The Return of Vaman - A Scientific Novel

The Return of Vaman - A Scientific Novel
Author: Jayant V. Narlikar
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2015-05-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319164295

This collection of science fiction writings by Jayant V. Narlikar offers readers a unique glimpse into the world-famous Indian astrophysicist’s vivid and highly imaginative concepts and stories. The fictional material comprises a witty short story ("The rare idol of Ganesha") that cleverly explores the possible consequences of a mirror-symmetric individual in the context of cricket test match performances, as well as the fast-paced, gripping science fiction thriller "The return of Vaman": when an alien container is unearthed by a crew of scientists, the enormous potential technological applications of its contents bring various criminal elements on the scene – but when the real danger becomes apparent it is almost too late to save humanity. Last but not least, the book provides readers with extensive insights into the genesis and scientific background of the fictional material presented in this volume, along with an autobiographical account of the author’s life-long interest in science fiction and his contributions to the genre. About the author: Jayant V. Narlikar is internationally known for his work in cosmology, in particular for championing models alternative to the standard big-bang theory. He was president of the cosmology commission of the International Astronomical Union from 1994 to 1997. He has received several national and international awards and honorary doctorates - he is a Bhatnagar awardee, as well as recipient of the M.P. Birla award, the Prix Janssen of the French Astronomical Society and an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. He is Fellow of the three Indian national science academies as well as of the Third World Academy of Sciences. Well beyond his scientific research, Prof. Narlikar is widely known as a science communicator through his books, articles and radio/TV programs and he was honored by the UNESCO in 1996 with the Kalinga Award. He made his debut in science fiction writing in 1974, by winning the top prize in the story writing competition organized by the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, a non-governmental organization engaged in science popularization.

The Scientific Edge

The Scientific Edge
Author: Jayant V Narlikar
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 263
Release: 2003-08-04
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 9351189287

India has a rich history of scientific accomplishments. In the fifth century, nearly one millennium before Copernicus, the Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata theorized that the earth spins on its axis. Likewise, in the twentieth century physicist Meghnad Saha’s ionization equation opened the door to stellar astrophysics. But India’s scientific achievements have occurred as flashes of brilliance rather than as a clear trajectory of progress. So how did India, with its historic university system and excellent observatories, lose its scientific edge? Cosmologist, founder director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and science fiction author Jayant V. Narlikar tracks the highs and lows of Indian science across the millennia, distinguishing fact from fiction. Through a lively narrative of breakthroughs and failures, he explores the glories of India’s scientific advances and questions the more fanciful so-called discoveries. His essays are invigorated by his excitement for new findings, and he argues passionately for preserving the true scientific temperament instead of granting legitimacy to such pseudosciences as astrology. Above all, Narlikar raises issues that both the layperson and the scientist need to consider as India seeks to lead the world in information technology and biotechnology.

Wholeness and the Implicate Order

Wholeness and the Implicate Order
Author: David Bohm
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2005-07-12
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1134438729

David Bohm was one of the foremost scientific thinkers and philosophers of our time. Although deeply influenced by Einstein, he was also, more unusually for a scientist, inspired by mysticism. Indeed, in the 1970s and 1980s he made contact with both J. Krishnamurti and the Dalai Lama whose teachings helped shape his work. In both science and philosophy, Bohm's main concern was with understanding the nature of reality in general and of consciousness in particular. In this classic work he develops a theory of quantum physics which treats the totality of existence as an unbroken whole. Writing clearly and without technical jargon, he makes complex ideas accessible to anyone interested in the nature of reality.

The Simoqin Prophecies

The Simoqin Prophecies
Author: Samit Basu
Publisher: Penguin Books India
Total Pages: 516
Release: 2006-03
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9780144000777

India'S First Ever Sff (Science Fiction/Fantasy) Genre Novel In English The Simoqin Prophecies Marks The Debut Of An Assured New Voice. Written With Consummate Ease And Brimming With Wit And Allusion, It Is At Once Classic Sff And Subtle Spoof, Featuring Scantily Clad Centauresses, Flying Carpets, Pink Trolls, Belly Dancers And Homicidal Rabbits. Monty Python Meets The Ramayana, Alice In Wonderland Meets The Lord Of The Rings And Robin Hood Meets The Arabian Nights In This Novel A Breathtaking Ride Through A World Peopled By Different Races And Cultures From Mythology And History. The Prophecies Foretell The Reawakening Of The Terrible Rakshas, Danh-Gem, And The Arrival Of A Hero To Face Him. But Heroes Do Not Appear Magically Out Of Nowhere; They Have To Be Found And Trained. And Sometimes The Makers Of Prophecies Don'T Know Everything They Need To Know... As The Day Of Danh-Gem'S Rising Draws Closer And The Chosen Hero Is Sent On A Quest, Another Young Man Learns Of Terrible Things He Must Do In Secret And The Difficult Choices He Must Make In Order To Save The World From The Rakshas. Drawn From A Variety Of Sources Ranging From Greek And Indian Epics To Spy Novels, Fairy Tales To Superhero Comics, The Simoqin Prophecies Is A Compelling Tale, Marked By Meticulous Plotting And Artful Storytelling A Page-Turner Sure To Grip You From Start To Finish.

