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Messaggeri dal cosmo: Introduzione alla fisica dei raggi cosmici nella sua evoluzione storica
by Francesco RiggiQuesto libro fornisce una panoramica completa dello sviluppo della fisica dei raggi cosmici, con considerazioni storiche e didattiche, dalle prime prove dell'esistenza della radiazione extraterrestre fino alle più recenti applicazioni dei muoni cosmici in diversi aspetti della vita quotidiana. Molti dei risultati originali che hanno contribuito allo studio della radiazione cosmica vengono presentati e discussi, accompagnati da oltre 500 riferimenti bibliografici, numerose appendici di approfondimento, circa 200 illustrazioni e un ampio capitolo dedicato all'impatto complessivo dei raggi cosmici. Il libro comprende varie sezioni, tra cui: il dibattito sulla natura corpuscolare o radiativa della radiazione cosmica; lo sviluppo delle prime tecniche di rivelazione della radiazione cosmica; le proprietà e la composizione della radiazione primaria e secondaria; l'influenza dell'ambiente terrestre e del Sole sul flusso dei raggi cosmici; l'interazione dei muoni cosmici nella materia e un lungo elenco delle loro recenti applicazioni, che vanno dalle tecniche di tomografia muonica allo studio della stabilità degli edifici civili. Questo volume intende soddisfare un vasto pubblico. Adatto per corsi introduttivi sulla fisica dei raggi cosmici a livello universitario, sia triennale che magistrale, si rivela altrettanto prezioso per studenti delle scuole superiori e insegnanti coinvolti in progetti didattici su questo argomento. Grazie alla ricchezza dei suoi contenuti storici e didattici, offre vantaggi tangibili a chiunque desideri approfondire la conoscenza dei raggi cosmici.
Live-Cell RNA Imaging: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology #2875)
by Shin-Ichi SatoThis detailed volume presents a comprehensive guide to live-cell RNA imaging techniques and methodologies that have been successfully used to study the dynamics or function of various RNAs in cells. The topics covered encompass techniques including the detection of aptamer-tagged mRNA molecules utilizing fluorogenic proteins, monitoring endogenous mRNA via a split-protein-based probe within neuronal cells, sensitive detection of low-abundance RNAs employing catalytic hairpin assembly circuits, monitoring RNA dynamics using the MS2 system within plant cells, detection of miRNA utilizing DNA-MOF probes, and identification of RNA G-quadruplex structures or nucleolar RNA through fluorescent probes, among other advanced techniques. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Live-Cell RNA Imaging: Methods and Protocols provides researchers with a diverse toolkit for investigating RNA dynamics and function within live cells, thereby contributing to advancements in our understanding of cellular processes at the molecular level.
New Energy Locomotive: Technology and Application (Key Technologies on New Energy Vehicles)
by Qi Li Weirong Chen Chaohua DaiThis book is designed to summarize and synthesize Professor Chen Weirong's many years of research and related technical progress in the field. It describes the key technologies and application status of fuel cell, solar energy and energy storage in railway transportation. New energy locomotive is a new type of power supply system rail locomotive with new energy as the power source, and it is one of the main ways of energy saving and emission reduction in rail transit. At present, new energy locomotives have been moving towards research and development diversification, product concentration and large-scale operation, forming an innovative situation with fuel cell electric locomotives and energy storage electric locomotives as the main, supplemented by a variety of other new energy locomotives, and the common development of urban rail transit applications and engineering locomotives. Compared with traditional electric locomotives and diesel locomotives, new energy locomotives represented by fuel cell, energy storage, hybrid and solar electric locomotives have the advantages of low/no emissions, energy saving, clean and low noise, and can be widely used in station shunting, engineering operation vehicles and urban trams.
