A damaged teenage tech prodigy meets an enigmatic waitress in a tiny Tokyo café, sparking an epic journey across Japan that will change everything, forever … a captivating, masterful novel with an extraordinary mystery at its heart… ‘Set against a tech heavy backdrop Beautiful Shining People blooms into an emotional and soulful tale that reckons with the isolation we can all feel as outsiders’ SciFi Now Book of the Month ‘That Beautiful Shining People isn’t just a slipstream novel with pretensions to being literature is in great part down to the deftness and tenderness with which Grothaus draws his central relationship … to let us explore a world of robots and deepfakes that’s just unfamiliar enough to be exotic’ SFX Magazine Book of the Month ‘A fascinating exploration of what it means to be human in a world where everything can be faked … wonderful, insightful and thoughtful’ James Oswald ––––––––––––– This world is anything but ordinary, and it’s about to change forever… It’s our world, but decades into the future… An ordinary world, where cars drive themselves, drones glide across the sky, and robots work in burger shops. There are two superpowers and a digital Cold War, but all conflicts are safely oceans away. People get up, work, and have dinner. Everything is as it should be… Except for seventeen-year-old John, a tech prodigy from a damaged family, who hides a deeply personal secret. But everything starts to change for him when he enters a tiny café on a cold Tokyo night. A café run by a disgraced sumo wrestler, where a peculiar dog with a spherical head lives, alongside its owner, enigmatic waitress Neotnia… But Neotnia hides a secret of her own – a secret that will turn John’s unhappy life upside down. A secret that will take them from the neon streets of Tokyo to Hiroshima’s tragic past to the snowy mountains of Nagano. A secret that reveals that this world is anything ordinary – and it’s about to change forever… ––––––––––––– ‘Poetically written, every word of this adventure leaps off the page with passion. A wonderful and enlightening trip’ The Sun   ‘Cyberpunk meets bildungsroman – a real joy’ Oscar de Muriel ‘Exquisite world-building, this book had me invested from the very first page. Vivid plot and irresistible characters and a real tug at the soul … you'll drown in it’ Lisa Bradley ‘A life-affirming, epic book about what it is to be human: to live, to dream, to hope, to love … at a time when we most need reminding of these things’ David F Ross ‘Totally engrossing from the start – the story, characters and settings will linger in your imagination long after you're finished … truly wonderful’ Jonathan Whitelaw ‘Masterful … truly breathtaking and achingly beautiful. It builds anticipation and suspense before coming together in a thrilling, captivating conclusion’ The Bookbag ‘Outstanding! Sci-fi showing how the past might impact on the future … a glimpse into a (very plausible) terrifying future’ Michael J Malone What readers are saying…   *****   ‘A beautiful, emotional and thought-provoking read’  ‘A striking and strange novel – and a searing statement about the dangerously thin lines between utopia and dystopia’  ‘Just devastatingly beautiful’    ‘My book of the year … no question’   ‘Masterful storytelling’   ‘Grothaus has a bewitching ability to stop time in a moment, and then run seemlessly into action with unstoppable momentum’   ‘Succinctly captured the feeling of Japanese fiction. I was very much put in mind of Haruki Murakami or Toshikazu Kawaguchi’  

A man with a consuming addiction. A woman who talks to God. And the secret connection that could destroy them both. Jerry has a traumatic past that leaves him subject to psychotic hallucinations and depressive episodes. When he stands accused of stealing a priceless Van Gogh painting, he goes underground, where he develops an unwilling relationship with a woman who believes that the voices she hears are from God. Involuntarily entangled in the illicit world of sex-trafficking amongst the Hollywood elite, and on a mission to find redemption for a haunting series of events from the past, Jerry is thrust into a genuinely shocking and outrageously funny quest to uncover the truth and atone for historical sins. A complex, page-turning psychological thriller, riddled with twists and turns, Epiphany Jones is also a superb dark comedy with a powerful emotional core. You'll laugh when you know you shouldn't, be moved when you least expect it and, most importantly, never look at Hollywood, celebrity or sex in the same way again. This is an extraordinary debut from a fresh, exceptional new talent. `By turns comic and shocking, an extraordinary debut from a striking new voice' Michael Marshall Smith 'A thrilling and highly original debut that cuts to the dark heart of celebrity and pornography. Michael Grothaus is one to watch' Eva Dolan `The emotion range is outstanding - Grothaus is an exceptional talent' J. M. Hewitt `Startling, inventive, funny and disturbing, compelling and oddly beautiful - Epiphany Jones is a novel that marks the arrival of a truly talented writer' Kevin Wignall

