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The Final Days: A Lenten Journey through the Gospels
by Matt RawleThis Lent, ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love.The four New Testament Gospels aren’t the same story, but they offer the same Resurrection hope. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John devote most of their story detailing Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, all highlighting Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city, the suffering and humiliation of the cross, and the empty tomb come Sunday morning, but the stories they tell aren’t quite the same. Each Gospel offers a different lens through which we understand Jesus’ Passion. One portrait reveals Jesus to be in control, while another emphasizes his suffering. In one story Jesus offers hope to the thief on the cross, and in another Jesus only receives derision. These different perspectives aren’t a reason to dismiss the Gospels; rather they reveal an abundant, diverse, and complementary picture of God’s work in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Other components for the study include a leader guide, and teaching video are available.
Context Leader Guide: Putting Scripture in Its Place
by Josh ScottExploring the Chapter Behind the Verse. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Components include a book, Context: Putting Scripture in Its Place, and video teaching sessions featuring Josh Scott, making this perfect as a group study throughout the year. Context looks at verses we know by heart but may not know the people, places, and times that give them meaning. Josh Scott delves into these well-known Scripture verses, exploring their true meanings by examining them in their original biblical context. Through this process, he unveils fresh and enlightening interpretations that are often missed when these Scriptures are taken out of context.
The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World
by Adam HamiltonA fresh encounter with the words of Jesus.More than 3 billion people claim to follow Jesus. But aside from a few verses, how many actually know what he taught? In fact, much of what people think Jesus taught, he never said. In this six-week study, pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton explores six of the most important themes in Jesus's teachings, why they matter, and how they speak to us today. The book will explore Jesus’s preaching on the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the “I am” sayings in John, and more. Jesus's message is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Join Adam Hamilton in studying The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World. Other components for the study include a leader guide, teaching videos, and sermons and worship.
The Christmas Letters: Celebrating Advent with Those Who Told the Story First
by Magrey deVegaHear from “those who told the story first.” You may or may not know the story of your birth. If you do, there is something special about hearing your origin story again and remembering how it all began for you. That’s why we observe Advent: to celebrate how it all began for us. In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. The letters in the New Testament, known as the Epistles, contain the first attempts by the church to understand and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. They point us to the origins of what we believe about Jesus, fully human and fully divine. By spending time with these holy, ancient words this Advent, you’ll come to know the meaning of Christ’s coming like never before. Read the New Testament letters, Romans, 1 John, Philippians, and Colossians as your first Christmas letters of the season and find within them an invitation from God to deepen your understanding of the Incarnation and embrace a fuller commitment to Jesus Christ. Components available to use this book in a small group study include a leader guide and video available on DVD.
Daily Bible Study Spring 2025
by Amy Sigmon Gregory M. WeeksGrow your faith daily. Transform your life.Experience God in deeper ways by spending time in God’s Word. Daily Bible Study is the perfect resource for individuals who want to grow in their relationship with God and enhance their engagement with lessons in Adult Bible Studies. Designed to meet the needs of busy people, each daily reading includes a Scripture reference, a personal faith-related question, an explanation and application of the biblical text, and a prayer, all on one page. Available in print and eBook and as an app.Spring 2024 Theme: Exclusion and EmbraceThis spring, Daily Bible Study presents a series of readings supporting the theme “Exclusion and Embrace.” These readings, divided into two units during Lent and the weeks following, encourage us to consider what we need to let go of and what we need to take on as followers of Jesus. These daily readings come from the Old and New Testament texts and prepare us for the lessons in Adult Bible Studies.
