1998 ICD-9-CM: The International Classification of Diseases : 9th Revision : Clinical Modification/2 Vols in 1

Book Description

In his classic study The Masks of God, Joseph Campbell conducted us on a fascinating global tour, showing how the seeds of myth grew in a similar fashion throughout the history of civilization. Before Campbell there was Sir James George Frazier who, in The Golden Bough--his pioneering study of magic, relgion, and folk custom--demonstrated how world mythologies exhibit "the effect of similar causes acting alike on the similar constitution of the human mind in different countries and under different skies." Now, in Beyond the Blue Horizon, eminent astronomer E.C. Krupp guides us expertly through a bewildering maze of cultures and civilizations--from the stone age to the present day--making clear that while the skies of these diverse peoples may vary, they speak nearly the same language. Beyond the Blue Horizon is a treasure trove of myths, legends, and stories in which people have, through the ages, attempted to understand the cosmos and its meaning for humankind. Collecting an astonishing amount of lore between the covers of a single book, Krupp explains why our ancestors were so intrigued by the heavens, and what their celestial stories meant. Readers will learn, for example, that many cultures saw a rabbit--rather than a man--in the moon, and that this moon-rabbit, as a symbol of sacrifice and rebirth, is a cousin of our own Easter Bunny; that to our ancestors, an eclipse challenged the stability and integrity of heaven and thus threatened order and life on earth; that the magical sleighride and chimney antics of Santa Claus echo the ancient journeys of shamans and witch doctors; that our "dog days" of July and August originated in Roman times with the summer appearance of Sirius, the Dog Star; and that the contemporary stories of UFOs reveal the mystery and meaning the sky still holds for us as we approach the twenty-first century. Of course, there is much, much more that will delight and intrigue; even readers familiar with world mythology will find plenty that is new and strange in Krupp's rich panorama. An epic, authoritative, and cross-cultural exploration with over 150 illustrations, Beyond the Blue Horizon tells how all civilizations searched the sky to understand to universe--and our own place in it.

Customer Reviews:

Extensive.......2002-07-07

Krupp has written a book that is comparable to Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces. He traces the evolution of sky myths from cultures around the globe. Krupp does an excellent job of capturing the meaning and beauty of these stories, and pieces them together in a well-crafted narrative.

Really Facinating Book..........2000-03-28

Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets, is a very interesting and amazing read-- it confronts many possibilities of the place outside our blue sky, and gives the reader something to think about for long after the last page is read. Not only is this book worth reading for the pure fun of it, but it teachs you things that may come in handy at dinner table conversation. Facinating is the word that comes to mind... the myths about the stars and planets can sometimes be good bedtime stories, and over all, this book keeps you wanting more.

A Forest of Stars (Saga of Seven Suns, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

The Brilliance Continues
Getting better
Good epic saga
An effective and engaging continuation of Anderson's saga
Why so patronizing?

A Forest of Stars (Saga of Seven Suns, Book 2)
Kevin J. Anderson
Manufacturer: Aspect
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0446528714

Book Description

Five years have passed since humans set fire to the gas-giant planets, unwittingly committing genocide of the Hydrogues-an infinitely powerful species of aliens-and igniting a war of epic proportions. Meanwhile, as humans struggle to fight against increasing hostilities from the Hydrogues, they learn from the Worldforest that they have awakened an ancient, fearsome, and merciless enemy in the Hydrogues. And when the water-based Wentals and the sun-dwelling Faeros are found, will humans finally have the allies they need? Or will they be caught in the middle of a war that could break apart the galaxy......This thrilling, multi-volume chronicle of a legendary war that spans the galaxy is written in the vein of the best works of Peter F. Hamilton, Dan Simmons, and Frank Herbert.

Customer Reviews:

The Brilliance Continues.......2006-06-01

It's been five years since hydrogue warships destroyed the first gas giant skymines. The major governments in the Spiral Arm are desperate for ekti, the only known fuel for stardrive engines. With skymines out of operation and few other ways to obtain ekti, trade has ground to a near halt and distant colonies are starving.

