It's 1975, and three young boys stumble onto an abandoned mineshaft in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Follow renowned archaeologist Peter Hawn and the boys, as they deal with a mysterious device, and the men who will kill to keep it their own.

“[An] epic, atomic history of the Steel City . . . a work of literature, a series of linked creative nonfiction essays, an historical story cycle.” ―Phillip Maciak, Los Angeles Review of Books The land surrounding the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers has supported communities of humans for millennia. Over the past four centuries, however, it has been transformed countless times by the many people who call it home. In this brief, lyrical, and idiosyncratic collection, Ed Simon, a staff writer at The Millions, follows the story of Pittsburgh through a series of interconnected segments, covering all manner of beloved people, places, and things, including: • Paleolithic Pittsburgh • The Whiskey Rebellion • The attempted assassination of Henry Frick • The Harmonists • The Mystery, Pittsburgh’s radical, Black nationalist newspaper • The myth of Joe Magarac • Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Andy Warhol, and much, much more. Accessible and funny, An Alternative History of Pittsburgh is a must-read for anyone curious about this storied city, and for Pittsburghers who think they know it all too well already. “[A] rich and idiosyncratic history . . . Even Pittsburgh history buffs will learn something new.” —Publishers Weekly “Simon tells the story of the city and all the changes that made it what it is today in a way that's entirely new, by the hand of someone who is deeply familiar.” ―Juliana Rose Pignataro, Newsweek “A sparkling new take on everyone’s favorite Rust Belt metropolis.” ―Justin Velluci, Jewish Chronicle “A brilliant look at how geology and art, politics and religion, disaster and luck combine to build America’s great cities―one that will leave you wondering what secrets your own hometown might be hiding.” ―Anjali Sachdeva, author of All the Names They Used for God

Pittsburgh, PA is affectionately known as The Steel City and The ‘Burgh to locals, but there’s so much more to the renaissance city than just nicknames—and that includes all of the weird, wonderful, and obscure locations that make it an ideal place to visit and call home. Where can you find a road paved solely with wood or public steps that have actual street names? Is there a place in The Golden Triangle where 1 + 1 = 1? And what about putting french fries on a sandwich or pancakes fit for a U.S. President? Filled with tales of culture, history, and, of course, the bizarre, readers will delve into what makes Pittsburgh unique including an official name for the color of its prominent bridges, an acorn from space, the story behind the Pittsburgh parking chair, and even a museum dedicated to the macabre. Secret Pittsburgh is all about the stuff you simply can’t make up but would make for amazing fiction if it wasn’t. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a true “Yinzer,” travel writer and Pittsburgh resident Karyn Locke will help you find truth behind the stories and tales that keep folks coming back—and staying put.

The Pulitzer Prize–winning author’s “astonishing” debut novel, about a son’s struggle to find his own identity and integrity (The New York Times). Michael Chabon, author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Moonglow, and The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, is one of the most acclaimed talents in contemporary fiction. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, published when Chabon was just twenty-five, is the beautifully crafted debut that propelled him into the literary stratosphere. Art Bechstein may be too young to know what he wants to do with his life, but he knows what he doesn’t want: the life of his father, a man who laundered money for the mob. He spends the summer after graduation finding his own way, experimenting with a group of brilliant and seductive new friends: erudite Arthur Lecomte, who opens up new horizons for Art; mercurial Phlox, who confounds him at every turn; and Cleveland, a poetry-reciting biker who pulls him inevitably back into his father’s mobbed-up world. A New York Times bestseller, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh was called “astonishing” by Alice McDermott, and heralded the arrival of one of our era’s great voices. This ebook features a biography of the author.

The story of Pittsburgh's transformation from a smoky steel town to a modern, high-tech city draws people from around the world to this corner of southwestern Pennsylvania. Pittsburghers are known for their deep pride in the city, and with so much to do and see (and eat!) around here it's no wonder why. 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die features itineraries and tips on what you'll discover in the Steel City. Scale Mount Washington on the Incline, a century-old cable car. Admire the artwork of Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol. Kayak the three rivers. History buff? Travel back in time to the drama of the Whiskey Rebellion, which unfolded right here. Devour a Primanti's sandwich topped with french fries-and dine at Pittsburgh's other culinary hotspots, too. Maybe even pick up a little Pittsburghese, yinz. As a lifetime resident of southwestern Pennsylvania and a seasoned traveler, author Rossilynne Culgan combines a local's expertise with the spirit of discovery in her hometown. With this book as your guide, you won't miss a thing on your quest to make memories in Pittsburgh.

