Best Selling Books by Michael Scott

Europe''s Most Amazing Plants is a Raintree title.

The misuse of both legally prescribed and illegally supplied drugs is now so widespread that it affects, either directly or indirectly, a high proportion of the population, impacting many areas of daily life. There are few countries that are not touched by some aspect of substance misuse and the consequences for individuals, families and the wider

A popular history of how the ancient world turned from a democracy to a monarchy and "shine[s] a light on the culture that bloomed as Athens faded." ( The Daily Mail) Athens, 404 BC. The Democratic city-state has been ravaged by a long and bloody war with neighboring Sparta. The search for scapegoats begins and Athens, liberty''s beacon in the ancient world, turns its sword on its own way of life. Civil war and much bloodshed ensue. Defining moments of Greek history, culture, politics, religion and identity are debated ferociously in Athenian board rooms, back streets and battlefields. By 323 BC, Athens and the rest of Greece, not to mention a large part of the known world, has come under the control of an absolute monarch and a model for despots for millennia to come: Alexander the Great. In this superb popular history, Michael Scott explores the dramatic and little-known story of how the ancient world went from democracy to monarchy in less than 100 years. A superb example of popular history writing, From Democrats to Kings gives us a fresh take on the challenges we face today as democracies—old and new—fight for survival, in which war-time and peace-time have become indistinguishable and in which the severity of the economic crisis is only matched by a crisis in our own sense of self. "Accessible and punchy . . . a wide readership cannot fail to be entertained as well as instructed about a world that is both familiar and alien, modern as well as ancient." —Paul Cartledge, author of Thermopylae "Gloriously entertaining and provocative." —Tom Holland, author of Rubicon, Persian Fire

With stories about species on the brink, this book explores the causes and consequences of conservation reliance and its implications.

Sail away to a world of magic! Steve is a hollow man, both in his job and his personal life, until one night, near the docks of his home city. A night that changes his life. As a dockyard fight turns into something much more fantastic and deadly, Steve finds himself drawn into a world he neither understands nor believes - at first. His meeting with the mercurial Jyp leads to a raid on his office by beings not-quite-human, and the kidnapping of Clare, his secretary. Aware of strong feelings for the first time in years, Steve enlists the aid of Jyp and his roisterin friends to sail after Clare ad her captors...to Chase the Morning.

Early in the Second World War, Peter Wand-Tetley volunteered for special service. He saw action first with the newly formed Commandos raiding the North African coast and then in the fierce fighting on Crete. Operations with the LRDG in the Western Desert were followed by SAS actions as Rommel retreated to Tunis. Remarkably he then transferred to the Special Operations Executive and was parachuted blind into enemy occupied Greece in 1943. His role was to train and equip Andarte guerillas and his contribution and courage were recognized by the award of an immediate MC.Following victory in Europe he sailed with the Parachute Regiment to Javo where he fought in the counter-insurgency war.As well as describing his exemplary war record, Special Forces Commander covers Wand-Tetleys early life (he was a superb marksman) and his career post war in the turbulent days of the end of Empire.

A new version of this much-loved anthology, with a brand-new story featuring the brand-new Thirteenth Doctor from literary sensation Naomi Alderman! Twelve wonderful tales of adventure, science, magic, monsters and time travel - featuring all twelve Doctors - are waiting for you in this very special Doctor Who book. And now they''re joined by a very exciting, and very exclusive, new tale - written by Naomi Alderman, author of The Power - that will star the Thirteenth Doctor, as she battles to save the universe with her three close and trusted friends. Other authors featured are: Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy, Neil Gaiman, and Holly Black.

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series—but did you know he really lived? And he might still be alive today! Discover the truth behind Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel with “Aoife and Scathach, Shadow Twins,” an ebook original that includes two short stories. Discover two lost stories from the life of the Shadow Twins, Scathach and Aoife, told now for the first time. . . . “Aoife of the Shadows” Lost on a distant Shadowrealm, Aoife is tempted by a crystal skull older than most civilizations. If she worships it, she will be given the power to kill her twin sister, Scathach. “Scathach the Shadow in the Land of Youth” The Warrior Maid Scathach is hiding out in a dangerous Shadowrealm, the Land of Youth, and must use all her skills to prevent a war. “Fans of adventure fantasies like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will eat this one up.” —VOYA Read the whole series! The Alchemyst The Magician The Sorceress The Necromancer The Warlock The Enchantress

The Celts were renowned for their business acumen long before our boardrooms became our battlegrounds. They were hugely successful traders who over time developed a series of rules by which they conducted business. Some of it was advice, more of it just common sense. However, their foresight and wisdom are still powerful instruments in today''s challenging working environment. ''The best bargains are to be got from those in debt.'' ''Remember that the bees that come with honey in their mouths, have stings in their tails.'' ''It is no secret when three know it.'' The wisdom, proverbs and sayings you will find here are not exclusively for use in business - the Celts believed that life was business and business was life. Their insights will guide you equally well in the office or in the home. ''Reputation is more enduring than life.'' ''Character is better than wealth.''

Theatre has never been afraid to adapt, rewrite and contemporize Shakespeare''s drama since theatre by definition is a living medium involving a corporate creativity. Shakespeare himself rewrote or adapted old plays and stories and since writing his dramas have experienced many transformations. Recent dramatists following this age-old tradition have rewritten some of Shakespeare''s plays for the contemporary stage or modelled their drama on formulations used by him. Michael Scott examines a selection of such plays written in the last forty years. Some, such as Samuel Beckett''s Waiting for Godot or Tom Stoppard''s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead have become famed. Others such as Ionesco''s Macbett are less well known but are no less signficant. Edward Bond''s Lear, Arnold Wesker''s The Merchant and Charles Marowitz''s Collages represent an attempt by some modern dramatists to challenge a particular ideology which appears to have appropriated Shakespeare to itself. The book concludes with an examination of some recent trends in Shakespearean production, particularly by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

From the acclaimed author of Lion of Ireland comes the first novel in a groundbreaking new fantasy series. Book One of The Arcana tells the story of Silverhand, who is destined to save the world from Chaos and begin the long climb to a world that lives on only as the inner secret of every heart''s desire.

Twelve bestselling authors, twelve Doctors, twelve brilliant adventures in time and space for all Doctor Who fans! This collection features all twelve original Doctor Who eshort stories, covering each of the twelve Doctors and written by a selection of wonderful children''s authors.

In Shakespeare''s Tragedies: All That Matters, Michael Scott explores and explains the secrets that have made Shakespeare''s tragedies so enduring that they continue to be performed, watched and studied by millions of people every year. Professor Scott concentrates on the four great tragedies - Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth - and builds an argument based around Shakespeare''s use of language to prompt the audience''s imagination and thought. This original little book, and its companion volume, Shakespeare''s Comedies, will help you understand each of the plays in the context of its oeuvre and the changing concept of Shakespearean tragedy across the centuries. Appealing to both students and general readers, this book gives a fascinating introduction to Shakespeare''s tragedies - and what matters most about them.

One of Ireland''s favorite children''s authors captures the magic and mystery of these Irish stories and brings to life Ireland''s dim and distant past in these tales of fairy horses, floating islands, and the Tuatha de Danann -- mythical Irish ancestors.

Mastersmith Elof Valantor pursues his love, Kara, to an unknown land where he is faced with the greatest challenge of his life