Hargittai tells the story of five remarkable Hungarians: Wigner won a Nobel Prize in theoretical physics; Szilard was the first to see that a chain reaction based on neutrons was possible, initiated the Manhattan Project, but left physics to try to restrict nuclear arms; von Neumann could solve difficult problems in his head and developed the modern computer for more complex problems; von Kármán became the first director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, providing the scientific basis for the U.S. Air Force; and Teller was the father of the hydrogen bomb, whose name is now synonymous with the controversial "Star Wars" initiative of the 1980s.

"Wisdom of the Martians of Science refers to five scientists whose brilliance contributed to shaping the modern world. John von Neumann was a pioneer of the modern computer; Theodore von Kármán was the scientist behind the US Air Force; Leo Szilard initiated the development of nuclear weapons; the Nobel laureate Eugene P Wigner was the world's first nuclear engineer; and Edward Teller was the father of the hydrogen bomb. They were born and raised in Budapest, were forced out of Hungary and then from Germany, they became Americans, and devoted themselves to the defense of the United States and the Free World. They contributed significant discoveries to fundamental science ranging from the properties of materials to the application of the symmetry principle in physics, to creating information theory, to game theory. The areas in which we can learn about their wisdom include applications of science to past, present and future real-world needs; defense; education; environment; human nature; humor; politics; religion; weather modification, and others. This book shows the wisdom of the Martians by presenting their thoughts and ideas in their own words and placing them into context. Their wisdom is intriguing, witty, provocative and thought provoking. It extended over many aspects of life and culture that impinge on our existence. While we cannot always agree with what they say, they are never boring. The power of their words and their philosophies will inspire the readers to pursue their own dreams."--

What does science have to do with science fiction? What does science fiction have to do with scientists? What does religion have to do with science and science fiction? In the spiritual vacuum of our post-Christian West, new mythologies continually arise. The sources of much religious speculation, however, may be surprising. Author James Herrick directs our attention to a wide range of scientists, filmmakers, science fiction writers and religious philosophers and discovers there the role that science and science fiction have played in such mythmaking. From scientists such as Francis Bacon, Francis Crick, Carl Sagan and Freeman Dyson, to filmmakers such as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, to science fiction writers such as Olaf Stapledon, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov, Herrick finds a curious collusion of science with science fiction for promoting and justifying alternative spiritualities. The rise of these new mythologies, he argues, is no longer a curiosity at the edge of Western culture. This alchemy is catalyzing a religious vision of new gods, a new humanity, and alien races with superior intelligence and secret knowledge. This new mythology overshadows the realms of politics, science and religion. Should we follow such visions? Does science endorse these mythologies? Are we being offered a spirituality superior to the Judeo-Christian tradition? This book will help you decide.

The 'SCIENCE FICTION Ultimate Box Set: 170+ Dystopian Novels, Space Adventures, Lost World Classics & Apocalyptic Tales' presents an unparalleled amalgamation of literary genius, weaving together the profound imaginations of some of the most paramount figures in the science fiction genre. The anthology spans a multitude of themes including dystopia, interstellar travel, exploration of unknown worlds, and the existential ponderings of humanity in the face of apocalypse, realized through a diverse range of literary styles, from the suspenseful and foreboding atmospheres crafted by H.P. Lovecraft to the intricate societal critiques embodied by George Orwell. This collection not only showcases the broad spectrum of speculative fiction but also highlights standout pieces that have fundamentally shaped the course of science fiction literature. The contributing authors and editors, from Jules Vernes pioneering adventures to H.G. Wells groundbreaking societal allegories, represent an era-spanning cadre of visionaries who collectively pressed the boundaries of the imagination and confronted the societal and philosophical questions of their times. Their works, deeply entrenched in varying historical, cultural, and literary movements - from the romanticism of Mary Shelleys 'Frankenstein' to the modernist satire in Aldous Huxleys 'Brave New World' - provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of science fiction as a reflective lens on society. For readers seeking to immerse themselves in the expansive universe of speculative fiction, this anthology offers an extraordinary journey through time and space, exploring humanitys greatest fears, hopes, and ethical dilemmas. By traversing the imaginations of over forty authors, the collection affords a unique opportunity to engage with the seminal texts that have defined and continued to shape the science fiction landscape. Delve into the 'SCIENCE FICTION Ultimate Box Set' to experience the vast educational value, embrace the diversity of thought, and partake in the ongoing dialogue between these monumental works and the present-day reader.

