Full Product Details
Author: Charles L. Adler
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 2.90cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.652kg
ISBN: 9780691147154
ISBN 10: 0691147159
Pages: 392
Publication Date: 02 February 2014
Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
General
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Temporarily unavailable
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Language: English
Reviews
Whether as a text for a course or as a vehicle for self-study, this book makes for interesting, educational and thought-provoking reading. --Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews Adler does a grand job of showing just how powerful even basic maths and physics can be. If you're a budding back-of-the-envelope boffin not afraid of a bit of algebra, you'll love this book. --Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine I can't work out whether I love or hate this book. I love it because its analysis of the physics behind numerous accounts of magic and space exploration in fantasy and science fiction writing is fascinating. I hate it because it reveals why I will never be able to realise my dream of saying 'Beam me up, Scotty' before being teleported; or so Charles Adler has convinced me... The physics is well explained and Adler offers entertaining examples. --Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Times Higher Education Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a great book by itself or as a starting point for exploring the physics of space exploration as well as the classics in science fiction. --Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books For those who want to learn the hard facts about the realities of space travel or the chances for alien life, and as an engaging supplemental text for physics and astronomy courses, Wizards, Aliens, and Starships would be an admirable choice. --Sidney Perkowitz, Scientists' Bookshelf [A] rewarding and thought-provoking read. --Paul Sutherland, BBC Sky at Night [T]his book offers a lot, not only to SF authors but to any of you who want to see the real science in operation because this supplies most of the answers you need. Make sure your copy gets a serious read and well-thumbed. --G.F. Willmetts, SFCrowsnest This book will speak to anyone wanting to know about the correct--and incorrect--science of science fiction and fantasy. --Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin [T]his is an interesting, well-written book, and Adler has put a lot of work into it. It should be invaluable for anyone wanting to write really accurate science fiction. --Popular Science There is much ... in this book to interest readers interested in astronomy and astronautics and I think it will be likely to appeal to physics students. --John Harney, Magonia Charles L. Adler, professor in the physics department at St. Mary's College in Maryland, is one of us--he's a lifelong fan of SF, and he knows what he's talking about. And Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a great book for Analog readers, as well as anyone who wants to write hard SF. I mean, it's got honest-to-goodness equations--and the book is dedicated to Poul Anderson... Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a love letter to science fiction. --Don Sakers, Analog Science Fiction and Fact Hugely entertaining and scientifically sound. --Paul Gilster, Centauri Dreams What a fun book! --Keith Cooper, Astronomy Now Wizards, Aliens, and Starships manages to thread the needles of both scientific literacy and accuracy when it comes to the properties he's exploring. Whether it's conservation of mass in shapeshifting, lighting candles at Hogwarts, or building a planet, Adler keeps the science accessible and the fanboys and girls happy. --Glenn Dallas, San Francisco Book Review
Whether as a text for a course or as a vehicle for self-study, this book makes for interesting, educational and thought-provoking reading. --Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews Adler does a grand job of showing just how powerful even basic maths and physics can be. If you're a budding back-of-the-envelope boffin not afraid of a bit of algebra, you'll love this book. --Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine I can't work out whether I love or hate this book. I love it because its analysis of the physics behind numerous accounts of magic and space exploration in fantasy and science fiction writing is fascinating. I hate it because it reveals why I will never be able to realise my dream of saying 'Beam me up, Scotty' before being teleported; or so Charles Adler has convinced me... The physics is well explained and Adler offers entertaining examples. --Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Times Higher Education Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a great book by itself or as a starting point for exploring the physics of space exploration as well as the classics in science fiction. --Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books For those who want to learn the hard facts about the realities of space travel or the chances for alien life, and as an engaging supplemental text for physics and astronomy courses, Wizards, Aliens, and Starships would be an admirable choice. --Sidney Perkowitz, Scientists' Bookshelf
