Tolkien’s World takes readers on an incredible journey through the realms of Middle-earth and back to a time when elves, dwarves, wizards, and a small, courageous people known as hobbits battled the forces of evil. This lavishly illustrated guide brings you the people and places from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Explore Middle-Earth, from the rolling hills of the Shire to the desolate ash plains of Mordor. Discover the secrets of a world where the elves roamed through enchanted forests and dragons slept in dark caverns under the mountains. With stunning artwork that re-imagines the places and people of Middle-Earth, Tolkien’s World is ideal for hobbit fans, big and small.
Open the pages of Tolkien’s World and meet Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit. Then find out about Gandalf the wizard and his incredible magic powers, uncover the story of the unfortunate Gollum or learn about magical weapons, such as Gandalf’s sword Glamdring. This meticulously researched guide lets you discover the amazing peoples and creatures that inhabit Middle-earth, from friendly elves and stout-hearted dwarves to the deadly dragon Smaug and the evil Sauron. Packed with adventure and lore, Tolkien’s World is a must for all Hobbit fans.
Contributor InformationGareth Hanrahan is a writer, editor, and game designer based in Ireland, with a wealth of experience in sci-fi and fantasy properties, including Doctor Who and Tolkien's Middle-Earth.
Peter Mckinstry is an artist whose talents have been employed on a dazzling variety of book and film projects, including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock Holmes, and Harry Potter.
In 1919, the Vickers Vimy WWI bomber achieved two aviation milestones: the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and the first flight from England to Australia, essentially proving the viability of long-distance air travel.
Seventy-five years later, a group of aviation enthusiasts restored a vintage Vickers Vimy and duplicated the pioneering efforts to remind the world of the courageous heroes and their daring achievements. The new team duplicated the original as closely as possible, from the hand-sewn cotton fabric on its wings to its steel bracing wires made in the same factory as the original. But the spirited group found their own challenges in re-creating these voyages and faced struggles of weather, exhaustion, and even engine breakdown. Their personal logs and stories are told here, complete with cockpit-view photos along the way. Now, fans of history and aviation can meet author Peter McMillan and learn more about these historic flights at his book signing and presentation November 4, 2012 at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California. Vimy: The Vimy Expeditions by Peter McMillan Hardcover 256 pages $75.00
If you pre-ordered a copy of The Essential Supernatural, you probably already know about the official Supernatural conventions taking place in the next few months, hosted by Creation Entertainment. Creation Entertainment is a company devoted to creating the ultimate fan experience for TV shows and films that bring the community of fans together in one weekend. Salute to Supernatural is heading to Dallas this weekend and we're looking forward to reading about it and seeing the pictures through Twitter and Facebook since we won't be able to attend.
The full Salute to Supernatural calendar of events can be found online, but make sure to look for our book, The Essential Supernatural, at the Chicago convention next month.
Whitney Houston’s voice. A voice of raw power and angelic sweetness, tremendous range, and incredible control. When the world first heard it back in 1984, a new chapter was written in the annals of popular music. Author Narada Michael Walden sat in the cockpit alongside Whitney while her career skyrocketed, producing many of the hits that today comprise her musical legacy—among them, “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” and “One Moment in Time.” His intimate stories of their unforgettable times together, both inside and outside the recording studio, draw a portrait of a smart, funny, compassionate woman whose striking physical beauty was matched by her inner strength and justifiable self-confidence. As the cousin of Dionne Warwick and daughter of Cissy Houston, Whitney was able to draw on her lineage to make an unprecedented impact. And, at the same time, she and Narada enjoyed a rock-solid bond, fostered through their shared musical and spiritual backgrounds.
It is for Whitney’s legion of loving fans—several thousand of whom crowded outside the church where Narada attended her funeral service in February 2012—that he is now telling the story of the fabulously gifted artist and caring, charismatic woman he knew during her peak years. She remains the only artist to have seven consecutive U.S. chart-topping singles, and is the most awarded female act of all time. Narada Michael Walden is an Emmy and Grammy-award winning producer and songwriter for artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, and Tom Jones. He has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist and in 2012 will release his solo album Thunder. He lives in San Rafael, CA. Whitney Houston: The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration by Narada Michael Walden, is available now for pre-order.
Freddie Mercury, the hugely popular iconic singer of Queen, was incredibly prolific, leaving behind a rich legacy of recordings.
Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, available now for preorder, is a lavishly illustrated book celebrating one of the legends of the influential British music scene.
Freddie's life is lovingly and painstakingly recounted in text and photographs from the private collections of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bulsara, and Queen’s guitarist Brian May, as well as portraits from contemporary photographers. Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender tells Freddie's story and provides insight into the huge extent of his cultural legacy.
In honor of Freddie's birthday, we'd also like to introduce you to the cause, Freddie for A Day, an annual initiative celebrated on September 5th to raise funds to support the work of the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which promotes HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
Freddie Mercury, who continues to inspire generations of musicians and artists around the world, died from bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS on November 24, 1991.
The Angry Birds team has created a special Freddie Mercury bird in honor of Freddie for a Day, and we encourage you to take part as well.
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