Best Selling Books by Kevin J

Is there a meaning in the Bible, or is meaning rather a matter of who is reading or of how one reads? Does Christian doctrine have anything to contribute to debates about interpretation, literary theory, and post modernity? These are questions of crucial importance for contemporary biblical studies and theology alike. Kevin Vanhoozer contends that the postmodern crisis in hermeneutics—”incredulity towards meaning,” a deep–set skepticism concerning the possibility of correct interpretation—is fundamentally a crisis in theology provoked by an inadequate view of God and by the announcement of God’s “death.” Part 1 examines the ways in which deconstruction and radical reader–response criticism “undo” the traditional concepts of author, text, and reading. Dr. Vanhoozer engages critically with the work of Derrida, Rorty, and Fish, among others, and demonstrates the detrimental influence of the postmodern “suspicion of hermeneutics” on biblical studies. In Part 2, Dr. Vanhoozer defends the concept of the author and the possibility of literary knowledge by drawing on the resources of Christian doctrine and by viewing meaning in terms of communicative action. He argues that there is a meaning in the text, that it can be known with relative adequacy, and that readers have a responsibility to do so by cultivating “interpretive virtues.” Successive chapters build on Trinitarian theology and speech act philosophy in order to treat the metaphysics, methodology, and morals of interpretation. From a Christian perspective, meaning and interpretation are ultimately grounded in God’s own communicative action in creation, in the canon, and preeminently in Christ. Prominent features in Part 2 include a new account of the author’s intention and of the literal sense, the reclaiming of the distinction between meaning and significance in terms of Word and Spirit, and the image of the reader as a disciple–martyr, whose vocation is to witness to something other than oneself. Is There a Meaning in This Text? guides the student toward greater confidence in the authority, clarity, and relevance of Scripture, and a well–reasoned expectation to understand accurately the message of the Bible. Is There a Meaning in This Text? is a comprehensive and creative analysis of current debates over biblical hermeneutics that draws on interdisciplinary resources, all coordinated by Christian theology. It makes a significant contribution to biblical interpretation that will be of interest to readers in a number of fields. The intention of the book is to revitalize and enlarge the concept of author–oriented interpretation and to restore confidence that readers of the Bible can reach understanding. The result is a major challenge to the central assumptions of postmodern biblical scholarship and a constructive alternative proposal—an Augustinian hermeneutic—that reinvigorates the notion of biblical authority and finds a new exegetical practice that recognizes the importance of both the reader’s situation and the literal sense.

The breathtaking vision and incomparable storytelling of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson''s Dune: The Butlerian Jihad, a prequel to Frank Herbert''s classic Dune, propelled it to the ranks of speculative fiction''s classics in its own right. Now, with all the color, scope, and fascination of the prior novel, comes Dune: The Machine Crusade. More than two decades have passed since the events chronicled in The Butlerian Jihad. The crusade against thinking robots has ground on for years, but the forces led by Serena Butler and Irbis Ginjo have made only slight gains; the human worlds grow weary of war, of the bloody, inconclusive swing from victory to defeat. The fearsome cymeks, led by Agamemnon, hatch new plots to regain their lost power from Omnius--as their numbers dwindle and time begins to run out. The fighters of Ginaz, led by Jool Noret, forge themselves into an elite warrior class, a weapon against the machine-dominated worlds. Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva are on the verge of the most important discovery in human history-a way to "fold" space and travel instantaneously to any place in the galaxy. And on the faraway, nearly worthless planet of Arrakis, Selim Wormrider and his band of outlaws take the first steps to making themselves the feared fighters who will change the course of history: the Fremen. Here is the unrivaled imaginative power that has put Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson on bestseller lists everywhere and earned them the high regard of readers around the globe. The fantastic saga of Dune continues in Dune: The Machine Crusade.

Gettysburg is divided into five chapters, outlining the campaign, the fighting on July 1, July 2, and July 3, as well as the aftermath. Including more than 200 archival photographs, illustrations, paintings, and maps, Gettysburg is a colorful, accessible guide to the great battle that marked the turning point in the Civil War.

