The theme of death is an essential component of film narrative, particularly in how it affects the hero. Filmmakers from different cultures and backgrounds have developed distinct yet archetypal perspectives on death and the protagonist's response. Focusing on Western and Japanese period genre films, the author examines the work of John Ford (1894-1973), Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) and Sergio Leone (1929-1989) and finds similarities regarding death's impact on the hero's sense of morality.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY BELIEVE IN HIM... Christopher Csejthe doesn't believe in vampires. Not until he becomes one. He doesn't believe in witches or werewolves, either. Not until they make him an offer he can't refuse.... Flight of the Living Dead A scream sliced the night air¾an animal sound as far removed from a human voice as the previous scream of tortured metal. It was a sound that went on and on as we hurried toward the RV. Mooncloud yanked the passenger door open and then ran around to the driver's side as I climbed up onto the bench seat. As she slid behind the wheel the other woman leapt from the building's rear doorway, sailing over the stairs and landing on the ground below. As she crouched on the asphalt, there was a shattering roar that canceled out the screaming. A ball of flame rolled out from the doorway like an orange party favor, licking the air just a few feet above her head. Mooncloud threw the van in gear and brought it skidding around as the blaze snapped back through the opening. Before I could reach for the door handle the woman was springing through the open window to land across my lap. "Go!" she shouted, but Mooncloud was already whipping the vehicle in a tight turn and accelerating toward the parking lot's north exit. The speed bump smacked my head against the roof of the cab and, by the time my vision cleared, we were driving more sedately down a side street, the woman with the crossbow sitting between me and the passenger door. In the rear-view mirror a pillar of flame was climbing from the roof of the old dormitory that housed the radio station. I shook my head to clear away the last of the planetarium show and gripped the dashboard. "Will somebody please tell me what's going on?" "It's very simple, Mr. Csejthe," Dr. Mooncloud said, pressing a button that locked the cab doors. "You are a dead man." At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Danger and intrigue of the US Army Bomb Disposal teams in the European Theatre of Operations, as young Eric Pedersen from Little Falls, Minnesota, enlists in the Army at the outbreak of World War 2, and volunteers for the newly established Bomb Disposal program. He is quickly shipped to North Africa with his squad, takes part in the victory of the desert campaign, then moves on to Sicily and Italy, and finally becomes embroiled in the landing at Normandy and the march through France, culminating with the final victory in Germany. As Eric moves through the combat arenas, he befriends men of the famous Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team and forges a lasting relationship with his new friend from the 3rd Infantry Division, Audie Murphy.

It takes a graveyard to raise a child. Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy—an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family.

An exciting police thriller from New York Times Bestselling author and former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik. A story of suspense, murder, and terrorist conspiracy ripped from today's headlines. “Kerik, a comic book hero come to life.” —The New York Times “SHOTS FIRED CENTRAL! 26 Sergeant to Central… Shot fired… cop down at one-two-five and Broadway – get a bus … suspect running towards the Westside Highway just off of Broadway!” New York City Police Commissioner Rick Raymond was a captain back in 2001 when terrorist planes struck the Twin Towers, killing thousands…including fellow police officers and Raymond’s wife. Ever since that awful day, as he climbed the ranks, Raymond vowed to protect his city, his police force, and citizens. For Raymond this means an uncompromising dedication to his duties, while at the same time juggling the political demands of his office – the grandstanding mayor, the ever-questioning press, and oh yes, his torrid (but secret) romance with District Attorney Sheilah Dannis. During the aftermath of a shooting in Times Square that left on cop dead and one gravely wounded, Raymond finds himself at the center of the drama when he confronts and takes out cop killer. When the cop killer is revealed to be a radical Islamic terrorist, Raymond’s vow takes him on a dangerous mission to save and protect New York City from another devastating attack – a mission that will take a very personal toll. The events unfold at a breakneck pace, making The Grave Above the Grave a page-turning novel of suspense and derring-do. The stakes have never been higher.

There may be grave consequences for bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright as she attempts to solve two murders tied to one book in this novel in the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series. Brooklyn’s chance to restore a rare first edition of Beauty and the Beast seems a fairy tale come true—until she realizes the book belonged to an old friend of hers. Ten years ago, Max Adams, a brawny renowned papermaker, fell in love with a stunning beauty, Emily, and gave her the copy of Beauty and the Beast as a symbol of their love. Soon afterward, he died in a car crash, and Brooklyn has always suspected his possessive ex-girlfriend and her jealous beau. Now she decides to find out who sold the book and return it to its rightful owner—Emily. She believes a rare book dealer can assist her, but when she arrives at his shop, she finds him murdered. Is it possible that the same couple who may have killed Max are now after his edition of Beauty and the Beast? With the help of her handsome boyfriend, Derek Stone, Brooklyn must unravel the murder plot—before she ends up in a plot herself....

“Cat and Bones are combustible together.” —Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels Cat and Bones are back! New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jeaniene Frost returns to her remarkable Night Huntress paranormal series, pulling out all the stops on This Side of the Grave. The incomparable team of half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her all-vamp husband Bones face their most terrifying challenge yet as they race to prevent a “species war” that could devastate humans and immortals alike—and are forced to seek help from their sworn enemy, the Ghoul Queen of New Orleans. Gripping, intriguing, and hot as Hades, This Side of the Grave is where Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, and Christine Feehan fans definitely want to be!

Up2U Adventures--where the ending is Up2U! Dylan's creepy hobby is getting gravestone rubbings from the old cemetery. He thinks that one from Dr. Naper, Cedarville's own Dr. Frankenstein, would make a perfect addition to his history project. Getting the rubbing is more difficult than Dylan thought! Will he and his history partner uncover the mystery of Dr. Naper? The ending is Up2U, so which ending will you choose? Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Calico is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

He's handsome, reliable, and punctual--the perfect gentleman when you want him to be. But this dream man is Death's best agent--and now he's got more than his soul to lose. . . One act of mercy before dying was all it took to turn soldier David Anderson into a reaper--an immortal who guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. But the closer he gets to atoning for his mortal sin and finally escaping merciless Fate, the more he feels his own humanity slipping away for good. Until he encounters Sarah Griffith. This skeptical scientist can't be influenced by his powers--even though she has an unsuspected talent for sensing the dead. And her honesty and irreverent sense of humor reignite his reason for living--and a passion he can't afford to feel. Now Fate has summoned David to make a devastating last harvest. And he'll break every hellishly-strict netherworld rule to save Sarah. . .and gamble on a choice even an immortal can't win. 96,100 Words