A novel of alien gods, monsters, and galactic destruction from the New York Times–bestselling author of the Riverworld series. Captain Ramstan commands the crew of one of the only alaraf-drive vessels capable of instantaneous travel between two points of space. While on an official scientific surveillance expedition, he revises their mission to join the search for a missing ship. But instead of the spacecraft, they discover a planet in its death throes, decimated by meteors that have been launched with extreme velocity from just outside of its atmosphere. The ultimate source of the destruction, however, is beyond anyone’s imagination . . . Ramstan may be the only man who can stop the world-destroying entity known as the “Chaos-Monster” before it follows in their footsteps to Earth. A stolen alien idol offers aid—though at a price. But there are those who hear his warnings as nothing but the rantings of a delusional madman, and Ramstan will have to put his career—and life—on the line to prove that, though he might not be the savior the universe wants, he’s exactly the one it needs. Praise for Philip José Farmer “An excellent science fiction writer.” —Isaac Asimov “[Farmer’s work is a] blend of intellectual daring and pulp fiction prose.” —The New York Times “Farmer offers his audience a wide-screen adventure that never fails to provoke, amuse, and educate. . . . His imagination is certainly of the first rank.” —Time on The World of Tiers “The greatest science fiction writer ever.” —Leslie A. Fiedler, author of Love and Death in the American Novel

A literary classic that wasn't recognized for its merits until decades after its publication, Herman Melville's Moby-Dick tells the tale of a whaling ship and its crew, who are carried progressively further out to sea by the fiery Captain Ahab. Obsessed with killing the massive whale, which had previously bitten off Ahab's leg, the seasoned seafarer steers his ship to confront the creature, while the rest of the shipmates, including the young narrator, Ishmael, and the harpoon expert, Queequeg, must contend with their increasingly dire journey. The book invariably lands on any short list of the greatest American novels.

Drawing on secondary works in archaeology, art history, folklore, ethnohistory, ethnography, and literature, the authors maintain that the mask is the central metaphor for the Mesoamerican concept of spiritual reality. Covers the long history of the use of the ritual mask by the peoples who created and developed the mythological tradition of Mesoamerica. Chapters: (1) the metaphor of the mask in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica: the mask as the God, in ritual, and as metaphor; (II) metaphoric reflections of the cosmic order; and (III) the metaphor of the mask after the conquest: syncretism; the Pre-Columbian survivals; the syncretic compromise; and today's masks. Over 100 color and black-&-white photos.

A New Introduction to American Studies provides a coherent portrait of American history, literature, politics, culture and society, and also deals with some of the central themes and preoccupations of American life. It will provoke students into thinking about what it actually means to study a culture. Ideals such as the commitment to liberty, equality and material progress are fully examined and new light is shed on the sometimes contradictory ways in which these ideals have informed the nation's history and culture. For introductory undergraduate courses in American Studies, American History and American Literature.

The best way to grasp the essence of death scene investigation (DSI) is to witness its application, called the psychological autopsy, by an expert forensic scientist/clinician. This remarkable book affords the opportunity to delve into the challenges that the forensic mental health specialist and public safety professional confront in DSI. Suicides, and often death, are complex, multidetermined events. People, whether police investigators or mental health professionals, are generally perplexed, and even confused, when they are confronted by the equivocal case. Was it a suicide? Homicide? Accident? These are critical questions. Dr. Leenaars shows that DSI is, however, not mysterious; the reader can learn the generally accepted, evidence-based protocols of the psychological autopsy. Illuminated by individual (idiographic) case studies and general (nomothetic) research, this definitive guide allows the investigator to uncover the bare bones of a suicide or death.

Almost a million people die by suicide every year (WHO estimate) The sheer numbers have made suicide prevention a major health target, but effective prevention is not straightforward. Suicide is a complex event, more complex than most of us imagine, calling for an equally complex response. Psychotherapy with Suicidal People provides a multi-component approach, with rich clinical data including many case histories, to guide the reader. Based on decades of research from across the globe, Antoon A. Leenaars takes the reader into the mind of the suicidal person, from the young to the elderly, from the anonymous to the famous. There is no better way to know, and thus to treat, a person. A plethora of special features makes this volume an international classic and includes: Reflections of many suicidologists such as Heraclitus, Plato, Sigmund Freud, Emile Durkheim and Edwin Shneidman. A unique window on the clinical mind of the author. Empirically supported definition, with applications across age, gender, historical time, as well as culture. The report of the International Working Group on Ethical and Legal Issues in Suicidology. Psychotherapy with Suicidal People: A Person-centred Approach is essential reading for clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and their trainees, and all clinicians who work with suicidal people.