Best of
Space

2012

Little Kids First Big Book of Space


Catherine D. Hughes - 2012
    These colorful pages will introduce young children to the wonders of space, with colorful illustrations by David Aguilar and simple text that is perfect for beginning readers or for reading aloud. The book will explain basic concepts of space, beginning with what is most familiar to kids and expanding out into universe.Chapters include: • Chapter 1 focuses on the Earth, moon, and sun.  • Chapter 2 introduces kids to the other planets in our solar system.  • Chapter 3 explains other objects in our solar system, such as dwarf planets, comets, and asteroid belts.  • Chapter 4 voyages even farther afield, touching on concepts such as the universe, the Milky Way, stars, galaxies, and black holes.  • The last chapter delves into space exploration: humans on the moon, spaceships, the International Space Station, etc.Releases simultaneously in Reinforced Library Binding: 978-1-4263-1015-7 , $23.90/$26.95 Can

The Lady Astronaut of Mars


Mary Robinette Kowal - 2012
    For years she's been longing to go back up there, to once more explore the stars. But there are few opportunities for an aging astronaut, even the famous Lady Astronaut of Mars. When her chance finally comes, it may be too late. Elma must decide whether to stay with her sickening husband in what will surely be the final years of his life, or to have her final adventure and plunge deeper into the well of space.

Hubble's Universe: Greatest Discoveries and Latest Images


Terence Dickinson - 2012
    No other telescope combines instant name recognition with the production of consistently spectacular images. Yet few people outside of the astronomy community realize that Hubble is now at the apex of its imaging capabilities. A collection of stunningly detailed pictures, made possible by the new Wide Field Camera 3, has yet to be incorporated into a popular-level book. Until now. Hubble's Universe will be the premier venue for the Hubble Telescope's most recent visual splendors. Bestselling astronomy writer Terence Dickinson showcases extraordinary late-breaking pictures, many of which have yet to receive wide distribution as news stories or in publications outside scientific papers, and presents a breathtaking portfolio drawn from an archive of over 500,000 existing Hubble images.The accompanying text balances accuracy with accessibility, Dickinson's hallmark. And thanks to the author's familiarity with Hubble's history and discoveries and his access to top Hubble scientists for insight and accuracy, the text includes facts and tidbits not found in any other book. Combined with hundreds of brilliant images, the clear, succinct and illuminating narrative brings to life the fascinating forces at work in the universe.

Space Atlas: Mapping the Universe and Beyond


James S. Trefil - 2012
    Three ever widening domains are presented--the planets, the stars, and the large scale universe itself--each including the ones before it and extending outward''--..Title: .Space Atlas..Author: .Trefil, James/ Aldrin, Buzz (FRW)..Publisher: .Random House Inc..Publication Date: .2012/11/06..Number of Pages: .335..Binding Type: .HARDCOVER..Library of Congress: .2012020000

To Honor You Call Us


H. Paul Honsinger - 2012
    In 2315, the wily Max Robichaux is given command of the USS Cumberland, a destroyer with state-of-the-art capabilities but a combat record so bad, she’s known as the “Cumberland Gap.”Capt. Robichaux’s first mission: to take his warship to the Free Corridor, where the Krag have secretly been buying strategic materials, and to seize or destroy any ships carrying enemy cargo. Far from the fleet and under enforced radio silence, Max relies only on his determination and guile…and the support and friendship of his chief medical officer, the brilliant Dr. Sahin.Because even as he deals with the ship’s onboard problems and the stress of carrying out her risky assignment, Max and the doctor discover that the Cumberland and her misfit crew are all that stands in the way of a deadly Krag attack that threatens to end the war—and humanity—once and for all.A far-future story in the tradition of “ships of wood, men of iron” novels, To Honor You Call Us and the Man of War series combines the adventure of exploration, the excitement of war, and the dangers of the unknown through the eyes of a ship and her crew.

Special Forces 01


Honor Raconteur - 2012
    He has been defending his home colony from the Nova Federation ever since he graduated from the Army Academy at 14 years old. Still, even with every effort of the Fourth Colony soldiers, they are forced to abandon the half-destroyed colony for the safer planet of Bijordan. Now displaced from the only home they know, the Special Forces of Fourth Colony have to adapt to a planet and culture they’ve little experience with. After only a few weeks on Bijordan, they discover that Nova isn’t satisfied with just Fourth Colony. They want Bijordan’s wealth and resources as well. While the Special Forces fight to find their footing in this strangely familiar environment, can they once again find a way to defend against Nova’s schemes?

Koban


Stephen W. Bennett - 2012
    Nearly unlimited cheap energy from tachyons led to the creation of Jump Hole technology and faster than light travel to the stars. In two hundred years, humanity had colonized over seven hundred planets in a volume five hundred light years in radius. Humankind enjoyed the benefits of the end of wars and disbanded its standing armies. Life was idyllic for three hundred years. Then the Krall came.The Krall, a warrior race with lightning-fast reflexes has used combat for 25,000 years to select the genes of the strongest and fastest warriors. This breeding program created a species fit to dominate the galaxy. Dominate everywhere but on Koban, an uninhabited planet with high gravity, teal colored flora and impossibly fast and savage animals that employ organic superconducting nerves.The Krall captured humans at the fringes of their expansion for testing on Koban. Humanity was useful only if they were adequate fighters. If not, the Krall intended to destroy the species because they already had slave races, and humans were poor tasting meat animals. If humans proved worthy opponents, the Krall would fight with the same weapons humans used, in order to continue their quest for physical perfection.Growing weary of the humans’ incapacity to fight well, the Krall were close to a decision to eliminate the race when they captured their last cargo of humans for testing – a ship containing bio-scientists. The choice was simple: Put up a good fight or condemn humanity to extinction. The Krall will discover more than one species knows how to bypass natural selection.

Look Inside Space


Rob Lloyd Jones - 2012
    "This is a great fun flap book packed with interesting information about space, and the amazing things that float through it - stars, moons, comets, and the planets of our solar system."--Amazon.com.

Awakening: The Art of Halo 4


Paul Davies - 2012
    Set in the aftermath of Halo 3, it marks the beginning of a new trilogy as the Master Chief confronts an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe.Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 will give gamers an in-depth look behind the scenes at the creation of the stunning worlds of Halo 4, with commentary from the art director and game designers throughout. Concept art, character sketches, detailed environments and an additional section on the forthcoming multiplayer game make this the definitive guide to 343 Industries' take on the Halo universe.

