Try as she might, Lauralee has never been what you'd consider 'normal'. Since her mothers' death things have been getting even stranger. Faces in the shadows, strange whispers that only she can hear. But when she meets Ares, a handsome stranger, things are about to go from weird to dangerous.

Introduction by Will Leitch, founding editor of Deadspin Talk to any of the millions of devoted Friday Night Lights fans and they'll tell you: it's not just a show about high school football. Its rich, interesting characters and honestly portrayed relationships make the show's portrait of West Texas life compelling and relatable in ways that have nothing--and everything--to do with touchdowns. A Friday Night Lights Companion celebrates the show, its fearlessness, and what it's meant to those who love it. * Dave Campbell's Texas Football managing editor Travis Stewart provides a moving tribute to the power of high school football, by way of unlikely hero Matt Saracen * Jonna Rubin shares the lessons she's learned from the best marriage on television: Eric and Tami Taylor's (lesson number one: drink more wine) * Television Without Pity writer Jacob Clifton offers a meditation on one of Friday Night Lights' most fundamental values: being a part of something bigger than yourself * The Washington Post's Jen Chaney reminds us what we love most about all our favorite Dillon residents, from Tim Riggins to Buddy Garrity to Jess Merriweather * And more writing and reflections on Friday Night Lights A Friday Night Lights Companion takes you from series pilot to series finale, through all five masterfully crafted seasons' worth of love, loss, family, and football.

Batman Unauthorized explores Batman's motivations and actions, as well as those of his foes. Batman is a creature of the night, more about vengeance than justice, more plagued by doubts than full of self-assurance, and more darkness than light. He has no superpowers, just skill, drive and a really well-made suit. One of the most recognized superheroes ever created, Batman has survived through campy TV shows and films, through actors such as Adam West, Michael Keaton and Christian Bale. Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City covers expansive territory ranging from the silly to the solemn. Why is the Joker so good at pushing Batman's buttons? What does Batman's technology say about the times? Why are Batman's villains crazier than average? And why is Batman the perfect, iconic American hero?

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED ** The tangled web of vengeance, love, and loss woven by Spider-Man comics and films is explored in this collection of insightful essays by acclaimed writers of comics and science fiction. A variety of topics--from the superhero's sarcasm to the science behind radioactive spiders--are discussed in essays on "Turning Rage into Responsibility: A Psychology of Loss," "Love Is Selfish: Can a Hero Afford Personal Attachments?," and "Self Identity and Costume Design." The popular rival Green Goblin, the bumbling-yet-influential media, and the part New York City itself plays in stories are skillfully explored, as is the overall philosophy of mild-mannered Peter Parker and Spidey's relationship with the rest of the characters in the Marvel universe.

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED ** Speculating about the cultural metaphors in Janet Evanovich's wildly popular mystery series (which includes 11 books, from "One for the Money" to "Eleven on Top)", this anthology takes a look at lingerie-buyer-turned-bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum and catalogs her bad luck with cars (she's blown up quite a few), her good luck with men, her unorthodox approach to weapon storage, and the rich tapestry of her milieu: Trenton, New Jersey, also known as The Burg. The contributors praise the way the series smartly spoofs that familiar chick-lit epiphany--"I have a bad job and what I really want is a good" "man!--"in "Bounty Hunting as a Metaphor for Dating," "Why Stephanie Should Quit Her Job . . . but Never Will," and "Nothing Better than a Bad Boy Gone Good." Several essays veer from the chick-lit perspective and focus instead on the comic theme of luck and chance that ties Stephanie to the barroom gamblers and gangster meanies of her home town in "Luck of the Italian?: Skill Versus Chance."

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED ** From Cole's downfall and Phoebe's somewhat questionable fashion sense to the power of three in history and literature and a magical tourist's guide to the Halliwells's hometown of San Francisco, this clever, lighthearted essay collection offers a fun and funny look at the world of the WB hit series "Charmed." Edited by "New York Times" bestselling author Jennifer Crusie, these accessible and entertaining essays apply the wit and insight of one of today's leading romance authors to the stylish, occasionally campy fan favorite known for its scandalous outfits, revolving door of love interests, and the magical mayhem of three otherwise normal sisters who must fight against evil as they deal with the challenges of everyday life.

The staying power of the world's most dashing secret agent and the evolution of the James Bond franchise are explored in this smart yet nostalgic collection of essays. Leading writers, including Raymond Benson, J.A. Konrath, Raelynn Hillhouse, and John Cox, discuss the ten sexiest Bond girls, the best villains, and the controversy surrounding the latest actor to play James Bond. Topics covered range from the playful--how to build a secret lair and avoid the perennial mistakes made by would-be world dominators--to the thought-provoking, such as Bond's place in the modern world, his Oedipal tendencies and perceived misogyny, and the unerring allure of the charming spy.