A new perspective on the enormously influential but insufficiently understood work of San Francisco-based artist Bruce Conner (1933–2008). In a career that spanned five decades, most of them spent in San Francisco, Bruce Conner (1933–2008) produced a unique body of work that refused to be contained by medium or style. Whether making found-footage films, hallucinatory ink-blot graphics, enigmatic collages, or assemblages from castoffs, Conner took up genres as quickly as he abandoned them. In this first book-length study of Conner's enormously influential but insufficiently understood career, Kevin Hatch explores Conner's work as well as his position on the geographical, cultural, and critical margins. Generously illustrated with many color images of Conner's works, Looking for Bruce Conner proceeds in roughly chronological fashion, from Conner's notorious assemblages (BLACK DAHLIA and RATBASTARD among them) through his experimental films (populated by images from what Conner called “the tremendous, fantastic movies going in my head from all the scenes I'd seen”), his little-known graphic work, and his collage and inkblot drawings.
SEALS–America’s best just got better. On the heels of a bloody first contact comes Earth’s most important diplomatic mission in history: a summit meeting with the three alien empires vying for control of the galaxy. Assurance that Earth’s first extraterrestrial ambassadors aboard the spaceship Pangaea will be safe means little to Lieutenant Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. After all, a job’s a job. As escorts on the voyage, Jackson and his sixteen-man team of new-breed Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, Land, and Space) must be neither seen nor heard. Unless, of course, the op hits the fan. While Jackson and his team respond to a distress call from an allied fleet, the Pangaea, with all its diplomatic passengers, goes missing, forcing the SEALS to follow the trail to an ice moon at the edge of the galaxy, a harsh environment crawling with crack commandos and hostile enemies. But for these warriors with their outrageous firepower, what seems an impossible quest is just another day in deep space.
A lavishly illustrated, large-format reference book by two preeminent experts on North American shorebirds More than half a century has passed since the publication of The Shorebirds of North America, Peter Matthiessen’s masterful natural history of what is arguably the world’s most amazing and specialized bird group. In the intervening decades, our knowledge about these birds has grown significantly, as have the threats to their populations and habitats. Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson celebrate Matthiessen’s classic book with this updated and expanded natural history of North American shorebirds. This elegantly written book begins by introducing readers to the unrivaled splendor of shorebirds and goes on to cover topics ranging from their biology and habitats to courtship and breeding, flight, the perils of migration, and conservation. Detailed accounts convey the richness and variety of the five family groups, with incisive, fact-filled descriptions of all 52 species of shorebirds known to breed in North America. Featuring hundreds of breathtaking images by Karlson and other photographers and drawing on the latest science, The Shorebirds of North America is a worthy tribute to Matthiessen’s enduring work and an indispensable reference for bird lovers everywhere.
Vectorworks for Entertainment Design covers the complete design process for using Vectorworks in entertainment industry from developing ideas, visualizing ideas, and evolving them for execution. This second edition has been extensively revised and updated, covering the most current details of the Vectorworks software for scenery, lighting, sound, and rigging; real and virtually. With a focused look at the production process from ideation to development to documentation required for proper execution, the book encourages readers to better create their own processes and workflows through exercises that build on one another. This new edition introduces Braceworks, SubDivision modeling, and scripting using the Marionette tool, and covers new tools such as Video Camera, Deform Tool, Camera Match, Schematic Views, and Object Styles. Fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions, this volume contains inspirational and aspirational work from Broadway, Concerts, Regional Theatre, Dance, and Experiential Entertainment. Exploring both the technical how-to and the art of design, this book provides Theatre Designers and Technicians with the tools to learn about the application and use it professionally. Vectorworks for Entertainment Design also includes access to downloadable resources such as exercise files and images to accompany projects discussed within the book.
