Peter Haining

Why are liberation and independence movements often betrayed when their leaders get into government? This question has haunted Peter Hain for decades. A lifelong activist and politician, Hain has over 50 years’ experience of battling corruption, from his early days as a freedom fighter against apartheid to his time as a UK Labour MP, cabinet minister, and sitting member of the House of Lords. He offers a gripping exploration of why movements born from the ideals of justice and freedom often succumb to bad governance and corruption once in power. Combining rigorous analysis with well-sourced evidence, this book examines global examples ranging from Africa to Latin America, Russia, the Caribbean, China and India. With the unique perspective of having navigated both the streets of protest and the corridors of power, Hain reflects on the challenges of staying true to the values of liberation struggles while confronting their disappointing outcomes. Thought-provoking and accessible, this book is an essential read for anyone engaged in the fight for a better world.

An explosive Cold War thriller, a deadly arms race that threatens to tip the world into conflict. 'A smart fast-paced story.' Financial Times. 'Fallout is excellent. Not only the political line but also the narrative and style.' Neil Kinnock. South Africa, Zimbabwe, China and Britain. In the shadow of the Cold War, a deadly secret connects three continents, and time is running out. When a mild-mannered scientist accidentally uncovers a web of international espionage during a routine visit to Beijing, he's thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse. His only ally? A magnetic anti-apartheid activist who may have secrets of her own. As they race to expose the truth, a veteran South African intelligence operative moves through the streets of newly-independent Zimbabwe, his mission intertwined with the machinations of a mysterious Chinese power player from Mao's inner circle. Meanwhile, a sinister collaboration between apartheid forces and rogue British intelligence agents works in the shadows to keep their nuclear conspiracy buried, at any cost. From the neon lit backstreets of Beijing to the wild, untamed lowveld where Zimbabwe meets South Africa, this explosive thriller weaves together Cold War tensions, political intrigue, and the threat of nuclear devastation. As these disparate threads converge, our unlikely heroes find themselves at the centre of a plot that could reshape the balance of power in the Southern Hemisphere, if they can survive long enough to expose it.

Having thwarted murderous poachers in The Elephant Conspiracy, the Veteran, Thandi and Mkhize are back battling to save lion prides from being killed for their claws, teeth and bones. As the demand for lion parts soars, impoverished local communities are being incentivised to poach, and the fight against this illegal plunder becomes ever more vicious. Struggling to defeat the international criminal syndicate responsible for poaching, the team find themselves embroiled in mafia-style smuggling, illicit night flights, tense shoot-outs, and an encounter with a protege of Vladimir Putin.

Tato kniha je svého druhu unikát. Poodhaluje totiž učednická léta nejslavnějších a nejuznávanějších autorů vědeckofantastické literatury a předkládá čtenáři jejich rané práce, které u nás dosud nebyly zveřejněny. Jména přispěvatelů této publikace sice zná každý pravověrný „fan“ sci-fi, ale žádný si ještě nepřečetl, co jeho velké vzory napsaly na samém začátku své kariéry. Vás by snad nezajímalo, co se skrývá na dně skříní takového Raye Bradburyho, Arthura C. Clarka nebo Roberta Heinleina? První z nich nám v povídce „Krysař“ přiblíží pochmurnou atmosféru kolonizovaného Marsu, druhý před námi rozvine neuvěřitelnou vizi o míjení, neporozumění a nemožnosti překročit omezené lidské obzory, zatímco s třetím se s trochou humorné nadsázky můžeme otázat, zda Kolumbus náhodou nebyl pitomec. A komu by snad tohle všechno (a spousta dalšího) ještě nestačilo, pro toho je na závěr celé sbírky připraveno dlouhé, napínavé a překvapivé vyprávění Briana Aldisse „Rovník“, v němž si může dosyta vychutnat přestřelky, honičky i podlé intriky mimozemských padouchů.