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Green Chemistry Methods for Producing Biopolymeric Nanomaterials (Smart Nanomaterials Technology)
by Kamel A. Abd-ElsalamThis book is a thorough guide that navigates the convergence of environmentally friendly techniques and cutting-edge nanotechnology. This book tackles the growing demand for eco-friendly techniques for nanomaterial production, as tailored by academics, scientists, and experts in materials science, nanotechnology, and green chemistry. The primary subjects discussed are novel green synthesis methods for generating biopolymeric nanomaterials, with a focus on minimizing environmental effects and resource depletion.The book investigates eco-friendly alternatives to traditional nanomaterial fabrication by leveraging biopolymers produced from renewable sources as major building blocks. Readers will learn about green chemical principles, green solvents, and energy-efficient processes, which will help them reduce their carbon footprint and waste output. The importance of these topics lies in the urgent need to shift toward environmentally conscious practices in nanotechnology, considering the escalating concerns over pollution and resource depletion associated with traditional methods.The overarching problem addressed is the environmental toll of conventional nanomaterial production. By presenting green chemistry methodologies, the book seeks to provide actionable solutions to reduce the ecological footprint of nanotechnology, ensuring the sustainable development of advanced materials. Through a holistic approach, it offers a roadmap for researchers and practitioners to adopt greener practices in the synthesis of biopolymeric nanomaterials, fostering a paradigm shift toward environmentally responsible nanotechnology.This book is intended for anyone who wants to use green and sustainable approaches to create biopolymeric nanomaterials. The book is intended for people looking for novel and environmentally responsible techniques for nanomaterial synthesis. Furthermore, the book may appeal to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the field who are looking for comprehensive and up-to-date information on green production processes and uses of biopolymeric nanomaterials. It serves as a valuable resource for those wanting to deepen their knowledge in this emerging field and explore new perspectives on sustainable nanomaterial synthesis.
Circular Economy and International Law (Juridicum – Bochumer Schriften zur Friedenssicherung und zum Humanitären Völkerrecht I Bochum Studies on the International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict #70)
by Vivien WefringhausOur earth&’s supply of natural resources is depleting while mountains of waste are piling up. Killing two birds with one stone, scientists recommend a transformation towards a circular economy. Nevertheless, explicit regulation to implement such an economic model is still missing. With due regard to the global scope of the increasing this issue, the question arises whether relevant rules on these issues can be extracted from existing international law. This book examines if an integrated analysis of different fields of international law leads to an implicit obligation for states to undertake a transition towards a circular economy. By assessing the related provisions under international environmental law as well as under human rights law, it aims to reveal if they imply a mandatory economic shift. The analysis will differentiate between relevant provisions concerning the issue of resource depletion on the one hand, and the current law governing waste management on the other hand. In a second step, the environmental and social demands will be balanced with the states&’ sovereignty in order to determine if an implicit obligation to transform the economy can be detected.
Behavioral Neuroscience of Alcohol Addiction: Translational Studies and Human Phenotypes (Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences #72)
by Rainer Spanagel Wolfgang H. SommerBehavioral Neurobiology of Alcohol Addiction explores the forefront of addiction research, integrating fundamental neurobiological mechanisms with translational insights into human phenotypes. Alcohol addiction remains a major public health concern with extensive medical and societal implications. Understanding its intricate interplay between neurobiology, behavior, and treatment is essential for developing effective interventions. This edition is structured into two volumes: Basic Mechanisms and Animal Studies and Translational Studies and Human Phenotypes. The first volume examines addiction conceptualization, stress and reward systems, and chronic pain. It further explores the cellular, synaptic, and circuit-level consequences of alcohol, incorporating computational and neuroimaging approaches. It also addresses the replication crisis in preclinical research and proposes guidelines to mitigate its impact. The second volume shifts the focus to human studies, covering human laboratory approaches, ecological momentary assessment, molecular imaging, and the challenges of bridging preclinical and clinical research. The book also highlights emerging treatments, including psychological interventions, neuromodulation techniques, and the role of the gut-brain axis. Alcohol use fundamentally alters mood states via brain mechanisms—an insight widely acknowledged by experts and laypeople alike. However, debates surrounding the brain disease model of addiction have intensified in recent years. This collection of articles contributes to this ongoing discussion by reinforcing the importance of a neurobiological perspective in addiction science and demonstrating how advances in neuroscience translate into more effective therapeutic approaches. Written by leading experts in the field, both volumes provide a comprehensive yet accessible resource for addiction researchers, neuroscientists, clinicians, and students. The book aims to deepen the understanding of alcohol addiction and inspire new directions in research and treatment.