From two New York Times–bestselling authors, a group of talented young people heads to the International Space Station for a new mission: saving Earth from invasion . . . Now that JJ Wren, her brother Dylan, and friends King and Song-Ye have seen Earth’s dark future—facing an invasion by the hideous alien Kylarn—they know they have to prepare the human race. At the local Challenger Center, the mysterious Commander Zota sends JJ and her friends off on another mission, this time to the International Space Station Complex, where they meet old friends, survivors from the disaster at Moonbase Magellan, as well as a mysterious girl, Mira, who claims to be from the past. Another Star Challenger with her own mentor, just like Commander Zota. Together, they have to discover and stop the continuing plans of the alien invaders. And the Kylarn have set their sights on conquering, or destroying, the space station, so that Earth has no protection at all! “The Star Challengers books inspire young readers with [a] sense of adventure, introducing them to a universe of exciting possibilities.” —Buzz Aldrin “[There’s] never a dull moment in these fast-paced books . . . Don’t miss this thought-provoking series.” —Lurlene McDaniel, author of Breathless
This sequel to A.E. van Vogt's 'Slan, ' authorized by van Vogt's estate, which can also be read as a stand-alone, continues one of the most famous science fiction novels of the 20th century. Slans, a superior race of mutants are smarter than humans and able to read minds, yet they are persecuted and survivors of genocidal wars who now hide from humans. When a future war among the races of mankind breaks out, all types of humanity struggle to survive.
In this YA adventure, student visitors to the Challenger Center are sent on a mission to the moon—where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. After an exhilarating space simulation field trip at the local Challenger Center, a group of students are hand-picked by the mysterious Commander Zota for a special adventure: to travel to the future. A real moon base is in trouble, and these new “Star Challengers” will need to learn skills to save the human race./
True, brilliantly written story of how one young man solved his crisis by rowing the Atlantic. This is a story about trying to find happiness. There is a strange trick to being happy. You have to think certain things, believe certain things and hold your tongue the right way. This is the story of how Kevin Biggar lost the trick and found it again. There's quite a bit about rowing as well. If you are in a hurry here are the contents of this book in 150 words or less: "I stop being immortal. I have a traumatic pizza ordering experience and realize I am very unhappy. I quit my job, girlfriend, house and go live with my mother. I watch a lot of daytime TV. The 'How's Life' show decides that I row the Atlantic. I team up with the original Naked Rower, we struggle to raise money, start building the boat, start training insanely. I lose the plot. Find a rowing partner, lose a rowing partner, get another rowing partner - Jamie. "Meet Hot Polish Girl with cold hands. Start the race (badly). Row into storm. Take the lead. Row. Lose the lead. Row. Attempt a Big Push. Nothing happens. More rowing. Hallucinations. Slowly catch up! Another storm. Neck and neck as we sprint to the finish. Capsize and get thrown out of the boat. Get to Barbados! Yay! Get protested against. Boo! Media circus. Win at the protest hearing. Still living with Mum.
The evolutionary objective of both sexes is to optimize the number of genes they contribute to following generations. Invariably the most efficient way to achieve this is to have many high quality offspring. However, males and females can be influenced by very different biological forces that subsequently shape their reproductive strategies. This readable account of the evolution of sexual reproduction highlights these differences between the sexes, specifically the potential for both conflict and co-operation at the level of the individual. Males and females are often very different when it comes to carrying out their reproductive strategies and may be at odds as to how best to maximize their success. This book discusses those differences, how they arose, what they are, and provides a wealth of examples to better understand how the two biological sexes approach sexual reproduction. The Evolution of Sex is an accessible primer suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students of anthropology, psychology, and biology. It will also appeal to a more general audience seeking a better understanding of human sexual behaviour from an evolutionary viewpoint.