The Ildiran Empire has suffered, as well. Hydrogues don't distinguish between the humans who accidentally annihilated billions of their people, and the alien species that only resembles them. Forced to desperate ends, the Mage-Imperator must convince his successor of the need for a reprehensible program--the one that tore his lover away.

For the past five years, the hydrogues have been content to limit the destruction to trespassers. Now they've been seen throughout the Spiral Arm, raising tensions in already-fracturing societies.

In this, the second installment to "The Saga of Seven Suns," Anderson pens an epic tale worthy in its own right. While he continues to use multiple subplots to weave the story, each thread is easily distinguishable, and they succeed in creating an overall tapestry of overwhelming depth. More impressive is his ability to do so while providing enough unknowns to keep the reader engaged.

For those who don't like metaphors: It's good. Darn good. If you forget who a character is, you can look it up in an appendix.

Although brilliant, this novel possesses a few issues, albeit nothing devastating. The first is the fuzzy timeline. Events occur in a linear order, but there are few indicators as to the passage of time. The reader is left wondering has much time has passed until one of the rare mentions of "in the past __ months. . ." A simple date stamp for each chapter, or a more concise timeline appendix would be great.

The other issue worthy of mention is that some readers may grow annoyed with the numerous subplots. This is a point than can go either way. As mentioned before, it is this reviewer's opinion that each subplot is clearly drawn and, while not always vital, certainly helpful in allowing the reader an overall view.

Highly recommended to sci-fi fans.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
5/31/2006

Getting better.......2005-12-01

Really impressed with this series to date. The first book was pretty good, Forest of Stars got even better. I've adjusted to the short chapters and rapid plot development that was a little disconcerting in book 1, and am really starting to enjoy it. It's nice to see an author who doesn't spend 5 pages describing a building or hole in the ground, but rather moves the pace along quickly and had great action sequences. Some may criticize this series as a cheap thrill because of the brevity of chapters and such, and maybe they're right. But who cares? It's extremely well written, the plot and characters are intriguing, and it leaves you hungry for more. I only hope Anderson continues his high quality work in books 3 and 4. But up to this point I'm very pleased with the Saga of the Seven Suns. A great scifi series that is not to be missed.

Good epic saga.......2005-07-11

After reading the first book in this series, the main problem I had with it was that it started so slow. I was optimistic that this book would be better because it didn't have to introduce everything that the first book did. Fortunately, that did seem to be the case.

This book had a lot more action than the first. It did still drag in a few places, but overall, it kept moving right from the start. It had the same good characters and settings that were set up in the first book, and it introduces some new things as well. About the biggest problem I had with this book is that it seems that the scope of the series is so large that it will be hard to satisfactorily reslove. But I'll reserve judgement on that until I see how it is done.

If you read the first book in this series, you'll definitely want to continue with this one. Also, this has left me even more eager to get the next book.

An effective and engaging continuation of Anderson's saga.......2005-04-20

"A Forest of Stars" continues the lush, exciting space opera begun in "Hidden Empire", and gains a few extra points by not being afraid to move into some very dark areas. These dark developments are mostly there to illustrate Anderson's continuing fascination with the theme of means versus ends: that is, is it permissable to engage in horrific exploitation and experimentation if those are the only methods to develop effective countermeasures against an even-more-horrific enemy? I think most of us would answer "no" to that question, and I think Anderson would, too, but it is quite interesting to see how his characters, especially those in power, develop their own responses to such situations and moral dilemmas. In addition, the stellar war initiated in book one develops in some unexpected ways in this second volume, as more parties enter the fray. The "Seven Suns" epic is traditional space opera with edge, and the opening salvos of books one and two are strong and memorable.