Book One of the Epic Prequel to the Classic Novel Dune—Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture Step into the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune, one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time. Before Paul Atreides became Muad’Dib, the dynamic leader who unified the wild Fremen on the desert planet known as Dune . . . Before the evil Baron Harkonnen overthrew House Atreides and sent Paul and his mother Jessica fleeing into the deadly wasteland of sand . . . Before the secrets of the spice and the sandworms were discovered . . . There was another story . . . The tale of young Leto Atreides learning to become a ruler in the shadow of his great father. The tale of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, ruthless tyrant who becomes a pawn of Bene Gesserit breeding schemes. The tale of Pardot Kynes, ambitious planetologist dispatched to the sands of Arrakis to understand the origins of the spice melange, the most valuable substance in the known universe. And the tale of Crown Prince Shaddam Corrino, whose lust for power leads him to plot the assassination of his own father and to create a plan that will replace the spice and disrupt the Imperium forever . . . Dune: House Atreides begins the epic worldwide bestselling trilogy that tells of the generation before Dune and sows the seeds for great heroes, vile enemies, and terrible tyrants. Look for the entire prequel series DUNE: HOUSE ATREIDES • DUNE: HOUSE HARKONNEN • DUNE: HOUSE CORRINO

A vivid snapshot of America''s kaleidoscopic literary tradition, A Journey Through American Literature illuminates the authors, works, and events that have shaped our cultural heritage. Kevin J. Hayes charts this history through a series of approachable thematic chapters--Narrative Voice and the Short Story, the Drama of the Everyday, the Great American Novel--that reveal the richness of American literature while providing a compelling set of footholds with which to engage it. Among the topics covered are the role of travel and the symbolism of geography, characters and the importance of voice and dialect, self-definition and the American dream, new beginnings, and the role of memory. Hayes not only discusses the main canonical genres like poetry, drama, and the novel, but also looks at travel writing, autobiography, and frame tales. Key writers like Mark Twain, Ralph Ellison, Emily Dickinson, and Harriet Jacobs are central players in the drama while dozens more create a backdrop that gives this history depth. The book also features over 20 illustrations, a bibliography, and a chronology listing the key events and work in America''s literary history.

In the aftermath of the battle of Arrakeen, legendary House Atreides warmaster Gurney Halleck takes refuge with spice smugglers, vowing revenge against the Harkonnens no matter the cost. House Atreides may be shattered, but it will never be forgotten. To embark on his mission of vengeance, Gurney Halleck must put himself on a collision course with not only House Harkonnen, but the Spacing Guild itself! Soon, Gurney and the smugglers may have an opportunity to deal a crucial blow to their bitter enemies, but at what cost? Will he finally have his revenge against the Beast Rabban? Or will they be met with certain death, their sacrifices all for nothing? Artist Francesco Mortarino (Power Rangers) brings the original short story adapted by original authors Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson to life in ways that will excite both fans of the novels and the recent hit film alike! Collects Dune: The Waters of Kanly #1-4.

What if the Martian invasion was not entirely the product of H.G. Wells''s vivid imagination? What if Wells witnessed something that spurred him to write The War of the Worlds as a warning? From drafty London flats to the steamy Sahara, to the surface of the moon and beyond, The Martian War takes the reader on an exhilarating journey with Wells and his companions.

This ebundle includes: Dune: The Duke of Caladan, Dune: The Lady of Caladan, and Dune: The Heir of Caladan. New York Times bestselling authors Brian Herbert, the son of Frank Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson present The Caladan Trilogy, a prequel series to the timeless Dune novels. Dune: The Duke of Caladan — Through patience and loyalty, Leto serves the Golden Lion Throne. Where others scheme, the Duke of Caladan acts. But Leto’s powerful enemies are starting to feel that he is rising beyond his station, and House Atreides rises too high. With unseen enemies circling, Leto must decide if the twin burdens of duty and honor are worth the price of his life, family, and love. Dune: The Lady of Caladan — Lady Jessica, mother of Paul, and consort to Leto Atreides. The Lady of Caladan has already betrayed her ancient order of the Bene Gesserit, but now she must decide if her loyalty to the Sisterhood is more important than the love of her own family. Meanwhile, events in the greater empire are accelerating beyond the control of even the Reverend Mother, and Lady Jessica''s family is on a collision course with destiny. Dune: The Heir of Caladan — The story now concludes with Paul becoming the leader that he needs to be on the way to his pivotal role as Muad’Dib. Any Dune fan will devour this tale of a legend coming into his own. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

They call themselves Eagle’s Claw, one of the most extreme militia groups in the United States. They have infiltrated the Device Assembly Facility at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. And the most frightening display of nuclear terrorism is about to unfold. Only the Nebula-nominated collaboration of Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason could masterfully blend hard-as-nails high technology with hard-driving intrigue to deliver such an explosive thriller. FBI Special Agent Craig Kreident—the unforgettable hero from Virtual Destruction—returns in this breathtaking tour de force of terrorism, cutting-edge technology, and raw emotional power.