Sacred Heritage and Pilgrimages in Cities (The Urban Book Series)
by Olimpia Niglio Rana P. B. SinghThis book aims to examine the role and status of sacred cities in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and associated cultural and sacred landscapes with an emphasis on awakening the deeper cultural sense in harmonising the world and enhancing religious and spiritual tourism—all in the frame of &“Future of the Earth&”. The book adds a new dimension of cultural understanding to the broad domain of emerging human geoscience, which is considered as a platform for contributing to the role of holy-heritage cities towards sustainable development. Chapters include contributions from Austria, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, the UK, and the USA. Interfacing heritage cities and pilgrimages is a global concern in the contemporary world, which covers many points of view of the common impacts of socio-economic-cultural and jurisprudence planning, wellbeing and related domains. Concerned with the complex interactions between development and environment, the aim is to seek paths and implications for framing sustainability in all social activities through the status and role of holy-heritage cities. &“As many essays in this book examine, striking a proper balance between the &“tourist&” and &“pilgrim&” uses of sacred sites remains a major concern, particularly in urban contexts.&” (Prof. Francesco Bandarin, (ex) Director, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris). &“This book is a masterpiece that illuminates the multitude of relationships between sacred space, urban environments, religious heritage, and pilgrimages.&” (Prof. Dallen J. Timothy, Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA). &“The book, genuinely an important collection of papers, has focussed on the interrelationship, interaction, and transformations in sacred heritage and pilgrimages in cities.&” (Prof. Rima Hooja, President, ICOMOS India, SPA- New Delhi, India). &“This book, the first of its kind, paves a solid path for understanding the interfaces between sacred heritage and pilgrimages in cities, which will help to strengthen cultural sustainability.&” (Emer. Prof. Taigen Hashimoto, Indology, Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan).
Metaverse Innovation: Technological, Financial, and Legal Perspectives (Applied Innovation and Technology Management)
by Nazrul Islam Iwa SalamiThe Metaverse can be defined as an immersive 3-D simulated digital environment that deploys technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to imitate the real world and allow people to conduct daily activities through digital versions of themselves (avatars). The opportunities brought by the metaverse for the economy and the society are wide in scope from business models to equitable education possibilities. This prompts regulators and policymakers around the world to assess the crucial legal and regulatory issues that arise in the process of metaverse development. This book offers a comprehensive understanding of metaverse innovation from technological, financial, and legal perspectives. It offers the basics of the metaverse, such as its enabling technologies, main characteristics and the global trends that shape its development. It also reviews the positive and negative impact of the metaverse on different sectors of the economy as well as the implications for policy and law.
Eco-Friendly Textile Processes (Synthesis Lectures on Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering)
by A. K. Haghi Hemantkumar N. Akolkar Navnath T. Hatvate Atul H. BariThe textile industry is a major environmental polluter. Despite some progress in textile treatment processes and in energy saving, progress is slow, and CO2 emissions continue to rise. In order to better manage the environmental impact of textile treatment processes, it is necessary to understand their principles to be able to improve or replace them with a more environmentally friendly process. This book begins by introducing sustainable practices in the textile industry that are less polluting followed by eco-friendly finishing treatments. Next, the principle of heat and mass transport in fabrics and the practical applications of these theories are explained. Finally emerging environmentally friendly technologies are discussed.
HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems: 7th International Conference, MobiTAS 2025, Held as Part of the 27th HCI International Conference, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings, Part I (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #15817)
by Heidi KrömkerThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th International Conference on HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems, MobiTAS 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI International Conference, HCII 2025, which took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, during June 22–27, 2025. A total of 1430 papers and 355 posters included in the HCII 2025 proceedings was carefully reviewed and selected from 7972 submissions. The MobiTAS 2025 proceedings were organized in the following topical sections- Human-Autonomous Vehicle Interaction and User Experience; User Interfaces and Interaction Methods for Mobility; Trust, Transparency, and Comfort in Automated Driving; Pedestrian Interaction and Road Safety in Automated Mobility.
Attack Vectors: The History of Cybersecurity
by Morey HaberFrom early worms to AI powered deepfakes, Attack Vectors chronicles the relentless battle between hackers and defenders. This deep dive into cybersecurity’s evolution unpacks the rise of malware from the Morris Worm to Stuxnet and the cyber syndicates that turned hacking into a billion-dollar underground industry. It explores devastating exploits like CodeRed and HeartBleed, revealing how vulnerabilities become weapons. Meet the visionaries who built the internet’s defenses and the adversaries who found ways to break them. Governments, corporations, and rogue actors all play a role in this ongoing digital war, where data is power, and deception is an art. As cyber-attacks grow more sophisticated, understanding the past is crucial to securing the future. Attack Vectors is essential reading for anyone navigating today’s high-stakes cyber landscape to learn lessons from the past and how solutions today address the most attack vectors predicted in the future. You’ll Learn: Understand the history of cyber-security from the early 1950’s through today. Explore the history of terminology that defines the threat landscape. Examine the history of malware, exploits, breaches, syndicates, and people throughout the last 25 years. Learn how modern cyber-security solutions have been developed to address the evolution of attack vectors. Explore best practices for what to do after a breach and how to manage some of the biggest risks including human beings themselves. Who This Book Is For? New security management professionals, auditors, and information technology staff looking to understand the history of cyber-security.
Monitor of Lethal Force in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Analysis of Killings by Police and Army Officers
by Carlos Silva Ignacio Cano Catalina Pérez CorreaThis book presents the results of a year-long research and monitoring program on police use of lethal force in Latin America and the Caribbean carried out by a network of researchers, practitioners and human right activists in the region. It introduces a novel methodological framework for assessing police violence in contexts where legal accountability remains limited or absent. The core of the methodology is a set of twelve indicators designed to evaluate patterns of lethal force, with particular attention to identifying abuses and enabling cross-national comparisons to highlight both regional patterns and national outliers. Drawing on these indicators, this volume features in-depth country case studies—Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Uruguay—each offering both national context and application of the framework. By combining rigorous comparative analysis with grounded national insights, this book provides researchers, advocates, and journalists with a practical and replicable approach to documenting and confronting police violence. It contributes to broader efforts to advance accountability and reform in a region marked by high levels of state violence and the world&’s highest homicide rates.
Innovative Dynamics in Management and Engineering (Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation)
by Haitham M. Alzoubi Mounir El Khatib Tan Cheng LingThis book acts as a doorway, to the realms of management and engineering uncovering how the merging of these fields is paving the way for developments in business and technology. It provides an exploration of innovations that are reshaping both corporate and technical landscapes encompassing AI, IoT strategic management and operational excellence. This book not only explores into the advancements that are propelling change but also explores the human aspect of business innovation. It examines the evolving roles of leadership emphasizes the significance of cultivating a culture and addresses the challenges involved in navigating change within a dominant era. With insights from industry experts and thought leaders 'Innovative Dynamics in Management and Engineering' presents a wealth of theories, practices and real-life case studies. A must read for those aspiring to lead and thrive in these evolving realms of business and engineering this book equips readers, with knowledge and tools essential to flourish amidst this new era characterized by digital transformation and seamless technological integration.
Materials for the Automotive Industry (Springer Tracts in Mechanical Engineering)
by Vitalii Ivanov Khrystyna Berladir Zuzana MitaľováThis book, organized into twelve comprehensive chapters, delves into the diverse materials that form the backbone of modern automotive engineering. This book is designed to serve as a comprehensive reference for students, researchers, and professionals in the automotive industry, providing a detailed understanding of the materials that drive innovation. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, this book aims to equip readers with the necessary insights to navigate and contribute to this dynamic field.