A Full-Hearted Life: Following Jesus in This Secular Age
by Jake OwensbyMeaningful answers for life’s big questions.Everyone must ask life’s big questions. Even people who reject any hint of the supernatural and insist that nothing exists apart from matter will have to find meaning for themselves. To put this another way, the defining mark of our secular age is not the absence of belief, but rather the effect on our consciousness of the sheer number of competing belief systems. That effect is fragilization. And so, belief is fragile. We don’t have to believe what we believe. We could believe something else entirely. This book articulates how believing in Jesus gives us a sense of who we are, why we’re here, what the good life is, and how to move toward that good life. This is not traditional apologetics, offering logical proofs that God exists or that Jesus is God incarnate or that all those alternative belief systems are false. Put simply, the aim of this book is to help you see for yourself and to explain to others how Christian belief and Christian practice can make life meaningful."If you want to know what it looks and feels like to be a Christian, read this book. If, as a Christian, you could use a little encouragement, look no further.”—The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC, author of How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith
Thrive Women's Bible Study Participant Workbook: Living Faithfully in Difficult Times
by Jennifer CowartWalking in Faith…even when times are tough.In Thrive, author and teacher Jen Cowart helps women develop the habits and attitudes necessary to thrive, whatever their circumstances. Leading readers through the Book of James, a letter written about enduring hardships, she lifts up six characteristics of mature Christians. From endurance and humility to controlling our words, Jen helps participants find the divine and the practical in living faithfully.Jen’s teaching has inspired thousands of women across the country. Her authenticity inspires others to open their hearts and minds. One reviewer wrote, “Her ‘realness’ and her vulnerability just work together to open your heart to dig deeper and deeper.”Through this study, women will find inspiration and tools around six traits:Endurance – Embracing obstacles as a means to maturity.Wisdom – Using a heavenly perspective on earthly issues.Action – Living a life where actions match faith.Control – Taming the tongue.Humility – Developing the attitude of Christ.Prayer – Exercising the power tool of the faith.Additional components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, are a Leader Guide and six video sessions, 8 to 13 minutes long (with closed captioning).
Faith over Fear: Abraham's Imperfect Journey
by Matt RawleNo journey is more imperfect than Abraham’s.In Faith over Fear, Matt Rawle invites you to discover the depth and complexity of faith through Abraham's inspiring yet imperfect story. This profoundly reflective book explores the twists and turns of Abraham's relationship with God, reminding us that faith isn’t about flawless trust—it’s about showing up, even when faced with doubt and uncertainty. Through vivid storytelling and rich spiritual insights, Faith over Fear helps you wrestle with faith as a dynamic, deeply human experience and learn to honor fear and trust in your spiritual walk. Whether navigating uncharted territory in life or seeking a renewed understanding of God’s promises, this book offers an uplifting reminder that grace is always ahead of us, calling us to move forward. Transform your perspective and reclaim your courage by stepping into this invitation to walk through life with faith that’s as messy as it is meaningful.
Night Owl Books (A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche #1)
by Seana KellyOrla is an owl shifter, so her bookstore Night Owl Books is only open from 8pm to 6am. She gets very few customers—other than a couple of insomniacs—and that's the way she likes it. Customers tend to interrupt her reading. All of that changes one night when a terrified woman runs into the bookstore, followed by two bear shifters, a werewolf, and a psychic wicche. Poor Orla's night is about to be far less quiet.
Yarn Mandalas For Beginners & Beyond: Woven wall hangings for mindul making
by Inga SavageDiscover how to make incredible woven yarn mandalas in a mindful, meditative way with this colorful guidebook.This is a practical book of instructions for woven mandalas, starting with very simple four-sided mandalas through to more complex designs, with an emphasis on how they can be a tool to aid wellbeing.Yarn mandalas are a wonderful way to create bright and beautiful woven wall art in a mindful, meditative way. The use of pattern and color can help to reduce stress and aid wellbeing at the same time as developing your creativity. Author Inga Savage, explains how to start your mandala journey with a simple four-sided version, as well as how to choose the right materials including dowels, yarn and other hardware.There are step-by-step instructions for seventeen wonderfully colorful yarn mandalas, ranging from some very simple, basic versions using just two dowels, right up to more complicated twelve-sided mandalas (using six dowels). All of the key techniques are accompanied with step-by-step instructions and photography so you can see how to prepare the dowels, marking them up and how to join them as well as what the best yarn to use is and how to ensure that your mandalas have the correct tension which allows the pattern and color to shine. This skill-building approach to weaving mandalas will help you to develop your skills by practicing the techniques on simple mandalas and building up to the more complex designs.The instructions include step-by-step tutorials for all the key patterns used in yarn mandalas including the daggers design, the square design, and how to add embroidery, tassels and other elements into the mandalas as your skills develop. The intricate layers and patterns of mandalas have been used to aid meditation and mindfulness for centuries and this collection explores how makers can tap into these benefits while creating beautiful woven mandala art, with the practice of intention, color therapy and visualization during the making process. This collection explores these ideas in the form of a practical guide to making woven yarn mandalas in a meaningful way to allow you to express your creativity via this mindful, relaxing craft. Inga highlights some “Mindful Moments” throughout the book where she draws on her experience in order to encourage you to get the most from the creative process and to be present in the moment while you are working with the mandalas. All you need to get started is yarn and some dowels and before you know it you will be creating beautiful woven wall art to adorn your home.
