Dizzying mountain summits, deathly dry deserts and frozen polar wastes are no place for humans. But these places seem to hold a never-ending fascination for explorers. These stories tell the adventures of those brave -- or foolhardy -- enough to venture into such wild, inaccessible places.  (5-1/2" x 8-3/4", 432 pages)

Deserts are some of the wildest, most inhospitable places on earth, too dry for any but the toughest creatures to survive. But the harsh beauty and hidden secrets have inspired many quests, some brave, and some foolhardy.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004

Locked doors, high prison walls and barbed wire are formidable enough obstacles, but many escaping prisoners also face savage dogs and armed guards who shoot to kill. From Alcatraz to Devil's Island, lives are risked for freedom.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

Amazing, true stories of those who have tried, and often tragically failed, to conquer the world’s highest mountain from Mallory’s ill-fated expedition in 1922 to the hunt for his body in 1999. Full of ambition, tragedy and misfortune, this is a real page-turner.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

From the determination of Shackleton and Scott in the last century to the adventures of modern-day explorers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Børge Ousland, these exciting stories chart the many courageous attempts to pioneer the icy reaches of the Poles. (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

What are real spies like? Some, like the beautiful Mata Hari, are every bit as glamorous as famous fictional agents such as James Bond. But, as you'll see in this intriguing collection of spy stories, spies usually live shadowy double lives, risking imprisonment, torture and execution for a chance to change history.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

Are real criminals and detectives anything like the ones you read about in novels or see on the television? You can find out in these ten exciting stories. Serial murderers, art forgers, kidnappers, robbers, runaways and forensic scientists are all here, as well as cases of real-live horror that will chill you to the bone. (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

From Al Capone’s reign of terror in Chicago to the last stand of Ned Kelly in the Australian bush, most gangsters lived lives of cold, calculating violence, living hard and dying young. You’ll find bank robbers. Mafia bosses, prison break outs – and more – in these eleven thrilling stories, which explore the shadowy underworld of the most dangerous criminals of them all.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

Unforgettable stories about men and women whose extraordinary courage has captured the imagination of millions. From firefighters facing nuclear disaster to rescue teams coping with a fast-sinking ship, this vivid collection is a gripping read.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)

Three hundred years ago, pirates ruled the oceans. Most lived fast and died young, and this thrilling collection tells the tales of some of the most flamboyant pirate captains, and the determined men who set out to capture them.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)

Today, almost a century after it was fought, the First World War still haunts us. With its aircraft, submarines, machine guns and tanks, it was the first modern war. But the generals who fought it came from an age of cavalry charges and dashing red uniforms. The result was slaughter on a massive scale – making it one of the most troubling wars in history.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: July 2004.

Epic naval encounters between titanic warships, monumental battles involving hundreds of thousands of men, and suspenseful duels between lone snipers - these are just some of the dramatic tales in this collection of stories from World War II.  For those who survived, it remains the most intense and vivid experience of their lives.  (5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 144 pages)  Release date: January 2004.