Academic Leadership in Engineering Education: Learnings and Case Studies from Educational Leaders Around the Globe (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1097)
by Michael E. Auer Rohit Kandakatla Sushma KulkarniEngineering institutions worldwide are undergoing significant transformation as they work to adapt themselves to the learning needs of students in the 21st century, changing trends in the requirements of the industry and society, and growing concerns about issues related to sustainable development and climate change. Future engineering graduates must be equipped to tackle complex problems in society that are aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are increasing calls for engineering institutions to create quality learning experiences for students, enabling them to develop deeper learning skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, life-long learning, leadership skills, and the ability to work in teams. Engineering curricula must be made multidisciplinary, innovative, and outcome-driven by integrating evidence-based pedagogies and learning mechanisms. For this to happen, academic leaders must reimagine their institutions with significant changes at the administration, governance, and leadership levels. Establishing new-age institutions that meet international accreditation standards requires dynamic academic leaders at multiple levels who can work collaboratively to achieve the vision and mission of the institution. This book is an attempt to share key learnings from academic leaders from around the world on important trends emerging in engineering education. Aspiring academic leaders will get a glimpse of the thought process and vision of such leaders, how they strategize and support their institutions for the betterment of the students, and what kind of changes they are working on to keep up with the ever-evolving environment. The book is divided into four sections. Each section comprises multiple chapters written by different academic leaders that are based on their experiences of implementing best practices at their respective institutions. Section 1 - Governance and Leadership of Engineering Institutions Section 2 - Creating Quality Learning Experiences Section 3 - Preparing Institutions to become Knowledge Hubs for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Section 4 - Empowerment of Faculty and Students for the 21st Century The sections and chapters will be of great value to multiple stakeholders in leadership positions at engineering institutions including Presidents, Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Directors, Deans, Heads of Departments and Faculty members aspiring to be academic leaders. Each chapter will be presented through case studies from successful programs initiated and pioneered at various engineering institutions across the globe.
MATLAB und Simulink Schnellkurs für Ingenieure
by Eklas HossainMATLAB und Simulink Schnellkurs für Ingenieure ist ein benutzerfreundlicher Einführungsführer zu den Funktionen und Anwendungen von MATLAB und Simulink. Das Buch bietet Lesern praxisnahe Beispiele, Übungen und Anwendungen und zeigt hochillustrierte, schrittweise Demonstrationen von Techniken für die Modellierung und Simulation komplexer Systeme. Die MATLAB-Abdeckung umfasst Vektoren und Matrizen, Programme und Funktionen, komplexe Zahlen, Visualisierung, Lösung von Gleichungen, numerische Methoden, Optimierungsprobleme und grafische Benutzeroberflächen. Die Simulink-Abdeckung umfasst häufig verwendete Simulink-Blöcke, Simulation von Regelungssystemen, Analyse elektrischer Schaltungen, elektrische Energiesysteme, Leistungselektronik und erneuerbare Energietechnologien. Dieses leistungsstarke Tutorial ist eine ausgezeichnete Ressource für Studenten, Ingenieure und andere geschäftige technische Fachleute, die schnell ein solides Verständnis von MATLAB und Simulink erlangen müssen.
World Order from the People’s Perspective in the Middle East: Quantitative Analysis of International Relations Perception and Cross-Border Mobility Experience and Awareness Based on Public Opinion Surveys (Evidence-Based Approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies #15)
by Shingo Hamanaka Hiroyuki Aoyama Yutaka TakaokaThe Arab Spring demonstrated the crucial importance of understanding the political awareness and behavior of the general public. This book employs original survey data to examine the political attitudes, perceptions of international relations, and experiences and preferences related to cross-border migration among ordinary people in the Middle East. We have conducted a decade-long study of Middle East public opinion, utilizing two research concepts. The first is the political cognitive map, which constructs the international system, i.e., the relations among major powers, from public opinion data. The second is the experience and preferences of cross-border migration, which enables us to analyze the problems of immigration, refugees, and terrorist infiltration. Through these two research concepts, we have attempted to understand the order and dynamics of the Middle East region. This book opens new horizons for the study of Middle Eastern politics.