How to Dress Like a Tudor
by Judith ArnoppThe perfect how-to guide for dressing like your favorite Tudor. Have you ever hankered to dress like a Tudor lord or lady, or perhaps you prefer the status of goodwife, or costermonger, or even a bawd? For beginner historical reenactors, the path to authenticity can be bewildering and sometimes intimidating. Judith Arnopp uses her own experience, both as a historian and a medieval/Tudor lady, to make your own journey a little easier. The author traces the transition of fashion from the relatively subtle styles popular at the court of Henry VII, through the carefully constructed royal grandeur of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I to the pinnacle of majesty and splendid iconography of Elizabeth I. In contrast to the magnificence of court come the ordinary folk who, subject to sumptuary laws and regulations, wore garments of a simpler cut and cloth – a strata of society that formed the back bone of Tudor England. This brief history of sixteenth century fashion examines clothing for both rich and poor, adult and child, and offers tips and tricks on how to begin to sew your first historically inspired garment, this book is aimed at helping the beginner learn How to Dress like a Tudor.
Real Sweet: More Than 80 Crave-Worthy Treats Made with Natural Sugars
by Shauna SeverAt last—a modern baking book packed with dozens of recipes for delectable treats using only natural, unrefined, readily available alternative sweeteners.Real Sweet offers every dessert lover the sweetness they crave in simple and delicious recipes using natural sugars that pack in subtly amazing flavors that elevate treats of every kind (and help us avoid overprocessed, one-dimensional white sugar).Here are simple lunchbox treats suitable for all ages; whimsical candies and confections created on the stovetop; bake sale classics like cookies and cakes; and fragrant, exotic spoonable puddings and flans. Cookbook author and blogger Shauna Sever helps you introduce healthy touches into treats using natural, unrefined, readily available alternative sweeteners—from coconut sugar, agave nectar, orange blossom honey, and pure maple syrup to smoky turbinado, brown-buttery panela, and jaggery.Written in Shauna’s fresh, modern, and charmingly funny style, Real Sweet lets every sweet tooth indulge without the guilt. Here are more than eighty sure-to-be-favorite recipes, including:All-Day Snacks and Lunchbox Treats: Baked Apple Cinnamon Doughnuts, Cracklin’ Maple Popcorn, Fake-Out Caramel DipBake Sales and Edible Gifts: Dark, Fudgy Muscovado Brownies and Maple Sugar Butter CookiesPicnics and Potlucks: Maple Chocolate Cake, Oregon Berry Cream Crumble, Spiced, Brûléed Maple Pumpkin PieCandies and Confections: Bonfire Toffee Pops and Sea Salt Caramels in the RawDinner Party Fancies: Honeyed Yogurt Cheesecake and Pistachio Sponge Cake with Honey and CitrusScoops and Spoonables: Butterscotch Pots de Crème and Vegan Toasted Coconut Chip Ice CreamWhether you’re entertaining, sharing a good meal with friends, contributing to the PTA, or looking for homemade holiday gifts, Real Sweet has the perfect treat for everyday and every occasion.
