'Excellent, exactly how good science fiction should be- gripping story, beautifully told, while at the same time being scientifically well-informed.' tweeted RICHARD DAWKINS. 'Reminiscent of vintage Arthur C. Clarke . . . has a chilling, nail-biting authenticity' said JAMES LOVEGROVE in the Financial Times. From renowned theoretical physicist, broadcaster and author Jim Al-Khalili, comes this thrilling debut novel drawing on cutting-edge science and set in a near-future full of dazzling technologies. 2041 and the world as we know it grinds to a halt. Our planet seems to be turning against itself - it would appear that the magnetic field, that protects life on Earth from deadly radiation from space, is failing . . . Desperate to quell the mass hysteria that would surely follow, world governments have concealed this rapidly emerging Armageddon. But a young Iranian hacktivist stumbles across the truth, and it becomes a race against time to reactivate the earth's core using beams of dark matter. As a small team of brave and brilliant scientists battle to find a way of transforming theory into practice, they face a fanatical group intent on pursuing their own endgame agenda- for they believe mankind to be a plague upon this earth and will do anything, commit any crime, to ensure that the project fails . . . And so bring about humanity's end.

A world exists behind your eyes. A place with its own history and culture, heroes and villains, gods and demons. A place where noble Guildsmen defend their nation-state of Guildshelm from threats within and without, using technology and endowments beyond our understanding. A place where a fallen society of hidden immortals bides its time for revolution. A place only a very rare, gifted few in our world can reach when they lie down to sleep. One of them is Crystal Molcott: Young, independent, strong, and trapped in an arranged marriage from birth. Meet Richard Cavalon, the young suitor who sways her heart, and Count Rahlkhlis, a power hungry madman manipulating the whole of Guildshelm toward a disaster sculpted to give him ultimate power. And meet the Amaranthines, the secret gods whose ancient failure trapped the world of Sunfall in darkness-and whom may yet be its only hope for salvation. Relax. Dream deep. Enter Sunfall.

The night sky has stopped bleeding. Everyone has made it home safe, if not sound. The National Guard has arrived with food and water. The people of Snow Hill have an opportunity to prepare for winter, and what lies beyond. But the desperation, violence, and fear haven't abated. Break-ins and vandalism terrify the residents. Thieves slip between houses in the thick of night. People are turning up dead. Using his expanded powers, the Mayor creates a new local police force to bring the townspeople under his control. Not everyone appreciates the effort. It soon becomes clear that when a malevolent government tightens its grip, it is liberty that suffers. There's a storm on the horizon, but no one sees it coming. A kind old woman will find neighbors can become enemies, an old war dog will show he still has teeth, and a monster will recover his humanity.

Hidden in the shadows of ancient lore, malignant and powerful foes plot and lay the groundwork for an assault that will bring Sun's Reach to its knees. Following the tragedy at the capital, the knight Leonidas finds himself unbalanced and missing his center. He decides to strike out into the kingdom at large, blazing a trail of redemption, meeting old allies and making new ones. Will he be able to take revenge on the vile Geurus Gardstar before it's too late? Unbeknownst to the knight, he has an ally on the inside. The Widower Prince, deeply cut by the recent tragedy, works in secret to assuage the damage his father has done. In the Scorched Waste, Amaru Sunbrand and her friends continue their adventure. Each step leading them closer toward their ultimate destiny.

This handbook incorporates new developments in automation. It also presents a widespread and well-structured conglomeration of new emerging application areas, such as medical systems and health, transportation, security and maintenance, service, construction and retail as well as production or logistics. The handbook is not only an ideal resource for automation experts but also for people new to this expanding field.

Scale -- Space and time -- Energy and matter -- The quantum world -- Thermodynamics and the arrow of time -- Unification -- The future of physics -- The usefulness of physics -- Thinking like a physicist.