Art & Culture

THE 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION WITH NEW, NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED MATERIALAfter the Internet, what came next?Enter the Metaverse - cyberspace home to avatars and software daemons, where anything and just about everything goes. Newly available on the Street - the Metaverse's main drag - is Snow Crash. A cyberdrug that reduces avatars in the digital world to dust, but also infects users in real life, leaving them in a vegetative state.This is bad news for Hiro, a freelance hacker and the Metaverse's best swordfighter, and mouthy skateboard courier Y. T.. Together, investigating the Infocalypse, they trace back the roots of language itself to an ancient Sumerian priesthood and find they must race to stop a shadowy virtual villain hell-bent on world domination.In this special edition of the remarkably prescient modern classic, Neal Stephenson exploreslinguistics, computer science, politics and philosophy in the form of a break-neck adventure into the fast-approaching yet eerily recognizable future.'Fast-forward free-style mall mythology for the twenty-first century' William Gibson'Brilliantly realized' New York Times Book Review 'Like a Pynchon novel with the brakes removed' Washington Post'A remarkably prescient vision of today's tech landscape' Vanity Fair

_______________Delve behind the scenes and learn the secrets of the making of this epic wizarding world video game, Hogwarts LegacyThe Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy takes readers on a journey through the creation of the immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books and the films. Go beyond the game via exclusive interviews with the development team, stunning concept sketches, renders and illustrations to really explore the creation of this unique take on a beloved world.ORIGINAL CONCEPT ART: Includes many never-before-seen pieces of beautiful concept art used to craft compelling wizarding world locations from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, Gringotts and more. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Hear from the development team on the process of creating this exciting chapter in the history of the wizarding world. PEOPLE, PLACES AND MAGIC: Get an in-depth look at the compelling characters, detailed environments and amazing magic system that bring Hogwarts Legacy to life. GO BEHIND THE GAME: Filled with behind-the-scenes fun facts and information about the game-making process, from crafting the setting to developing the gameplay - see the incredible work and talent that go into creating such an immersive gaming experience. THE PERFECT COMPANION TO THE GAME: This beautiful volume is an ideal collectable for gamers and fans of the wizarding world.

A bestselling and award-winning artist presents a fun, illustrated approach to yoga to help you loosen up with a smile on your face! Marion Deuchars has practiced yoga for many years and knows well the benefits it brings. Now she invites you to join her stiff bird in a selection of classic poses, stretches, and breathing exercises that are guaranteed to revive and energize.Yoga for Stiff Birds rejects the clichés of studio photography in favor of a friendlier illustrated look. With a few strokes of her brush, Deuchars helps Bob into every position from downward-facing dog to tree—and you’ll want to follow suit. With 60 poses and sequences (all carefully checked by yoga professionals) presented in a lay-flat binding, the book is both practical and inspiring. The full-color art will raise a smile, whether you’re a regular practitioner or a yoga novice, and will encourage even the creakiest beginner to breathe, stretch, and bend like they never have before. Already a bestseller in the UK and internationally, Yoga for Stiff Birds is a truly unique book: once seen, never forgotten.

"Higher is a mind-blowing visual journey through the legends, legacy, and lore of cannabis. After significant research and conversation within the cannabis community, author Dan Michaels profiles 100 of the most important marijuana strains of yesterday and today with spectacularly detailed, whole-plant portraits by cannabis photographer Erik Christiansen. Whether profiling classic strains like Chem Dog, Hindu Kush, or Maui Wowie or recent luminaries like Wedding Cake, Zkittlez, or Blueberry Muffin, Higher features intel on lineage, taste, THC content, and common effects-as well as a mouth-watering portrait of each strain. A visually rich introductory section details everything you need to know about cannabis today, from a brief history of cannabis, to breeding secrets, to all the ways humans have consumed it throughout the ages. Packed with stories about the misfits, visionaries, hijinks, and happenings that make cannabis so entertaining, Higher offers the eye candy and sound information today's diverse and discerning cannabis enthusiast craves"--

