# data[].attributes.description
A retrospective on iconic video game bosses, featuring interviews and insights from developers spanning five decades of gaming history. 50 Years of Boss Fights celebrates a fading art in modern games. Author Daryl Baxter has written about 51 bosses that have made the greatest impact, ever since the first boss debuted in 1974. Full of interviews and insights from the developers who helped made the bosses as memorable as they are, includes those who have worked on Mario 64, DOOM, Bioshock, Star Wars, Half Life and many more. Some explained how they came to be, what was scrapped, and, ultimately, if they were happy with them, looking back. The book goes into detail about the first ever boss from the start, called the Golden Dragon in dnd, which first debuted in 1974. Heralded as the first ever boss in a video game, Daryl spoke to its creators about how it came to be, and how they feel about creating a standard in games. The book sheds light on what was scrapped in other bosses, and how some bosses were so illegal, they had to be updated in rapid fashion to avoid a potential lawsuit. Full of photos that showcase how the bosses work and how to beat them, it's a 50-year record of the best, the most challenging, and the most memorable that you may or may not have beaten so far. It's 70,000 words that celebrate the past 50 years of bosses, while giving insight by the developers who helped make them possible.

# data[].attributes.description
With over 1,000 original photographs, this is a true labor of love and an ideal purchase for anyone interested in the history of the Second World War in a more accessible form. The Second World War Illustrated: The Final Year follows the author's visual tour of the war by means of painstakingly researched and digitally restored pictures from the period of the key battlefields and events of the period from September 1944 until the end of the war. The book begins with Montgomery's Market Garden failure, devoting 60 pages to the planning, key individuals and forces involved in the operation and its outcome on both sides. Attention then turns to the Warsaw Uprising, where the Polish underground resistance attempted to liberate Warsaw from German occupation at the cost of thousands of resistance and civilian casualties. We then explore the importance of Walcheren and the port of Antwerp, culminating in the Battle of Scheldt. A chapter is devoted to the fighting along the Siegfried Line at Aachen, the Battle for Hurtgen Forest and the liberation of Alsace, before switching to the Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's final major offensive campaign of the war. From here the author documents the decline of the Nazi war machine and the Allies' push to victory with Operation Varsity  the largest airborne operation in history, leading the way to the battles for Berlin. Faced with impending defeat, Hitler's suicide marks the beginning of the end and the fate of the Fuhrer's party leaders is addressed. The book concludes with VE celebrations, before turning attention to the Burmese Campaign, the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the dropping of the atomic bomb. With over 1,000 original photographs, this is a true labour of love and an ideal purchase for anyone interested in the history of the Second World War in a more accessible form.

# data[].attributes.description
Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Kingston was arguably the most successful and long-lasting manufacturer of military aircraft in Great Britain and Europe. In its various evolved manifestations  Hawker Aircraft, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, British Aerospace  its output of war winning aircraft, mainly fighters, was unsurpassed. From the Hart and Hurricane through the Hunter, Harrier and Hawk, the company consistently produced aircraft that the UK fighting services wanted. But some designs, for whatever reason, failed to reach flight or were declined by the services. With their sometimes advanced aerodynamics and technology, these aircraft could have had successful service careers but instead were abandoned, their stories failing to reach mainstream consciousness. Having not received their just dues, the present book seeks to redress this omission. The reasons for failure are many and varied, often financial or political, but in each case the reasons behind the failure of the design are examined. In a wide-ranging investigation that documents the origins of Hawker Aircraft Ltd and its famous Project Office, this work, the third in Christopher Budgen's investigation of the inner workings of Hawker Aircraft, is a fitting tribute to the many who made the company the success it was.