Railways and Industry on the Brecon & Merthyr Railway (South Wales Valleys)
by John Hodge R. J. CastonThe third in a trilogy on the Brecon & Merthyr Railway, this book covers the line from Merthyr to Pontsticill where it met the line from Newport and continued to Brecon. Between Pontsticill and Brecon the line ran through beautiful scenery with reservoirs on the west side and the Brecon Beacons on the east with the famous Seven Mile bank to test the ability of fireman not to stall their engine. The book is hugely illustrated as it passes through Pontsticill and on through Dolygaer, Pentir Rhiw, Torpantau and Talybont on Usk, this being one of the most scenic sections of the Western Region. Talyllyn and Brecon itself are also very well illustrated giving an idea also of the variety of services that ran into Brecon, not only from Newport, but from Neath, Hereford and Mid-Wales. Passenger services to Brecon from all these places were withdrawn in December 1962, though freight, mostly domestic coal, services from Merthyr continued until 1964. The area is not without some passenger services however in the present day as the Brecon Mountain Railway has been developed between Pant, Pontsticill and Torpantau. This final volume of three provides views in stark contrast to the industrial section at the south end of the Brecon & Merthyr where it runs through the South Wales Coalfield and the former iron producing areas of Merthyr and Dowlais.
Experiencing Christmas Leader Guide: Christ in the Sights and Sounds of Advent
by Matt RawleDiscover how everything changed when God was born.Everything seems different at the end of the year. We put lights on our houses to dispel the growing darkness, Christmas music floods local radio stations, apple cider and cranberry sauce are again on the menu, and wrapping paper and tape are always ready. Things just look, smell, and taste differently during the Advent and Christmas season, and these differences are a sign to us that God is about to do something radical and different. Christmas is when God surrounded the divine with senses of his own. That first noel was when God had eyes to see suffering, ears to hear our cries, and hands to hold those in need, and all of these senses were bundled in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. “This will be a sign to you,” the angel told the shepherds, and they traveled to Bethlehem and found a child. What signs do you see during the Advent and Christmas season that point you to the divine?The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the four-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Additional components for the four-week small group study include the book and DVD/Video Sessions featuring Matt Rawle. The Leader Guide also includes a link to free downloadable teaching resources for children and youth.
Prepare! 2025-2026 CEB/NRSVue Edition
by David L. Bone Mary ScifresA weekly worship planning book for pastors and musicians—refreshed!Discover the enhanced 2025-2026 edition of Prepare!, your ultimate music and worship planning companion for local churches of all sizes. This updated resource has new features, including full texts from the popular CEB and NRSVue Scripture translations, blank writing space for your ideas, music recommendations for various ensembles, hymn and song suggestions, visual worship suggestions, and more.With a user-friendly layout and comprehensive indexes, Prepare! makes planning worship services easier for both music directors and pastors. This all-in-one guide provides everything you need to plan worship throughout the Church Year. It includes extensive musical suggestions from a wide range of denominations, including the standard hymnals from the major Christian churches.Hymnals: Africana Hymnal, The Baptist Hymnal, Chalice Hymnal (Disciples of Christ), The Faith We Sing, Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal, The Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal), Hymns for the Family of God, Lutheran Book of Worship, The Presbyterian Hymnal, The New Century Hymnal (United Church of Christ), Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship, Songs for Praise and Worship Sing along Edition, The United Methodist Hymnal, Voices United, Worship & Song, and Worship III (Roman Catholic).
