* Spacecraft missions to nearby planets * The Library of ancient Alexandria * The human brain * Egyptian hieroglyphics * The origin of life * The death of the sun * The evolution of galaxies * The origins of matter suns & worlds The story of fifteen billion years of cosmic evolution transforming matter & life into consciousness of how science & civilisation grew up together & of the forces & individuals who helped shape modern science. A story told with Carl Sagan's remarkable ability to make scientific ideas both comprehensible & exciting. ...

The magnificent vault of stars emblazoning Earth's night skies are but an infinitesimal fraction of the hundreds of billions that inhabit our galaxy
- & there are at least as many galaxies in the universe as there are stars in the Milky Way. Cosmos makes sense of this dizzying celestial panorama by exploring it one step at a time illustrating the planets moons stars nebulae white dwarfs black holes & other exotica that populate the heavens with some of science's most spectacular photographs. The book opens with an orbital survey of planet Earth before venturing into the solar system heading for interstellar space & the heart of our galaxy. As the journey unfolds the rhythms of stellar life emerge: we pass through dark clouds of dust & gas ablaze with newly smelted stars & we witness dying stars bloom & fade as planetary nebulae or tear themselves apart as supernovae. Having crossed the Milky Way we enter intergalactic space. Out here we watch the hidden lives of galaxies: we see them flock & cluster forming massive conglomerations that span millions of light years visibly warping space with their tremendous gravity. After covering an almost unimaginable 13.4 billion light years we approach the edge of space & the dawn of time where our voyage must end but not before we consider how the universe was born & how it might die.
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Leo Tolstoys War & Peace & Anna Karenina the greatest novels ever written did not emerge from a vacuum. They were preceded by at least twenty prose works of different kinds some of them masterpieces in their own right. These stories may be viewed as a fascinating encounter with literary predecessors such as Rousseau & Pushkin & they are never far removed from autobiography but in them Tolstoy can be seen forging a strong new cultural personality. Their virtues lie in local colour brilliant characterization & dialogue along with strong narrative interest linked to important ideas & meanings most of which will re-emerge in the later works. This undervalued area of a great mans writing deserves closer attention & will reward the reader with unforgettable individuals issues & situations. In The Cossacks for example Tolstoy succeeds in combining a realistic description of the Caucasus with his heros personal vision of the locality. Nor is this success the only one in this remarkable period. Reading these early stories gives a penetrating insight into the workshop of a towering literary genius. ...

Marco Polo maps feature completely up-to-date digitally generated mapping. The high quality cartography with distance indicators & scale converters aid route planning. A fold-out overview map is ideal for route planning & 7 self-adhesive Marco Polo mark-it stickers can be used to pin-point a destination or route for future reference. Scenic routes & places of interest are highlighted
- ideal for touring holidays. The maps also contain a comprehensive index & inset city maps of Valencia Murcia & Alicante. The map scale is
- 1: 300 000.

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A guidebook to walking in Spain's Costa Blanca area north & west of Benidorm. The rugged mountains of the Costa Blanca offer wonderful walking in a landscape of pinnacled ridges enormous crags & shady pines. Orange & almond groves enhance the valleys whilst attractive mountain villages provide hospitality offering a taste of the real Spain far removed in character from the developed coastal strip. The walks are described in two books which split roughly into west (book 1) & east (book 2). This book volume 1

Includes:: walks in: Sierra Aitana Monte Ponoch Puig Campana Val de Arc the Benidorm Area
- Sierra Helada Sierra Cortina Sierra Serrella / Aixorta Val de Algar Val de Galinera / Forada the north-west Sierras & outlying areas. Two multi-day walks are also included
- the Gallinera Way & Costa Blanca Mountain Way.



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Ever since the collapse of the extradition treaty with the UK in the late 1970s Spain's southern coastal strip of the Costa Del Sol has been a safe haven for criminals. The adventures of drug smuggler Howard Marks the $6 million Security Express raid of 1983 involving Ronnie Knight & Clifford Saxe & the road rage murder by Kenneth Noye are just some of the dramatic stories in this thrilling compilation. But Spain's unique status became a thing of the past when the government agreed to reinstate the treaty allowing them to fast-track extraditions. These days drug dealers are forced to make runs over to the tip of Africa in nearby Morocco some meeting gruesome ends at the hands of rivals & unscrupulous property barons who hatch dubious deals to provide homes for the rapidly expanding population much of which is made up of UK ex-pats. This is the fascinating history of the criminals' favourite playground. ...

