New Releases by Ann Druyan

A whimsical journey into the realm of off-duty literary characters—and an ode to the power of reading At twenty-four, Marina is at a crux in life. “I’m just at the age when time speeds up in an odd way. . . . The winters come closer together and you begin to accept that you’re not special anymore.” She’s cautious of her imaginative tendencies, unsure how she might make a difference in a world that feels increasingly big and small at the same time. At this uncertain precipice, nothing could come as a stranger surprise than waking up one sunny morning on a park bench in an entirely different world. Yet that’s where Marina finds herself: at a place called In The Beginning, populated by characters from literature waiting to be read—or, in some cases, written. Although Marina is bewildered by her sudden and unexpected arrival in this bustling realm of overlapping possibilities, she soon learns that In The Beginning is facing an existential threat, and she is uniquely positioned to help. So begins her quest to find Pearl, the one person who may hold the key to saving everyone. Delving deeper into this unusual world in pursuit of answers, Marina’s journey leads her into the heart of herself and to a shocking truth. Ann Druyan packs this compelling adventure story with characters both familiar and new, offering a profound testament to the cosmic powers of imagination and curiosity. First published in 1977, A Famous Broken Heart resounds with wit and wisdom that continue to connect with readers.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds adalah saga lanjutan petualangan besar yang diawali bersama oleh Carl Sagan dan Ann Druyan. Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey Druyan yang meraih Emmy Award dan Peabody Award merupakan fenomena global, ditayangkan di 181 negara di seantero planet ini. Kini, dengan Possible Worlds, Druyan melanjutkan perjalanan menarik yang akan membawa Anda melintas 14 miliar evolusi kosmik dan berbagai rahasia alam. Inilah kisah-kisah para penanya tanpa takut yang belum pernah disampaikan, yang pencariannyaÑbahkan kadang dengan biaya setinggi-tingginyaÑmemberi kita gambaran alam semesta luas yang baru kita mulai kenali. Dalam buku memukau ini, Druyan membayangkan masa depan penuh inspirasi yang kita masih bisa dapatkan di dunia iniÑjika kita sadar pada waktunya untuk menggunakan sains dan teknologi canggih dengan kebijaksanaan. Siap-siap berlayar ke bintang-bintang!

Este fascinante libro, basado en la serie de televisión de Fox y National Geographic Cosmos: mundos posibles, muestra la notable capacidad de la famosa autora Ann Druyan para hacer comprensibles e inspiradoras las ideas científicas. En estas páginas descubrimos cómo ciencia y civilización han crecido juntas, y cómo iluminan el camino de nuestro futuro. Desde el surgimiento de la vida en la Tierra hace unos 4.000 millones de años hasta un futuro en el que naves interestelares viajarán a otras partes de la galaxia, Druyan explora dónde hemos estado y hacia dónde vamos. He aquí la historia de las ideas que configuran la ciencia del mañana, con figuras conocidas como Galileo y Darwin, y héroes olvidados como la astrónoma Caroline Herschel, el botánico Nikolái Vavílov o el ingeniero Yuri Kondratiuk. Más estimulante aún es la visión de Druyan del mundo que aún podemos tener aquí en la Tierra.

"Cosmos: Possible Worlds travels through more than 14 billion years of cosmic evolution and into an astonishing future where probes travel by light beams to distant stars, helping us solve enduring mysteries of our origins and dream toward an unimaginable time ahead."--

What are these graceful visitors to our skies? We now know that they bring both life and death and teach us about our origins. Comet begins with a breathtaking journey through space astride a comet. Pulitzer Prize-winning astronomer Carl Sagan, author of Cosmos and Contact, and writer Ann Druyan explore the origin, nature, and future of comets, and the exotic myths and portents attached to them. The authors show how comets have spurred some of the great discoveries in the history of science and raise intriguing questions about these brilliant visitors from the interstellar dark. Were the fates of the dinosaurs and the origins of humans tied to the wanderings of a comet? Are comets the building blocks from which worlds are formed? Lavishly illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned full-color paintings, Comet is an enthralling adventure, indispensable for anyone who has ever gazed up at the heavens and wondered why. Praise for Comet "Simply the best." —The Times of London "Fascinating, evocative, inspiring." —The Washington Post "Comet humanizes science. A beautiful, interesting book." —United Press International "Masterful . . . science, poetry, and imagination." —The Atlanta Journal & Constitution

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Exciting and provocative . . . A tour de force of a book that begs to be seen as well as to be read.”—The Washington Post Book World World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a Roots for the human species, a lucid and riveting account of how humans got to be the way we are. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a thrilling saga that starts with the origin of the Earth. It shows with humor and drama that many of our key traits—self-awareness, technology, family ties, submission to authority, hatred for those a little different from ourselves, reason, and ethics—are rooted in the deep past, and illuminated by our kinship with other animals. Sagan and Druyan conduct a breathtaking journey through space and time, zeroing in on critical turning points in evolutionary history, and tracing the origins of sex, altruism, violence, rape, and dominance. Their book culminates in a stunningly original examination of the connection between primate and human traits. Astonishing in its scope, brilliant in its insights, and an absolutely compelling read, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a triumph of popular science.

Une synthèse en trois parties: La nature des comètes - Origines et destinées des comètes - Les comètes et l''avenir.