Advanced Wizardry is a book for both the beginning student of Magic and the practicing Wizard. Within you will find answers to the elusive nature of Magic, to what it really is and how is it that it manifests in the physical realms. It will be a helpful guide to the solitary student for it proposes a way to study Magic and to properly use it. In its pages you will find valuable information regarding the nature of Magic, definitions that up to now had been reserved and kept away from the world in general. It will provide the student with ample knowledge regarding the various levels of reality, the various magical laws and all the necessary information needed to kindle the prized Philosophical Sphere of the Wizard. With this Sphere, the Apprentice and Wizard will be able to delve into the magical realms unhindered by the events, situations and dealings of the ordinary world and will allow him/her to reach into higher states of consciousness and awareness. With this Sphere the aspiring student will be able to cast Magic the marvelous incantations found inside and will raise him/her towards the realms of angels and celestials. Also, this grimoire holds in its pages those powerful and potent magical words that had been kept secret for a limited few and will give you the power to shape your destiny for the better. Finally, it possess a very fine and detailed view on the Tarot, the Runes and how to use them as it teaches you how to scry, use the crystal ball and the smoking censer to peruse into the invisible realms.

Gives the twenty-two secrets for becoming a Wizard, including how to make a wand, read an oracle, and achieve member status in the Wizards' Guild.

You're no idiot. You know the wildly popular Harry Potter series has captivated readers of all ages from the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoneon. But did you recognize all the subtle references Rowling uses in her characters' names or in the magical creatures we encounter and places we explore in Harry's wonderful world of wizardry? The truth is, the world of Harry Potter is incredibly textured and complex and not only has factual roots in history, mythology, science, and folklore, but also draws on all genres of literature, from C. S. Lewis to the Bible. You'll learn this and much more in the fun facts and tantalizing trivia provided in this fabulous new addition to the Complete Idiot's Guide series! This is not a retelling of Rowling's stories, nor is it intended to be a cheat sheet to the novels, a la the Cliffs Notes series. Instead, it is an entertaining and easily referenced presentation of insider information to the world Rowling has created in her spellbinding series of novels.

A soup-to-nuts overview of just what it takes to successfully design, develop and manage an online game. Learn from the top two online game developers through the real-world successes and mistakes not known to others. There are Case studies from 10+ industry leaders, including Raph Koster, J. Baron, R. Bartle, D. Schubert, A. Macris, and more! Covers all types of online games: Retail Hybrids, Persistent Worlds, and console games. Developing Online Games provides insight into designing, developing and managing online games that is available nowhere else. Online game programming guru Jessica Mulligan and seasoned exec Bridgette Patrovsky provide insights into the industry that will allow others entering this market to avoid the mistakes of the past. In addition to their own experiences, the authors provide interviews, insight and anecdotes from over twenty of the most well-known and experienced online game insiders. The book includes case studies of the successes and failures of today's most well-known online games. There is also a special section for senior executives on how to budget an online game and how to assemble the right development and management teams. The book ends with a look at the future of online gaming: not only online console gaming (Xbox Online, Playstation 2), but the emerging mobile device game market (cell phones, wireless, PDA).

Exploring the often-overlooked history and technological innovations of the world's first true multimedia computer. Long ago, in 1985, personal computers came in two general categories: the friendly, childish game machine used for fun (exemplified by Atari and Commodore products); and the boring, beige adult box used for business (exemplified by products from IBM). The game machines became fascinating technical and artistic platforms that were of limited real-world utility. The IBM products were all utility, with little emphasis on aesthetics and no emphasis on fun. Into this bifurcated computing environment came the Commodore Amiga 1000. This personal computer featured a palette of 4,096 colors, unprecedented animation capabilities, four-channel stereo sound, the capacity to run multiple applications simultaneously, a graphical user interface, and powerful processing potential. It was, Jimmy Maher writes in The Future Was Here, the world's first true multimedia personal computer. Maher argues that the Amiga's capacity to store and display color photographs, manipulate video (giving amateurs access to professional tools), and use recordings of real-world sound were the seeds of the digital media future: digital cameras, Photoshop, MP3 players, and even YouTube, Flickr, and the blogosphere. He examines different facets of the platform—from Deluxe Paint to AmigaOS to Cinemaware—in each chapter, creating a portrait of the platform and the communities of practice that surrounded it. Of course, Maher acknowledges, the Amiga was not perfect: the DOS component of the operating systems was clunky and ill-matched, for example, and crashes often accompanied multitasking attempts. And Commodore went bankrupt in 1994. But for a few years, the Amiga's technical qualities were harnessed by engineers, programmers, artists, and others to push back boundaries and transform the culture of computing.