Deepfake technology can create video evidence of just about anything: Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie in an orgy. Chinese president Xi Jinping declaring nuclear war. Basketball legend Michael Jordan winning the World Cup. The only limit is the imagination. In a time where fake news and disinformation is becoming harder and harder to identify, it is more essential than ever to understand the dark origins of deepfakes. Journalist Michael Grothaus goes down the rabbit hole as he interviews the often morally dubious, yet incredibly skilled creators of this content. It's a journey that opens a window into the communities transforming reality. Challenging, enlightening and terrifying, Trust No One asks the question other people are too scared to: what happens when you can no longer believe your own eyes? 'An alarming look at deepfakes' Sunday Times 'Michael Grothaus takes a hard look at the growth of deep fakes, examining cases that demonstrate the threats presented by morally dubious creators. From the personal to political, the impact of deep fakes is considered carefully by Grothaus, both on the victims and on society as a whole, creating an essential picture of a growing trend in disinformation' Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat

Unleash your iPhone and take it to the limit using secret tips and techniques from gadget hacker Erica Sadun. Fast and fun to read, Taking Your iPod touch 4 to the Max is fully updated to show you how get the most out of Apple's OS 4. You'll find all the best undocumented tricks as well as the most efficient and enjoyable introduction to the iPhone available. Starting with an introduction to iPod touch 4 basics, you'll quickly move on to discover the iPod touch's hidden potential, like how to connect to a TV, get contract-free VOIP, and hack OS 4 so it will run apps on your iPod touch. From e-mail and surfing the Web, to using iTunes, iBooks, games, photos, ripping DVDs and getting free VOIP with Skype or Jajah-you'll find it all in this book. You'll even learn tips on where to get the best and cheapest iPod touch accessories. Get ready to take your iPod touch to the max!

The Machas come a long way, and OS X Lion is thebest version yet of Apple's desktop and laptop operating system. Stable, powerful, and versatile, the Mac allows you to do everyday tasks with ease. Taking Your OS X Lionto the Max walks you through the awesomefeatures and apps standard on theMac and the new OS X 10.7 Lion to help you become a true power user.You'll discover keyboard shortcuts and gestures to help save timewhether you're on a iMac, Mac mini, Macbook Pro, Air, or other Mac computer. In terms of apps, you'll learn about iLife, iCal, Mail, Mac App Store, Safari, Address Book and more. You'll see how to use amazing built-in applications like Time Machine, Photo Booth, and Front Row. Also, you'll learn how connectto your other Apple devices like iPhone or iPad, Apple TV and more.You'll sync, work and play remotely, file and screen share, make your Mac secure, or even make your Mac a Windows PC. What you'll learn Fully leverage the newest OS X desktop operating system Features and apps that are standard to OS X Keyboard shortcuts Gestures that help you save time Use built in OS X apps like Time Machine, Photo Booth and Front Row Download and fully utilize the Mac App Store Configure and network your Mac Connect to your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and more Who this book is for

This book is for those who want or need to take full advantage of all of the features of their Mac--whether it's a desktop or laptop. Table of Contents Finder Basics File Management Mac App Store Managing Your Data: AutoSave and Versions Controlling your Mac Controlling your Mac: Mission Control, Dashboard Built-in-apps: Mail Built-in-apps: iCal and Address Book Browsing the Web with Safari Communicating in Real-Time with iChat and FaceTime System Preferences Lion Server