Galactic Exploration


Peter Cawdron - 2012
    Galactic Exploration looks at the Rare Earth hypothesis through the fictional adventures of three interstellar space craft exploring the galaxy, looking for evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life.This novel is the compilation of the stories:* Serengeti* Trixie & Me* Savannah* War

Planets


Elizabeth Carney - 2012
    This level two reader, written in simple language that is easy for young readers to understand, introduces children to our solar system, including all of the planets and dwarf planets, and lots of fascinating fun facts. This reader helps cultivate the explorers of tomorrow!This high-interest, educationally vetted series of beginning readers features the magnificent images of National Geographic, accompanied by texts written by experienced, skilled children's book authors. The inside back cover of the paperback edition is an interactive feature based upon the book. Level 1 books reinforce the content of the book with a kinesthetic learning activity. In Level 2 books readers complete a Cloze letter, or fun fill-in, with vocabulary words.Releases simultaneously in Reinforced Library Binding: 978-1-4263-1037-9 , $13.90/$15.95 CanNational Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

The Astronomy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained


Jacqueline Mitton - 2012
    Featuring topics from the Copernican Revolution to the mind-boggling theories of recent science, The Astronomy Book uses flowcharts, graphics, and illustrations to help clarify hard-to-grasp concepts and explain almost 100 big astronomical ideas. Covering the biographies of key astronomers through the ages such as Ptolemy, Galileo, Newton, Hubble, and Hawking, The Astronomy Book details their theories and discoveries in a user-friendly format to make the information accessible and easy to follow.Series Overview: Big Ideas Simply Explained series uses creative design and innovative graphics along with straightforward and engaging writing to make complex subjects easier to understand. With over 7 million copies worldwide sold to date, these award-winning books provide just the information needed for students, families, or anyone interested in concise, thought-provoking refreshers on a single subject.

Citizen X


Thomas DePrima - 2012
    So why have the powers that be chosen to 'waste' a valuable asset by sending her to a 'backwater' command where terminal boredom would appear to be the greatest enemy? Perhaps things aren't destined to remain quiet for long.

The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity


Elizabeth Rusch - 2012
    On July 7, 2003, a twin rover named Opportunity soared through the solar system with the same mission: to find out if Mars ever had water that could have supported life.A thrilling addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, The Mighty Mars Rovers tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyes—and heart—of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission. This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.

Planetfall: New Solar System Visions


Michael Benson - 2012
    Since Michael Benson’s masterful book Beyond: Visions of the Interplanetary Probes, new, more powerful cameras in probes with greatly improved maneuverability have traversed the wheeling satellites of Jupiter; roamed the boulder-strewn red deserts of Mars; studied Saturn’s immaculate rings; and shown us our own ravishing Earth, a blue-white orb with a disturbingly thin atmosphere, as it plunges deeper into ecological crisis. These new images are the subject of Benson’s Planetfall, a truly revelatory book that uses its large page size to reproduce the greatest achievements in contemporary planetary photography as never before.Praise for Planetfall:“This is the way I like to tour the solar system. Find a chair. Sit. Turn some pages. Gaze. Wonder.” —NPR.com

Earthling!


Mark Fearing - 2012
    Unfortunately that means everyone thinks he's a pro at anti-gravity Zero-Ball (even though he's really only a pro at watching sports). And with paranoid Principal Lepton threat ening to expel any Earthlings (into outer space) and only Gort's hacked Blip computer to help them determine Earth's co-ordinates, will Bud ever find his way home?

Outsystem


M.D. Cooper - 2012
    Despite her soiled record, Tanis still one of the best military counter-insurgency officers in the Terran Space Force. And they need her to find the terrorists responsible for trying to destroy the GSS Intrepid, a massive interstellar colony ship in the final phases of construction at the Mars Outer Shipyards. It’ll be her ticket out of the Sol system, but Tanis discovers she is up against more than mercenaries and assassins. Major corporations and governments have a vested interest in ensuring the Intrepid never leaves Sol, ultimately pitting Tanis against factions inside her own military. With few friends left, Tanis will need to fight for her life to get outsystem.

Nature Guide: Stars and Planets


Robert Dinwiddie - 2012
    Produced in collaboration with expert consultants at the Smithsonian Institution, each guide is expertly written and will give you knowledge of the natural world at your fingertips.From observing the night sky to looking to the stars and beyond, "Nature Guide Stars and Planets" contains a guide to all 88 constellations of the night sky, as wells as features the best tools and techniques to get started.

Astronomy


Andrew Fraknoi - 2012
    The book begins with relevant scientific fundamentals and progresses through an exploration of the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. The Astronomy textbook builds student understanding through the use of relevant analogies, clear and non-technical explanations, and rich illustrations. Mathematics is included in a flexible manner to meet the needs of individual instructors.

Last Launch: Discovery, Endeavour, Atlantis


Dan Winters - 2012
    In the twentieth century, that drive took us to the moon and inspired dreams of setting foot on other planets and voyaging among the stars. The vehicle we built to launch those far journeys was the space shuttle—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. This fleet of reusable spacecraft was designed to be our taxi to earth orbit, where we would board spaceships heading for strange new worlds. While the shuttle program never accomplished that goal, its 135 missions sent more than 350 people on a courageous journey into the unknown. Last Launch is a stunning photographic tribute to America’s space shuttle program. Dan Winters was one of only a handful of photographers to whom NASA gave close-range access to photograph the last launches of Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Positioning automatically controlled cameras at strategic points around the launch pad—some as close as seven hundred feet—he recorded images of take-offs that capture the incredible power and transcendent beauty of the blast that sends the shuttle hurtling into space. Winters also takes us on a visual tour of the shuttle as a marvel of technology—from the crew spaces with their complex instrumentation, to the massive engines that propelled the shuttle, to the enormous vehicle assembly building where the shuttles were prepared for flight. A unique historical document, Last Launch powerfully evokes an all-American story—the quest for new frontiers.