Advancement of Science and Technology: AI, Machine Learning, Electrical Engineering, and Computing Technologies (EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing)
by Mekuanint A. Bitew Abeba Birhane Fekadu Shewarega Mekonnen Wagaw Ahunim Abebe AsheteheThis proceeding presents the papers from the 11th International Conference on Advancement of Science and Technology (ICAST 2023), which took place in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, in November 2023. The papers present economic and technologic developments in modern societies related to important issues such digitization, energy transformation, impact on national economy, and its recent advancements. The papers are relevant to researchers, academics, and professionals.
Social Problems (Fifth Edition)
by Joel Best Brian MonahanNot your parents’ social problems textbook Joel Best, author of the best-selling Damned Lies and Statistics, and new coauthor Brian Monahan offer a fresh approach to the social problems course. Rather than overloading students with details and data, the book focuses on how and why particular conditions come to be constructed as social problems. Each chapter explores a different stage of the construction process, ending with a rich case study that applies the concepts to a contemporary issue. In this way, the authors equip students with the tools needed to analyze any social problem they encounter in the media. New to this edition: Short, boxed features in every chapter tackle current issues such as the controversy over Drag Queen Story Hour, pharmaceutical pollution, and the concussion crisis in youth sports. All-new end-of-chapter case studies apply the topic of the chapter to hot-button issues like abortion policy after Dobbs v. Jackson and the rise of cancel cultures. A thoroughly updated Chapter 5 on the media includes a new discussion of news values and how these criteria have changed due to the shift to digital delivery. A new end-of-chapter case explores “The Blame Game,” or how the media not only distribute claims but can also become the target of claims. This purchase offers access to the digital ebook only.
Entrepreneurship: Choice and Strategy (First Edition)
by Joshua Gans Scott Stern Erin ScottNavigating Key Choices for a Successful Venture Joshua Gans, Erin L. Scott, and Scott Stern wrote this book for students—all students—who are hungry to learn how they can emulate the success of entrepreneurs they see in the media and in their communities. This text brings modern research and insights together to teach a proven approach to understanding, navigating, and choosing an entrepreneurial path. Informed by their decades of research, the authors provide tested tools to get started, helping students use four key choices and four core strategic approaches to find and frame opportunities. Throughout, the book emphasizes that students should choose and pursue the approaches that fit their personal goals and interests, and it underscores the important roles of guidance, mentorship, and entrepreneurial education in a founder’s path to success. This purchase offers access to the digital ebook only.
Abba: The Story Behind Every Track
by Benoît ClercTHE DEFINITIVE RECORDING HISTORY OF SWEDISH SUPERSTARS, ABBA, TOLD ALBUM-BY-ALBUM AND SONG-BY-SONG.Filled with fascinating photography (some rarely seen) and sensational behind-the-scenes details.Discover the untold stories behind ABBA's greatest hits, including the iconic 'Waterloo', 'Mamma Mia' and 'Dancing Queen' in this loving and thorough dissection of every album and song released by the pop megastars. From their first single in 1972, all the way up to their Grammy-nominated studio album, Voyage, and their revolutionary virtual tour, this definitive tome uncovers the full story behind every track that ABBA released.In over 500 pages, no stone is left unturned. Drawing upon decades of research, expert author Benoît Clerc recounts the circumstances that led to the composition of every song - detailing the inspiration behind the lyrics, the recording process and the instruments that shaped ABBA's distinctive sound.Featuring hundreds of photographs, including rare publicity stills, images of the instruments used by the band, and shots of the musicians on-stage and in-studio, Abba: All the Songs is the perfect gift for any fan of pop.
Abba: The Story Behind Every Track
by Benoît ClercTHE DEFINITIVE RECORDING HISTORY OF SWEDISH SUPERSTARS, ABBA, TOLD ALBUM-BY-ALBUM AND SONG-BY-SONG.Filled with fascinating photography (some rarely seen) and sensational behind-the-scenes details.Discover the untold stories behind ABBA's greatest hits, including the iconic 'Waterloo', 'Mamma Mia' and 'Dancing Queen' in this loving and thorough dissection of every album and song released by the pop megastars. From their first single in 1972, all the way up to their Grammy-nominated studio album, Voyage, and their revolutionary virtual tour, this definitive tome uncovers the full story behind every track that ABBA released.In over 500 pages, no stone is left unturned. Drawing upon decades of research, expert author Benoît Clerc recounts the circumstances that led to the composition of every song - detailing the inspiration behind the lyrics, the recording process and the instruments that shaped ABBA's distinctive sound.Featuring hundreds of photographs, including rare publicity stills, images of the instruments used by the band, and shots of the musicians on-stage and in-studio, Abba: All the Songs is the perfect gift for any fan of pop.
