(Large Print Version) Tales from the Kodiak Starport is a collection of science fiction stories chronicling the efforts of adventurous Alaskans to facilitate mankind's move toward space-based commerce, stepping from the Last Frontier into the final frontier. Each tale, set in a different period, explores an aspect of the space industry and its impact on the economic and ecological well-being of the people of Earth. In today's world, Kodiak Island, Alaska is home to the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), a 3,717-acre rocket launch facility. The KLC is a joint venture between the state of Alaska and the investors of the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation (AADC). At this point, KLC's services are geared to the safe launching of polar-orbit satellites and sub-orbital research payloads. In time, the complex may grow into an entity similar to, or even better than, the facility depicted in these stories. From the pioneers who build the businesses supporting the various launch activities of the complex and those who defend the facility from a close encounter of the government kind, to the man who's just trying to keep his family's business running, the perseverance and tenacity of the Alaska business community is put to the test. Some stories explore the potential of the site, its customers, and those involved in its day-to-day operations, while others provide a glimpse at the impact of scientific advances on relationships between individuals and society and the effects of international politics on the environment and the facility's role in reversing them. Welcome to the Kodiak Starport - gateway to the future.

Alaskan fisheries suffer when a mining disaster pollutes Bristol Bay. Governments around the world struggle with drought and famine as climate change becomes real. Nations go to war over dwindling resources on land and at sea. In this era of rising international tensions that lead to regional wars, administrators and staff at the Kodiak starport face the challenge of keeping the promise of manned spaceflight intact for the next generation of explorers and entrepreneurs. Can the gateway to a better future be kept open, or will it close forever when satellites and space stations are destroyed?

(Large Print Version) How much does tomorrow cost? That's one of many questions to be answered by a struggling starport administrator while war rages between major powers over diminishing natural resources. In a world without satellite communications, the potential for spaceflight will slip away unless a relentless technological back-slide can be stopped. From the edge of space, to the interiors of high-tech facilities and hushed conference rooms, it's a fight for the future that neither side can afford to lose.

Action and mystery, long journeys and valuable lessons-these are the ingredients of Alutiiq legends. In a village terrified by an enormous octopus, people work together to kill the beast. A young man apprentices to a whaler and learns mysterious secrets about hunting the largest sea mammals. A community mistreats Raven and his grandmother, and the people die of starvation. This book shares sixty-two traditional tales from Alaska's Kodiak Archipelago, compiled from stories told by Alutiiq Elders over the past 150 years. In each legend, readers learn about the Alutiiq world-the origins of the moon and the sun, how animals can sometimes appear as people, the importance of respectful hunting, and most of all how generosity, bravery, and perseverance are essential to a happy and successful life. Illustrated with images by contemporary community artists.

All parents face a mix of joys and challenges when welcoming a new child into the family. Being told that your new son or daughter has a visual disability makes the task of sharing the world with that child seem much more daunting. It will be difficult, but it is an adventure which you both can survive. This book will provide you with some insight into the obstacles you will face, pitfalls to be avoided, joys to be shared, and hope for what is to come. What expectations should you have? What resources are available to assist your child? Where do you find them? Is it possible for your child to become a happy, successful member of society? This book addresses these questions and others, with a foreword by career ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Griffith C. Steiner, M.D.

Bibix is a Lapropod, a member of a pacifistic species that has inadvertently nearly caused the extinction of humanity. Can he bring himself to do what it takes to free both peoples from the NorCons?

How to Write Conspiracy Fiction takes you into the mindset that makes the creation of this story form possible. Authors are provided with an in-depth examination of conspiracy fiction and its most commonly used plot devices, along with a step-by-step walk-through of developing a scheme that takes advantage of modern American society's mistrust of its government. Inside, you'll find: * an overview of the similarities and differences between political, espionage, and conspiracy fiction; * a discussion of the origins and evolution of conspiracy literature; * tools for analyzing conspiracy theories of the past and present; * detailed overviews of specific elements, characteristics, and considerations vital to the creation of a successful conspiracy tale; * a three-step process for developing believably diverse heroes and villains to populate your shadowy world; * a glossary of terms and list of recommended reading for writers new to the genre; * a filmography of movies that have conspiracy components; and * an in-depth discussion of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and how you can use it to conduct research that will lend credibility to your conspiracy story.