The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey - NASA Research Pilot Stories, XB-70 Tragic Collision, M2-F1 Lifting Body, YF-12 Blackbird, Apollo LLRV Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (NASA SP-4108)


Donald L. Mallick - 2012
    This book puts the reader in the pilot's seat for a "day at the office" unlike any other. It recounts the tragic 1966 mid-air collision with the XB-70; describes flights of the lifting body and YF-12 blackbird, and details work with the Apollo Lunar Landing Research Vehicle.The Smell of Kerosene tells the dramatic story of a NASA research pilot who logged over 11,000 flight hours in more than 125 types of aircraft. Donald Mallick gives the reader fascinating firsthand descriptions of his early naval flight training, carrier operations, and his research flying career with NASA and its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).Mallick joined the NACA as a research pilot at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory at Hampton, Virginia, where he flew modified helicopters and jets, and witnessed the NACA's evolution into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.After transferring to the NASA Flight Research Center (now NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) at Edwards, California, he became involved with projects that further pushed the boundaries of aerospace technology. These included the giant delta-winged XB-70 supersonic research airplane, the wingless M2-F1 lifting body vehicle, and the triple-sonic YF-12 Blackbird. Mallick also test flew the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) and helped develop techniques used in training astronauts to land on the Moon.Excerpt: " I was onboard an airliner, on 28 January 1986, when I heard the news that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded 73 seconds after launch that morning. Even knowing the complexity and risk involved in Shuttle operations, I was shocked by the news. The shuttle commander, Dick Scobee, had been an Air Force test pilot at Edwards and flown a number of research missions at NASA Dryden. I grieved for all the crew, but especially Dick, who I knew best. I can still recall his broad grin when he visited the Dryden pilot's office following the announcement of his selection as an astronaut. He showed great pride in his selection, and I congratulated him heartily. The results of the accident review board were hard to accept. The commission that investigated the accident blamed the Shuttle loss on poor management decisions. Challenger had been launched against the recommendations of knowledgeable technical personnel who insisted that low temperatures that day increased the chance of hot gas leakage around the seals of the solid rocket boosters. The commission found that the decision making process leading to the launch was flawed and that launch temperature constraints were waived at the expense of flight safety. It was a black day for NASA. I could sense a change in people's attitude concerning the space program. After the Challenger accident report was released, the public's pride in and respect for NASA diminished. At Dryden, we had always striven not to allow the desire to "get a flight off" to interfere with good judgment on flight safety. It was a cardinal rule. There were occasions when visiting Headquarters personnel and other VIPs were on hand to witness a test flight and we had to cancel the event due to some technical problem. We forced ourselves to avoid the desire to "press on" just to meet a schedule or impress a visiting VIP."

Pestilence


Dan Abnett - 2012
    As he narrows down the source of the contagion, Sark finds himself thrown into a plot by to wipe out the defenders of the sector and allow the Ruinous Powers their triumph.A short story from the Deathwing anthology

Palatine First


Courtney Grace Powers - 2012
    A well-to-do institution where the bright and dapper youths of the Epimetheus galaxy study to become airship architects, deep space cartographers, or intragalactic politicians. Unless they’re like Reece Sheppard, who can’t seem to find the time to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an airship captain between solving kidnappings, cracking Parliament conspiracies, and trying to keep Nivy – the mysterious mute girl left to his care by his missing step-brother – alive.And as if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, with his brother MIA, Reece has been unwillingly promoted to Palatine First, heir to planet Honora’s dukeship. He’s hardly ready to put down his riding goggles and pick up the crown, but he might not have a choice unless he can find out who’s behind the assassination attempts on the reigning Grand Duke. His estranged father.

The Stardust Revolution: The New Story of Our Origin in the Stars


Jacob Berkowitz - 2012
    The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries witnessed the Copernican Revolution, which bodychecked the Earth as the pivot point of creation and joined us with the rest of the cosmos as one planet among many orbiting the Sun. Three centuries later came the second great scientific revolution: the Darwinian Revolution. It removed us from a distinct, divine biological status to place us wholly in the ebb and flow of all terrestrial life. This book describes how we’re in the midst of a third great scientific revolution, five centuries in the making: the Stardust Revolution. It is the merging of the once-disparate realms of astronomy and evolutionary biology, and of the Copernican and Darwinian Revolutions, placing life in a cosmic context. This book takes readers on a grand journey that begins on the summit of California’s Mount Wilson, where astronomers first realized that the universe is both expanding and evolving, to a radio telescope used to identify how organic molecules—the building blocks of life—are made by stars. It’s an epic story told through a scientific cast that includes some of the twentieth century’s greatest minds—including Nobel laureate Charles Townes, who discovered cosmic water—as well as the most ambitious scientific explorers of the twenty-first century, those racing to find another living planet. Today, an entirely new breed of scientists—astrobiologists and astrochemists—are taking the study of life into the space age. Astrobiologists study the origins, evolution, and distribution of life, not just on Earth, but in the universe. Stardust science is filling in the missing links in our evolutionary story, ones that extend our family tree back to the stars.

The Cosmic Tourist


Brian May - 2012
    En route, we stop off to gaze at 100 amazing sights - from asteroids to zodiacal dust and from orbit around the Earth to beyond the most distant galaxies. We start right here on Earth, with your tour guides: the three intrepid cosmic voyagers Patrick Moore, Brian May and Chris Lintott. They explain the sights - what they are, and how they fit into the astronomical zoo of familiar and curious objects and phenomena - and convey their own personal enthusiasm for each marvel you encounter. The images present the extraordinary beauty of the Universe as seen through the eyes of the biggest and best telescopes on Earth and in space, and occasionally in the backyards of expert amateur observers.

The Sky at Night: Answers to Questions from Across the Universe


Patrick Moore - 2012
    With sections on the solar system, the bizarre and unexplained, space missions, and more, this is an exciting journey into space for the novice astronomer and the lifelong stargazer alike. Discover how scientists work out the gravity of planets, what the 'Great Attractor' is and the basic principles of space navigation. Learn how to start observing the sky, what event inspired Patrick Moore to take up astronomy, and just how many of his cats are named after celestial bodies.From comets to black holes and Orion to eclipses, The Sky at Night is the ultimate introduction to the wonders and mysteries of the universe.

The Long Way Home


Sabrina Chase - 2012
    Left suddenly eighty years out of date, she is on the run in a world she no longer knows, caught in the middle of a human-alien war while agents of Toren hunt her for the information only she has--the location of the pristine world of Sequoyah.The Long Way Home is the first book in the Sequoyah trilogy.

Operative Design: A Catalog of Spatial Verbs


Anthony di Mari - 2012
    These operative verbs abstract the idea of spatial formation to its most basic terms, allowing for an objective approach to create the foundation for subjective spatial design. Examples of these verbs are expand, inflate, nest, wist, lift, embed, merge and many more. Together they form a visual dictionary decoding the syntax of spatial verbs. The verbs are illustrated with three-dimensional diagrams and pictures of designs which show the verbs 'in action'.This approach was devised, tested, and applied to architectural studio instruction by Anthony Di Mari and Nora Yoo while teaching at Harvard University's Career Discovery Program in Architecture in 2010. As instructors and as recent graduates, they saw a need for this kind of catalogue from both sides - as a reference manual applicable to design students in all stages of their studies, as well as a teaching tool for instructors to help students understand the strong spatial potential of abstract operations.

