Book excerpt: Now with all new content by John Ringo! The Battle Against Those Determined to Rule the World¾or Destroy It¾Continues In the future the world was a paradise¾and then, in a moment, it ended. The council that controlled the Net fell out and went to war, while people who had never known a moment of want or pain were left wondering how to survive. Duke Edmund Talbot has been assigned a simple mission: Go to the Southern Isles and make contact with the scattered mer-folk¾those who, before the worldwide collapse of technology, had altered their bodies in the shape of mythical sea-dwelling creatures. He must convince them to side with the Freedom Coalition in the battles against the fascist dictators of New Destiny. Just a simple diplomatic mission. That requires the service of a dragon-carrier and Lieutenant Herzer Herrick, the most blooded of the Blood Lords¾because New Destiny has plans of its own. The fast-paced sequel to There Will be Dragons is a rollicking adventure above and below the high seas with dragons, orcas, beautiful mermaids¾ and the irrepressible Bast the Wood Elf, a cross between Legolas and Mae West. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).