Soldier Son Trilogy by Robin Hobb

In a world where sons of nobles are born for three purposes -- the first to be heir, the second son destined to be a soldier and the third for the priesthood -- war has meant many soldier sons have won land and titles of their own styling themselves “new nobles”. Nevare Burvelle is the second son of a new noble and his life is laid out for him on a straight line. He will go to the King’s Cavella academy and from there become a "cavella" just like his father before him in whose footsteps he is happy to tread.

However destiny has another path for Nevare. His father, unsure that Nevare is of officer material, turns him over to Dewara, a Plains warrior, to teach him the ways of the Kidona tribe. But the plainsman wants Nevare for only one thing – to send him to the dreamworld to fight the enemy tribe that he himself is too afraid of to face, and to destroy their magic with iron. Nevare, hovering between a world of magic beyond his understanding and life at the academy, is no match for the powerful sorcery that threatens to claim his soul and the political and social maneuvering of the competitive school. Only through Nevare may both worlds face each other and survive.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Winner of the The 2004 Josette Frank Award

Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isillee, known as Ani, is Crown Princess of Kedgeree. Born with a word on her tongue and gifted with the ability to talk to animals, Ani finds diplomacy, or people-speaking difficult. After the death of her father she learns her mother has planned for her younger brother to take the crown and is sending Ani off to marry a prince in a rival kingdom as a peace offering. So, with a group of guards and her lady-in-waiting, Selia, Ani sets off on the long journey to her new home. But treason is afoot; for Selia, who has the gift of diplomacy, has been waiting for just such a chance to feel the touch of a golden circlet on her brow. Now, Anidori must join the ranks of the lowest of the peasants, as a goose girl, if she is ever to survive, understand the people of her new kingdom and take back her rightful place.

This charming retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale by the same name gives body and soul to the beloved story. It is further brought to life in a delightful dramatization of the book using a full cast of over four dozen actors.

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Dr Who: Season 1

Doctor Who is an award-winning British science fiction television program that has long had a cult following. It is known both for its interesting stories and inspired low budget special effects. The show originally started back in the ‘60s and ran, on and off, until 1989. It is listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world. In 2005 the show was re – launched and Dr Who: Season 1 was born.

But enough of the boring stuff. “The Doctor” (Christopher Eccleston), a mysterious alien from the planet Gallifrey (with a northern accent, but then many planets have a north!) and his companion Rose Tyler (pop-star-turned-actress Billie Piper) set out to explore time and space using the Doctor’s space-ship, the TARDIS cunningly disguised as a police call box and of course saving the world into the bargain.

The show is fast-paced, scary and funny in turn. The Doctor and Rose encountering aliens that are deliciously comic-book but still scary enough for behind-the-sofa viewing and many of the original low budget effects have been replaced by award winning special effects. But watch out for those Daleks – yes it really is a sink plunger!

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