What determines whether complex life will arise on a planet or even any life at all? Questions such as these are investigated in this groundbreaking book. In doing so the authors synthesize information from astronomy biology & paleontology & apply it to what we know about the rise of life on Earth & to what could possibly happen elsewhere in the universe. Everyone who has been thrilled by the recent discoveries of extrasolar planets & the indications of life on Mars & the Jovian moon Europa will be fascinated by Rare Earth & its implications for those who look to the heavens for companionship. ...

This guide provides concise interesting & practical details on uncommon gems that are now being used by designers to create distinctive jewelry. It not only lists the identification properties of the gems but tells you where they are found how they are used why they are unique how they are priced & how to care for them. High quality photos show the different colors cutting styles & varieties of each gem & give you ideas on how each can be used creatively in jewelry. Written in a succinct user-friendly style this is a companion book to Newmans Gemstone Buying Guide" & an ideal reference for jewelers sales associates appraisers gem collectors gemology students gem dealers & consumers. The following gems are discussed & illustrated in Rare Gemstones: amblygonite andalusite apatite aragonite axinite azurite benitoite bixbite brazilianite bronzite calcite cobaltocalcite charoite chrysocolla cuprite danburite diaspore diopside dumortierite enstatite epidote fluorite gaspeite hauyne hematite hemimorphite howlite idocrase jeremejevite kornerupine kyanite larimar lepidolite magnesite marcasite maw-sit-sit moldavite obsidian pectolite phenakite phosphosiderite prehnite psilomelane pyrite red beryl rhodochrosite rhodonite scapolite scheelite seraphinite serpentine sodalite sillimanite smithsonite sphalerite sphene sugilite taaffeite titanite tugtupite unakite variscite vesuvianite & zultanite." ...

It is 1864 when Lizzie Martin takes up the post of companion to a wealthy widow who is also a slum landlord. Lizzie is intrigued to learn that her predecessor as companion had disappeared supposedly having run off with an unknown man. But when the girls body is found in the rubble of one of the recently demolished slums around the prestigious new railway station at St Pancras Lizzie begins to wonder exactly what has been going on. She has re-made the acquaintance of a childhood friend now Inspector Benjamin Ross & with his help starts to investigate risking her life to unearth the truth about the death of a girl whose fate seems interlinked with her own. ...

When Ellie names her puppy Rascal she doesn't realize how right she is! Auntie Gemma is getting married & Ellie is going to be a bridesmaid at the wedding. She'd love for Rascal to be part of her auntie's Big Day too. But will Rascal be able to stay on his best behaviour long enough to get himself an invite? From best-selling author Holly Webb comes the latest book in her hugely successful My Naughty Little Puppy series. ...

Welcome to Toonie Terrace home of the fun-loving Toonies & their jealous bitter rivals the Meanies. For all their shenanigans no Meanie has ever murdered a Toonie...until now! After thousands of painful failed attempts Rascal Raccoon has finally killed his arch-nemesis the charming & adorable Jumpin Jackalope. Rascal is overjoyed but theres one problem: what does he do now? With nothing left to obsess over Rascals life falls apart. Fortunately he soon finds a new target for his anger: the animator who created him. ...

The ghastly Mr Skumskins OParsleys favorite dishes include worm cast butties squashed tadpoles on toast & bogey burgers. OParsley decides one day to bake an extra special cake with more revolting ingredients than you can possibly imagine. However when the cake decides to eat him he realizes it is time to mend his ways. The rollicking rhymes by Jeanne Willis are accompanied by Korky Pauls exuberant illustrations. ...

Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) is one of Japans foremost stylists
- a modernist master whose short stories are marked by highly
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Lurking in the Dead Peaks is Rashouk the Cave Troll. The Ghost Beast smells out his victims' fear
- & turns them to stone. It will
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Vineet Bhatia's New Indian Kitchen" is an extraordinary culinary tour de force by the world's most celebrated Indian chef. The first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin Star Vineet Bhatia has been cooking his ravishing modern take on Indian food to appreciative guests from all over the world from his elegant townhouse restaurant off London's Kings Road since 2004. Over 150 of his most celebrated recipes are featured in this his first book accompanied by sumptuous photography from Lisa Barber. With a beguiling mixture of modernity & classicism Bhatia introduces elements of molecular gastronomy as well as Western influences creating a style that sees him appear on platforms all around the world with the likes of inspirational fellow chefs Ferran Adria from El Bulli & Heston Blumenthal from the Fat Duck. " New Indian Kitchen" is a giant step forward for Indian cookery books & a long-awaited publishing event." ...

Create your very own recipe book with this useful flip-top recipe file its the perfect place to store newspaper clippings & handwritten recipes youll never loose that delicious family recipe. Stores up to 90 recipes in clear wipe-clean plastic pockets. The six moveable index cards ensure recipes are easy to find & the built-in stand allows easy reference when cooking. The recipe file feature:45 plastic pockets to hold 90 recipes 6 moveable index cards (left blank of r your own heading 10 blank recipe sheets for handwritten recipes Conversion table ...