Michael Cole

Since the defeat of the wasp invasion, the elite organization G. O. R. E. Sector have remained busy in its hunt for giant organisms. At the forefront of its operations is Captain Thomas Rodney and the members of Raptor Pack. Their reconnaissance leads them to Badger County, Wyoming, where a new hive of giant hornets has been discovered. The operation to exterminate the nest is successful. Yet, mysterious events continue to plague the area. A cabin is discovered, crushed like a tin can. Stretches of flattened vegetation line the ground, as though a freight train had cruised through the forest. Worst of all, a scout team has gone missing. Meanwhile, Hayden Spencer and his children arrive at their riverside cabin to recoup from the recent passing of his wife. There, they too discover signs that something enormous is lurking in the area. The two groups cross paths as the threat reveals itself. A massive snake, mutated from the genus Coluber, is on a killing spree and seeks to add the Spencer family and G. O. R. E. Sector to its list of victims. Shielded by bulletproof skin and strong enough to crush an armored vehicle, the beast quickly proves to be a formidable opponent. To defeat it, Captain Thomas Rodney must embrace the hardest aspects to being a team leader.

Natalie Lyster was once an honorable soldier, having given years of service to the Galactic Alliance. But when a government conspiracy led to the death of a loved one, she went rogue. After years on the run, she now leads a criminal organization, working for the highest bidder. That bidder is the corrupt planetary union Czar. The job has taken Lyster and her crew to the planet Salacia. Their goal: excavate the zorbernite mineral from the slopes of the supervolcano Mount Ragnar k and deliver it to the Czar military. In their digging, they have found more than mineral... While returning from a supply run, Lyster's ship is intercepted by a strike force led by Commander Tucker Greyson. The chase leads through the planet's atmosphere, where it becomes an aerial assault. The pursuit goes haywire, for a swarm of giant alien wasps emerge from the mountainside and bring down the spacecrafts. Forced to travel on foot, Greyson and Lyster quickly learn the wasps are only the beginning of their problems. Man-eating raptors lurk behind every tree, ambushing everyone who gets too close; echoes of heavy footsteps reveal the presence of a larger predator hunting in the region; and heavy seismic activity from the mountainside warn of Mount Ragnar k's impending fiery wrath. With time running out, the group must reach the main campsite and commandeer a spacecraft, or else perish in the hellish fires of Mount Ragnar k.

Like shadows in the night, Captain Andrew Serrano and his elite team intercept the cargo ship Griffin, secretly owned by a Russian arms dealer. Their objective: capture the bio-engineer Dr. Hank Nore and deliver him to the C. I. A. The operation initially goes well, with the team overpowering the security forces and tracking their target to the lower decks. Backed into a corner, Dr. Nore resorts to desperate measures to avoid capture. When explosives breach the hull, the mercenaries are forced topside before the vessel sinks to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Minutes later, they find themselves stranded on floating wreckage. Little do they know, their nightmare has only just begun. A large dorsal fin rises from the water. One of their numbers is quickly pulled under and torn to pieces. In that moment, Serrano realizes he and his team are being stalked by a ravenous shark. Before long, it becomes evident this is not a normal shark, but a product of genetic tampering. Mutated from the October Trial of the Titan Serum experimentations, the creature seeks to kill without discrimination. With bulletproof skin and armed with teeth sharp enough to pierce steel, it is the prototype for new age of biological warfare. With his team being massacred before his very eyes, Serrano's only chance for survival is to rid the world of The Titan Prototype.

He is an alpha predator, feared by all life on the planet Challenger. His pincers can crush steel, his razor-sharp mandibles can shred a hundred pounds of flesh in seconds, and his armor carapace is capable of deflecting anti-tank projectiles. His place in the ecosystem is reflected in his name: Caesar. A beast of incredible size, he has a major appetite to satisfy. And now, he has a new item on the menu: humans. When Corporal Richard Carson and his team entered cryosleep, they did not expect to awaken in two days for a whole new mission. An island research facility on the ocean planet Challenger has gone dark. Efforts to make radio contact have been unsuccessful. When Carson and his team set down on the planet, they find the place in ruins. The radio tower has collapsed, the research station ripped open, the surviving staff in hiding. As seismic activity shakes the side of the planet, the truth reveals itself. A pack of giant alien crustaceans, led by the gargantuan Caesar, storm the island. Following a devastating attack, the marines take defensive position in the remains of the station. With their numbers depleted, their dropship destroyed, and no means of radioing for help, they are left with no choice but to fight Caesar and his pack of killer crabs.

