Science Fiction

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is the fourth installment in Douglas Adams' bestselling cult classic, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 'trilogy'.

This edition includes exclusive bonus material from the Douglas Adams archives, and an introduction by Neil Gaiman.

There is a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. It’s not an easy thing to do and Arthur Dent thinks he’s the only human who’s been able to master this nifty little trick – until he meets Fenchurch, the girl of his dreams.

Fenchurch knows how the world could be made a good and happy place. Unfortunately, she’s forgotten. Convinced that the secret lies within God’s Final Message to His Creation they go in search of it.

And, in a dramatic break with tradition, actually find it . . .

Mostly Harmless is the fifth and final part in Douglas Adams' much-loved cult classic series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

This edition includes exclusive bonus material from the Douglas Adams archives, and an introduction by Dirk Maggs, co-producer of BBC Radio 4's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Tertiary, Quandary and Quintessential Phases.

Arthur Dent hadn't had a day as bad as this since the Earth had been blown up.

After years of galactic wanderings, Arthur finally settles on the small planet Lamuella and becomes a sandwich maker. Looking forward to a quiet life, his plans are thrown awry by the unexpected arrival of his daughter.

There's nothing worse than a frustrated teenager with a copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in their hands. When she runs away, Arthur goes after her determined to save her from the horrors of the universe.

After all - he's encountered most of them before . . .

Released just three years ago, The Big Fat Notebooks revolutionized the study guide for middle schoolers, and students, parents, and teachers responded—the series has nearly 4 million copies in print with sales escalating every year. Now introducing Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding , an essential new title with the potential to run hand-in-hand with—or even outrun—Math (over 1.3 million copies in print) and Science (925,000 copies in print) as the next critical STEM companion. Instruction is presented in the simple but powerful format of the previous Big Fat Notebooks . The key concepts of coding and computer science easily digested and summarized, with critical ideas clearly explained, doodles that illuminate tricky concepts, and quizzes to recap it all. Kids will explore the concepts of computer science, learn how websites are designed and created, and understand the fundamentals of coding with Scratch, Python, HTML, and CSS. Written by Grant Smith, a computer science education expert—and vetted by an award-winning computer-science teacher—this Big Fat Notebook is for every student who is either taking computer science in school or is a passionate code warrior.

Ravaged by years of war and civil conflict, Britain has changed its name to Airstrip One and become part of Oceania – one of the three totalitarian blocks dominating the world – ruled by a mysterious leader called Big Brother who keeps the population in thrall through strict surveillance and brutal police repression. In a society where the individual is suppressed and turned into an “unperson” for not conforming, and where not only personal thought, but also historical record and language itself are constantly being manipulated by the ruling regime, Ministry of Truth worker Winston Smith tries to make sense of the rebellious thoughts and passions that are stirring inside him, and finds himself impotent against the inexorable machine that surrounds him and threatens to crush him at any time.

Arguably the greatest dystopian novel of all time and the most influential post-war work of fiction – which enriched the English language with words such as “Newspeak”, “doublethink” and “thoughtcrime” – Nineteen Eighty-Four is a riveting read and a groundbreaking exploration of mass surveillance, censorship and mind control, which has a deep resonance with the world we live in.

Titles in this set:

1. Earthquakes & Tsunamis
2. Sun Moon and Stars
3. Living in Space
4. Storms and Hurricanes
5. Volcanoes
6. Astronomy
7. The Solar System
8. Your Body
9. Planet Earth
10. Weather

Description:

Earthquakes & Tsunamis
This is a fantastic addition to the popular Beginners series, providing an informative introduction to the fascinating world of earthquakes for young readers. There are clear explanations of the science behind different types of earthquakes and their effects, including tsunamis and landslides. This title features real-life earthquakes, and describes how people are kept safe and rescued when disaster strikes. Striking colour photographs and step-by-step illustrations engage readers with the subject matter. This title is developed with a reading expert from Roehampton University to help young readers grow in confidence

Sun, Moon and Stars
What is the Sun made of? How did astronauts get to the Moon and what did they find there? For children beginning to read on their own, this book is an exciting introduction to space. Includes vivid, full-colour illustrations and photographs on every page, and easy-to-read text specially written with the help of a reading expert.

