Science, Liberty And PeaceAldous Huxley
An essay written by Aldous Huxley, published in 1946. The essay is an opinionated discussion covering a wide range of subjects reflecting Huxley's views towards society at that time. He puts forward a number of predictions, many of which turned out to be true up to 60 years later. A consistent theme throughout the... read more »
LycidusAphra Behn
Being an account from Lycidus to Lysander, of his voyage from the Island of Love: from the French / by the same author of The voyage to the Isle of Love. read more »
Spirits RebelliousKahlil Gibran
When first published in the original Arabic, this book aroused considerable agitation and intrigue. It was burned publicly in the Beirut market place by furious church and state officials, who denounced it as poisonous and dangerous to the peace of the country. Gibran himself was exiled. But this was at a time when... read more »
The Cave GirlEdgar Rice Burroughs
The transformation of a highly civilized, blue-blooded young Bostonian, into the savage bone-and-muscle chief of a band of shaggy cavemen is a challenge worthy of the talents of the man who created Tarzan of the Apes. In this tale, Burroughs tells, in a thrill-after-thrill novel, the story of Waldo Smith-Jones and... read more »
Casanova Part 8: Convent AffairsGiacomo Casanova
Episode 8 of Cassanova's escapades, starts with a meeting of Countess Coronini -- a Lover's Pique -- Reconciliation -- The First Meeting -- a Philosophical Parenthesis. A scholar, an adventurer, perhaps a Cabalist, a busy stirrer in politics, a gamester, one born for the fairer sex, as he tells us, and born also to... read more »
Dr. Nikola's ExperimentGuy Boothby
The nefarious and wealthy Nikola has purchased a remote castle in the north of England, where the seclusion will allow him and his new assistant and Nikola's deaf-mute malformed Chinese servant to conduct his grand experiment on a human subject -- the doctor has discovered all of the facts necessary to extend a... read more »
A Prince of the CaptivityJohn Buchan
This is the epic story of one man's courage. Adam Melfort is an officer and a gentleman. A brilliant career lies ahead of him until he is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Afterwards, Adam embarks on daring missions in the service of his country. Dangerous work behind enemy lines in World War I and espionage... read more »
PostsingularRudy Rucker
It all begins next year in California. A maladjusted computer industry billionaire and a somewhat crazy US President initiate a radical transformation of the world through sentient nanotechnology; sort of the equivalent of biological artificial intelligence. At first they succeed, but their plans are reversed by... read more »
Rudy and BabetteHans Christian Andersen
Written towards the end of Andersen’s career, Rudy and Babette tells the tale of Rudy, a boy who lost both his parents and goes to live with his uncle. Rudy had an 'encounter' with The Ice Maiden who continues to interact with him into adulthood. As the story goes forward Rudy meets and falls in love with a girl... read more »
Tom Brown at OxfordThomas Hughes
The follow-up to the much-beloved Tom Brown's Schooldays, Thomas Hughes' novel follows the rowdy but good-hearted protagonist as he leaves his school-boy days behind him and begins his academic career at university. Although the main character has matured, he still has the same proclivity for hijinks and finds... read more »
Titus AndronicusWilliam Shakespeare
An embittered Roman General returns from war, having captured the Queen of the Goths and her three sons. Sacrificing the eldest, in memory of his own sons killed in battle, he provokes the queen's unending hatred. read more »
The Dutch LoverAphra Behn
Sil. Why--I would have thee do--I know not what-- Still to be with me--yet that will not satisfie; To let me--look upon thee--still that's not enough. I dare not say to kiss thee, and imbrace thee; That were to make me wish--I dare not tell thee what. read more »
Casanova Part 7: VeniceGiacomo Casanova
Followed by authorities of the Inquisition, Casanova fled from place to place and landed in Venice. Feeling comfortable in his birth place, he started working in the sphere of his interest and translated some works. Focusing on the life around him, this work depicts his experiences in a great manner. read more »
Skull-FaceRobert E. Howard
Boxer Steve Costigan drearily waking in Yu Shantu's Temple of Dreams, a hashish den in the city of London, England. He has been re-occurring dreams of something he calls "Skull Face", and is puzzled about their meanings. He is broke, and in need of more hashish, the drug he is addicted to. When confronted by the... read more »
The Earth GodsKahlil Gibran
The last book to be published while Gibran was still in this world, came into the poet's hands two weeks before he was to lay aside all earthly volumes. He had a peculiar feeling of tenderness for this book, unlike what he felt for any of the others. 'Because,' he said, 'it was written out of the poet's hell—a... read more »
The Seven Lamps of ArchitectureJohn Ruskin
