"The story of Black Hawk Down is a familiar one. On 3 October 1993 two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, and in the ensuing Battle of Mogadishu eighteen Americans and hundreds of Somalis were killed. But very few appreciate that this was one day in a two-and-a-half-year operation; the most ambitious attempt in history to rebuild a nation. The United States sought to show the world that the UN could rebuild a country, but in a dire foreshadowing of the failed efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan a decade later, the intervention in Somalia was plagued with political infighting, policy mismatch, confusion, and fatal assumptions.
In 1992 Somalia saw the largest ever deployment of American troops to the continent of Africa, and 1993 brought the first UN-led peace enforcement mission and the most ambitious experiment in nation-building. In Beyond Black Hawk Down, Jonathan Carroll provides the first scholarly military history of the intervention, from its early and largely successful humanitarian phase in 1992 through to the ultimate withdrawal of UN forces in 1995. Carroll dispels the myths and misunderstandings surrounding one of the most infamous episodes of the 1990s to present a new interpretation, most notably by including the Somali perspective, to argue what went wrong in Somalia, and more importantly, why.
Understanding the intervention in Somalia, its successes, and the roots of its failures, is invaluable to contemporary debates on nation-building and counterinsurgency. Moreover, the increasing regularity of inter-state and intra-state conflicts across the world means the international community will continue to be called upon to intervene in other failed or failing states. Beyond Black Hawk Down is an important history that will inform future military interventions."
"One day Ben Gould slips on the ice, hits his head, and is supposed to die. But he doesn’t. Instead, Gould finds himself in a strange situation where he continues to live as if nothing happened. As a result, a ghost that was originally sent to guide Ben to the Afterlife is stuck on earth while its bosses try to figure out what went wrong. The situation catches the attention of various supernatural entities, besides the ghost. The story weaves through the perspectives of Ben, the ghost, his girlfriend German Landis, and even a talking dog named Pilot.
As Ben and these characters grapple with the implications of his non-death, they start to uncover deeper mysteries about love, destiny, and the reasons why some people are chosen to live or die. The story delves into the complexities of human emotions and connections, with a focus on how love can transcend even death itself and the invisible forces that shape our destinies."
"Offers a convergence of three characters and three fates: Ian McGann, whose life depends on Death's answers to his questions; Arlen Ford, who flees Hollywood into the arms of a war correspondent; and Wyatt Leonard, terminally ill in Vienna but able to raise the dead."
"Glass Soup is a loose sequel to Jonathan Carroll’s earlier work, White Apples. The story continues to explore themes of life, death, love, and the metaphysical battle between good and evil.
The novel follows Vincent Ettrich and his lover, Isabelle Neukor, who were central to the plot of White Apples. Having died, Vincent is once again alive, recently resurrected for some mysterious reason. Isabelle, pregnant with their child, discovers that their unborn son is destined to play a crucial role in the cosmic struggle between chaos and order.
The stakes are high as the forces of chaos, represented by a group of powerful and malevolent beings, seek to manipulate the unborn child for their own ends. The narrative weaves through various dimensions and states of existence, blurring the line between the living and the dead. Characters move freely between life and the afterlife, where reality itself seems to be constantly shifting.
In the afterlife, which is depicted as a surreal, dreamlike landscape, Vincent and Isabelle must navigate a series of strange and dangerous encounters. They meet bizarre and memorable characters, each with their own role in the unfolding cosmic drama. Among them is a particularly sinister figure who seeks to disrupt the balance of the universe and plunge everything into chaos.
As the story progresses, the boundary between dreams and reality becomes increasingly porous and dangerous for the couple while they must fight with everything they have to protect their child.
'An ambitious retelling of the cosmic struggle between good and evil… make Carroll’s latest a delicious dish… This is a marvelous comic feast.' — Publishers Weekly"
"Vincent Ettrich is a charming carefree man who discovers he has recently died but been mysteriously resurrected. As he tries to piece together the circumstances of his death and the reason for his return, he learns his resurrection is not just a second chance at life but also a pivotal event in a cosmic battle.
Vincent's lover, Isabelle, plays a crucial role in this mystery. She is pregnant with their child, who is destined to be a key figure in this vast struggle. Their child, however, will only survive if Vincent can protect the delicate balance between life and death. This responsibility forces him to confront his past, his relationships, and the metaphysical forces that govern the universe.
