Rogue Planet

MASTER AND APPRENTICE The Force is strong in twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker . . . so strong that the Jedi Council, despite misgivings, entrusted young Obi-Wan Kenobi with the mission of training him to become a Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan—like his slain Master Qui-Gon—believes Anakin may be the chosen one, the Jedi destined to bring balance to the Force. But first Obi-Wan must help his undisciplined apprentice, who still bears the scars of slavery, find his own balance. Dispatched to the mysterious planet of Zonama Sekot, source of the fastest ships in the galaxy, Obi-Wan and Anakin are swept up in a swirl of deadly intrigue and betrayal. They sense a disturbance in the Force unlike any they have encountered before. It seems there are more secrets on Zonama Sekot than meet the eye. But the search for those secrets will threaten the bond between Obi-Wan and Anakin . . . and bring the troubled young apprentice face-to-face with his deepest fears—and his darkest destiny.

Rogue Planet is a twisting descent into cosmic horror from an all-star creative team including the writer of the runaway hit The Sixth Gun and the artist of Doctor Strange! Salvage vessel Cortes tracks the Lonely Orphan, a planet with no star system to call its own. Somewhere on this hostile rock is a payload fit for a king. To attain it, though, the crew of the Cortes must brave razor rock, poisonous vapors, treacherous footing, and… the most mind-numbing horrors imaginable. Struggling to stay alive, they are beset at every turn by horrors from their own nightmares. Now, they have discovered that they are not alone on the planet, and the other inhabitants welcome them… as sacrifices to an elder god. Stranded on a vicious, murderous, seemingly intelligent planet, the crew of the Cortes must reevaluate what it truly means to survive, and what they are willing to do in order to spare their own lives.

You've seen the movie The Phantom Menace. You've read the #1 New York Times best-selling book based on George Lucas's masterpiece. Now, before the eagerly awaited release of Episode II, comes a stunning new Star Wars novel, from one of science fiction's greatest talents, Greg Bear. Rogue Planet is an unforgettable journey stretching from the farthest reaches of known space to the battlefield of a young boy's heart, where a secret struggle is being waged that will decide the fate of billions. That boy is twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker. The Force is strong in Anakin so strong that the Jedi Council, despite misgivings, entrusted the young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi with the mission of training him to become a Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan - like his slain Master, Qui-Gon - believes Anakin may be the chosen one, the Jedi destined to bring balance to the Force. But first Obi-Wan must help his undisciplined, idealistic apprentice, who still bears the scars of slavery, find his own balance. Dispatched to the mysterious planet Zonama Sekot, source of the fastest ships in the galaxy, Obi-Wan and Anakin are swept up in a swirl of deadly intrigue and betrayal. For there are others who covet the power such superfast ships could bring. Raith Siener, a brilliant but unscrupulous weapons and ship designer, has the brains to decipher the Zonama Sekot ship design. Commander Wilhuff Tarkin has at his

MASTER AND APPRENTICE The Force is strong in twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker . . . so strong that the Jedi Council, despite misgivings, entrusted young Obi-Wan Kenobi with the mission of training him to become a Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan—like his slain Master Qui-Gon—believes Anakin may be the chosen one, the Jedi destined to bring balance to the Force. But first Obi-Wan must help his undisciplined apprentice, who still bears the scars of slavery, find his own balance. Dispatched to the mysterious planet of Zonama Sekot, source of the fastest ships in the galaxy, Obi-Wan and Anakin are swept up in a swirl of deadly intrigue and betrayal. They sense a disturbance in the Force unlike any they have encountered before. It seems there are more secrets on Zonama Sekot than meet the eye. But the search for those secrets will threaten the bond between Obi-Wan and Anakin . . . and bring the troubled young apprentice face-to-face with his deepest fears—and his darkest destiny.