Fast, fun, and full of facts, Take Your iPad to the Max gives you the tips and techniques you need to get the most out of your new iPad. Apple's latest device is much more than a big iPhone, and this book will help you master the new category of touch-driven productivity apps developed specifically for the iPad, including the iWork App Suite. You'll also learn all about the built-in apps, including Mail, Calendar, and iTunes, as well as the brand-new iBooks. And, of course, you'll get all of the advanced shortcuts and techniques that will leave fellow iPad users in the dust. Author and gadget hacker Erica Sadun's enthusiasm for Apple devices and tools is infectiously catching. At the same time, her expertise and ability to uncover undocumented features and share them with her readers has made her something of a legend. Fortunately, Erica likes to share everything she knows with you, her loyal reader, and she knows just how to explain everything in clear, enjoyable-to-read prose.What you'll learn* How to handle multitouch interface fundamentals* How to use all the built-in apps, including Mail, Calendar, Safari, and the new iWork Suite * How to use iTunes and iBooks to open a world of expansion and personalization* How to use your iPad over WiFi and take advantage of free services like VoIP telephony * How to integrate your iPad with your network and other mobile and tethered devicesWho this book is for For every iPad owner who wants the fastest introduction, crammed with most useful information, presented in an extremely enjoyable style. Table of Contents* Bringing home the iPad: Purchase decisions, model choices * Connecting to iTunes: How to set up your system using iTune' configuration tools.* Exploring the iPad hardware: Powering the device on and off, exploring its sensors* Interacting with your iPad: Learning the touch-based vocabulary of the iPad, Manipulating the home screen, Spotlight, Accessibility* Connecting to the Internet: An introduction to using WiFi and/or 3Gs* Browsing with Mobile Safari. A complete how-to for using Safari.* Touching your Music and Video.Including iPod features, Video, & YouTube* Shopping at the App Store, Music Store, and Book Store* Using iBooks* Leveraging your Desk Set: Notes, Contacts and Calculator, Clock, Calendar* Setting up and using Email* Working with Maps* Taking your Photos With You* On the go with iWork: Creating and viewing documents, spreadsheets, etc.*5 other great ways to use your iPad

iPad 2: It looks different. It acts different. It connects to the world, yet it is as personal as a well-worn book. And now it has two cameras Taking Your iPad 2 to the Max is written so that anyone can quickly get up to speed on Apple's latest hit. As bloggers at The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW.com), the authors have the happy privilege of working with Apple products every day, and they'll guide you through all of the perks of being an iPad 2owner. This book takes you from selecting and buying an iPad, to connecting it to the Internet, to using the incredible power of the iPad and all its apps to enhance your life. Whether you're using your iPad to surf the Internet, admire family photos, listen to music, watch movies, create or edit movies, or read a book, this book will help guide you. Discover how your iPad 2can be a virtual shopping mall, opening the door to purchases of music, books, videos, and movies. This book will help you organize your daily life through the use of Calendar, Notes, and Contacts, communicate with friends and colleagues with Mail, and find your way with Maps. You'll also learn how get the most out of your iPad's twocameras. Taking Your iPad 2 to the Max introduces the essentials of using your iPad 2 for recreation, travel, and workand includes the basics of Apple's iWork suite for iPad. Learn to create business or personal documents with Pages, make professional presentations with Keynote, and keep data and finances under control with Numbers. What you'll learn Learn to manipulate the next gen iPad and its tens of thousands of apps Watch, read and listen more with endless movies, books and music at your fingertips Create images and videos and edit them with iMovie Use the new iPad as a professional office tool to create rich documents, spreadsheets, and presentations Get connected, stay connected and set your computing life free Who this book is for

No matter how you intend to use your iPad 2--for work or play, for movies or books--you are the person we wrote this book for. Welcome to the next world of computing--you're gonna love it. Table of Contents Bringing Your iPad Home Putting Your Data and Media on Your iPad Exploring the iPad Hardware Interacting with Your iPad Connecting to the Internet Browsing the Internet with Safari Touching Your Music and Video Shopping for Apps, Books, Music, and More Using iBooks Leveraging Your Desk Set Setting Up and Using Mail Working with Maps Touching Your Digital Photos On the Go with iWork Using the iPad Cameras with Camera, Photobooth, and FaceTime Other Great Ways to Use Your iPad