Kinematics and Dynamics of Mechanical Systems: Implementation in MATLAB® and SimMechanics®, Second Edition combines the fundamentals of mechanism kinematics, synthesis, statics and dynamics with real-world applications, and offers step-by-step instruction on the kinematic, static, and dynamic analyses and synthesis of equation systems. Written for students with no working knowledge of MATLAB and SimMechanics, the text provides understanding of static and dynamic mechanism analysis, and moves beyond conventional kinematic concepts—factoring in adaptive programming, 2D and 3D visualization, and simulation, and equips readers with the ability to analyze and design mechanical systems. This latest edition presents all of the breadth and depth as the past edition, but with updated theoretical content and much improved integration of MATLAB and SimMechanics in the text examples. Features: Fully integrates MATLAB and SimMechanics with treatment of kinematics and machine dynamics Revised to modify all 300 end-of-chapter problems, with new solutions available for instructors Formulated static & dynamic load equations, and MATLAB files, to include gravitational acceleration Adds coverage of gear tooth forces and torque equations for straight bevel gears Links text examples directly with a library of MATLAB and SimMechanics files for all users
Based on the legendary science-fiction series The Saga Of Seven Suns,Veiled Alliancesis a revelatory prequel, in which long-term fanswill discover the origin of the green priests on Theroc, the first Roamer skymining operations on a gas-giant planet, the discovery of the Klikiss robots entombed in an abandoned alien city, the initial Ildiran expedition to Earth, the rescue of the generation ship Burtonand the tragedy that led to sinister breeding experiments. In this volume the human race begins its expansion into outer space, only to discover that for centuries a multitude of other races has already been interacting on a cosmic scale. Eleven exploratory ships carrying humans escaping a degenerating Earth are discovered by a more advanced space-faring civilization, the Ildaran Empire. The empire helps the refugees - by now the several-generations-later offspring of the original voyagers - settle suitable planets and sends diplomats with a few of them to Earth to establish trade and diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, both Terran and Ildaran authorities bring hidden agendas to their first-contact discussions, and asEarth attempts to become a player in this new arena, its ambassadors are thrust into a foreign world of alien life forms, backstabbing politics, bitter feuds, and a deadly struggle to become the supreme force in the universe.
Drazeryn a rogue from the streets who works as a stable boy finds himself embroiled into the life of a rogue' network of spies, assassins and enforcers who force him to enter their ranks and become a deadly assassin. During the course of it all he finds love and many allies. The allies he finds are mostly of a nefarious sort. As he contemplates the meaning of everything he finds himself with few answers. Later on when the city takes on a new form he must ally with many people that normally a rogue would never deign to notice. Meeting the son of the high councillor, a Knight of the Pure Heart, A Battleguard, a whimsical bard and the love of his life take him to new heights and conclusions of the meaning of love and life. The companions find an evil rogue' guild, called the Kadamari, which is much too disruptive for their liking. The idea of rogues fighting rogues is not an uncommon concept. The Pavakans fighting the Kadamari has been happening for a very long time in The City of Ages. Will the rogues destroy themselves or destroy the city trying to eradicate one another
The allied factions of humanity, along with the waning Ildiran Empire and the powerful water elementals and sentient trees, have defeated the near-invincible alien race of the hydrogues, driving them back into the depths of gas-giant planets. But before peace can heal the wounds between the races, two ancient enemies return: the capricious fiery elementals, the faeros, who mean to burn all those who fought alongside their mortal enemies. And the lost hive race of the Klikiss, who intend to reclaim all the worlds they inhabited 10,000 years earlier, worlds that are now home to many human colonies. Meanwhile, the leader of the Terran Hanseatic League, Chairman Basil Wenceslas, intends to pull all of humanity's unruly stepchildren into his iron grip - even if it means he has to hold the Ildiran Mage-Imperator hostage, risking renewed war with an entire alien civilization. THE ASHES OF WORLDS brings to a thrilling conclusion the myriad storylines of galactic warfare and personal betrayals, starlost romances and titanic alien conflicts.
The epic story of the fastest boat ride in history, on a hand-built dory named the "Emerald Mile," through the heart of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado river.
In late June 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia drove back Maj. Gen. George McClellan’s Army of the Potomac from the gates of the Confederate capital. Richmond was safe—at least for the moment. Another threat soon emerged when the Army of Virginia, a new command under Maj. Gen. John Pope, moved toward Fredericksburg, threatening Confederate communications, supply points, and Richmond. Pope, who had a reputation as something of a braggart, had scored victories along the Mississippi River at New Madrid and Island No. 10. President Lincoln was hopeful he would replicate that success in Virginia. Pope brought with him a harder philosophy of war, one that would put pressure not just on Lee’s army but on the population of Virginia. Alarmed and offended by “such a miscreant as Pope,” Lee began moving part of his army north to counter and “suppress” the threat. In Never Such a Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas, August 28–30, 1862, historians Dan Welch and Kevin R. Pawlak follow Lee and Pope as they converge on ground bloodied just thirteen months earlier at First Bull Run (Manassas). Since then, the armies had grown in both size and efficiency, and any pitched combat between them promised to dwarf the earlier battle. For the second summer in a row, Union and Confederate forces clashed on the plains of Manassas. This time, the results would be far more terrible.
