On The Cusp

“The ways in which we can redress the past are many and varied,” writes Jean Barman, “and it is up to each of us to act as best we can.” The seventeen essays collected here, originally published between 1996 and 2013, make a valuable contribution toward this laudable goal. With a wide range of source material, from archival and documentary sources to oral histories, Barman pieces together stories of individuals and groups disadvantaged in white settler society because of their gender, race and/or social class. Working to recognize past actors that have been underrepresented in mainstream histories, Barman’s focus is BC on “the cusp of contact.” The essays in this collection include fascinating, though largely forgotten, life stories of the frontier—that space between contact and settlement, where, for a brief moment, anything seemed possible. This volume, featuring over thirty archival photographs and illustrations, makes these important and very readable essays accessible to a broader audience for the first time.

'Glorious ... It's rare to read anything so teeming with life' SPECTATOR, Books of the Year'This is Kynaston at his best ... A rich and vivid picture of a nation in all its human complexity' IAN JACK'A compulsive read ... Generous as well as sharp' MARGARET DRABBLE'I was captivated by its brilliance' D. J. TAYLOR__________________The 'real' Sixties began on 5 October 1962. On that remarkable Friday, the Beatles hit the world with their first single, 'Love Me Do', and the first James Bond film, Dr No, had its world premiere in London: two icons of the future heralding a social and cultural revolution.On the Cusp, continuing David Kynaston's groundbreaking history of post-war Britain, takes place during the summer and early autumn of 1962, in the charged months leading up to the moment that a country changed. The Rolling Stones' debut at the Marquee Club, the last Gentlemen versus Players match at Lord's, the issue of Britain's relationship with Europe starting to divide the country, Telstar the satellite beaming live TV pictures across the world, 'Telstar' the record a siren call to a techno future - these were months thick with incident, all woven together here with an array of fresh contemporary sources, including diarists both famous and obscure.Britain would never be the same again after these months. Sometimes indignant, sometimes admiring, always empathetic, On the Cusp evokes a world of seaside holidays, of church fetes, of Steptoe andSon - a world still of seemingly settled social and economic certainties, but in fact on the edge of fundamental change.___________________'Sparkles with voices from a vanished world ... An entrancing representation, full of exquisite detail' KATE WILLIAMS'What a joy it has been to find myself wholly immersed in the richness of Kynaston's account ... Thrilling' JULIET NICOLSON

Is your birthday between two different signs? Discover new insights into yourself and others with this first-ever guide to cusp astrology. We've all heard the term "born on the cusp"—but what does it mean, exactly? What if you were born just as the sun moves into Aries, but you feel more like a Pisces? If your birthday falls on a date when a sign changes over to another, you probably possess traits of each. Engaging and easy to use, this book goes beyond simple, cut-and-dried archetypes of sun sign astrology, yet doesn't require any special knowledge. You'll get a deeper understanding of your personality and motivations—and those of your partner, friends, family members, and anyone else whose birthday is on the edge of two signs. Organized by date of birth, this astrology book lets you quickly look up your birthday so you can identify your particular strengths, gifts, and challenges. You'll also find out about your career and upcoming opportunities, times of the year when you can expect obstacles and rewards, and which signs are your best matches for love and romance. Helping to illuminate each cusp birthday's characteristics are examples of well-known figures such as Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