Thaliad


Marly Youmans - 2012
    There, they must learn how to survive, using tools and knowledge they discover in the ruins of the town, but also how to live together. At the heart of the story is the young girl Thalia, who gradually grows to womanhood, and into the spiritual role for which she was destined.Following in the great tradition of narrative poetry, Thaliad tells a gripping story populated with sharply-drawn, memorable characters whose struggles illuminate the complexity of human behavior from its most violent to most noble. At the same time, through its accessible language and style, the epic presents wholly contemporary questions about what is necessary not only for physical survival, but for the flourishing of the human spirit.Thaliad is decorated throughout with original collages by the renowned Welsh artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins.

Welcome to Alien School


Caryl Hart - 2012
    School has never been so much fun.

The Universe: In 100 Key Discoveries


Giles Sparrow - 2012
    Beginning with the theories put forward for the origin of our universe - the Big Bang and its rivals - and ending with what the eventual fate of our cosmos might be, this overview of 100 landmark discoveries tells the story of how we have endeavoured to understand the place of our own planet in the wider universe.

Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut


José Moreno Hernández - 2012
    Hernàndez dreamed of traveling through the night skies on a rocket ship. Reaching for the Stars is the inspiring story of how he realized that dream, becoming the first Mexican-American astronaut. Hernàndez didn't speak English till he was 12, and his peers often joined gangs, or skipped school. And yet, by his twenties he was part of an elite team helping develop technology for the early detection of breast cancer. He was turned down by NASA eleven times on his long journey to donning that famous orange space suit. Hernàndez message of hard work, education, perseverance, of "reaching for the stars," makes this a classic American autobiography.

Scholastic Discover More: Night Sky


Giles Sparrow - 2012
    On a cloudless night we wonder about the extraordinary myriad of bright lights in the sky. But do we really understand what we are looking at? From earliest times, people have been intrigued by the night sky. Over the centuries they have developed ever-more ingenious devices, from binoculars to powerful telescopes to spacecraft powered by the Sun's rays. With these, they have explored everything we can see, from our Moon to the most hard-to-reach areas of space. Using specially devised star charts, this book helps readers identify particular constellations, recognize the difference between a star and a planet, and understand why the entire sky appears to spin. They will discover how stars are born and die, what nebulae are, and how comets and asteroids are formed. This book is packed with the latest stunning images of our Universe and is a must-have for all young, aspiring astronomers. Hang onto your seats for this informative, stellar tour of our amazing Universe!

Flight of the Angels


Allan Reini - 2012
    Their crime? Clinging to their faith in a dystopian society that has outlawed all forms of religious expression. Meanwhile, Darik Mason, an ambitious junior executive, uncovers a dark conspiracy within his own corporation. His search for the truth sets him on a collision course with the Angels, pitting both sides in an epic battle with the fate of thousands of Believers hanging in the balance. In this first book in their Christian sci-fi series Flight of the Angels, co-authors Allan and Aaron Reini introduce a dark, gritty universe where evil men plot destruction while imperfect heroes sacrifice everything to defend the defenseless.

Stargazing for Dummies


Steve Owens - 2012
    Stars and other night sky objects can be seen with the naked eye, or seen in greater numbers and in more detail with binoculars or a telescope.Stargazing For Dummies offers you the chance to explore the night sky, providing a detailed guide to the main constellations and also offering advice on viewing other night sky objects such as planets and nebulae. It's a great introduction to a fun new hobby, and even provides a fun way to get the kids outside while doing something educational!Gives you an introduction to looking at the sky with binoculars or a telescope Offers advice on photographing the night sky Without needing to get your head around mind-bending theories, you can take part in some practical physics If you're looking for easy-to-follow guidance on getting to know the night sky, Stargazing For Dummies has you covered.

Star Wars: 1, 2, 3


Scholastic Inc. - 2012
    Following on the sucess of Star Wars: ABC we are offering the perfect companion--Star Wars: 123.A numerical exploration of a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: 123 uses Star Wars' most popular heroes, villains, vehicles, droids, and aliens to teach fundamental counting skills.Featuring fascinating character facts and rich imagery that incorporate each number, Star Wars: 123 is a unique and fun follow-up to Star Wars: ABC that enables children to learn numbers while exploring the Star Wars universe.

Wish Upon a Friend


Phoebe Bright - 2012
    . . .On her birthday, Cassie is whisked away on a magical adventure in the sky. She's going to become a Lucky Star -- someone who makes wishes come true! Every time she helps grant a wish, she'll collect a charm for her sparkly new bracelet. But these are no ordinary charms. Each one gives Cassie a different magical power! Can Cassie earn all seven charms and become a true Lucky Star?Each book comes with a charm just like Cassie's -- collect them all!

The Velikovsky Heresies: Worlds in Collision and Ancient Catastrophes Revisited


Laird Scranton - 2012
    Immediately dismissed without any investigation and subject to vicious attacks, Velikovsky’s theory is now poised for reexamination in light of recent astronomical and archaeological findings. Exploring the key points of Velikovsky’s theories, Laird Scranton presents evidence from recent space probe missions to show that Venus still exhibits cometlike properties, such as its atmospheric composition, and could be a young planet. Reviewing the widespread cometlike descriptions of Venus from 1500 BCE to 750 BCE as well as Velikovsky’s observation that no records of Venus exist prior to 1600 BCE, Scranton reveals recently translated ancient texts from China, Korea, and Japan that further uphold Velikovsky’s theories. Examining evidence of major geomagnetic and climate-change events around 1500 BCE and 750 BCE, corresponding with close passes of the comet Venus and its impact with Mars, the author offers scientific explanations for many disputed aspects of Velikovsky’s theories, such as how Venus transformed from a comet into an orbiting planet. By updating this unresolved controversy with new scientific evidence, Scranton helps us to understand how it was that Worlds in Collision was the one book found open on Albert Einstein’s desk at the time of his death.

Dyson's Drop


Paul Collins - 2012
    But he has a problem. One of RIM’s best agents, Anneke Longshadow, knows there’s a mole in the organisation. And Maximus has a lot to hide...

National Geographic Exploring Space


National Geographic Society - 2012
    

Smart Kids Space


Roger Priddy - 2012
    From the Solar System to the Milky Way, from Mars to Mercury, from UFOs to the Space Shuttle, Space is an ideal first guide to the mysteries and wonders of our incredible universe. Written in an accessible and fun style, the informative text is perfectly complemented by visually stunning, large-sized, full-color photography. Perfect book to introduce children aged three and over to the fascinating world above us.

