Science Fiction. In this authorized sequel to H.G. Wells' classic novel The War of the Worlds, Earth prepares for a second Martian invasion. Having survived the previous conflict, humanity is confident that they can handle whatever Mars throws at them. However, the Martians have spent the past 14 years learning from their mistakes. Treating Wells' story as a factual account, The Massacre of Mankind proceeds to develop an alternative 20th-century history that aligns with that book's internal chronology.
Steampunk. In a retrofuturistic world of skyships and sorcerers, Isabelle des Zephyrs prepares to marry a man she's never met -- one whose two previous fiancées were assassinated. Determined not to meet the same fate, Isabelle must rely on her wits as well as the aid of her swashbuckling guardian, musketeer Jean-Claude. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is the opening volume in the Risen Kingdoms.
Epic Fantasy. In this concluding volume of N.K. Jemisin's acclaimed Broken Earth trilogy, orogene Essun and her daughter Nassun find themselves on opposite sides of an ideological battle for the future of the Stillness. Like its predecessors, this novel boasts a vivid apocalyptic setting and thoughtful explorations of the nature of personhood and the ways in which systems of oppression operate. Due to the complexity of the story, newcomers should start with The Fifth Season, followed by The Obelisk Gate.
Hard SF. Big Pharma is watching you. In a near-future society dominated by multinational corporations, drug pirate Jack Chen reverse-engineers expensive medications and distributes free copies to those who can't afford the real thing. As a result, her activities have attracted the attention of the International Property Coalition, which sends military robot Paladin and Paladin's human partner, Eliasz, to apprehend Jack. With its noir-tinged dystopian setting, suspenseful plot, and themes of bioethics and artificial intelligence, this debut may remind readers of William Gibson's Neuromancer.
Humorous Fantasy. How many woodcutters can a country support? And who's buying all that wood, anyway? If you've ever wondered about the economics of a fairy tale kingdom, this is the book for you. Centering on a showdown between an entrepreneurial wizard and an eccentric prince who arrives on the scene via transdimensional portal (see the author's Doughnut for more on how this works), this novel may appeal to fans of Diana Wynne Jones' Dark Lord of Derkholm, which also involves corporate interests exploiting fantasy realms.
Humorous Fantasy. Road trip! To lift the curse placed on them by a hamburger god-in-exile, fast-food worker Helen Nicolaides (who suffers from a rare condition known as minotaurism) and her friend, Troy Kawakami, set out on a cross-country quest to recover magical artifacts. As they navigate dangerous tourist traps and mythical motorcycle gangs, Helen and Troy must also deal with the National Bureau of Questing and their complicated feelings for each other.
Humorous Fantasy. Inventor Dick Simnel has just built Discworld's first steam engine. In need of a wealthy backer, he brings his invention to Ankh-Morpork, which ushers in an industrial revolution...and a predictable amount of comedic chaos. A stand-alone novel in the perennially popular Discworld series, Raising Steam nevertheless features several familiar characters, including benevolent dictator Lord Vetinari and criminal-turned-fixer Moist von Lipwig.
Humorous SF. Thrilled to be aboard the Universal Union starship Intrepid, Ensign Andrew Dahl can't understand why his shipmates aren't as excited as he is about away missions. That is, until he realizes that crew members who are chosen to go planetside don't live long or prosper. This affectionately wry, pitch-perfect homage to TV's original Star Trek series will please avid Trek fans and readers who enjoy author John Scalzi's lighter SF, such as Fuzzy Nation.
Humorous SF. Recruited by St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research, Madeleine "Max" Maxwell is delighted to discover that being a historian involves time travel. Although her job is to simply observe the past, she can't help getting involved. With its quirky characters and offbeat humor, this 1st book in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series may remind readers of Connie Willis' Oxford Time Travel series crossed with Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels.
Humorous SF. When her boyfriend Trent asks her to get an EED ("even better than getting engaged," gushes a coworker), telecommunications executive Briddey Flannigan undergoes the "minor procedure," thinking that the neurological enhancement will strengthen their relationship. Instead, she ends up telepathically linked to a coworker, her company's (sub-)basement-dwelling misanthrope C.B. Schwartz. Madcap romantic comedy combined with a satirical look at modern technology makes this offering from multi-award-winning author Connie Willis a must-read.