Deepfake technology can create video evidence of just about anything: Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie in an orgy. Chinese president Xi Jinping declaring nuclear war. Basketball legend Michael Jordan winning the World Cup. The only limit is the imagination. In a time where fake news and disinformation is becoming harder and harder to identify, it is more essential than ever to understand the dark origins of deepfakes. Journalist Michael Grothaus goes down the rabbit hole as he interviews the often morally dubious, yet incredibly skilled creators of this content. It's a journey that opens a window into the communities transforming reality. Challenging, enlightening and terrifying, Trust No One asks the question other people are too scared to: what happens when you can no longer believe your own eyes? 'An alarming look at deepfakes' Sunday Times 'Michael Grothaus takes a hard look at the growth of deep fakes, examining cases that demonstrate the threats presented by morally dubious creators. From the personal to political, the impact of deep fakes is considered carefully by Grothaus, both on the victims and on society as a whole, creating an essential picture of a growing trend in disinformation' Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat

Unleash your iPod touch and take it to the limit using secret tips and techniques. Fast and fun to read, Taking Your iPod touch 5 to the Max will help you get the most out of iOS 5 on your iPod touch. You'll find all the best undocumented tricks, as well as the most efficient and enjoyable introduction to the iPod touch available. Starting with the basics, you'll quickly move on to discover the iPod touch's hidden potential, like how to connect to a TV and get contract-free VoIP. From e-mail and surfing the Web, to using iTunes, iBooks, games, photos, ripping DVDs and getting free VoIP with Skype or FaceTime--whether you have a new iPod touch, or an older iPod touch with iOS 5, you'll find it all in this book. You'll even learn tips on where to get the best and cheapest iPod touch accessories. Get ready to take iPod touch to the max What you'll learn * How to get your music, videos, and data onto your iPod touch * How to manage your media * Tips for shopping in the App Store and iTunes Store * Getting the most out of iBooks * Using Mail on your iPod touch * Keeping in touch with FaceTime Who this book is for Anyone who wants to get the most out of their iPod touch 5.Table of Contents * Bringing Home the iPod touch * Putting Your Data and Media on the iPod touch * Interacting with Your iPod touch * Browsing with Wi-fi and Safari * Touching Photos and Videos * Touching Your Music * Shopping at the iTunes Store * Shopping at the App Store * Reading and Buying Books with iBooks * Setting Up and Using Mail * Staying on Time and Getting There * Using your Desk Set * Photographing and Recording the World Around You * Video Calling with FaceTime * Customizing Your iPod touch

Taking Your iPhoto '11 to the Max walks users through Apple's most popular software application in the iLife suiteiPhoto. This book helps readers use iPhoto to its fullest to organize and create digital memories and keepsakes. Learn all about Apple's newest version of iPhotoiPhoto 11 Explore iPhoto, one menu button at a time Walk-through tutorials guide you step-by-step What you'll learn How to import existing photo libraries from popular Windows applications How to organize and edit your photos How to tag your photos using iPhoto's Faces and Places features How to create events, albums, and smart photo albums How to create books, cards, and slideshows How to share your photos via MobileMe, Flickr, and Facebook...all without leaving the iPhoto app Who this book is for

This book's primary audience is users completely new to the Mac, many beingWindows users who have switched to the Mac to take advantage of Apple's digital suite software and integration with iPad, iPod, and iPhone. This book is also perfect for digital photo enthusiasts, both consumers and "prosumers." Table of Contents Getting Familiar with iPhoto '11 Importing Your Photos All About Your Photos: Marking and Searching Navigating and Organizing Your Photos: Events and Albums Organizing Your Photos: Faces OrganizingYour Photos: Places Editing Your Photos Creating Keepsakes: Books, Cards, Calendars, Slideshows Sharing Your Photos Online Advanced iPhoto Settings, Tips, and Tricks

