In this marvelously original book, three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Leslie Savan offers fascinating insights into why we’re all talking the talk—Duh; Bring it on!; Bling; Whatever!—and what this reveals about America today. Savan traces the paths that phrases like these travel from obscure slang to pop stardom, selling everything from cars (ads for VWs, Mitsubishis, and Mercurys all pitch them as “no-brainer”s) to wars (finding WMD in Iraq was to be a “slam dunk”). Real...

In the aftermath of the Reptile War, Arc emerged victorious over Arges, and the power of his Macht grew ever more powerful. Far away, in the City of Flowers, an aspiring mage named Retta is about to receive a similar power! Retta is devastated when his father is arrested for treason against the Empire, but as a low-rank mage, he feels powerless. That's when he meets Olga, a sexy demon woman with an offer too tempting to pass up! What Retta doesn't know is that Olga's in league with Lati, t...

After making a deal with a demon named Olga, young mage Retta received unimaginable power--including a supernatural ability to seduce women and spread his power even more. Tasked by Olga to amass an army and topple the empire, Retta heads to the eastern region of the continent with a mysterious woman known as the resistance's White Mole, who may be even more crafty and cunning than Olga! Meanwhile, Arc has tracked down Kaimaya the Repulsive. Can he bend her to his will?

Having left Arc's employ, Celine finds herself invited on a dungeon quest with the local Adventurer's Guild. Is the mysterious woman who invited her more than meets the eye? Meanwhile, Arc regrets what happened when his Macht went berserk. He seeks out Lati to learn to control his budding powers, but then discovers that his father's illness is not what it seems. He must travel to a foreign land to find out the truth!

With the fall of house Isteshia, the Reptile War has come to an end. Arc now controls the eastern part of the continent. With his marriage to Kaimaya, he plans to unify the four Isteshia branch families, and decides to recreate the Ancient Kingdom of Fafnir as well. Retta, meanwhile, plans to crash Arc's coronation ceremony and get a good look at the man who appears to be entwining himself with the empire. What will happen during the meeting between two of the most powerful men in the cont...

Arc has been reborn as the "Black Dragon," with the power of Macht. He tests his new power on the inexperienced maid Wenna, pitting her in a duel against the swordswoman Celine. Meanwhile, Arc's father has fallen ill, and Arc's uncle has come to claim the throne of Nargala. Can Arc use his newfound power to protect his country as well as bending Wenna to his will?

Feeling responsible for the fall of the Kingdom of Lancia, Arc surrenders himself to the Madilis Empire, all part of a plot to assassinate the emperor once and for all. Meanwhile, Retta has snuck into the capital and added yet another powerful woman to his harem. Now he makes a plan to rescue Arc by infiltrating Deutius's Imperial Sorcery Unit, but General Shutygen--the man responsible for the death of Retta's father--stands in his way. Not only that, but Shutygen has gained magic power of...

In Felaris's hometown, Arc and Felaris face down a fire-breathing salamander to save the village from being burned to the ground. Meanwhile, the Garsul and Enshuu families are gathering in Isteshia for Gavial's Kenshin ceremony. Arc must go to Isteshia to play politics and win the favor of these powerful families in order to bring down the empire. But will a familiar face stop Arc in his ambitious tracks?

War has broken out between Arc and his grandfather, and things are not going well for Nargala. Despite Arc's best attempts to form alliances with Boa and Miu, they joined Arges's side and severely decimated Nargala's troops, forcing Arc to retreat back home. All seems hopeless until Celine approaches Arc, ready to take his blood and receive the power of macht! Meanwhile, Lati has been strangely absent since Aurelia's death. What does the Dark Elf have planned for Arc?

Arc and Wenna travel north, seeking a cure for the illness which has left Arc's father bedridden. However, their journey is interrupted when they come upon a band of orcs ransacking a village. It looks like a straightforward battle at first, but then they uncover the shocking truth! Meanwhile, Celine and Joanna journey into a dark dungeon in search of a hidden scroll, only to come face to face with the mythical Cockatrice. It's time to fight or die!

While visiting Isteshia to attend Gavial's Kenshin ceremony, Arc discovers the crown prince of the Madilis Empire, Deutius, in attendance as well. Learning that his beloved Aurelia has been placed under a deadly spell by Deutius's own hand, Arc embraces his dark power and casts a curse of death on the prince! What will happen to Arc after committing such a heinous act?

Under the orders of Princess Deila, Retta has come to Nargala to meet Arc, a man who may be connected to the Madilis Empire, according to Olga. After infiltrating Arc's coronation, Retta ends up dispatching a suspicious attendee, and learns of Arc's true relationship with the empire. An alliance is formed between Retta and Arc, and the stage is set to topple the empire! But are their combined powers enough to take on the empire's enormous army? Meanwhile, Lati questions Olga's motives in r...