# data[].attributes.description
Finalist, 2024 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing AwardsSelected as one of Military.com's Best Military Books of 2024."Expectation of Valor is a master class in operational planning and high-level staff work. It is a must-read for field grade officers and planners of all services. It also will reward any reader interested in the mechanics of large-scale conflict."  ARMY Magazine Given the length of time the United States spent in Iraq, there is a perception that there was no consideration before the war of what should be done after coalition forces arrived in Baghdad and removed Saddam Hussein. However as this unofficial history reveals, there was a great deal of planning to address how to achieve the policy objectives for Iraq set by the Bush administration. Kevin Bensondirector of plans for the United States Third Army, the ground forces command headquarters for GEN Franks' Central Command, at the start of the wardetails the development of the invasion plan and its subsequent execution from D-Day in March 2003 until the change of command of operations in Iraq and the departure of Third Army in June 2003. He addresses the persistent trope that "the Army did no planning" for "Phase IV," revealing that extensive plans were proposed, and were met with very little interest in Washington. The book covers the difficulties encountered in dealing with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, from getting his approval on the number of forces requested to conducting the campaign to find the "smoking gun" of WMD; the instructions given to Army, Marine and coalition forces; and the daily secure video teleconferences with Central Command and the Pentagon, and the rather remarkable conversations and guidance that came from these meetings.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Scottish Seasonal Food for Family and Friends (from MasterChef Finalist Sarah Rankin)

# data[].attributes.description
MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin has a passion for Scottish produce and flavours and for feeding people. Being a food lover encompasses not just a passion for the ingredients themselves, but also for the seasons and weather which nurture them, and the people who tend, harvest and prepare them. Taking those ingredients and creating something delicious for those you love is the highest compliment you can pay any vegetable, beast, fish or fowl. In Kith, Sarah shares stories on her family favourites, the inspiration for her recipes, and why food is the greatest way to show your love. Kith is a collection of practical and inviting seasonal dishes, mixing the traditional and the contemporary, and celebrating the extraordinary versatility of Scotland's larder in a hundred recipes: from Grouse with beetroot and cherry, to Arbroath smokie souffle, Squash ravioli with sage butter, and Lemon posset with caramelised white chocolate and oat crumble. It also includes a section of drinks and canapes. The chapter 'Things of Beauty' encompasses brines, pickles, ketchups and a range of other extras that make the food you serve shine a little brighter, and a section named 'Firm Foundations' helps to arm the home cook with a repertoire of sauces, stocks, pastry, bread and pasta, and butters and creams.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Cold War Nuclear Bomber and Largest Mass-Produced Piston-Engine Aircraft Ever Built

# data[].attributes.description
"Simons brings his vast knowledge of aviation history to bear on the B-36."  The NYMAS Review The story of the Consolidated B-36 is unique in American aviation history. The aircraft was an interesting blend of concepts proven during the Second World War combined with budding 1950s high-tech systems. The program survived near-cancellation on six separate occasions during an extremely protracted development process. It was also the symbol of a bitter inter-service rivalry between the newly-formed US Air Force and the well-established US Navy over which of which of the two organizations would control the delivery of atomic weapons during the early years of the Cold War. Entering service in 1948, the B-36 was a remarkable design. It was the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft ever built, having the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft in history. Importantly, in terms of the developing Cold War at least, the B-36 was the first bomber capable of delivering any of the weapons in America's nuclear arsenal without modification. To achieve this part of its role, the Peacemaker had an operational range of 10,000 miles, being capable of intercontinental flight without refueling. It is difficult to imagine a modern aircraft remaining airborne for two days without refueling  but such missions were relatively routine for the B-36 crews. while there were, at the time of its service, questions around its flight speed, the Peacemaker flew so high that this was considered of little concern  few fighters of its era could reach the same altitudes, and operational surface-to-air missiles were still in the future. The B-36, despite its seemingly conventional appearance, pushed the state-of-the-art technology further than any other aircraft of its era. Its sheer size brought with it structural challenges, while its high-altitude capabilities led to engine cooling and associated problems. However, all of these were finally overcome, and the B-36 served well as the first 'Big Stick' of the Cold War.

