Animal Machines

For most of human history the world was a magical and enchanted place ruled by forces beyond our understanding. The rise of science and Descartes's division of mind from world made materialism our ruling paradigm, in the process asking whether our own consciousness—i.e., souls—might be illusions. Now the inexorable rise of technology, with artificial intelligences that surpass our comprehension and control, and the spread of digital metaphors for self-understanding, the core questions of existence urgently require rethinking.

Recent years have seen rapid advances in 'artificial' intelligence, which increasingly appears to be something stranger than we ever imagined. At the same time, we are becoming more aware of the other intelligences which have been with us all along, unrecognised. These other beings are the animals, plants and natural systems that surround us, and are slowly revealing their complexity and knowledge - just as the new technologies we've built are threatening to cause their extinction, and ours.

One winter morning in 1998, Alex Martin inherits a mysterious invention from her late father. The Finding Machine solves mysteries. But the biggest mystery of all lies deep within its wiring — the unsolved disappearance of a little girl, dating back seventy years. What happened to the girl, all those years ago? Who was she? Alex and her handsome housemate, Antony, must follow the dots to solve the mystery. But, as dark family secrets are revealed, will the Finding Machine bring them together…or push them further apart?

Boys and girls ages 3 to 7 will love this awesome adventure starring Blaze as a flying falcon monster machine competing in the race of his life on Animal Island! Race into action with Blaze and the Monster Machines! Preschoolers will learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as they help Axle City’s greatest hero overcome Crusher’s cheating ways and save the day with Blazing Speed, spectacular stunts, and awesome transformations!

In a faraway land lived a village of the most peculiar dinosaurs you've ever seen. These dinos weren't just any ordinary dinosaurs—they all wore outrageous, mismatched wigs that covered their faces and made them stand out from the rest. Join J-Bit, K-Bit, J-Bit, and T-Bit, the youngest and most curious of the wig-wearing dinos, as they stumble upon the adventure of a lifetime. When a strange light atop a mountain rock leads them to a mysterious black-and-white TV, the four friends find themselves facing the unknown.

Goldilocks, the curious explorer, is a homewrecker no more. She must learn to use six simple machines in order to leave the three bears' home better than she found it, but some tools are too big, and some tools are too small. Will Goldilocks ever be able to figure it out so she can go back home?

Life is hard in the poverty-stricken village of Rabylon, where rabbits work every day from sunup to sundown, earning just enough carrots to survive - except for Mayor Monty Cottonsworth III, who lives in the lap of luxury as his villagers starve. Twin bunnies Remy and Rhea, fed up with working so long and so hard with nothing to show for it, desperately desire a better life, but don't know how to achieve it. Just when they are about to give up hope, they are inspired by the story of a mythical carrot paradise that may exist on the other side of a big, green hill outside of their village.

Sixth book in the Arthur series - Arthur's Cars, Trucks and Monster Machines.