Vampire hunter or serial killer? That depends on whether vampires exist . . . Simon Helsing believes the only way to stop a bad guy with fangs is a good guy with a stake. He has devoted his life to ridding the world of vampires. He hunts them, finds their daytime lairs, and pounds a stake through their hearts. Lexi Tarada wants to believe. She''s desperate to prove that the strange and impossible can be real. She runs a website for the unexplained and tries to sift through the crazy conspiracy theories to find out what is - or might be - real. Detective Todd Carrow is a skeptic. Haunted by visions of brutal killings from a previous case, he sees the latest gruesome murders as nothing more than the actions of a madman targeting innocents. Helsing is convinced he''s doing good, but what if vampires aren''t real and Carrow is right?

Book Three of the Epic Prequel to the Classic Novel Dune—Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture The grand finale of the complex epic trilogy of the generation before Frank Herbert’s masterwork Dune. Shaddam Corrino IV, Emperor of the Known Universe, has risked everything to create a substitute for the spice melange . . . The substance that makes space travel possible . . . That prolongs life . . . That allows prescience . . . A substance that is found only on the desert planet Arrakis, a harsh world of storms and monstrous sandworms. Shaddam has used the noble houses as chess pieces for his scheme, causing the overthrow of powerful families, raising other houses to power. The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood works their own plans, manipulating bloodlines, trying to create their long-awaited messiah, the Kwisatz Haderach. Duke Leto Atreides battles his mortal enemy, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, while his love for the beautiful and wise Jessica grows even in the face of bloodshed and betrayal. But are they all just pawns of an inevitable future centered around the planet Dune? Look for the entire prequel series DUNE: HOUSE ATREIDES • DUNE: HOUSE HARKONNEN • DUNE: HOUSE CORRINO

A blend of archival photos combine with modern color shots to relate the stories behind the design, the architecture, and the use of terminals like Grand Central Station and Pennsylvania Station in New York City, and Washington, D.C.''s Union Station. 150 photos.

FBI agents Mulder and Scully are sent to Mexico to search for a missing archeologist. They find much more.

Visiting their friend Lowbacca on the Wookie home world to help him prepare his younger sister for a terrifying rite of passage, Jedi twins Jacen and Jaina confront dark Jedi student Zekk, who is raiding the Wookie computer center.

Top Ministry Book of 2015, The Gospel Coalition (TGC Editors'' Picks) Many pastors today see themselves primarily as counselors, leaders, and motivators. Yet this often comes at the expense of the fundamental reality of the pastorate as a theological office. The most important role is to be a theologian mediating God to the people. The church needs pastors who can contextualize biblical wisdom in Christian living to help their congregations think theologically about all aspects of their lives, such as work, end-of-life decisions, political involvement, and entertainment choices. Drawing on the Bible, key figures from church history, and Christian theology, this book offers a clarion call for pastors to serve as public theologians in their congregations and communities. It is designed to be engaging reading for busy pastors and includes pastoral reflections on the theological task from twelve working pastors, including Kevin DeYoung and Cornelius Plantinga.

The Dark Jedi Brakiss will stop at nothing to kidnap the twins of Han Solo and Princess Leia so he can turn them to the dark side of the Force.

Thomas Jefferson was an avid book-collector, a voracious reader, and a gifted writer--a man who prided himself on his knowledge of classical and modern languages and whose marginal annotations include quotations from Euripides, Herodotus, and Milton. And yet there has never been a literary life of our most literary president. In The Road to Monticello, Kevin J. Hayes fills this important gap by offering a lively account of Jefferson''s spiritual and intellectual development, focusing on the books and ideas that exerted the most profound influence on him. Moving chronologically through Jefferson''s life, Hayes reveals the full range and depth of Jefferson''s literary passions, from the popular "small books" sold by traveling chapmen, such as The History of Tom Thumb, which enthralled him as a child; to his lifelong love of Aesop''s Fables and Robinson Crusoe; his engagement with Horace, Ovid, Virgil and other writers of classical antiquity; and his deep affinity with the melancholy verse of Ossian, the legendary third-century Gaelic warrior-poet. Drawing on Jefferson''s letters, journals, and commonplace books, Hayes offers a wealth of new scholarship on the print culture of colonial America, reveals an intimate portrait of Jefferson''s activities beyond the political chamber, and reconstructs the president''s investigations in such different fields of knowledge as law, history, philosophy and natural science. Most importantly, Hayes uncovers the ideas and exchanges which informed the thinking of America''s first great intellectual and shows how his lifelong pursuit of knowledge culminated in the formation of a public offering, the "academic village" which became UVA, and his more private retreat at Monticello. Gracefully written and painstakingly researched, The Road to Monticello provides an invaluable look at Jefferson''s intellectual and literary life, uncovering the roots of some of the most important--and influential--ideas that have informed American history.

