Dark Universe

On July 23, 1999, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the most powerful X-ray telescope ever built, was launched aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Since then, Chandra has given us a view of the universe that is largely hidden from telescopes sensitive only to visible light. In Chandra's Cosmos, Wallace H. Tucker uses a series of short, connected stories to describe the telescope's exploration of the hot, high-energy face of the universe.

An outcast prince. A captive healer. A single night that changes their destinies. She lives a nightmare. As a Mender, Renna is held captive to an endless cycle of receiving and recovering from the physical ailments of others - a cycle that led her mother to an early grave. When her father becomes deathly ill, Renna is desperate to save her only remaining family. Even if it means allying with criminals and taking an illegal mission into the royal palace on the night of their greatest ball.

Invisible to the man she loves, Reeve Lennox fights to reclaim him from a dark world. As her wedding day nears in Acarsaid, her betrothed Arden offers only his wayward soul and saucy tongue. At night she desperately tries to reach Bran, the young soldier of nightmarish Tenebris who holds her heart. However, her king insists that the realms of Tenebris and Acarsaid must remain separate, lest the evil wizard Rancore brutally conquer all. But the dark magic of Tenebris defies mere distance.

Eirik Baldurson — son of Baldur, God of Light — failed living as a Mortal. He lost the girl of his dreams and nearly got his friends killed. Now, he's gone to the underworld to meet the mother he's never known. Torn between his duty to her and the man he used to be, Eirik struggles to find himself, until a witch appears in his world. Feisty and stubborn, she is a reminder of everything good he left behind.

In a beautifully written, science-packed, and inspirational memoir, Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance shares how she boldly carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself in a lifelong love of the stars to face life’s inevitable challenges and embrace...

They broke his bones, laid him bare, and injected him with nanites, all for the sanctity of life. Primary One was the first of the Aeon Project warriors. He was broken and filled with darkness...until Yurie. Their love and their children kept him alive. When they took Yurie from him and bound him in command programming, he vowed that he would protect their sons. He never expected to learn that she was still alive after all this time.

Collecting the two first stories in the Dark Prairie Universe, Dark Prairie and Use Yer Brains tells the tales of two western Nebraska lawmen, from two different ages, and how they go about keeping the peace in Platte City. Some bad things crawl outta the ground, while others are brewed up in the local saloon and descend like a bolt of lightning. Whether it's the 1800s or the late 1900s, keep yer wits about ye, and yer six-shooter handy.

Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah Chaz Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she's a fugitive from the justice of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind - until the news of her brother Thad's arrest and upcoming execution for treason. Its a ploy by Sully's cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding, and it works.

Half-bloods with Thierry's skill set are given two options. They can join the conclave's marshal program, or they can pack their bags. Turn down the job offer, and you've just shredded your residency pass for the mortal realm and booked yourself a one-way ticket to Faerie. Texas is the only home Thierry has ever known, and she's not going anywhere. Even if it means following in her notorious father's footsteps as a peacekeeper. But pinning on the badge opens her eyes to the fact sometimes fae need protection too, and that sometimes humans are the real monsters.

Imagine you’re trying to build the biggest, most awesome LEGO castle ever. You gather all your colorful bricks—the reds, blues, yellows, and greens. You plan your design, start stacking the bricks, and build towers, walls, gates, and secret tunnels. Everything’s going great. But suddenly, something odd starts to happen. Parts of your castle stick together more tightly than they should. Some towers refuse to fall over, no matter how much you poke them. And even stranger, the whole play area you’re building on starts stretching.

The universe is rapidly expanding. Of that much scientists are certain. But how fast? And with what implications regarding the fate of the universe? Ellen Jackson and Nic Bishop follow Dr. Alex Fillippenko and his High-Z Supernova Search Team to Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii, where they will study space phenomena and look for supernovae, dying stars that explode with the power of billions of hydrogen bombs. Dr. Fillippenko looks for black holes--areas in space with such a strong gravitational pull that no matter or energy can escape from them--with his robotic telescope.

Being a recruiter for the Galactic Legion of Planets is a safe and secure job for Josh Morris as he tries to re-enter a "normal" life following his captivity at the hands of Dax Rodon and the Tyral Pirates. But he is tortured by a vow he made to the smuggling group known as the Barracudas to return their ship.

Rhona and her paladin brother Alastar have left the protection of the paladins and are now hunted by the same group. Feeling like he can still make a difference for the people, Alastar is looking for his version of the Holy Grail. Set on the foundation laid by the Kurtherian Gambit Series, Shades of Dark tells an entirely new story in the Age of Magic - and of the heroes and villains who battle for control of its destiny.

Have you ever wondered how we came into being? Have you ever looked in the sky and marveled at the stars? This introduction to space gives you a foundation to explore whatever sparks your interest within this magnificent universe of ours. All this and more is available in this astronomy book. This book on astronomy is a perfect introduction to finding the truth out about wormholes, black holes, and the planets that surround us. Have you ever wondered what is out there? What about if there are more planets out there that we don't know about?

Brightness Falls isn't just the name of the TV show that womanizing man-child Andrew Ware has been painstakingly creating for the last couple years, it's also his hometown. A town that he loves as much as he hates. By request of no one, Andrew returns home to help his sister separate from her husband, only to become sidetracked by a beautiful woman. A few drinks and few compliments later the woman is dead, killed in a tragic oral sex accident. In which Andrew would have lost his own life if it weren’t for the dapperly dressed, antler-headed, human skeleton named Doug.

Scarred by dark magic and deadly visions, Valentine has spent years binding his dragon deep inside—until the disappearance of Yelena and Avallach forces him to unleash the beast. Born wild and abandoned to die, Yelena has learned to hide her true nature behind sweet smiles and pale silks. But when ancient enemies threaten the fragile peace between worlds, Yelena must choose between her safety, or the dangerous sorcerer whose darkness makes her dragon purr.

Riley is lithe and fast, her tongue every bit as sharp as her sword. She's a new-age knight pledged to keep her King and countrymen safe. Riley's hearing rumors about a dark mage in the north. He's amassing a ruthless army and practicing twisted magic. His evil past intertwines with Riley's kingdom...and he's coming to claim it. With the kingdom at stake, Riley embarks on a collision course with this mage...and with her own mortality. Will Riley's fighting prowess prove enough to vanquish the dark mage and his legion?

After years of compulsory training to become an elite warrior, 16-year-old Aenya plans to run away with her friend Lewin. However, her plans crumble when she is chosen to be Elriyon’s new figurehead and wife to the future ruler, Rieve. But Aenya has a secret: She is a Darcara - one chosen by elusive dragon-like beings, the Dargun, to receive the wisdom that once governed her people.

Cursed to be eternally forgotten, Cabernet grew up walking a dangerous, lonely line between the world of mankind and the world of fairy. Now known only by a faceless reputation as a rogue and fairy aficionado, he wanders ceaselessly with the cat Maugrim as company. Then, the king dares order him to eliminate a magical foe in northern waters, and threatens to attack fairy lands if Cabernet refuses.

Joyful and blessed are Voice-bearers, for the Heavens have set them apart. As Whisperers gifted with the Voice, Betka and her people are enslaved. Only they can control the dangerous spirits that haunt the waters, but they are forced to serve under cruel taskmasters. Betka has little hope of freedom from her service or her own bitterness. A powerful water spirit terrorizes the castle where Betka’s sister is serving. Betka is assigned to the crew sailing to face the foe, and she fears for the only family she has left.