Science of – serie

Spy-Fi Culture with a License to KillFrom Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, James Bond is the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time. Out-grossing Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world’s most iconic and international secret agent has a shelf life of almost six decades, from Dr. No to Spectre. As nuclear missile threats are replaced by a series of subtler threats in a globalized and digital world, Bond is with us still.In The Science of James Bond, we recognize the Bond franchise as a unique genre: spy-fi. A genre of film and fiction that fuses spy fiction with science fiction. We look at Bond’s obsessions with super-villains, the future, and world domination or destruction. And we take a peek under the hood of trends in science and tech, often in the form of gadgets and spy devices in chapters such as:Goldfinger: Man Has Achieved Miracles in All Fields but Crime!You Only Live Twice: The Race to Conquer SpaceLive and Let Die: Full Throttle: Bond and the CarSkyfall: The Science of CyberterrorismAnd more!This is the only James Bond companion that looks at the film and fiction in such a spy-fi way, taking in weapon wizards, the chemistry of death, threads of nuclear paranoia, and Bond baddies’ obsession with the master race!

From scream queens to femmes fatale, horror isn’t just for the boys. Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Monsters, and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the feminist horror movies, TV shows, and characters we all know and love.  Through interviews, film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Women in Horror uncovers the theories behind women’s most iconic roles of the genre. Explore age-old tropes such as “The Innocent” like Lydia in Beetlejuice, “The Gorgon” like Pamela Voorhees in Friday the 13th, and “The Mother” like Norma Bates in Pyscho and Bates Motel, and delve deeper into female-forward film and TV including: The Haunting of Hill HouseTeethChilling Adventures of SabrinaBuffy the Vampire SlayerAnd so much more!Join Kelly and Meg in The Science of Women in Horror as they flip the script and prove that every girl is a “final girl.”

Uncover the theories behind the Master of Horror's macabre tales: It, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, Pet Semetary, and so much more!  Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Monsters and The Science of Women in Horror, and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the Stephen King stories and characters we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Stephen King delves into the uniquely horrific Stephen King universe to uncover the science behind the legendary novels that have become an integral part of modern pop culture, answering such questions as:  What is the science behind time travel and parallel universes like in The Dark Tower series and 11/22/63? How does lack of sleep affect the human body like in Insomnia? Is it possible for horrific creatures to exist like in Nightshift? What is the science behind curses and legends like in Dreamcatcher and Thinner? Join Kelly and Meg as they learn if we all really do float down here!

Boldly go where no man has gone before and discover the real science behind the cyborgs, starships, aliens, and antimatter of the Star Trek galaxy.Star Trek is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. It has changed our cultural landscape in so many ways since it first aired in 1966. The franchise has generated billions of dollars in revenue, leading to a wide range of spin-off games, novels, toys, and comics. Star Trek is noted for its social science, too, with its progressive civil rights stances and its celebration of future diversity that began with The Original Series, one of television's first multiracial casts. The Science of Star Trek explores one of the greatest science-fiction universes ever created and showcases the visionary tech that inspired and influenced the real-world science of today. The perfect Star Trek gift for fans of the franchise, this book addresses many unanswered, burning questions, including:  What can Star Trek tell us about aliens in our Milky Way?How has Star Trek influenced space culture?What can Star Trek tell us about planet hunting?What Star Trek machines came true?When will we boldly go?Learn more about one of our favorite modern epics with The Science of Star Trek!

A tale of some of the most amazing creatures ever to grace this tiny planet—unearth how the science fiction of the Jurassic World franchise inspired the evolution of dinosaur science.  It all began in 1993. Jurassic Park was a movie landmark in the development of computer-generated imagery and animatronic visual effects. Jurassic Park became the highest-grossing movie of that year, and the highest-grossing film ever at the time, a record held until the 1997 release of Titanic. The field of dinosaur science has blossomed by leaps and bounds and branched out in recent years, in no small part to this iconic movie series.  In The Science of Jurassic World, we experience the amazing story of the birth of the dinosaurs, how they evolved to world dominance, how some became gargantuan in size, how others grew wings and flew, and how the rest of them met an untimely end. Chapters include: How did Jurassic Park transform dinosaur science?Was Dr. Alan Grant’s job a walk in the park?What’s with the giant dinosaur poop?When will we clone dinosaurs?And so much more!Discover how some of cinema’s most incredible creations do justice to the jaw-dropping evolution of these fantastic creatures.