Set-Indexed Martingales (Chapman & Hall/CRC Monographs on Statistics and Applied Probability)
by Ely Merzbach Gail IvanoffSet-Indexed Martingales offers a unique, comprehensive development of a general theory of Martingales indexed by a family of sets. The authors establish-for the first time-an appropriate framework that provides a suitable structure for a theory of Martingales with enough generality to include many interesting examples. Developed from first principles, the theory brings together the theories of Martingales with a directed index set and set-indexed stochastic processes. Part One presents several classical concepts extended to this setting, including: stopping, predictability, Doob-Meyer decompositions, martingale characterizations of the set-indexed Poisson process, and Brownian motion. Part Two addresses convergence of sequences of set-indexed processes and introduces functional convergence for processes whose sample paths live in a Skorokhod-type space and semi-functional convergence for processes whose sample paths may be badly behaved.Completely self-contained, the theoretical aspects of this work are rich and promising. With its many important applications-especially in the theory of spatial statistics and in stochastic geometry- Set Indexed Martingales will undoubtedly generate great interest and inspire further research and development of the theory and applications.
Reclaiming Sodom
by Jonathan GoldbergWithin the Judeo-Christian tradition, Sodom and Gomorrah represent locales in which threats to national formation are couched in sexual terms. The biblical narrative insists on a particular social invisibility for those sexual activities not blessed by the bonds of matrimony.Reclaiming Sodom surveys a number of institutions that have had an interest in perpetuating these views: the police, the state, the church and the law. The collection ranges through biblical scholarship, an investigation of the Founding Fathers' beliefs, the legal mobilization towards the category of sodomy in 18th and 19th century England, and the US Supreme Court's 1986 Bowers vs. Hardwick decision. Analysis is provided of the ways in which the Judeo-Christian tradition has shaped anthropological accounts of the same-sex practices of non-Western people, as well as essays on how colonial gestures have marked lesbian identity in the Carribean, and derformed narratives about the racial geography of AIDS.Reclaiming Sodom explores alternatives to the force of the Sodomitic biblical narrative in Islamic, non-western, and western traditions, and discusses the ways in which sodomy calls into question normative definitions of sexuality and gender. The collection pursues the "pleasures and dangers" of these alternatives, and takes on Proust's refusal to imagine a social movement founded on the "stigma" of Sodom.The collection examines the relations between sex/gender identities and sexual acts in important and provocative ways, and argues for the political use and usefulness of both Sodom and sodomy. Reclaiming Sodom makes an important and controversial contribution to the literature on sexuality and gender, as well as the nature of sex in our culture.
My Universe
by Ya B. ZeldovichIn this fascinating book, the reader is offered a selection of papers summarizing the unique contribution to modern cosmology of the Soviet school, led by the late Ya.B. Zeldovich. The first three articles in this selection introduce the general reader to the underlying theories of cosmology: the birth and expansion of the universe, matter and antimatter. The remaining five contributions are review papers offering the more advanced reader a deeper understanding of the structure of the universe, cosmological field theory, microwave background radiation and galactic distribution. This balance of introductory and advanced papers makes My Universe a work of value for graduate students entering the field, for research workers expanding their knowledge, and for the layman seeking an insight into one of the most important subjects of the twentieth century.
Bible in Modern China: The Literary and Intellectual Impact (Monumenta Serica Monograph Series)
by Irene Eber Roman Malek Sze-Kar Wan Knut WalfThe volume presents the contributions of an international workshop held in Jerusalem in 1996. It includes a general index with glossary.