A legend begins in Dune: Duke of Caladan, first in The Caladan Trilogy by New York Times bestselling authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Leto Atreides, Duke of Caladan and father of the Muad’Dib. While all know of his fall and the rise of his son, little is known about the quiet ruler of Caladan and his partner Jessica. Or how a Duke of an inconsequential planet earned an emperor’s favor, the ire of House Harkonnen, and set himself on a collision course with his own death. This is the story. Through patience and loyalty, Leto serves the Golden Lion Throne. Where others scheme, the Duke of Caladan acts. But Leto’s powerful enemies are starting to feel that he is rising beyond his station, and House Atreides rises too high. With unseen enemies circling, Leto must decide if the twin burdens of duty and honor are worth the price of his life, family, and love.

From Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson comes Dune: The Heir of Caladan, a new novel in the internationally bestselling Dune series that shows us Paul Atreides as we''ve never seen him before. The story that began with Duke Leto Atreides''s rise to power, then continued with the consequences of Lady Jessica’s betrayal, will now conclude with Paul becoming the leader that he needs to be on the way to his pivotal role as Muad’Dib. Any Dune fan will devour this tale of a legend coming into his own. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

An anti-nuke protestor accidentally thrown back in time finds herself in 1943 Los Alamos, where Oppenheimer''s Manhattan Project is furiously working to develop the atomic bomb. Due to her presence there, history changes to give Nazi Germany a jump in its own push for the bomb. Now, which country will succeed?

This groundbreaking reference tool introduces key names, theories, and concepts for interpreting Scripture.

Science fiction mystery based on the popular TV series. Mulder and Scully investigate a series of strange explosions.

Christianity Today Book Award Winner A Jesus Creed Church History Book of the Year In recent years, notable scholars have argued that the Protestant Reformation unleashed interpretive anarchy on the church. Is it time to consider the Reformation to be a 500-year experiment gone wrong? World-renowned evangelical theologian Kevin Vanhoozer thinks not. While he sees recent critiques as legitimate, he argues that retrieving the Reformation''s core principles offers an answer to critics of Protestant biblical interpretation. Vanhoozer explores how a proper reappropriation of the five solas--sola gratia (grace alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (in Christ alone), and sola Deo gloria (for the glory of God alone)--offers the tools to constrain biblical interpretation and establish interpretive authority. He offers a positive assessment of the Reformation, showing how a retrieval of "mere Protestant Christianity" has the potential to reform contemporary Christian belief and practice. This provocative response and statement from a top theologian is accessibly written for pastors and church leaders.

This book systematically analyzes the evidence on four key issues that have divided commentators on the community college: The community college''s impact on students, business, and the universities; the factors behind its rise since 1900; the causes of its swift vocationalization after 1960; and what direction the community college should take in the future.

This sequel to A.E. van Vogt''s ''Slan, '' authorized by van Vogt''s estate, which can also be read as a stand-alone, continues one of the most famous science fiction novels of the 20th century. Slans, a superior race of mutants are smarter than humans and able to read minds, yet they are persecuted and survivors of genocidal wars who now hide from humans. When a future war among the races of mankind breaks out, all types of humanity struggle to survive.

When Victor''s latest creations, an army of engineered killers set loose in modern-day New Orleans, begin to exceed his expectations and exhibit logistical and analytical skills, he plans to eliminate the entire race, a plan that backfires into humankind''s ultimate nightmare.