Communication Activities for the Classroom: Embodied Pedagogy Across the Communication Curriculum (Palgrave Practical Guides in Communication)
by Lyndsay Michalik Gratch Ariel Gratch Andrea BaldwinThis book contains over 20 activities for use in the in-person communication studies classroom. Communication is an embodied act: our thoughts, ideas, and messages originate in our body and through our experiences. An embodied approach to pedagogy fosters inclusivity, creativity, and critical thinking, making classrooms more dynamic and equitable spaces. Drawing on a wide range of performance studies-based approaches and theories, the activities in this book can be applied across the communication studies curriculum, including relational communication, organizational communication, media studies, public address, and communication and culture. Whether you are hesitant to incorporate performance in your classroom or you regularly invite your students to &“get up and play,&” the activities in this book provide a step-by-step guide that is accessible to all communication teachers.
Machine Learning and Soft Computing: 9th International Conference, ICMLSC 2025, Tokyo, Japan, January 24–26, 2025, Revised Selected Papers, Part II (Communications in Computer and Information Science #2488)
by Letian HuangThis two part-volume CCIS constitutes the refereed proceedings of 9th International Conference, ICMLSC 2025, in Tokyo, Japan in January 24–26, 2025. The 39 full papers and 13 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 121 submissions. They follow the topical sections as below: Part I : Multimodal Data Analysis and Model Optimization; Basic Theories of Machine Learning and Emerging Application Technologies; and Intelligent Recommendation System Design and Privacy Security. Part II : Deep Learning Models and High-performance Computing; Data-driven Complex System Modeling and Intelligent Optimization Algorithms; and Image Analysis and Processing Methods based on AI.
Imagining, Designing and Teaching Regenerative Futures: Art-Science Approaches and Inspirations From Around the World (Science for Sustainable Societies)
by Julia Bentz Jelena Ristić TrajkovićThis open access book explores the potential of transdisciplinary, art-science approaches in addressing current social-ecological complexities within educational contexts. Moving beyond disciplinary perspectives this book integrates holistic, transdisciplinary approaches and creates spaces for imagining and co-creating just, liveable, healthy futures. As we face the urgent need for new ways of learning and engaging with nature, this volume emphasizes the importance of humans as integral parts of living systems. By fostering a regenerative and holistic perspective while improving wellbeing for humans and non-humans, the book offers tools and methods that invite learners to reimagine their relationships with nature and with the future. It includes innovative approaches for community engagement, design, future visioning, experiential, embodied, and playful learning, providing a comprehensive resource for educators, community workers, policy makers, designers, scientists, architects, and urban planners. The book brings together creative, art-science approaches to advance transformative education in the field of sustainability science. Structured as a practical manual, it offers innovative methodologies with clear instructions for application in various learning environments. Offering tutorials for 65 creative methods developed by the 120 authors from all around the world, this book offers a transdisciplinary and transcontextual approach making it relevant to a wide audience. This collaborative project is an output of the Cost Action CA21166 - Social Sciences and Humanities for Transformation and Climate Resilience (SHiFT) that brings together researchers and practitioners from different disciplines to address sustainability transformation.
Enterprise Information Systems: 26th International Conference, ICEIS 2024, Angers, France, April 28–30, 2024, Revised Selected Papers, Part II (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing #567)
by Joaquim Filipe Slimane Hammoudi Michał Śmiałek Alexander BrodskyThe two volume set LNBIP 566 - 567 constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems, ICEIS 2024, which was held in Angers, France, during April 2024. The 19 full papers and 18 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 244 submissions. The proceedings also include one invited paper in full paper length. The purpose of the International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS) is to bring together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested in the advances and business applications of information systems, covering different aspects such as Enterprise Database Technology, Systems Integration, Artificial Intelligence, Decision Support Systems, Information Systems Analysis and Specification, Internet Computing, Electronic Commerce, Human-Computer Interaction and Enterprise Architecture.
Imaging and Technology in Urology
by Steve Payne Sotonye Tolofari Dora Moon Benjamin StarmerThis book offers a new edition of the hugely successful title, Imaging & Technology in Urology--Principles and Clinical Applications edited by Steve Payne, Ian Eardley, Kieran O'Flynn in 2012. Essential reading for preparation of exit exams in Urology, it is used worldwide by exam candidates. Fully updated in essential areas of the book following on from recent developments in the last decade, it helps give preparation to candidates. The most comprehensive and reliable source of information on this particular topic.
