Cafe Britannica

Cafe Britannica is a new collection of short stories from Stephen Cardew.

It's a collection of ten short stories and it comes with subtitle: "Ten Tea With Tea and Cake."

Each of them is carefully crafted to last a quarter of an hour. Enough time, Stephen Cardew figures, for the story and a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake.

The stories all have a common theme, they feature different cafes from all over the UK and even some from further afield.

There's opportunities for nostalgia, learning about justice and judging, spiritual matters and cafes, coffee, tea, cakes and much more, besides.

There's even a story aimed at children, too.

It's published by The Book Guild and costs £7.99.

Podric Moon and the Corsican Tyrant

Podric Moon and the Corsican Tyrant is a novel from highly experienced and esteemed screenwriter and director, Barney Broom.

It tells the story of Podric Moon who is not only a computer game playing champion, he is the inventor of the Ultimate Virtual Reality programme.

He and his group of friends roam through the magnificent realms of today and of yesterday, playing games and enjoying a multiplicity of adventures.

In this, the first of the series of novels about Podric Moon, he and his friends take on the might power of Napoleon, the Corsican Tyrant of the title.

However, it's not all fun and adventure for Podric, because he is dealt a terrible and tragic blow when his father, a Wing Commander in the RAF, is killed in what was classified as a "freak accident."

Podric makes friends, and enemies, and he meets up with Archie Light, one of the top game designers in the world, having been knocked down by a hit and run driver outside Archie's house.

And that's only the beginning of this truly amazing novel that is aimed at young adults. Although older adults will also find much to commend this book.

It's published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

10 Days of Freedom

10 Days of Freedom is a new science fiction novel from Maurice Powell.

It is set in the year 2209, and the population of the world is now a staggering 5 billion.

11 men make an escape form a "Work Zone", previously known as a prison. Although the men were held as prisoners, they had committed no crime and had not had a trial. They were the result of a programme to genetically engineer worker humans, designed to undertake manual work for their supporters.

Over the years the 11 had been able to collect bits and pieces of information about the world outside the "Work Zone" until one day, they managed to escape from the Work Zone, escaping to the countrside just ot the south of Birmingham.

They are being trailed by guards from the Work Zone, senior government officials and a husband and wife team who are leading academics form Oxford University, experts in the field of psychoanalysis.

The fugitives cannot be allowed to remain at large. They must be stopped no matter the cost. Because the British public must never learn the truth about the Work Zones and what happens within them.

Can the 11 outwit the authorities? Can they evade their pursuers and continue to live free and outside the Work Zone?

What would happen if the public found out about the truth of the Work Zones? Because a lot more than the freedom of the 11 rests on this.

It is a though provoking novel which raises many interesting questions on ethics and morality.

It is published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

   

Pickles' Purrfect Plan

Pickles' Purrfect Plan is a wonderful book from author Carolyn Young.

Pickles is a lovely little kitty who is also very clever.

Pickles lives with Winnie the Witch and Willie the Wizard in a lovely little cottage in the heart of a wood.

However, after a really, really nasty storm their cottage is left in a terrible state of disrepair. Unfortunately Winnie and Willie are without any funds, so they cannot afford ot have the cottage repaired.

They retire to bed, sad. However! Pickles is an extraordinary little cat and he comes up with a very clever plan to ask his animal kingdom friends to come together and help repair the cottage.

The incredibly good story is very well illustrated by pictures from Jo Blakeley and the book is ideal for parents and children, it is aimed at children ages 5 to 7.

It is published by Matador at £6.99