Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries

Book Description

A vibrant collection of essays on the cosmos from the nation's best-known astrophysicist.

Loyal readers of the monthly "Universe" essays in Natural History magazine have long recognized Neil deGrasse Tyson's talent for guiding them through the mysteries of the cosmos with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. Here, Tyson compiles his favorite essays across a myriad of cosmic topics. The title essay introduces readers to the physics of black holes by explaining the gory details of what would happen to your body if you fell into one. "Holy Wars" examines the needless friction between science and religion in the context of historical conflicts. "The Search for Life in the Universe" explores astral life from the frontiers of astrobiology. And "Hollywood Nights" assails the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right.

Known for his ability to blend content, accessibility, and humor, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies some of the most complex concepts in astrophysics while simultaneously sharing his infectious excitement about our universe.

Customer Reviews:

Educational and entertaining.......2007-10-02

I have long known Tyson to be an excellent speaker and purveyor of scientific ideas with a Saganesque ability to convey the excitement of scientific findings with a bit more hipness and swagger to his talks than Sagan. This book is an excellent read through and through. I couldn't beat the feeling as I sat on the roof of a 14 story building in Curitiba, Brazil watching the sunset alone on the summer solstice (their winter solstice) while reading the section on Stick-In-The-Mud-Science and watching the long shadows creep across the sky and have Tyson explain to me all the celestial happenings around me (this really happened). Quite a magical read. The author presents complex scientific ideas in short, readable, cohesively-themed articles. Each article is on a topic familiar to us, upon which he expands towards scientific ideas which may be unfamiliar to us. There is enough overlap in the independent sections that the read feels like one is being 'taught' rather than just reading information. And Tyson is first and foremost a great educator. Although I did find myself trying to remember something from a previous chapter and flipping back through, I feel like I have learned a great deal about astrophysics from a book that was downright entertaining.

An enjoyable read for those with an interest in science and astronomy.......2007-09-27

The qualities that make Neil deGrasse Tyson so annoying on Nova Science Now are absolute positives when it comes to the written word. He is an intelligent and entertaining writer with an uncanny ability to reduce complex scientific concepts to bite sized chunks even I could (mostly) understand.

Death by Black Hole by Neil DeGrasse Tyson.......2007-09-19

An astrophysicist for the American Museum of Natural History, director of the world famous Hayden Planetarium, and columnist for Natural History magazine, Neil DeGrasse Tyson brings to the non-scientific world the ideal book for those fascinated with space, the cosmos, black holes, and all the questions and wonders therein. Death by Black Hole is the perfect book for the reader who wants answers to questions about the universe in a simple and clearly defined way so that even if they know next to nothing about science and it's jargon, Tyson makes it easily understandable.

While I was hoping for something a little more in depth in the style of Brian Greene's The Fabric of the Cosmos or Lee Smolin's The Trouble With Physics, Death by Black Hole nevertheless provides quick and simple answers to many questions everyday readers without a science background have about physics, the universe, space, and most matters dealing with the cosmos. The book is a selection of his columns in Natural History that are organized in a somewhat textbook fashion. Tyson starts with the idea of science and nature in its basic form, how humanity views Earth, the solar system, the universe. Along with this discussion, Tyson also gives minor history lessons on the development of different ideas in physics and astronomy, what people came up with what big ideas and how the progression led to the development of the big theories of our current time with string theory and relativity. Going on from here, Death by Black Hole address the crucial steps that led to the formation of the universe and its development over the many billions and billions of years, again explaining how it is that scientists know what they do and what instruments were used, as well as the history of who invented and used said instruments.

It is then that Tyson finally turns to the subject matter of the title of the book in the section "When the Universe Turns Bad: All the Ways the Cosmos Wants to Kill Us." Here he addresses the complex and still relatively unknown subjects of chaos theory, dark matter (which constitutes over 90% of all matter in the universe, while we still know next to nothing about it), and finally black holes. Tyson takes the reader on a hypothetical journey with what would happen if one were to be sucked into a black hole and how as they approached the event horizon, they would become stretched until the elasticity point of their skin was surpassed and the body would be torn into thousands then millions of little pieces.

With many questions now answered, in the next section Tyson discusses how science is viewed by the media, Hollywood, and people around the world in general. The final section addresses the concept of science and religion, again taking the reader on a historic journey through the development of first religion, then science, and the struggle that has ensued for centuries. It is the perfect end to a book on science, as Tyson lectures the importance of supporting fact and reality in a time when there are many who believe more in faith, even when all the evidence is to the contrary.

For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com

Conversational Cosmology 101 - Superb!.......2007-09-19

New York Planetarium director and astrophysicist Tyson has been writing a column for "Natural History" magazine for some 11 years - that makes about 132 short essays. Tyson says this monthly chore is "one of the most exhausting and exhilarating things I do." Forty-two of these essays appear in this volume, "mildly edited for continuity and to reflect emergent trends in science."

He divides these essays into seven sections:

1. THE NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE - The challenges of knowing what is knowable in the universe.
2. THE KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE - The challenges of discovering the contents of the cosmos.
3. WAYS AND MEANS OF NATURE - How nature presents herself to the inquiring mind.
4. THE MEANING OF LIFE - The challenges and triumphs of knowing how we got here.
5. WHEN THE UNIVERSE TURNS BAD - All the ways the cosmos wants to kill us.
6. SCIENCE AND CULTURE - The ruffled interface between cosmic discovery and the public's reaction to it.
7. SCIENCE AND GOD - When ways of knowing collide.

"Natural History" is the same magazine Stephen J. Gould wrote 300 essays for, overlapping with Tyson for seven years. In both cases, the authors excelled in making their respective fields (evolutionary biology and cosmology) easily readable for the general public, adding to their already impressive credentials.

From page 33: "This universality of physical laws tells us that if we land on another planet with a thriving alien civilization, they will be running on the same laws that we have discovered and tested here on Earth - even if the aliens harbor different social and political beliefs. Furthermore, if you wanted to talk to the aliens, you can bet they don't speak English or French or even Mandarin Chinese. You don't even know whether shaking their hands - if indeed they have hands to shake - would be considered an act of war or of peace. Your best hope is to find a way to communicate using the language of science."

The format provides for benign redundancy as the Big Bang, formation of galaxies, creation of the chemicals in the periodic chart, and predictable physics versus chaos of interactions are looked at over and over from differing perspectives. This book is highly entertaining and I recommend it for anyone who wants to buff up their knowledge of astronomy (cosmology, astrophysics...) or for the confirmed science nut like me. First rate!

Heavy & light reading all in one.......2007-09-14

Anything by this author is worth reading. I like the way he starts off explaining things in a very simple way and winds up getting deep into the end result. "A professional con job with very educational results".