The Broadway performer and playwright shares guidance on how to achieve success in life by adopting principles he learned from his musical theater career, including such philosophies as saving drama for the stage, dancing like everyone is watching, and recovering between performances
The two-time Oscar winner presents a first collection of short fiction that includes the stories of a bowling champion who fears his celebrity has ruined his love of the game and an eccentric billionaire and faithful assistant who, while searching for acquisitions, discover romance and real life in a down-and-out motel. Read by the author. Simultaneous.
Preparing for a particularly joyful holiday season after Bart's safe return from Afghanistan, the Quinn family members count their blessings, from Kevin's marriage to Patrick's rehabilitation, only to encounter unexpected challenges.
A best-selling author draws on da Vinci's remarkable notebooks as well as new discoveries about his life and work in a narrative portrait that connects the master's art to his science, demonstrating how da Vinci's genius was based on the skills and qualities of everyday people, from curiosity and observation to imagination and fantasy.
Adult Fiction. Given the title, you might expect stories of a saucy nature, but this novel, set in a Punjabi community in Southall, London, is less concerned with titillation and more interested in upending biases towards widowed women, illuminating multicultural life in England, and exploring the push-pull of tradition and modernity. This portrayal of a group of Punjabi widows who turn their writing class into an opportunity to tell stories and build community features warm, engaging characters and descriptive details of the community. Meera Syal's narration enhances the humor with her wry British accent.
Adult Fiction. Nine months after her cop father died while on duty, PI Roxane Weary is still a mess, drowning her sorrows in whiskey and sex. Even so, she agrees to help the desperate sister of a man on death row. The woman thinks she's seen her black brother's white girlfriend, who could clear his name...but if it's really her, where's she been for the 15 years since her parents were murdered? This accomplished, riveting debut set in Columbus, Ohio has a hardboiled feel, great dialogue, complex characters, and a tough female detective.
Documents the pivotal contributions of more than 10,000 American women who served as codebreakers during World War II, detailing how their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives and enabled their subsequent careers, in an account that also reveals the strict practice of secrecy that nearly erased their efforts from history.
In 1940s Italy, teenager Pino Lella joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, falls for a beautiful widow, and becomes the personal driver of one of the Third Reich's most powerful commanders.
Augmenting his limited income by smuggling contraband to survive on the moon's wealthy city of Artemis, Jazz agrees to commit what seems to be a perfect, lucrative crime only to find herself embroiled in a conspiracy for control of the city. By the best-selling author of The Martian.
A chronicle of the Emmy Award-winning global media leader's spiritual journey describes the inspirational wisdom and insights she has received from spiritual leaders who have been featured on Super Soul Sunday broadcasts.Read by the author.
Did you know the library also has free downloadable audiobooks you can access from your smartphone, tablet, or home computer? Each item available fromOverdrive, Hoopla, or eReadIllinois can be checked out for 21 days with no worries about overdues or fines.
Capacity building of university libraries in Rwanda with Swedish university partners: More from the ARM and questions to Campus Librarians
As you have noted, the annual review meeting of the UR-Sweden Programme for Research, Higher Education and Institutional Advancement resulted in the library sub programme team stressing one of the dimensions of our work, help with anti-plagiarism. This is an area where we have the possiblity to work with other teams, and we have now started talking with both the ICT sub programme and the CIT (instructional teaching) one.
In fact, we are a number of cross cutting programmes, that need to cooperate and try to, together, find out how we best intergrate and harmonize within the University of Rwanda. And.... (read more below by clicking on "read more")...
Harmonizing is not anything that is of importance only at a sub programme level within the UR-Sweden cooperation. It is crucial for the university libraries.
The campus libraries within the UR, together with the library sub programme, are in a process that aims at harmonizing of services and organisation. Here, it is of great importance to take your experience and and views into consideration. Please think and share with the team as we get back to you -- or e-mail us before that:
As librarians -- what services would you like to have harmonized? Which services do you think that you need at your own campuses? What services do you think ought to or could be administrated centrally?
The campus librarians will have a meeting with the team leaders shortly, where the questions above will be discussed.