Human Space Flight Mission Patch Handbook


National Aeronautics and Space Administration - 2012
    

I, Galileo


Bonnie Christensen - 2012
    The first person narration gives this book a friendly, personal feel that makes Galileo's remarkable achievements and ideas completely accessible to young readers. And Christensen's artwork glows with the light of the stars he studied.Galileo's contributions were so numerous—the telescope! the microscope!—and his ideas so world-changing—the sun-centric solar system!—that Albert Einstein called him "the father of modern science." But in his own time he was branded a heretic and imprisoned in his home. He was a man who insisted on his right to pursue the truth, no matter what the cost—making his life as interesting and instructive as his ideas.

The Eagle Has Landed: The Story of Apollo 11


Jeffrey K. Smith - 2012
    Nearly a half-century later, Armstrong's words still resonate: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The historic Space Race began with the Soviet Union launching the world's first orbiting satellite, Sputnik, on October 4, 1957 and ended with the successful Apollo 11 mission. While the Space Race is commonly remembered as a time of innovation and technological advances, powerful, yet often overlooked forces, were at play. Politics and money were among the prime catalysts of space exploration. While history was being made and new heroes were discovered, the aerospace industry reaped enormous profits and political careers blossomed. "The Eagle Has Landed: The Story of Apollo 11" chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of America's quest to land on the Moon, beginning with the stories of the visionaries who made made space explorating a reality. It is remarkable story of poltical gamesmanship, innovation, perserverence, and courage.

Night Boy


Anne Laurel Carter - 2012
    When the sun sets, he travels through the night sky in a spaceship with his teddy. Night's favorite game is hide-and-go-seek, which he plays each evening with his older sister, Day. But why can't he ever find her?Night Boy is a unique playful picturebook about a brother and a sister named Night and Day. The rhythmic text and rich illustrations make for a bedtime story that is sure to lull children who say "I can't sleep" into dreamland. Through the personas of a brother and sister, Night Boy offers a unique explanation of how night turns to day astronomically.

Star Force: Prologue (SF0)


Aer-ki Jyr - 2012
    Take your first step into a much larger world with this prologue and begin your journey to save Humanity from an overpowering enemy. Enlist in Star Force today and see why the series has over 50,000 sales to date.

LIFE Neil Armstrong 1930-2012: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."


LIFE - 2012
    He raptly followed the exploits of Chuck Yeager in the Bell X-1, and wondered if he himself might have the right stuff one day. As he saw the Mercury 7 astronauts assembled, he lamented that he had been born a generation too late for the great adventure into outer space. But Neil Armstrong's chance would come. His colleagues in the Gemini and Apollo programs wondered at his preternatural calm as he piloted through near-death experiences, and then, finally, in 1969, the Eagle landed, and Armstrong took "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." He was instantly declared an American hero, but was he one? The good news, as thrillingly documented in the pages of this commemorative LIFE tribute, is that Armstrong was exemplary in many ways. From the boyhood years to the life-changing-and world-changing-accomplishment, Armstrong stayed true to his course, and did thereafter until his death in August 2012 at age 82. All of it is here: LIFE's coverage of the space race, the family photos from Ohio, the tick-tock coverage of Apollo 11, the retreat into the peace and quiet-and family life-that always mattered to Neil Armstrong. When he was younger, Armstrong gazed at the astronauts in the pages of LIFE. And now, his story is told there once more-in full.

Discovery: Champion of the Space Shuttle Fleet


Dennis R. Jenkins - 2012
    Discovery's unique history is presented mission by mission that includes a brief narrative of each mission, a chart of its key statistics (dates, duration, altitude, payloads, etc.), each mission's patch with an explanation of its unique symbolism, a crew portrait, and two to four iconic photos that capture the distinct activities and successes of each mission. The book also features anecdotes and memories of several astronauts who flew on Discovery, as well as its modernization over the years and its final preparation for retirement at the Smithsonian.

Balloon Toons: Dinosaurs in Space


Pranas T. Naujokaitis - 2012
    No way! They saw that big rock coming and blasted off into space. There are 3 stories. BURGERS VS. SALAD: The dinos occupy two entrée-oriented planets: planet Plant and planet Meat. Verbal insults and a food fight ensue between herbivores and carnivores as they chow down at the Big Comet Diner. An omnivore-dino brings the two sides together when he suggests veggie burgers and adding lettuce to the meat patties. The initially skeptical dinos eat it up and discover many mutual interests. SCARY ALIEN FROM ANOTHER PLANET: The ETD's make the terrifying discovery of an Earthling astronaut. Turns out, the astronaut is even more freaked out when he gets a load of a bunch of space dinosaurs staring at him. THE GREAT SPACE RACE: Dino-buddies have a contentious friendship--Tyrone's the free-spirited one who likes to make a contest out of everything and doesn't care about the rules. Stewart is more conscientious and practical. But when Tyrone's devil-may-care gamesmanship almost lands him in a black hole, it's Stewart to the rescue as he straps on jetpacks and pulls his pal away from the void.

Earth As Art


Lawrence Friedl - 2012
    Over the decades, these satellites have provided invaluable information, and the vantage point of space has provided new perspectives on Earth. This book celebrates Earth’s aesthetic beauty in the patterns, shapes, colors, and textures of the land, oceans, ice, and atmosphere. The book features 75 stunning images of Earth from the Terra, Landsat 5, Landsat 7, EO-1, and Aqua satellites. Sensors on these satellites can measure light outside of the visible range, so the images show more than what is visible to the naked eye. The images are intended for viewing enjoyment rather than scientific interpretation. The beauty of Earth is clear, and the artistry ranges from the surreal to the sublime.Earth as art—enjoy the gallery.NASA Science Mission DirectorateEarth Science Division

Destiny or Chance Revisited: Planets and Their Place in the Cosmos


Stuart Ross Taylor - 2012
    Beginning with the basic concepts of planet formation and the composition of the Universe, Stuart Ross Taylor summarises our knowledge of exoplanets, how they compare with our planets and why some stars have better habitable zones. Further sections provide a detailed study of our Solar System, as a basis for understanding exoplanetary systems, and a detailed study of the Earth as our only current example of a habitable planet. The book concludes with a philosophical and historical discussion of topics surrounding planets and the development of life, including why our chances of finding aliens on exoplanets is very low. This is an engaging and informative read for anyone interested in planetary formation and the exploration of our Universe.