Average customer rating:

Excellent book for those who love Star Trek ships...
Ships of the Line (Star Trek)
Beautiful book--but know what you're getting.
Disappointed
Another Great Star Trek Photo Book

Ships of the Line (Star Trek)

Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Guides & Reviews | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

High Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416532439

Book Description

They dared to risk it all in a skiff of reeds or leather, on a ship of wood or steel, knowing the only thing between them and certain death was their ship. To explore, to seek out what lay beyond the close and comfortable, every explorer had to embrace danger. And as they did so, what arose was a mystical bond, a passion for the ships that carried them. From the very first time humans dared to warp the fabric of space, escaping from the ashes of the third World War, they also created ships. These vessels have become the icons of mankind's desire to rise above the everyday, to seek out and make the unknown known. And these ships that travel the stellar seas have stirred the same passions as the ones that floated in the oceans.

While every captain has wished that their starship could be outfitted in the same manner as the sailing ship H.M.S. Beagle -- without weapons -- that proved

untenable. From the start, Starfleet realized that each vessel, due to the limited range of the early warp engines, must be able to stand alone against any

attack. Thus arose the idea, taken from the days of wooden sailing ships, that every Starfleet vessel must stand as a ship of the line. Through the actions of their captains and crews, countless starships have taken on that role. Here we remember some of those ships and their heroic crews.

In celebration of the fortieth anniversary of Star Trek, here for the very first time collected together are the spectacular images from the highly successful and acclaimed Star Trek: Ships of the Line calendars. Gloriously rendered, each of these illustrations was created exclusively for Pocket Books. With text by Michael Okuda (The Star Trek Encyclopedia), the story of each of these valiant starships comes to life.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book for those who love Star Trek ships..........2007-09-22

I've been a fan of the "Ships of the Line" calendars for many years. This book is essentially a compilation of those stunning images, with some explanatory captions added. As such, it's a wonderful volume for any Star Trek fan who enjoys "beauty shots" of the various ships shown in the series. It should be noted, however, that these are pieces of original digital artwork. They are not screen captures of the various series or movies, but unique images created for the calendar series (and now, for this book). It was a great value and an excellent addition to my Star Trek book collection.

Ships of the Line (Star Trek) .......2007-09-21

Ships of the Line (Star Trek)was not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a more techincal review of the fleet.

With that said, the artwork was great, although I would have liked more on the ships other than that bad 'Enterprise' series!

The Romulan Warbird was the best pic, in my opinion!

Ian Johnson. Perth, Australia

Beautiful book--but know what you're getting........2007-09-19

This is a beautiful, imagination-stimulating, sometimes breathtaking book. But potential buyers should know three things: 1. This book is about half the size of the average coffee table book (FYI, in case you don't read the fine print or easily "get" measurements in the Product Description), so they are not big pictures. 2. This is an *art* book; these are "illustrations," not photographic reproductions from the Star Trek T.V. series(s) or movies. I wasn't familiar with the "Ships of the Line" calendars, so was expecting "real" photos of the Star Trek ships, not paintings. However, some of the pictures are computer-design artwork that very effectively look like photographs. I know it's a matter of taste, by I find these more enjoyable, more evocative.
3. While ships from all five of the T.V. shows are included (not the animated ST), there is of course a favored emphasis on the Enterprise in its various/successive generations. There are only 37 illustrations, so that doesn't leave room for a whole lot else. (Opposing/even-numbered pages are blank, except for a short paragraph of text by official Star Trek history guru Michael Ocuda, which offers interesting commentary, though more impressionistic thatn encyclopedic.) Also, the book's cover illustration is not repeated in the book, so if you get a torn or badly smudged copy, you're out of luck. I was also disappointed that a book called "Ships of the Line" didn't have a single schematic drawing or even a comparative illustration to scale of the various ships (like is sort of done on the cover picture).
Even given all these qualifications, there are at least 10 pictures in this book that really inspire me and excite my imagination; and any two of them, for me, are worth the price of the book.

Disappointed.......2007-09-04

Great art work, but I was expecting the entire book to give us a complete look at rarely or never before seen star fleet ships in various situations. There was a limited look, but mostly that of the series ships we're already quite familiar with. I wasn't too thrilled about the blank left pages as well. Lots of potential for a great coffee table top book. Hopefully we'll get more in a Volume 2.

Another Great Star Trek Photo Book.......2007-08-12

Margaret Clark & Doug Drexler have out done themselfs. This book is packed full of some of the best CGI graphics yet to be published. It's a must for any trekie as it will keep you spell bound just looking at page after page. The book covers all era's of trekdom with graphics of all the major ships we've come to love. It even has a few hints of things to come. The book is graphic intense with very little story, but that ok because some of the graphic will have you beliving that these ship are real. The only short side to this book is it's lack of alein ships as it's cover suggests. There are some aliens ship but none are the focal point of any of the graphics. All in all I would highly recommend this book for anyones library.

Average customer rating:

A top tier book, without a doubt!
Very Entertaining Space Opera...
A Grand Tapestry
Epic in scope, richly detailed, but some flaws
Not so much

Pandora's Star
Peter F. Hamilton
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0345479211
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Book Description

Critics have compared the engrossing space operas of Peter F. Hamilton to the classic sagas of such sf giants as Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert. But Hamilton’s bestselling fiction—powered by a fearless imagination and world-class storytelling skills—has also earned him comparison to Tolstoy and Dickens. Hugely ambitious, wildly entertaining, philosophically stimulating: the novels of Peter F. Hamilton will change the way you think about science fiction. Now, with Pandora’s Star, he begins a new multivolume adventure, one that promises to be his most mind-blowing yet.

The year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars some four hundred light-years in diameter, contains more than six hundred worlds, interconnected by a web of transport “tunnels” known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: Over one thousand light-years away, a star . . . vanishes. It does not go supernova. It does not collapse into a black hole. It simply disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, a faster-than-light starship, the Second Chance, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat. In command is Wilson Kime, a five-time rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot whose glory days are centuries behind him.

Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, a cult that believes the human race is being manipulated by an alien entity they call the Starflyer. Bradley Johansson, leader of the Guardians, warns of sabotage, fearing the Starflyer means to use the starship’s mission for its own ends,.

Pursued by a Commonwealth special agent convinced the Guardians are crazy but dangerous, Johansson flees. But the danger is not averted. Aboard the Second Chance, Kime wonders if his crew has been infiltrated. Soon enough, he will have other worries. A thousand light-years away, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth . . . and humanity itself.

Could it be that Johansson was right?

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Critics have compared the engrossing space operas of Peter F. Hamilton to the classic sagas of such SF giants as Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert. But Hamilton's bestselling fiction -- powered by a fearless imagination and world-class storytelling skills -- has also earned him comparison to Tolstoy and Dickens. Hugely ambitious, wildly entertaining, philosophically stimulating: the novels of Peter F. Hamilton will change the way you think about science fiction. Now, with Pandora's Star, he begins a new multivolume adventure, one that promises to be his most mind-blowing yet.

