title: Jonah's Mirror
author: Kenneth Lillington
description: Grade 6 Up This engaging fantasy tells a story on several levels, literal and paradoxical, of genius millionaire Jonah Sprockett, whose mirror invention catapults him into a parallel universe. Complete with damsel in distress, a wizard, and acts of knightly bravery, Jonah's new world seems so much more inviting than his routine existence and clever but drab fiancee Miss Wingbone. He succeeds with Connecticut Yankee-type ingenuity to win Princess Miranda's hand, but soon finds that weaving rosebud crowns and dancing the May gets stale also. Not to worry, though, for Miss Wingbone has reconstructed the mirror and crosses over. Joined by a forward-thinking wizard named Waldo, the threesome returns to the 20th Century, with some interesting permutations in character happening during the trip. Is there really a parallel universe or has all this been an illusion? Lillington has lots of fun with fairy tale conventions, but gets the most mileage from how those often silly conventions affect modern day thinking about beauty, male-female relationships, and what is really of value in people and life. Only older readers will get the full impact of the irony aimed at contemporary society, but this compact comic fantasy is such fun on a literal level that it could be thoroughly enjoyed by younger readers who will still catch the fairy tale parody. Joanne Aswell, Long Valley Middle School, <BR>Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  THE DARKER AGES
  
  Aron Lewes
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2017 Aron Lewes
  
  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form
  without permission from the author.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  “Mirror,” Prince Jonah demanded, snapping his fingers at the peasant to his
  right. When the looking glass was raised, Jonah grinned at his reflection.
  There was no face he liked better than his. He checked his teeth. Perfect. He
  checked his nose. Perfect. As he dragged a hand through his floppy golden hair
  and all the lustrous tendrils fell into place, it took him less than two
  seconds to decide it was--
  
  “Perfect,” Jonah said aloud. Turning to his brother, he asked, “There's no way
  she won't like me, right?”
  
  Prince Findlay indulged himself in a cavernous yawn before he bothered to
  answer his brother's question. “Probably not.”
  
  “She'll think I'm handsome, won't she?” Jonah checked the looking glass again,
  making sure his appearance didn't need any minor adjustments.
  
  “Most