As a young Jewish man in 17th century Amsterdam, Baruch de Spinoza excelled as a theological student; but as he encountered free-thinking Protestants, atheists, and radicals in this relatively tolerant city, he began to question his religion and the nature of God. As a result, he was branded a heretic and faced excommunication.Includes an interview with Steven Nadler, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of A Book Forged in Hell: Spinoza’s Scan...

The world according to David Ives is a very add place, and his plays constitute a virtual stress test of the English language -- and of the audience's capacity for disorientation and delight. Ives's characters plunge into black holes called "Philadelphias," where the simplest desires are hilariously thwarted. Chimps named Milton, Swift, and Kafka are locked in a room and made to re-create Hamlet. And a con man peddles courses in a dubious language in which "hello" translates as "velcro" an...

A collection of four works from the American playwright known as "wizardly . . . magical and funny . . . a master of language" ( The New York Times).This collection brings together four full-length plays from the same dazzling pen that produced the one-act comic masterpieces of All in the Timing.Polish Joke is about a young Polish-American's trip through ethnic stereotypes. Nine-year-old Midwesterner Jan Bogdan Sadlowski, nickname...

Enigmatic actress Vanda Jordan appears unannounced for an audition with director Thomas Novachek. She's determined to land the leading role in his new production – despite seeming wrong for the part. The director is weary of auditioning a string of other actors, but agrees to see her, and is drawn quickly in to her act.As Novachek reads the lines of the male character in his play - Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the Austrian author who gave his name to masochi...

A series of short comic vignettes from playwright David Ives, In the title work, two houseflies try to make the most out of their brief time on earth.An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Fran Adams, Ed Begley Jr., Shannon Cochran, Evan Gore, Arye Gross and Victoria Principal.Directed by Ron West. Recorded before a live audience in March, 1998.

A series of short comedic works from playwright David Ives, with subjects ranging from the Lindbergh baby to chimps typing literary classics. The title work is a more serious, nostalgic look at two generations of apartment dwellers who meet in a time warp.An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Samantha Bennett, Jane Brucker, Ian Gomez, Arye Gross, Richard Kind, Dinah Manoff, Nia Vardalos and Tom Virtue.Directed by Ron West. Recorded before a live audience in ...

When Louisiana became a part of the United States the great wilderness to the westward of the Mississippi was the home of many native tribes, or groups of tribes, retaining their primitive manners and customs, little influenced by contact with Europeans. Their villages were scattered along the water courses or skirted the prairies, over which roamed vast herds of buffalo, these serving to attract the Indians and to supply many of their wants—food, raiment, and covering for their shelters.

This definitive biography of Anne Boleyn establishes her as a figure of considerable importance and influence in her own right.Anne Boleyn is the most notorious of England’s queens, but more famous for her death as an adulterer than for her life. Henry’s second wife and mother of Elizabeth I, Anne, was the first English queen to be publicly executed. Yet what do we know of the achievements and the legacy of her short reign?In The Life and Death of Anne ...

LIGHTSPEED is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine. In its pages, you will find science fiction: from near-future, sociological soft SF, to far-future, star-spanning hard SF--and fantasy: from epic fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and contemporary urban tales, to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folktales.This month's cover art is by Galen Dara, illustrating the original fantasy short "Godmeat," by Martin Cahill. We also have an original fantasy short story from Kodiak Ju...

This book was written because if I can save just one baby from having to go through or having the experience that I had as a child; it will be worth it. My goal is to get the child bearing female to stop and think and be honest with themselves. To think about what color really mean to them and their family. Will the child or children be able to receive the love they deserve? That the female choose a male that she wants her babies to look just like him. We all know that all babies are beaut...

Ellie is about to get a surprise birthday present she didn't expect - a bulldog puppy. She gets to choose the puppy that she wants, and she seems to know right away that Daisy is the one for her. She learns that having a puppy is a big responsibility and that taking care of Daisy is more work than she thought. Somehow Daisy's antics have everyone loving her despite the mischief she makes.A great little story about a child's first experiences with a puppy. Encourages kids to underst...

Alison Espach, acclaimed author of The Adults, brings her razor sharp insight and storytelling magic to bear in this entrancing tale.