All organisms and species are transitory, yet life endures. The origin, extinction, and evolution of species—interconnected in the web of life as "eternal ephemera"—are the concern of evolutionary biology. In this riveting work, renowned paleontologist Niles Eldredge follows leading thinkers as they have wrestled for more than two hundred years with the eternal skein of life composed of ephemeral beings, revitalizing evolutionary science with their own, more resilient findings. Eldredge begins in France with the naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who in 1801 first framed the overarching question about the emergence of new species. The Italian geologist Giambattista Brocchi followed, bringing in geology and paleontology to expand the question. In 1825, at the University of Edinburgh, Robert Grant and Robert Jameson introduced the astounding ideas formulated by Lamarck and Brocchi to a young medical student named Charles Darwin. Who can doubt that Darwin left for his voyage on the Beagle in 1831 filled with thoughts about these daring new explanations for the "transmutation" of species. Eldredge revisits Darwin's early insights into evolution in South America and his later synthesis of knowledge into a theory of the origin of species. He then considers the ideas of more recent evolutionary thinkers, such as George Gaylord Simpson, Ernst Mayr, and Theodosius Dobzhansky, as well as the young and brash Niles Eldredge and Steven Jay Gould, who set science afire with their concept of punctuated equilibria. Filled with insights into evolutionary biology and told with a rich affection for the scientific arena, this book celebrates the organic, vital relationship between scientific thinking and its subjects.

In a world where emotions are seen as dangerous and love is considered a weakness, life unfolds in a desolate landscape devoid of color and passion. The inhabitants of this society have long forgotten the beauty of art and the power of poetry, having traded their vibrant souls for a stoic existence. Amidst this bleak reality, we find a skilled artisan, nameless but not soulless, navigating through life with a sense of emptiness. One fateful day, the artisan stumbles upon an ancient book of art and poetry hidden away in a dusty corner of their workshop. Little do they know that this discovery will mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey, one that will unravel the secrets of a suppressed past and reawaken emotions long thought to be extinct. Guided by a mysterious librarian, who seems to possess knowledge beyond their time, the artisan embarks on a profound quest of self-discovery and rebellion against the oppressive norm. Together, they delve into the forbidden pages of the ancient book, unearthing images that evoke feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, and love, emotions that have been deemed dangerous and subversive by the ruling authority. As the artisan immerses themselves in the expressive world of the forgotten book, a transformation begins within, and they experience their first taste of the forbidden emotions. Fearful yet exhilarated, the artisan must now grapple with the choice of remaining hidden, concealing their newfound awareness, or daring to confront the suffocating constraints of their society. Unbeknownst to the artisan, this journey into the heart of forgotten art and poetry will not only challenge their beliefs but also put their life at risk. The ruling authority, determined to maintain control over the populace, has eyes and ears everywhere, and the artisan's rediscovery of emotions poses a threat to their carefully crafted order. As the pursuit intensifies, the artisan finds solace in the companionship of the enigmatic librarian and discovers a hidden underground society, a clandestine group of rebels who once celebrated emotions and artistic expression. Together, they forge an alliance to liberate their souls and ignite a revolution that could change the course of their society forever. In 'Eternal Ephemera,' join our nameless artisan and their mysterious librarian companion on a gripping odyssey of rediscovering emotions, challenging societal norms, and awakening the hearts of an entire civilization. As the line between love and vulnerability blurs, will they find the courage to embrace their deepest emotions, or will the forces of suppression triumph, burying their newfound passion beneath the ashes of a colorless existence?

