A thrilling tale of encounters with nature’s masters of biochemistry From the coasts of Indonesia to the rainforests of Peru, venomous animals are everywhere—and often lurking out of sight. Humans have feared them for centuries, long considering them the assassins and pariahs of the natural world. Now, in Venomous, the biologist Christie Wilcox investigates and illuminates the animals of our nightmares, arguing that they hold the keys to a deeper understanding of evolution, adaptation, and immunity. She reveals just how venoms function and what they do to the human body. With Wilcox as our guide, we encounter a jellyfish with tentacles covered in stinging cells that can kill humans in minutes; a two-inch caterpillar with toxic bristles that trigger hemorrhaging; and a stunning blue-ringed octopus capable of inducing total paralysis. How do these animals go about their deadly work? How did they develop such intricate, potent toxins? Wilcox takes us around the world and down to the cellular level to find out. Throughout her journey, Wilcox meets the intrepid scientists who risk their lives studying these lethal beasts, as well as “self-immunizers” who deliberately expose themselves to snakebites. Along the way, she puts her own life on the line, narrowly avoiding being envenomated herself. Drawing on her own research, Wilcox explains how venom scientists are untangling the mechanisms of some of our most devastating diseases, and reports on pharmacologists who are already exploiting venoms to produce lifesaving drugs. We discover that venomous creatures are in fact keystone species that play crucial roles in their ecosystems and ours—and for this alone, they ought to be protected and appreciated. Thrilling and surprising at every turn, Venomous will change everything you thought you knew about the planet’s most dangerous animals.

Combative, however partisan, and yet often beguilingly playful, these essays, many translated from the Tamil for the first time, bring Ravikumars concerns to a wider audience. Ranging from the centrality of caste, the logic of communalism, ideas on culture, the politics of the media, education, censorship and literature, just to mention a few of his interests, these essays provide an unsettling impact on the consensuses of democratic India. As he himself talks of in the Preface, for him the personal is political, and questions of power in society, derived from his engagement with Marx, Bakunin, Derrida, Foucault and other philosophers and his wide readings in Tamil literature, permeate his writings. Ravikumar charts the history of discrimination against dalits in terms of land ownership, labour and education, condemns the celebration of the golden jubilee of independence under Hindu authority in 'independent India'. He declares that fundamentalism moves hand in hand with consumer culture. He provocatively critiques the film-maker Lenins much awarded docu-feature, Knock-Out. He writes on some of the most horrendous tales of the slaughter of dalits -- the Melavalavu murder -- where power overturns the rule of law. Throbbing with righteous anger at centuries of oppression and denial against dalits, this collection of essays, as Susie Tharu says in her incisive Foreword, act as 'both poison/venom and remedy'.

The vast red desert of Arena sprawls south and westward from the nurturing plains of Penance. Spurred onward by the ancient promise of gold buried beneath the sands, massive armies of brutal warriors rumble across the scarred and wasted terrain. For the fortunate few, the ultimate dream of Arena still comes true - immeasurable riches, supreme command, and decades of extravagant and luxurious living atop the Queen's pedestal of pleasure. For most however, whatever dreams they may harbor are soundly crushed under years of backbreaking labor, constant battle, exhausting marches, gruesome butchery, and an infinity of accursed crimson sand.For the prospective Warlord, a sea of troubled choices and impossible trials awaits. Can you lead your army to victory against the savage legions of Minos Spar, the terrible war golems of Asheanna, or the unnatural technology of Ossian? Will your hidden mine escape the attention of the flying navies of the Grand Asherake? Strategy, fortune, alliances, and leadership are your only weapons in this endless and unforgiving struggle for wealth, power, and glory.Oathbound: Arena provides a new entry point into the world of the Forge. This is the Domain of Barbello, the Mask of Fury, the invincible mistress of rage, pain, warfare, and death. Who amongst you can withstand her test?

Psychometric tests are used by the majority of medium to large-sized organizations to assess the abilities of clerical, technical, graduate and executive job candidates. There is also an increasing trend for universities to use them as part of their admissions procedure. This best-selling guide provides the perfect introduction to tests and test making. Now with more practice questions, it covers ability tests and personality questionnaires, giving you a detailed insight into the world of psychometrics. It will help you to understand the main types of test, increase your test making confidence, develop strategies and explore your work-style and personality. With guidance on testing on the internet and practice graduate and university admissions tests, as well as a leadership-style questionnaire, it is an essential read for those who want to stand out from other applicants.

Elsanoka is a part of a community born with the responsibility of maintaining peace between the former gods, known as Eradene, and humanity, whose touch is poisonous to them. She walks the delicate line of living in the past and fighting against humanity's mounting fear of the Eradene, who each control elements ranging from gravity, to time, to even life itself. When a man slays one of these cosmic beings, he gains that being's powers. Esirio Osarius is imprisoned in an oblong box after slaying countless Eradene, and Elsanoka is charged with keeping him there. During Elsanoka's journey, her faith in her community and humanity itself is put to the test. As others join her journey, from a duke to a swordswoman, and even the Eradene of present time, she must open her eyes to the truth lurking in the shadows.