A young boy accompanied his father on his business trip on a caravan train that used the Silk Road to the Far East countries in a past era. There were camels and horses used to pull these trains that were vulnerable to being attacked by outlaws who were in constant search for victims to rob and livestock to take. His mother had died, and while he does not remember her, he does know his aunt that had looked after him when his father left under the benign care of an aged sultan. The young boy had to study with a Greek tutor supplied by the sultan. After a year, news arrived that his father’s caravan was attacked and that there were no survivors. He grows up as a warrior, studying under the sultan’s army leaders and learning the art of war. He thrives on the stories of the Greek heroes of old. As a young soldier, he is given responsibility to secure the sultan’s trade routes. Herein lies a story of a young boy, lost youths, and strategic battle plans all the while being faithful to his surrogate father, the sultan. Historically, he wants to regain the throne for his sultan. His adventure begins.

Chengli is an orphaned errand boy who lives in Chang'an China in 630 A.D. His mother has died from illness and his father is presumed dead after disappearing into the desert when Chengli was a baby. Now thirteen, Chengli feels ready for independence. He is drawn to the desert, beckoned by the howling of strange winds and the hope of learning something about his father--who he was and how he died. Chengli joins a caravan to travel down the merchant route known as the Silk Road, but it is a dangerous life, as his father knew. The desert is harsh, and there are many bandits--bandits interested in Chengli's caravan because a princess, her servants, and royal guards are traveling with them. But the desert is full of amazing places and life-changing experiences, as the feisty princess learns the meaning of friendship and Chengli learns the heroism of which he is capable.

This adventurous work records Robert Edison Fulton's solo round-the-world tour on a two-cylinder Douglas motorcycle between July, 1932 and December, 1933. First published in 1937.

DIVBraving the ice marshes, Brak seeks his fortune in fabled Khurdisan/divDIV Of all the northern barbarians, none is more fearsome than Brak. Cast out by his tribe for daring to question their war-gods, he leaves the frozen north with plunder on his mind. Somewhere in the south, the legends say, lies Khurdisan—a golden land of sunshine, riches, and dark-skinned women. It will be a battle to get there, but battle is all Brak knows./divDIV /divDIVIn Brak the Barbarian, Brak seeks refuge in Kambda Kai, a once-great city brought to ruin by its worship of the demon god Yob-Haggoth. So wretched is the town that even its children know dark magic, and Brak will have to be quick with his broadsword to survive./divDIV /divDIVIn Mark of the Demons, Brak staggers across the desert of Logol, his pony dead, his food exhausted. There he meets a strange pair of highborn twins, whose throne has been stolen by a usurper. Can he trust them? He has no choice, if he wants to escape the wasteland alive./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook bundle contains additional stories featuring Brak the Barbarian, as well as an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author’s personal collection. /div

The perfect summer read for fans of Terry Pratchett, David Walliams and Roald Dahl!

Grief is like a desert mirage. It paints the world differently, luring even the best towards danger. Zaira wanted nothing other than to leave everything behind, hiding among the wandering caravan-city of An Ramash. Struggling with her pain of loss and blossoming djinn powers under the tutilage of the fabled Nazrik, her new life comes to a sudden change with the arrival of yet another djinn. Harboring this new fugitive brings them face-to-face against enemies both old and new. Hain, Ezair's childhood friend is only one of the many dangers hunting them, and all pale compared to the leader of the fanatical Court of Fire. Meanwhile, the palace of Shardiz is in uproar after the appearence of a crippled mejai girl. Sethar, brother to the prince is tasked with looking after the murderous magician, using the girl's wits to uncover secrets left behind by a civilization more ancient than the Old Garden. Following the trail of the mysterious Forebearers, Sethar discovers troubling details about both his quest and his passionless assistant. As their lives converge, sparking a heated turn of events, old wounds need to close and grudges be forgotten, lest the whole world be timber to the flames. The adventure continues in the magical desert of Seiran, with more secrets, deadlier plots, and even more on the line.