An examination of the ways that digital and networked technologies have fundamentally changed research practices in disciplines from astronomy to literary analysis.In Knowledge Machines, Eric Meyer and Ralph Schroeder argue that digital technologies have fundamentally changed research practices in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Meyer and Schroeder show that digital tools and data, used collectively and in distributed mode—which they term

There is something about the number 3.The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two.Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these more modern times, three’s a crowd may be too many, except when it’s a ménage à trois. It seems good things usually come in threes.Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore them...

Man has learnt to control his dominion by the use of what initially lay about him; wood and stone for shelter and building as well as resources from the plant and animal worlds over which he slowly obtained dominion. But as he organised into Nations and Empires, he needed more with which to keep the whole machine spinning. Society was growing and consuming more. But many of the richer seams of fuel and minerals lay buried underground. These riches needed exploiting, brought to the surface ...

Mysteries come in all shapes and sizes. Some are simple to solve, others are fiendishly complex to work our way through. With many a red herring, McGuffin or dead end our authors take us on many a merry waltz through narratives and characters that ensure our literary adventures with them are entertaining to say the least.01 - A Myriad of Mysteries - An Introduction02 - The Mystery of Marie Rogêt - Part 1 by Edgar Allen Poe03 - The Mystery of Marie Rogêt - Part 2 by ...

Science is based on fact. Of course, it might take a huge leap of faith or imagination to even think that something can be proven or invented with experiments in search of the presumed end result.In this volume our trusted band of authors write fervently in pursuit of something that just needs proving with a small, very simple, experiment or two. What could possibly go wrong?1 - Stories About Experiments Gone Wrong - An Introduction2 - Rappaccini's Daughter - Part 1...

Horror stories are designed from the onset to create a story that will suddenly go very wrong and create a sheer horror and hell not only for the characters in the story but by extension ourselves.In this carefully crafted volume, our authors use their talents to create an atmosphere that might start with tingling tension but builds and builds until we can trust nothing but the certainty of the next few words and the wrath they will bring.1 - Atmospheric Horror Stories - An...

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?The theme ...

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?The theme ...

Life is to be lived. Experiences gained, pleasures sampled. But, troublingly, when you are a classic author your thoughts sometimes lean towards darker thoughts. Within the space of a few paragraphs these literary masters shape a new world; more difficult experiences, darker pleasures. Life becomes uneasy, a queasy feeling, perhaps a repulsion here, a disgust there and very soon what was cosy, warm and comfortable becomes cold, painful, even horrific.The talents of their pens now f...

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives.But finding a starting point can be overwhelming, even off-putting, so in this series we offer up our Top 10 classic poet...

An author’s talents may seem obvious and indisputable as they move words and ideas into gathered phrases and stories.But where do these ideas and stories come from? A lonely thought that suddenly gathers form? An inspiration from a Muse? A suggestion from an everyday event?Perhaps in the case of their darker, more malevolent stories, other forces are at work. They help to nourish single words into sentences and paragraphs that ease themselves from the shadows and are sudden...

Since its inception in the 19th Century photography has been a trusted source capturing both truth and reality. It cannot lie. Our eyes may deceive us, but the camera cannot. It is also an Art. Down through the decades this art has produced stunning images that literally capture a story whether it be in War photography, celebrity mishaps, even political downfalls and much else besides.In this volume whilst our classic authors are at the early edge of photography’s development, they...