On Love: 20 Lessons for the World We Seek
by Paul W. Chilcote Janet K. ChilcoteBring love into action one small step at a time.In a world that often feels divided and dark, On Love reveals how everyday moments can become transformative acts of love. Drawing from their rich life experiences, Paul and Janet Chilcote offer twenty essential practices that anyone can begin immediately—no special training required. Each chapter shares relatable stories and simple practices that fit naturally into your daily routines, from making meaningful eye contact to creating beauty in ordinary spaces.Through refreshingly honest personal stories and down-to-earth wisdom, the Chilcotes show how small shifts in the way we interact with the world create ripples of positive change:Turn a hostile interaction into a moment of genuine connectionFind hope even in challenging circumstancesListen in ways that make others feel truly valuedCreate spaces of welcome in an increasingly isolated worldDiscover joy in simplifying your lifeWritten in an everyday conversational manner, On Love reads like a heart-to-heart talk with trusted friends who understand life’s complexities. This book meets you exactly where you are and invites you to discover how love transforms everything it touches.No homework, no complicated spiritual practices—just twenty simple ways to bring more love into your life and our world, starting with your next interaction.With your purchase of On Love, you’ll receive access to a free downloadable digital Companion Guide designed to help you get the most from these twenty transformative practices. Its flexible format allows you to use it for personal reflection and with small groups.The six-session guide includes:Weekly scripture connections that illuminate each practiceFocus verses for contemplationSimple reflection questions to deepen your experiencePractical guidance for implementing each practice in daily life
Reading Scripture in Wesleyan Ways
by Frederick David Carr & Brady Alan BeardUnlock Wesleyan insights today.What is distinctive about how Christians in the Wesleyan tradition interpret the Bible? How can Wesleyans read Scripture in ways that are true to their theological heritage and that can also discern in its pages a guiding witness to a faithful Christian life amid contemporary challenges? Put simply, what is Wesleyan about Wesleyan biblical theology?Discover the essence of Wesleyan biblical interpretation—a reflection of history, theology, and practice—in the book Reading Scripture in Wesleyan Ways. Dive into the vibrant world of Wesleyan Christianity with scholars who explore the unique ways in which Wesleyans read and interpret the Bible. Gain insights from diverse perspectives as these experts showcase practical examples of Wesleyan biblical interpretation. Whether you’re a pastor, scholar, church leader, or student preparing for ministry, this collection is valuable for understanding and applying Wesleyan interpretations of Scripture. Delve deeper into how Wesleyans approach their primary source for moral and theological reflection in today’s challenging global landscape.Contributors: Diana Abernethy, Cheryl B. Anderson, Brady Alan Beard, Presian R. Burroughs, Frederick David Carr, Kristin Helms, Stephen Riley, Charles Rivera, Robert W. Wall, and Jennifer S. Wyant.
Volunteers: The Incredible Story of Kitchener's Army Through Soldiers' and Civilians' Own Words and Photographs
by Richard Van EmdenWhat greater pride might a young man feel than to serve shoulder to shoulder with his friends in time of war? To enlist into the army with his pals, chums, mates, filling the ranks of battalions that drew their strength from the local community, from amongst factory workers, miners, shop-workers and tradesmen. In August 1914, what more fitting role was there to play than to answer the country’s call to arms? The past is another country, of course: the world in which these men grew up and the mores that took them to the Western Front might appear innocent and naive today. The Somme battle eviscerated many of these free-spirited battalions. But the raising of this New Army – a purely volunteer army – lives on in the public consciousness, their collective story part of our heritage. Who were these volunteers who poured into recruiting offices, overwhelming the staff? What motivated these men – too often just boys - to join up? How did they feel about one another and the new military regime into which so many ran with enthusiasm, without much thought as to the future? After the success of his previous books, The Somme, The Road to Passchendaele, and 1918, best-selling Great War historian Richard van Emden returns to the beginning of the War with this, his latest volume, including an unparalleled collection of soldiers’ own photographs taken on their privately-held cameras. Drawing on long-forgotten memoirs, diaries and letters written by the men who enlisted, Richard tells the riveting story of Kitchener’s volunteers, before they went to fight.
The LMS Princess Coronation Pacifics: The Final Years & Preservation (Locomotive Portfolios)
by David MaidmentThis book follows on from the author’s book on the Princess Coronation pacific locomotives from their construction in 1937 to their operation in 1956. It picks up from the story in 1957 with their operation and performance on the ‘Caledonian’, ‘Royal Scot’ and ‘Midday Scot’ accelerated services of the late 1950s, their continuing heavy work as dieselization of the West Coast mainline is implemented and the sudden withdrawal of the remaining examples at the end of the 1964 summer timetable. Included are the author’s personal experiences and photographs and the descriptions by three Crewe men who fired these engines on the heavy overnight Crewe – Perth sleeper services in the late 1950s, two of whom, Les Jackson and Bill Andrew, drove 6229 and 6233 in the preservation era. As well as their stories of their experiences in BR days, they describe runs with the preserved locomotives and have included photographs from their personal collections. Crewe Works fitter, Keith Collier includes his experiences of their maintenance and the author in conclusion compares them with the finest steam locomotives of France, Germany and the USA.
