Jan Darzek, former private detective from Earth and now First Councilor of the Galaxy, has encountered his most baffling case. The planet Nifron D has been inexplicably turned into a sun. A quarter of a galaxy away, a native on the planet Skarnaf has been found horribly disfigured by an impossibly massive dose of radiation. While Darzek searches for a connection between the two events, the populous and prosperous world of Vezpro receives a blackmail letter that threatens it with the fate of Nifron D. In a crimeless society, has a master scientist turned master criminal? Darzek must decide quickly whether the letter is a monstrous hoax. If it is not, how can the impossible demands be met — or five billion inhabitants evacuated in time?

A panda walks into a cafe. It orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires a shot into the air. “Why?”, the waiter asks. The panda gives him a wildlife manual and the waiter reads, “Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.” So, punctuation really does matter, even if it is only a mater of life and death.

Through sloppy usage and low standards on the Internet, in e-mail, and now “txt msgs,” we have made proper punctuation an endangered species. It is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are.

If there are only pedants left who care, then so be it. This is a book for people who love punctuation and get upset when it is mishandled. From George Orwell shunning the semicolon, to New Yorker editor Harold Ross’s epic arguments with James Thurber over commas, this history makes a case for the preservation of a system of printing conventions that is much too subtle to be mucked about with.

Sticklers, unite!

The sleepy village of Middlehope is suddenly jerked into life by nouveau rich antiques magnate Arthur Rainbow. In a whirlwind of activity he extravagantly refurbishes the Manor House, joins the Golf Club, Angling Society and Arts Council – and, in a ruthless coup, dislodges the old church organist to take over the position himself.

But for all his reforming zeal, the Middlehope community rejects him. And when Rainbow’s crushed body is found in the graveyard of St Eata’s church, there is very little surprise or sorrow – but much speculations to who the murderer could be. After all, there are so many candidates – from his young, beautiful, flirtations wife to the usurped organist and his mutinous choir. It falls upon Superintendent George Felse, newly promoted head of the Midshire CID, to solve this most perplexing murder.

When an innocent pixy named “Pacifica” appears and attaches herself to young rapscallions Tatsuki and Shin, the government and a host of nefarious characters all want to kidnap her for their personal gain! The last surviving member of the royal family thinks Pacifica will grant him eternal life. A genie claims, “Pixies are the treasures of this world, with the power to integrate anything and everything in the universe.” Our heroes, frankly, care more about where their next gourmet meal is coming from.

Things just can’t get any worse for Antonio Mercer. A private eye by trade, a dame from his past has re-surfaced in his life as a client along with all of the emotional baggage he thought he’d left behind forever. Of course, this unusual client doesn’t have just any case – her family is mixed up with seriously dangerous people and the body count is just starting to pile up!

Set in sun-drenched Cape Town, South Africa, The Red Monkey Double happiness Book features two full-length stories – “The Leaking Cello Case” and “John Wesley Harding” – about the monkey-footed Dave and his freeloading hippy pal Paul. The book’s stuffed to the gills with mystery, suspense, action, adventure, conspiracy theories, and cool cars as Dave and Paul thwart criminal malfeasance even as they ponder the larger questions. Such as, “What steps can I personally take to help protect Earth and the species that inhabit it?” (Though most people’s answers don’t involve sword fights and hovercrafts.)

The Red Monkey Double Happiness Book, brings a dry, deadpan wit anchored in everyday reality combined with unnervingly deranged plots, rendered with a half-realistic and half-cartoony TinTin-style crispness. Suited to adults and older teens.

Inches the doll was the cutest in the whole house. Loved by everyone, the world was Inches’ oyster. Then one day something happened… The Sock Monkey and Mr. Crow became concerned for their diminutive friend, but by then it was too late! The truth sent the terrified Sock Monkey and Crow fleeing for their lives! Inches had turned EVIL!

They thought it…we drew it! Action Philosophers details the lives and thoughts of history’s A-list brain trust in a hip and humorous fashion that proves that philosophy is not just the province of boring, twee-enveloped professors.

PLATO: Wrestling superstar of ancient Greect! NIETSCHE: The Ubermench! BODHIDHARMA: Grandmaster of Kung Fu! The inner contradictions of THOMAS JEFFERSON and AYN RAND! Hard-drinking, hard-loving ST. AUGUSTINE! Hit the couch with FREUD! Unlock the nconscious with CARL JUNG! Take the HEro’s Journey with JOSEPH CAMPBELL: Master of Mythology! They’re not just great thinkers – they make great comics!

After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins – Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone – are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures. Eventually, the cousins are reunited at a farmstead run by tough Gran’Ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter, Thorn. But little do the Bones know, there are dark forces conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!

This unique volume clearly demonstrates simple geometric techniques for making intricate knots, interlacements, spirals, Kells-type initials, human and animal figures in distinctive Celtic style. Features over 500 illustrations.