Explore the amazing alien spacecrafts hidden in the top-secret facilities of Area 51 when you get your hands on this classified maintenance manual! You'll learn how to fix ion-vapor leaks, stabilize a plasma core, reboot time-sequence initiators, synchronize power cube pulses, and sustain bio-bubble species while you solve mazes and other activities in this full-color book. Solutions included.
A history of the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A., a Southern Unionist regiment led by Colonel Fielding Hurst, during the American Civil War from 1862 to 1865.
From his hardscrabble NYC upbringing, through the NYPD ranks, to command of America’s first ever joint task force on terrorism alongside the FBI, Kevin M. Hallinan lived a lot of history. From beat cop to detective, Hallinan maneuvered through some of America’s most volatile decades and saw from the inside the tenuous gray line between law and order. The job proved to be extremely isolating. And it was almost always hair-trigger. Early in his career, Hallinan became embroiled in deadly mob cases, which pulled him under the scrutiny of the feared and historic Knapp Commission on police corruption. In extreme danger and under pressure, he persevered and kept his integrity intact. Higher-ups took notice and brought him into the chief of detectives’ office where he helped reorganize robbery squads and create innovative and responsive new police initiatives. One such effort helped bring awareness and sensitivity to sexual assault investigations and contributed to the creation of the revolutionary Special Victims Unit. And that was only the beginning. As the 80s unfolded and deadly attacks on police, diplomatic missions, and corporate targets escalated throughout the city, Hallinan relied on the mentoring of a growing network of law enforcement notables. It was compiling this amazing human network that made him the perfect choice to help pull together and lead the pioneering FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. The JTTF, as it came to be known, would go on to create many of the counterterrorism tools and tactics that keep America safe to this very day. After retiring from law enforcement, Hallinan began a new chapter as Executive Director of Security and Facilities Management for Major League Baseball. His fascinating inside look at a life in law enforcement spans layers of history, explores evolutions in national security, and features game-changing heroes and eye-opening innovations. Kevin M. Hallinan’s life and learning are at once informative, thrilling, entertaining—and perhaps most of all, truly inspiring.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . . A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view. Luke Skywalker’s game-changing destruction of the Death Star has made him not only a hero of the Rebel Alliance but a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against the Empire. Though he’s a long way from mastering the power of the Force, there’s no denying his phenomenal skills as a pilot—and in the eyes of Rebel leaders Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar, there’s no one better qualified to carry out a daring rescue mission crucial to the Alliance cause. A brilliant alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems is being detained by Imperial agents determined to exploit her exceptional talents for the Empire’s purposes. But the prospective spy’s sympathies lie with the Rebels, and she’s willing to join their effort in exchange for being reunited with her family. It’s an opportunity to gain a critical edge against the Empire that’s too precious to pass up. It’s also a job that demands the element of surprise. So Luke and the ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 swap their trusty X-wing fighter for a sleek space yacht piloted by brash recruit Nakari Kelen, daughter of a biotech mogul, who’s got a score of her own to settle with the Empire. Challenged by ruthless Imperial bodyguards, death-dealing enemy battleships, merciless bounty hunters, and monstrous brain-eating parasites, Luke plunges head-on into a high-stakes espionage operation that will push his abilities as a Rebel fighter and would-be Jedi to the limit. If ever he needed the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi to shepherd him through danger, it’s now. But Luke will have to rely on himself, his friends, and his own burgeoning relationship with the Force to survive. Praise for Heir to the Jedi “Utterly compelling . . . [The novel] plants readers in Luke Skywalker’s boots in the early days of his heroism, during the weeks after he blew up the Death Star.”—New York Daily News “An excellent book with rich characters, bubbling humor and poignant emotion.”—Roqoo Depot “Entertaining . . . action-packed . . . suspenseful.”—New York Journal of Books “Great . . . [an] entertaining introduction into understanding Luke’s character . . . There are moments in The Empire Strikes Back that I now point to and say, ‘I understand how he got there,’ and it’s because of this novel.”—The Wookiee Gunner “Pure Star Wars . . . From shoot-outs to narrow escapes, I could practically hear John Williams’s score playing in my head—a credit to Kevin Hearne, to be sure.”—Coffee with Kenobi “A must-read for fans . . . I left with a much closer understanding of who Luke Skywalker is, and an even deeper admiration for the character. All things are connected in the Force, and I feel more connected to Luke after reading Heir to the Jedi.”—Comicbook
