Archaeologist Brandon Thackery and his rival Miles 'Klicks' Jordan fulfill a dinosaur lover's dream with history's first time-travel jaunt to the late Mesozoic. Hoping to solve the extinction mystery, they find Earth's gravity is only half its 21st century value and dinosaurs that behave very strangely. Could the slimey blue creatures from Mars have something to do with both? At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.

China's reform era is ending. Core factors that characterized it-political stability, ideological openness, and rapid economic growth-are unraveling. Since the 1990s, Beijing's leaders have firmly rejected any fundamental reform of their authoritarian one-party political system, and on the surface, their efforts have been a success. But as Carl Minzner shows, a closer look at China's reform era reveals a different truth. Over the past three decades, a frozen political system has fueled both the rise of entrenched interests within the Communist Party itself, and the systematic underdevelopment of institutions of governance among state and society at large. Economic cleavages have widened. Social unrest has worsened. Ideological polarization has deepened. Now, to address these looming problems, China's leaders are progressively cannibalizing institutional norms and practices that have formed the bedrock of the regime's stability in the reform era. End of an Era explains how China arrived at this dangerous turning point, and outlines the potential outcomes that could result.

Chris McDonnell’s Steven Universe: End of an Era is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling behind-the-scenes companion book Steven Universe: Art & Origins. Foreword by Hugo Award–winning author N. K. Jemisin Showcasing new concept art, storyboards, background paintings, and exclusive interviews, End of an Era will update the history of the Emmy Award–winning series to cover season four through to the critically acclaimed finale, “Change Your Mind,” and beyond. Fans will find a special focus on creator and showrunner Rebecca Sugar’s elaborate process for creating the lore for the series, as she and the crew reveal how they discovered and developed the complete story arc for each character, as well as how they were able to design a show that so refreshingly captures and celebrates the experience of childhood. Steven Universe: End of an Era is a heartfelt send-off to one of the most progressive, imaginative, and beloved animated series of our time. “This book extends the life of this treasured animated series.” —Variety

Steven Universe: Art & Origins is the first book to take fans behind the scenes of the groundbreaking and boundlessly creative Emmy Award-winning Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe. The eponymous Steven is a boy who—alongside his mentors, the Crystal Gems (Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl)—must learn to use his inherited powers to protect his home, Beach City, from the forces of evil. Bursting with concept art, production samples, early sketches, storyboards, and exclusive commentary, this lavishly illustrated companion book offers a meticulous written and visual history of the show, as well as an all-access tour of the creative team’s process. Steven Universe: Art & Origins reveals how creator Rebecca Sugar, the writers, the animators, and the voice actors work in tandem to bring this adventure-packed television series to life. Also Available: Steven Universe: End of an Era (978-1-4197-4284-2) and Steven Universe: The Tale of Steven (978-1-4197-4148-7)

From Lockheed's early beginnings with the Gross brothers through two wars Lockheed develops as a premier defense contractor. Dan Haughton the new chairman of the board oversees a successful multidivisional corporation. One shrinking division, the Lockheed California Company, is an aircraft company without an aircraft program. Frank Koch of American Airlines entices the company and they design the Kochmobile. A mid-range wide body is developed utilizing the technical skills of Lockheed. They can design and build the fastest, highest flying fighter airplane, the biggest cargo airplane, the most powerful missiles, and the newest and best commercial airliner the L-1011. What was supposed to be a rich monopoly venture ends up a costly head to head competition. Just when the company begins to perform well its engine supplier, Rolls-Royce of Derby, England, goes bankrupt. Haughton without hesitation jumps in and leads the effort to restart the program. Lockheed is almost at its knees financially and trying to bring a fractured production line back on stream when problems erupt. Washington DC decides to deride the practice of agents and making payments to customers and government officials in foreign countries. Lockheed is singled out as the most prolific of aerospace companies. The author is tangled up in the proceeding because of a certificate to the Export Import Bank of the United States. He's read his rights by the FBI. The bank refuses to finance aircraft ready to be delivered unless he personally revises old certificates. An appearance before a Grand Jury shakes his confidence and loyalty in the company. Haughton and Kotchian, the two top executives, resign in disgrace. The normal succession plans are disrupted. Anderson takes over and tries to redirect the company. After fourteen years of struggle the L-1011 program is terminated. The company really never survives this trauma. Dan Tellep takes over as chairman and there's hope. He spends the first part of his tenure fighting off a hostile takeover attempt. He sees the future through merger and Lockheed Martin is born. The Lockheed Corporation is finished, The End of an Era.

Refuting the conventional wisdom that the end of the Cold War cleared the way for an era of peace and prosperity led solely by the United States, Charles A. Kupchan contends that the next challenge to America’s might is fast emerging. It comes not from the Islamic world or an ascendant China, but from an integrating Europe that is rising as a counterweight to the United States. Decades of strategic partnership across the Atlantic are giving way to renewed geopolitical competition. The waning of U.S. primacy will be expedited by America’s own ambivalence about remaining the globe’s guardian and by the impact of the digital age on the country’s politics and its role in the world. By deftly mining the lessons of history to cast light on the present and future, Kupchan explains how America and the world should prepare for the more complex, more unstable road ahead.