IN THE NEWS Weimin Wu: pioneer physicist on Chinese science's turbulent past, promising future Times Higher Education, 25 February 2016 While the first 30 years of new China's scientific development was a self-reliant era marked by the detonations of the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, and the launch of the first artificial satellite, the second 30 years after the reform and opening up was signified by the introduction of the Internet to China. Weimin Wu is a unique legendary figure whose career spanned both periods. He not only contributed to the bomb and satellite projects, but also sent out the email from China to Switzerland in 1986, which was listed as the first event in the history of China's Internet development. The Tiananmen Square Protest in 1989 changed his life's trajectory, leading him to eventually immigrate to the US. His personal emotional life is also remarkable. With his experiences immersed in both Eastern and Western cultures, Wu came to believe in the convergence theory of social development, which provides a refreshing perspective for the readers. The autobiography records the details of his legendary life stories, from taking pictures with the Chinese leader Mao Zedong, to shaking hands with Deng Xiaoping; from being removed from the Institute of High Energy Physics, to the repealing of his Chinese passport. The story line is full of engaging ups and downs. In that turbulent era, Wu's rich emotional experiences and love stories were also a mirror for the Chinese society, with some details comparable to the plots of suspense novels and movies. The book is well illustrated with many pictures and flows smoothly with a simple writing style. The stories are factual and moving, all too realistic. The author has sincerely revealed his true self to the reader, and at the same time, faithfully described that period of history, giving the reader a grasp on the true workings of history. His comparison of the Eastern and Western cultures, analysis of science and superstition, interpretation of religion and arts, and his "convergence" theory of social development, are all unique and insightful. This book faithfully tells Weimin's professional and personal life on the cusp and takes readers on a journey to explore true history through an ordinary person's stories. Contents:A Premature InfantWandering YearsPrime TimeThe Shadow of First LoveDecade of CalamityPinnacle of LifeA Turning Point in HistoryImmigrating to the United StatesEnergy FrontierTreasure Island TaiwanConvergence of Civilizations Readership: General readers interested in China's studies, Sino–US relations and physics.

In 2031, a solar flare of incalculable power shifts the Sun’s position as two immense walls erupt out of the earth, encircling it along the equator and from pole to pole. The climatic and geographical chaos that follows pushes civilization to the brink of destruction, and brings about a new world order. Twenty years later, as a fractured humanity struggles to solve the mystery of the Rings that straddle Earth, an enigmatic entity is pushing its own plan for human evolution, using the supercomputer known as CUSP—the first computer designed to run on the software of the human mind. “Metzger takes cutting-edge science, roils it with startling action, and grabs you on a rocket-propelled ride. Cusp is hard science fiction at its best.”—David Brin “Audacious.”—Science Fiction Weekly “Minds will boggle at the extravagance of Metzger’s imagination.”—Kirkus Reviews

South Asian religious art became codified during the Ku???a Period (ca. beginning of the 2nd to the mid 3rd century). Yet, to date, neither the chronology nor nature of Ku???a Art, marked by great diversity, is well understood. The Ku???a Empire was huge, stretching from Uzbekistan through northern India, and its multicultural artistic expressions became the fountainhead for much of South Asian Art. The premise of this book is that Ku???a Art achieves greater clarity through analyses of the arts and cultures of the Pre- Ku???a World, those lands becoming the Empire. Fourteen papers in this book by leading experts on regional topography and connective pathways; interregional, multicultural comparisons; art historical, archaeological, epigraphic, numismatic and textual studies represent the first coordinated effort having this focus.

The first collection of poetry from Mark Waddell; a new breed of comedy-poet-libertine for a modern generation.

SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: On the Cusp includes the first three and a half chapters of the author's new astro-mystery novel, Wall Ride!In this book based on a series of blogs that was written just as Pluto was preparing to enter Capricorn, Philip Brown brings to life our world on the cusp of a momentous transformation. Explore how the lens of astrology can be used to look at science, books, movies, and the world around us. How does astrology relate to modern neuroscience, robotics, and mobile technology? How can astrology help us make sense of a discordant world? Using illustrations from his own life, as well as news and people in the world around us, the author applies both Western and Vedic astrology to take the reader on a trip across the rapidly transforming cultural landscape. The author explores timeless reflections on topical events through astrology, capturing the astrological zeitgeist while still maintaining a focus on the bigger picture. On the Cusp also includes exclusive new forecasts for trends to expect with Uranus in Aries and Neptune in Pisces.As a special added bonus, On The Cusp contains the first twenty pages of the author's new astro-mystery, Wall Ride. One of the main characters is a Tarot card reader and the story includes astrological symbolism as a clue in a baffling death. The narrator of Wall Ride is a fourteen year-old girl skateboarder who stands on the cusp of a life-altering discovery and personal transformation. The book should be available in Spring, 2011.