Why so patronizing?.......2005-01-05

Normally, this is the type of sci-fi that I like - a broad opera covering many events that lead up to a grand conclusion. However, Anderson's writing style makes getting through these books a chore, with only paragraphs here and there that bring it to life and make it worthwhile. It seems like every time he describes anything he has to lug out the thesaurus and ensure to include at least three adjectives. In addition, you are constantly reminded in depth of events that took place just a few chapters back. Overall, I get the sense that Anderson doesn't think too highly of his audience - that or he's shooting for the wrong audience altogther. The dialogue is trite and unrealistic - no one that I know speaks like his characters, especially when they are relating to intimate friends. I kept reading for the story line, but I have to admit, I put this book and the previous down a few times, promising that I wasn't going back.

Stars; A Guide to the Constellations, Sun, Moon, Planets, and Other Features of the Heavens (A Golden Nature Guide)

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Stars; A Guide to the Constellations, Sun, Moon, Planets, and Other Features of the Heavens (A Golden Nature Guide)
Herbert and Robert Baker Zim
Manufacturer: Golden Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Stars (A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press)

ASIN: B000EP4WC8

Product Description

An Illustrated Guide to the constellations, sun, moon, planets and other features of the heavens. Includes 150+ Color Illustrations

Many Skies: Alternative Histories Of The Sun, Moon, Planets, And Stars

Average customer rating:

Thought provoking work of alternate astronomy
A vivid and contemplative account

Many Skies: Alternative Histories Of The Sun, Moon, Planets, And Stars
Arthur R. Upgren
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0813535123

Book Description

An alternate selection of The Scientific American Book Club and The Science Fiction Book Club

Praise for Many Skies

"Arthur Upgren's marvelous look at our place in the universe deals with profound questions. What if things didn't turn out exactly as they did—would we still be here? By studying these questions, we gain a much better appreciation of how lucky we are to enjoy life on this precious planet Earth."—David H. Levy, co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 that collided with Jupiter, and science editor of Parade

"Upgren will leave you wanting to invent an alternative universe of your own. In mine, we live well outside the galactic plane, making cosmology much easier to investigate."—Virginia Trimble, president, Commission XII, International Astronomical Union

What if Earth had several moons or massive rings like Saturn? What if the Sun were but one star in a double-star or triple-star system? What if Earth were the only planet circling the Sun?

These and other imaginative scenarios are the subject of Arthur Upgren's inventive book Many Skies: Alternative Histories of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars. Although the night sky as we know it seems eternal and inevitable, Upgren reminds us that, just as easily, it could have been very different.

Had the solar system happened to be in the midst of a star cluster, we might have many more bright stars in the sky. Yet had it been located beyond the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, we might have no stars at all. If Venus or Mars had a moon as large as ours, we would be able to view it easily with the unaided eye. Given these or other alternative skies, what might Ptolemy or Copernicus have concluded about the center of the solar system and the Sun?

This book not only examines the changes in science that these alternative solar, stellar, and galactic arrangements would have brought, it also explores the different theologies, astrologies, and methods of tracking time that would have developed to reflect them. Our perception of our surroundings, the number of gods we worship, the symbols we use in art and literature, even the way we form nations and empires are all closely tied to our particular (and accidental) placement in the universe.

Many Skies, however, is not merely a fanciful play on what might have been. Upgren also explores the actual ways that human interferences such as light pollution are changing the night sky. Our atmosphere, he warns, will appear very different if we have a belt of debris circling the globe and blotting out the stars, as will happen if advertisers one day pollute space with brilliant satellites displaying their products.

From fanciful to foreboding, the scenarios in Many Skies will both delight and inspire reflection, reminding us that ours is but one of many worldviews based on our experience of a universe that is as much a product of accident as it is of intention.

Customer Reviews:

Thought provoking work of alternate astronomy .......2006-03-20

Alternate history has become a popular subject in recent years, both in terms of fiction and also in non-fiction, exploring such ideas as what would have happened if Napoleon had not been defeated at Waterloo or if the South had won the Civil War. Upgren in _Many Skies_, explored alternate solar, stellar, and galactic systems and arrangements and what effects these might have had on the history of the world.

