The Thing Is . . . A novel, a confession, a poem, an autofiction, a commonplace book, a prose poem. By turns serious and playful, profound and trivial, sad and joyful, The Thing Is is a shape-shifting narrative: one that starts out as written by an alien, seeing the earth and its inhabitants from the outside. This perspective then becomes that of an everychild, who vaguely remembers having once been an alien, and evolves into the biography of everybody who has ever lived. The narrative moves deftly from an ingenious theory about the origins of the universe and the emergence of life, to a riff on the poetic power of doorways (and other thresholds); or from stories about things hidden from view or buried by time, to what it feels like to be alive at this particular moment in history. Beautifully wrought, often funny and poignant, The Thing Is is designed to be read in a variety of ways: in gobbets, all in one go, slowly, quickly, repeatedly. This slow/fast read is the perfect novel for our fast/slow times. Whatever The Thing Is to you, it will provide a new twist on the continuing adaptability of the form that we call the novel.

A counter-terror operation, codenamed Wildlife, is being mounted in Britain's most precious colony, Gibraltar. Its purpose: to capture and abduct a high-value jihadist arms-buyer. So delicate is the operation that even the Minister's Private Secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it. Suspecting a disastrous conspiracy, Toby attempts to forestall it, but is promptly posted overseas. Three years on, summoned by Sir Christopher Probyn, retired British diplomat, to his decaying Cornish manor house, and closely watched by Probyn's daughter Emily, Toby must choose between his conscience and his duty to the Service. If the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, how can he keep silent?

A counter-terror operation, codenamed Wildlife, is being mounted in Britain's most precious colony, Gibraltar. Its purpose: to capture and abduct a high-value jihadist arms-buyer. So delicate is the operation that even the Minister's Private Secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it. Suspecting a disastrous conspiracy, Toby attempts to forestall it, but is promptly posted overseas. Three years on, summoned by Sir Christopher Probyn, retired British diplomat, to his decaying Cornish manor house, and closely watched by Probyn's daughter Emily, Toby must choose between his conscience and his duty to the Service. If the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, how can he keep silent?

Christopher Robin is having a party for his very special friend, Pooh. Everyone is excited, but will the rain hold off for the party?

The essential introduction to the world of Harry Potter: three magical adventures in one beautiful box set. Every great story has a great beginning. From the moment Harry Potter is deposited on the doorstep of number four, Privet Drive, with a swish of Albus Dumbledore's cloak and the words 'Good luck, Harry', J.K. Rowling's irresistible storytelling pulls readers into an unforgettable, magical adventure. Harry Potter is a milestone in every child's reading journey and this gorgeous, collectable three-book set is the perfect introduction for new readers and young Muggles everywhere. This beautifully produced box set contains Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with enchanting cover art by Jonny Duddle – plus three gorgeous, colourful bookmarks with memorable quotes from favourite Harry Potter characters!

The essential introduction to the world of Harry Potter: three magical adventures in one beautiful box set. Every great story has a great beginning. From the moment Harry Potter is deposited on the doorstep of number four, Privet Drive, with a swish of Albus Dumbledore's cloak and the words 'Good luck, Harry', J.K. Rowling's irresistible storytelling pulls readers into an unforgettable, magical adventure. Harry Potter is a milestone in every child's reading journey and this gorgeous, collectable three-book set is the perfect introduction for new readers and young Muggles everywhere. This beautifully produced box set contains Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with enchanting cover art by Jonny Duddle - plus three gorgeous, colourful bookmarks with memorable quotes from favourite Harry Potter characters!

The essential introduction to the world of Harry Potter: three magical adventures in one beautiful box set. Every great story has a great beginning. From the moment Harry Potter is deposited on the doorstep of number four, Privet Drive, with a swish of Albus Dumbledore's cloak and the words 'Good luck, Harry', J.K. Rowling's irresistible storytelling pulls readers into an unforgettable, magical adventure. Harry Potter is a milestone in every child's reading journey and this gorgeous, collectable three-book set is the perfect introduction for new readers and young Muggles everywhere. This beautifully produced box set contains Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with enchanting cover art by Jonny Duddle - plus three gorgeous, colourful bookmarks with memorable quotes from favourite Harry Potter characters!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels are now available in these spectacular new editions, with beautifully designed jackets by renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson. This stylish boxed set includes all seven novels and is perfect for Harry Potter novices and collectors alike. Contains (in reading order): Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

These adult editions of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels have been stylishly redesigned to showcase beautiful jackets by renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson. This spectacular box set includes all seven novels and is perfect for Harry Potter novices and collectors alike. Contains (in reading order): Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

A collection of the best of Christopher Priest's short fiction, spanning four decades of eerie, affecting, emotional work. Christopher Priest is one of the most acclaimed writers of both SF and literary fiction at work today. Here, for the first time in almost twenty years, is a collection of his short work. Largely previously uncollected, ranging from the horrific to the touching, the science fictional to the realist, these stories are a perfect demonstration of the breadth and power of Priest's writing. Eleven stories are included, along with commentary and reflection from the author.

"But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever. So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever!" Curl up with Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin in A.A.Milne's classic book of poetry for children, Now We Are Six. This work by A.A. Milne includes poems for children which feature Pooh helping Christopher Robin with his schoolwork (if helping is the word). It is an evocation of childhood, through the eyes of the six-year-old Christopher Robin. Featuring E.H. Shepard's original decorations, Now We Are Six is a heart-warming and funny introduction to children's poetry, offering the same sense of humour, imagination and whimsy that we've come to expect from his favourite books about Winnie-the-Pooh, that Bear of Very Little Brain.

Christopher is 15 and lives in Swindon with his father. He has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. He is obsessed with maths, science and Sherlock Holmes but finds it hard to understand other people. When he discovers a dead dog on a neighbour's lawn he decides to solve the mystery and write a detective thriller about it. As in all good detective stories, however, the more he unearths, the deeper the mystery gets - for both Christopher and the rest of his family.

These adult editions of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels have been stylishly redesigned to showcase beautiful jackets by renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson. This spectacular box set includes all seven novels and is perfect for Harry Potter novices and collectors alike.Contains (in reading order): Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. .

These adult editions of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels have been stylishly redesigned to showcase beautiful jackets by renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson. This spectacular box set includes all seven novels and is perfect for Harry Potter novices and collectors alike.Contains (in reading order): Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. .

Christopher Priest is the Arthur C. Clarke Award and World Fantasy Award-winning author of THE SEPARATION, THE GLAMOUR, THE DREAM ARCHIPELAGO and THE PRESTIGE, which was filmed by Christopher Nolan and starred Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. THE AFFIRMATION is his compulsive and original novel of an autobiography that isn't - partly a thriller, partly a haunting study of schizophrenia, it is the mark of one of Britain's finest novelists at the very height of his powers. Peter Sinclair is tormented by bereavement and failure. In an attempt to conjure some meaning from his life, he embarks on an autobiography, but he finds himself writing the story of another man in another, imagined, world, whose insidious attraction draws him even further in...