Faces of HMS Royal Oak: The 'Mighty Oak' Disaster at Scapa Flow
by Dilip SarkarOn 14 October each year, a White Ensign is placed on the stern of an upturned warship by Royal Navy divers. This act commemorates the 835 men of HMS Royal Oak who died in 1939 when the battleship was sunk at anchor in Scapa Flow by the German U-boat U-47. The sinking of the veteran First World War Revenge-class Royal Oak shocked not only the Admiralty, but the whole nation. Though Scapa Flow was far from being impregnable as a base for the Royal Navy’s Home Fleet, it was surrounded by a ring of islands separated by shallow channels subject to fast-racing tides. While it was recognized that it was not impervious to enemy submarines, measures had been put in place to minimize any such threat. Blockships had been sunk at potentially vulnerable points and anti-submarine booms deployed across the wider channels. The outbreak of war in September 1939 saw additional anti-submarine measures put in hand. Despite these increased precautions, German aerial reconnaissance had spotted weaknesses which were exploited on the night of 13/14 October 1939, by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien in U-47. The German submarine was able to slip into Scapa Flow undetected and fire three torpedoes towards Royal Oak. Only one torpedo found its mark. A second salvo was fired and this time all three hit the battleship, igniting a magazine causing massive damage. Within thirteen minutes, HMS Royal Oak had turned over and sank. In Faces of HMS Royal Oak, Dilip Sarkar not only reveals the tragic and moving stories of many of those who died, but also some of the 399 who survived the sinking of the first Royal Navy battleship lost in the Second World War. Through their photographs, and in some cases words, the horrors of those fateful few minutes as Royal Oak rolled and slid into the cold, dark waters of Scapa Flow, are relived in startling clarity.
100 Years of Civil Aviation: A History from the 1919 Paris Convention to Retiring the Jumbo Jet
by Ben SkipperAn examination of civil aviation history from the end of World War I to the retiring of the Jumbo Jet. The book examines a century of civil aviation; in 1919 a fledgling industry was born out of civilianizing First World War bombers. The book covers the design and development of civil aircraft and all the personalities that shaped the industry; it features the hay-day of air travel before the advent of mass passenger transit, and the rise of smaller, austerity airlines. It covers the influence of military aircraft on civil planes, unpacks the laws that govern civil aviation and how they have changed over the past century. It chronicles air disasters, both mechanical and tyrannical, and for the first time, looks at the role of women in civil aviation. Playing its part in times of crisis, civil aviation has led rescue missions and covert operations; civilian pilots were often used to test and transport new aircraft from their manufacturers to the frontline, often unarmed and unescorted. The book ends with the quiet retirement of an icon, amid a global pandemic and what lies in store for a greener flying future.
The Southern Region (B R) Class 73 and 74 Locomotives: A Pictorial Overview
by Fred KerrThe Southern Region of British Railways had long sought to design a locomotive capable of working on electrified lines and non-electrified station yards and sidings. In 1959 British Railways approved a design, designated Class HA, later British Railways Class 73, which combined the electrical equipment of the latest EMU design with the standard English Electric diesel engine in one bodyshell. An initial order was placed for six locomotives but allocated to Eastleigh Carriage and Wagon Works because the design used stock components normally found on the multiple unit fleet. The locomotives were released to traffic during February 1962 and were allocated to Stewarts Lane depot from where they powered the mundane duties of freight, parcels and empty stock services. They also tested the principle of high-speed propulsion of passenger trains prior to the adoption of the principle for the electrification of the Waterloo – Weymouth line as far as Poole. Included in this scheme was the ordering of a further 43 improved Class 73 locomotives which were built by English Electric. The locomotives proved a useful design but when British Railways was privatised in 1994 the new operator considered them surplus and sold them out of service. The original 6 locomotives had already been transferred north to Merseyside to work on the local electric network. Although initially considered unsuitable by the original operator they were highly regarded by many companies hence were sold on to continue working on the national network. Some were converted for special purposes thus were formed into sub-classes hence as at December 2022 30 of the 49 fleet still remain active in mainline service.