# data[].attributes.description
Explores forgotten, abandoned places across Scotland, revealing their hidden stories of the past, from ancient forts to derelict industry. From the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Take Four Books You scramble up over the dunes of an isolated beach. You climb to the summit of a lonely hill. You pick your way through the eerie hush of a forest. And then you find them. The traces of the past. Perhaps they are marked by a tiny symbol on your map, perhaps not. There are no plaques to explain their fading presence before you, nothing to account for what they once were a who made them, lived in them or abandoned them. Now they are merged with the landscape. They are being reclaimed by nature. They are wild history. In this book acclaimed author and presenter James Crawford introduces many such places all over the country, from the ruins of prehistoric forts and ancient, arcane burial sites, to abandoned bothies and boathouses, and the derelict traces of old, faded industry. Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month for April 2025 Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors Reader Awards Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize

# data[].attributes.subtitle
The Latter Years - D-Day to the Fall of Germany

# data[].attributes.description
In this second volume detailing the service of the Fw 190, Chris Goss has assembled 190 photographs, many from the archive of the late Dr. Alfred Price, to illustrate the aircraft's use in the final years of the war. As the war began to turn against Germany, the Luftwaffe was forced to defend the Reich against increasingly overwhelming numbers of Allied fighters and bombers. The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, together with the Bf 109G, was the mainstay of the Luftwaffe's Reichsverteidigung (Defence of the Reich) fighter force, both by day and by night. As the war progressed, the US Eighth Air Force, suffering heavy losses over Germany, changed tactics. The escorting US fighters had been expected to fly alongside the bombers to provide close protection. But this meant that they could not chase after the enemy when in combat, having to return to the bombers. So, from early 1944, the decision was made to free the fighters, allowing them to fly ahead of the bomber stream clearing the skies of German fighters. To counter this, the Luftwaffe developed the Gefechtsverband, or battle formation, composed of two units of Bf 109s and one Sturmgruppe of Fw 190s. In Gefechtsverband operations, the Bf 109s would engage the Allied fighters, particularly the long-range P-51 Mustangs, leaving the more heavily-armed Fw 190s to attack the bombers. Though the large Gefechtsverband formations were unweildy and not always effective, when they did work well, the powerful and well-armored Fw 190s wreaked havoc amongst the US bombers. Meanwhile, on the Eastern Front, the Fw 190 was incresaingly relied upon for fighter and Jabo missions against a dogged Soviet Air Force. With the tide well and truly turned against the Luftwaffe, newer versions of the Fw 190, such as the F and G variants, were intruduced as well as the superlative D-9 which was powered by the Jumo 213 A engine, armed with two MG 131s and two MG 151/20 guns and had a new fuselage and wings. In this second volume detailing the service of the Fw 190, Chris Goss has assembled photographs, many of which have come from the archive of the late Dr Alfred Price, to illustrate the final years of the type's war.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
His Personal, Military and Social Failures

# data[].attributes.description
Examines Hitler's ambitions, how they were never realistic, and deemed that his failure was inevitable. Hitler's career remains one of the most extraordinary in world history. No one else has gone from sleeping on park benches to become a world leader. After the First World War he became involved in extremist politics a first on the far left and then the far right. It is often assumed that Hitler's ambitions were never realistic and his failure was inevitable. This book challenges that view and suggests a number of missed opportunities or misjudgements that might have led to a different result. Michael FitzGerald shows how Hitler's personal defects contributed considerably to Germany's defeat. In addition to the military mistakes he made a series of political, economic and foreign policy blunders were major factors in his failure to achieve his goals.

# data[].attributes.description
Theres no going back . . . but does she really want to? Dive into the thrilling world of Paris's underbelly, where power and passion collide, in the second book of the steamy Fifth Republic series. I'm fully in this with Bastien now. The kingpin of all kingpins, a man who oversees all the gangs of Paris, President Martin's right-hand man. If I were smart, I would leave, but I'm pretty sure I'm already in love with this man . . . Adrien continues to challenge our divorce until Bastien gets involved. And like always, that man fixes all my problems.But little do I know, the Aristocrats are out for Adrien. My ex continues to ignore Bastien's warnings, which he only gave out of a courtesy to me. It's not my problem, and if Adrien wants to get himself killed, that's his prerogative.It quickly becomes my problem when the Aristocrats target me instead of Adrienbecause technically, we are still married. And I'm still the woman Adrien loves. I find myself in a world of trouble, and the only person who can save me is The Butcher. A French Emperor. Leader of the Fifth Republic.The man that will kill anyone and everyone for me.Dont miss any of Penelope Skys sizzling Fifth Republic series!THE BUTCHER  THE CARVER  THE SAINT

