Ichi, a repressed scientist, orders a doll from PETS only. When it arrives, he gets a surprise--he's received a free upgrade to a Living Companion. He does his best to deal with a pet genetically engineered to be a companion, in every sense of the word, to another man. (Adult Fiction)

“A wonderful American story of the extraordinary sacrifices made by a group of Mexican Americans . . . A shining example of patriotism at its best.”—Former U.S. Representative Tom Railsback They came from one street, but death found them in many places. . . in a distant jungle, a frozen forest, and trapped in the flaming wreckage of a bomber blown from the sky. They all came from a single street in Silvis, Illinois, a dirt road barely a block and a half long, with an unparalleled history. The Mexican-American families who lived on that one street sent fifty-seven of their children to fight in World War II and Korea—more than any other place that size anywhere in the country. Eight of those children died. It’s a distinction recognized by the Department of Defense, one that earned that strip a distinguished name: Hero Street. This is the story of those brave men and their families, how they fought both in battle and to be accepted in a society that remained biased against them even after they returned home as heroes. Based on interviews with relatives, friends, and soldiers who served alongside the men, as well as personal letters and photographs, The Ghosts of Hero Street is the compelling and inspiring account of a street of soldiers—and men—who would not be denied their dignity or their honor. INCLUDES PHOTOS

For millennia, humanity has searched for an afterlife. Some people have believed fervently in such a place, while others not. Regardless, many cultures around the world have either invented stories about souls trapped on Earth or experienced real supernatural events that convinced them of the existence of ghosts. These creatures have been said to haunt the human world, trapped on Earth until they redeem themselves. Today, ghosts continue to inspire and amaze the human world. This book explores ghost culture and the stories that continue to haunt humanity.