Complementing Science-Fiction: The Early Years, which surveys science-fiction published in book form from its beginnings through 1930, the present volume covers all the science-fiction printed in the genre magazines--Amazing, Astounding, and Wonder, along with offshoots and minor magazines--from 1926 through 1936. This is the first time this historically important literary phenomenon, which stands behind the enormous modern development of science-fiction, has been studied thoroughly and accurately. The heart of the book is a series of descriptions of all 1,835 stories published during this period, plus bibliographic information. Supplementing this are many useful features: detailed histories of each of the magazines, an issue by issue roster of contents, a technical analysis of the art work, brief authors' biographies, poetry and letter indexes, a theme and motif index of approximately 30,0000 entries, and general indexes. Science-Fiction: The Gernsback Years is not only indispensable for reference librarians, collectors, readers, and scholars interested in science-fiction, it is also of importance to the study of popular culture during the Great Depression in the United States. Most of its data, which are largely based on rare and almost unobtainable sources, are not available elsewhere.

What should we learn from Martian Chronicles, this seminal classic of science fiction? Find everything you need to know about this work in a complete and detailed analysis. You will find in particular in this sheet: - A complete summary - A presentation of the main characters such as Captain Wilder and Jeff Spender - An analysis of the specificities of the work : The science fiction as a total literary genre; An acerbic rereading of the colonization of America; A pacifist and humanist novel A reference analysis to quickly understand the meaning of the work.

One of the most attractive features of the young discipline of Space Science is that many of the original pioneers and key players involved are still available to describe their field. Hence, at this point in history we are in a unique position to gain first-hand insight into the field and its development. To this end, The Century of Space Science, a scholarly, authoritative, reference book presents a chapter-by-chapter retrospective of space science as studied in the 20th century. The level is academic and focuses on key discoveries, how these were arrived at, their scientific consequences and how these discoveries advanced the thoughts of the key players involved. With over 90 world-class contributors, such as James Van Allen, Cornelis de Jager, Eugene Parker, Reimar Lüst, and Ernst Stuhlinger, and with a Foreword by Lodewijk Woltjer (past ESO Director General), this book will be immensely useful to readers in the fields of space science, astronomy, and the history of science. Both academic institutions and researchers will find that this major reference work makes an invaluable addition to their collection.

A New War Of The Worlds Begins as Martian Tripods Return To Earth! Winner of 5 awards in the 2020 Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Awards, Audio Drama category, together with volume 2 Lake On The Moon. The terror of the coming of the Martians is all but a distant memory, a bad dream that has faded with time.... All George wants is a quiet suburban life but at breakfast one morning his newspaper reports the shocking discovery of a Martian cylinder, found intact and unopened, and carefully transported to London. By teatime George learns even worse news – vengeance seeking Martians and their tripod fighting machines are already on their way back in a huge green comet formed by the countless numbers of their cylinders. This time they are armed with a doomsday weapon, able to destroy all bacteria and completely annihilate Earth The first attack by aliens was enough for any lifetime, but who would expect to be involved with two? How can our planet survive this new invasion and will George and his wife escape a second Martian apocalypse? The Day Of The Martians continues the iconic Mars novel by H.G. Wells, in this exciting, unmissable action adventure – the first volume of The Martian Diaries science fiction series. If you're a fan of The War Of The Worlds don't miss this award-winning 3 part continuation. Start the ebook today or check out the action-packed audio version featuring original music and sound effects. WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE AUDIO VERSION “...a wonderfully executed tribute to H.G. Wells.” Readers Favorite Reviews “...sometimes in life, amongst all the boring stuff, something comes along to shake up your life and make you grateful for other people’s creations.” Breakaway Reviews “A splendid sequel.” C.A.Powell, science fiction author of The Last Days Of Thunder Child “The Day of the Martians is a nostalgic trip back to bygone days spent reading science fiction classics, and that’s quite a compliment indeed.” Brandon Scott - SciFi Bloggers “A little diamond from Mars!” Goodreads reviewer

Just fifty years ago Julian Huxley, the biologist grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley, published a book which easily could be seen to represent the prevail ing outlook among young scientists of the day: If I were a Dictator (1934). The outlook is optimistic, the tone playfully rational, the intent clear - allow science a free hand and through rational planning it could bring order out of the surrounding social chaos. He complained, however: At the moment, science is for most part either an intellectual luxury or the paid servant of capitalist industry or the nationalist state. When it and its results cannot be fitted into the existing framework, it and they are ignored; and furthermore the structure of scientific research is grossly lopsided, with over-emphasis on some kinds of science and partial or entire neglect of others. (pp. 83-84) All this the scientist dictator would set right. A new era of scientific human ism would provide alternative visions to the traditional religions with their Gods and the civic religions such as Nazism and fascism. Science in Huxley's version carries in it the twin impulses of the utopian imagination - Power and Order. Of course, it was exactly this vision of science which led that other grand son of Thomas Henry Huxley, the writer Aldous Huxley, to portray scientific discovery as potentially subversive and scientific practice as ultimately en slaving.