The History of Science Fiction and Its Toy Figurines
by Luigi Toiati"This eye-opening book deserves a spot on the bookshelves of anyone who not only enjoys collecting, but also has a great interest in all facets of the history of our hobby." — Toy Soldier Collector Science fiction, as the name suggests, is the combination of science and fantasy. In addition to a literary form, it also encompasses film, TV, comics, toys and our beloved toy astronauts, or other figures such as aliens, monsters and other playable genres. The term science fiction was coined by publisher Hugo Gernsbach around the first decades of the last century to refer to the predominantly 'space' adventures covered in his magazines. Space invaded radio, cinema, TV, and consequently for a long time toy figurines were predominantly space-related, later evolving into other themes. This lavishly illustrated book covers both the history of literary science fiction, following in the footsteps of contemporary official criticism, and toy figurines inspired by science fiction. You will also find several other themes, such as the link between science fiction figures and cinema, radio, TV, comics, and more. Luigi Toiati offers to both guide the reader on an often-nostalgic walk through science fiction in all its various forms, and to describe the figurines and brands associated with it.
Rockets and Missiles Over Ukraine: The Changing Face of Battle
by Mihajlo S. MihajlovicA comprehensive guide to the missiles and rockets used by both Russia and Ukraine along with their effect on both military and civilian targets. In the Russian-Ukrainian war, both sides depended heavily on rockets and missiles. Some of these date from Soviet times and some are very modern, being deployed in warfare for the first time. The outbreak of the civil war in the east of Ukraine in 2014 showed that rockets and missiles, beside the artillery, are among the decisive factors in both regular Ukrainian military, and paramilitary nationalistic formations as well as in the separatists’ bodies. For eight years hardly any day passed without these weapons being fired. On 24 February 2022, Russia unleashed a ‘limited military operation’ (as President Putin defined it) with a barrage of new equipment – cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles – pounding Ukrainian targets. The West responded with a pledge to supply modern weapons to the otherwise outdated Ukrainian military to counter the Russian threat, especially armor. Ukraine was turned into a vast depot for NATO ammunition and weapons including short-range air defense systems and antitank rockets. Western stocks gradually shrank while numerous cargo lanes transported these weapons to Poland to be hauled by trucks and railways to the Ukrainians. In the meantime, Russia pounded these locations and large quantities of the Western aid disappeared in flames and explosions – as yet more equipment pourerd into Ukrainian hands. The sheer amount is hard to estimate but large quantities were captured by the Russians and occasionally turned against the former owners. This book is a comprehensive guide to all missiles and rockets used by both sides as well as their effect on both military and civilian targets, including Russian ship-borne weapons and anti-ship missiles used so effectively by Ukraine against the Russian cruiser Moskva. Besides the numerous ex-Soviet, Ukrainian, and Russian anti-armor rockets (RPGs) and missiles, of particular interest are the anti-armor missiles and rockets supplied by NATO which includes Javelin and British NLAW, and Brimstone. The war in Ukraine was a full-scale conventional war between the two largest armies in Europe. But without modern weapons, Ukraine’s ability to hold out for an extended period was limited. Its only hope was help by the West. Yet NATO supplies were precisely tracked and often destroyed immediately after unloading. Nevertheless, the Russian-Ukrainian war allowed manufactures and military experts to assess the true effectiveness of their weapons in the most realistic setting of all – the battlefield. In his examination of the weaponry used in the conflict, the author toured the Ukraine as the conflict unfolded, to photograph and report on the first major war of the twenty-first century.
The Land Army's Lost Women
by Emily AshworthThe Women’s Land Army are probably one of the lesser-known branches of the women’s forces that served their country during World War Two. Thousands of women faced losing their stories to history, but in The Land Army's Lost Women, countless memoirs from members have been captured, to ensure the vital work these ladies carried out on farms across Britain is never forgotten. From friendships unbreakable by time, romances that blossomed into lifelong marriages and dances on a weekend in the local village, to tales of loneliness and isolation and backbreaking farm work, these women gave up their lives to ensure our nation could continue to be fed and took the places of men who went off to war. These are the personal stories from a group of women who deserve to be remembered; from a generation who will soon only live in our memories but who each played a vital role in helping to fight for our freedom from the fields of Britain.