Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero

Title: Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero

Author: Larry Tye

ISBN: 9781400068661

Price: $27.00

It's the Summer of the Superhero and what better way to celebrate than Larry Tye's new biography of America's favorite Superman? From his creation in 1933 by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel to the Christopher Reeve films of the 1980s, television shows, and a new movie due out next summer, Tye has all the inside info on the Man of Steel.
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Beginning with Superman's creative birth and development in the 1930s, Larry Tye takes readers on a journey almost more incredible than Superman's journey to Earth. Through the advents of new technologies, wars, and even a battle against comic books themselves, Superman has proven to be a character worthy of reinvention. Superman, fans will recall, began in the comics. From there, his journey mirrored our own cultural development as he found his way into newspapers, radio shows, television shows, and finally the big screen. With each twist, the Man of Steel proved himself to be a necessary and celebrated figure of pop culture around the world.
What makes Tye's particular book so fascinating for readers is the depth of research and insight. Pulling on interviews, archival footage, books, and articles, Tye brings a well-rounded insight into the creation to fame of one of pop culture's most recognizable figures. Tye also gives great insight into the creators, artists, actors, writers, directors, and marketers who made Superman a household name. From the origins of Superman mythology to those little known Superman facts, Superman is a wonderful addition to pop culture literature and a fun, smart summer read.

--Kyla Paterno

Watchers

Title: The Watchers
Author: Jon Steele
ISBN: 9780399158742
Price: $26.95

Are there really angels among us? Do fallen angels exist? Jon Steele's beautiful new novel is a haunting, mesmerizing, and genre-bending look at angels, the forces of good and evil, and the spirit of humanity.

Marc Rochat is the Watcher of Lausanne Cathedral in Switzerland. He was sent there after the death of his father. His mother always told him that one day an angel would come to him. He would know the angel  by the light in the angel's eyes and must protect the angel at all costs. Complications during his birth have left Marc physically deformed and somewhat simple. Still, he knows the duty his mother has charged him with and believes in it with all his heart. He believes, now, that he has found the angel and must protect her from the dark shadows that encroaching on the cathedral.

Katherine Taylor is a beautiful young American woman, living the high life as an exclusive call-girl, the highest paid escort in all of Switzerland. She has money to spare and all the material goods she could ask for, but Katherine has dreams and an insatiable curiosity. She's fascinated by Marc and his life, but believes she's about as far as one could be from angel status.

Jay Harper is a man so mysterious even he doesn't have the answers. He's a private detective for the Olympics committee and has no idea why, or even what qualifies him. There's a lot Harper doesn't know these days. There's more that he knows and can't explain. A trail of international murders are all pointing to Lausanne. Something dark is closing in, and Marc and Katherine may hold pieces of the puzzle.

Described by its publisher as "Silence of the Lambs meets Hunchback of Notre Dame, as told to Justin Cronin," The Watchers is a perfect blend of murder mystery, paranormal fiction, and character portrait. Steele's novel is one not to be plowed through, but to be savored and read at a leisurely pace. Some critics have called the book too long; literature of today is often break-neck speeds read in a matter of days. The Watchers is one to be treasured and enjoyed. Each page holds a piece of the mystery and what unfolds at the end is amazing.

--Kyla Paterno

Summer Reads!

Looking for what to read this summer? Check out GBC's Summer Catalog 2011 for our picks for summer. From Robot Wars to summer cookouts to just a good laugh, these books have your summer entertainment needs covered.