Upgren divided the book into four sections, chapters in each section either exploring an alternate universe where the sky as it appears on Earth is different or discussing some aspect of astronomy as set-up to an idea for an alternate universe in a following chapter. The chapters described the different sky, why it was different, how this sky could have come to exist, what it would look like to an observer on Earth, and then what effects this might have had on the history of science and the history of the world in general. Often times the discussion of the effects were just questions the author would raise though in several cases he went into more detail. There were many diagrams and charts to help illustrate his points and Upgren did a good job of explaining astronomical terms such as proper motion, retrograde motion, and globular clusters when needed.

Part one looked at different systems and arrangements for our Sun and Moon. What if the Earth had three moons? What if the Earth had not one Sun but three? What if the Earth were alone in space with the Sun, with no Moon or other planets, comets, or asteroids?

Part two looked at alternate planets in our solar system, including our own. What if the Earth had rings? What if Jupiter existed in the orbit of our Venus? What if a bright planet, known to the ancients, orbited the Sun outside of the primary plane of the solar system, going far to the north or the south of the ecliptic? What if very bright comets were more frequent? What if Mars or Venus had a moon the size of our Moon (if Mars or Venus had a satellite as large and as bright as our Moon it would easily be seen by the unaided eye; if the Moon was seen from Venus when Venus is at its closest, about 26 million miles away, it would outshine all but the Sun and the Earth)?

Part three looked at alternate stellar and galactic systems and arrangements. What if a star close to the Earth became a supernova? What if the Pleiades Cluster was about as close as the Hyades is now, not thousands of light years away but instead only a hundred light years away, with its stars visible in the daytime? What if the solar system were above the galactic plane, perhaps well outside and to the north of it, with the northern sky completely black and empty to the naked eye?

Part four didn't really delve as much into different skies but touched on other topics, including issues of light pollution and astronomical causes of mass extinction on Earth.

Not surprisingly, many of the various scenarios dealt primarily with alternate histories of science (particularly astronomy) as a result of these different skies. In some cases these alternate skies were beneficial to science. If the Earth had more than one Sun and/or had more than one Moon, or if Jupiter or Venus had satellites visible to the naked eye it would have been possible that the heliocentric model of the solar system would have been adapted centuries earlier, perhaps in the days of the Roman Empire, as it would have been apparent to ancient astronomers that not every object orbited the Earth. Similarly, in an alternate universe with a closer Jupiter (in the orbit of Venus perhaps), close enough that the unaided eye could detect a disk; it would have been possible to see a full set of phases and lead the intelligent observer to conclude it orbited the Sun and not the Earth.

In other cases these alternate skies would not have helped the advancement of science. In an alternate universe where the Earth had rings, the only fully dark skies would exist near the poles, where the rings, lying on the equatorial plane, would be below the horizon and thus not visible. At lower latitudes the sky would always be too bright for the observation of faint objects and it is very likely that as a result the development of stellar astronomy would have been severely retarded. In a system with only the Sun and the Moon (no planets, comets, or asteroids), the issue of whether or not the Sun revolves around the Earth would likely not have been solved until the 18th or 19th centuries when the aberration of starlight and direct measure of stellar parallax could be accomplished with better instrumentation, Kepler's Laws of planetary motion could not have been devised, nor probably either Newton's laws of motion (or at least both would have been devised much later in history). Additionally, no concept of a week or a month would have suggested itself, producing perhaps changes in timekeeping.

Changes to world history would of course not be limited to just astronomy and Upgren does explore that as well. He suggested that if the Earth had had more than one Sun and/or Moon, it is possible that monotheistic religious would not have arisen at all or have arisen later in world history and perhaps in the present polytheistic religious would still be quite common and widespread. In an alternate universe where the northern sky is pure black (due to the solar system being well above the galactic plane), astrology would not have developed and many world mythologies would have been less rich.