Discover the real-life inspirations behind history’s most infamous serial killers: John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, and so many more.  Gothic media moguls Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl, authors of The Science of Monsters, The Science of Women in Horror, and The Science of Stephen King, and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the serial killers who inspired the movies and media we all know and love. Delve into the brutal truth behind horror’s secret: many monsters portrayed on the silver screen are based on true murderers. Uncover the truth behind the real monsters of horror, answering such questions as:  What is the science behind serial killers’ motivations like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy? How did detectives discover the identities of criminals like the Boston Strangler and the BTK Strangler?Has science made it possible to unmask Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer? What is the science behind female versus male serial killers? Through interviews, film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, join Kelly and Meg as they learn about the horrors of true crime through the decades.

A scientific discovery of witches in fiction—Chilled Adventures of Sabrina, Sleeping Beauty, Wicked and so many more! Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl, authors of The Science of Women in Horror and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the history of witchcraft through the stories and characters we all know and love. Reveal the spellbinding science behind the legends and lore surrounding fiction’s most iconic witches, answering such questions as:  What is the science behind divination and spellcraft?When did witchcraft begin to show up in literature and media?Has science made it possible to uncover the truth behind the powers of necromancy and employing familiars?How has witchcraft been thought of throughout the world?Through interviews, film and literary analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, join Kelly and Meg as they learn about the complicated and rich science of witchcraft throughout the centuries and discover why now is the season of the witch!

An essential read for the legions of Sherlockians about the globe.  Sherlock Holmes is the world’s greatest-ever consulting detective. The huge popularity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional creation, and his sixty stories, made Sherlock one of the most famous characters of Victorian London.  All evidence suggests Sherlock’s fan adoration has lasted almost one and a half centuries through many adaptations. There is Sherlock fan fiction in China, Sherlock manga in Japan, and tribute pop songs in Korea. Guinness World Records awarded Sherlock Holmes the title of most portrayed literary human character in film and television thanks to the popular Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey Jr., series like Elementary starring Lucy Liu, Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and so many more.Sherlock’s enduring appeal shows that his detective talents are as compelling today as they were in the days of Conan Doyle. The Science of Sherlock gives you an in-depth look at the science behind the cases Sherlock cracked in those Ripper streets of old.

Take a trip beyond this Earth to explore the myths of The Mandalorian and uncover the anatomy of the newest space western in the Star Wars Universe.Star Wars dominates the film world. The combined box office revenue of the Star Wars movies equates to over $10 billion, making it the second highest-grossing film franchise of all time. But this franchise is no blaster from the past. Its fantastically successful films have now been followed by multiple television series set in that same galaxy far, far away. The franchise’s flagship television series, and likely the firmest fan favorite for some time to come, is The Mandalorian.Tracing the tale of the titular bounty hunter, traveling across the furthest reaches of that mythic galaxy, The Mandalorian has been greatly praised and highly acclaimed for creating characters with gravitas and originality, worlds with depth and impact, resulting in some of the best Star Wars content ever. Even though it’s set in deep space, The Mandalorian has as much in common with Western movies as it does with science fiction. Saloons. Bandits. “Gun” duels. Bounty hunters. Outlaws with a price on their heads. Space exploration as a “final frontier.” And a wild hero who doesn’t quite belong in a lawless part of the Galaxy after the fall of the Empire.The Science of The Mandalorian takes you on a badass journey with a mysterious, lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, where your beskar armor will protect you from many things, but not the sight of a small, green, carnivorous humanoid with big black eyes and mysterious powers. This is the way.

Uncover the theories behind Dame Agatha Christie's most thrilling mysteries: Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, The A.B.C. Murders, and so much more!Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Stephen King and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the Agatha Christie stories and supersleuths we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Agatha Christie uncovers the science behind the sixty-six detective novels and fourteen short story collections that have become an integral part of the modern murder mystery, answering such questions as:  What is the science behind the poisons used to commit murders in Agatha Christie’s stories? When did crime investigation become more common as seen in Murder on the Orient Express? Has science made it possible to uncover the truth behind the investigative powers of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple? How did Agatha Christie use isolated settings to best explore the psychology of her characters? Join Kelly and Meg as they discover why sometimes the impossible must be possible!

