The 23rd Cycle

Book Description

On March 13, 1989, the entire Quebec power grid collapsed, automatic garage doors in California suburbs began to open and close without apparent reason, and microchip production came to a halt in the Northeast; in space, communications satellites had to be manually repointed after flipping upside down, and pressure readings on hydrogen tank supplies on board the Space Shuttle Discovery peaked, causing NASA to consider aborting the mission. What was the cause of all these seemingly disparate events? Sten Odenwald gives convincing evidence of the mischievous -- and potentially catastrophic -- power of solar storms and the far-reaching effects of the coming "big one" brewing in the sun and estimated to culminate in the twenty-third cycle in the year 2001 and beyond. When the sun undergoes its cyclic "solar maximum," a time when fierce solar flares and storms erupt, fantastic auroras will be seen around the world. But the breathtaking spectacles will herald a potentially disastrous chain of events that merit greater preparation than Y2K. Is anyone listening?

The 23rd Cycle traces the previously untold history of solar storms and the ways in which they were perceived by astronomers -- and even occasionally covered up by satellite companies. Punctuated with an insert containing dramatic color images showing the erupting sun, the book also includes a history of the record of auroral sightings, accounts of communications blackouts from the twentieth century, a list of industries sensitive to solar storms, and information about radiation and health issues.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected, but not bad.......2003-10-23

When I saw the title of this book, I had images of butterfly diagrams, an adequate amount of astrophysics and space physics, etc. However, the book's subtitle, "Learning to Live with a Stormy Star" was a much better clue as to the book's contents. Although some stellar/space science is briefly discussed, the main theme of the book is centered on sociological hardships, financial losses, research budgets, business interests, etc., all pertaining to our periodically stormy sun. Especially highlighted are: the survival of expensive satellites in space during less than ideal space weather, the sociological effects of their loss and the effects of this weather on power grids on earth. But my unfulfilled expectations and resulting disappointment should not result in a poor rating for this book. It is well written, very informative and seems to thoroughly cover, I think, what it was apparently intended to cover - hence my rating of 4 stars.

Vital, but strangely incomplete.......2003-03-14

I am recommending this book to everyone. I am quite convinced by Odenwald's data and studies I have encountered prior to this epochal book that our goverments need to take seriously what the good doctor is warning us about. The threat of unprecedented super-solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections from our unsteady star, ones that could blank out power-grids, destroy communications satellites and possibly fry increasingly vunerable microchips is something every thinking person should consider.
Nevertheless, despite the five star rating I gave, I was appalled at the meager three-page index, the (in a few places) inaccurate bibliography and the many errata, typoes and copy-edit mistakes in the text. Everyone who buys or reads this book needs to heed this caveat and go to the website; and there are useful updates as well.
Nonetheless, I see the need for urgency in rushing it into press, but do not see why a Ph.D (who probably finds his lay contacts amusing) and a respected publisher like Columbia University Press would allow errors that are usually -- allegedly -- reserved for the much reviled and controversial Print On Demand books. I urge Dr. Odenwald and his publisher to provide us with a revised edition (with, important material to make the 23rd Cycle even a greater book and more complete than it currently is) as soon as feasible.

Good introduction for general science readers.......2001-07-16

Interesting topic, though I judged the coverage to be uneven. Readers wanting an update about solar physics will be disappointed by a lack of details; but this can be supplemented by a visit to NASA’s solar physics Web pages.... Policy-makers should be impressed by the real and potential economic fallout from massive solar plasma discharges; but some of Odenwald’s detailed examples illustrate a coincidental rather than true cause-and-effect relation of solar events to Earth-based calamities. The Exon Valdez disaster is discussed at length before being dismissed, and is referenced later. Several pages detail inconveniences due to a power blackout in the D.C. area which had nothing to do with unusual solar activity. I found these references obtuse — I would have greatly preferred to see more information about the sun.

Still, the book’s final chapter is particularly illuminating, detailing current activities and difficulties for space weather researchers seeking project funding in competition with higher profile but much less utilitarian activities such as cosmology. This is followed by several interesting “notes” which provide a few more details about certain chapter topics. The last few pages quote astronomers describing stars seemingly similar to our sun which periodically emit massively greater plasma discharges, enough to literally fry our little world in an instant. Why is our sun different? This is really getting interesting! You turn the page, and that’s it — end of story.

Odenwald’s intent is to increase awareness about real and potential economic and personal safety issues related to variable solar activity. His book serves as a useful starting point for interested general science readers. Those seeking in-depth coverage of this topic will need to look elsewhere, starting with papers and documents listed in the lengthy bibliography.