The year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars some four hundred light-years in diameter, contains more than six hundred worlds, interconnected by a web of transport "tunnels" known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: Over one thousand light-years away, a star... vanishes. It does not go supernova. It does not collapse into a black hole. It simply disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, a faster-than-light starship, the Second Chance, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat. In command is Wilson Kime, a five-time rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot whose glory days are centuries behind him.

Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, a cult that believes the human race is being manipulated by an alien entity they call the Starflyer. Bradley Johansson, leader of the Guardians, warns of sabotage, fearing the Starflyer means to use the starship's mission for its own ends.

Pursued by a Commonwealth special agent convinced the Guardians are crazy but dangerous, Johansson flees. But the danger is not averted. Aboard the Second Chance, Kime wonders if his crew has been infiltrated. Soon enough, he will have other worries. A thousand light-years away, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth... and humanity itself.

Could it be that Johansson was right?

"The depth and clarity of the future Hamilton envisions is as complex and involving as they come."
   PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)

"The author's expansive vision of the future combines action and intrigue on a panoramic scale."
   LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Astounding... Thrilling... Hamilton uses technology to excellent effect."
   SCIENCE FICTION AGE

"Shows how thought-provoking yet entertaining science fiction can be. Some of the best fiction... in years."
   MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

"[Hamilton is] taking on one of SF's (and maybe all of literature's) primal jobs: the creation of a world with the scale and complexity of the real one."
   LOCUS

"[Hamilton is] a rare talent."
   THE DENVER POST

Customer Reviews:

A top tier book, without a doubt!.......2007-08-19

Wow! What can I say? Evidently quite a bit from what you can see below. : ) This book is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I've read hundreds of sci-fi books, and this is one of the better ones.

Pandora's Star is a complex, perhaps epic, tale about the evolution of the Commonwealth (note the capital "C"), as it affects a wide variety of characters. With the invention of wormhole generators, humanity found an effective way to colonize the stars. With proper terraforming and zoning, they created designer worlds, such as a world devoted to X-games type sports, industrial worlds, etc. Naturally, as humanity expanded onto new worlds, new political factions evolved, and sentient alien lifeforms are discovered.

The central storyline revolves around a pair of stars that suddenly disappear. Of course, this happened thousands of years ago since light takes time to make it through the galaxy (points to the author for remembering this). Humans decide to launch an exploratory mission to discover what happened to the stars, and unintentionally loose a hostile and powerful lifeform bent on genocide of humans (hence the title of the book I would assume). Adding to the mix of interesting concepts is rejuvenation, allowing anyone with enough money to rejuvenate their body to whatever age they chose, and the interesting concept of Grand Families, who through rejuvenation and the miracle of compounding interest, amass so much money as to run the galaxy and be the true powers behind the government.

Add to this the concept of the Starflyer, a potentially fictional alien whose final agenda is unknown but presumed to be not in the best interest of mankind, and the Guardians of Selfhood, an underground and essentially terrorist organization who are pledged to fight the Starflyer, and it's a merry mix indeed.

For main characters the variety is impressive. There is Wilson Kime, the commander of the initial manned mission to Mars and possessed of exceptional military command presence; Paula Myro, a genetically bred single minded detective who has only had one unsolved case in 130 years (the arrest of a particularly beguiling agent of the Guardians of Selfhood); Nigel Sheldon, one of the co-inventors of the wormhole generator and the head of one of the Grand Families; Ozzie, the other co-inventor of the wormhole generator and semi-anti-authoritarian, except that because of his great wealth he effectively is "the man" when he wants to be; Dudley Bose, the astronomer who first notices the disappearance of the two stars; Melanie, an immature but ambitious gold-digger who sleeps her way to her goals, and the SI, an artificial intelligence created by man who is generally benevolent but seems to also have its own agenda. There are many others, but you get the idea.

Peter Hamilton manages to weave multiple storylines, some of which it is unclear as to how the fit into the main story arc. I'd consider him the "Tom Clancy" of science fiction in this regard. He manages to inject some science into science fiction, considering things like different gravitational forces depending on the mass of the colonized planets that other authors don't bother with. In hindsight it doesn't sound impressive, but he remembers to do this type of thing in a variety of areas, and it just lends credibility to the tale.

The main storylines include political maneuvering by the Grand Families (Nigel Sheldon), the military mission to the disappeared stars (Wilson Kime), the Indiana Jones type adventures of Ozzie, the rise of Melanie (more interesting than it sounds), the plans and raids of the Guardians of Selfhood against the Starflyer, and the investigation of Paula Myro into the Guardians of Selfhood. I may have left out one or two.

The only minor annoyance I found is that the author is British (no, that's not the annoyance) and occasionally some of the descriptions reference buildings in London (e.g., the layout of Parliament) that while I'm sure are accurate, do nothing for helping me visualize the scene.

Lastly, be forewarned that Pandora' Star is only half the story. It literally and metaphorically leaves you mid-stream in the story. You'll have to read "Judas Unchained" to get the second half.

This book is great. I plan on checking out several of Peter Hamilton's other books as soon as I finish this one, which won't be long given how hard it is to put down.

Very Entertaining Space Opera..........2007-07-01

Plenty of other reviews provide plot synopsis, etc. Here are aspects of this work that I didn't see as much of:

1. Overall Believability of Setting:
Hamilton's slick style pulled me right in, and a richly detailed "movie" began playing in my mind's eye almost immediately. I have read very few authors who do this so well -- Julian May being one of the few others who comes to mind.

2. Future Tech:
This work verily bristles with technology; some mundane, some wicked cool, and some worthy of making you stop and ponder. Very fun.

3. Characters:
Yes, there are loads of them, and a mind-boggling number of story threads. For whatever reason, I can't stand referring to a Dramatis Personae. Uncomfortable at first, I soon realized that though I may not immediately recognize a character thread pages later, there were almost always enough breadcrumbs in the new thread to find the link back.

With so many to juggle, Hamilton has to set-up characters quickly, and make them stick. I think he does this very well, with excellent hooks: quirks, an interesting point-of-view, a feeling for a loved one, the impact of interaction with technology, etc.

4. Entertainment Value:
A Bargain Bonanza. This book, plus its sequel, Judas Unchained, are two thousand pages of great entertainment. Could make a great series on the Sci-Fi Channel.

5. Humor: Tell me, when was the last time you read Sci-Fi that actually made you laugh out loud? Give up? Read this :-)

A Grand Tapestry.......2007-06-13

"Pandora's Star," Peter F. Hamilton's sprawling 988-page opus (first volume of two)is a thrill. It's an episodic space opera cum techno thriller, in which the kicker is that people can be, and are, rejuvenated and can also store their memories electronically, in case something happens to them. So death is impermanent. The society the author conjures up is called "The Commonwealth," an organiztion of explored planets linked by wormholes.