If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
Author: Stephen Webb
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 294
Release: 2002-10-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387955011

In a 1950 conversation at Los Alamos, four world-class scientists generally agreed, given the size of the Universe, that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations must be present. But one of the four, Enrico Fermi, asked, "If these civilizations do exist, where is everybody?" Given the fact that there are perhaps 400 million stars in our Galaxy alone, and perhaps 400 million galaxies in the Universe, it stands to reason that somewhere out there, in the 14 billion-year-old cosmos, there is or once was a civilization at least as advanced as our own. Webb discusses in detail the 50 most cogent and intriguing solutions to Fermi's famous paradox.

Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life

Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life
Author: Jörg Matthias Determann
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2020-09-17
Genre: History
ISBN: 0755601300

The Muslim world is not commonly associated with science fiction. Religion and repression have often been blamed for a perceived lack of creativity, imagination and future-oriented thought. However, even the most authoritarian Muslim-majority countries have produced highly imaginative accounts on one of the frontiers of knowledge: astrobiology, or the study of life in the universe. This book argues that the Islamic tradition has been generally supportive of conceptions of extra-terrestrial life, and in this engaging account, Jörg Matthias Determann provides a survey of Arabic, Bengali, Malay, Persian, Turkish, and Urdu texts and films, to show how scientists and artists in and from Muslim-majority countries have been at the forefront of the exciting search. Determann takes us to little-known dimensions of Muslim culture and religion, such as wildly popular adaptations of Star Wars and mysterious movements centred on UFOs. Repression is shown to have helped science fiction more than hurt it, with censorship encouraging authors to disguise criticism of contemporary politics by setting plots in future times and on distant planets. The book will be insightful for anyone looking to explore the science, culture and politics of the Muslim world and asks what the discovery of extra-terrestrial life would mean for one of the greatest faiths.

A Handful of Nuts

A Handful of Nuts
Author: Ruskin Bond
Publisher: Penguin Books India
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2009
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0143067400

A collection of Ruskin Bond's six novels evoking nostalgia for time gone by This collection of six novels sparkles with the quiet charm and humanity that are the hallmarks of Ruskin Bond's writing. Evoking nostalgia for a time gone by; these poignant chronicles of life in India's hills and small towns describe the hopes and passions that capture young minds and hearts; highlighting the uneasy reconciliation of dreams and destiny. The six novels included in the collection are: The Room on the Roof Vagrants in the Valley Delhi Is Not Far A Flight of Pigeons The Sensualist A Handful of Nuts

Scientific Basis for Ayurvedic Therapies

Scientific Basis for Ayurvedic Therapies
Author: Lakshmi C. Mishra
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 502
Release: 2003-09-29
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9780849313660

Arguably the oldest form of health care, Ayurveda is often referred to as the "Mother of All Healing." Although there has been considerable scientific research done in this area during the last 50 years, the results of that research have not been adequately disseminated. Meeting the need for an authoritative, evidence-based reference, Scientific Basis for Ayurvedic Therapies is the first book to analyze and synthesize current research supporting Ayurvedic medicine. This book reviews the latest scientific information, evaluates the research data, and presents it in an easy to use format. The editor has carefully selected topics based on the availability of scientific studies and the prevalence of a disease. With contributions from experts in their respective fields, topics include Ayurvedic disease management, panchkarma, Ayurvedic bhasmas, the current status of Ayurveda in India, clinical research design, and evaluation of typical clinical trials of certain diseases, to name just a few. While there are many books devoted to Ayurveda, very few have any in-depth basis in scientific studies. This book provides a critical evaluation of literature, clinical trials, and biochemical and pharmacological studies on major Ayurvedic therapies that demonstrates how they are supported by scientific data. Providing a natural bridge from Ayurveda to Western medicine, Scientific Basis for Ayurvedic Therapies facilitates the integration of these therapies by health care providers.

Govind Narayan's Mumbai

Govind Narayan's Mumbai
Author: Govinda Nārāyaṇa Māḍagã̄vakara
Publisher: Anthem Press
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2009
Genre: Bombay (India)
ISBN: 1843313057

The first ever book on Mumbai written in the Marathi language, this is a historically fascinating and revealing urban biography of nineteenth-century India.

Warrior's Woman

Warrior's Woman
Author: Johanna Lindsey
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 452
Release: 2010-10-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0062036696

“If you’re looking for sensuality, you won’t be disappointed in Johanna Lindsey.” —Chicago Tribune A classic romance novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey, Warrior’s Woman boldly goes where no romantic fiction has gone before! An ingenious blend of sizzling passion, paranormal romance, and science fiction romantic fantasy, Warrior’s Woman travels far into the future—where a fearless intergalactic traveler hoping to save her endangered home world seeks a champion on a planet of strapping barbarians…and finds herself making very physical contact with a truly magnificent savage.