The forgotten story of the nineteenth-century freethinkers and twentieth-century humanists who tried to build their own secular religionIn The Church of Saint Thomas Paine, Leigh Eric Schmidt tells the surprising story of how freethinking liberals in nineteenth-century America promoted a secular religion of humanity centered on the deistic revolutionary Thomas Paine (1737–1809) and how their descendants eventually became embroiled in the culture wars of th...

Mankind has long dreamed of exploring the stars, finding new planets, new sentient beings, and new ways of life for themselves and their families. These 18 tales explore the adventures of colonists, pilots who transport them, and workers who paved the way. With new stories by multi-award winners Nancy Kress, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Mike Resnick, and a classic from Grandmaster Robert Silverberg, these stories will take you on a journey Beyond the Sun.

Structure and power are two defining and interrelated aspects of the German theater business. It is based on the strictly hierarchical organization of 1900 and has undergone hardly any structural changes since then. This not only impairs the innovative capacity of this important institution, but also leads to inappropriately strong power positions of the directors, to conflicts with the ensembles and employees, and hinders the development and renewal of the artistic potentials of this cult...

Life is full of decision points—those key moments when what we decide can change everything for better or for worse. These 20 tales describe such instances in young people's lives, ranging from tragic to triumphant, from horror to fantasy to science fiction. Written by authors new and old, those known for Young Adult writing and those known for Adult novels, a few new and barely known at all, these stories will make you think, make you laugh, make you feel angry, sad, determined, etc. as y...

This volume explores the interrelations between emotions, embodiment, and vulnerability through a phenomenological perspective. Scholars of philosophy, psychology, and psychiatry investigate how the fragilities of embodied existence shape emotions, how these vulnerabilities become visible in psychopathological conditions, and how they figure in therapeutic contexts. A central theme is that emotions can be understood as experiences lived through and enacted – not merely endured – showing th...

For well over a century, Monster Hunter International has kept the world safe from supernatural threats small and large—and in some cases very, very large. Now, join us as MHI opens their archives for the first time. From experienced Hunters on their toughest cases, to total newbies' initial encounters with the supernatural, The Monster Hunter Files reveals the secret history of the world's most elite monster fighting force.Discover what happened when Agent Franks...

Brimming with fresh insights, this volume offers a comprehensive overview of the personal, cultural, intellectual, professional, political and religious contexts in which immensely gifted brother and sister Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn) and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy lived and worked. Based on the latest research, it explores nineteenth-century musical culture from different yet complementary perspectives, including gender roles, private vs public music-making, cultural institutions, and...

Swords and Shields. Faith and Magic.Grab your weapons and prepare, for the enemy is on the move.High fantasy and mighty conflicts go hand-in-hand. In great wars, armies rise to fight evil hordes and heroes struggle to push beyond their imperfections to save the day. These stories include more than just epic landscapes and characters…they also feature epic battles.Imagine a doctor struggling to identify the spy who has infiltrated his company’s ranks and poisoned his...

The smuggling ring is a big case…‪…that got his partner killed.‪How will Simon go on without her?‪In 2029 Kansas City, Master Detective John Simon is a tough cop with a disdain for technology. His new movie quoting partner doesn’t make him happy. How can you trust a robot?‪And what’s with the name…‪…Lucas George?‪Simon and Lucas don’t have time for squabbles. Something isn’t right about this case. There’s more to it than smuggling, but they d...

Although it is widely recognized that there are significant variations in the circulation throughout the 24-hour day, these patterns have often been conceived as nuisance variables rather than functional differences. Responses of the circulation are examined here not as stable phenomena, but as integrated functions highly sensitive to environmental conditions, and driven by internal and external pacesetters. In this volume, cardiologists with a primary interest in hypertension or heart dis...

NEW STORIES OF THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION. Original anthology of stories about near-future space exploration from top authors. Includes stories by Jack McDevitt, Michael F. Flynn, Sarah A. Hoyt, Ben Bova, Mike Resnick, and many more.In Mission: Tomorrow, science fiction writers imagine the future of space exploration with NASA no longer dominant. Will private companies rule the stars or will new governments take up the call? From Brazilians to Russians to Chinese, the...

From Hugo-nominated editor Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Nebula nominated author Robin Wayne Bailey, here are nineteen top-notch science fiction stories guaranteed to make you think and- laugh, featuring such major writers as Robert Silverberg, Mike Resnick, Allen M. Steele, Esther Friesner, Elizabeth Moon, Seanan McGuire, Jody Lynn Nye, James Gunn, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and many more.When Little Green Men Attack, It’s All-out Laugh WarfareFrom the far reaches of outer space th...