Gods Men And Ghosts

Irish writer Edward J. M. D. Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany, ranks among the twentieth century's great masters of supernatural and science fiction. An outstanding dramatist whose supernatural plays anticipated the theater of the absurd, Dunsany was also a virtuoso writer of short stories and essays. This selection presents the finest of his works, gathered from long-out-of-print sources. Contents include the famous "Three Sailors' Gambit," possibly the best chess story ever written; the remarkable trilogy about Nuth and the Gnoles, Thangobrind the Jeweller, and the Gibbelins; exploits of the Gods, including both "The Gods of Pengana" and adventures from other books; and favorite adventures of Jorkens, prince of liars. Dunsany's spellbinding tales are complemented by the remarkable visions of Sidney H. Sime, whose delicate illustrations form an indispensable complement to the stories.

Demon warrior puppets, sword-wielding Taoist priests, spirit mediums lacerating their bodies with spikes and blades—these are among the most dramatic images in Chinese religion. Usually linked to the propitiation of plague gods and the worship of popular military deities, such ritual practices have an obvious but previously unexamined kinship with the traditional Chinese martial arts. The long and durable history of martial arts iconography and ritual in Chinese religion suggests something far deeper than mere historical coincidence. Avron Boretz argues that martial arts gestures and movements are so deeply embedded in the ritual repertoire in part because they iconify masculine qualities of violence, aggressivity, and physical prowess, the implicit core of Chinese patriliny and patriarchy. At the same time, for actors and audience alike, martial arts gestures evoke the mythos of the jianghu, a shadowy, often violent realm of vagabonds, outlaws, and masters of martial and magic arts. Through the direct bodily practice of martial arts movement and creative rendering of jianghu narratives, martial ritual practitioners are able to identify and represent themselves, however briefly and incompletely, as men of prowess, a reward otherwise denied those confined to the lower limits of this deeply patriarchal society. Based on fieldwork in China and Taiwan spanning nearly two decades, Gods, Ghosts, and Gangsters offers a thorough and original account of violent ritual and ritual violence in Chinese religion and society. Close-up, sensitive portrayals and the voices of ritual actors themselves—mostly working-class men, many of them members of sworn brotherhoods and gangs—convincingly link martial ritual practice to the lives and desires of men on the margins of Chinese society. This work is a significant contribution to the study of Chinese ritual and religion, the history and sociology of Chinese underworld, the history and anthropology of the martial arts, and the anthropology of masculinity.

What worlds stand beyond the land of the living? In the wide open spaces beyond this existence, there is an infinite number of possible interpretations of ghosts, demigods and gods. It is within such impossible settings that the stories of "Spirit Legends" take place. Picture a Titans of ancient Greek mythology facing down a weary pantheon and try to stop man's destruction at the hands of Zeus. Imagine Aztec gods battling for supremacy in the city streets of your hometown. A Celtic legend will come out of the moonlight and rescue a woman from her murderous husband, and the ghost of a young girl will exact her retribution against the man who murdered her father. This anthology explores that which lies beyond this mortal coil, with a multitude of pantheons represented, including Greek, Incan, Celtic, Christian, Native American and Norse. There are tales of sadness and despair, of retribution and triumph. Mixed into every story is an expression of humanity that often touches or torments the soul. Each one of us must face our own mortality, and we frequently choose to make our way through life connecting with things greater than ourselves to help overcome the travails and challenges of existence. In many respects, that's what "Spirit Legends" is all about. Whether you believe in God, a god or gods, or none of the above, the stories herein will take you to new notions of "the great beyond" and perhaps help you understand your own existence just a little better.

Jonah Rowe knew that he didn't know everything about his abilities as an 11th Percenter - a human who could access the power of their auras. But he knew enough to not believe in the myths of the Greek Gods. Those were stories for kids. Hollywood. Until the Sibyl came along. Eva McRayne wanted nothing more than to get back to her Hollywood life after a senseless tragedy derailed it. So when she and her film crew went to Rome, North Carolina to film an episode for her show, Grave Messages, she had no idea that she was walking straight into a trap. One that only Jonah Rowe could help her escape from.