His Darkness, Her Brightness… Together They Defy the World Lord Gabriel Phel at last holds his dream in his grasp—and faces losing everything. He’s finally won the love of his wife, familiar, and mother of his child, and she offers him a heartfelt commitment he can truly believe in. Together they’re building a true house, one with a growing family of friends and allies that can help them stand against their enemies. And he’s learning to master his magic, to use it as the powerful tool and weapon it should be. But old and new enemies array themselves to take it all away. Lady Veronica, now fully of House Phel, is doing her best to embrace happiness. After all, she has her hands full managing her mercurial and powerful wizard as he navigates taking his place as the head of their house, and with learning her own extraordinary ability. But she fears whatever peace they win won’t last long. When their enemies inevitably strike—including, perhaps, her own father—they must be ready to defend all they hold precious. It doesn’t help that her idealistic husband insists on making foolishly noble decisions that put them at even greater risk, nor that she loves him all the more for it. As Nic and Gabriel struggle to put their household in order, giving ill-advised safe harbor to Nic’s runaway sister and risking their lives to save Gabriel’s sister’s sanity, their enemies draw the noose tighter on their well laid plans. When the unthinkable occurs, it’s up to both of them to trust in the nascent, unknown magic they’ve woven together.

The Classic Guide to the Java Programming Language--Fully Updated through Java 21 Whatever version of Java you are using, Core Java, Volume I: Fundamentals, Thirteenth Edition, will help you achieve a deep and practical understanding of the language and APIs. With hundreds of realistic examples, Java Champion Cay S. Horstmann demonstrates the most powerful and effective ways to get the job done. Written for experienced programmers looking for in-depth coverage of the Java language and platform, this revised and updated edition continues to be the first choice for serious programmers. The carefully crafted sample programs demonstrate almost every language and library feature, as well as the newest capabilities introduced in Java 21. The examples are purposefully simple to focus on the major points, but, for the most part, they aren't fake and they don't cut corners. They should make good starting points for your own code. This first of two volumes offers a detailed treatment of fundamental Java programming topics, including object-oriented programming, reflection and proxies, interfaces and inner classes, exception handling, generics, collections, lambda expressions, concurrency, annotations, and the Java Platform Module System. Master foundational techniques, idioms, and best practices for writing superior Java code Leverage the power of interfaces, lambda expressions, and inner classes Take advantage of sealed class hierarchies and pattern matching for processing structured data Harden programs through effective exception handling and debugging Write safer, more reusable code with generic programming Improve performance and efficiency with Java's standard collections Explore simple programs with JShell and assemble complex programs with archives and modules Fully utilize multicore processors with Java's powerful concurrency model See Core Java, Volume II: Advanced Features, Thirteenth Edition, for coverage of Java 21 enterprise features, including detailed discussions of networking, security, internationalization, and advanced UI programming. Register your book for convenient access to downloads, updates, and/or corrections as they become available. See inside book for details.

The iconic Impossible Mission games by Epyx Inc. enthralled a generation, pitting the player’s wits against the diabolic genius of the mad scientist Elvin Atombender in a race against time to save the world! Now in this official guide to Impossible Mission I and II we get the chance to hear from some of the people who both created and brought the games to market such as: Dennis Casswell, Chris Crigg, Peter Filiberti, Mihaly Kenczler and many more. This definitive work contains dozens of chapters, from the history of Epyx the company, the various versions and ports over the years, the in-game music, the ground-breaking synthesized speech, to extensive hints, tips and walkthroughs. Written by established retro computer writer Holger Weßling, and with a foreword by Darren Melbourne who has been associated with many of the games’ incarnations.