Interesting Book About Our Sun and its Effect on Earth.......2001-03-04

If I could give this book three and a half stars I would, but since I think some people could find it more interesting than I did, I gave it four starts.

This book describes the sun's eleven-year cycle of highs and lows in sun spot activity. While the mechanism, which produces these sun spots, is not well understand, what well known is that the sun produces vast amounts of high energy particles (radiation), both continuously and in bursts which ultimately affects the Earth's magnetic field and life on Earth. The book focused on how past solar magnetic storms have affected the power grid system and the geostationary satellites. Finally, the author makes some predictions on the upcoming solar maximum in the year 2001 and its potential for life on Earth. I should point out that the author is an astronomer and makes his predictions based on data and past experiences and not is some doomsayer trying to make a quick buck.

There are also several extremely interesting chapters on the effects of solar magnetic storms on the modern day life. One chapter shows that in 1989, a solar magnetic storm shut down a good portion of the Canadian electrical power grid, leaving some people without power for several days. The chapter on the effects of radiation on the human body was very enlightening. For example, this chapter shows that living in high altitude location like Denver was similar to receiving several chest X-rays a year. Also, radiation from cosmic sources was significantly greater than that received from living next to a nuclear power plant.

Book Description

Sten Cedergren set out to become a cowboy at an early age--first stop, Paraguay. After further roaming, he landied in Keny and joined White Hunters Ltd., in addition to doing elephant control work. Today in his early eighties he is still hunting elephant in Zimbabwe!

Customer Reviews:

Sorry to Disappoint You, but This Work Contains More Elephant Hunting Than Sex........2007-08-06

Sten Cedergren's "The Adventurous Life of a Vagabond Hunter" is perhaps the most underrated elephant hunting work of the past decade. Shame on Safari Press for trying to capitalize on the sexual exploits of the work and not the many pages of elephant hunting. It is obvious Sten has been in the jess with rota in hand; however, one would never know it from the book's description.
Although not easily impressed with contemporary elephant hunting works, this is the equivalent of a modern day 100 pound tusker. Sten, without rambling like Nyschens, transforms the reader into his gun bearer as he successfully stalks bull after bull obtaining mounds of impressive ivory.
I will admit that the book could have a better title and the artwork of the dust jacket would be better suited as a mural on a child's wall. If you can find a Safari Press Limited Edition, spend the extra money as these were issued in a slipcase and do not contain the ridiculous dust jacket. There are even a few signed copies of the second edition floating around and if you are lucky enough to come across one, you better grab it as these are bound to increase in value as Sten enters the eternal hunting ground in the sky where all bulls carry tusks the size of telephone poles.

Average customer rating:

I loved this book.

The Wolf Worlds (Sten)
Chris Bunch , and Allan Cole
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841490083

Book Description

The Eternal Emperor ruled countless worlds across the galaxy. Vast armies and huge fleets awaited his command. But when he needed a "little" job done right, he turned to Mantis Team and its small band of militant problem solvers.

Just then the Emperor needed to pacify the Wolf Worlds, the planets of an insignificant cluster that had raised space piracy to a low art.

And Mantis Team could use all the men it needed -- as long as it needed no more than two.

Customer Reviews:

I loved this book........1999-02-07

This is the second "Sten" Book I read, ("Fleet of the Damned" being first), and I thouroughly enjoyed it. Sten, Alex, and the rest of Mantis Team 13 show off their stuff in the Lupus Cluster. Read it, you'll like it. If not, we'll have you brainscaned!

Average customer rating:

High Space Adventure in Classic SI-FI Style!!
Too bad it had to end ...
A fitting ending to an entertaining series
Great series, great finale
Bait & Switch

Vortex (Sten)
Chris Bunch , and Allan Cole
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841490830

Book Description

The Eternal Emperor had returned at last from the dead, to pick up the pieces of his crumbling Empire. But even that great leader could not halt the Empire's decline alone. And so Sten, master spy, military strategist, and assassin, found himself appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Altaic Cluster, where a brewing civil war threatened the stability of the Empire itself.
Quelling a civil war was nothing new for Sten. But as one thing after another went wrong, he began to suspect that he was up against more than a mere local disturbance. Someone -- operating in deepest cover, with the highest authority -- was working behind the scenes to manipulate events and escalate disaster. And that someone wanted nothing more than to see Sten dead . . .

Customer Reviews:

High Space Adventure in Classic SI-FI Style!!.......2004-04-17

I read this book not knowing at the time that it was just one in a series. I Found THAT out pretty quick!! Regardless, it kept me entralled till the end, and I went hunting for the others!! Great High Space Adventure in the truest of the Classic SI-FI form!! Loads of action without bogging down in technical explainations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes action oriented SI-FI.

