The news at the ends of the earth

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Kevin Cahill with Rob McMahon

You don't have to be a student of geography or cartography to have an interest in the world around you, especially with globalization making our planet seem smaller than ever. Now you can IM someone in Alaska, purchase coffee beans from Timor-Leste, and visit Dubai. But what do we really know about these lands? WHO OWNS THE WORLD presents the results of the first-ever landownership survey of all 197 states and 66 territories of the world, and reveals facts both startling and eye-opening. You'll learn that: --Only 15% of the world's population lays claim to landownership, and that landownership in too few hands is probably the single greatest cause of poverty. --Queen Elizabeth II owns 1/6 of the entire land surface on earth (nearly 3 times the size of the U.S.). --The Lichtenstein royal family is wealthier than the Grimaldis of Monaco. --80% of the American population is crammed in urban areas. --The least crowded state is Alaska, with 670 acres per person. The most crowded is New Jersey, with .7 acres per person. --60% of America's population are property owners. That's behind the UK (69% homeownership). --And much, much more! With its relevance to contemporary issues and culture, WHO OWNS THE WORLD makes for fascinating reading. Both entertaining and educational, it provides cocktail party conversation for years to come and is guaranteed to change the way you view the U.S. and the world.

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Esther M. Friesner

This is NOT a mermaid book! (The title is a quote from Christopher Columbus's diary.) In this disturbing book, mythical king Prester John's ship is racing against Columbus to the New World. If he gets there first, all of the mythical creatures such as unicorns, fairies, pixies, selkies, etc will be saved and stay on earth. If not, they will be gone forever. This ship also carries a pregnant girl. She may or may not be a virgin, and may or may not be carrying a Savior, or just a human baby. ====== REVIEW WARNING: This book ends with a bloody atrocity worse than many war crimes. I am a Friesner fan, and did not know she would do this. If you are looking for a typical fantasy story, skip this dark book.

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Susan Cooper

On his eleventh birthday Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones, destined to seek the six magical Signs that will enable the Old Ones to triumph over the evil forces of the Dark.

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Ann Aguirre

"Sirantha Jax isn't known for diplomatic finesse. As a 'jumper' who navigates ships through grimspace, she's used to kicking ass first and taking names later--much later. She's not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons. And Ithtorian council meetings aren't the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover is frozen in permanent kill mode, and his hair trigger threatens to sabotage the talks--not to mention their relationship. But Jax won't give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and flesh-eating aliens, an alliance with the Ithtorians may be humanity's only hope. Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job..."--p. [4] of cover.