Living in Space
How do astronauts travel into space? Where do they live when they get there? What do they do all day? In this book, you'll find the answers and lots more amazing facts about living in space. This non-fiction series aims to encourage children to access the wonder of the world around them. The easy-to-read text has been specially written with the help of a reading expert.

Storms and Hurricanes
How do astronauts travel into space? Where do they live when they get there? What do they do all day? In this book, you'll find the answers and lots more amazing facts about living in space. This non-fiction series aims to encourage children to access the wonder of the world around them. The easy-to-read text has been specially written with the help of a reading expert.

Volcanoes
Did you know that somewhere in the world, a volcano is erupting right now? In this fascinating book, you can read about amazing eruptions and find out about fiery lava rivers, deadly ash clouds, steaming springs and much more.

Astronomy
A straightforward book telling you all a beginner needs to know about the planets, stars, moons, nebulae, galaxies, asteroids and more, through easy-to-read text, full-colour photographs and step-by-step visual explanations. Recommended websites accessed via Usborne Quick links provide further online resources.

The Solar System
What is the surface of Mars like? Why does Venus glow in the dark? How do scientists explore faraway planets? Beginner readers can find answers to these questions and more in this colourful information book.

Your Body
Have you ever wondered what's inside you? Take a tour around your amazing body and find out what your heart and lungs do, how you see and hear, where food goes and lots more.

Planet Earth
What makes planet Earth so special? It's the only planet to have anything living on it for a start. But it also has fiery volcanoes, magnificent mountains, scorching deserts and icy landscapes. Find out all about it in this fantastic book.

Weather
What makes the wind blow? How can rain sometimes be red? Why are tornadoes like vacuum cleaners? You'll find out the answers and lots more about weird and wonderful weather in this fascinating book. Usborne Beginners are colourful information books for children beginning to read on their own.

Among the seminal texts of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a rare work that grows more haunting as its futuristic purgatory becomes more real. Published in 1949, the book offers political satirist George Orwell's nightmare vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world and one poor stiff's attempt to find individuality. The brilliance of the novel is Orwell's prescience of modern life--the ubiquity of television, the distortion of the language--and his ability to construct such a thorough version of hell. Required reading for students since it was published, it ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written.

A concise introduction to all the key tenets of electrical and mechanical engineering degree course, written by former NASA engineer Dr David Baker. A Degree in a Book: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering is presented in an attractive landscape format in full-color. With timelines, feature spreads and information boxes, readers will quickly get to grips with the fundamentals of electrical and mechanical engineering and their practical applications. Covering Newtonian mechanics, nuclear engineering, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and more, this essential guide brings clarity to complex ideas. David Baker delves into the history and development of this far-reaching subject as well as the challenges of the future such as environmental responsibility. Complete with a useful glossary of key terms, this holistic introduction will equip students and laypeople alike with the knowledge of an engineering graduate.

Nine years after Paul Muad'Dib disappeared blind into the deserts of Arrakis at the conclusion of Dune Messiah, his orphaned twins, Ghanima and Leto, are quickly growing up and realizing that they are pawns in an epic struggle for the ultimate power -- control of the Imperium. No one around them can be trusted, as evidenced by Alia, the twins' aunt and official guardian, who has become the Abomination so many feared she would be. She is, in fact, possessed by ancestral voices inside her mind, and one in particular -- the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen -- is pushing her to fulfill her darkest prophecies.

4th in Dune Chronicles Series With more than ten million copies sold, Frank Herbert's magnificent Dune books stand among the major achievements of the imagination. Of them all, God Emperor of Dune, the fourth, is the greatest and the grandest. Centuries have passed on Dune itself, and the planet is green with life. Leto II, the son of Dune's savior, is still alive but far from human. He has become a human-sandworm creature, ruling over his angry and frustrated empire with his vast legions of Fish Speaker soldiers, enforcing peace for dozens of generations to teach the universe a lesson, while also waiting for the right time to turn Dune back into a desert planet. The fate of all humanity hangs on Leto's awesome sacrifice.

In the Wilds of Kandala, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade has been watching people suffer for too long. A mysterious sickness is ravaging the land and the cure, Moonflower Elixir, is only available for the wealthy. So every night, she defies the royal edicts and sneaks out, stealing Moonflower petals and leaving the elixir for those in need.