The memories of the past may be forgotten, but prophecies linger. Cinder Shade and his fellow cadets have survived a brutal mission in the vast wilds of the Dagger Mountains. Laying to rest many of their brother warriors, they return to the Third Directorate, battered, bruised, and weary of soul. But the world turns, and new challenges press. Cinder must set aside his grief, especially when granted a task by Anya Aruyen, the elven princess with whom he shares an inexplicable bond. She urges him to further master his skills as a warrior and become worthy of fighting at her side. Others have also taken note of Cinder. His name is spoken in the high halls of elven palaces. The empress watches him, wondering at his unmatched abilities. So, too, do the dwarves. They fear Cinder, worrying that he is the embodiment of their darkest prophecies. And in the distant north, shadows gather. They whisper of their fallen god, Shet, dead three thousand years now. Whispering of his rebirth. But when the prophecies speak conflicting portents and none can decipher the truth, what path can even a consummate warrior take?

Already a publishing sensation in England, The Red Wolf Conspiracy marks the debut of a remarkably gifted young writer. Robert V. S. Redick has been compared to Philip Pullman, George R. R. Martin, and China Miéville, among others, and like them he is a spellbinding storyteller, unafraid to sail his imagination into uncharted waters. With The Red Wolf Conspiracy he launches the first book of a trilogy destined to take its place among the classics of epic fantasy. The Imperial Merchant Ship Chathrand is the last of her kind. Six hundred years old, the secrets of her construction long forgotten, the massive vessel dwarfs every other sailing craft in the world. It is a palace with sails, a floating outpost of the Empire of Arqual. And it is on its most vital mission yet: to deliver a young woman whose marriage will seal the peace between Arqual and its mortal enemy, the secretive Mzithrin Empire. But the young woman in question-Thasha, the daughter of the Arquali ambassador-has no intention of going meekly to the altar. For the ship's true mission is not peace but war-a war that threatens to unleash an ancient, all-consuming evil. As the dark conspiracy at the heart of the voyage unfurls, Pazel Pathkendle, a lowly tarboy with an uncanny gift, will find himself in an unlikely alliance with Thasha and her protectors: Hercól, a valet who is more than he appears; Dri, the queen of a race of tiny stowaways who have their own plans for the great ship; and Ramachni, a powerful sorcerer from another world. Arrayed against them are the Chathrand's brutal captain, Nilus Rose; the Emperor's spymaster and chief assassin, Sandor Ott; and the enigmatic Dr. Chadfallow, a longtime friend to Pazel's family whose kind words may hide a vicious betrayal. As the Chathrand navigates treacherous waters to complete its mission, Pazel, Thasha, and their allies-including a singularly heroic rat-must also navigate a treacherous web of intrigue to uncover the secret of the legendary Red Wolf. Praise for The Red Wolf Conspiracy “What can I say about a book as exciting and fresh as The Red Wolf Conspiracy? I can't remember when I've been so enthralled. Maybe when I first read Philip Pullman. This is one terrific read.”—Terry Brooks “Wonderfully inventive—Robert Redick is an extraordinary talent.”—Karen Miller, author of The Innocent Mage

A Gentle Madness continues to astound and delight readers about the passion and expense a collector is willing to make in pursuit of the book. The book captures that last moment in time when collectors pursued their passions in dusty bookshops and street stalls, high stakes auctions, and the subterfuge worthy of a true bibliomaniac. An adventure among the afflicted, A Gentle Madness is vividly anecdotal and thoroughly researched. Nicholas Basbanes brings an investigative reporter's heart to illuminate collectors past and present in their pursuit of bibliomania. A New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

Book 1 of the Epic Fantasy series, Instrument of Omens

For the first time—and in the best translation ever—the complete Book of Disquiet, a masterpiece beyond comparison The Book of Disquiet is the Portuguese modernist master Fernando Pessoa’s greatest literary achievement. An “autobiography” or “diary” containing exquisite melancholy observations, aphorisms, and ruminations, this classic work grapples with all the eternal questions. Now, for the first time the texts are presented chronologically, in a complete English edition by master translator Margaret Jull Costa. Most of the texts in The Book of Disquiet are written under the semi-heteronym Bernardo Soares, an assistant bookkeeper. This existential masterpiece was first published in Portuguese in 1982, forty-seven years after Pessoa’s death. A monumental literary event, this exciting, new, complete edition spans Fernando Pessoa’s entire writing life.