This exquisite book of photographs brilliant in colour & enchanting in subject takes readers on a personal journey through the bejeweled treasure that is Costa Rica. Images of spacious beaches muddy river banks crystal clear waterfalls & lush jungles adorned with tropical blooms & prehistoric plants will stay in the readers mind for a long time to come. Representing 13 years of the authors field work in Costa Rica the photographs & text bring the exotic island to life. The book is organized by region
- the Central Divide Guanacaste the Central Pacific the Osa Peninsula the North Caribbean the South Caribbean
- with descriptions of wildlife botany & ecology. It closes with a discussion on conservation & responsible tourism. All of the photographs bear extended captions which like a well-informed tour guide provide interesting facts & valuable context. Highlights on the journey include Arenal one of the worlds most active volcanoes Tortuguero National Park where a lone jaguar trots across the sand giant tree ferns
- evolutionary relics that predate flowering plants
- in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve a blood-scarlet passion flower emerging through leaf litter a partially submerged crocodile its riveting stare fixed on the photographer & poison arrow frogs vividly painted in deadly reds blues & greens. Overflowing with brilliant page-filling photographs & informative text this book is as close as one can get to Costa Rica without getting on a plane.



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This newly revised & re-designed guide to Costa Rica takes you through each of the country's regions: the capital city of San Jose; the lush Central Highlands; Guanacaste & its volcanoes; sea-fringed Nicoya; the Central Pacific; Zona Sur; the South Central & its cloud forests; the Northern Lowlands; & the Caribbean. Special features & sidebars give comprehensive information on topics ranging from snakes & butterflies to volcanoes & rafting while ten guided drives & walks take you into some of the country's most fascinating areas including a stroll through San Jose's Otoya & Amon barrios & a drive along the Inter-American Highway. Sidebars on experiential travel abound including saving macaws learning Spanish & learning about the coffee culture. A thorough Travelwise section provides recommendations for shopping hotels & restaurants in all price ranges. ...

Costa Rica is renowned for its tropical beauty the warmth & charm of the Ticos"--its people's own name for themselves--and its political stability. This " Switzerland of the Americas" is widely regarded as an oasis of democracy in turbulent Central America. Since the first edition of " Culture Smart! Costa Rica" was published in 2005 however there have been some important changes & with rapid economic development some growing pains. Over the past few years there has been a movement of population to the towns of the Central Valley. Higher education is now the norm for young Ticos & the middle class has expanded--but so has the gap between rich & poor. Tourism took a dive after the 2009 recession & the national debt has grown while the arrival of multinationals & significant Chinese investment has been welcomed. Unemployment has risen people are prepared to go on strike more readily & there is a general disillusionment with politicians. In the face of mounting difficulties the Ticos remain remarkably peaceable relaxed & fun-loving. Their enthusiasm for life is seen as much in their passion for soccer as in their demonstrations in support of human & political rights. " Culture Smart! Costa Rica" explores & explains the complex human realities of modern Costa Rican life. Armed with this information you will be better equipped to understand your hosts & to enjoy your visit to this beguiling & beautiful country to the full." ...

Costing gives a thorough understanding of the theory & practice of cost & management accounting. It is particularly suitable for its wide & systematic coverage of the professional cost accounting syllabuses but is also suitable for introductory degree & diploma courses in business accounting & finance. The first part of Costing gives detailed coverage of the objectives principles techniques & methods of cost accounting relating to the analysis & gathering of costs & cost ascertainment. The second part focuses on the use of cost information for planning control & decision-making. At each stage concepts are illustrated by practical examples & placed into context so that the reader is aware of the importance & relationships of the various aspects of costing. Fundamental management accounting topics such as budgetary control standard costing & marginal costing are also thoroughly explained. ...