Taking Your iPad to the Max, iOS 5 Edition is written so that anyone can quickly get up to speed on Apple's latest hit. As bloggers at The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW.com), the authors have the happy privilege of working with Apple products every day, and they'll guide you through all of the perks of being an iPad owner with access to all the new and amazing features in iOS 5. This book takes you from selecting and buying an iPad, to connecting it to the Internet, to using the incredible power of the iPad and all its apps to enhance your life. Whether you're using your iPad to surf the Internet, admire or edit family photos, listen to music, watch movies, create or edit movies, or read a book, this book will help guide you. Discover how your iPad can be a virtual shopping mall, opening the door to purchases of music, books, videos, and movies. This book will help you organize your daily life through the use of Calendar, Notes, and Contacts, communicate with friends and colleagues with Mail, and find your way with Maps. You'll also learn how get the most out of your iPad's two cameras, and you'll learn how iCloud keeps all of your documents and photos in sync across all your Apple devices. You'll also learn about great new iOS 5 features like Reminders, Notification Center, iMessage, Newsstand, and PC-Free updates. Taking Your iPad to the Max, iOS 5 Edition introduces the essentials of using your iPad for recreation, travel, and workand includes the basics of Apple's iWork suite for iPad. Learn to create business or personal documents with Pages, make professional presentations with Keynote, and keep data and finances under control with Numbers. You'll also learn how to use iLife's suite of apps, including iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand on the iPad. No matter how you use your iPad, Taking Your iPad to the Max, iOS 5 Edition will show you how to make the most of it. What you'll learn Learn the new features of iOS 5 on your iPad Watch, read and listen more with endless movies, books and music at your fingertips Create images and videos and edit them with iMovie Use the iPad as a professional office tool to create rich documents, spreadsheets, and presentations See how iCloud makes syncing seamless Get connected wirelessly, stay connected and set your computing life free Who this book is for

iPad owners who want to learn more about the new features in iOS 5 and iCloud. Table of Contents Bringing Your iPad Home Putting Your Data and Media on Your iPad Exploring the iPad Hardware Interacting with Your iPad Connecting to the Internet Browsing the Internet with Safari Touching Your Music and Video Shopping for Apps, Books, Music, and More Using iBooks Leveraging Your Desk Set Setting Up and Using Mail Working with Maps Touching Your Digital Photos On the Go with iWork Using the iPad Cameras with Camera, Photobooth, and FaceTime Other Great Ways to Use Your iPad

Unleash the power of your new iPhone 4S or other iOS 5-driven iPhone and take it to the limit using powerful tips and techniques from the Apple experts at TUAW, Erica Sadun, Steve Sande, and Michel Grothaus. Fast and fun to read, Taking Your iPhone 4S to the Max shows you how to get the most out of your iPhone using Apple's new iOS 5. Whether you're using the new iPhone 4S or earlier iPhone that runs the new iOS 5, you'll find all the best undocumented tricks, as well as the most efficient and enjoyable introduction to the iPhone available. Starting with an introduction to iPhone basics, you'll quickly discover the iPhone's hidden potential, like how to connect to a TV, use Voice Control using Siri, have video chats with FaceTime, and call friends overseas with low-cost VoIP. From the unified e-mail inbox and surfing the Web with Mobile Safari, exploring the world of social networking, using the multitasking capabilities of iOS 5, taking and editing photos, shopping for apps, media, and books, or just managing phone calls--you'll find it all in this book. You'll even learn tips on where to get the best iPhone accessories.Get ready to take your iPhone 4S and earlier running the new iOS 5 to the max What you'll learn * Master the powerful multitasking capabilities of the new iPhone 4S and earlier iOS 5-enabled iPhones * Communicate with the world through FaceTime video chats, voice calls, SMS and MMS messaging, email, and social networking * Entertain yourself and friends with music, games, books, and videos--all in the palm of your hand * Customize your iPhone with your choice of hundreds of thousands of useful and fun apps Who this book is for Whether you use your iPhone for video chats with friends and relatives, playing games, keeping up with work, or capturing special moments in photos or video, we wrote this book with you in mind.Table of Contents SETUP 1: Selecting, Buying, and Activating Your iPhone 2: Putting Your Data and Media on Your iPhone MEET THE PHONE 3: Interacting with Your New iPhone 4: Placing Calls with iPhone GETTING ONLINE 5: Browsing with Wi-Fi and Safari 6: Staying in touch with FaceTime and Messages 7: Setting Up and Using Email MEDIA AND SHOPPING 8: Touching Your Music 9: Shopping at the Music Store 10: Shopping at the App Store 11: Reading and Buying Books with iBooks + Newstand PHOTOS, VIDEO AND THE CAMERA 12: Touching Your Photos and Videos (Photos, YouTube, Videos apps, AirPlay) 13: Recording the World Around You with the Camera ACCESSORIES 14: Staying On Time and Getting There with Clock, Calendar, and Maps 15: Leveraging Your Desk Set: Contacts, Calculator, Notes, Weather, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Reminders PREFERENCES 16: Customizing your iPhone (Settings & Accessibility)