Rocket Science


Ian SalesSimon McCaffery - 2012
    In the spirit of Mutation's mission to add to bibliodiversity, the stories were selected by an open call for submissions. The authors, selected from a range of nationalities, are a mixture of published fiction writers, professional astrophysicists and aerospace engineers.

To Orbit and Back Again: How the Space Shuttle Flew in Space


Davide Sivolella - 2012
    space program for thirty years and has generated a great deal of interest among space enthusiasts and engineers. This book enables readers to understand its technical systems in greater depth than they have been able to do so before.The author describes the structures and systems of the Space Shuttle, and then follows a typical mission, explaining how the structures and systems were used in the launch, orbital operations and the return to Earth. Details of how anomalous events were dealt with on individual missions are also provided, as are the recollections of those who built and flew the Shuttle. Many photographs and technical drawings illustrate how the Space Shuttle functions, avoiding the use of complicated technical jargon.The book is divided into two sections: Part 1 describes each subsystem in a technical style, supported by diagrams, technical drawings, and photographs to enable a better understanding of the concepts. Part 2 examines different flight phases, from liftoff to landing. Technical material has been obtained from NASA as well as from other forums and specialists.Author Davide Sivolella is an aerospace engineer with a life-long interest in space and is ideally qualified to interpret technical manuals for a wider audience. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the topic including the evolution of given subsystems, reviewing the different configurations, and focusing on the solutions implemented.

Human Space Flight Mission Patch Handbook


Various - 2012
    http://www.amazon.com/NASA-Mission-Pa...

Planets


Penelope Arlon - 2012
    Welcome to a tour of the major planets, moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas that orbit the sun. The latest NASA and European Space Station images, many unique to this book, are combined with up-to-the-minute information from space experts across the globe, and modern graphics to entice confident and reluctant readers alike.

The Life and Death of Stars


Kenneth R. Lang - 2012
    Lang explains the life cycle of stars, from the dense molecular clouds that are stellar nurseries to the enigmatic nebulae some stars leave behind in their violent ends. Free of mathematical equations and technical jargon, Lang's lively and accessible text provides physical insights into how stars such as our Sun are born, what fuels them and keeps them bright, how they evolve, and the processes by which they eventually die. The book demonstrates the sheer scope and variety of stellar phenomena in the context of the universe as a whole. Boxed focus elements enhance and amplify the discussion for readers looking for more depth. Featuring more than 150 figures, including color plates, The Life and Death of Stars is a modern and up-to-date account of stars written for a broad audience, from armchair astronomers and popular science readers to students and teachers of science.

Space: Facts at Your Fingertips (DK Pocket Genius)


D.K. Publishing - 2012
    A pocket-sized encyclopedia for kids that contains information about space: the solar system, stars, nebulae, exoplanets, and space exploration!

Lunar Rover Manual: 1971-1972


Christopher Riley - 2012
    With a Foreword by the first Apollo astronaut to drive it on the Moon, Dave Scott, and published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of mankind’s final drive on the Moon in December 2012. The book is part mechanical guide, illustrated with many of the technical drawings from the time, and part narrative-driven story of engineering ingenuity and human triumph. It draws on the rich NASA photographic archive and the complete transcripts of the crews' reaction to driving across the Moon, which the authors have an un-paralleled knowledge and experience of working with.

Destined for Space: Our Story of Exploration


Don Nardo - 2012
    From wishful stargazing to moon walking to, someday, intergalactic travel, the story of human space exploration is full of daring adventure, incredible machinery, and endless curiosity about our place in the universe.

Astrological Oracle


Lunaea Weatherstone - 2012
    The dynamic energies of the signs and planets, depicted in attractive Art Nouveau-style artwork, offers crucial insight into the past, the present, and the future. Explore the stars to understand the character traits, motivations, and strengths of yourself and your loved ones.Hardbox (4 x 51/4) includes 22 full-color cards and 192-pp book (31/2 x 5)The companion booklets for most Lo Scarabeo decks are in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German.

Universe: Journey into Deep Space


Mike Goldsmith - 2012
    Each double-page artwork takes you further and further from our home planet, and offers a short piece of descriptive text to place the scene in context, both visually and scientifically.

Flight of the Star Phoenix


Bernard Doove - 2012
    To do so, he refurbishes a former Star Corps vessel and renames it Phoenix. He gathers an assortment of morphs and aliens to crew it, each with their own unusual background. They start off with high hopes and great prospects, but it isn't long before trouble finds them, and the crew is put to the test. The dangers are very real, and lives are at stake as well as fortunes. However, those are not the only problems Yote must face. He must also pay back the money that he used to buy his ship within five years, or else everything that he has struggled to build will be forfeit. This is a brand new story set in the Chakat Universe. Learn more about it as you follow the adventures of Martin Yote and the crew of the starship Phoenix.

SpaceX: Making Commercial Spaceflight a Reality


Erik Seedhouse - 2012
    Since its inception in 2002, SpaceX has sought to change the space launch paradigm by developing a family of launch vehicles that will ultimately reduce the cost and increase the reliability of space access tenfold. Coupled with the newly emerging market for governmental, private, and commercial space transport, this new model will re-ignite humanity's efforts to explore and develop space. Formed in 2002 by Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal and the Zip2 Corporation, SpaceX has already developed two state-of-the-art new launch vehicles, established an impressive launch manifest, and been awarded COTS funding by NASA to demonstrate delivery and return of cargo to the ISS. This book describes how simplicity, low-cost, and reliability can go hand in hand, as promoted in the philosophy of SpaceX. It explains how, by eliminating the traditional layers of internal management and external sub-contractors and keeping the vast majority of manufacturing in house, SpaceX reduces its costs while accelerating decision making and delivery, controls quality, and ensures constant liaison between the design and manufacturing teams.

Making Starships and Stargates: The Science of Interstellar Transport and Absurdly Benign Wormholes


James F. Woodward - 2012
    A less ambitious, but nonetheless revolutionary, goal is finding a way to accelerate a spaceship without having to lug along a gargantuan reservoir of fuel that you blow out a tailpipe. Tethers and solar sails are conventional realizations of the basic idea. There may now be a way to achieve these lofty objectives. Making Starships and Stargates will have three parts. The first will deal with information about the theories of relativity needed to understand the predictions of the effects that make possible the propulsion techniques, and an explanation of those techniques. The second will deal with experimental investigations into the feasibility of the predicted effects; that is, do the effects exist and can they be applied to propulsion? The third part of the book the most speculative will examine the question: what physics is needed if we are to make wormholes and warp drives? Is such physics plausible? And how might we go about actually building such devices? This book pulls all of that material together from various sources, updates and revises it, and presents it in a coherent form so that those interested will be able to find everything of relevance all in one place."

