Richard Sparks

In a time of climate breakdown, everyday security is shaped as much by ecological degradation as by familiar forms of disorder. Drawing on two research encounters with a northern English town, set 25 years apart, this book reveals how local concerns about chronic environmental damage blur the boundaries between criminal and noncriminal harms. It proposes an ecological rethinking of security—one that recognises how worries about sustainability, place and quality of life increasingly intertwine. Bringing environmental and green criminology into closer dialogue, the book shows how austerity and climate anxieties converge, and how communities’ hopes for habitable futures demand new ways of understanding—and acting upon—everyday disorder.

New Rock New Rules, the thrilling third installment of Richard Sparks' gripping New Rock series, the kingdom finds itself in turmoil after the eccentric demise of King Wyllard. As power shifts unexpectedly into the hands of the radiant and cunning Esmeralda, alliances are tested, schemes unravel, and palace intrigue reaches a fever pitch. Esmeralda's bold maneuvering silences her ambitious rivals and sends a clear message: in this new era, she alone sets the rules-and she isn't afraid to enforce them. Meanwhile, legendary warrior Commandant Bastard faces his greatest challenge yet-a spectacular duel against Grell, a hero whose strength and ferocity could change the realm forever. As excitement grips Eastbay and fortunes ride on the outcome, secrets emerge, loyalties are tested, and even friendships teeter

The Highly Anticipated Sequel to New Rock New Role Shortly after surviving—against overwhelming odds—their epic quest in New Rock New Role, battlemage Daxx and his crew (dual-wielding sword-dancer Qrysta, heavily-armed Orc Grell and sneakthief Oller, with his mutt companion Little Guy) are off on their next adventure. A mysterious ghost ship arrives, carrying a cryptic message for them. Setting sail full of good intentions, they are soon embroiled in the eternal struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. If they are to find a way out of an impossible situation, each must complete a separate mission in a realm where nowhere is safe for them. New Rock New Realm is a captivating tale that will enthrall lovers of epic fantasy. Told with his customary wit, Richard Sparks' skillful storytelling weaves a tapestry of adventure, mystery, suspense and emotional depth—with plenty of comic moments spicing up events as they progress. Memorable characters, imaginative settings and challenging quests all combine to make the New Rock series an unforgettable addition to the genre.

The perfect blend of the gaming world and epic fantasy. With millions watching on live stream, Daxx and his teammates Qrysta and Grell win the role-playing Games (RPG) Grand Championship. But winning the game was was a piece of cake compared with what comes next. Daxx wakes up to find he's turned into his own avatar and is in the middle of a wilderness he doesn't recognize. Armed with a crappy sword he has no idea how to use and dressed in beginner-level gear he must figure out how to survive quickly because he can already hear the blood-thirsty howls of wild animals from the jungle that surrounds him. Thus starts a fantastic epic fantasy adventure. Once the three friends finally find each other they need to puzzle out their new world, gain skills, combat enemies, and make alliances with all kinds of characters and creatures from the different territories of this new world in order to survive. The heart stopping action is interspersed with humor making it a idiculously fun and addictive read. Ready Player One meets Lord of the Rings in Disc World.

This book examines the relationships forged between police officers and the diverse urban and rural communities in which they have lived and worked in Scotland across the twentieth century, demonstrating patterns that were diverse and variegated. It considers both the formal rhetoric (and sets of structures) that defined and prescribed the policing ideal as well as the experience of policing from a range of grassroots' perspectives. Drawing on a wealth of archival materials, oral history interviews, and memoirs, as well as previously unused primary sources, the author identifies and explains the factors that led to not only co-operation, consensus and the building of trust, but also points of tension and conflict across a century of social, political and technological change.

This book addresses the issue of the rapidly growing number of elderly men entering and serving time in prison and draws upon extensive original research in four prisons holding a high concentration of men aged sixty-five plus years. It examines, in fine detail, the emotional, psychological and practical implications of serving a prison sentence late in life and the challenges that face staff who work with this prisoner group. The work reported in this book combines a contextual policy analysis and an appraisal of current regimes and practices with close observation in the field and narrative interviews. This book will be of interest to academics and researchers working in the fields of criminology, prison studies and social studies of ageing, as well as those working in prisons in Britain and internationally.