The story, told in multiple povs, takes a while to get started, and along the way it delves into many familiar sci-fi themes, while managing to make every one of them fresh. It begins with a look at the first landing on Mars, segues into the tale of an astronomer who makes a starting discovery, morphs into a police procedural, follows with a "behind closed doors" glimpse into political decisionmaking, and then gives us a look at an X-Game version of hang gliding.

And that brings us all the way to page 126.

The story gains steam as an FTL starship--obsolete tech in this age of wormholes--is built (and this is where that astronomer's discovery comes in) in order to learn why the double star system known as the "Dyson Pair" has been shielded by some sort of force field. Is it meant to keep the natives of that system within, or to protect them from what lies without? As if that weren't enough, a terrorist group wants to prevent this excursion.

But even as this is going on, the author continues his journey through genres--a murder mystery is solved (yes, I know I explained that people can be rejuvenated here, but wait for it); a low-tech fantasy theme is introduced (a scene at an inn, a native boy who wants to join the explorer, and so forth) that at one point presents readers with a trek across a frozen planet (a la LeGuin), and there's even a priggish dad with an ickily cute family (complete with dog) on one of those impossibly utopian planets (think Kim Stanley Robinson with an edge). There's a helpful AI, and some alien critters, too. In fact, there are so many characters, so many concepts, that maybe you'll feel that this is the first sci-fi epic you've ever read that could have used an index. (Certainly a list of characters could have been provided.)

About 700 pages in, we finally meet the creeptastic villain(s) (eek! hive mind!), after which the tale cascades on swiftly on to the end of part I.

So pull up a chair, relax and enjoy. And be not afraid. While the 988th page is just the halfway point in the saga, part two, "Judas Unchained" is now available. (At 1008 pages and, oh wow! a list of characters.)

Epic in scope, richly detailed, but some flaws.......2007-05-26

To use the word "sweeping" in a description of this novel is almost to diminish what the word actually means in the context of the scale that is present in this extremeley challenging and detailed science fiction novel. Pandora's star is our future hundreds of years from now when humans have discovered how to create wormholes in space. This technology has led humankind to be spread over hundreds of worlds with the ease of stepping through a portal to the other side. Hamilton has keenly created a possible future, replete with commercial and governmental infrustructure and fully realized high technology. And this future scares the hell out of me! Humans have developed the ability to live "forever" by storing their memories in something like a computer bank vault, and then reimplanting those memories into a lab created, accelerated growth clone. Part of the brilliance of Hamilton is that he has indeed hypothesized the impact this may have on humanity in terms of values, wealth, and societal institutions such as marriage and family. This future envisions a completely secularized society (since there is no death, what is the point?) where marriages are merely a business partnership with fringe benefits of sex and childrearing. Even childbirth is usually undertaken in a laboratory. The continued exploration of space has led to a prosperous free market system, and the limitless lifespans have led to vast wealth accumulation. Thus, externally humanity is more prosperous and mobile than it has ever been. A sole astronomy professor has discovered that a couple of stars hundreds of light years away, have seemingly "winked out." This was no natural phenomena, but apparently caused by some type of alien interference. It is this backdrop of a story upon which this novel is based. Could it be that this has something to do with the alien invasion warned about by the Guardians of selfhood? The Guardians are a secretive cultish society that believes that aliens have infiltrated human society and will destroy them. Their leaders have been hunted by the government for over a hundred years, accused of sabotage and murder.

There are a vast array of characters and a huge number of subplots in this book. Towards the middle and the end of the book I expected that I had covered all of the subplots only for a new one to start. In fact, they continue on almost through to the end of the book. One drawback of this is that some of the subplots are far more interesting than others and I was dissappointed to have to leave those to start in on a less interesting one and then have to wait for a very long time to get back to the interesting ones. The alien presence imagined in this novel is most certainly menacing. I would have to say that this is the most malevolent and fully scientifically realized alien that I have ever encountered. There is some derivation ala Ender's Game, but this is so fully imagined that it is only a surface comparison.
It is this ominous alien presence that is the real strength of the novel. It is so well done that it was almost hard to read. The tremendous scope of the novel, while ambitious, does detract a bit from the overall effectiveness of the narrative. Some of it was tedious and distracting. The characters were well written and also actualized well, however some were simply not necessary. Even though the future implications of an eternal life were well described, however ultimately believable or not, I found the existence sterile and soulless, and this also affected my ultimate enjoyment of the book. A secular humanity, devoted only to the pursuit of human material gratification, no lifelong devotion and commitment to another person, and no real human metaphysical connection seemed to me to be more horrible a future calamity than any hostile alien presence.

Pandora's star is still so well crafted, and the alien threat so absolutely menacing, that despite the length issues and the numerous subplots and characters it is well worth reading. If not for its story and what that says, but for the uncomfortable ramifications of an eternal and soulless life.

Not so much.......2007-05-24

Despite the heft of this book and it's sequel, the plot is simple: a star-spanning human civilization is threatened by an implacable enemy suddenly unleashed by another mysterious force. Worlds are destroyed, battles are fought, disparate human factions try to use the conflict to their own ends, quirky aliens hang out on the sidelines, a huge cast of characters shapes and is shaped by events, a whole gaggle of subplots is resolved.

Fair enough. Too bad this is also the plot of the Night's Dawn trilogy. Been there, done that, got a hernia from lifting the darn thing.

Someone compared Hamilton to Dickens. Dickens was intentionally verbose because he was getting paid by the word.

Skip this and stick with someone a little more terse, like Vernor Vinge.

The Finest Atlas of the Heavens / Der Prachtigste Himmelsatlas / L'atlas Celeste Le Plus Admirable: Harmonia Macrocosmica (Harmonia Macrocosmica of 1660)

Average customer rating:

Simply lovely
Great Book to have!
Gorgeous!!!

The Finest Atlas of the Heavens / Der Prachtigste Himmelsatlas / L'atlas Celeste Le Plus Admirable: Harmonia Macrocosmica (Harmonia Macrocosmica of 1660)
Andreas Cellarius
Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Star-Gazing | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Rocks & Minerals | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Reference | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Travel | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Reference | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Travel | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 3822852902

Book Description

Stargazing: History's most beautiful constellation maps in XXL-format!

This collection of celestial atlases by Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (c. 1596 - 1665) brings back to life a masterpiece from the Golden Age of celestial cartography. First published in 1660 in Harmonia Macrocosmica, the complete 29 double-folio maps and dozens of unusual details reproduced here depict the world systems of Claudius Ptolemy, Nicolas Copernicus, and Tycho Brahe, the motions of the sun, the moon, and the planets, and the delineation of the constellations in various views. Cellarius's atlas, superbly embellished with richly decorated borders depicting cherubs, astronomers, and astronomical instruments, features some of the most spectacular illustration in the history of astronomy.