"Konkol’s debut and Rebirth of the Fallen series launch offers a glimpse into a bleak but arresting world where only three human-controlled cities remain after the rest have fallen to demons. This grimdark fantasy adventure will strongly appeal to adult readers." -Publishers' Weekly "A must read for anyone who loves epic, dark fantasy." -Steven Searls, author of My Travels With a Dead Man ***This box set includes the all three Rebirth of the Fallen fantasy novels. Book #5, The Sundered City, now available. CITADEL OF THE FALLEN (Book One) Deep within the rainforest, a group of students barely survive an encounter with an ancient boar. In doing so, they stumble upon a series of events that threaten to destroy their entire civilization. The Black Tide, the annual rampage of millions of giant ants through the rainforest, has been coerced by the Demon Queen to take a path that will send it tearing through the farmlands that support the Citadel, their home. While the adults frantically race to prepare for the coming disaster, one survivor, Malcolm, experiences violent visions of the past. He learns that he's no longer alone in his own body. His revelations lead his friends to discover that many of the leaders within the Citadel are similarly possessed. Citadel of the Fallen is the exciting start of the much larger story told across the Rebirth of the Fallen dark fantasy series. Vivid and terrifying, but with an emotional depth that will keep readers yearning for more, JR Konkol weaves a complex tale, with a delicate balance of cinematic action and political intrigue. A vast, fallen world, with even deeper mysteries, is waiting, just a few clicks away. Unlock it today! GATHERING THE FALLEN (Book Two) After barely surviving the Black Tide and the demonic assault that followed, the group of newly possessed friends struggle to make peace with the willful spirits that inhabit them. While the spirits grant wisdom and power, it often comes at a terrible price. Driven by her spirit's crippling guilt and sorrow, Eliana leads her friends on a dangerous journey across the jungle in a desperate search for answers. What happened in the Darkwood? What role did her spirit play in what transpired? While the friends quest for understanding, the people of the Citadel struggle to rebuild and replant their ravaged farmlands. But hidden amongst them, an ancient demon carefully gathers power as she prepares to launch an assault against the magical painting that protects and preserves the Citadel. FLIGHT OF THE FALLEN (Book Three) Faced with the approach of an unstoppable army, the people of the Citadel are forced to flee. While most of the population attempts to escape along the southern waterways, the group of newly possessed friends choose a more dangerous path. Guided by visions, the possessed friends enter the Theleram, an expansive network of caves, stretching hundreds of miles beneath the rainforest. The visions direct them to the ruins of the ancient city of Semilae, where a hidden library lies. Meanwhile, Raelyn, the willful demon who brought about the fall of the Citadel, struggles to make a home for herself in Derregain, the largest remaining human city. The Demon Queen has placed a price on her head, and many powerful demons are interested in collecting. But Derregain itself is struggling, as sickness begins to spread through city streets. Raelyn knows the plague is demonic in origin, but will she survive long enough to share her knowledge?

Conspiracy Prophecy II is totalism of prophecies and conspiracies. Its interpretations of Prophecies by parody are somewhat sourced from movies and mythologies, i.e. Hollywood works and Hellenistic worldviews. It seeks to ignite soul of all readers by blunt revelations of conspiracies by Christians. Its fright is dark force of democracy. It deals with bullies, bums, beautification, beatification, nature, nymphs, spirits, saints, GI, governments, WWI/II/III/IV, Vietnam,VA, Heaven, Harleys, Earth, etc. It dealt with ecumenical, education, economy, environment, ecclesiastics, etc. Its jokes are justified in truth and transmigration. Its hard rumors are founded in human reasoning for or of freedom. It is shy of extremism and shuns extremists. It has calculations for initial creation to end of eternity. It is both BS and religiously ritual.