, where Hercules realised that he was in danger of losing her...

Hercules is told to clean out the stables of King Augeas. There are over 1000 head of cattle housed and the stables have not been cleaned for thirty years. But Hercules must clean them out in one day. He performs the task but does not get paid or receive accreditation for the task from the god Eurystheus, so he goes on the warpath. He seeks help from an Oracle, and ends up as a personal slave to the Queen of Lydia

Hercules and the Nemean LionHercules had to complete ten labors imposed by the Gods before he could become immortalHe came to Nemea and tracked the lion into a cave and fired an arrow at him but it bounced harlessly off. He than caught the beast with an arm about its neck and held on tightly until he had choked it.Heaving the animal onto his shoulders, Hercules brought the lion to Eurystheus at Mycenae. * Eurystheus was so afraid of Hercules that he had a special bronze container buried, in which he could hide from him. * Hercules took the complete skin of the lion from head to tail, including the legs, and proudly wore it as his badge of honour for all his future labors.Amazed at his manhood, Eurystheus forbade him henceforth to enter the city, but ordered him to exhibit the fruits of his labours before the city gates.Eurystheus and Hera, the wife of Zeus, were concerned that they may not be able to devise a task that would tax Hercules' strength and ability. Then they thought up the task of killing the Nine Headed Hydra, Hera's special project. Future books on the other tasks, Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra. Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis. Capture the Erymanthian Boar. Clean the Augean stables in a single day. Slay the Stymphalian Birds. Capture the Cretan Bull. Steal the Mares of Diomedes. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon. Steal the apples of the Hesperides (He had the help of Atlas to pick them after Hercules had slain Ladon). Capture and bring back Cerberus.

A collection of believable Ghostly Tales, including...Army of the Dead...where a German general who had beaten the French army is confronted by the Ghosts of that army. And... The Man Who Summoned the Dead...where a con-man cheated a newly widowed woman into believing he could bring back the Ghost of her husband. Also...An Archaeologist found an ancient relic and was granted three wishes, but his wife interfered.Then...Two young architects cheat a young beginner out of his designs...But? And Finally...A lost surveyor in the desert finds an old wartime aircraft that he actually flew in during the war. He sheltered inside, but the aircraft took off...

Wambi, the Jungle Boy, 8 Short Stories is a collection of eight short "Wambi the Jungle Boy" stories. All the stories are small-kid-friendly; but they do have plenty of action as Wambi organises the jungle animals to chase out the bad guys who are trying to exploit the jungle, or its inhabitants. Wambi has some special friends who help him, Tawn, the Elephant, and all the other jungle animals. And of course, any self respecting Jungle Boy could talk to the animals, and they to him. Most of the stories present a little moral, or homily toward the end of the story.

Three short stories from the Spanish Main, when pirate ships plundered merchant ships and coastal ports.Captain Jack Harrier is an ex-pirate whose ship was wrecked one night in a storm. He and his first mate were washed up on a small island where they ran into the crew of a pirate ship.Phillip Carr is a "Soldier of Fortune" whose Admiral Grandfather left him a sword with a treasure map concealed in the hilt. His cousin follows him and tries to steal his fortune, but...Lieutenant Dick Warr is an officer who assaults his superior then runs away and joins a pirate fleet of five ships. He then leads them back to his home port to rob, steal and pillage...

This is the first of a series of short story books for bedtime reading to the little ones, or a challenging read for the older children. These Fairy Tales, Myths, Legends and Folk Stories are drawn from many lands, and presented in a modern style. Read about fairies, giants, witches, enchanted forests and palaces, dwarfs, deep dark dank dungeons and lots more. Heaps of colourful vector drawings on every page to illustrate the stories. Now...Step into the Fairy Ring and meet the little people.

The Many Ghosts of Dr MT Toombes: Book 4 Case File #262: Beckett School BellsLem Collins had been knocked unconscious by a guard while working in a chain-gang. He and his brother, Jud, had been convicted of causing an explosion which killed the teacher and seventeen children of the Elementary School at Beckett.Jud Collins was sentenced to hang, and in due course that did happen, and Lem was sentenced to hard labor in the chain-gang.No one in the town grieved over Jud Collins, but most of the towns-people hated to see that chain-gang sentence. They were sure that Lem was not to blame for any part of the tragedyCase File #716:The Mystic Ring The subject is John Vantage, hardened criminal, vicious killer, and former king-pin of crime! He is now waiting his turn to walk the ‘green mile’ to the electric chair! And yet, there is a smile on his face and a triumphant gleam in his eye! Come, let’s move closer and see if we can learn why!Vantage is alone in his cell and talking to himself, “The fools! They think I’m finished! They think they have me trapped, and will send me to the chair!” And he continues, “But…’The Big Man’ isn’t finished yet! I have the perfect plan for getting outta here!”Case File #607: The Deadly Triangle The subject, Craig Logan, Scientist, was recuperating in Blue Hills Sanatorium after a mental breakdown, and had asked for help from me.Here is his incredible story…“It all happened so quickly, Dr Toombes, that…Well it’s kind of hard for me to describe just what went on! Mary and I were being married…That much you already know. The ceremony went quite smoothly at first, but then…

Ancient Greek Mythology is a rich source of material for fiction stories. For each major incident recorded in the ancient texts, over the years there have been dozens of different interpretations...Well now you can add a few more!"Hercules' First Six Labours" presents six short stories that will entertain all ages from Mid-Teens up to Young Adult, and any ages above!Real names of people and places from the ancient writings have been used.Every incident used in these stories is actually recorded in the ancient writings.The incidents used in "Hercules' First Six Labours" are not necessarily in correct sequence.Sex was always high on the list of topics in the ancient writings, and just has to be included for faifhfulness. However, I have not gone overboard on this, but have used terms such as, "made love until dawn", "impregnated her with twin sons". There is nothing written that I would be ashamed of showing to my children.