# data[].attributes.description
An irresistibly charming cozy romantasy about a young healer who must pass seven trials inspired by Brothers Grimm fairytales to lift a deadly curse and return to her loveperfect for fans of Heather Fawcett and Sarah Beth Durst! Once upon a time, there were no Happily Ever Afters...Young healer Serena Rose has always dreamed of the kind of romance fairytales are made of, but the chances of finding true love living alone in a cottage by the wood are... slim. Instead, she spends her days chasing down mischievous woodland critters, brewing tonics, and taking care of her family's ancient records of fairytales, many of which have been outlawed in the kingdom of Lumina.Her quiet life is upended when she is approached by a dark-haired stranger searching for a book in her familys collection, The Tales of Arcana Fortune. In between searching for more information on the book, and fighting their budding attraction, they accidentally free a malicious immortal sealed with an ancient spell.Cursed to be trapped in a different fairytale each night, Serena must find a way through her trials all the while trying not to lose her life, her freedom, and her heart.

# data[].attributes.description
Can their love conquer the ultimate test? Dont miss the gripping conclusion to Fleur and Bastians story!I drowned. I held my breath as long as I could, but then my lungs sucked in water hoping it was air, and it was a painful and brutal ending, an internal drowning, my heart beating so hard desperate for oxygen . . . until it just stopped. I could never forget it . . . even if I wanted to.Bastien assumes our relationship is over. That I'll run for the hills and wash my hands clean of the most dangerous man in Paris. But I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever. I ran before, but not anymore. I can tell it means the world to him.But the dangers haven't passed. The Aristocrats want blood for their leader's execution. Bastien and his brother are still sworn enemies, and the gangs are beginning to riot against the Fifth Republic. It's the most dangerous time to be a French Emperor.Bastien tells me all this . . . but I still won't leave.I know Bastien will keep me safe from all the monsters that lurk under the streets of Paris . . . until he doesn't. Until I'm captured by his enemies and taken from the City of Light. I know Bastien will come for me. I know Bastien will kill every single one of them for taking me.But will I be dead by the time he gets here . . . like last time?Dont miss any of Penelope Skys sizzling Fifth Republic series!THE BUTCHER  THE CARVER  THE SAINT

# data[].attributes.name
A History of Women in Psychology and Neuroscience

# data[].attributes.description
Since virtually its first moments as an academic science, women have played a major role in the development of psychology, gaining from the outset research opportunities and academic positions that had been denied them for centuries in other branches of scientific investigation. Look wherever you will, in any branch of psychology or neuroscience in the last century and a half, and what you will find are a plethora of women whose discoveries fundamentally changed how we view the brain and its role in the formation of our perceptions and behaviors. A History of Women in Psychology and Neuroscience tells the story of 267 women whose work opened new doors in humanity's ongoing attempt to learn about its own nature, from Christine Ladd Franklin's late 19th century studies of how the brain perceives color to Virginia Johnson's pioneering studies of the human sexual response, and Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke's early association of neurological conditions with their underlying brain regions to May-Britt Moser's Nobel-winning discovery a century later of the grid cells that allow us to mentally model our surroundings. Here are the stories of when and how we learned how memories are formed, what role an enriched environment plays in mental development, why some individuals are better able to cope with chronic stress than others, how societal stereotypes unconsciously feed into our daily interactions with other people, what role evolution might have played in the formation of our social habits, what light the practices of sign language might shed on our brain's basic capacity for language, how children internalize the violence they experience from others, and hundreds of other tales of the women who dug deep into the structures of the human mind to uncover, layer by layer, the answers to millennia-old questions of what humans are, and why they behave as they do.