An interesting and thought provoking book, my only complaints are that I would have liked more development of non-science-related historical topics as well as alternate evolutionary histories of life on Earth.

A vivid and contemplative account.......2005-03-11

Emeritus astronomy professor Arthur Upgren presents Many Skies: Alternative Histories Of The Sun, Moon, Planets And Stars, an imaginative discussion of how bodies in the night sky could just as easily have been arranged in very different ways. Exploring scenarios such as if the Earth had multiple moons, or rings like Saturn, or if the Sun were a double-star or triple-star system, Many Skies contemplates how different theologies, astrologies, and methods of tracking time would have evolved. Many Skies also scrutinizes how human interferences such as light pollution is changing the night sky, and warns that increased satellites displaying products will change the appearance of Earth's atmosphere. A vivid and contemplative account, as appealing, understandable, and enjoyable for lay readers as for experts in the field.

Sun, Planets, Stars Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Little Activity Books)

Average customer rating:

I expected more
A fun little book!

Sun, Planets, Stars Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Little Activity Books)
John Green
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486280977

Book Description

Images of the sun, comet, Saturn, crescent moon, the Big Dipper, and 3 more. Hang in window for stained glass effects.

Customer Reviews:

I expected more.......2003-02-13

This dover little activity book isn't as lovely as it could be. Extremely plain designs, and the only planets shown are Saturn and Earth. Half the pictures are of stars, and they're boring, plain. I could draw this just as good as they do, and I am no kind of an artist. Definitely not of the same quality as other stained glass coloring books.

A fun little book!.......2002-10-31

This is a small book with black and white images printed on "special paper that allows the light to shine through." Basically you color the pictures and hang them on a window. The book is about 4"x6" and has 8 images - the Big Dipper, Saturn, Star, Group of Stars, Crescent Moon and Stars, Comet, Earth and the Sun.

Arrow Book of Space Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars

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Arrow Book of Space Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars
Mae & Ira Freeman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc, NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O7WEU8

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Arrow Book of Space Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars
Mae; Freeman, Ira Freeman
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0590004050

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Arrow book of space: Sun, moon, planets, and stars
Mae Blacker Freeman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006X9FHK

Astronomy : Answers to Hundreds of Questions About the Earth, Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets

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Astronomy : Answers to Hundreds of Questions About the Earth, Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets
Frederic J. Haskin
Manufacturer: The Haskin Information Service
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QY27BU

Astrophotography For The Amateur (Taking Pictures of the Stars, Galaxies, Planets, Moon, Sun, Comets, Meteors and Eclipses)

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Astrophotography For The Amateur (Taking Pictures of the Stars, Galaxies, Planets, Moon, Sun, Comets, Meteors and Eclipses)
Michael Covington
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PJT26E

Product Description

Basic Astrophotography tells you how to take pictures of stars, galaxies, planets, the Moon, the Sun, comets, meteors and eclipses using equipment readily available to the amateur astronomer. The first section, Getting Started, presupposes little knowledge of photography or astronomy and concentrates on what can be done with minimal equipment. For example, an ordinary 35 mm camera on a tripod, aimed at the sky on a starry night, will photograph more stars than the unaided eye can see and will bring out an awesome variety of colours. Add a telephoto lens, a pair of binoculars, or a small telescope, and you have all that is needed to photograph an eclipse or the main surface features of the moon. The two subsequent sections, Advanced Techniques and Equipment and Materials cover the use of cameras in conjunction with telescopes and constitute a thorough handbook, including technical imformation on optical systems, film characteristics, and processing techniques. Throughout, the emphasis is on current practice. This book will become the standard handbook for amateur astronomers who want to take pictures of the stars and will also appeal to photography enthusiasts who know relatively little about astronomy but are intrigued by spectacular pictures.

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