Ronald L. Smith – författare

This book chronicles the radio appearances of all prominent classic horror movie stars--Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, and two dozen more, including "scream queens" like Fay Wray. It contains script excerpts from radio shows as well as material from narrated albums and music singles. Each star's appearances are listed by show and air date, with descriptions of the subject matter.

Matrix positivity is a central topic in matrix theory: properties that generalize the notion of positivity to matrices arose from a large variety of applications, and many have also taken on notable theoretical significance, either because they are natural or unifying. This is the first book to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date reference of important material on matrix positivity classes, their properties, and their relations. The matrix classes emphasized in this book include the classes of semipositive matrices, P-matrices, inverse M-matrices, and copositive matrices. This self-contained reference will be useful to a large variety of mathematicians, engineers, and social scientists, as well as graduate students. The generalizations of positivity and the connections observed provide a unique perspective, along with theoretical insight into applications and future challenges. Direct applications can be found in data analysis, differential equations, mathematical programming, computational complexity, models of the economy, population biology, dynamical systems and control theory.

A delightfully creepy novel from a Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner imbued with magic and seafaring mythology. Lemony Snicket and Jessica Townsend meet Greenglass House, with a hint of Edward Gorey thrown in.

Comedian, actor, and writer Bill Cosby is one of the most successful and respected entertainers in America. Yet the Cosby we know today came from a much different place and time than the ideal featured in his 1980s hit series "The Cosby Show," where the main character was a loveable, responsible doctor and family man.Cosby: The Life of a Comedy Legend by Ronald L. Smith, a recognized writer on comedy and comedians, tracks the humble upbringing of the Cos in the Philadelphia projects; explores the inspiration he drew from his family, his teachers, the strong female figures in his life, and the books he read; discusses the hardships he experienced while working several jobs to help support his sisters and brothers after his father deserted the family; and reveals his lean years as a budding comic, his early successes, and the big break that brought him to television.As the only biography of Bill Cosby for the adult market, this book explores his feelings and thoughts in great detail, while masterfully documenting Cosby's trailblazing work as a pioneering black performer who was one of the first to co-star in a drama series, "I Spy." Also discussed is Cosby's dedication to education and his efforts on behalf of children.Included are exclusive interviews with family, friends, Cosby's college coach, his first manager, technical advisors from "The Cosby Show" and other big stars. Smith also includes a complete and up-to-date checklist of Cosby's writings, records, films, and television credits.

Thirteen-year-old T'Challa can't wait to go back to America to visit his friends Sheila and Zeke in Beaumont, a small Alabama town, over their summer break. He's thrilled to be on holiday away from his duties as the Prince of Wakanda.But as T'Challa begins to explore the town, he finds that a man who goes by the ordinary name of Bob happens to be everywhere he is - and T'Challa begins to think it's no coincidence. When residents of the town begin flocking to Bob's strange message, and a prominent citizen disappears, the Young Prince has no choice but to intervene. Before long, T'Challa and his friends find themselves caught in a plot involving a rare ancient book and a man who's not as he seems. Swept up in a fight against an unexpected and evil villain, T'Challa, Sheila and Zeke must band together to save the people of Beaumont... before it's too late.