# data[].attributes.description
The infamous 'Beeching Axe' swept away virtually every Scottish branch line in the 1960s. Conventional wisdom viewed these losses as regrettable yet inevitable in an era of growing affluence and rising car ownership. This ground-breaking study of Dr Beeching's approach to closures has unearthed  from rarely or never previously referenced archive sources  strong evidence of a 'stitch-up', ignoring the scope for sensible economies and improvements which would have allowed a significant number of axed routes to survive and prosper. Acclaimed railway historian David Spaven traces the birth, life and eventual death of Scotland's branch lines through the unique stories of how a dozen routes lost their trains in the 1960s: the lines to Ballachulish, Ballater, Callander, Crail, Crieff /Comrie, Fraserburgh, Kelso, Kilmacolm, Leven, Peebles, Peterhead and St Andrews. He concludes by exploring a potential renaissance of branch lines, propelled by concerns over road congestion, vehicle pollution and the climate emergency.

# data[].attributes.description
How Cavaliers and Roundheads in English ghost stories reflect historical trauma, integrating detailed regional history of the 1642-1651 conflicts. Cavaliers and Roundheads are figures who appear in hundreds of English ghost stories. In this innovative account, Charles Esdaile argues that such tales are in reality folk memories of an episode of English history that was second only to the Black Death in terms of individual and collective suffering alike, and, further, that they reveal important truths about the way in which the conflict was represented: it is no surprise, then, to find that spectral Cavaliers are often romantic figures and revenant Roundheads grim ones full of menace. Yet, the book is no mere catalogue. On the contrary, rather than being discussed in a vacuum, the tales of haunting are rather set within a detailed regional history of the conflicts of 1642-1651 of a sort that has never yet been attempted, but is, for all that, badly needed.

# data[].attributes.name
Every Breath You Take - Featured in The Times and Sunday Times

# data[].attributes.description
One of the year's most exciting releases' - The Herald China is building the world's first digital totalitarian state, a system of hitherto unimaginable social and political control. Internet freedom has been eliminated and ubiquitous surveillance cameras employ the latest facial recognition technology. Through flagrant cyber espionage, it has plundered Western technology on a massive scale, bullied Western tech companies and academics (though many have been willing accomplices) and intimidated critics worldwide. In doing so, it has become a model for aspiring dictators everywhere. Ian Williams examines the extraordinary rise of the Chinese surveillance state, showing how it has been driven by the enigmatic Xi Jinping, now effectively president for life, and how it impacts the daily lives of Chinese citizens, particularly dissidents and those from ethnic minorities. Supporting interviews and first-hand accounts from those whose lives have been turned upside down or worse highlight the chilling and ruthless efficiency with which the government can now act. The book also considers the wider implications for the rest of the world. How to deal with an increasingly strident, aggressive Beijing is one of the biggest challenges facing the West in what has become a technological Cold War.

# data[].attributes.description
"As usual in Casemate publications, the book uses high quality pictures and diagrams extensively to illustrate and amplify the points in the text... it would be difficult to find a book as well-illustrated, accessible, and affordable as this fine offering."  National Maritime Historical Society For nearly half a century, the battleship was the most powerful weapon on the ocean, deployed by the US Navy and many other fleets. However, their time seemed to be at an end when Japanese carrier-based aircraft destroyed so many at Pearl Harbor in 1941, ushering in the age of the aircraft carrier. Nevertheless, US battleships continued to serve with distinction in various roles throughout World War II and during the Cold War. Naval historian Ingo Bauernfeind tells the dramatic yet successful story of the US Navy's battleships and battle cruisers by class, ranging from the early Dreadnought-type of the South Carolina-class to the gigantic but never-built Montana-class. This fully illustrated volume gives a clear overview of each ship's career, its fate and highlights its significance in American naval history. Besides covering various battles in the Pacific, it also describes the important actions of US battleships providing shore bombardment during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa as well as during the D-day landings in Normandy, thus illustrating their contribution to Allied victory in World War II. Moreover, it covers the little-known actions of the Iowa-class during the Korean and Vietnam wars and even during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when the modernized USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin fired guided missiles and operated drones in addition to the use of their historic 16-inch guns. This volume culminates in a guided tour through the mighty USS Missouri, an overview of the other seven preserved US battleships serving as floating museums for future generations, as well as a dive to the sunken USS Arizona and USS Utah at Pearl Harbor.