In/Visible Subjects: Literary Character and Narratives of Invisibility Since the Eighteenth Century
by Gero GuttzeitIn/Visible Subjects explores the cultural fascination with invisible characters in literature. While the concept of social invisibility is common in contemporary political discourse, there exists no comprehensive analysis of the history of the cultural metaphor of invisibility. This book addresses this gap by tracing the literary evolution of invisibility in narratives from the eighteenth century to the present. The monograph examines literal and metaphorical invisibility in terms of both content and form, offering exemplary readings of literary texts by: eighteenth-century women novelists Eliza Haywood and Susanna Rowson; Romantic poets Anna Letitia Barbauld and John Keats; nineteenth-century writers of fantasy and science fiction, including James Forbes Dalton, Fitz-James O&’Brien, and H.G. Wells; early twentieth-century authors such as G.K. Chesterton, Virginia Woolf, and Ralph Ellison; and contemporary writers China Miéville and Jennifer Egan. In/Visible Subjects aims to establish a new literary foundation for the emerging field of invisibility studies. It is of interest to scholars in literary and cultural studies working on narrative, literary character, subjectivity, and identity.
Justice Across Generations: Equality, Opportunity, and the Social Contract (Political Philosophy and Public Purpose)
by Ryan Reed Christopher R. HallenbrookThis book presents a contractualist theory of intergenerational justice that avoids deficiencies in existing IGJ theories, e.g., the non-identity problem and the under-defining of "generations." The inability of social contract theory to provide a thorough accounting of justice between generations has been called an embarrassment and rightly so. That said, serious attempts have been made from a variety of contract perspectives to rectify the approach&’s shortcomings in the area of intergenerational justice. One of the most prominent contract theorists, John Rawls, attempted to address justice between generations in his theory via his just savings principle, but both versions of it were met with stinging criticism. As the climate crisis, among other challenges, presses the issue of justice for future generations, the authors believe that intergenerational justice is something that social contract theory should and can address. Specifically, they present a Rawlsian approach that begins with a clarified understanding of what is meant by &“generations,&” and proceeds from there to modify generational knowledge constraints in the original position. The authors then draw upon the concept of indirect reciprocity to round out an argument for a Rawlsian principle of justice between generations: intergenerational fair equality of opportunity. They then apply their intergenerational justice theory to five major public policy areas.
Women's Reproductive Mental Health in South Asia: Current Status, Challenges, and Ways Forward (South Asian Perspectives in Mental Health and Psychology)
by S. M. Yasir Arafat Sujita Kumar Kar Prerna KukretiThis book will be the first of its kind discussing reproductive psychiatry in South Asia. Reproductive psychiatry encompasses mental health issues surrounding reproductive transitions in different stages of a woman&’s life. It includes mental and behavioral problems surrounding menstrual cycle (pre-menstrual and post-menopausal disorders), stress during pregnancy, mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum period, infertility, loss of pregnancy, sexual health, mother-infant attachment issues and infant mental health. It is an important but neglected domain in low and middle income countries (LMICs) especially in South Asian countries and has wide implications on maternal health, child development, family dimensions, and social contribution. It is a cross-disciplinary segment between obstetricians and psychiatrists demanding a strong liaison. Little is known about the burden and mental health services available for this special population in South Asia.
Housing Policy in Australia: A Case for System Reform
by Judith Yates Hal Pawson Vivienne MilliganThis book, extensively revised and updated in its second edition, presents a comprehensive overview of housing policy in Australia over the last quarter century. At a time of widespread concern about declining housing system performance, it investigates the many dimensions of housing affordability and housing wealth inequality, together with government actions affecting these outcomes. The authors analyse the causes and implications of falling home ownership, rising rental stress rates and the long-term neglect of social housing, as well as the housing situation of Indigenous Australians. Building on its analysis of housing policy evolution in modern Australia, this new edition also documents and critiques the numerous government efforts of the early 2020s to halt the decline in housing affordability. These reforms span tenancy regulation, land-use planning and housing supply, first home buyer assistance, and social/affordable housing investment. Throughout, the book identifies current and future housing challenges for Australian governments, recognising these as a complex set of inter-connected problems. Drawing on its coverage of the economics, politics and governance of housing provision, the final chapter outlines a pathway to the transformational national strategy needed for a fairer and more productive housing system.
