Progressive and Socially Minded Books publishing Jan-Jun 2016!
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I created Carabas to champion ‘all the good stuff’: imaginative, fantastical and cult fiction and film, alternative music, comics and graphic novels across genres – also worthy non-fiction of and around the same, and those books which provide an insight into the social concerns of today. This page, long planned, is for customers and shops as well to discover great books – non-fiction and fiction besides – that challenge perspectives and raise awareness that they may wish to buy or stock and sell. |
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In entirely related news we’re now on the Hive affiliate program. Hive supports independent bookshops by enabling customers to order online with some great offers to match more corporate suppliers and nominate their local independent to receive a cut of the sale value or pick it up from them. We believe in supporting bricks-and-mortar – you’ll find book links to a preferred chain (rather than Amazon) on other pages – but we particularly believe in supporting great independent businesses and we wanted to have joined Hive before releasing these and other recommends.
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So please find our round-up of socially minded, progressive non-fiction, and fiction in prose and graphic novel form, from January to June 2016 below. If a customer please support independents (especially if they’ve been good enough to tweet / RT us) by either purchasing direct from them or choosing them on Hive – we also get a small percentage of the latter which will help pay site costs and keep us going. | ![]() |
Enjoy!
Tim B
NON-FICTION
GRAPHIC NOVELS
* | Pub | Author | ISBN | Bind | RRP | Publisher |
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THE RED VIRGIN AND THE VISION OF UTOPIA |
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May |
Mary Talbot, Bryan Talbot |
9780224102346 |
HB |
16.99 |
Jonathan Cape |
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Set against the background of violence and state repression in a turbulent period of French history, The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia chronicles the incredible and outrageous life of Louise Michel, the revolutionary feminist dubbed ‘The Red Virgin of Montmartre’. A utopian dreamer, notorious anarchist, teacher, orator and poet, she was decades ahead of her time. Always a radical, she fought on the barricades defending the short-lived Paris Commune of 1871 against the reactionary regime that massacred thousands of French citizens after the Commune’s defeat. Deported to a penal colony on the other side of the Earth, she took up the cause of the indigenous population against French colonial oppression. |
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Celebrating the utopian urge in nineteenth-century literature and politics and the origins of science fiction, The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia is the third collaboration of best-selling academic and graphic novelist Mary M. Talbot with her husband, the graphic novel pioneer Bryan Talbot. Their first book together, Dotter of her Father’s Eyes, won the 2012 Costa Biography Award. |
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*** Check out Mary Talbot’s article on the origins of The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia on Carabas here – and check out our preview of this great title here! [Link Imminent] *** |
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THE OPPORTUNITY |
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Mar |
Volley, Will |
9781908434791 |
PB |
£12.99 |
Myriad Editions |
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A modern-day Death of a Salesman, this thrilling debut graphic novel casts a spotlight on the unforgiving world of door-to-door salesmen. |
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‘First thing I’m going to buy when I get my own office is a Porsche Boxster…’ Colin is an ambitious door-to-door salesman on the verge of ‘making it’ as the owner of his own sales office. And the future is looking good. |
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But when the terms of his promotion change without warning, Colin and his team find themselves with just five days to achieve a new sales target – and to prevent his rival, Paul, from being promoted in his stead. Colin has to keep his disgruntled team from ‘negging out’ while a gang of ruthless debt collectors are getting ever closer. Of course, everything is going to be fine, more than fine, in fact… but meanwhile, he runs out of coins in the phone box and the boss isn’t taking his calls. |
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As Colin’s grasp on reality dissolves, we see how the relentless focus on positive thinking – in the face of exploitative management, pay and conditions – leads to delusion, vulnerability, failure and, finally, human tragedy. The story explores how the philosophy preached by American business entrepreneurs can impact on an individual; a life dedicated to achieving one specific goal – how vulnerable that situation can become for some and how rewarding it can be for others. |
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Set amid the rain-lashed estates of southern England, THE OPPORTUNITY is darkly disturbing, stylish and compelling character study, surely to become a classic of graphic noir. |
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CHILDREN’S / YA PICK
FANTASTICAL ADULT FICTION
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More:
Check out our portal page to discover more great books publishing January to June 2016 here!
Or click one of the below for our top fantastical adults & kids YA, graphic novels and non-fiction…
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE |
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