“A rich, quietly artful novel that is bound for deep water, with questions of beauty, power and spiritual navigation as its main concerns. The title refers not to the right side of a boat but to the r
In this ground‐breaking, posthumous study, the late Lo Jung‐pang discusses the geographic, political,and commercial factors that led to the emergence of seapower and a navy under the Ming. WhileZheng He and his seven expeditions have received some scholarly attention, few understand the longhistory of maritime engagement which provided the nautical and technical background for thesevoyages. The evolution of this maritime engagement and its extension into the Indian Ocean is thefocus of Lo’s still‐timely and highly significant work.In addition to detailing the rise of the Ming navy and its extraordinary accomplishments, Lo alsoexamines some of the factors that led to the end of China’s first great maritime era: Why did Chinasuddenly seem to turn away from the seas? Were the military defeats in Annam and on the northernborders significant in this? Or were financial pressures key?Empire in the Western Ocean represents the most comprehensive and insightful English‐languagetreatment to date
J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a ‘dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told’. And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron. It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father’s death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book’s content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for aiding the angelic Valar and the Elves in the defeat and capture of the Dark Lord Morgoth, the kingdom became a seat of influence and wealth; but as the Númenóreans’ power increased, t
From astronomy to zoology--500 amazing science facts for kids ages 9 to 12 Do you love dinosaurs and dolphins, mountains and meteors? The Fascinating Science Book for Kids has it all This fun facts book for kids includes 500 stupendous science facts that offer hours of learning for ages 9 to 12. Alongside full-color pictures on every page, you'll find weird and wonderful facts about topics like prehistoric life, the deep sea, weather, minerals, the human body, the solar system--and even your own backyard In this engaging book of facts for kids, you'll learn things like: Scientists have evidence that sometimes tiny diamonds fall from the sky on NEPTUNE. The GIANT SQUID has a brain shaped like a donut. Some BACTERIA species generate electricity when they breathe and can even power a battery. When you're looking for kids science books, The Fascinating Science Book for Kids is the perfect choice for both fun and learning.
Friendship and magical realism sparkle on the page in this heartwarming, delightfully eccentric illustrated middle-grade gem from an extraordinary new literary voice. Perfect for fans of A Snicker of Magic and The Penderwicks.Alberto lives alone in the town of Allora, where fish fly out of the sea and the houses shine like jewels. He is a coffin maker and widower, spending his quiet days creating the final resting places of Allora's people.Then one afternoon a magical bird flutters into his garden, and Alberto, lonely inside, welcomes it into his home. And when a kindhearted boy named Tito follows the bird into Alberto's kitchen, a door in the old man's heart cracks open. Tito is lonely too--but he's also scared and searching for a place to hide. Fleeing from danger, he just wants to feel safe for once in his life. Can the boy and the old man learn the power of friendship and escape the shadows of their pasts?With a tender bond that calls to mind The Girl Who Drank the Moon, charming c
南海(South China Sea)經濟利益、政治考量、戰略意義、人群互動與移動之處中國野心、美國意志與周邊諸國的利益,硬碰硬的第一條戰線……★為何要讀?●主題南海極具戰略意義,更充滿著東南亞各國的歷史情仇,時常上演島礁、經濟海域的爭奪劇碼,亦是21世紀的重要中美戰略競賽衝突地區。●作者比爾‧海頓是BBC國際問題資深記者,公正客觀地涵蓋南海問題的歷史、法律、能源、外交、軍事各個面向,且以簡馭繁、
A poignant and non-didactic exploration of difference, self-acceptance, the power of friendship, and inner strength. Milo is a penguin who, unlike the other penguins, does not like the cold. When he takes a chance and goes on a trip to a faraway place where it’s warm, he finds friends who accept him, and with their support he learns to accept himself. When he returns home, he is even able to befriend others who are different.The Penguin Who Was Cold is an endearing tale of a young penguin named Milo who does not want to dive into the icy water of the pack ice to catch fish. Unlike his comrades, he stays put, standing alone at the edge of the ice and contemplating the cold sea. When a whale appears and offers to take him on a trip, Milo readily accepts. It is the beginning of a fabulous journey. In the faraway South Seas, Milo is amazed by the colors, the warmth of the water and the air, and most of all the friendly welcome he receives from the tropical animals who accept him for who he