Machine Learning for Business Analytics: Concepts, Techniques, and Applications in Python
by Galit Shmueli Peter C. Bruce Nitin R. Patel Peter GedeckMachine Learning for Business Analytics: Concepts, Techniques, and Applications in Python is a comprehensive introduction to and an overview of the methods that underlie modern AI. This best-selling textbook covers both statistical and machine learning (AI) algorithms for prediction, classification, visualization, dimension reduction, rule mining, recommendations, clustering, text mining, experimentation, network analytics and generative AI. Along with hands-on exercises and real-life case studies, it also discusses managerial and ethical issues for responsible use of machine learning techniques. This is the second Python edition of Machine Learning for Business Analytics. This edition also includes: A new chapter on generative AI (large language models or LLMs, and image generation)An expanded chapter on deep learningA new chapter on experimental feedback techniques including A/B testing, uplift modeling, and reinforcement learningA new chapter on responsible data scienceUpdates and new material based on feedback from instructors teaching MBA, Masters in Business Analytics and related programs, undergraduate, diploma and executive courses, and from their studentsA full chapter of cases demonstrating applications for the machine learning techniquesEnd-of-chapter exercises with dataA companion website with more than two dozen data sets, and instructor materials including exercise solutions, slides, and case solutions This textbook is an ideal resource for upper-level undergraduate and graduate level courses in AI, data science, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is also an excellent reference for analysts, researchers, and data science practitioners working with quantitative data in management, finance, marketing, operations management, information systems, computer science, and information technology.
Razor's Edge: Star Wars (Star Wars - Legends #1)
by Martha WellsWhen rebels clash with renegades, it&’s the Empire that may claim the final victory.Times are desperate for the Rebel Alliance. Harassment by the Empire and a shortage of vital supplies are hindering completion of a new secret base on the ice planet Hoth. So when Mid Rim merchants offer much-needed materials for sale, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo lead an Alliance delegation to negotiate a deal.But when treachery forces the rebel ship to flee into territory controlled by pirates, Leia makes a shocking discovery: the fierce marauders come from Leia&’s homeworld of Alderaan, recently destroyed by the Death Star. These refugees have turned to pillaging and plundering to survive—and they are in debt to a pirate armada, which will gladly ransom the princess to the vengeful Empire . . . if they find out her true identity.Struggling with intense feelings of guilt, loyalty, and betrayal, Leia is determined to help her wayward kinspeople, even as Imperial forces are closing in on her own crippled ship. Trapped between lethal cutthroats and brutal oppressors, Leia and Han, along with Luke, Chewbacca, and a battle-ready crew, must defy death—or embrace it—to keep the rebellion alive.&“[A] rollicking Star Wars adventure . . . a book that keeps you eagerly turning pages.&”—Roqoo Depot
The Road of Bones: The Ashen Series, Book One (The Ashen Series #1)
by Demi WintersIn this epic and immersive Viking-inspired romantic fantasy, a woman fleeing a ruthless assassin accidentally joins forces with agroup of thieves and must use all her cunning to escape with her life—and heart—intact.Silla Nordvig is running for her life.The Queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones—a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer—and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. All the while, the queen's ruthless assassin hunts Silla obsessively.Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?
