The Science of Superheroes takes a lighthearted but clear-headed look at the real science that underlies some of the greatest superhero comic books of all time, including Spider-Man, Batman, Fantastic Four, and many more. Each chapter presents the story of the origin of one or more superheroes and asks intriguing questions that lead to fascinating discussions about the limits of science, the laws of nature, and the future of technology.If gamma rays can’t turn a 128-pound ...

The second novel in Lois H. Gresh’s Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu seriesAmelia Scarcliffe’s monstrous brood, harbingers of Cthulhu, will soon spawn. Her songs spell insanity, death—and illimitable wealth. And Moriarty will do anything to get his hands on gold, even if it means tearing down the walls between this world and a realm of horrors.Meanwhile, after Sherlock Holmes’s last tangle with the Order of Dagon, horrifying monsters haunt the Thames and madness...

The third novel in 6 times New York Times bestselling author Lois H. Gresh’s Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu series.The Obliterating ShadowThe deadly dimensions over London have been sealed, and the monsters have departed. But word has come to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of a more terrifying creature still—the great Cthulhu has been sighted off the waters of Innsmouth, Massachusetts. Only Holmes can defeat him.And in the muddy villa...

The Mortal Instruments Companion, a must-read guide to the wildly popular Mortal Instruments series, is a terrific gift for the millions of fans both young and old—especially with the Sony Pictures film version of City of Bones, the first book in the series, hitting theaters in August 2013.Written by the New York Times bestselling author of The Twilight Companion and The Hunger Games Companion, the book takes fans deeper into the world of...

Katniss Everdeen operates in survival mode on a daily basis. How to Survive The Hunger Games explores how Katniss's childhood experience, combined with her survival instinct, makes her the ultimate opponent in The Hunger Games.How to Survive The Hunger Games is a chapter taken straight from The Hunger Games Companion, the ultimate companion guide to the blockbuster Hunger Games trilogy—this book is not authorized by Suzanne Collins, Scholastic Pr...

In Christopher Paolini's thrilling Inheritance series, when a young boy named Eragon finds a blue gemstone in the middle of the forest, he has no idea what magic is in store for him. It hatches a sapphire-blue dragon, a member of a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon and soon discovers that he is the first in a new line of Dragon Riders, fated to play a part in a war that is poised to sweep his land.The Ultimate Unauthorized Eragon Guide is an interacti...

His Dark Materials is one of the most popular, award-winning fantasies of all time, a bestselling trilogy hailed as "a modern classic" by The New York Times.Now, for the first time ever, Lois H. Gresh helps young readers examine Pullman's intricate universe with Exploring His Dark Materials, the ultimate companion guide. Gresh's fun, interactive book explores the complex science, religion, and fantastic elements of His Dark Materials in a way that...

Could you really use a bullwhip to swing across a chasm? Or rip out a man’s heart without killing him? At last, here is the book that finally answers the Indiana Jones–related questions that have troubled you for years. It tells you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the history, culture, and science behind your favorite Indy scenes and settings. You’ll find out the truth about the Thuggees and their deadly practices, ancient death traps, the Well of Souls, Kali worship in India, ...

The depiction of computers on the various "Star Trek" series has ranged from lame to breathtakingly imaginative. This book covers the gamut, and makes lucid and entertaining comparison of these fictional computers with those that now exist or are likely to inhabit our future. Throughout its history, "Star Trek" has been an accurate reflection of contemporary ideas about computers and their role in our lives. Affectionately but without illusions, The Computers of Star Trek shows ho...

The ultimate companion guide to A Series of Unfortunate Events--a must for fans of Lemony Snicket.A Series of Unfortunate Events is one of the most popular children's series in the world and will be a major motion picture starring Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep coming this 2004 holiday season. Now comes The Truth Behind a Series of Unfortunate Events, the ultimate companion guide to Lemony Snicket's fun and wildly successful novels. Digging beneath the surfac...

Modern lives seem littered with expiration dates. Packaging tells us when our food will go bad; when we can expect appliances to cease functioning; when contracts for the internet finish! But as annoying as these small expiration dates are, they fade to nothing compared to the larger events: when a species goes extinct; when a body of water evaporates, or dies because the PH balance alters; when giant icebergs break apart and glaciers melt forever, threatening the ecosystem of this planet....

The science behind the gadgets, exploits, and enemies of the world's greatest spyFrom the sleek Aston Martin that spits out bullets, nails, and passengers at the push of a button to the microjet that makes hairpin turns to avoid a heat-seeking missile, the science and technology of James Bond films have kept millions of movie fans guessing for decades. Are these amazing feats and gadgets truly possible?The Science of James Bond takes you on a fascinating excursion through t...