This reprint, made from the beautifully hand-colored and complete copy of the first edition in the Library of the Universiteit van Amsterdam, includes a copiously illustrated introduction by Robert van Gent, one of the leading Cellarius experts, summarizing the history of celestial cartography from antiquity to late 17th/early 18th century and illuminating the life and work of Andreas Cellarius. Van Gent also discusses the historical and cultural context and significance of the atlas and provides detailed descriptions of the astronomical and iconographical content of the plates, allowing modern readers to fully appreciate the masterwork of Andreas Cellarius and his publisher, Johannes Janssonius.

The book's detailed appendix includes a list of constellation figures with short descriptions of their origin and mythology, a list of star names found on the plates, a glossary of technical words, and a bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Simply lovely.......2007-06-21

There are many of us who just can't afford the time and money to get many Cellarius pieces for the home. This is the solution in a lovely, well printed and compiled edition of the book, from start to finish. It is large (slightly larger than the original). It would be perfect on a library table or similar. If you are interested illminated manuscripts, astronomy history, mythology, early scientific understanding of the heavens... then this is of great interest to you.

Great Book to have!.......2007-01-15

A great source book, with beautiful illustrations of cosmos seeing thought the ayes of the 15 Century Artists.

Gorgeous!!!.......2006-12-15

Taschen never seems to disapoint and this latest issue in their series of oversized classic texts is no exception. The Harmonia Macrocosmia is a lavish oversized book of 17th century celstial maps that are reproduced with stunning clarity and brilliance. This volume should appeal easily to anyone with an interest in astronomy, art or fine books.

Average customer rating:

The Wars of Terra, Continued
Two More Books under One Cover
You have read them before...
4 1/2 stars well written space thrillers

The Stars at War II (Starfire)
David Weber , and Steve White
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743499123

Book Description

The war wasn't going well. The alien Arachnids were an enemy whose like no civilized race had ever confronted. Like some carnivorous cancer, the "Bugs" had overrun planet after planet . . . and they regarded any competing sentient species as only one more protein source. Defeat was not an option. . . . The Grand Alliance of Humans, Orions, Ophiuchi, and Gorm, united in desperate self-defense, have been driven to the wall. Billions of their civilians have been slaughtered. Their most powerful offensive operation has ended in shattering defeat and the deaths of their most experienced military commanders. Whatever they do, the Bugs just keep coming. But the warriors of the Grand Alliance know what stands behind them and they will surrender no more civilians to the oncoming juggernaut. They will die first-and they will also reactivate General Directive 18, however horrible it may be. Because when the only possible outcomes are victory or racial extermination, only one option is acceptable. The Shiva Option.And peace isn't always wonderful Once the enemy is defeated, the central governments of the Inner Worlds were anything but willing to relinguish their wartime powers. To insure that their grip on the reins of power remained firm, the bureaucrats are allowing the non-human beings of the Khanate in, while keeping the Fringe Worlds out, smugly confident that this will keep the colonial upstarts in their place. The Fringers have only one answer to that: Insurrection.

Customer Reviews:

The Wars of Terra, Continued.......2006-10-04

The Stars at War II (2005) is an omnibus edition of the Starfire series, including The Shiva Option and Insurrection. The Shiva Option is the third novel in internal chronological sequence within the series and Insurrection is the fourth novel in internal sequence following The Shiva Option. This is the first hardback publication of Insurrection.

The Shiva Option (2002) is a continuation of the events described within In Death Ground. This duology describes a war similar in many ways to the Pacific theater of World War II. The enemy has the worst aspects of the Japanese military, but exaggerated to the ultimate degree. IDG has the desperate battles prior to Midway and the Coral Sea and TSO has the grinding battles after that, successively retaking island after island until finally Okinawa falls.

The Divine Wind is prominent in this book, but the amphibious assaults and ground combat of that war are mostly eliminated by the Shiva Option. Considering that the defensive phase of war in the Pacific took only a few months, yet the offensive phase took four and half years, it is obvious why this book is so long. If the enemy can be stopped, it most often must be done quickly or not at all; defeating the enemy, however, is long and hard.

The prologue occurs shortly after the failure of Operation Pesthouse. Fleeing the Bugs, Survey Fleet 19 encounters a new set of sentient beings, the Star Union of Crucis, who have already had violent contact with the Bugs. This new group joins with SF19 to destroy the pursuing Bug fleet and then both withdraw to the Star Union.

Meanwhile, back at Alpha Centauri, the Joint Chiefs of the Grand Fleet, and their staffs, meet to discuss strategy now that the Bugs have ended their current offensives. Naval Intelligence reports that a new class of warships, designated Monitors and even larger than superdreadnoughts, has been deployed by the Bugs. They also state that analysis of the Bug artifacts has shown five distinctly different construction techniques, probably indicating five separate manufacturing centers, designated as Home Hives. Moreover, the initial Bug contact was probably with Home Hive Five.

The remainder of the novel is a series of strategic offensives against the Home Hives. Like its prequel, this volume is full of spatial warfare. It also includes several nuclear bombardments of enemy planets -- the Shiva Option -- and one planetary assault with subsequent ground combat.

The Arachnid civilization in Starfire owes a lot to the Bugs in Heinlein's Starship Troopers, but the approach in this series is entirely different and much wider in scope. These novels concentrate primarily on naval combat and equipment; the only use of armored combat suits is by the Telikans in the above mentioned planetary assault.

Insurrection (1990) begins several generations after the Fourth Interstellar War against the Bugs. The Legislative Assembly of the Terran Federation has long been dominated by the Corporate Worlds at the expense of the Fringe Worlds. Now the Corporate Worlds have devised a plan to reapportion the Assembly by merging with the Orion Khanate, thereby reducing the Fringe World power base.

They are frustrated at the last moment by bad publicity generated when Oskar Dieter, a Corporate World leader, personally insults Fionna MacTaggart, leader of the Fringe Worlders. However, the leader of the Corporate World delegation, Simon Taliaferro, plots to assassinate Fionna in order to throw the Fringe Worlders into a fury so that they will resign from the Assembly. His plot works as planned, but the consequences are more that he reckoned with.

Terran Federation Navy Task Force 17 moves against Beaufort, Fionna's home planet, as a show of force, but it moves too slowly and the insurrection has started before it arrives. Admiral Forsythe is advised to go slowly and negotiate with the rebels, but refuses and plans to fire on opposed ships if necessary. This triggers a mutiny, with the Fringe Worlders taking or destroying all TF17 ships.

As the word is spread, other ships mutiny and flee to the Fringe Worlds. Tenth Cruiser Squadron is too far within the Federation to flee, so takes the desperate gamble of raiding Galloway's World to destroy the largest Federation shipyards. Overall, the Federation loses approximately half of Battle Fleet, about 80 percent of the Frontier Fleet, and most of their shipbuilding capability for at least 6 months. This bad news forces the fall of the current government and brings Oskar Dieter to power as prime minister.

