Security Agent Nikolai South is tasked with escorting a dead journalist's widow through the virulently anti-AI and repressive Caspian Republic. But as they delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the death and the secrets it uncovers, South must choose between his loyalty to his country and his conscience.
Knock Knock, Open Wide weaves horror and Celtic myth into a terrifying, heartbreaking supernatural tale of fractured family bonds, the secrets we carry, and the veiled forces that guide Irish life. Driving home late one night, Etain Larkin finds a corpse on a pitch-black country road deep in the Irish countryside. She takes the corpse to a remote farmhouse. So begins a night of unspeakable horror that will take her to the very brink of sanity. She will never speak of it again. Two decades later, Betty Fitzpatrick, newly arrived at college in Dublin, has already fallen in love with the drama society, and the beautiful but troubled Ashling Mallen. As their relationship blossoms, Ashling goes to great lengths to keep Betty away from her family, especially her alcoholic mother, Etain. As their relationship blossoms, Betty learns her lover's terrifying family history, and Ashling's secret obsession. Ashling has become convinced that the horrors inflicted on her family are connected to a seemingly innocent children's TV show. Everyone in Ireland watched this show in their youth, but Ash soon discovers that no one remembers it quite the same way. And only Ashling seems to remember its star: a small black goat puppet who lives in a box and only comes out if you don’t behave. They say he’s never come out. Almost never. When the door between the known and unknown opens, it can never close again.
This picture book presents a humorous take on fish as the unlikely villains, offering a comical narrative that promises to entertain young readers. With vibrant illustrations by National Book Award-winning artist Dan Santat, the story combines absurdity and laughter, making it a delightful choice for children and parents alike. The engaging visuals and witty storyline create an enjoyable reading experience that highlights the playful side of storytelling.
Die Seele der Maschine | Der Blade Runner einer neuen Generation
200 Jahre in der Zukunft. Androiden leben als gewöhnliche Bürger unter den Menschen, außer in der isolierten Diktatur der Kaspischen Republik: Hier hat man jegliche künstliche Intelligenz verboten. Als Lily Xirau, die Witwe des ermordeten politischen Propagandisten Paulo Xirau, ins Land kommt, um seine Überreste zu identifizieren, bekommt Agent Nikolai South den Auftrag, sie zu eskortieren. Doch Lily sieht Souths verstorbener Ehefrau zum Verwechseln ähnlich, und wie sich herausstellt, war der Ermordete selbst eine KI. South ahnt schnell, das irgendetwas hier ganz und gar nicht stimmt …
Život v Kaspické republice naučil agenta Nikolaje Southa dvěma pravidlům. První: Nikomu nevěř. Druhé: Neudělej si nepřátele. Kaspická republika se považuje za poslední ostrůvek lidské rasy a humanity ve světě řízeném umělou inteligencí. Svět považuje Kaspickou republiku za brutální diktaturu, která své děti nemilosrdně drtí pomocí propagandy, izolace a policie. Pro Southa vše změní smrt prominentního novináře, a především odhalení, že největší obhájce režimu byl ve skutečnosti „stroj“, umělá inteligence operující v lidském těle. Do země přijíždí další „stroj“ identifikovat mrtvého. A nic se v Kaspické republice netěší větší nenávisti než stroje. Snad s výjimkou vládnoucí strany. Southův nový úkol je doprovázet „vdovu“ jej vrhne do víru zrady, vražd a spiknutí, které mohou republiku nadobro zničit.