Inventing the American Astronaut


Matthew H. Hersch - 2012
    Instead, the early astronauts were something else: a new kind of 'organization man,' calm, calculating, and attuned to the politics and celebrity of the Space Race. Through archival documents, popular culture, and interviews with the astronauts themselves, the book examines the origins of a new American profession and follows it through the last Moon landing and the creation of the Space Shuttle.

Beneath the Sky


Dan Thompson - 2012
    When a faster-than-light freighter crosses their path, a forgotten history catches up with them and puts their future in doubt. Maggie and her father are drawn to the center of the conflict over what will become of their colony, their faith, and even their lives. It’s the space-opera analog of the Mayflower landing in modern Boston, filled with high technology, different customs, and 747’s cutting their travel time down to hours. Battling conspiracy, politics, and even pirates, Maggie must rise to the challenge or face her colony’s doom.

Orbital Mechanics


John E. Prussing - 2012
    Prussing and Bruce A. Conway has been the most authoritative textbook on space trajectories and orbital transfers.Completely revised and updated, this edition provides:* Current data and statistics, along with coverage of new research and the most recent developments in the field* Three new chapters: "The Three-Body Problem" (Ch. 4), "Continuous-Thrust Transfer" (Ch. 8), and "Canonical Systems and the Lagrange Equations" (Ch. 12)* New material on multiple-revolution Lambert solutions, gravity-assist applications, and the state transition matrix for a general conic orbit* New examples and problems throughout* A new Companion Website with PowerPoint slides (www.oup.com/us/prussing)

Astrology and Cosmology In The World's Religions


Nicholas Campion - 2012
    Campion traces beliefs about the heavens among peoples ranging from ancient Egypt and China, to Australia and Polynesia, and India and the Islamic world.Addressing each religion in a separate chapter, Campion outlines how, by observing the celestial bodies, people have engaged with the divine, managed the future, and attempted to understand events here on earth. This fascinating text offers a unique way to delve into comparative religions and will also appeal to those intrigued by New Age topics.

Trouble at the Hotel Baba Ghanoush


T.C. Archer - 2012
    But the cartel is hiding something, and Fontana intends to find out what--then make them pay for murdering Jenny, the young scientist Fontana failed to protect on a previous assignment.The last thing Fontana intends to do while vacationing incognito on the fantasy resort Sagitariun is follow the advice of her superior. “Rest, recuperate, and find a man.”But how can a woman resist a blond, blue-eyed, chisel-jawed, great-assed man streaking naked in public when he's obviously running from someone? And why can't she to get rid of the damned trench coat she stole to rescue him?Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable.

The Dreamer Genome


Steve S. Grant - 2012
    He is supported by a pharmaceutical tycoon who believes in his genius and realizes the implications of his work: Cryogenics; to prolong life; a one-way time machine to the future; unlimited financial potential to the company who develops and markets such a long coveted dream.When the clandestine lab is voluntarily destroyed to avoid discovery, test subjects are scattered and raised in extremely different conditions. Years later, only a handful possess the right genetic material to become the highly prized, freezable astronauts of the 21st century. When an eccentric billionaire finds out he is one of them, his personal agenda threatens to upset carefully elaborated plans spanning decades.Written with rigorous attention to the limitations of the harsh space environment in the tradition of Arthur C. Clarke, with a blend of Michael Crichton’s use of untested scientific theories, the novel takes readers on a wild ride to the near future over a period of 30 years.

Solar System Forecast


Kelly Kizer Whitt - 2012
    Get ready for some out of this world fun with Solar System Forecast!

Drive


James S.A. Corey - 2012
    Corey. Set two hundred years in the future, where man has colonized the outer asteroid belt, The Expanse follows the case of a missing girl that brings together a hardened detective and a rogue ship captain in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history. "Drive" highlights a key moment in The Expanse universe whose ramifications set the foundation for the show.The story is a prequel taking place approximately 150 years prior to the main series, concerning Solomon Epstein and his invention of the Epstein drive.

The Rocket City Rednecks' New American Space Plan


Travis S. Taylor - 2012
    They're five ''backwoods'' guys from the rocket city: Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the birthplace of the U.S. space program. Sure, they love to shoot stuff and drink beer, and one of 'em lives in a trailer, but with a family tree full of NASA rocket scientists (not to mention their own PhDs and advanced degrees), they aim a little higher—like using homemade moonshine to fuel a rocket!Now, in typical laidback style, Dr. Travis S. Taylor, leader of the crew, delivers the goods on how America can return to space exploration and manned space flight. What's needed is a good old ''try anything'' attitude, a bit of gumption, and the spectacularly entertaining backyard science that's the Rocket City Redneck specialty.At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia


Mike Goldsmith - 2012
    A glossary and index are included along with a list of web sites for further learning.With dramatic full-bleed artwork, a visual design that organizes the information into clear, digestible sections, the latest photography, and special features such as digital cutaways, step-bystep sequences, and callouts featuring key scientific ideas, this amazing 160-page volume is the perfect guide to space for today's visual learners. Arranged thematically into five key areas—Observing Space, The Solar System, Stars and galaxies, Space Exploration, and Space in the Future—The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia by Dr. Mike Goldsmith features concise text by an astrophysics expert that is coherent, accurate and perfectly pitched for middle-grade audiences. A glossary and index are included in the back matter along with a list of web sites to take the learning beyond the book. The unbeatable combination of great design, authoritative information, and affordable price makes this the perfect home or classroom reference for any curious space explorer.

Frontiers of Astrobiology


Chris Impey - 2012
    What is the earliest evidence for life on Earth? Where are the most likely sites for life in the Solar System? Could life have evolved elsewhere in the Galaxy? What are the best strategies for detecting intelligent extraterrestrial life? How many habitable or Earth-like exoplanets are there? Progress in astrobiology over the past decade has been rapid and, with evidence accumulating that Mars once hosted standing bodies of liquid water, the discovery of over 500 exoplanets and new insights into how life began on Earth, the scientific search for our origins and place in the cosmos continues.

The Milky Way


Martha E.H. Rustad - 2012
    Did you know the Milky Way galaxy has 200 billion stars? Did you know light takes 100,000 years to travel across our galaxy? Find out more in The Milky Way.

Why Live?