This story is based on the political and economic situation between the British Empire and its American colonies prior to the Revolution. As with that situation, the Fringe Worlds are being economically exploited by the Federation mercantile class with the assistance of the Legislative Assembly. While Simon Taliaferro is not a king, he is just as mad as King George and just as dangerous to his own long-term interests. The ensuing military actions in this story are naval rather than military, but otherwise the results are much the same. Since the Khanate basically remains neutral, this story is greatly simplified compared to the Revolution by the lack of other major powers.

Von Clausewitz's On War is quoted several times in this book. The story reminds me of another axiom: "War is an extension of politics by other means". Politicians should be careful what they ask for; they may get it . . . and choke on it.

This book is recommended for all Weber & White fans and anyone who enjoys tales of realpolitik, naval combat, and politician bashing -- i.e., Heinlein fans -- and inside jokes (think Operation Bughouse).

-Arthur W. Jordin

Two More Books under One Cover.......2005-10-09

Like THE STARS AT WAR, this is not really a new book. It is a collection of two previously published works although there are reputedly about 20,000 new words included. If you already own either of the books, there is little reason to buy this volume. Otherwise, it is a good buy.

The two included books are THE SHIVA OPTION and INSURECTION. Reviews of each appear below.

THE SHIVA OPTION
THE SHIVA OPTION conludes the story begun in IN DEATH GROUND. The story and the options are just as horrific and the consequences are just as bad.

Humanity and its allies face a war to the end with a race that will either eat every race it comes across or die trying. They cannot be negotiated with. They can either be killed or allowed to win. Killing them is not easy because they don't care about their own casualties. They have only a hunger and nothing can assuage it.

The space battles are well though out as is the strategy presented. They should appeal to fans of space battle. Like the predecessor, however, the real story concerns the hard choices of the leaders.

This is not a fun book to read but it is interesting and worthwhile. It also leaves open the possibility that more bugs will appear in later volumes.

INSURECTION
Insurrection takes place in the same universe as IN DEATH GROUND and THE SHIVA OPTION about a generation after the events of the latter. Humanity has been at peace but that doesn't stop nasty politicians from trying to do nasty things to people. Finally, a time comes when the people will take it no more and the result is civil war.

This book makes clear that there are honorable people on both sides of the conflict but the horrors of war are such that innocents are bound to suffer. Like the other books of this series, the action sequences are well though out and well written but the main lessons come from choices faced by the protagonists. Weber and White are good at writing about space battle. They are even better at writing about political issues and human choices.

You have read them before..........2005-08-30

Just remember that both sections in this big volume have been published previously, and if you like Weber and White - like I do - you will probably have them on your shelf.
Obviously, if you haven't read the "Shiva Option" or "Insurrection" this is a "must get" book, since both stories handle interstellar war with detail and finesse.

4 1/2 stars well written space thrillers.......2005-06-29

"Shiva Option". The enemy's first and only directive is that all other species, sentient or not, is food. Humanity and its three ally races that form the Grand Alliance are under siege, losing the war to the Bugs. Efforts to communicate and forge a truce leading to peace have failed as the Bugs refuse to communicate or perhaps are unable to communicate with beings they consider beneath them on their food chain. Death apparently awaits humanity.

"Insurrection". Several generations have passed since the Fourth Interstellar War against the Bugs (see The Shiva Option). The central Corporate Worlds of the Terran Federation refuse to relinquish their war powers though the hostilities are over. They control everything while the Fringe Worlds pay the price. However that is not enough for the avaricious leaders of the Corporate Worlds as they want more power. To expedite matters by causing chaos in the Fringe Worlds, a Corporate World agent assassinates Fringe Worlds leader Fionna MacTaggart. Rebellion explodes on Fionna's home planet. The Terran Federation Navy arrives to put down the revolt by force but instead the crews mutiny refusing to kill fellow citizens; soon rebellion spreads across the Federation leaving the Federation reeling near death.

These are two reprints of early 1990s space operas combined into one book. "The Shiva Option" remains one of the most exciting thought provoking thrillers of the past two decades. "Insurrection" is also a well written action thriller as a domino effect leads the Terran Federation on the brink of a supernova, but does not contain the cerebral punch of "The Shiva Option" because much of the cast are throwaways.

Harriet Klausner

Man with a Mission (Star Wars: Boba Fett)

Average customer rating:

I love Fett as much as the next guy
Boba Fett doing what he does

Man with a Mission (Star Wars: Boba Fett)
Thomas Andrews , Ron Marz , John Ostrander , John Wagner , Cam Kennedy , Adrian Melo , Francisco Ruis Velasco , and Tsuneo Sanda
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Dark Horse | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Star Wars | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1593077076

Book Description

Whether it's taking on an Imperial ship designed to wipe out entire alien species or battling amidst a vicious civil war fueled by both the Rebellion and the Empire, entering an abandoned Star Destroyer seeking a mysterious prize or settling a dispute between an Imperial outpost and the local leadership, there's no job too deadly for the man in the Mandalorian armor - if the price is right!

Customer Reviews:

I love Fett as much as the next guy.......2007-06-29

this is a good collection of Fett One-Shots, though not representative of his work. my main gripe is that 2/4 of the one-shots is done by Cam Kennedy--not my favorite Fett artist. i was glad to see a range of older and newer stuff, but i think DH could've put together a better selection. hopefully, this TPB is successful enough that DH will release another collection, esp given the rarity of some Fett tales, notably Twin Engines of Destruction and the Wizard 1/2.

Boba Fett doing what he does.......2007-06-07

The graphic novel collects issues seven and twenty-eight of the comic-book series "Star Wars Empire" along with a couple of one-shots.

In "Sacrifice", the governor of Solem hires Fett to hunt down Yolan Bren, a local Rebel leader. I found this to be the weakest story and I had difficulty differentiating between all the green aliens.

"Wreckage" finds Fett searching through the remains of a wrecked Star Destroyer for a mysterious box. This story is undoubtedly the best of the bunch. The vivid artwork is all the more noticeable as the story has very little dialog.

In "Overkill", a junior Imperial officer enlists Fett's talents to help him get a promotion. This story is pretty good too, with a great cartoon-like quality to the artwork.

Finally, an older Boba Fett becomes an "Agent of Doom" when he is hired to hunt down two Imperials engaging in genocide. An okay story with very moody artwork.

While there is nothing new or particularly remarkable here, it is an entertaining addition to any Fett fan's collection.