Honor Among Thieves: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion) (Star Wars - Legends)
by James S.A. CoreyNebula and Hugo Award nominees Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck—writing as James S. A. Corey—make their Star Wars debut in this brand-new epic adventure featuring Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa. The action begins after the destruction of the Death Star in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. When the Empire threatens the galaxy&’s new hope, will Han, Luke, and Leia become its last chance? When the mission is to extract a high-level rebel spy from the very heart of the Empire, Leia Organa knows the best man for the job is Han Solo—something the princess and the smuggler can finally agree on. After all, for a guy who broke into an Imperial cell block and helped destroy the Death Star, the assignment sounds simple enough. But when Han locates the brash rebel agent, Scarlet Hark, she&’s determined to stay behind enemy lines. A pirate plans to sell a cache of stolen secrets that the Empire would destroy entire worlds to protect—including the planet where Leia is currently meeting with rebel sympathizers. Scarlet wants to track down the thief and steal the bounty herself, and Han has no choice but to go along if he&’s to keep everyone involved from getting themselves killed. From teeming city streets to a lethal jungle to a trap-filled alien temple, Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and their daring new comrade confront one ambush, double cross, and firestorm after another as they try to keep crucial intel out of Imperial hands. But even with the crack support of Luke Skywalker&’s x-wing squadron, the Alliance heroes may be hopelessly outgunned in their final battle for the highest of stakes: the power to liberate the galaxy from tyranny or ensure the Empire&’s reign of darkness forever.Praise for Honor Among Thieves &“If you like Han Solo . . . you won&’t want to miss Honor Among Thieves. . . . A novel that flies by quicker than the Millennium Falcon on the Kessel Run.&”—Lightsaber Rattling &“A fast-paced romp.&”—Big Shiny Robot &“Honor Among Thieves felt very &‘vintage.&’ . . . It nailed the classic Star Wars vibe in a way I haven&’t experienced in a long time.&”—Making Star Wars &“One of the best Star Wars novels I&’ve ever read.&”—Knights&’ Archive &“Absolutely [captures] the magic of Star Wars and the era it&’s aiming for.&”—Jedi News (UK) &“[The] most pleasurable &‘Classic Trilogy&’ Star Wars reading in a long time . . . With masterful pacing and witty, descriptive dialogue, [Honor Among Thieves is] fun to read from start to finish. Adding a complexity of thought and action to a classic character like Han will satisfy those looking to indulge a deeper side.&”—TheForce.net &“James S. A. Corey manages to tell a delightful tale filled with a fun plot, entertaining characters, and great descriptions that draw you in and bring the world to life. Fans of all sorts are sure to enjoy Empire and Rebellion: Honor Among Thieves.&”—EUCantina.net
Play the Game. Change the Game. Leave the Game.: Pathways to Black Empowerment, Prosperity, and Joy
by Robert LivingstonNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Instead of waiting for White people to change, Black people must prioritize their own prosperity, power, and self-determination by navigating, challenging, and exiting racist systems—a radical argument from a Harvard behavioral scientist.It&’s time to face an inconvenient truth: our current approach to fighting racism is just not working. For a brief moment following the murder of George Floyd, it seemed as though the country had finally acknowledged the destructive legacy of slavery and White supremacy, and had committed to putting things right. Now, a horde of prominent voices—many of whom professed to be antiracist allies—are pulling back, cutting support, and defunding programs that sought to level the playing field.Harvard psychologist Robert Livingston contends that racism operates like an addiction for so many White people: hard to admit, and even harder to quit. Given their unwillingness to kick the habit, where does this leave Black people? In this provocative book, Livingston has flipped the script, asking: How can Black people attain prosperity and peace of mind despite the enduring presence of racism? Livingston reveals three paths:Play the game, or find ways to work within mainstream, predominantly White systems without sacrificing your identity or dignity. Think of Kenneth Chenault, a &“tempered radical&” who rose through the ranks to become the first Black CEO of American Express.Change the game, or challenge the status quo in an effort to upend White supremacy—like Colin Kaepernick, whose idealism cost him his football career but made him an icon.Leave the game, or turn away from White environments to carve out spaces where Black people can flourish—from HBCUs to entrepreneurship to the creation of ethnic enclaves, like the all-Black, middle-class neighborhood where Livingston himself grew up.Drawing on social science, his own experiences, and interviews with trailblazing Black leaders and luminaries, Livingston reveals the contours of these oft overlapping paths for effectively navigating, mitigating, and circumventing White supremacy. Play the Game. Change the Game. Leave the Game. is a bold, groundbreaking proposition that empowers readers to make the leap from being played to creating their own game plan.