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EVER LOOK UP AT THE NIGHT SKY AND WISH YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE SEEING?Cosmology is the study of the Universe. In COSMOLOGY 101 astronomer David H. Levy takes readers on a fascinating tour of our solar system, our own Milky Way Galaxy, and the rest of the cosmos. This is an easily read and understood introductory (or refresher) course on all things astronomical by the discoverer of the Shoemaker-Levy comet.Discover:How the Universe was born.How the Universe expanded and took the shape it currently has.How galaxies came together.How stars provide the materials for planets and life.How our solar system was formed. What comets are, where they come from, and where they go.What a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse are.How to view the night sky yourself. DAVID H. LEVY, science columnist for PARADE magazine and a contributor to Sky & Telescope, is one of the world's foremost astronomers. He has discovered 21 comets, including Shoemaker-Levy 9, which collided with Jupiter and made historic, worldwide news. Levy is the author of several books, including Impact Jupiter and Eclipse: Voyage to Darkness and Light. Levy observes the cosmos every clear night from his own observatory in Tucson, Arizona.

A few years have now passed, all too quickly, since the death of Ellis Peters. Crime writers and readers throughout the world still mourn her and sigh sadly at the prospect of no further adventures for that most beloved of Benedictine monks, Brother Cadfael. But the influence other writing keeps on spreading, and the historical mystery genre stands stronger than ever as more and more writers embrace the field for its capacity to tell wondrous, gripping stories, to educate and entertain. In 1999, recognition of Edith Pargeter''s achievements as Ellis Peters was highlighted by the publication of Past Poisons, the first volume of this anthology, in which many leading British and American mystery writers paid homage to her influence. This was followed by the Crime Writers'' Association decision to create a new annual Dagger award for excellence in the field of historical crime. The first, popular winner was Lindsey Davis, for her Falco novels set in the bustling world of ancient Rome. Lindsey was, of course, present in Past Poisons, and was in fact instrumental in inspiring me to launch this series in memory of Ellis Peters. Once again, I have asked some of my favourite writers in the crime and mystery genre to contribute new stories with an historical setting, and the sheer time span and breadth of geographical locations conjured up by their imaginations is astounding, ranging from Ancient Egypt and Rome to suffragette times, with a nod in passing to gothic horror, westerns and amazing variations on known themes and dastardly deeds. I am quietly confident that Edith, had she still been alive, would have relished these colourful tales of puzzlement and adventure. I''m sure you will. Enjoy. Maxim Jakubowski is a former publisher and owner of the world-famous Murder One bookshop in London''s Charing Cross Road. As well as being a writer and editor of various past cult publishing imprints, he is acknowledged as a disturbing and controversial voice in contemporary fiction. His collections have sold massively. He is a regular on television and radio where he is an expert on crime, erotica, and film. As a columnist for the Guardian he also writes on the arts for The Times. Maxim is literary director of the prestigious Crime Scene festival held at London''s National Film Theatre. He is the author of many titles including Skin In Darkness, but also the editor for Past Poisons (An Ellis Peters Memorial Anthology of Historical Crime) and Murder Through the Ages.

"This formidably researched and exquisitely written novel is surely destined to be known hereafter as the definitive history of the life and times and conquests of Genghis, mightiest of Khans." -Gary Jennings, author of Aztec"I love it...Scholarly without ever seeming pedantic, the book is fascinating from cover to cover and does admirable justice to a man who might very well be called history's single most important and compelling character." -Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of Reindeer Moon"Sargent...has produced a neatly crafted work that manages to provide a panoramic view of the charismatic leader Genghis Khan while at the same time presenting the background mosaic of warring Mongol tribes in enough detail to keep the reader from getting hopelessly confused. A nice touch is Sargent's telling the conqueror's story from the viewpoints of the women in his life-mothers, wives, and daughters...an appealing novel to fans of historical fiction." -Library Journal". . .Genghis Khan lives again in this expansive saga, as perceived through the eyes of the women who loved him. 'Behind every great man...' they say; and befitting a king who in one lifetime accomplished what ten average kings might, there is more than one great woman here. Ruler of the Sky chronicles the birth, coming-of-age, reign, and death of this vastly complex warrior-king from an intimate perspective. In an age in which women were subjected to barbarous conventional practices, the courage, wisdom, tenacity, and ingenuity of these particular women are remarkable. An impressive novel from a veteran writer." -The ALA Booklist". . . a successful attempt to flesh out a mythic figure...Genghis Khan seen through the eyes of significant women. Ruler of the Sky will be a pleasant surprise for readers." -Chicago Tribune In 1167, in the harsh homeland of Mongol tribes, a child was born who was to change the course of human history. His father named him Temujin, but the world knows him as Genghis Khan. Set amid the barbaric splendor of the Mongol hordes, Ruler of the Sky tells the tale of the warrior who forged one of the greatest and most terrifying armies the world had ever seen, and conquered the world from Peking to Persia. Not only is this the story of Genghis Khan, it is also the story of those who were closest to him, especially the women who played such an important role in his life. From the windswept plains of Mongolia to the opulence of the Chinese court, Ruler of the Sky is unforgettable.Pamela Sargent is the author of the futuristic novel The Shore of Women and the alternative history Climb the Wind: A Novel of Another America. Her other novels include Watchstar, Venus of Dreams, The Golden Space, The Alien Upstairs, and Earthseed, recently optioned by Paramount Pictures. She lives in upstate New York.