New York Times bestselling author Ken Gormley delivers a powerful courtroom drama about the decent, largely-forgotten qualities that once were the bedrock of the simple towns that built America. The Heiress of Pittsburgh reawakens hope that the precious qualities of past generations can be reimagined to create a dazzling new future. But only if success is boldly redefined.

When Brock Bailey's limousine crashes through a bridge railing and disappears into Pittsburgh's murky Monongahela River, the popular Pennsylvania governor is presumed to be dead. Intensive rescue efforts produce four mangled bodies, but the Mon River does not yield a governor. Left behind are a very public and ruthless son, a very private mistress and the prize they both crave: Bailey's Keystone Oil fortune. The governor's disappearance becomes an obsession of Bailey's hometown newspaper editor and a bumbling state police commissioner. What they learn is a Bailey family secret so shocking and devastating that one tries to exploit it and the other hesitates to publish it. Tonight in the Rivers of Pittsburgh exposes the turmoil and duplicity of Pennsylvania's political power family from the heinous kidnapping that propelled Brock Bailey to the governorship, to the forbidden young woman who dominated his hidden life, to his rudderless son, thrust into the political void caused by the governor's reported demise. The story of Bailey's legacy winds through the remote Allegheny National Forest, to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, through the Gettysburg Battlefield and Philadelphia and past all whistle-stops in between. Meanwhile, the nation's most baffling political mystery floats lifelessly down the rivers of Pittsburgh.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2020 BY THE GUARDIAN UK Pittsburgh, 1995. The son of a black father he’s never known and a white mother he sometimes wishes he didn’t, 22-year-old Bobby Saraceno is passing for white. Raised by his bigoted maternal grandfather, Bobby has hidden his truth from everyone, even his best friend and fellow comic-book geek, Aaron, who has just returned home from prison a hardened racist. Bobby’s disparate worlds collide when his and Aaron’s reunion is interrupted by a confrontation where Bobby witnesses Aaron assault a young black man with a brick. Fearing for his safety and his freedom, Bobby must keep his secret from Aaron and conceal his unwitting involvement in the hate crime from the police. But Bobby’s delicate house of cards crumbles when his father enters his life after more than 20 years.

The irresistible literary debut about the hidden desires of church-going Black women 'Left me wanting more. Masterfully written' Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie 'Joyous... It's a book in love with life' The Times 'Exquisite... delicious' Bolu Babalola, author of Love in Colour The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where Black women and girls dare to follow their desires, and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. There is fourteen-year-old Jael, who nurses a crush on the preacher's wife; the mother who bakes a sublime peach cobbler every Monday for her date with the married Pastor; and Eula and Caroletta, single childhood friends who seek solace in each other's arms every New Year's Eve. With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be – and as free as they deserve to be.

Ellen Emerson may be the last living survivor of the Johnstown flood. She was only four years old on May 31, 1889, when twenty million tons of water decimated her hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Thousands perished in what was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history at the time. As we witness in The Johnstown Girls, the flood not only changed the course of history, but also the individual lives of those who survived it. A century later, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters Ben Bragdon and Nina Collins set out to interview 103-year-old Ellen for Ben's feature article on the flood. When asked the secret to her longevity, Ellen simply attributes it to "restlessness." As we see, that restlessness is fueled by Ellen's innate belief that her twin sister Mary, who went missing in the flood, is somehow still alive. Her story intrigues Ben, but it haunts Nina, who is determined to help Ellen find her missing half. Novelist Kathleen George masterfully blends a history of the Johnstown flood into her heartrending tale of twin sisters who have never known the truth about that fateful day in 1889—a day that would send their lives hurtling down different paths. The Johnstown Girls is a remarkable story of perseverance, hard work, and never giving up hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It's also a tribute to the determination and indomitable spirit of the people of Johnstown through one hundred years, three generations, and three different floods.