New Releases by MIchael J. Sullivan

Two thieves want answers. Riyria is born. . . For more than a year Royce Melborn has tried to forget Gwen DeLancy, the woman who saved him and his partner Hadrian Blackwater from certain death. Unable to get her out of his mind, Royce returns to Medford with Hadrian but the two receive a very different reception -- Gwen refuses to see them. The victim of abuse by a powerful noble, she suspects that Royce will ignore any danger in his desire for revenge. By turning the thieves away, Gwen hopes to once more protect them. What she doesn''t realize is what the two are capable of -- but she''s about to find out.

Two men who hate each other. One impossible mission. A legend in the making. Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for, is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Hired by an old wizard, they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm''s most prized possessions. But it isn''t gold or jewels that the wizard is after, and if he can just keep them from killing each other, they just might succeed.

Two men who hate each other. One impossible mission. A legend in the making. Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for, is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Hired by an old wizard, they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm''s most prized possessions. But it isn''t gold or jewels that the wizard is after, and if he can just keep them from killing each other, they just might succeed.

Os habilidosos ladrões Royce Melborn e Hadrian Blackwater construíram sua fama nos reinos sob o nome de Riyria ao realizar façanhas inimagináveis. Porém, ao concordar em roubar uma famosa espada do interior de um castelo, os dois se envolvem numa trama repleta de armadilhas, seres fantásticos, conspirações políticas, magia e, sobretudo, perigosas reviravoltas. Para completar a missão com sucesso, eles precisam ser cuidadosos ao escolher aliados e inimigos, pois não apenas a vida da dupla está em jogo, mas o futuro da Igreja, dos reinos e de todo o mundo.

IMPORTANT NOTE! This edition of Percepliquis is being released for readers of the original Ridan editions of The Crown Conspiracy. It does not include book 5, Wintertide. If you''re reading the omnibus editions from Orbit, you should purchase Heir of Novron (which includes both Wintertide and Percepliquis). Percepliquis is the final installment of the epic fantasy, The Riyria Revelations. In this saga that began with The Crown Conspiracy, two thieves caught in the right place at the wrong time were launched on a series of ever escalating adventures that have all lead to this moment. Three thousand years have passed and the time for Novron''s heir to act has arrived.

The adventure continues as Royce and Hadrian aid the struggling kingdom of Melengar as it alone stands in defiance against the newly formed empire. War approaches and a desperate gamble behind enemy lines is their only chance at forming an alliance with the Nationalists to the south. But Royce has plans of his own as he uses this opportunity to discover if an ancient wizard is using Riyria as pawns in his own bid for power. To find the truth, Royce must unravel Hadrian''s hidden past. What he discovers will lead them to the end of the known world, on a journey rife with treachery and intrigue. When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere.

Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles-until they are hired to pilfer a famed sword. What appears to be just a simple job finds them framed for the murder of the king and trapped in a conspiracy that uncovers a plot far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom. Can a self-serving thief and an idealistic swordsman survive long enough to unravel the first part of an ancient mystery that has toppled kings and destroyed empires? And so begins the first tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere.

The Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) considered trade-offs made by the military services before validating requirements for four of the seven proposed programs it reviewed in FY 2010. According to Dept. of Defense (DOD) officials, the most significant trade-offs are made by the military services during the analysis of alternatives (AOA), which occurs between the JROC''s review of an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) and its review of a Capability Development Document (CDD). The Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (WSARA) directed JROC to ensure trade-offsamong cost, schedule, and performance objectives are considered as part of its requirements review process. This report addresses (1) the extent to which the JROC has considered trade-offs within programs, (2) the quality of resource estimates presented to the JROC, and (3) the extent to which the JROC is prioritizing requirements and capability gaps. Includes recommendations. Figures. This is a print on demand report.

For nearly 30 years, the statutory provision, known as Nunn-McCurdy (NM), has been an oversight tool for Congress to hold the DoD accountable for cost growth on major defense programs. A NM breach occurs when a program''s unit cost exceeds certain thresholds. When that happens, DoD must notify Congress of the breach. There are a number of statutory provisions that help implement cost growth reporting under NM. Referring to these statutory provisions as the NM process, this report examines trends in NM breaches and factors that may be responsible for these trends. It also discusses changes DoD is making or proposing to make to the NM process. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

The DoD has planned to invest billions of dollars in development and procurement of unmanned aircraft systems. This testimony is based on an exam¿n. of 10 unmanned aircraft acquisition programs: Global Hawk, Reaper, Shadow, Predator, Sky Warrior, Fire Scout, Broad Area Maritime Surveillance, and Unmanned Combat Aircraft System-Demo., and Multi-Platform Radar Technol. Insertion Program, and Airborne Signals Intell. Payload. The testimony focuses on: (1) Cost, schedule, and performance progress of the 10 programs; (2) Extent to which the mil. services collaborated and identified commonality among the programs; (3) factors influencing the effectiveness of the collaboration; and (4) recent DoD investment decisions related to these acquisitions.