Kathy Disanto - 2012
    And it's all Ella Fitzgerald's fault.For more than four hundred years, all aboard the star cruiser Janus has been sweetness and light. Thanks to advanced techniques and a flawless educational system, life goes on ... and on and on … for the five hundred souls (a.k.a., the Quingenti) who bolted Earth when the Global Assembly refused to legalize human cloning. It was only meant to be a temporary fix, after all, a stop-gap strategy adopted while science struggles to conquer the Known Span, that one-hundred-twenty-year mortality threshold everybody reaches, but nobody crosses.Who knew six lousy words could trigger a rebellion? Especially words as apparently harmless as, "There was only one Ella Fitzgerald." But the words no sooner leave Kai's mouth when the light goes on and the trouble begins. Before long the same truth that rocked her world makes itself known to a handful of others, and at least one of them doesn't have the sense to keep quiet.When Dr. Ke-Ling Yan, the Colony's lead geneticist and a member of the ruling Council, notifies his colleagues of his intention to move for the abolition of cloning, the mild-mannered Quingenti reveal themselves as anything but. Believing Ke-Ling is the only "catastrophically imbalanced" citizen, the Council opts for containment via the Alpha Genesis Option.Think microchip, implanted in every colonist's brain. Think excruciating, in extremis, involuntary intervention that wipes the mental hard drive, leaving a zombie ready and willing to be reprogrammed, and you have the general idea.But word gets out before the mind police can make their move, and Ke-Ling takes containment completely off the table with a shockingly public suicide and a ship-wide broadcast designed to open everyone's eyes. In no time at all, the life aboard the Janus morphs into an interstellar witch hunt. Every secret will be exposed, every non-compliant mind raped.Will Kai-Lee and her friends be able to hang onto the new lives they've found? Where do you run when you're on a space ship millions of miles from nowhere, and the hounds are closing in?

Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part 3: Wows and Woes, 1997-2003


Paolo Ulivi - 2012
    Technical descriptions of the spacecraft, of their mission designs and of instrumentations will be provided. Scientific results will be discussed in considerable depth, together with details of mission management.The books will cover missions from the 1950s until the present day, and some of the latest missions and their results will appear in a popular science book for the first time. The authors will also cover many unflown projects, providing an indication of the ideas that proved to be unfulfilled at the time but which may still be proven and useful in the future.Just like Lunar Exploration, these books will use sources only recently made available on the Soviet space program, in addition to some obscure and rarely used references on the European space program.The project will deliver three volumes totaling over 1000 pages that will provide comprehensive coverage of the topic with thousands of references to the professional literature that should make it the 'first port of call' for people seeking information on the topic.

Stars: A Month-by-Month Tour of the Constellations: With Your Guide Mike Lynch


Mike Lynch - 2012
    Beloved WCCO Radio meteorologist Mike Lynch points out constellations and other fascinating features in the stars above. He highlights 27 constellations, offering tips that will make you an expert at locating objects in the night sky, as well as the stories and myths behind the constellations. Plus, his monthly star maps show galaxies, nebulae and more. With his warm anecdotes and step-by-step instructions, Mike helps you "make the stars your old friends."

Janus (Phoenix Rising, #1)


Gail R. Delaney - 2012
    The war left Earth devastated, crippled, but not beaten. Under the leadership of President Nick Tanner and in collaboration with their new Areth and Umani allies, the Earth seeks stable ground again. John Smith of the Areth was a soldier before his queen asked him to serve as ambassador to Earth, and he is out of his element. Restricted in his position from carrying a weapon, he has no way of defensing himself or his adopted son when the Xenos - a group of Humans wishing to purge the Earth of all alien influence - decide they want him dead. Jenifer is a soldier for hire, and answers to no one but her own common sense. She first refused the "job" of serving as John's bodyguard, but a glimpse at the heart of the man convinces her to accept the responsibility. John has two faces: a soldier and an ambassador of peace. Jenifer has two faces: the steel-skinned warrior and the forgotten person she once was. Too many people hide behind masks, and it's those hiding who want John dead

On Teaching Religion: Essays by Jonathan Z. Smith


Jonathan Z. Smith - 2012
    Smith has been among the most important voices of critical reflection within the academic study of religion. Smith has also produced a significant corpus of essays and lectures on teaching and on the essential role of academic scholarship on religion inmatters of education and public policy. Education is not a side issue for Smith, and his essays continually shed light on fundamental questions. What differentiates college from high school? What are the proper functions of an introductory course? What functions should a department serve inundergraduate and graduate education? How should a major or concentration be conceived-if at all? What roles should the academic guilds play in public discourse on education and on religion? Most importantly, what does it mean to say that one is both a scholar and a teacher, and whatresponsibilities does this entail?Smith's writings on these crucial issues for education have been largely inaccessible until now. Some pieces in this book appeared in education journals, while others were collected in specialist volumes of conference proceedings. Many were originally delivered as keynote speeches to the AmericanAcademy of Religion and other major scholarly organizations, and although scholars reminisce about hearing Smith deliver them, the works themselves are not readily available. On Teaching Religion collects the best of these essays and lectures into one volume, along with a new essay by Smith.

The Cosmonaut Who Couldn't Stop Smiling: The Life and Legend of Yuri Gagarin


Andrew L. Jenks - 2012
    The twenty-seven-year-old lieutenant colonel departed for the stars from within the shadowy world of the Soviet military-industrial complex. Barbed wires, no-entry placards, armed guards, false identities, mendacious maps, and a myriad of secret signs had hidden Gagarin from prying outsiders—not even his friends or family knew what he had been up to. Coming less than four years after the Russians launched Sputnik into orbit, Gagarin’s voyage was cause for another round of capitalist shock and Soviet rejoicing. The Cosmonaut Who Couldn’t Stop Smiling relates this twentieth-century icon’s remarkable life while exploring the fascinating world of Soviet culture. Gagarin’s flight brought him massive international fame—in the early 1960s, he was possibly the most photographed person in the world, flashing his trademark smile while rubbing elbows with the varied likes of Nehru, Castro, Queen Elizabeth II, and Italian sex symbol Gina Lollobrigida. Outside of the spotlight, Andrew L. Jenks reveals, his tragic and mysterious death in a jet crash became fodder for morality tales and conspiracy theories in his home country, and, long after his demise, his life continues to provide grist for the Russian popular-culture mill. This is the story of a legend, both the official one and the one of myth, which reflected the fantasies, perversions, hopes and dreams of Gagarin’s fellow Russians. With this rich, lively chronicle of Gagarin’s life and times, Jenks recreates the elaborately secretive world of space-age Russia while providing insights into Soviet history that will captivate a range of readers.