Case Studies in Infectious Disease presents 40 case studies featuring the most important human infectious diseases worldwide. Fully revised and updated in this second edition, the book describes the natural history of infection from point of entry of the pathogen through to clinical management of the resulting disease or condition. A further 8 case studies have been provided online as supplementary material, and these can be downloaded by students. Five core sets of questions are posed in each case, with the answers covering the nature of the infectious agent, route(s) of spread and of infection, pathogenesis of disease, host response to infection, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This standardized approach provides the reader with a logical basis for understanding these diverse and medically important organisms and diseases, fully integrating microbiology and immunology throughout. KEY FEATURES High-resolution photos accompany each case, from the causative agents of disease to the clinical manifestations of the infection. Exquisite artwork helps to illustrate important concepts throughout the book. Eight new cases added to this new edition, extending coverage of important infectious diseases of worldwide significance. A standardized set of core questions allows students to compare directly differences between microbes such as their structure, clinical manifestations, host response, pathogenesis and availability of vaccines. Questions and answers available online, test the reader’s understanding of each case study. The book provides essential case-based learning for undergraduate and graduate microbiology students, while medical students and trainee physicians will also find the up-to-date information on 48 globally important infectious diseases outlined in a clear, digestible form, invaluable during undergraduate studies and in future clinical practice.

Case Studies in Infectious Disease presents 40 case studies featuring the most important human infectious diseases worldwide. Fully revised and updated in this second edition, the book describes the natural history of infection from point of entry of the pathogen through to clinical management of the resulting disease or condition. A further 8 case studies have been provided online as supplementary material, and these can be downloaded by students. Five core sets of questions are posed in each case, with the answers covering the nature of the infectious agent, route(s) of spread and of infection, pathogenesis of disease, host response to infection, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This standardized approach provides the reader with a logical basis for understanding these diverse and medically important organisms and diseases, fully integrating microbiology and immunology throughout. KEY FEATURES High-resolution photos accompany each case, from the causative agents of disease to the clinical manifestations of the infection. Exquisite artwork helps to illustrate important concepts throughout the book. Eight new cases added to this new edition, extending coverage of important infectious diseases of worldwide significance. A standardized set of core questions allows students to compare directly differences between microbes such as their structure, clinical manifestations, host response, pathogenesis and availability of vaccines. Questions and answers available online, test the reader’s understanding of each case study. The book provides essential case-based learning for undergraduate and graduate microbiology students, while medical students and trainee physicians will also find the up-to-date information on 48 globally important infectious diseases outlined in a clear, digestible form, invaluable during undergraduate studies and in future clinical practice.

Samuel Ziler never believed in easy missions. Deep in the Congo Rainforest, a genetics research facility has gone dark. A partial distress call, sent moments before the blackout, indicates that something sinister has occurred. With research worth billions and secrets worth killing for, the notorious Lexington Corporation recruits Ziler and his team of mercenaries to investigate. He was told it would be a quick assignment. Drop into the Congo Rainforest, find the secret genetics facility, download all research data from the main computer, and bug out. What they find is the deadly result of tampering with nature. The simple assignment becomes a fight for survival as giant mosquitos emerge from the canopy. Capable of draining a human body of blood within seconds, they quickly prove themselves to be the deadliest threat Ziler's team has ever encountered. Driven by instinct, they are fearless creatures whose sole purpose is to feed relentlessly. Now, Ziler and his mercenaries are next on the menu. Eager to keep their blood in their veins, they fight to kill the bugs and prevent them from multiplying.

The year is 2176. Humanity is ruled under a one-world government. Those in power enjoy lavish lifestyles and the grandest medical care, allowing them to live an average lifespan of two-hundred years. World One, previously known as Earth, is facing a deficit of resources. After the near-total banning of nuclear power, methane has become humanity's primary energy source. With World One's resources dwindling, numerous colonies have been established on World Two, previously known as Mars, to extract much-needed fuel to transport to World One. The colonial governor answers to the World One government and its military. There are those who believe it is time for a change...

The 80-foot Megalodon that caused so much terror is dead, but the bloodbath has only just begun. The Omega Fury has been sunk. Giant predators, awakened by the Gota ja' Titan meteor, have taken over the mid-tlantic. Tensions increase as a titanic 120-foot megalodon is discovered near the Florida coast. With megalodon attacks on the rise, the military is forced to establish a base of operations on the island of Cielo Nublado. Police Chief Nico Medrano leads the evacuation effort while his ex-wife Denise Reta assists the military in tracking down the megalodons and the hyper- violent Kraken. Facing pressure from government figures, the military arranges an operation to lure the creatures away. In the process, they trigger the wrath of the Kraken. Intelligent, vehement, and incredibly powerful, it seeks to claim the territory for itself, and kill anything and anyone that dares to challenge it. With the body count rising, Denise and Nico have no choice but to conduct a strategy of their own: lure the 120-foot megalodon to the Kraken and allow nature to take its course. One outcome is certain-there will be bloodshed.

Lorenzo was a quiet Michigan town, known for its beautiful lake and resorts. Summer has arrived and water activities are abundant. It was one of the reasons Officer Royce Dashnaw took the job in the small town. Being a single dad, he wanted to live a quiet life where his daughter could enjoy the beauty of nature. Unfortunately, nature also has a dark side. The peaceful serenity of Lorenzo has been disrupted by a series of strange events. A woman flees from the water with strange bites on her legs; bodies are found in the shallows, stripped to the bone; and the local population of fish have mysteriously disappeared. As the body count rises, Royce learns the truth. Genetically enhanced fish have been dumped into the lake. With scissor-like jaws, they can reduce a full-grown adult to a mere skeleton in under a minute. A race against time ensues, as Royce and his partner struggle to evacuate the very large and busy lake before too many fall victim to the shredders.