Books in Paladin Books series

SynopsisGenre: Science Fiction/FantasyHannibal and Sophie are whisked away from their everyday lives to become more of what some unknown force wants them to be. Some may say that the universe has chosen its champions, but it is up to them to rise up to the challenge of being and becoming more than ordinary.TeaserChapter One - Lightning and Bubble Wrap:A flash of lightning criss-crossed the sky that made people stop and look up. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and, more unusually, no thunder followed. Katie pointed the phone to where they had witnessed the last bolt just as another flash crackled overhead and once again there was no thunder.“What the hell is going on?” said Katie to no one in particular just as another flash ripped across the sky. Only this time it was closer and crackled with malice and there was the distinct smell of something singed. TeaserChapter Two - Witness:Hannibal looked out through the bubble that encased him. He couldn’t move; he felt as if his body had suddenly become frozen although strangely enough, he didn’t feel cold. In fact, he didn’t really feel anything.He could see Katie on the deck reaching for him and Josh had his arms wrapped around her holding her back. They all looked frozen in time as they posed unmoving. He shifted his eyes slightly and saw a bird frozen in mid-flight. One of the partygoer’s had dropped their plate of food which hung in mid-air waiting to hit the deck.

"I SAID RED!" says the little boy out playing on the farm with his older sister. "You don't mean green? Look, here is green..." she teases. "A pickle green. A big frog green. A leaf, a tree, a green bean green." But the boy means RED. "A cherry, berry, very red." They romp through the pages, from "blue jean blue" to "yellow, bright and mellow..." and on to purple, brown, orange, pink and black... But through it all, the boy SAID RED!

A fight to the death.Once every ten years, mech pilots gather together with their armored UHAAVs in an invitation only contest known as the Steel Apocalypse to find out who’s the best in the galaxy. The winner earns fame and honor along with enough wealth to keep them in the lap of luxury for the rest of their life.When a down on his luck twenty-two year old mech pilot known as Jake Striker is given the opportunity to participate in the tournament, he jumps at the chance. Loading up his obsolete, fifty-five year old, five-meter-high, Paladin model mech onto a star freighter, he heads to the neutral zone to make his fortune. He soon finds out nothing is as it seems as government operatives attempt to use him for their own nefarious reasons. The odds of coming out of the tournament alive grow ever smaller as obstacle after obstacle is put in his way. Fortunately for Jake, his Paladin 05 is equipped with a prototype AI called Maggie that may well be the best the technicians in the Intergalactic Empire ever developed.With the help of Maggie and friends he finds along the way, Jake begins to hope he can remain alive long enough to see which mech pilot will indeed be crowned the Best of the Best.But then again... nothing is ever as it seems.

Robert Kraus poses some leading questions and skillfully guides "Mouse" to answers that culminate in a decidedly satisfying ending. Mouse's experience unfolds with the validity and charm of a nursery rhyme, and his reaction to one of childhood's harsher experiences will add gayety and meaning to any story hour. The result is a happy picture book, illustrated by Jose Aruego with wit, tenderness and joyful ingenuity.

The Intergalactic Empire is at war with the bat-like Crosioians, and things are not looking good for the Empire.Twenty-two year old mercenary UHAAV pilot Jake Striker and his tactical computer Maggie are given a high priority mission to the planet Geris. Despite stringent security protocols, the tactical computers of some of the Ultra-Heavy Ambulatory Assault Vehicles on the planet have been revolting and killing their crews. Jake’s task is to find out the cause before it spreads to other parts of the Empire.Loading up his Paladin UHAAV onto a star freighter, Jake, Maggie, and the rest of his team heads to Geris to put a stop to the computer revolt before it gets out of control. Before long, they find themselves outnumbered, and outgunned as the situation takes a turn for the worse. The success of their mission begins to look hopeless.Fortunately for the Empire and the citizens of Geris, Jake and Maggie may well be the best UHAAV team in the galaxy. Only time will tell.