A classic work by the great Victorian expresses his deepest convictions about the nature and role of architecture and its aesthetics. Though Ruskin himself later called it "a wretched rant", this book really paved the way for modern architectural history and criticism, laying down criteria by which to judge... read more »
The Girl From Farris'sEdgar Rice Burroughs
A one-time resident of Chicago's notorious Red light district, Maggie Lynch sets out determinedly to end her life of sin and find a decent job. But on entering the respectable world Maggie finds that deceit and greed are as rampant in corporate offices as on the streets she so desperately wants to escape. read more »
Paradise RegainedJohn Milton
Satan is out for revenge. His rebellion has failed, he has been cast out from heaven and is doomed to spend eternity in hell. Somehow he must find a way to prove his power and wound his enemies. He fixes upon God's beloved new creations, Adam and Eve, as the vehicles of his vengeance. In this dramatic and... read more »
The Sand-Hills of JutlandHans Christian Andersen
A collection of short stories by Hans Christian Anderson, set in beautiful surroundings with lively description of the characters and the ambiance. The variety of subjects keeps the readers thoroughly entertained. The flow is quite spontaneous. read more »
Dr. Nikola ReturnsGuy Boothby
Wilfred Bruce and Doctor Nikola set off for Tibet in search of a secret society "ten times as powerful as any government or priesthood in the world." Its members can extend life, perform magic, and raise the dead. With these miracles at his command, Nikola knows he can change the world. Using his talent for... read more »
Sir Quixote of the MoorsJohn Buchan
The first novel by John Buchan is a fascinating insight into the themes that would continue to appear throughout all of his later work. Set in 17th century Scotland, the story revolves around the middle aged Jean Sieur de Rohaine and his battle to deal with his sense of duty and emotional weakness, as his old... read more »
A Midsummer Night's DreamWilliam Shakespeare
Perhaps the most popular from all of Shakespeare's comedies, humorously celebrates the vagaries of love. The approaching wedding festivities of Theseus, Duke of Athens, and his bride-to-be, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, are delightfully crisscrossed with in-again, off-again romances of two young pairs of Athenian... read more »
Tom Brown's School DaysThomas Hughes
Like modern young adults, Tom and the other boys at Rugby suffer pangs of separation from family, stand up against peer bullies, ponder the ambiguities of friendship and the finality of death, and gradually assume adult responsibilities. Tom is no saint; like his American contemporary Huckleberry Finn, he gets into... read more »
The Race of LifeGuy Boothby
It was nearly nightfall when that melancholy little party made their appearance at the head station. Dick, with great foresight, had sent the ration cart out some miles to meet them, so that my mother was spared the pain of seeing the body of her husband brought in upon his horse. Rough and rude as he was, Dick was... read more »
The King of the Golden RiverJohn Ruskin
A fairy tale of what happened to two men who tried to get rich in evil ways and of how the fortune they sought came to their younger brother, whose kind and loving heart prompted him to right action. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of 19th century stories for children. read more »
Lazarus and his BelovedKahlil Gibran
The garden outside of the home of Lazarus and his mother and sisters in Bethany Late afternoon of Manday, the day after the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the grave. At curtain rise: Mary is at right gazing up towards the hills. Martha is seated at her loom near the house door, left. The Madman is seated... read more »
Casanova: Part 6 - ParisGiacomo Casanova
I thought that my newly-found cousin was unknown to me, but when I looked at her with more attention, I fancied I recollected her features. She was the Catinella, a dancer of reputation, but I had never spoken to her before. I easily guessed that she was giving me an impromptu part in a play of her own composition... read more »
Turing & BurroughsRudy Rucker
What if Alan Turing, founder of the modern computer age, escaped assassination by the secret service to become the lover of Beat author William Burroughs? What if they mutated into giant shapeshifting slugs, fled the FBI, raised Burroughs's wife from the dead, and tweaked the H-bombs of Los Alamos? A wild beatnik... read more »
Timon of AthensWilliam Shakespeare
A wealthy citizen of ancient Greece, Timon delights in entertaining his friends and lavishing them with extravagant gifts. His largesse ultimately exceeds his means, and when creditors begin to press him for repayment, the open-handed host is devastated to discover that the guests — who gladly accepted everything... read more »
The History of the NunAphra Behn
Behn's remarkable work in which she analyzes the retribution of breaking the vows, particularly the religious vows undertaken by nuns. The tale, claimed to be true, focuses on a nun who was lured by the charms of the world into forsaking the nunnery. Fate comes down hard upon her as she has to face the troubles and... read more »