Whether as a text for a course or as a vehicle for self-study, this book makes for interesting, educational and thought-provoking reading. --Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews Adler does a grand job of showing just how powerful even basic maths and physics can be. If you're a budding back-of-the-envelope boffin not afraid of a bit of algebra, you'll love this book. --Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine I can't work out whether I love or hate this book. I love it because its analysis of the physics behind numerous accounts of magic and space exploration in fantasy and science fiction writing is fascinating. I hate it because it reveals why I will never be able to realise my dream of saying 'Beam me up, Scotty' before being teleported; or so Charles Adler has convinced me... The physics is well explained and Adler offers entertaining examples. --Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Times Higher Education Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a great book by itself or as a starting point for exploring the physics of space exploration as well as the classics in science fiction. --Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books For those who want to learn the hard facts about the realities of space travel or the chances for alien life, and as an engaging supplemental text for physics and astronomy courses, Wizards, Aliens, and Starships would be an admirable choice. --Sidney Perkowitz, Scientists' Bookshelf [A] rewarding and thought-provoking read. --Paul Sutherland, BBC Sky at Night [T]his book offers a lot, not only to SF authors but to any of you who want to see the real science in operation because this supplies most of the answers you need. Make sure your copy gets a serious read and well-thumbed. --G.F. Willmetts, SFCrowsnest This book will speak to anyone wanting to know about the correct--and incorrect--science of science fiction and fantasy. --Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin [T]his is an interesting, well-written book, and Adler has put a lot of work into it. It should be invaluable for anyone wanting to write really accurate science fiction. --Popular Science There is much ... in this book to interest readers interested in astronomy and astronautics and I think it will be likely to appeal to physics students. --John Harney, Magonia Charles L. Adler, professor in the physics department at St. Mary's College in Maryland, is one of us--he's a lifelong fan of SF, and he knows what he's talking about. And Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a great book for Analog readers, as well as anyone who wants to write hard SF. I mean, it's got honest-to-goodness equations--and the book is dedicated to Poul Anderson... Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a love letter to science fiction. --Don Sakers, Analog Science Fiction and Fact Hugely entertaining and scientifically sound. --Paul Gilster, Centauri Dreams What a fun book! --Keith Cooper, Astronomy Now Wizards, Aliens, and Starships manages to thread the needles of both scientific literacy and accuracy when it comes to the properties he's exploring. Whether it's conservation of mass in shapeshifting, lighting candles at Hogwarts, or building a planet, Adler keeps the science accessible and the fanboys and girls happy. --Glenn Dallas, San Francisco Book Review Wizards, Aliens, and Starships [is] a book that combines my love for science and my love for science fiction... I did quite like this book and would recommend it for any academic library that collects popular science or science fiction. Large public libraries would also find this book to be useful as would many high school libraries. It would also make a great gift to any young person (or not so young!) who loves science fiction and has a bit of scientific background. --John Dupuis, Confessions of a Science Librarian [T]his is a towering achievement... [I]t is certainly one of the coolest textbooks one will find anywhere... Any fan of science fiction or fantasy who wants to understand what is real and what is imaginary will almost certainly enjoy this book, and can look forward to learning what may be possible, both in great fiction and in the real universe. --Jonathan T. Malay, Quest This is a good, interesting, well-written, and often humorous work. Adler obviously loves all types of science fiction--books, short stories, films, TV--and enjoys thinking through their scientific aspects... Overall, the book provides a thorough treatment of science fiction and an introduction to much of physics and astronomy. --Choice [T]his is an exciting book... I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding the relationship between physics and science fiction. Instructors of introductory physics courses, especially, will find it a valuable supplement to dry physics textbooks, and its use may even boost students' evaluations of the course. I will certainly use it in my classes. --Costas Efthimiou, Physics World
Whether as a text for a course or as a vehicle for self-study, this book makes for interesting, educational and thought-provoking reading. --Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews Adler does a grand job of showing just how powerful even basic maths and physics can be. If you're a budding back-of-the-envelope boffin not afraid of a bit of algebra, you'll love this book. --Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine I can't work out whether I love or hate this book. I love it because its analysis of the physics behind numerous accounts of magic and space exploration in fantasy and science fiction writing is fascinating. I hate it because it reveals why I will never be able to realise my dream of saying 'Beam me up, Scotty' before being teleported; or so Charles Adler has convinced me... The physics is well explained and Adler offers entertaining examples. --Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Times Higher Education Wizards, Aliens, and Starships is a great book by itself or as a starting point for exploring the physics of space exploration as well as the classics in science fiction. --Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books
Whether as a text for a course or as a vehicle for self-study, this book makes for interesting, educational and thought-provoking reading. --Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews Adler does a grand job of showing just how powerful even basic maths and physics can be. If you're a budding back-of-the-envelope boffin not afraid of a bit of algebra, you'll love this book. --Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine
Author Information
Charles L. Adler is professor of physics at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