What is the role and value of criminology in a democratic society? How do, and how should, its practitioners engage with politics and public policy? How can criminology find a voice in an agitated, insecure and intensely mediated world in which crime and punishment loom large in government agendas and public discourse? What collective good do we want criminological enquiry to promote? In addressing these questions, Ian Loader and Richard Sparks offer a sociological account of how criminologists understand their craft and position themselves in relation to social and political controversies about crime, whether as scientific experts, policy advisors, governmental players, social movement theorists, or lonely prophets. They examine the conditions under which these diverse commitments and affiliations arose, and gained or lost credibility and influence. This forms the basis for a timely articulation of the idea that criminology’s overarching public purpose is to contribute to a better politics of crime and its regulation. Public Criminology? offers an original and provocative account of the condition of, and prospects for, criminology which will be of interest not only to those who work in the fields of crime, security and punishment, but to anyone interested in the vexed relationship between social science, public policy and politics.

What is the role and value of criminology in a democratic society? How do, and how should, its practitioners engage with politics and public policy? How can criminology find a voice in an agitated, insecure and intensely mediated world in which crime and punishment loom large in government agendas and public discourse? What collective good do we want criminological enquiry to promote? In addressing these questions, Ian Loader and Richard Sparks offer a sociological account of how criminologists understand their craft and position themselves in relation to social and political controversies about crime, whether as scientific experts, policy advisors, governmental players, social movement theorists, or lonely prophets. They examine the conditions under which these diverse commitments and affiliations arose, and gained or lost credibility and influence. This forms the basis for a timely articulation of the idea that criminology’s overarching public purpose is to contribute to a better politics of crime and its regulation. Public Criminology? offers an original and provocative account of the condition of, and prospects for, criminology which will be of interest not only to those who work in the fields of crime, security and punishment, but to anyone interested in the vexed relationship between social science, public policy and politics.

This book presents new empirical and conceptual work on the questions of fear, anxiety, risk and trust - both as problems of everyday living and as key themes in the culture and politics of contemporary Western societies. The volume includes contributions from distinguished social researchers from Britain, the United States, Germany and Italy and will be of interest to academics and students in the areas of criminology and sociology.

This book presents new empirical and conceptual work on the questions of fear, anxiety, risk and trust - both as problems of everyday living and as key themes in the culture and politics of contemporary Western societies. The volume includes contributions from distinguished social researchers from Britain, the United States, Germany and Italy and will be of interest to academics and students in the areas of criminology and sociology.

Crime and Social Change in Middle England offers a new way of looking at contemporary debates on the fear of crime. Using observation, interviews and documentary analysis it traces the reactions of citizens of one very ordinary town to events, conflicts and controversies around such topical subjects of criminological investigation as youth, public order, drugs, policing and home security in their community. In doing so it moves in place from comfortable suburbs to hard pressed inner city estates, from the affluent to the impoverished, from old people watching the town where they grew up change around them to young in-comers who are part of that change. This is a book which will give all students of crime a rare and fascinating insight into how issues at the heart of contemporary law and order politics both nationally and internationally actually play out on the ground.

Crime and Social Change in Middle England offers a new way of looking at contemporary debates on the fear of crime. Using observation, interviews and documentary analysis it traces the reactions of citizens of one very ordinary town to events, conflicts and controversies around such topical subjects of criminological investigation as youth, public order, drugs, policing and home security in their community. In doing so it moves in place from comfortable suburbs to hard pressed inner city estates, from the affluent to the impoverished, from old people watching the town where they grew up change around them to young in-comers who are part of that change. This is a book which will give all students of crime a rare and fascinating insight into how issues at the heart of contemporary law and order politics both nationally and internationally actually play out on the ground.

This book presents a substantial new statement on the character of social life in confinement. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork in two contrasting English maximum security prisons, the authors systematically compare their institutional order, including the differing control strategies deployed in each, as seen by both custodians and captives, controllers and controlled. The authors discuss the implications of their research for the tradition of sociological concern within the`prison community'. They re-examine the resources of that rich but latterly somewhat dormant field in the light of some of the main currents in contemporary social theory, and thereby provide a new perspective on the `problem of order' in maximum custody. This book will have significant policy implications, and it will be required reading for scholars and students in criminology and criminal justice, as well as for administrators and reformers in penal system.