Celebrate the rise of superwomen and discover the science behind the abilities of Wonder Woman, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Catwoman, and more!Superhero fiction has been with us for almost a century; high-octane tales crammed with concepts and contrasting themes, from superpowers and the post-human, to masked vigilantes and immortality. In that time, superwomen have evolved from comic book caricatures (created by men, for men) to stronger representations of female power.The Science of Superwomen looks at this evolution, from its hypersexualised origins to today’s more nuanced diversity. Focusing on characters from Star Wars and X-Men, as well as the likes of Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Captain Marvel, Harley Quinn, Wednesday Addams, Doctor Who, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Science of Superwomen explores the relationship between superhero film and fiction and the underlying science of our ever-evolving universe.

Discover the truth behind ESP, paranormal powers, and psychic abilities—the perfect gift for curious minds and bold scientists alike.Some paranormal phenomena and powers of the mind are real, but mainstream science dismisses it all as fantasy. The Science of the Paranormal looks toward the overwhelming evidence that something weird and wild lies behind our everyday reality. Credible witnesses have seen paranormal activity with their own eyes. Scientists have studied it in their labs. And everyday we see depictions of it in popular media like Stranger Things and X-Men. Separate fact from fiction in this book and get answers to questions like: Can objects be moved with psychokinesis? Is the future foreseeable? Can we communicate telepathically? What does science say about ESP? Where is the evidence for reincarnation and spirits? And much more! Explore the fascinating discoveries behind the paranormal with The Science of the Paranormal.

An In-Depth Analysis of The Beatles' Music and the Theory, Techniques, and Technology That Made It PossibleWhen people look back in two hundred years time at our culture, whose music will have survived from today? Who will be our equivalent of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven? The big story of contemporary popular music has been The Beatles. They were the chief architects of the fusion of classical and popular music to create a new musical mainstream.From the time we humans first made our art, music and technology have been inseparable. And that symbiotic relationship has never been so excitingly orchestrated than with the musical history of The Beatles. They absorbed many other styles around them in an extraordinary and unprecedented melting pot of music. And they embraced new technologies with enthusiasm and imagination.As pioneers of recording tech and artistic presentation, making American music with a British twist, The Beatles revolutionized many aspects of music tech, and became leaders of the era’s youth and sociocultural movements. Their music was both genuinely sophisticated and hugely popular. For a generation, they were the most important composers in the world, and became the most influential band of all time.Putting the band’s thirteen legendary studio albums under a microscope, The Science of The Beatles looks at the science, poetry, and raw-power in the music that started a revolution.

From the authors of The Science of Stephen King and The Science of Agatha Christie comes a book made for every classic film aficionado.  The Science of Alfred Hitchcock is a close look at the Master of Suspense’s most revered works. From his start in the silent era to his shocking unmasking of Norman Bates in Psycho, we explore Hitchcock’s legacy through the lens of biography, science, and pop culture. Steeped in the golden era of Hollywood, The Science of Alfred Hitchcock is a daringly close look at the man behind the camera lens.  Join us as we delve into the history of Hitchcock’s ouvre to discover;   Who was the true life murderer who inspired Shadow of a Doubt? Was there really a feud between Hitchcock and studio legend David O. Selznick? What is the psychology behind some of Hitchcock’s most famous characters? Is there science to support a “perfect” murder as featured in many of Hitchcock’s films?  With a comprehensive look at Alfred Hitchcock’s impressive filmography, this book is a must-read for every lover of suspense. Whether you’re a film buff or a cinema newbie, you’ll be mesmerized by the history and science behind the greatest film director of a generation.

How does magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe work? Finally, the scientific secrets are revealed!The story of the boy who lived has brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream fruition more than any other book series in history. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seemingly impossible, including answers to such questions as: Will we ever see an invisibility cloak?How hazardous is a flying broomstick like the Nimbus 2000?How has medicine made powerful potions from peculiar plants? (Felix Felicis, anyone?)Can scientists ever demonstrate Wingardium Leviosa, or the flying power of a Golden Snitch?Is it possible to stupefy someone?And many more!A perfect Harry Potter gift for anyone obsessed enough to stand in line to be the first to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, witches and wizards alike will be fascinated by the merging of this improbable realm and real science.

Discover the science behind the most popular sci-fi franchise of all time!We marvel at the variety of creatures and technology and the mystery behind the force. But how much of the Star Wars world is rooted in reality? Could we see some of the extraordinary inventions materialize in our world? This uncomplicated, entertaining read makes it easy to understand how advanced physics concepts, such as wormholes and Einstein’s theory of relativity, apply to the Star Wars universe.