Systems Science

The Devil's Heart is a legendary object of unsurpassed power and mystery. Worlds that believe in magic consider it Darkness's mightiest talisman; and worlds of science consider it a lost artifact of some ancient and forgotten race. Some say the Heart enables its possessor to control people's minds and to amass wealth enough for a dozen lifetimes, while others think it capable of raising the dead, perhaps even changing the flow of time itself. But to all, the location of this fabled object has remained a mystery, until now.

If the confusion following the last presidential election is any indication, the average citizen knows precious little about the democratic system and the laws that affect their daily lives. The Everything American Government Book unravels the complexities of our democracy and provides listeners with the knowledge necessary to make the right decisions and take an active role in the management of their country. This thoroughly researched work is ideal for anyone brushing up on civics, as well as students of all ages.

Many believe the child welfare system protects children from abuse. But as Torn Apart uncovers, this system is designed to punish Black families. Drawing on decades of research, legal scholar and sociologist Dorothy Roberts reveals that the child welfare system is better understood as a “family policing system” that collaborates with law enforcement and prisons to oppress Black communities. Child protection investigations ensnare a majority of Black children, putting their families under intense state surveillance and regulation.

Icy, rocky, sometimes dusty, always mysterious – comets and asteroids are among the Solar System's very oldest inhabitants, formed within a swirling cloud of gas and dust in the area of space that eventually hosted the Sun and its planets. Locked within each of these extra-terrestrial objects is the 4.6-billion-year wisdom of Solar System events, and by studying them at close quarters using spacecraft we can coerce them into revealing their closely-guarded secrets. This offers us the chance to answer some fundamental questions about our planet and its inhabitants.

The Kobayashi Maru is the test given to cadets at the Starfleet Academy - a simulated no-win situation in space. Now, the Starfleet officers share with each other the painful, often fierce lessons of their Kobayashi Maru as each man struggles to tap his inner strength and to overcome the most desperate situation of their careers! Featuring a dramatic reading by James Doohan and enhanced with sound effects and an original score!

If a black hole is not a hole, then what is it? Find out what black holes are, what causes them, and how scientists first discovered them. Learn how astronomers find black holes, get to know our nearest black-hole neighbor, and take a journey that will literally s-t-r-e-t-c-h the mind.

This explosive finale to Star Trek, The Next Generation centers on the Q Continuum's decision to destroy humanity's existence in space and time, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard's chance to sacrifice everything and save mankind. Featuring a dramatic reading by Jonathan Frakes and enhanced with sound effects and an original score!

Do your connections with friends, family, or romantic partners leave you feeling dissatisfied or disconnected? In this book, emotional intelligence pioneer Jeanne Segal, PhD, doesn't just talk about love and connection; she shows you how to get and give loving experiences that are nurturing and fulfilling. Feeling Loved explores what we unwittingly do that hijacks our ability to feel loved and goes on to offer powerful research-based tools to transform relationships and support emotional well-being.

The past collides with the present as the true story of the historical Kahless sparks a battle for control of the entire Klingon Empire. Yet even if Worf and Picard can prevent a civil war, the revelations contained by the scroll ensure that the Klingon Empire - and the rest of the galaxy - will never be the same.

A system can describe what we see (the solar system), operate a computer (Windows 10), or be made on a page (the 14 engineered lines of a sonnet). In this book, Clifford Siskin shows that system is best understood as a genre - a form that works physically in the world to mediate our efforts to understand it. Indeed, many Enlightenment authors published works they called "system" to compete with the essay and the treatise.

Imagine being the only human left on an Earth occupied by monsters, aliens, and worse. Sounds terrible? Well...it's not so bad when you are an introverted battle junkie like me. Honestly, I was almost starting to appreciate being left behind while everyone else was given the chance to prepare for the mess Earth had gotten itself into. On a side note, it turns out I'm pretty good at hunting monsters. Though dragons and such are a bit out of my league. Just a bit. I survived dozen-something kobolds that wanted me dead, and now it's time to pay back their leader.

Ein Sonnensystem im intergalaktischen Leerraum, das es so nicht geben dürfte, und eine fremde Hinterlassenschaft, die ganze Galaxien verwüsten kann. Eine aus unterschiedlichen Spezies zusammengesetzte Expedition soll dieses Geheimnis ergründen, doch nicht jeder Teilnehmer spielt mit offenen Karten. Jason Wu, ein Angehöriger der Sentient Alliance, und Leya Mamoa, eine ehemalige Raumsoldatin, werden in diese Ereignisse verstrickt und zu Schlüsselfiguren im Kampf um die Milchstraße. Sie könnten das Schicksal der Galaxis entscheiden - wenn sie eine gefährliche Reise ins Unbekannte wagen.

Last I remember I was saving my high school crush from the path of an oncoming truck. Now I'm a skin-and-bones weakling wearing nothing but my hospital gown. Oh yeah, the world is also full of monsters, and I'm the only human left. It turns out a godlike System evacuated humanity but decided to leave the vegetable in the bed. I could crawl into a corner and wait to get eaten by a kobold, but after years of being asleep, I have a new appreciation for feeling alive. I'll have to find the tenacity to survive, the courage to fight, and the strength to face some dark truths about myself.

In this Very Short Introduction, Nick Jenkins explores our historic investment in the exploitation of fossil energy resources and their current importance, and discusses the implications of our increasing rate of energy use. He considers the widespread acceptance by scientists and policy makers that our energy systems must reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and looks forward to the radical changes in fuel technology that will be necessary to continue to provide energy supplies in a sustainable manner, and extend access across the developing world.

The Genesis Wave, Book 3 is the final volume of an apocalyptic adventure that pits the desperate crew of the Starship Enterprise against a disaster of universal proportions....Read by Tim Russ, Tuvok on Voyager!

Since 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has maintained unrivalled control over the country, persisting even in the face of economic calamity, widespread social upheaval, and violence against its own people. Yet the party does not sustain dominance through repressive tactics alone - it pairs this with surprising responsiveness to the public. The Party and the People explores how this paradox has helped the CCP endure for decades, and how this balance has shifted increasingly toward repression under the rule of President Xi Jinping.

I’ve fought monsters big and small, but rebuilding civilization might be my toughest battle yet. We might have secured D.C., but that doesn’t mean the threats are over. This time, it’s more insidious and dangerous than we ever expected. I’m going to have to find a way to rebuild a community, develop infrastructure, keep on leveling, and save my people from a deadly, magical virus.

Following their best sellers Vulcan's Forge and Vulcan's Heart, Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz embark on a new trilogy chronicling the latter-day adventures of one of Star Trek's most beloved characters, shedding new light on his world's shocking history.

Full of unexpected twists and surprises, Restoration is a major turning point in the ongoing saga of Star Trek, New Frontier. Read by Joe Morton!

Join the military and fight the demon hordes or sell his soul to the Corpos. Both options having minimal appeal to a shut-in like Jack. Thanks to the high cost of living, and his sister’s medical expenses, Jack has never given much thought to what he’d want to do with life, always living paycheck to paycheck, scrounging just enough to keep the lights on and his sister safe. However, in a strange turn of events that nearly kills him, an Angel presents him with a third option.