# data[].attributes.description
This unique memoir charts the career of the author in the Royal Navy Submarine Service during the period 1967 to 1997, and in doing so details many of the Silent Service's remarkable achievements since the end of the Second World War. And it provides a dramatic first-hand account of the underwater confrontation during the Cold War between submarines of the West and the huge submarine force of the Soviet Union. Dan Conley narrates the successive stages from his basic submarine training to taking command of two nuclear attack submarines, but he does not demur from describing the personal and professional difficulties he encountered in this journey. He sets out in detail what life was like serving onboard both diesel and nuclear submarines, and in particular, the book describes the British submariner's remarkable transformation from the somewhat buccaneering, free spirit serving on a clapped-out WW2 boat during the sunset of the British Empire, to the highly professional individual who spends prolonged periods under the sea in a platform which matches the complexity of a space craft. The book describes the long and difficult challenges encountered in developing effective weapon systems for the British submarine force, and discusses the difficulties and shortcomings in the UK's defense procurement system, a situation which still exists today. Ultimately, however, Western technological superiority and crew proficiency enabled the submarines of the Royal and United States Navies to match those of the Soviet Union, and he describes vividly the suspense and tension of underwater confrontations which might so easily have escalated to another dimension of warfare. And the book sets out hitherto undisclosed details of submarine activities during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world confronted the real possibility of a massive nuclear exchange. But it is not all serious content, and he also offers a glimpse for the reader of many humorous situations and events, of animals that found themselves under the sea in a submarine, in one case during a war patrol, and other moments of levity that broke the tension of serving in a highly complex and sophisticated fighting machine. The Cold War era is now long past. However, it is evident that as the West now confronts an aggressive, recidivist Russia and a more aggressive China, Britain's submarine force once again will be key to the security of all its citizens. This fine memoir captures vividly the key events and history of the Cold War, and in doing so will open the reader's eyes to the significance and importance today of the Royal Navy Submarine Service. Praise for the author's previous work, Cold War Command: 'A wonderful book - full of information, momentum, excitement and humanity. Highly recommended.' The Mariner's Mirror

# data[].attributes.subtitle
From the presenter of BBC TV's Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands

# data[].attributes.description
Paul Murton has spent half-a lifetime exploring some of the most beautiful islands in the world  the Hebrides. He has travelled the length and breadth of the Scotland's rugged, six-thousand-mile coast line, and sailed to over eighty islands. In this new and updated edition of his acclaimed book, Paul visits each of the Hebridean islands in turn, introducing their myths and legends, history, culture and extraordinary natural beauty. In addition he also meets the people who live there and learns their story. He has met crofters, fishermen, tweed weavers, Gaelic singers, clan chiefs, artists, postmen and bus drivers  people from every walk of life who make the islands tick. This blend of the contemporary and the traditional creates a vivid account of the Hebrides and serves as unique guide to the less well known aspects of life among the islands.

# data[].attributes.name
Tracing your Yorkshire Ancestors on the Internet

# data[].attributes.description
A comprehensive guide to finding Yorkshire ancestors online, featuring updated tips and resources for effective research. Tracing your Yorkshire ancestors using the internet has never been easier, with literally millions of records available to explore. But with so much material available, it can be difficult to know how to get started and what records to use. Rachel Bellerby's brand new guide is a follow-up to the best-selling Tracing Your Yorkshire Ancestors and is packed with up-to-date information on finding your Yorkshire forebears online. From the basics of birth, marriage and death, through migration and education, and looking at the tough times such as poverty and ill health, Rachel Bellerby guides us through the thousands of websites available, with tips and advice from family history professionals around Yorkshire. The themed chapters make it easy to decide what information you would like to find out and the best websites to use. With step-by-step guidance on smart searching and time saving tips, this guide has everything you need to enjoy the journey of tracing your Yorkshire ancestors on the internet, wherever in the world you live.