Here is a treat for John Irving addicts and a perfect introduction to his work for the uninitiated.  To open this spirited collection, Irving explains how he became a writer.  There follow six scintillating stories written over the last twenty years ending with a homage to Charles Dickens.  This irresistible collection cannot fail to delight and charm.

Kirsch Mage Institute is in an uproar. Who should come to visit but Carina Little Daryth, the princess of Daryth herself? Slowe is assigned to take care of her due to his recent feats. The princess smiles for everyone, but is she hiding something...?

One day, Slowe wakes up and realizes he is the Piggy Duke, the antagonist of his favorite anime. Now he has to use memories from his past and his knowledge of the future to avoid the worst-case scenario...and confess his love this time around!

He was a beautiful robot—all gold plated, and studded with sparkling diamonds. And he couldn’t do a thing—not a thing but run away. At that, however, he was damnably skillful— so damnably skillful that he damned the man who owned him.-0-The robot — was a rabbit — or had that psychology. He had a diamond-studded body, and was trained to be untouchable. Even his owner couldn’t touch him—without giving information that was suicide!

James wakes up with no recollection of how he ended up in a culvert full of corpses. He struggles to escape the confines of the pipe, and quickly realizes he should have stayed home that night. Here Piggy Piggy!Jadde – The Fragile Sanctuary is a full on smash and crash through post-apocalyptic Sci-fi. If you want to see how a genetic mutation can go horribly wrong then read this book. Millennia have passed since the twenty-first century demon wars when mankind so nearly succumbed to genetically altered mutants - The Quarter-men. Now only isolated pockets of struggling humanity survive. One insular tribe The Seconchane, are developing psychic powers. Sometimes the gift fails and the unfortunates are banished from the Seconchane’s mountain valleys. Into this harsh reality comes Malkrin Owlear one of the Seconchane’s most gifted. But his incredible talent falters once too often . . .He discovers the deadlands are not as barren as the priesthood say. The quarter-men, from mans technological past have returned, intent on completing their destruction of mankind. Malkrin and his paranormally talented friends must rediscover from a time forgotten how the ancients led by the goddess Jadde prevailed over the quarter-men swarms.It was mans last chance – and Malkrin cannot fail.

After defeating No Face, everyone in Kirsch completely changes their opinions about Slowe, much to his surprise. Then, the royal family sends a request for him to join the running to become the Guardian Knight, the shield of the Queen herself!

Dive into terrifying world of PIGGY in this original novel based on the fan-favorite video game!There is a mystery to be solved, keys to be found, and an evil pig to escape!Welcome to the bone chilling, pulse-pounding world of PIGGY, the survival-horror game that will keep you up at night. Explore a frightening maze full of secrets to unearth and monsters that are out for blood! Can anyone make it out alive?

It's election year in Minnesota, and Jack Grendel is running hard for the U.S. Senate. But a pair of grotesque murders threatens to derail his campaign. One is the bizarre hanging of a consultant for Grendel Shipping. The other is the shooting of Jack's own father soon after he withdraws financial support from his son's campaign. When food critic Sophie Greenway, a family friend, starts snooping, it begins to look like one of her oldest friends is a killer. But will she discover which one before it's her turn to die?From Publishers WeeklyHart, whose previous mysteries starred restaurateur Jane Lawless (Stage Fright), introduces a new heroine, food critic and amateur sleuth Sophie Greenway. Don't expect much in the way of recipes, restaurants or food, however, since the job serves mainly as an excuse for Sophie's presence on the scene. When an old friend, Amanda Jorensen, remodels her family restaurant, Sophie travels to Duluth, Minn., with her husband, Bram, to cover the grand reopening. The day before, a man has been found hanging from Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge, and Amanda's father is shot to death soon afterward. A few days later, a third person is poisoned at a Labor Day fund-raiser for Amanda's politician brother. The killer leaves behind verses from the nursery rhyme "This Little Piggy Went to Market," and it soon becomes obvious that the murderer must be a member of Amanda's family. Though Hart has given her characters distinct and detailed backgrounds, they never quite come alive, and a point-of-view switch whenever the killer is about to strike is annoying. The reason behind the nursery rhyme, other than to provide a catchy title for the book, is also never fully explained. Still, there are some good, nail-bitingly tense scenes and lots of red herrings, and Hart manages to resolve things nicely. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. From the Inside FlapIt's election year in Minnesota, and Jack Grendel is running hard for the U.S. Senate. But a pair of grotesque murders threatens to derail his campaign. One is the bizarre hanging of a consultant for Grendel Shipping. The other is the shooting of Jack's own father soon after he withdraws financial support from his son's campaign. When food critic Sophie Greenway, a family friend, starts snooping, it begins to look like one of her oldest friends is a killer. But will she discover which one before it's her turn to die?

Carly Hunter is chosen to take the class guinea pig home for the weekend, just in time for Groundhog Day. Tired of winter, she decides to test Piggy's skill for weather-telling.Can Piggy guess the beginning of spring? Will he see his shadow?When the Cul-de-sac Kids hear of Carly's experiment, they join in—and bring their pets. But with all the crew on Blossom Hill Lane there for the party, can trouble be far away?

Tessa Parks, daughter of the president, has the best hiding place ever for her piggy bank. So when it disappears, she figures somebody must have stolen it. Is there really a thief loose in the White House? Meanwhile, a metal detector says there's gold buried on the White House South Lawn; but when the First kids have a look, they find only a hole in the ground. Is there a link between the two mysteries? And can too-energetic White House dog Hooligan track the culprit? Find out in the fourth installment of the funny, fast-paced First Kids Mysteries!