Spirited teenager Domino Blackthorne Drake was just a normal girl… until she stumbled upon an alien artifact, acquired uncanny power, and became a beacon for intergalactic trouble! With her tabby cat Cap’n Kidd in tow, Domino joins the motley crew of the Starshadow – a spacefaring pirate ship captained by the charismatic and fearless Raader. Domino embarks on a cosmic odyssey to save her kidnapped parents and overthrow the evil Colonizer Empire. Imagine a young, bright-eyed girl on a galaxy-wide escapade, full of high-energy antics straight out of Guardians of the Galaxy and Pirates of the Caribbean, and you’ve got Swords of the Swashbucklers!

The art and science of sword fighting goes back almost to the dawn of civilization and has been an obsession for much of mankind throughout recorded history. From the Roman arena to feudal Japan and from the duellists of Europe to the development of modern-day Olympic fencing, Richard Cohen traces the course of swordsmanship with wit and erudition in a fascinating and wonderfully discursive account. Packed with anecdote, superbly written and built on a solid foundation of historical research, this is a tribute to a deadly but beautiful skill, the mastery of which for centuries defined a man.

Reunited with crewmembers thought lost, Raader makes her final stand on Earth. Old friends and new, brought together in an epic showdown that will affect the galaxy forever!

From the gruff, sword-toting swashbucklers of the Middle Ages to modern adventure epics like The Princess Bride, the aura surrounding the sword is one that is both romantic and pragmatic. Thoughts of this weapon bring to mind images of the Knights of the Round Table, Zorro, the Three Musketeers—the things daydreams are made of. Historically, the fate of the empires revolved around the sword; nations rose and fell based on the power of their swordsmen. For centuries it was the weapon of choice in settling personal disputes. Today, the art of sword fighting has been incarnated as the dynamic, chess-like sport of fencing. It has also played an important part in the history of theatre and film, and it has been part of literature for as long as there have been books. In its varied guises, the sword has for centuries figured in the world's varied cultures, myths, and politics. Yet, there has never been a comprehensive volume on the subject of the sword until the publication of this encyclopedia. For the first time, in a single volume one can locate information on the history of sword types and styles around the world; techniques of combat sword use; techniques and styles of modern sport fencing; names and descriptions of various fencing implements and weapon types; swashbuckler films and the fencing masters who influenced the genre; significant individuals who have taught sword use; the sword at the Olympics; the literature in which the rapier, foil, or broadsword has figured; and much, much more. Essential reading for fencing and military history enthusiasts.

A history of sword fighting ranges from ancient times to the present-day, profiling great swordsmen and exploring the cultural and social implications of fencing.

Does this spell the end of the Venture? As the crew races to Barsoom, a volley of explosive fire from a tribe of green Martians – the Warhoons — sinks the once proud-airship down to earth! But Tarzan isn’t fazed – he has a plan (and with a certain local’s assistance) they might yet save the galaxy from the villainous Rokoff...assuming, of course, they can survive that long!

Swords.