As Vincent uncovers the truth about his resurrection, he encounters a series of enigmatic characters and surreal events that challenge his understanding of reality. The novel delves deeply into themes of love, fate, and the cyclical nature of existence, all while maintaining a dreamlike and haunting atmosphere."
"Frannie McCabe, police chief of Crane’s View, New York discovers a dead three-legged dog in the middle of the street. When he decides to bury it, strange things begin to happen. The dog inexplicably reappears, first in his office and then alive, kicking off a series of bizarre events that make McCabe question both his sanity and reality.
As Frannie navigates these odd occurrences, he encounters a mysterious stranger who seems to know a lot about him and the strange events taking place all around him. This figure leads him on a journey through time, revealing that Frannie is caught in a loop, and that the choices he makes have far-reaching implications not just for his own life, but for the entire town and beyond.
McCabe finds himself grappling with questions about free will, the nature of reality, and the possibility of alternate universes. His journey becomes one of self-discovery, as he uncovers hidden truths about his past, his family, and his future.
In the end, The Wooden Sea leaves readers pondering the mysteries of existence, the choices we make, and the unseen forces that shape our lives."
"Bones of the Moon is the story of a young woman named Cullen James who leads a dual life, one in the real world and the other in her vivid night dreams set in a magical land called Rondua. In these dreams, Cullen embarks on a quest to find the Bones of the Moon, five bones that hold power over Rondua. As the dreams intensify, they begin to impact her waking life, leading to unsettling and frightening intersections between the two worlds. Alongside an enigmatic little boy also seeking the bones, and Mr. Tracy, a dog the size of a hot-air balloon, Cullen navigates through both realms in search of these mystical bones."
"For some, the magic of certain books lasts a lifetime. For Thomas Abbey, the works of reclusive children’s fantasy author Marshall France have been an essential part of his life ever since he was a boy.
Son of a famous movie star, Abbey is now approaching middle age having spent too many years trying to get out from under the shadow of just ‘being the son of…’ and finding something meaningful in his life.
When he meets the puppeteer Saxony Gardner, who shares his passion for the France books, together they decide to collaborate on a biography of their favorite author. To do so, they must travel to the small town of Galen where France spent much of his life. Once there, they must gain the permission to write the book from France’s daughter Anna who is very protective of her father’s legacy.
What happens to them after they arrive in Galen and receive Anna’s blessing to write the story of her father’s life is beyond their wildest dreams. A story that Marshall France himself might have written…"
"From one of the great modern masters of the fantastic, “A beautiful, brilliant, meditation on art, love, inspiration and what makes life worthwhile.'-- Neil Gaiman
'[Carroll's] prose is spare, polished and quick-moving, sometimes lightly comic, always immensely engaging... Mr. Breakfast is pure pleasure to read. It will surprise you, make you laugh and scare you — and then, just when you think it’s over, add several extra twists.' -- Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
Graham Patterson’s life has hit a dead end. His career as a comedian is failing. The love of his life recently broke up with him and he literally has no idea what to do next. With nothing to lose, he buys a new car and hits the road, planning to drive across country and hopefully figure out his next moves before reaching California.
But along the way Patterson does something his old self would never have even considered: he gets tattooed by a brilliant tattoo artist in North Carolina. The decision sets off a series of extraordinary events that changes his life forever in ways he never could have imagined. Among other things, Patterson is gifted with the ability to see in real time three different lives that are available to him. The choice is his: The life he is leading right now, or two very different ones. In all of them there is love or fame and of course danger because once he has chosen, there is no telling what will happen next.
Mr. Breakfast is a dazzling, absorbing and deeply moving novel about the choices that we have to confront and face, confirming Jonathan Carroll’s status as one of our greatest and most imaginative storytellers."
"English Magic and the Enchantment of England is a captivating audiobook that takes listeners on a journey through the mystical world of English magic. It begins with an introduction to the history and influence of magic in England, followed by an exploration of ancient charms, amulets, and mythical creatures like dragons. The audiobook delves into the rituals, practices, and misconceptions surrounding witchcraft, offering historical insights. With chapters on magical herbs, plants, legendary objects, and the appearance of magic in English literature, it seamlessly blends folklore with modern interpretations, showcasing the enduring legacy of magic in the English cultural landscape."
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