Too bad it had to end ..........2003-06-07

Very like the ongoing saga of HH ( Honor Harrington ) by David Weber, this was a great series all the way along. It must be difficult coming up with bigger and better things for a character that feels fully developed, but I do wish they had found something!

Unlike the other reviewer, I found the accent of one of the main characters a *fantastic* touch. Yes, it takes a while to get used to it, but this characters seems more alive / real to me because of it. It was easy to "see" this character in my mind. So I appreciated the extra work that must have gone into creating the accent.

Overall the entire series is a wonderful, fun read. Not to say it's lighthearted, but it is a breath of fresh air. Much like the David Gemmel books. The characters are easy to get attached to, and the story has a depth that can be expanded upon at a later date, if the author / publisher / fans feel like keeping this universe going.

A fitting ending to an entertaining series.......2002-06-07

In the final book in this series we have our hero Sten up against the Emperor himself. The Emperor has gone all nasty and it is up to Sten to use all his skills and allies to pick away at the Emperor and his forces.
As part of the closure of this series we are given the background to the Emperor and the fuel source he controls which was interesting and put many things into context.
Fast moving and entertaining and a good conclusion to the series, my only ongoing irritation with the Sten books is the way the author 'writes' the Scottish accent of one of the lead characters. It's difficult to read and detracts from the pace of the story.

Great series, great finale.......2002-04-13

This is the exciting -- and fitting -- end to the series. Yes, the authors are playing a bit of an ideological trick, but it really makes sense in the end, and I kicked myself for falling right into it.

I've reread this series several times, and it never fails to please. Each book has its own feel, but each is still part of the greater whole. Now if only they'd get them back into print, I could recommend them to more of my friends.

Bait & Switch.......2001-02-26

The author(s) decided that the premise which underlay all the previous books in the series was invalid and tried to convince the reader to that end. Imho they failed. BADLY. They failed to convice me that the prior premise was wrong and their accounting of the designtergration of the society was lame. Ignore this book and read the rest of series instead.

Average customer rating:

L. Mark Taylor (Kingston, Jamaica)
Four out of the ten houses illustrated are non-residential "houses"

Jorn Utzon: Houses
Henirk Sten Moller
Manufacturer: Frances Lincoln
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 8798759736

Book Description

This book presents all of Utzon's buildings in more than 400 outstanding color photographs taken by architecture photographer Per Nagel over a period of twenty-five years. Architect Vibe Udsen reviews each building and architecture critic Henrik Sten Moller presents a portrait of Jorn Utzen the man and the architect.

Customer Reviews:

L. Mark Taylor (Kingston, Jamaica).......2007-03-04

What a beautiful book! You feel that it is a labour of love with every photo on every page speaking to you about the specialness of each building.
Utzon is a brilliant architect, one of that small group of twentieth century achitect's who speaks directly to our soul both through his few humanist writings and built work (people like Louis Kahn, Aldo van Eyck and Alvaro Siza among others).
Apart from the 20 page illustrated introduction called 'Conversations', the book is a large format book of exquisite full-colour architectural photographs. Ten buildings are covered each with basic plans and the occasional elevation, sketch or section which remain very subsidiary to the photos.
Unfortunately very little published work exists in English on the complete body of Utzon's output, and the few tend to be out-of-print, very expensive or difficult to get. This is unfortunate because the book under review needs such a supplementary text to give this overview of Jorn Utzon's architecture.
The best book for this currently available at a reasonable price is "Jorn Utzon: Works & Projects" by Jaime J. Ferrer Fores, published by GG in 2006, in their small format bilingual edition. Again unfortunately this is not presently available through Amazon. Each book is excellent but if you get both books you should feel satisfied. Separately they are like a meal without the wine.

Four out of the ten houses illustrated are non-residential "houses".......2007-02-23

I love Utzon's work, especially his own residence in Majorca. The man is a genius. From the title "Jorn Utzon Houses", I was looking forward to a book on houses that people live in. Four of the ten "Houses" in the book were 1) the Sidney Opera House, 2) the Bagsvaerd Church, 3) the Herning School Complex and 4) the Kuwait National Assembly. There are many beautiful, period color photographs by Per Nagel, a nice long "Conversation" between Utzon and Moller and clear, well printed glossy pages. Many of the high quality photos I have not seen reproduced before. I especially liked seeing the Bagsvaerd Church and the Majolica house in greater detail. The diagram of Utzon's "additive architecture" was informative, but most plans and sections were too reduced in size. There is a little information about each project, but not as much as an architect would like to have. This is a beautiful coffee table book and given the fact that there is little of Utzon's residential work in book form, Utzon lovers have no choice but to buy this photo collection. I would suggest coupling this book with the Utzon chapter in Kenneth Frampton's "Studies in Tectonic Culture".