Accretion Processes in Star Formation (Cambridge Astrophysics)

Average customer rating:

Accretion Processes in Star Formation (Cambridge Astrophysics)
Lee Hartmann
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Astrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Comets, Meteors & Asteroids | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Star-Gazing | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Rocks & Minerals | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Astronomy | Sciences | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0521435072

Book Description

Recent discoveries of extrasolar planets and new direct evidence for protoplanetary disks around young stars have had a major impact on our understanding of star and planet formation. This volume provides a thorough, up-to-date, and concise overview of the physical processes involved in the formation of stars and their surrounding disks. The book traces the story of star formation from the fragmentation of cold molecular gas clouds, through the formation of protostars and rotating dusty disks to the subsequent accretion of material onto the central star. Lee Hartmann integrates state-of-the-art theoretical models with recent observations, highlighting important problems that remain to be solved.

Average customer rating:

Pretty Good!
Another good reading experience
Captain's Glory (Star Trek)
testosterone and boredome
Part IX of the Kirk Saga. What a great way to end the William Shatner Kirk saga!

Captain's Glory (Star Trek)
William Shatner , Garfield Reeves-Stevens , and Judith Reeves-Stevens
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743453433

Book Description

With the civil war on Romulus averted, Kirk is finally free to seek out the truth behind the death of his oldest and closest friend. Was Spock killed by the shadowy organisation known as the Totality? A generous offer from Starfleet provides him with the starship he needs in order to reach his goal. Their only proviso: that they can call on his help if they need him. But what happened to Spock is not Kirk's only worry: Joseph, his son, is rebelling wildly against the restrictions placed on him as the price of Romulan peace. Is the Totality somehow also linked to Joseph's rage? But before he can find the answers to either troubling question, Kirk receives a call from Admiral Janeway, telling him she needs him to save the Federation. Torn between his mission and his duty, the cause of the Federation must claim him one more time before he can turn his attention either to his friend or to his son.

Pop culture icon William Shatner returns with another breathtaking Star Trek adventure in which both generations must battle an unstoppable enemy for the existence of all life in this galaxy -- and beyond.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good!.......2007-10-08

Star Trek: Captain's Glory by William Shatner and his long time companion writing duo the Reeves-Stevens is the third and final book in the "most recent" trilogy that puts the former Captain of the Enterprise (Kirk) and the current Captain of the Enterprise (Picard) against various threats, each other and time. Again.

If you don't follow Shatner's Star Trek books the entire series starts with "Ashes of Eden" and ends with this book. It's not necessary to read those books, although I highly recommend it.

For those of you who DO follow Shatner's books then you'll appreciate that this is a return to the strengths of the previous six books. It doesn't leave you waiting around hoping that "something happens soon" as the action starts fast and keeps going. The book is fast paced with little downtime, so you'll finish it quickly.

The first book of this trilogy was "Captains Peril" and had Kirk and Picard vacationing on Bajor. There was a lot of downtime compared to the previous six books and that let a lot of people down. The middle book, "Captains Blood" was more of the same - as if the first book was just a prelude. Which it was.

The first two book were just a round about way of bringing the bad guys in this book to light - the Totality.

The Totality are shape shifters, of a sorts, but worse than the ones on Deep Space Nine, if you follow that series. They're kind of like organized religion - you're a terrible person and you're going to suffer all eternity, but they love you. Go Figure.

Overall, this book will leave you satisfied and wraps up most if not all of the plot lines left open in the other 8 books.

Shatner (and Reeves-Stevens) do a great job with the Kirk and Picard characters, and while some of the other crew members such a Worf are fairly flat, they don't have a lot to do with this story so it's no big deal. The Riker character (and his new wife) were handled well.

Overall this book is enjoyable and if you suffered through the first two of this trilogy, then you'll be happy to know that you didn't waste your time, this book makes reading the first two worth it.

Another good reading experience.......2007-09-08

Anyone who enjoys StarTrek books will most certainly enjoy this one. William Shatner does an excellent job of keeping his readers captivated throughout.

Captain's Glory (Star Trek).......2007-07-28

No one knows Star Trek like William Shatner! This is another excellent chapter in the greatest space saga of all time. I highly recommend this edition for those who seek a story about relationship of faith and adventure.

testosterone and boredome.......2006-11-08

The only interesting part is that regarding the skills of Kirk against Picard: two of the most different starfleet captain engaged in a battle against one another, where the only goal is that of inflicting the lowest damage.
The story is virtually inexistent, it seems there's nothing more to say... but Shatner says it anyway

Part IX of the Kirk Saga. What a great way to end the William Shatner Kirk saga!.......2006-10-13

I have read everyone of the Shatner Kirk books since Ashes of Eden and I have greatly enjoyed everyone of them. There is nobody better to write a Kirk adventure than the man that invented Captain James T. Kirk. I've read a lot of Star Trek novels in my life time and none have fascinated me more than Shatner's Trek novels. With that said I want to review Captain's Glory.

One of the greatest aspects of this book is the pace of the story. There are hardly any slow times during the book where something is not happening. From the beginning to the end I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen. The creation of the Totality is absolutely superb and what makes it so great is there has never been a villian quite like them. Norinda is such a great character and the interaction between Norinda and Kirk is excellent.

One of the things that Shatner has done better than any other Star Trek author is bridging the gap between the T.V. shows. Clearly, Shatner is a fan of Next generation and Voyager because those are the main characters in this trilogy. I really hope that authors in the future are able to do half as well as Shatner has with this aspect, and if they do there should be plenty of interesting Trek novels in the future.

Some have commented that the ending is not that good or not what they expected. I thought the pace and how Shatner brings all 9 of his Kirk novels into a final "finale" was excellent and very well written. The ending was very satisifying for me and I don't think Shatner could have ended his saga any better.

It's sad this will be the last of his Kirk novels but I couldn't have asked for a better bookend than Captain's Glory. Well done Mr. Shatner. Well done. Thank you for 11 great years of Star Trek "Glory".

Average customer rating:

Rogue Novel
Shockingly Great and the details....WOW
rogue novel
Great Book! Ties the Old Republic to the New Jedi Order!
rogue planet

Rogue Planet (Star Wars)
Greg Bear
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0345435400
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Amazon.com

It's an unexpected combination: Greg Bear, author of so many ambitiously complex SF novels, writing about the colorful simplicities of the Star Wars universe. But he carries it off well, with a mix of action-adventure and thoughtful world building that entertains while keeping to the spirit of Lucas's saga.

A few years after the events of The Phantom Menace, young Anakin Skywalker is getting restless--sneaking away from Jedi Temple training to gamble his life in a flying game that's much more bizarre and dangerous than the movie's podracing, even before an alien Blood Carver assassin intervenes. Anakin's character is taking shape now:

But above all, he loved winning.

To turn the boy's frustrated energy to useful ends, the Jedi Council has Obi-Wan Kenobi take Anakin to investigate the remote, enigmatic world Zonama Sekot, whose organic technologies produce magnificent spacecraft, and where a Jedi has vanished without a trace. Secretly pursuing them is a battle squadron captained by the weapons designer who has already blueprinted the Death Star and is being double-crossed by his employer Commander Tarkin.

