Books published by publisher Halcyon Press Ltd

THE MERRIWELL SERIES includes 21 action/adventure books for young readers, featuring the Merriwell brothers, who solve crimes, explore the world, and compete in athletics. The MERRIWELL SERIES were part of a popular trend in "boys' novels" which were read widely from the 1880s well into the 20th century. These include such favorites series as Tom Swift, The Rover Boys, and The Hardy Boys. Authors who contributed to the genre include Horatio Alger, Edward Stratemeyer, R.M. Ballantine, Victor Appleton, and many others.• FRANK MERRIWELL'S CHUMS• FRANK MERRIWELL'S CRUISE• FRANK MERRIWELL'S NEW COMEDIAN• FRANK MERRIWELL'S NOBILITY• FRANK MERRIWELL'S REWARD• DICK MERRIWELL’S TRAP• FRANK MERRIWELL AT YALE• FRANK MERRIWELL DOWN SOUTH• FRANK MERRIWELL’S ALARM• FRANK MERRIWELL’S ATHLETES• FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS• FRANK MERRIWELL'S BRAVERY• FRANK MERRIWELL'S RACES• DICK MERRIWELL ABROAD• FRANK MERRIWELL’S CHAMPIONS• FRANK MERRIWELL'S PURSUIT• FRANK MERRIWELL'S RETURN TO YALE• FRANK MERRIWELL'S TRIUMPH• DICK MERRIWELL’S PRANKS• FRANK MERRIWELL'S SON• FRANK MERRIWELL, JUNIOR'S, GOLDEN TRAILBurt L. Standish was the pen name of William George "Gilbert" Patten. Patten (1866-1945) was a prolific writer of dime novels, notably the MERRIWELL series, which he wrote continuously from 1893 to 1930. Born in Maine, Patten began publishing the 1880s after convincing his father he could earn a living doing so. He published a variety of works, but favored westerns and althetic books for boys. By the 1890s, he was writing for dime-novel publisher Street & Smith for $150 per book. His output was immense; nearly 275 novels and unknown number of stories, for a total of perhaps 40 million words. At one point, some 500 million of his books were in print, making him one of the most widely-read authors in history.

Joseph A. Altsheler's WORLD WAR I SERIES for young readers features three novels, THE GUNS OF EUROPE, THE FOREST OF SWORDS, and THE HOSTS OF THE AIR, dealing with the world war in Europe. It was the singular fortune of the author to be present at the beginning of this, the most gigantic struggle in the history of our globe. He was in Vienna the day Austria-Hungary declared war upon Serbia, thus setting the torch that lighted the general conflagration. Returning westward, he reached Munich the day Germany declared war upon Russia. He remained in Germany nearly a month, having witnessed in turn the Austrian and German mobilizations, and then arrived in England in time to see the gathering of the British Empire's armed hosts.• The Guns of Europe• The Forest of Swords• The Hosts of the AirJoseph Alexander Altsheler (1862-1919) was an American newspaper reporter, foreign correspondent, editor and author of popular historical fiction for young readers. Born in Kentucky, Altsheler began writing juvenile fiction due to a lack of appropriate stories in the magazines he edited. He eventually wrote more than thirty historical novels in seven different series.

THE WISHING WELL is #8 in the Penny Parker Series by Mildred Wirt Benson.Wishes made at a well on an old abandoned estate are mysteriously granted, and Penny searches for the explanation. In addition to magical qualities, the well appears to have a tangible hidden value since the property owner is seen searching the vicinity, and a neighbor tries to buy the land. Penny investigates and discovers not only the secret of the well but also a valuable treasure.Mildred A. Wirt Benson (1905-2002) was a prolific author of books for young readers. A trained journalist, Benson is best known as a ghostwriter for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Under the house pen-name Carolyn Keene, Benson completed 23 of the first 25 Nancy Drew mysteries and wrote a number of others until 1984. Benson also wrote her own mystery series, Penny Parker, from the 1930s to the 1950s.

THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS AND OTHER WORKS includes three writings by Irish nationalist writer Erskine Childers, including his well-known invasion thriller, THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS. Set in the years before the Great War, RIDDLE OF THE SANDS follows the adventure of two young Englishmen whose sailing excursion leads to some suspicious German naval activities -- drawing them into a world of intrigue and excitement!• The Riddle of the Sands• In the Ranks of the C.I.V.• The Framework of Home RuleRobert Erskine Childers (1870-1922) was a writer, revolutionary, gun-runner, and Irish Nationalist. Born in London to Anglo-Irish parents, Childers studied law and worked in the British Parliament as a clerk, hoping later to stand for office. He was an avowed Tory and supporter of the British Empire, but this began to change following his service in the Boer War. By 1911, Childers had joined the Liberal Party and was an advocate for Irish Home Rule as a Dominion; he even took to running guns into Ireland on his yacht, the ASGARD. He supported Britain during World War I (hoping to win concessions for Irish Home Rule), but opposed he Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. He was executed by the Irish Free State in the chaotic period after Irish Independence.

In THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN, eight-year-old Princess Irene lives in a magical, remote kingdom, with only her nursemaid "Lootie" for company. Irene knows nothing of the hidden danger in the kingdom, the goblins. The goblins lurk in mines under the ground, where they plot to overthrow the humans who live on the surface and make them slaves.In THE PRINCESS AND CURDIE, Princess Irene returns with her friend Curdie to fight against corrupt ministers who are plotting to overthrow her father, the King. THE PRINCESS AND CURDIE is the sequel to THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN.George MacDonald (1824-1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian clergyman. After attending the University of Aberdeen, MacDonald became a minister and turned to writing "adult fantasy" with a strong Christian theme. MacDonald's works inspired later generations of poets and fantasy writers, including W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle.

THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT is #17 in the Penny Parker series by Mildred A. Wirt (Benson).While out skiing at night, Penny, Louise, and Jerry hear strange sounds coming from a nearby monastery. They discover that a religious cult is living at the monastery. Penny tries to learn more about the cult, but the leader is very secretive. When Penny learns of a missing woman who is interested in cults, she becomes convinced that there is a connection. Penny masquerades as one of the cult members and learns the secret of the strange cult.Mildred A. Wirt Benson (1905-2002) was a prolific author of books for young readers. A trained journalist, Benson is best known as a ghostwriter for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Under the house pen-name Carolyn Keene, Benson completed 23 of the first 25 Nancy Drew mysteries and wrote a number of others until 1984. Benson also wrote her own mystery series, Penny Parker, from the 1930s to the 1950s.This unexpurgated edition contains the complete text with errors and omissions corrected.

Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in this line of books the reader is given a full description of how the films are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick pictures to satisfy the curious, soul-stirringpictures of city affairs, life in the Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along the seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage beasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found interesting from first chapter to last.• The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast• The Moving Picture Boys and the Flood• The Moving Picture Boys at Panama• The Moving Picture Boys on the War FrontVictor Appleton was a house pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a large publisher of books for young readers in the early and mid 20th century. The Tom Swift and Moving Picture Boys books were the work of Howard R. Garis (1873-1962) an American writer, journalist, and broadcaster. Garis used a number of pen names in producing works for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, including Laura Lee Hope (some of the Bobbsey Twins books), Clarence Young (the Motor Boys), Marion Davidson (the Camp Fire Girls), and Lester Chadwick (Baseball Joe). In addition to novels, Garis is perhaps best remembered as the creator of some 15,000 UNCLE WIGGLY stories, published nationally from 1910-1947 six times weekly.

DRACULA'S GUEST AND OTHER STORIES BY BRAM STOKER includes 27 stories by Bram Stoker, author of the classic gothic horror novel DRACULA, which set the standard for all subsequent vampire literature. This collection includes the short story DRACULA'S GUEST (also known as DRACULA'S DAUGHTER), originally intended to be the first chapter of DRACULA.• Dracula's Guest• The Judge's House• The Squaw• The Secret of the Growing Gold• The Gipsy Prophecy• The Coming of Abel Behenna• The Burial of the Rats• A Dream of Red Hands• Crooken Sands• A Star Trap• How 7 Went Mad• In the Valley of the Shadow• Lies and Lillies• The Castle of the King• The Chain of Destiny• The Crystal Cup• The Dualitists• The Gombeen Man• The Invisible Giant• The Man from Shorrox’• The Red Stockade• The Rose Prince• The Seer• The Shadow Builder• The Watter’s Mou’• The Wondrous Child• Under the SunsetAbraham "Bram" Stoker (1847-1912) was an Irish writer and theatre manager. Educated in mathematics, Stoker got his start in the literary world writing theatre reviews in Dublin. He later moved to London and managed the Lyceum Theatre. His novel DRACULA was published in 1897.

CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER is #5 in the Penny Parker Series by Mildred Wirt Benson.On an impulse, Penny buys back her old car, the Leaping Lena, even though she has a new car and no money, but fortunately, she gets another job at her father's newspaper. Penny discovers a strange silken ladder and learns how it is used in burglaries.Mildred A. Wirt Benson (1905-2002) was a prolific author of books for young readers. A trained journalist, Benson is best known as a ghostwriter for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Under the house pen-name Carolyn Keene, Benson completed 23 of the first 25 Nancy Drew mysteries and wrote a number of others until 1984. Benson also wrote her own mystery series, Penny Parker, from the 1930s to the 1950s.This unexpurgated edition contains the complete text, with minor errors and omissions corrected.