Burial in Early Medieval England and Wales (The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monographs)
by Sam Lucy Reynolds AndrewThis volume brings together a series of studies concerned with aspects of the archaeology of burial in early medieval England and Wales during the period c. A.D. 400-1100. The demographic composition of cemeteries, burial rites and mortuary behaviour are considered alongside the political and landscape context of burial, all topics which are recent developments in the field of burial archaeology in Britain. Students and researchers will find the theoretical and methodological approaches of use to their own studies, whilst those seeking an understanding of the trajectories of change in patterns of burial through the Anglo-Saxon period will find it the first summary of its kind. Besides offering individual studies, the volume reviews the early medieval burial archaeology of Britain and identifies areas of future research.
Colonial Frames, Nationalist Histories: Imperial Legacies, Architecture, and Modernity (Ashgate Studies in Architecture)
by Mrinalini RajagopalanIn recent years, there has been a growing debate on the various ways that architecture and urbanism have served the triad of colonialism, nationalism and modernity. Some have argued that newly decolonized nations sought to represent their modernity through the spaces and symbols of their new national capitals, while other scholars have stressed that while the forms and processes of architectural modernization have no doubt served as aids to various nation-building projects, it is the specific role of individual agents (such as planners, architects, an emerging twentieth-century bourgeois citizen, or colonial administrators) in this national project that needs attention. However, many such explorations of this subject have so far taken the form of monographs that concentrate on one city, thereby limiting the scope required to address the broader questions at hand. By juxtaposing case studies from various colonial and postcolonial settings from around the world, this edited volume provides a comprehensive and diachronic investigation of the ways in which architecture and urban space mediate the intersections of colonialism, nationalism, and modernity. Examining such spaces as archaeological sites, memorials, new buildings, or historic urban fabric, the book questions certain established dichotomies such as that of the imperial center and the colonized periphery; the colonial past and the postcolonial present; or the isolation of the national or local from the global. Besides offering unique historical perspectives on colonialism, nationalism and modernity, each case-study also reassesses theories regarding memory and monumentalization; the appropriation and deployment of tradition in the service of nationalism; and the institutions of modernity. A common thread throughout the essays in this volume is a focus on new loci of power that emerge either in collision with colonial power structures, or in collaboration with or those that emerge in the wake of decolonization. While the authors recognize the presence of a larger structure of colonial hegemony, they also investigate those centers of power that emerge in the interstices of crevices of colonial power. Interdisciplinary and theoretically innovative, this book offers a global perspective on colonial and national landscapes, rewrites the master creator narrative, examines national landscapes as sites of contestation and views the globalization of processes such as archaeology beyond the boundaries of the national.
Cutaneous Melanoma, Fifth Edition
by John F. Thompson Charles M. Balch Michael B. Atkins Arthur J. Sober Alan N. Houghton Seng-Jaw SoongThe Classic Text—Expanded, Updated...More Authoritative than Ever!Cutaneous Melanoma is the definitive and most authoritative textbook on melanoma used worldwide. This 5th edition provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive information needed for the clinical management and scientific study of melanoma. Written by the leading melanoma experts from the United States, Australia, and Europe, this new edition collectively incorporates the clinical outcomes of more than 60,000 patients treated at major melanoma centers throughout the world.Comprehensive Coverage—from Prevention to Advanced TreatmentThis new edition provides in-depth coverage, ranging from precursors of melanoma to advanced stages of metastatic disease; from melanoma genes to population-based epidemiology; and from prevention of melanoma to all forms of multidisciplinary treatments. Basic principles of diagnosis and pathologic examination are combined with treatment approaches for the many clinical presentations. Clinical management is supported by statistical data about natural history, prognosis, and treatment results. The latest information on staging and prognosis, as well as randomized prospective clinical trials involving surgical treatment and systemic treatments, is included. This volume presents a balanced perspective of the risks and benefits involved in each treatment modality. The book also contains: 1) a comprehensive color atlas of melanoma and its precursors, 2) illustrated surgical and perfusion techniques for every stage and anatomic location of melanoma, and 3) complex genetic and molecular pathways involving melanoma biology. Every drug and biologic agent in use today is described with indications and efficacy.Entirely Revised and UpdatedSeven new chapters discuss the emerging clinical data on the use of biomarkers, adjuvant therapies, targeted therapies, and immune modulation as well as significant clinical research a
Chemistry Trends (Trends in Science)
by Keith B HuttonToday's fast-moving world of science will have far-reaching effects on all of our lives. Trends in Science is a series of of essential readings for anyone who wants to know more about how his or her future will be affected; as well, the series provides accessible and stimulating material for high school and college students, for researchers and librarians. All titles in the series provide: an introductory overview of the field in the last 100 years, reviewing the past but also predicting the new developments of the future; a detailed chronology of the most important milestones; an index of key terms and concepts; biographies of the most important scientists in each field and their role in shaping their particular branch of science; a listing of important Websites, a directory of organizations, and suggestions for further reading.
