In 1961 John F. Kennedy pledged to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Nine years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. Ten years later, Richard Nixon echoed this pledge by declaring a 'war' on cancer. More than 30 years later, however, cancer remains one of the largest causes of death worldwide, with around 1 in 3 developing the disease. Curing cancer is not 'rocket science', but the question is, why has cancer proved to be harder to tackle than the moon landings turned out to be? Cancer research is a major economic activity. There are constant improvements in treatment techniques that result in better cure rates and increased quality and quantity of life for those with the disease, yet stories of breakthroughs in a cure for cancer are often in the media. In this Very Short Introduction Nick James, founder of the CancerHelp UK website, examines the trends in diagnosis and treatment of the disease, as well as its economic consequences. Asking what cancer is and what causes it, he considers issues surrounding expensive drug development, what can be done to reduce the risk of developing cancer, and the use of complementary and alternative therapies. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Earth is under attack by the alien Authority from the planet Haven. Cassius and his brother Jesse are the keys to defending Earth. But the enemy’s new weapon sends the resistance into turmoil. Alliances shift, traitors are revealed, and soon Earth’s last chance at salvation lies in the hands of one brother who must make the ultimate sacrifice.
A devastated Earth’s last hope is found in Pearls: orbs from space that can power entire cities. The Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in the Earth’s stratosphere—are battling the corrupt Surface government to control the Pearls. An unexpected encounter triggers remarkable and dangerous powers in the two enemies.
Pearlbreaker Jesse Fisher is on a mission to free as many Drifters as he can—ignoring the direct orders of Captain Alkine. When Jesse is mysteriously freed from the Skyship brig, he rescues Cassius from Theo. Cassius and Jesse learn they are the children of Haven rebels, sent to Earth to continue the battle against Haven’s totalitarian regime.
The world is made up of many different cultures, religions and wonderful people. What are some of the amazing things you do where you are from? Take a look inside and see how people live around the world.
Robert de Niro and Al Pacino have acted opposite each other once, and that was in Heat, Michael Mann's operatic 1995 heist thriller. De Niro is Neil McCauley, a skilled professional thief at the centre of a tight-knit criminal team; Pacino is Vincent Hanna, the haunted, driven cop determined to hunt him down. Boasting a series of meticulously orchestrated setpieces that underline Mann's sense of scale and architecture, Heat is also a rhapsody to Los Angeles as Hanna closes in on his prey. For Nick James, the pleasures and virtues of Heat are mixed and complex. Its precise compositions and minimalist style are entangled with a particular kind of extravagant bombast. And while its vision of male teamwork is richly compelling it comes close to glorifying machismo. But these complexities only add to the interest of this hugely ambitious and accomplished film, which confirmed Mann's place in the front rank of American film-makers.
Do you have 30 minutes? Do you like laugh out loud comedies? Do you enjoy TV shows like Archer, South Park, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Then you will love reading Jakes! From the twisted and ridiculous mind of Nick James comes a comedically dark film-noir inspired play involving liquor, love, murder, betrayal, and the ultimate quest to sleep off a hangover. Jakes is a combination of TV's Sawyer from LOST and Chandler from Friends. He doesn't care what you think of him. All he cares about is drinking, sleeping off his hangover, and then drinking some more. Evita is a stereotypical femme fatale, who uses men and looks good doing it. Harold is a world class boxer, who doesn't understand a lot of things, but understands how hard his fist can hit. Jakes meets Evita and Harold while he was drinking way too much after closing a big case. The next morning, Jakes wakes up with a massive hangover, but Evita comes by the office and just won't leave. She wants him to kill her husband and thinks seducing Jakes is the way to convince him to do it. Jakes obliges - partially. Harold comes by and wants Jakes to find out if his wife is cheating on him. Jakes tells him yes, she is, he slept with her 30 minutes ago and she wants him to kill Harold. The naive boxer laughs and hires Jakes anyway. Buy the book to see how it ends. Now is your chance to read the first published play from Nick James. He doesn't see things the way you and I see things. He sees them weird, twisted, and hilarious. Now he is translating his unique vision of the world into stories that will make people think, but mostly laugh. If you've never read a play before, then let's break it down for you. It's like a novel without all of the exposition. It's straight to the point. Straight to the comedy. Forget the Shakespeare you read when you were a kid. This is a Nick James comedy and it is made for the adult. No kids allowed. If you have 30-45 minutes, then you have time to read and enjoy Jakes. And remember - it's Jakes, not Jacks. Jacks is a game you can play, Jakes is a man you can never play!
When fifteen-year-old Jesse manages to smuggle onboard the Academy a mysterious red Pearl, a fragment of space debris that is a dying Earth's most important energy source, he sets forth a destructive chain of events.
We use water every day of our lives. In developed countries like Australia, it's easy to take it for granted. Use this book to give children an appreciation of how differently people use water around the world.
Gerald North's complete practical guide and resource package instructs amateur astronomers in observing and monitoring variable stars and other objects of variable brightness. Descriptions of the objects are accompanied by explanations of the background astrophysics, providing readers with real insight into what they are observing at the telescope. The main instrumental requirements for observing and estimating the brightness of objects by visual means and by CCD photometry are detailed, and there is advice on the selection of equipment. The book contains a CD-ROM packed with resources, including hundreds of light-curves and over 600 printable finder charts. Containing extensive practical advice, this comprehensive guide is an invaluable resource for amateur astronomers of all levels, from novices to more advanced observers. Gerald North is a lifelong amateur astronomer. In addition to being a member of the British Astronomical Association since 1977, he is also the author of many books, including Advanced Amateur Astronomy (Cambridge, 1997) and Observing the Moon (Cambridge, 2000).
James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) was America’s first novelist, celebrated for his masterpiece, The Last of the Mohicans. Over a prolific career he created a national mythology that endures to this day. According to Daniel Webster, “We may read the nation’s history in his life.” Yet Cooper was also a provocative figure, ultimately disillusioned with American democracy. He spent his boyhood in the wilds of the frontier, served as a merchant sailor and naval officer, traveled the courts of Europe in an age of upheaval and returned home to scandal and controversy. He conquered the literary world only to fall victim to his own fame. In the first popular biography of Cooper in a generation, historian Nick Louras brings the man and his age vividly to life.
At the intersection of Soonish and Netflix's Black Mirror, award-winning science fiction authors from around the world offer original tales of relationships in a future world of evolving technology. In a future world dominated by the technological, people will still be entangled in relationships--in romances, friendships, and families. This volume in the Twelve Tomorrows series considers the effects that scientific and technological discoveries will have on the emotional bonds that hold us together. The strange new worlds in these stories feature AI family therapy, floating fungitecture, and a futuristic love potion. Contributions include Xia Jia's novelette set in a Buddhist monastery, translated by the Hugo Award-winning writer Ken Liu; and a story by Nancy Kress, winner of six Hugos and two Nebulas.
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