A New York Times bestseller imagines the life of Jules Verne in this “rollicking whopper of a novel [that] glides down smoothly” (Publishers Weekly). Captain Nemo is the fictional life story of one of Jules Verne’s most memorable characters from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island. This alternate history covers his boyhood friendship with the dreamer, Jules Verne, adventures aboard sailing ships, battles with pirates, and survival on a mysterious deserted island. Each time he returns home to his beloved France, Captain Nemo shares the tales of his exploits with the struggling writer Verne. We follow Nemo’s exploration of hidden caverns that lead to the center of the earth, travels across darkest Africa in a hydrogen balloon, and his imprisonment by an evil Ottoman caliph who commands the dark genius to construct a sub-marine boat, the Nautilus, in order to attack merchant ships that venture through the newly completed Suez Canal. “K. J. Anderson seamlessly blends events of Jules Verne’s real life with the plotlines of his fictional works. His portrayal of Verne is masterful: a man able to break free from the circumstances that stifle him through his vivid imagination and the inspiration provided by his lifelong friend, Nemo.” —Harry Turtledove, New York Times–bestselling author of The Guns of the South “A swashbuckling mix of Jules Verne, Daniel DeFoe, and Michael Crichton.” —Terry Brooks, New York Times–bestselling author of The Sword of Shannara

A battle-hungry woman from Han Solo''s past spells doom for Solo and his family unless his twins by Princess Leia, Jacen and Jaina, can wield the Force with a skill beyond their tender years.

Winner of the Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize, Winner of the Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award & Winner of The Society of the Cincinnati Prize. In the late summer and fall of 1777, after two years of indecisive fighting on both sides, the outcome of the American War of Independence hung in the balance. Having successfully expelled the Americans from Canada in 1776, the British were determined to end the rebellion the following year and devised what they believed a war-winning strategy, sending General John Burgoyne south to rout the Americans and take Albany. When British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga with unexpected ease in July of 1777, it looked as if it was a matter of time before they would break the rebellion in the North. Less than three and a half months later, however, a combination of the Continental Army and Militia forces, commanded by Major General Horatio Gates and inspired by the heroics of Benedict Arnold, forced Burgoyne to surrender his entire army. The American victory stunned the world and changed the course of the war. Kevin J. Weddle offers the most authoritative history of the Battle of Saratoga to date, explaining with verve and clarity why events unfolded the way they did. In the end, British plans were undone by a combination of distance, geography, logistics, and an underestimation of American leadership and fighting ability. Taking Ticonderoga had misled Burgoyne and his army into thinking victory was assured. Saratoga, which began as a British foraging expedition, turned into a rout. The outcome forced the British to rethink their strategy, inflamed public opinion in England against the war, boosted Patriot morale, and, perhaps most critical of all, led directly to the Franco-American alliance. Weddle unravels the web of contingencies and the play of personalities that ultimately led to what one American general called "the Compleat Victory."

Mulder and Scully, the FBI agency maverick and the female agent assigned to keep him in line, face another eerie mystery in this fifth volume of the X-Files.

Based on the Emmy-award winning tv series, special agents Mulder and Skully investigate ancient Mayan ruins for paranormal phenomena. Meet Mulder and Scully, FBI: the agency maverick and the female agent assigned to keep him in line. Their job is to investigate the eerie unsolved mysteries the bureau wants handled quietly but quickly, before the public finds out what''s really out there . . . and panics—the cases filed under "X". In the most ambitious and exciting X-Files adventure to date, Mulder and Scully fly to the Yucatan jungle to investigate a missing team of archaeologists. Their exploration leads to a strange electronic signal coming from beneath ancient ruins—a signal aimed upward, at the stars. . . .

Collected for the first time, these three previously unpublished Dune novellas by bestselling authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson shine a light upon the darker corners of the Dune universe. Spanning space and time, Sands of Dune is essential reading for any fan of the series. The world of Dune has shaped an entire generation of science fiction. From the sand blasted world of Arrakis, to the splendor of the imperial homeworld of Kaitain, readers have lived in a universe of treachery and wonder. Now, these stories expand on the Dune universe, telling of the lost years of Gurney Halleck as he works with smugglers on Arrakis in a deadly gambit for revenge; inside the ranks of the Sardaukar as the child of a betrayed nobleman becomes one of the Emperor''s most ruthless fighters; a young firebrand Fremen woman, a guerrilla fighter against the ruthless Harkonnens, who will one day become Shadout Mapes.

Comprehensive reference/teaching guide to the visual clues seen in emergency medicine. For clinicians, educators, residents and students. Color and halftone illustrations.

Provides a detailed assessment of Japan''s foreign policy since 1945, including policy options and choices that Japan faces in the twenty-first century. Using information based on interviews with policymakers in Japan, this text provides an insight into Japan''s foreign policy options and analyzes the nation''s role in international affairs.