The past two years have seen the Congress and the DoD take meaningful steps towards addressing long-standing weapon acquisition issues -- an area that has been on the high risk list since 1990. This testimony focuses on the progress DoD has made in improving the planning and execution of its weapon acquisition programs and the potential for recent acquisition reforms to improve program outcomes. The testimony includes observations about: (1) DoD''s efforts to manage its portfolio of major defense acquisition programs; (2) the knowledge attained at key junctures of a subset of 42 weapon programs from the 2009 portfolio; (3) other factors that can affect program execution; and (4) DoD''s implementation of recent acquisition reforms. Illus.

As of July 2008, about 75% of casualties in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were attributed to improvised explosive devices. To mitigate the threat from these weapons, DoD initiated the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program in Feb. 2007, which used a tailored acquisition approach to rapidly acquire and field the vehicles. To date, about $23 billion has been appropriated for the procurement of 16,000 MRAP vehicles. This testimony describes the MRAP acquisition process, the results to date, lessons learned from that acquisition, and potential implications for improving the standard acquisition process. The auditor reviewed DoD''s plans to buy, test, and field the vehicles and discussed the plans with department and contractor officials.

A FORCED WEDDING. A DOUBLE EXECUTION. TWO THIEVES HAVE OTHER PLANS. The New Empire intends to celebrate its victory over the Nationalists with a day that will never be forgotten. On the high holiday of Wintertide the empress will be married. Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar will be publically executed. Then the empress will suffer a fatal accident leaving the empire in the hands of the new emperor. It will be a perfect day. There is only one problem-Royce and Hadrian have finally found the lost heir.ABOUT THE SERIESInstead of a string of sequels The Riyria Revelations is a fantasy series conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual self-contained episodes. All were written before the first was released so that plot elements are intertwined, yet each book has its only story and conclusion. AWARDS AND ACCOLADES2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 12 Novels as of First Quarter (The Emerald Storm)2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Avempartha)2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Nyphron Rising)2009 Winner of Book Spot Central''s Fantasy Tournament of Books (Avempartha)2009 Top 10 Books by Dark Wolf Fantasy Reviews (The Riyria Revelations)2009 National Indie Book Award Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy)2008 ReaderViews Annual Literary Award Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy)2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy)BOOKS IN THE RIYRIA REVELATIONSThe Crown Conspiracy (October 2008)Avempartha (April 2009)Nyphron Rising (October 2009)The Emerald Storm (April 2010)Wintertide* (October 2010)Percepliquis* (April 2011)AUTHOR WEBSITESWeb: http://www.michaelsullivan-author.comBlog: http://riyria.blogspot.com/

Since 2003, the Future Combat System (FCS) program has been the centerpiece of the Army''s efforts to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. In 2009, however, concerns over the program''s performance led to the Secretary of Defense''s decision to significantly restructure and ultimately cancel the acquisition program. As a result, the Army is outlining a new approach to ground force modernization. This statement outlines the Army''s preliminary post-FCS actions and identifies the challenges DoD and the Army must address as they proceed. The report on which it is based emphasizes the December 2009 decision to begin low-rate initial production for Increment 1 of the Brigade Combat Team Modernization. Illustrations.

Since FY 2000, the DoD has significantly increased the number of major defense acquisition programs and its overall investment in them. However, acquisition outcomes have not improved. In most cases, the programs failed to deliver capabilities when promised -- often forcing warfighters to spend additional funds on maintaining legacy systems. This testimony describes the systemic problems that have contributed to poor cost and schedule outcomes in DoD¿s acquisition of major weapon systems; recent actions DoD has taken to address these problems; and steps that Congress and DoD need to take to improve the future performance of DoD¿s major weapon programs. Illustrations.