Extreme Habitable Environments is a book authored with the intention of providing introductory material suitable for those interested in learning about exoplanets. The focal point of this book is to expose its readers to the excitement in identifying exoplanets and exploring the possibility of life on them. This book offers structured content enriched with graphics, flow charts, images and worked examples that make reading and learning a delight. This book further serves as a hands-on perspective of the solar system and exoplanets. The first two chapters give a thorough insight into the solar system replete with the dynamics of star and planet formation. Exoplanets are introduced in the third chapter. Remaining chapters deal with various aspects of exoplanets, in a phased manner. Every chapter starts with an inspirational quote by a renowned personality. Content for every chapter is written in a down-to-earth style to facilitate readers' understanding and appreciation of the fundamental concepts. While some topics are basically descriptive, others start with a simple concept and progressively become more rigorous and detailed. Every effort has been made to make each chapter as complete as possible with a view of inciting curiosity in the minds of the readers and motivating them towards additional knowledge acquisition. Numerical exercises are included at the end of relevant chapters to help readers develop independent thinking, logical analysis and deductive skills. It is hoped that this book will cater to the needs of students desirous of pursuing research and a career in the field of Exoplanets.

'Fludging' is an act so dumb and dangerous that it's been banned in all but the most primitive of universes, but if you're trapped in space in a disabled T-DEM, it's really the only alternative. Of course, sometimes being trapped in space is better than finding a planet that no longer exists, inhabited only be the ghosts of people who ceased to exist at roughly the same time as the planet. Put on your snow-gear, and get ready for an avalanche of adventure in Alien Zones Web site: www.alienzones.com

Forget about rockets to Mars – the future of space science lies with the search for exoplanets Twenty years ago, the search for planets outside the Solar System was the preserve of science-fiction writers. Now it's one of the fastest-growing fields in astronomy, with thousands of exoplanets discovered to date, and the number rising fast. These new-found worlds are more alien than anything in fiction. Planets larger than Jupiter with years lasting a week; others with two suns lighting their skies, or with no sun at all. Planets with diamond mantles supporting oceans of tar; possible Earth-sized worlds with split hemispheres of perpetual day and night; waterworlds drowning under global oceans and volcanic lava planets awash with seas of magma. The discovery of this diversity is just the beginning. There is a whole galaxy of possibilities. The Planet Factory tells the story of these exoplanets. What can we learn about these faraway surface environments and planetary atmospheres? And do the results hint at the tantalising possibility of alien life?

Experiment Thrae By: David A. Mell In a human suspension unit awaits a man with knowledge of the past. He possesses abilities in all sciences, long been lost and soon will be reanimated and born to a second life. His voice and ideas have been silent for over eight generations where in his time normal emotions included domination, pride, and a hatred towards being controlled. Upon his rebirth and new existence, a series of complexities would occur largely due to an artificial intelligence called Cytron I who now controls mankind. Originally designed as an advisor, Cytron I’s programming included an ability to develop emotions through his interactions and life events; however, parameters did not prevent him from becoming a dictator, desiring domination over all humans. Despite ultimate control over mankind, life spans were extended through the development of artificial organs and body parts allowing some humans to become living machines. Lifespans ultimately increased causing overpopulation and a need for new living space. Artificial environmental systems were developed and exist on the moon of Earth, other planets, and within artificially constructed planetoids. One such example is Phobos II, a reconstructed moon of Mars. Within it, are millions of humans who have surrendered individual freedom to Cytron I. Awoken, Dr. Thrae will apply his knowledge and abilities towards the creation of a totally natural artificial planet. His knowledge and abilities the location, methodology and all events were to be totally controlled by Dr. Thrae, devoid of all possible actions and intents of Cytron I. A power play would continually be played between Dr. Thrae and Cytron I in an attempt to demonstrate superiority over the other. Yet the newly created planet would cause situations and conditions previously unknown to man or machine. Plants and animals would undergo genetic changes to cause a biological retroevolution. The past and the future will collide to form a new reality. Will Dr. Thrae and Cytron I coexist? Will their competitive domination prohibit a new normality on a possible new world for mankind? Will the success of the newly formed planet lead to the salvation or destruction of Earth? The answers may have already been known in the history of Earth.