Stars Of Empire

A history of the idea of "black holes" explores the tumultuous debate over the existence of this now well-accepted phenomenon, focusing particular attention on Indian scientist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

An unofficial guide to EMPIRE, the runaway hit of the 2014-15 television season. Empire is the breakout, network television hit of 2015—from its opening night, viewers were riveted by the story of record company magnate Lucious Lyon and his family, and the struggle for control over Empire Entertainment. As the second season approaches this September, Empire: The Unauthorized Untold Story tells you everything you need to know about this powerful drama. You’ll get full backgrounds on all the major players, including the real-life entertainment icons on whom their stories are based. You’ll learn about the music and fashions that helped drive the show’s success. And you’ll get a hint of what the second season might hold as show creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong prepare to build on their phenomenal opening act.

Stars of Empire is a role playing game in which the Victorian Powers have discovered space flight and are striking out across the vast darkness of interplanetary space. As they explore frontiers on Earth, Luna Mars and Venus they encounter transplanted populations of humans, ancient and terrible alien races and ferocious exotic beasts, until 1892 each considered the other Great Powers to be their biggest rivals. It was in that year The Hive broke free in Devon and threatened more than just the balance of power on Earth. The Hive put the very existence of mankind at stake. Stars of Empire is a stand alone game book. It contains the core role playing rules, based on Black Pigeon Press' Hacktastic system and a detailed and dangerous universe setting. The Victorian in Our Time Line was a period of exploration and scientific achievement, military conflict and colonial conquest and social upheaval. In Stars of Empire aerial and space travel have been cleverly grafted into this historical fabric. Players will be able to interact on not only Earth but other worlds as well. Mars is home to a race of ancient aliens, powerful dangerous and unpredictable to the minds of men. Their true powers and purposes are shrouded in mystery. It is know that for many thousands of years they have harvested humans from Earth for use as slaves. With this human workforce Mars has been transformed from a lifeless rock into a tropical greenhouse of a world. Venus, beneath its thick atmosphere is a strange mix of dark basalt plains and humid cloud forests. Rules include character generation, combat and detailed sections allowing characters to develop engineering projects, scientific theories or inventions.

"Empires do not grow old gracefully. As the edifice of ancient government succumbs to entropy, as civil war reigns, and upstart nations encroach upon the elder government's prerogatives and borders, the result is indeed 'interesting times,' the times of interstellar Huns locked in mortal combat with Imperial storm troopers. The times of The Crash of Empire."--Pg. [4] of cover.

The first installment in the Far Star series, a swashbuckling space saga that introduces the daring pirate Blackhawk and the loyal crew of the Wolf’s Claw, from Jay Allan, the author of the bestselling Crimson Worlds saga. Smuggler and mercenary Arkarin Blackhawk and the crew of the ship Wolf’s Claw are freelance adventurers who live on the fringe of human society in the Far Stars. A veteran fighter as deadly with a blade as he is with a gun, Blackhawk is a man haunted by a dark past. Even his cynicism cannot banish the guilt and pain that threaten his sanity. Sent to rescue the kidnapped daughter of his longtime friend Marshal Augustin Lucerne, Blackhawk and his crew find themselves drawn into one deadly fight after another. When the Wolf’s Claw is damaged, they are forced to land on a remote planet subsumed by civil war. Pulled unwittingly into the conflict, they uncover disturbing information about secret imperial involvement that could upset the plans of Lucerne. For the Marshal is determined to forge a Far Stars Confederation powerful enough to eliminate all imperial influence and threats in the sector. He needs a skilled warrior like Blackhawk on his side, but the mercenary, plagued by dark memories from the past, refuses to join the cause. All too soon, though, he and his crew will have to take a stand.

Around a decade has passed since the Fall of Lahkfacar, and the Empire is now split into two distinct regions. Crown Princess and fleet commander Lafier is tasked with the operation to annex the People’s Sovereign Stellar Union and reunite the Empire while at the same time facing supply shortages and crew inexperience — and she might need to flout orders to get it done.

Baird, a fresh new voice in the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley, follows up "The Stone of the Stars" with this second installment of her Dragon Throne trilogy of adventure, magic, and mythic beasts.

Bill Kimberlin may refer to himself as “one of those names on the endless list of credits at the close of blockbuster movies.” In reality though, he’s a true insider on some of the most celebrated and popular movies and franchises of the past century. Jurassic Park. Star Trek. Jumanji. Schindler’s List. Saving Private Ryan. Even Forrest Gump. And perhaps most notably, Star Wars. Inside the Star Wars Empire is the very funny and insightful tell-all about the two decades Kimberlin spent as a department director at LucasFilm Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), the special effects studio founded by the legendary filmmaker George Lucas.

The Empire of Earth, spanning more than a thousand solar systems, is threatened by a conspiracy from within. Now, with more than three-quarters of the Galaxy ready to fall into enemy hands, the Empire is forced to call on its top-secret weapon: the renowned Circus of the Galaxy featuring the d'Alembert family, a clan of circus performers with uncanny abilities. But even these super agents may not be in time to save the Empire. The Imperial Stars is the first book in the "Family D'Alembert" series.