An Illustrated Life of Christ Presented to the Chinese Emperor: The History of Jincheng shuxiang (1640) (Monumenta Serica Monograph Series)
by Nicolas StandaertA renewed attention to visual culture is one of the recent developments in the study of cultural contacts between China and Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The subject of this book is the illustrated Life of Christ presented to the Chinese emperor in 1640 by the Jesuit missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell S.J. (1592-1666). The origin of the work is a small parchment booklet with coloured miniature paintings based on a wide variety of prints by well-known European engravers (e.g., H. Goltzius, J. Stradanus). It was compiled in Munich in 1617 and a Chinese version with the title Jincheng shuxiang was published in Beijing more than twenty years later in a nicely illustrated edition. An Illustrated Life of Christ is a fascinating analysis of one of the earliest artistic encounters between Europe and China...Standaert has, once again, demonstrated his scholarly foresight, workmanship and authority. John T.P. Lai in Journal of the History of Christianity in Modern China This book is composed of two parts. Part I traces the complex history of production of Jincheng shuxiang, from its European origin to its Chinese reception. It also analyses the illustrations and the text. Part II contains the reproduction of the Chinese text and 48 illustrations, the reproduction of the identified original European prints and a translation of the Chinese text. It is hoped that the wider diffusion of this rare primary source, which is now reprinted for the first time since the seventeenth century, will further stimulate the study of visual culture in Sino-Western relations. The book will be of interest to a broad range of scholars, from art historians of China and Europe to scholars interested in print history, and theologians.
Organizing for Agricultural Development: Human Aspects in the Utilization of Science and Technology
by William Foote WhyteThere is increasing recognition, even among hard-nosed agricultural scientists, that progress in technology and in the scientific fields directly related to the growth of plants is necessary but not sufficient to produce major social and economic benefits. Agricultural scientists are therefore turning to behavioral scientists for advice and collaboration; they must search together for the solutions to problems of food shortages and rural development. Through an analysis of the procedures of agricultural extension agents, organizational frameworks. divisions of labor and social structures, William Foote Whyte proposes a reformulation of social theory that does not abandon humanistic values but requires us to examine the conditions and agencies for realization of these values by concentration upon the structural elements influencing behavior in agrarian societies. Only then can technological and agricultural innovations be introduced to rural areas with success.
Serpentine: Charles Sobhraj's Reign of Terror from Europe to South Asia
by Thomas ThompsonNew York Times Bestseller: This in-depth account of Charles Sobhraj, the serial killer portrayed in Netflix miniseries The Serpent, is &“compulsive reading&” (The Plain Dealer). There was no pattern to the murders, no common thread other than the fact that the victims were all vacationers, robbed of their possessions and slain in seemingly random crimes. Authorities across three continents and a dozen nations had no idea they were all looking for same man: Charles Sobhraj, aka &“The Serpent.&” A handsome Frenchman of Vietnamese and Indian origin, Sobhraj targeted backpackers on the &“hippie trail&” between Europe and South Asia. A master of deception, he used his powerful intellect and considerable sex appeal to lure naïve travelers into a life of crime. When they threatened to turn on him, Sobhraj murdered his acolytes in cold blood. Between late 1975 and early 1976, a dozen corpses were found everywhere from the boulevards of Paris to the slopes of the Himalayas to the back alleys of Bangkok and Hong Kong. Some police experts believe the true number of Sobhraj&’s victims may be more than twice that amount. Serpentine is the &“grotesque, baffling, and hypnotic&” true story of one of the most bizarre killing sprees in modern history (San Francisco Chronicle). Edgar Award–winning author Thomas Thompson&’s mesmerizing portrait of a notorious sociopath and his helpless prey &“unravels like fiction, but afterwards haunts the reader like the document it is&” (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland).