A PUPPET IS CROWNED. THE TRUE HEIR REMAINS HIDDEN. A ROGUE''S SECRET COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. War has come to Melengar. To save her kingdom, Princess Arista runs a desperate gamble when she defies her brother and hires Royce and Hadrian for a dangerous mission. As the power of the Nyphron Empire grows, so does Royce''s suspicion that the wizard Esrahaddon is using the thieves as pawns in his own game. To find the truth, he must unravel the secret of Hadrian''s past-what he discovers could change the future for all of Elan. The Riyria Revelations is shaping up to be one of the most original and entertaining fantasy series I''ve seen in years. King of the Nerds Fantasy Reviews Another absolutely riveting installment in The Riyria Revelations series! Once again, Michael J. Sullivan did not disappoint. There was suspense, humor, action, treachery, and even a tiny bit of love thrown in. Ramblings & More Mr. Sullivan continues to impress. In Royce and Hadrian he has created some of the best characters the genre has seen in some time, and in Avempartha he shows that he knows what to do with them. Speculative Fiction Junkie

A broad consensus exists that weapon system problems are serious, but efforts at reform have had limited impact. Last year, it was reported that DoD''s portfolio of weapon programs experienced cost growth of $295 billion from first estimates, were delayed by an average of 21 months, and delivered fewer quantities and capabilities to the war-fighter than originally planned. This testimony describes the systemic problems that contribute to the cost, schedule, and performance problems in weapon system programs, recent actions that DoD has taken to address these problems, proposed reform legislation that has recently been introduced, and additional steps needed to improve future performance of acquisition programs. Charts and tables.

They killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They chose poorly.#13;#13;There''s no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time...Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out--and so begins this epic tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.#13;#13;AWARDS#13;2009 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist#13;2008 ReaderViews Literary Award Finalist#13;2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist#13;Named One of the 2008 Notable Indie Books by Fantasy Book Critic #13;Named Top Five Fantasy of Books of 2009 by Dark Wolf''s Fantasy Reviews#13;#13;ABOUT THE SERIES#13;The Crown Conspiracy is book one of the multi-book saga: The Riyria Revelations. Instead of a string of sequels, this six-book fantasy series was conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual novels. While one book may hint at building mysteries and thickening plots, these threads are not essential to reach a satisfying conclusion to the current episode--which has its own beginning, middle, and end. It should be noted that all six were written before the first was released to ensure continuity across a complex plot filled with twists, turns, and page-turning mysteries. Characterization occur across the whole series allowing readers to build friendships with likeable characters that are shaped as events unfold. The Riyria Revelations is written for adults but has no sex and limited violence centered on swordplay and is therefore, appropriate for younger audiences and a movie version based on the novels would garnish a PG-13 rating.

About 75% of casualties in current combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are attributed to improved explosive devices. To mitigate the threat from these weapons, the DoD initiated the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program, which uses a tailored acquisition approach to rapidly acquire and field the vehicles. MRAP is DoD¿s single most important acquisition program. To date, more than $22 billion has been appropriated to acquire more than 15,000 MRAP vehicles, and about 6,600 of the vehicles have been fielded. This report: (1) describes DoD¿s approach for and progress in implementing its strategy for rapidly acquiring and fielding MRAP vehicles; and (2) identifies the challenges remaining for the program. Illustrations.

The DoD plans to invest $109 billion in its tactical air forces (TAF) between 2007 & 2013. Long term, DoD plans to replace aging legacy aircraft with fewer, more expensive but more capable & stealthy aircraft. Recapitalizing & modernizing TAF within today¿s constrained budget environment is a formidable challenge. DoD has already incurred substantial cost & schedule overruns in its acquisition of new systems, & further delays could require billions of dollars in additional investment to keep legacy aircraft capable & sustainable. This report describes the current status of DoD¿s new TAF acquisition programs; identifies current impacts on legacy aircraft modernization programs & retirement schedules; & assesses DoD¿s overall investment plan for TAF. Illustrations.

“What do you think a hero is? It’s just the right person in the right place making the right choice at the right time. Heroes aren’t born. They’re made.” A demonic assassin. A half-orc boxer. A ratman necromancer. Though they take many different shapes and forms, there are heroes all around us. Bravery can be found in the most unexpected places: a subterranean dwarven city; the sands of a temple courtyard in Ancient Egypt; a besieged castle, a Victorian brothel, a goblin warren, the post-apocalyptic ruins of a demon-infested village. Heroes dwell in the shadows as well as the light; you just have to look a little harder to find them. Who do they fight? Some heroes challenge injustice in all its numerous guises, while others hunt monsters both human and bestial. Others battle inner demons, the ghosts of their past, their deepest nightmares – or even the gods themselves. Why do they fight? For glory? Sometimes. For honor? Perhaps. There are those who instinctively strive to protect those weaker than themselves, and there are others emboldened only by a sense of obligation, or the promise of wealth. Whether by the blade or other means, they endeavor to take down all who threaten what is good and right in their world. By hook or by crook, through cunning or combat, with tooth and claw or iron and steel, they are all united in one goal, willingly or not: to live – and die, if necessary – a hero. Choose your weapon. Fight for what you believe in. Never give up. Nineteen fantasy writers gather to bring nineteen tales to life, each one a unique glimpse into a wholly original world.