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sierra Simone comes her steamy, TikTok-famous Priest series, in which sinners and saints alike test the bonds of religion, love, and lust.He leads a life of sin, and she's committed to a life of virtue.Sean Bell is not a good man, and he's never pretended to be. He doesn't believe in goodness, God, or any happy ending that isn't paid for in advance. There are words for men like him: playboy. Womanizer. Skirt-chaser. Sinner. When he meets a gorgeous college girl at a fundraiser, he has no problem telling her exactly what filthy things he wants to do to her-until he realizes she's his best friend's little sister, Zenobia "Zenny" Iverson, all grown up. Worse than that...she's also about to become a nun.Zenny, though, isn't looking to play it safe during her final month of freedom. She wants to make sure choosing God is the right path, and to do that, she propositions Sean to show her every carnal temptation she's leaving behind. Unable to refuse, Sean finds himself falling for her, body and soul, and questioning not just the morals he's dodged for years, but his relationship with the God Zenny has pledged herself to. The only problem is...what if Sean wants Zenny to choose him instead of Him?

Home by the Sea: The Surf Shacks and Hinterland Hideaways of Byron Bay is a beautiful interiors book that opens the doors to a range of diverse and inspiring homes in the burgeoning creative community of Australia's Byron Bay.   Step inside eighteen stunning homes across a range of styles, from interior designer Louella Boîtel-Gill's Gypsy Creek home to architect Zana Wright's off-the-grid Quandong Cottage, to fashion designers Lara Fells of St Agni and Candice Rose-O'Rourke of Zulu & Zephyr. Home by the Sea tells the stories of these homes and the people who live there - uncovering, in the process, that there is so much more to Byron Bay than its natural beauty. This is a book about community and creativity, about living intentionally and the value of loving where you live. Created by locals, including best-selling author Natalie Walton, and showcasing the light-filled interior and lifestyle photography of Amelia Fullarton, Home by the Sea offers a unique and unforgettable taste of what it's like to live in this iconic town.

Paint your Way Through Enchanting Forests on High-Quality, Watercolor Paper This charming collection from popular pattern designer and illustrator, Clare Therese Gray, makes relaxing with watercolour an absolute breeze. Readers will leave their stresses behind for the allure of cosy cottages, woodland creatures and forest flora - all pre-drawn and ready to be brought to life with paint. Adult colouring books are an amazing way to unwind, and Clare's art provides the perfect opportunity to get lost amidst peaceful woods and friendly critters, even if you've never held a paintbrush. An easy-to-follow primer on basic watercolor technique precedes 40 intricate pen and ink illustrations, ensuring anyone can enjoy a soothing, creative activity, regardless of their drawing experience. Between tranquil tones, whimsical scenes and the inherent calm of paint flowing across paper, each project will provide readers with a clear mind and effortless, forest-inspired masterpiece! This book will include 40 illustrations to color.

In this special collector's edition, Albums one to five are brought together in one stunning volume for the first time.

A fun and authoritative guide to bitcoin and the future of moneyIn Catching Up to Crypto: Your Guide to Bitcoin and the New Digital Economy, celebrated crypto and Bitcoin expert Ben Armstrong delivers an exciting and fresh new exploration of Bitcoin and digital currencies. He explains what Bitcoin is, how it works, and how and why we're all transitioning to a digital economy as we speak. He discusses the deficiencies of traditional fiat currency, how it's commonly manipulated, and how we can all benefit from the adoption of new, digital assets.In the book, you'll discover how Bitcoin operates in the real-world and how the underlying technology--known as the blockchain--operates. You'll also learn about:* The importance of decentralization, trust-less commerce and cryptographic consensus.* The humble origins of Bitcoin, as well as how it nearly died out, and how it went on to take over the world* How monetary and financial policy is being revolutionized by the introduction of Bitcoin and other crypto-assets.An essential and engaging review of Bitcoin, digital assets, and the new digital economy, Catching Up to Crypto is the hands-on and comprehensive introduction to crypto that investors, enthusiasts, the crypto-curious, and finance professionals have been waiting for.