Rogue Planet's action climaxes as the Jedis learn to grow their own spaceship, the Blood Carver strikes, and two heavily armed fleets converge on helpless-seeming Zonama Sekot. Every faction has secret cards up its sleeve--and Anakin's is a very dangerous wild card indeed. There's final victory and heartbreak, but also loose ends (including even stranger, deadlier aliens) that suggest sequels to follow. Bear does a solidly workmanlike job. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

MASTER AND APPRENTICE

The Force is strong in twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker . . . so strong that the Jedi Council, despite misgivings, entrusted young Obi-Wan Kenobi with the mission of training him to become a Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan? like his slain Master Qui-Gon?believes Anakin may be the chosen one, the Jedi destined to bring balance to the Force. But first Obi-Wan must help his undisciplined apprentice, who still bears the scars of slavery, find his own balance.

Dispatched to the mysterious planet of Zonama Sekot, source of the fastest ships in the galaxy, Obi-Wan and Anakin are swept up in a swirl of deadly intrigue and betrayal. They sense a disturbance in the Force unlike any they have encountered before. It seems there are more secrets on Zonama Sekot than meet the eye. But the search for those secrets will threaten the bond between Obi-Wan and Anakin . . . and bring the troubled young apprentice face-to-face with his deepest fears?and his darkest destiny.

Customer Reviews:

Rogue Novel.......2007-06-19

Generally reviews are on the mark as a whole. I should have followed the trend for this book because the negative leanings are there for a reason. Any Star Wars novel will be read with a critical eye and is certain to have flaws. The weaknesses of "Rogue Planet" are much more profound than the strengths.

While Star Wars novels are far from fine literature, I was immediately aggravated by the structure of the chapters. Many chapter are literally less than a page in length and add little to the story. The story would have flowed better if some of the shorter chapters were combined. In terms of the plot, I found it humorous that certain elements of the story seemed to be similar to other movies. A powerful leader ruling from behind a mask of deception reminded me of "The Wizard of Oz". A planet where everything is alive reminded me of an episode of Star Trek gone horribly wrong.

There are some positive aspects of the story. The theme of Anakin's struggle with fear and anger is developed. Also, the young Anakin character is not nearly as annoying as he is in the movies. "Rogue Planet" also furthers the theme of Qui-Gon Gin being a rebel Jedi and having a negative impact on young Anakin is brought to light.

This is the first Star Wars novel that I really did not like. At times, the pace made it painful to read. A better plot would have also helped to develop the Anakin character. The living planet theme seems terribly out of place as a vehicle for developing Anakin.

Shockingly Great and the details....WOW.......2007-06-13

I purchased the audio cassette because it was cheap. I listened to it and listened again and again. This book is one of the best in the Star Wars series. You wouldn't think it would be, but it is. It takes place on a living planet called Zonoma Sekot (which plays a huge role down the road in the Vong war). The description of the planet and the seeds that make the ships are awesome. Once you get past the oddities of it, it truly is genious. It is different and excellent. Not only do we see the very beginnings of Anakin's turn to the dark side, but we also get confusion and concern from Obi wan and an intro to the future Moff Tarkin and the designer of the first Death Star Seinar. There is even a reference to Darth Sidious. This book is exciting, original and entertaining. It can be had cheap right here on Amazon in any format (though the one penny CD might be your best value). If you love Star Wars, this is one to read or listen to right away

rogue novel.......2007-05-20

This novel has a little action in the beginning, a long boring middle, and a little more action at the end. The middle was mostly composed of great details about the process of growing a living starship. You read that right, living starships. Now, I'm sure Greg Bear is a great sci-fi author. But the problem here is that Star Wars is NOT sci-fi! It is space opera, a very different genre. I feel the whole premise of this story was way out of place in the Star Wars universe. This book also lacked that galactic feel as it concentrated on this one, starship-growing planet.

Another issue is that parts of this story were contradictory to things established in Episode II, like the fact that Jedi are forbidden to get married and have children. The Coda felt tacked on and was also proven untrue by Attack of the Clones anyway. Now we know the TRUE origin of the Death Star project (Geonosians). And Episode II implies that Anakin's slaughter of the Tuskan Camp is the first time he has killed in rage. (It definitely makes more sense that way.)

The only nice touch in this book is that Anakin talks to the spirit of a planet, reminiscent of an earth goddess.

If you like sci-fi, like the idea of growing living starships, don't mind a sci-fi Star Wars story and don't mind all the contradictions to the movies, then you might like this novel. But I think it sucked and I don't recommend this book. The only book worse than this is one is Crystal Star. Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are much more relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

Great Book! Ties the Old Republic to the New Jedi Order! .......2007-01-06

First up, I thought Bear nailed the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin. Kind of a father/son, brother, master/student, rival thing going. It seems that all aspects of their bonds were explored as hinted at in Episode I and A New Hope.

Anakin was great. He's definitely in that transition state between a boy and a Jedi. He misses his mother while still mastering becoming a Jedi Knight. Most intriguing of all is getting to see the first hints of Darth Vader emerging in his mind. It was also interesting to see how the Jedi Council treated him after their rather cold reception in Episode I.

Bear also did a great job with some of the new aliens. They are definitely strange and otherworldly, as you'd hope for. They also play upon the "symbiosis" themes that George Lucas loves so much.

As you know, Tarkin is one of the major bad guys in this book. It was truly a treat to finally see him in action outside of A New Hope. I've always wanted to know more about Tarkin, and Bear delivers. He's cold, ruthless, and overconfident just as Peter Cusing portrayed him.

Final Thoughts: I love the fact this novel ties the Prequel Era, A New Hope era, and the Post-Return of the Jedi Era all together. There's a subtle tie in with the New Jedi Order series that will suprise you. This is a must read for true Star Wars fans!!

rogue planet.......2006-11-20

quickly-growing anakin and maturing master obi-wan are sent to a mysterious planet to investigate both the amazing ships suddenly being constructed there and the disappearance of a previous knight. unbeknownst to the council, however, are the nefarious plans of one wilhuff tarkin, intent on taking the secrets of the ship-builders regardless of the cost.
this is an enjoyable entry in the reasonably unexplored era between 'the phantom menace' and 'attack of the clones'. while the middle of the book reads as very episodic, with the chapters strictly alternating between two plotlines, everything comes together for an exciting climax. the look at raith seinar is interesting, and the characterisation of tarkin is perfect. if you have not read the 'new jedi order' series, this book contains many fascinating surprises; unfortunately, i have read the series, so all i could do was sit back and be told what i already knew. one or two mentions suffer due to age (such as thracia cho-leem, jedi knight's many husbands), but overall 'rogue planet' is a great entry to the 'star wars' universe.

Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

A pleasing transition piece...

Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 1
Haden Blackman , Michael Stackpole , Mike Baron , Various , Tomas Giorello , and Allen Nunis
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback