By James Aitchison Winning the Booker Prize is every author’s dream.  It is arguably the world’s most prestigious literary award.  It bestows distinction upon authors and virtually guarantees a boost in sales.  But few people know that the award had…

By: James Aitchison At journey’s end,carried by wavesnot of our making,we come to rest.Tumult is done;at last we can claimimmortality.We have travelled farwithout fear,without anxiety,for we knew thattranquility awaitedand we shall berewarded.

By: David R. Topper  As I recall, in the TV series, Genius – which began with a series on Albert Einstein, this one by Ron Howard – the opening sequence showed a middle-aged Albert and his secretary having sex in…

By: John Randolph The waves that lap below Calypso the eagle are barren, their surface glinting but offering no hint of fish. That’s the first thing she notices as she glides with the ease of ice on ice, her hollow…

Sun Tzu and Entertainment: Predator[i]’s Dillon Betrayal By: Andrew Nickerson In military history/tactics/strategy, many names have risen/fallen over the ages, the reasons for the latter running the gamut from technology to politics. However, one name has endured every such trial…

By: Rupesh Ullal Kulapuram 1I was in Mangalore, a coastal town in Southern India. A vacation I would cherish each time I remembered it, without hesitation.The town hadn’t changed much over the years, at least not since the Millennium, if…

By: James Aitchison Are you to save them all?Are you to carry every burden?Know that every man isable to save himself,should he choose to.Every man must conquerhis own path.The barriers facing himare not yours to remove.Is there no mercy?Are there…

By James Aitchison He was called a “book factory”, writing more than 600 novels using 28 different pseudonyms.  Some critics shunned him, but readers loved him.  They lapped up 80 million copies of his work — in 25 languages! John…

By: Azmat Ali The 19th century in Europe was a period of profound transformation and rapid change in industrialization, urbanization, politics, and intellectual movements. These shifts caused art and literature to turn away from Romanticism toward realism and naturalism. Industrialisation…

By: Bruce Mundhenke In that moment there was beauty,That words could never tell,Born out of a longing,The gift, a gift of joy,Eternal gift,Not to be forgotten,By the giver or receiver,A present that bindsOur past and futureInto now,And brings a gladnessAnd…