Two Andre Norton novels in her Forerunner series featuring young alien/human hybrid Simsa, collected for the first time in one volume. A heroic young woman seeks her origins as she comes of age on worlds of peril and alien mystery. Forerunner: On the ancient planet Kuxortal, young Simsa grows up among the ancient ruins of a fallen galactic civilization¾the Forerunners. But Simsa has always been different, with iridescent blue-black skin and a telepathic bond with her bat-like zorsal. When her mentor dies, her future looks bleak¾until Thom, a star ranger, arrives and leads Simsa on a new path that takes both through danger to the ultimate revelation, which will change her life, and perhaps galactic civilization itself, forever. Forerunner: The Second Venture: Simsa has been captured by starfaring humans intent on discovering the secrets of the Forerunners. With the aid of her pet zorsal, Simsa escapes her captors and crash lands on another world touched by ancient Forerunner civilization. Now Simsa must battle the spirit within her that seeks to transform her into something utterly inhuman. But the ancient Forerunners, however scientifically advanced, have not reckoned with the courage of this young woman who is determined to keep her freedom and write her own destiny among the stars. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Scholars have long been intrigued by the Buddha's defining action (karma) as intention. This book explores systematically how intention, agency, and moral psychology were interpreted in all branches of early Theravada thought, paying special attention to the thought of the 5th-century commentator Buddhaghosa.

An in-depth look at the origin and evolutionary radiation of the synapsids. About 320 million years ago a group of reptiles known as the synapsids emerged and forever changed Earth’s ecological landscapes. This book discusses the origin and radiation of the synapsids from their sail-backed pelycosaur ancestor to their diverse descendants, the therapsids or mammal-like reptiles, that eventually gave rise to mammals. It further showcases the remarkable evolutionary history of the synapsids in the Karoo Basin of South Africa and the environments that existed at the time. By highlighting studies of synapsid bone microstructure, it offers a unique perspective of how such studies are utilized to reconstruct various aspects of biology, such as growth dynamics, biomechanical function, and the attainment of sexual and skeletal maturity. A series of chapters outline the radiation and phylogenetic relationships of major synapsid lineages and provide direct insight into how bone histological analyses have led to an appreciation of these enigmatic animals as once-living creatures. The penultimate chapter examines the early radiation of mammals from their nonmammalian cynodont ancestors, and the book concludes by engaging the intriguing question of when and where endothermy evolved among the therapsids. “Ever since Nick Hotton’s book from the 1980s we have needed an update on the biology of therapsids, and it has been Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan and her students and associates who through their bone histological work have made the greatest progress in this field.” —Martin Sander, Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn “Forerunners of Mammals is full of meticulous detail . . . [I]t also contains a number of excellently rendered illustrations of some of the animals covered in the book, and the final chapter is a discussion of the evolution of endothermy that anyone with a background in biology might find of interest. . . . Recommended.” —Choice “Forerunners of Mammals will take interested readers beyond the classic jaw-to-ear appreciation of therapsids, towards a deeper appreciation of the ancestry of mammals.” —Journal of Mammalian Evolution “This volume represents a state-of-the-art contribution to our understanding of the paleobiology of how mammals arose, and what factors contributed to their evolutionary radiation and eventual success. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in these topics, and will be accessible to readers with minimal background in bone histology and synapsid paleontology.” —Quarterly Review of Biology

Simsa has within her the spirit of the Elder One and the knowledge of her ancient race. Experimented upon by curious humans she escapes to an alien planet where she must escape death at alien hands while battling the spirit within her that seeks to possess her very being and transform her into something utterly inhuman.

Few authors have achieved such renown as World Fantasy Life Achievement honoree and Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton. With the love of readers and the praise of critics, Norton’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide. In this great science fiction novel, Andre Norton brings to new life the legendary King Arthur and the wizard Merlin in the light of modern knowledge of a lost period of history and today’s understanding of science and interplanetary communication. Yet, as in all Norton’s wonder novels, this is a fabulous adventure in fantasy. Here is Merlin, half star-born, gifted with the advice of an alien intelligence, given the task of renewing civilization and starting humanity again up the ladder to the stars. Here is Arthur, unaware of his stellar heritage. And here, too, is the Lady of the Lake, akin to Merlin in that she is also a listener to the music of the spheres and obedient to a celestial command post.

Danger in the Stars! The birth of a hero is never easy. Clumsy as an elephant in high heels, he is nothing like his legendary scout father. But inside that bull-moose-of-a-body lies the heart of a hero whose moment has arrived! Next, a boy survives alien invasion - but must learn to think and act like his reptilian enemy to exact retribution for slaughter! These and two other tales of coming-of-age-through-peril from the writer who invented the genre. Includes The X Factor, Voorloper, The Eye of the Monster, and The Sioux Spaceman¾all set in Norton's "Council/Confederation" universe! At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). "The Grande Dame of science fiction." ¾Time on SF legend, Andre Norton.

Two best-selling novels of science fiction adventure from the People saga of legendary storyteller Andre Norton together for the first time. Iron Cage: Johnny has always loved and been protected by the People, the bearlike inhabitants on the planet he calls home. But when a star ship arrives carrying Johnny's original species, humans¾humans who seek to exploit the People for their own ends¾Johnny is forced to choose between loyalty to the creatures he considers his family, and the need to reconnect with his long lost heritage. Breed to Come: On a distant future Earth, humans have polluted the planet and departed, leaving their pets behind to inherit a blasted world. But from that devastated past, a new breed of intelligence arises: the catlike People. Now humans return and the People are in no mood to deal once again with the "demons" who abandoned them to fate so long ago. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Scholars have long been intrigued by the Buddha's defining action (karma) as intention. This book explores systematically how intention, agency, and moral psychology were interpreted in all branches of early Theravada thought, paying special attention to the thought of the 5th-century commentator Buddhaghosa.

When a highly skilled sensitive comes into contact with a strange green stone, she finds herself trapped in the past in the identity of another person.

The fourth edition of Design of Structural Elements: Concrete, Steelwork, Masonry and Timber Designs to Eurocodes is a concise single-volume introduction to the design of structural elements in concrete, steel, timber, masonry and composites. It provides design principles and guidance in line with Eurocodes, current as of 2021. Topics include the philosophy of design, sustainable development, basic structural concepts, and material properties. After an overview of structural design, the book contains self-contained chapters with numerous diagrams and worked examples on design in reinforced concrete, structural steelwork and steel/concrete composites, masonry and timber based on EN 1990-1997. Selected extracts from these publications assist familiarity. Elements considered cover reinforced concrete and composite floors, isolated foundation, cantilever retaining wall, load-bearing and panel walls, stud wall and connections. The text is ideal for student civil and structural engineers on degree and diploma courses, and also practising civil and structural engineers and other built environment professions. The online Support Materials for adopting course instructors includes an extensive set of solutions to the problems in the book and PowerPoint slides for use in lectures: www.routledge.com/9781032076317.