Food Science Fiction

From Michael Pollan to locavores, Whole Foods to farmers' markets, today cooks and foodies alike are paying more attention than ever before to the history of the food they bring into their kitchens - and especially to vegetables. Whether it’s an heirloom tomato, curled cabbage, or succulent squash, from a farmers' market or a backyard plot, the humble vegetable offers more than just nutrition - it also represents a link with long tradition of farming and gardening, nurturing and breeding. In this charming new book, those veggies finally get their due.

Charles Dickens' absolutely wonderful celebration of holiday spirit and Christmas cheer presents a grand glimpse of Christmas dinner and the jovial characters that reside within every family, everywhere.

On a beautiful island full of magical creatures, one bunny is destined for an impossible quest. The rare Seither water that provides magic to everyone has been stolen. To make matters worse, the loyal Spartans who were guarding the Seither have gone missing. Someone must find the missing force and the Spartan guards.

How do peanuts become creamy peanut butter? A farmer grows peanuts. The sun dries the plants. The peanuts are picked and sorted. Machines remove shells. Follow the process step by step as peanut butter is made.

Honey is a sweet treat! But where does it come from? Flowers open. A bee flies to the flowers. The bee drinks nectar. The bees fly home. Discover what happens next in the process of making of honey.

How does a seed become a yummy ear of corn? A farmer plants seeds. The seeds change into plants. Plants grow. Soon cobs grow on the plants. Learn about the life cycle of corn step by step.

How does a cocoa bean become a delicious chocolate bar? Cocoa beans ripen. Workers open the pods. Next the sun dries the beans. The beans are roasted. Find out what step happens next in the process of making chocolate.

What if beings from another planet came to earth with a peace offering in the form of a small candy which would kill all excess body fat, build muscle, give you incredible energy, and clear, wonderful skin? It would make you feel and look as if you were young again. If you were young, your appearance would remain youthful, and you would never know what it feels like to be old. Would you be interested? Issac is struggling himself with that very question as he discovers a new world of transformation.

For the Nameless Restaurant, once a discreet hole-in-the-wall meant for a cast of supernatural regulars, the increasing levels of background magic has brought with it that most dreadful of locusts—new customers. The staff of the Nameless Restaurant are finding the influx of new customers—both mortal and magical—to be a challenge. They're reaching a breaking point, and something has to give. The only question is, will it be Mo Meng's rules on magic or the restaurant itself?

How does salt go from the sea to flavoring your food? Workers pump seawater into ponds. Salt crystals form as the water dries up. See what happens step by step in the process of making salt.

Where does milk come from? Cows eat grass. They make milk in their bodies. Next a farmer uses a machine to take milk from the cows. Then what happens? Follow the story of milk step by step.

How does milk become delicious ice cream? A farmer milks cows. The milk is mixed and heated. Next a worker adds flavors. The mix gets cold. Listen to what happens step by step as ice cream is made....

How does a seed turn into a tasty apple? The seed spouts. The tree grows. Then the tree flowers. Next small apples grow. The apples ripen. Listen to how apples grow step by step.

It sounds like the easiest mission ever: Go to Earth (you know, the blue planet in the middle of nowhere). Sell hot dogs. Record interactions with human beings using the loop recorder in his brain. Unfortunately, humans refuse to buy Charlie’s hot dogs at the corner of Bay and College Street in downtown Toronto, Canada, North America, Earth. They prefer Earl’s Dogs, the cart across the street.

Do you want to go vegan yet need some encouragement? Have you already gone vegan and want to celebrate veganism? In either case, you may find this book is just what the doctor ordered.

When remote-controlled aircraft begin behaving erratically, even crashing, there is only one logical explanation - well, there are only two: aliens or your own government. The real shock is finding the signals are coming from people who've eaten at fast food restaurants. Of course, we've known all along the stuff is unhealthy. But this?