Desert Crossing
by Luke ShortA freight captain races across the desert to protect priceless cargo in this rollicking adventure from a master storyteller of the West. The guns come down the Colorado River, cases of army rifles that could mean life or death for the soldiers fighting the Indian Wars throughout the American West, and Dave Harmon is waiting for them. A grizzled, one-eyed freight captain, Harmon knows better than anyone how to drive cargo over the broad, merciless desert. The rifles could attract Apache, bandits, or worse, but none of that frightens him. The real trouble is one of the passengers: a major&’s beautiful daughter he&’s not sure he can trust. Soon Harmon is fighting off not only ruthless outlaws and Apache determined to defend their land, but backstabbing members of his own wagon train. In order to reach Fort Whipple with the guns and the girl, he&’ll have to take on his enemies singlehandedly—and destroy them all. Desert Crossing is a thrilling chase story featuring vibrant characters and rich, authentic western atmosphere from legendary author Luke Short.
The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev, 1960–1963
by Michael BeschlossThe groundbreaking and revelatory tale of the most dangerous years of the Cold War and the two leaders who held the fate of the world in their hands. This bestselling history takes us into the tumultuous period from 1960 through 1963 when the Berlin Wall was built and the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and Soviet Union to the abyss. In this compelling narrative, author Michael Beschloss, praised by Newsweek as &“the nation&’s leading Presidential historian,&” draws on declassified American documents and interviews with Kennedy aides and Soviet sources to reveal the inner workings of the CIA, Pentagon, White House, KGB, and politburo, and show us the complex private relationship between President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Beschloss discards previous myths to show how the miscalculations and conflicting ambitions of those leaders caused a nuclear confrontation that could have killed tens of millions of people. Among the cast of characters are Robert Kennedy, Robert McNamara, Adlai Stevenson, Fidel Castro, Willy Brandt, Leonid Brezhnev, and Andrei Gromyko. The Bay of Pigs invasion, the Vienna Summit, the Berlin Crisis, and what followed are rendered with urgency and intimacy as the author puts these dangerous years in the context of world history. &“Impressively researched and engrossingly narrated&” (Los Angeles Times), The Crisis Years brings to vivid life a crucial epoch in a book that David Remnick of the New Yorker has called the &“definitive&” history of John F. Kennedy and the Cold War.
The Panama Portrait
by Stanley EllinFrom a three-time Edgar Award–winning author: Local rituals and a lost painting draw a New York businessman into intrigue on a remote Pacific island. Ben Smith, a market researcher from New York City, has arrived on Santo Stefano, an island two hundred miles off the coast of Peru. At the behest of his company&’s seafood division, he&’s gauging the potential profitability of the island&’s abundance of rock lobsters. Encouraging a little tin-pot country to draw foreign investment should be a breeze—a beautiful one, too, berthed, as he is, in such an exotic locale. But Ben&’s interests are soon divided between the seductive Infanta Elissa, daughter of the island&’s powerful guano king, and another American tourist who has come in search of a reportedly lost and invaluable Panama portrait painted by French post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. And something sinister is taking over Santo Stefano. The locals call it festa brava, a ritualistic hanging ceremony, dating back centuries, in which competitors test their courage against the gallows. Whether you survive or not, it&’s said to be the ultimate experience. As an undercurrent of violence and unease rises closer to the surface, Ben wonders what else awaits him on the island, how it will change him, and how far he&’ll be expected to go on a journey of adventure, self-exploration, and absolute fear. From a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, The Panama Portrait is &“a [spellbinding], sophisticated, barbaric, and hypnotic&” thriller (Kirkus Reviews).