Describing the biology, sociology, and technology of the fictional Latoocarfian civilization of Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, this book includes a cornucopia of curiosities--games played on fractal boards, instructions on creating globular star clusters using personal computers, and puzzles to stimulate the imagination.

FOLLOW ELIZABETH DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE-AND MEET A WHOLE NEW ALICE. Elizabeth, a twenty-four-year-old interior designer living in Brooklyn, New York, encounters a little more than mental static when she sits down for her morning meditation, feeling disconnected from herself and her reality. As she meditates, she forces herself to confront her inner demons head on-including the darker parts that she would rather keep hidden from others, like her boyfriend, Adam. Her inner conflict leads her down a rabbit hole that is far different from the one she remembers from her favorite childhood story. When Elizabeth reaches the bottom of the rabbit hole, she follows a shadowy figure in a familiar blue dress who taunts her and coaxes her deeper into Wonderland. Unable to release herself from her meditation, Elizabeth chases Alice through Wonderland, guided by clues left by Alice, as well as the dark and strangely familiar characters she meets, like the Cheshire Cat, the Tweedle twins, and the Mad Hatter. In Wonderland, Elizabeth comes face to face with her inner light and darkness, and, finally, Alice-and discovers that Alice's secret might be what she has been searching for all along.

An ordinary city worker accidentally entered the "Forbidden Land of the Gods" on a journey to ease his mind

“A marvelously entertaining, historical romp through the unexpected connections between mathematics and mysticism” (Paul Hoffman, Discover). From the mysterious cult of Pythagoras to the awesome mechanics of Stonehenge to digitally generated “gargoyles” and fractals, mathematics has always been a powerful, even divine force in the world. In a lively, intelligent synthesis of math, mysticism, and science fiction, Clifford Pickover explains the eternal magic of numbers. Taking a uniquely humorous approach, he appoints readers “Chief Historian” of an intergalactic museum and sends them, along with a quirky cast of characters, hurtling through the ages to explore how individuals used numbers for such purposes as predicting the end of the world, finding love, and winning wars.

Fractals and chaos theory lead to startling graphics in this book by a renowned scientist, inventor, and artist, who coordinates information from disparate fields. Over 275 illustrations, 29 in color.

Although the patterns are computer-generated, the book is informal and emphasis is on the fun that the true pattern lover finds in doing rather than in reading about the doing.

A magisterial account of the interaction between the law and racial oppression in America, from colonial times to the present, this book demonstrates how the one agent that should have guaranteed equal treatment before the law--the judicial system--instead played a dominant role in enforcing the inferior position of blacks. 43 photos.