Jonah Rowe knew that he didn't know everything about his abilities as an 11th Percenter - a human who could access the power of their auras. But he knew enough to not believe in the myths of the Greek Gods. Those were stories for kids. Hollywood. Until the Sibyl came along. Eva McRayne wanted nothing more than to get back to her Hollywood life after a senseless tragedy derailed it. So when she and her film crew went to Rome, North Carolina to film an episode for her show, Grave Messages, she had no idea that she was walking straight into a trap. One that only Jonah Rowe could help her escape from.

Who are you? Where will you go when you die? Where are your loved ones who already have? Who is God? Why are we the way we are? Why is God the way God is? Is there a God? In this astounding, information-packed book, an award-winning journalist, seminary graduate and 35-year paranormal investigator offers answers that could transform your life, and maybe the whole world.

Jonah Rowe knew that he didn't know everything about his abilities as an 11th Percenter - a human who could access the power of their auras. But he knew enough to not believe in the myths of the Greek Gods. Those were stories for kids. Hollywood. Until the Sibyl came along. Eva McRayne wanted nothing more than to get back to her Hollywood life after a senseless tragedy derailed it. So when she and her film crew went to Rome, North Carolina to film an episode for her show, Grave Messages, she had no idea that she was walking straight into a trap. One that only Jonah Rowe could help her escape from.

All four books in 'Gods & Ghosts', a series of contemporary fantasy novels by T.H. Morris and Cynthia D. Witherspoon, now in one volume! Gods & Ghosts: Jonah Rowe knew that he didn't know everything about his abilities as an 11th Percenter - a human who could access the power of their auras. But he knew enough to not believe in the myths of the Greek Gods. Those were stories for kids and Hollywood. Eva McRayne wanted nothing more than to get back to her Hollywood life after a senseless tragedy derailed it. So when she and her film crew went to Rome, North Carolina to film an episode for her show, Grave Messages, she had no idea that she was walking straight into a trap. One that only Jonah Rowe could help her escape from. Gods & Thieves: Eva never thought in a million years she could get kidnapped. Maybe what the books said about Greek heroes and hubris had a point. She was too good of a fighter. There was no way Ares could get his hands on her. Jonah Rowe was willing to work with anyone or anything to get Eva back home. Even if that meant working with the Devil himself. He had no idea that he was falling right into the plans that Hades had for him. For Eva. Jonah was done being the hero. He would take what he wanted. Live how he wanted. The rest of the world be damned. Gods & Reapers: After Joey gets seriously injured, Eva is beside herself. She's the first to admit it: Joey Lawson is more than just her cameraman. He's her brother; the one solid through her time as the Sibyl. She couldn't give up on him, despite the threats that the spirit of his attacker piled on her head. So she ran to Jonah Rowe, the man who had become her best friend and savior. But Jonah has trouble of his own in the form of Mary Anne Greene, the country sweetheart he had met on the road to be with Eva. And the longer the two of them are around each other, the harder Jonah has fallen for her. But the sweet Mary Anne isn't all that she seems to be, and Eva knows it. She can feel it. And by the gods, if Jonah is hurt by this woman, there will be hell to pay. Gods & Monsters: Eva had gone from one fire straight into another. After her run-in with a deranged Spirit Reaper and Persephone, she was sure that returning to filming the episodes for Grave Messages would be a vacation. How could she possibly get into any more trouble than she'd already been in? But there was something much worse on the horizon. Much darker. Much more dangerous. Poveglia Island.

The gods have had their time to shine. Now it's my turn.When I catch a god's servant trying to steal my nephew's life force, I trap her and learn that gods are only kept immortal by having their minions steal life forces before death's time. I can still rescue my nephew, but doing so will change my life in unimaginable ways. What follows is a tale of godly proportions with harem elements and downright dirty deeds.