TARGETS ARE LOCKED! Five short novels by five masters of military SF capture the excitement, and hell, of fantastic future war—on and off the battlefield. Stories of terrifying monsters, dangerous aliens and staggering cosmic dreadnaughts march alongside far-flung courtroom dramas and cautionary tales involving man and his devices. Michael A. Stackpole—The Star Tigers are commandeered by a powerful alien overseer on a covert mission to a world long abandoned by an ancient species. There, the ruins of a forgotten war will tip the balance of their war, unless the Star Tigers can prevent it. Sarah A. Hoyt—Lucius Dante Maximilian Keeva is a well-respected leader of the Usaian Revolution, but treason in the ranks can cost him everything that makes life worth living—unless he takes justice into his own hands and breaks every military regulation in its pursuit. Doug Dandridge—Faced with an enemy more than two hundred times her own size, Cinda Klerk has two options: hide, and let it destroy the planet she is supposed to protect, or find a way to even the odds and kill the enemy, even at the cost of her ship and crew. Eytan Kollin and Dani Kollin—As the Unincorporated War envelops the entire solar system, a father must come to the rescue of a daughter he never raised. But he'll have to convince her to save herself first. Kevin J. Anderson—In the war against an alien menace, Earth’s greatest military commanders risk themselves on the front lines, but with an escape hatch: If the situation goes terribly wrong, they can switch places with a safe soldier far from the battlefield. But the cannon-fodder volunteers don’t consider that such a good deal. Set your cross-hairs on the Target Zone.
Collecting all 11 issues of Dynamite's successful run of Battlestar Galactica: Origins along with the Battlestar Galictica: Zarek mini-sereies, focusing on the characters and events of the award-winning Sci Fi series! Featuring the 'origin' tales of the commander of the Galactica, William Adama, as well as Tom Zarek, Gaius Baltar, Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace and Karl 'Helo' Agathon. From the academy to their assignment onboard the Galactica, follow them on this previously untold tale! 11 Issues! 1 Collection!
The untold story of a national trauma—NASA’s Challenger explosion—and what really happened to America’s Teacher in Space, illuminating the tragic cost of humanity setting its sight on the stars You’ve seen the pictures. You know what happened. Or do you? On January 28, 1986, NASA’s space shuttle Challenger exploded after blasting off from Cape Canaveral. Christa McAuliffe, America’s “Teacher in Space,” was instantly killed, along with the other six members of the mission. At least that's what most of us remember. Kevin Cook tells us what really happened on that ill-fated, unforgettable day. He traces the pressures—leading from NASA to the White House—that triggered the fatal order to launch on an ice-cold Florida morning. Cook takes readers inside the shuttle for the agonizing minutes after the explosion, which the astronauts did indeed survive. He uncovers the errors and corner-cutting that led an overconfident space agency to launch a crew that had no chance to escape. But this is more than a corrective to a now-dimming memory. Centering on McAuliffe, a charmingly down-to-earth civilian on the cusp of history, The Burning Blue animates a colorful cast of characters: a pair of red-hot flyers at the shuttle's controls, the second female and first Jewish astronaut, the second Black astronaut, and the first Asian American and Buddhist in space. Drawing vivid portraits of Christa and the astronauts, Cook makes readers forget the fate they're hurtling toward. With drama, immediacy, and shocking surprises, he reveals the human price the Challenger crew and America paid for politics, capital-P Progress, and the national dream of "reaching for the stars.
An English sea-captain sailing to plunder a Spanish treasure fleet faces the elements, internal discord and a squadron of war galleons lurking in his path. If he prevails, rewards and retribution await in the wilds of the New World. Voyage of Reprisal draws on the author’s extensive research and presents a careful reconstruction of life at sea aboard an Elizabethan war galleon. Charismatic characters come alive, from crude sailors to arrogant lords. The pains, joys, sorrows, and hopes of the age are explored aboard a 16th century privateer.
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