Other books that might interest you

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  Death Ray The: The History and...

  Charles River Editors

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  Nikola Tesla was one of history’s greatest scientists, and though he is best known for his pioneering work with electricity, the fact that he is mostly remembered solely for that actually does a disservice to his legacy. Born a Serb in the Austrian Empire, Tesla came to the United States and worked in a laboratory for none other than the Wizard of Menlo Park, Thomas Edison. 
  Having established AC as an electrical supply system, Tesla became a global celebrity, and his devices and inventions fascinated people. Tesla tinkered with everything from X-rays to wireless communications and even attempted a primitive form of the radio. While Tesla was not able to successfully execute the devices and concepts he foresaw, his forward thinking in fields like wireless communication certainly proved prescient, and his futuristic devices and his later reputation for eccentricity helped create the “mad scientist” image that still remains a pop culture fixture. Tesla seemed to have come to grips with this aspect of his legacy late in life, noting, “The scientific man does not aim at an immediate result. He does not expect that his advanced ideas will be readily taken up." 
  During World War I, in December 1915, Tesla gave an interview to The New York Times in which he claimed he was working on something entirely new, a weapon that would use electrical power to instantly destroy a distant target. He explained that this weapon was “so far developed that great destructive effects can be produced at any point on the globe, determined beforehand and with great accuracy.” Tesla called this new weapon the “Teleforce,” and he would continue working on this project for the rest of his life, but he consistently refused to give details of its operation. Many people believed it was impractical, but with Tesla, it was never possible to be entirely certain.

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  The Lagoon - Encounters with the...

  James Michael Dorsey

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  Once a killing ground for whalers hunting a leviathan they called the "devilfish," the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico, is now an environmental and spiritual sanctuary—the only place in the world where animals in their natural aquatic environment routinely seek out human contact. A nursery for the gray whale since before recorded history, the lagoon and its stories, told here by James Michael Dorsey, illuminate the magic of human connection to animals, and what those bonds teach us about ourselves and our purpose on this shared planet. 
   
   
   
  Weaving two decades of San Ignacio adventures with the history of the lagoon, Dorsey vividly captures the lively people of Baja, like the mystical godfather of whale-watching, Pachico Mayoral, as well as the whales he's bonded with over the years, like Slackjaw, Patch, and Dervish. Looming over his journeys are the many dangers to the area, from the Mitsubishi Corporation's attempts to build salt works to plans for resort development on the Baja coast, to pollution and climate change, and even to the orcas who hunt the gray whales. 
   
   
   
  A tale of wondrous bonds between the intelligent, spirited gray whales and the people from around the world who come to this place to touch, kiss, and play with them—The Lagoon is a testament to the importance of preserving these animals and their natural habitats.

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  Catherine's Lieutenant

  Mary Ward Mortensen

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  Throughout her life, Mary Mortensen’s father’s war trunk was a constant presence, moving with the family from home to home. Upon his passing, she discovered it held every letter exchanged between her parents during World War II, revealing a poignant story of love and courage. 
  On a three-day pass from Camp Mackall, North Carolina, Second Lieutenant Frank R. Ward met Catherine Oliver on the white sands of Myrtle Beach. What began as a chance encounter sparked a lifelong love story that would endure the trials of World War II. Frank’s deployment took him across North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and the South of France, culminating in the harrowing Battle of the Bulge. 
  Through Frank’s letters, Mary uncovered the extraordinary courage of "Lieutenant Frank Ward" and the often-overlooked sacrifices of the 17th Airborne Glider Unit. In Catherine’s Lieutenant, she honors her parents’ legacy and the enduring spirit of those who fought for freedom.

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  Mamma Mia! - A Voyage Of...

  Xan Fox

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  Mamma Mia! Who would have dared to dream that ABBA would come back to us? Maybe most surprised were the members of the supergroup themselves who for years had cut short any discussion on the subject with a clear ¨nej.¨ 
  ABBA´s reunion is much more than a 70s phenomenon returning to the supertrooper limelight one last time; it hit a nerve in a sensitive world recovering from the pandemic. We somehow believe now that ABBA is back, we will be alright. 
  Why do we love ABBA so much? Is it a simple case of nostalgia, or is there something much more profound going on? 
  Cultural historian Xan Fox believes that we have been too distracted and bedazzled by the catchy melodies, the far-out clothes and the facade of happiness to see the truth of ABBA´s staying power. By light-heartedly (and probably erroneously) interpreting the lyrics of some of the most famous ABBA songs, including the new hits from the 2021 album Voyage, he reveals the ingredients of Björn´s, Benny´s, Anni-Frid´s and Agnetha´s secret recipe for success: a dose of honest emotions, carefully mixed with a pinch of Swedish angst and passion. 
  During ABBA´s long career, little attention was paid to what the supergroup really wanted to tell us. Didn´t the music critics understand Björn´s and Benny´s Weltschmerz? Did no one hear Agnetha´s and Frida´s desolate upper harmonies? 
  The fans always instinctively knew that there was a message waiting to be heard. Now, for the first time, let´s really listen to ABBA.

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  Conan the Swordsman

  Lin Carter, Sprague L. de Camp,...

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  The iconic hero of the Hyborian Age returns in this volume of classic fantasy adventure stories.Sometime after the fall of Atlantis, a great hero was born on a battlefield, destined to defend his people against angry gods and merciless demons. His name was Conan, and his exploits are legend.This volume collects eight classic Conan stories and an essay on the work of Conan creator Robert E. Howard. These stories from renowned fantasy author L. Sprague de Camp, and co-written with Lin Carter and Bjorn Nyberg, relaunched Conan as a popular hero in the 1970s. They include “The Conan Saga”, “Legions of the Dead”, “The People of the Summit”, and others.

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  Solving the West Georgia Murder...

  Clay Bryant

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  On a sultry August morning in 1970, the battered body of a young woman was hoisted from a dry well just outside Hogansville, Georgia. Author and investigator Clay Bryant was there, witnessing the macabre scene. Then fifteen, Bryant was tagging along with his father, Buddy Bryant, Hogansville chief of police. The victim, Gwendolyn Moore, had been in a violent marriage. That was no secret. But her husband had connections to a political machine that held sway over the Troup County Sheriff's Office overseeing the case. To the dismay and bafflement of many, no charges were brought. That is, until Bryant followed his father's footsteps into law enforcement and a voice cried out from the well three decades later.

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