Passion and betrayal, violent desperation, ambivalent love that hinges on hatred, and the quest for acceptance by those who stand on the edge of society-these are the hard-hitting themes of a stunningly crafted first collection of stories by the bestselling author of House of Sand and Fog. A vigilant young man working in a halfway house finds himself unable to defend against the rage of one of the inmates in the title story. In "White Trees, Hammer Moon," a man soon to leave home for prison finds himself as unprepared for a family camping trip in the mountains of New Hampshire as he has been for most things in his life. And in the award-winning "Forky," an ex-con is haunted by the punishment he receives just as he is being released into the world. With an incisive ability to inhabit the lives of his characters, Dubus travels deep into the heart of the elusive American dream.

In a time not so distant from our own, the land is scarred; the air tainted; and the desperate poor are sick and dying, Dr. Jesse Grange has spent the last thirty years trying to rebuild his protected city and its technology. Now he glimpses the future and sees what may be the end of the world. In his walled city, Jesse lives as a hero and celebrity, guardian of one of the last remaining safe havens on the continent. But the mistakes of the past are catching up to his best efforts, and with news of the failure of the latest experiment his hopes of a real future for his people are dashed. Beckoned by his brother, a banished Keeper of the sick, to leave the city and travel to the edge of the sea, Jessie Grange experiences first hand the ash grey air, the bitterly cold sand, and the tainted and unduly warm ocean. As Jesse enters his brother's house, he catches a glimpse of the girl who may be the savior and salvation of humanity; Robin Sayers. Robin is Desgastas, born into exile because of the genetic trap in her blood. She has lived all her short life under her Keeper's care, absorbing both his faith and his bitterness. Now her world will change as she is uprooted from the only home she has ever known and forced to shelter in Jesse's sterile sanctum as a "marked" child. There Robin will begin the battle for her life, her faith, and for the future...

The story begins with Maria, a young woman struggling to survive in medieval Russia. Through a series of tragic events, she must travel from Rostov, upstream on the Volga river across Northwestern Russia to find safety with relatives in a distant city. Along the way she is exposed to a dangerous, unforgiving world, far beyond the conservative village she had always known. Her experience becomes a personal journey in trust, adventure, love and destiny. Readers will be taken on an exciting journey filled with folklore, Russian history, and romantic encounters. The pace is fast as Maria travels by ship trying to evade Tatar soldiers who seek to return her to Rostov. Armed only with a handful of items and the knowledge her parents gave her, she must trust her life to complete strangers while learning to survive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Her story unfolds with chaotic twists that drive her to a destiny far greater than she ever imagined.

Thomas is a seventeen-year-old who doesn't want to grow up and has little aspirations for anything beyond standing outside the local liquor store and getting drunk. But when he meets Bernard, the old and well known fag artist, he is offered something he cannot turn down. -- The Epilogue follows this book, and there is a sequel, The Rainbow, coming soon. Please see thedovekeeper.com for more details.

Terrarium hobbyists and arachnid lovers will rejoice at this comprehensive guide on tarantulas! The Tarantula Keeper's Guide provides in-depth information on their biology and advice on housing and caring for pet tarantulas. Tarantulas are small and easy-to-maintain exotic pets that are fun and captivating to watch. The Tarantula Keeper's Guide includes detailed information on the natural history and biology of these fascinating creatures. This spider book is filled with color photos, scientifically accurate line art, and detailed care instructions. It's no wonder that The Tarantula Keeper's Guide is considered the "Bible of Arachnoculture" by hobbyists and arachnid enthusiast!