Preventing HIV in Developing Countries: Biomedical and Behavioral Approaches (Aids Prevention and Mental Health)

Average customer rating:

Good Book

Preventing HIV in Developing Countries: Biomedical and Behavioral Approaches (Aids Prevention and Mental Health)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

AIDS | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Administration & Policy | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Health Care Delivery | Administration & Policy | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Public Health | Administration & Policy | Medicine | Subjects | Books

AIDS & HIV | Diseases | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Preventive Medicine | Specialties | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0306459612

Book Description

Until now, planners seeking to create HIV prevention programs in developing countries relied on published interventions successfully implemented in the industrialized world. This volume brings together HIV researchers and activists who describe intervention strategies employed primarily in developing countries. With the battle to control HIV continuing, the contributors provide insights from the field as they summarize implementation problems, successes and failures. End-of-chapter summaries and references are key features. HIV program planners, medical and social workers, researchers, and activists will benefit from Preventing HIV in Developing Countries.

Customer Reviews:

Good Book.......2002-09-27

This book gave me great insights on the Development of Nations. I had to do a debate on this as a girl and wish i wouldve had this book!

Average customer rating:

Another good Cole &Bunch Sci-fi book

The Return of the Emperor (Sten)
Chris Bunch , and Allan Cole
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841490814

Book Description

The Privy Council who ruled in place of the dead Eternal Emperor needed to find his secret source of Anti-Matter Two. Unfortunately, the only man who knew where it could be wasn't talking. He had an agenda of his own and was willing to destroy the universe if he couldn't get his way....
The STEN Adventures
STEN
THE WOLF WORLDS
THE COURT OF A THOUSAND SUNS
FLEET OF THE DAMNED
REVENGE OF THE DAMNED
THE RETURN OF THE EMPEROR

Customer Reviews:

Another good Cole &Bunch Sci-fi book.......2000-10-12

This is a great Sci-fi novel that mixes in a lot of action, and great plot and an even better backround. The story follows the actions of Sten, a great secret operations soilder of the future and his actions after the fall of the huge empire that had run for thousands of years, with its ruler the emporo, being assinated. In the following power grab, Sten finds himself back in action. There is plenty of supense in this book, and I was drawn into the story and found myself reading chapter after chapter, saying just one more page. Nothing short of a great book.

NATO Renewed: The Power and Purpose of Transatlantic Cooperation

Average customer rating:

Excellent

NATO Renewed: The Power and Purpose of Transatlantic Cooperation
Sten Rynning
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Recent controversies in NATO have caused observers to question the Alliance's raison d'tre. They generally contend that NATO's crisis has gone from bad to worse and that the Alliance is ill-adapted to the era of international terrorism, but this assessment is inaccurate. NATO leaders have, in fact, become better at shaping NATO to the strategic environment following a severe crisis in the mid-1990s. At that time, the allies were trying to turn NATO into something it could not be; at present, the allies are on target in their efforts to adapt NATO. NATO Renewed is the story of why NATO's problems are manageable and why the Atlantic Alliance likely will continue to have both power and purpose.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2006-06-30

I've started reading NATO Renewed : The Power and Purpose of Transatlantic Cooperation 2 days ago. I found the book excellent and I think it will be useful for my academic study.
Thank you very much...

Average customer rating:

Revenged of the Damned

Revenge of the Damned (Sten)
Chris Bunch , and Allan Cole
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841490806

Book Description

Sten had fully expected to die in a blaze of glory, taking his Emperor's greatest foe with him. Instead he was a slave laborer in a P.O.W. camp deep in the heart of enemy territory.
But sitting out the action had never been Sten's style. And now that the war was building to a climax, the Eternal Emperor needed him more than ever. Not even the toughest prison in the known universe could keep Sten from his mission . . .

Customer Reviews:

Revenged of the Damned.......2000-07-09

As with all the Sten Novels written by Alan Cole and Chris Bunch - simply excellent.

Average customer rating:

The Court of a Thousand Suns (Sten)
Chris Bunch , and Allan Cole
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841490091

Book Description

Sten had fought his way up from slave laborer on a factory world to commander of the Eternal Emperor's bodyguard, the Imperial Gurkhas.
But during the first three months on Prime World, the most dangerous weapons Sten encountered were the well-phrased lies of Court politicians. It seemed no place for an honest fighting man. Then a bomb turned a spaceport bar and three strangers into scraps and well-mixed hamburger. The clues said "plot" and pointed right to the imperial staff.
Only quick -- and bloody -- work by Sten, Alex Kilgour, and a tough female detective would keep the Empire together and the Eternal Emperor alive.

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