It was a lovable little creature, anxious to help solve the troubles of the world. Moreover, it had the answer! But what man ever takes free advice?

Why do Americans find it appealing to create and live in artificial worlds--whether in space, at Disneyland, in computer networks, or in our own minds?

Science Fiction's Original Classic Magazine!This digitally reproduced full edition replica of Galaxy Science Fiction's ground-breaking magazine issue from November 1950 has been brought back to life for a new generation of fans to enjoy! Stories by Isaac Asimov, Fritz Leiber, Theodore Sturgeon and more! Explore the possibilities of life in the future from the perspective of the 1950's pre-spaceflight era. Several of the stories and commentaries in this 65+ year-old publication are stunningly accurate, while others are amusingly way off base . . .or are they??. All are well written and entertaining, with beautiful illustrations and advertisements in the classic 1950's comic book style. Along with commentary by editor H.L. Gold, each Galaxy issue also contains a book review column by anthologist Groff Conklin, and a Willy Ley science column. The stories in this magazine are written by some of science fiction's most beloved authors, including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Sheckley, Fritz Leiber, Frederik Pohl & C.M. Kornbluth, just to name a few. This November 1950 issue does not disappoint with stories from Asimov, Leiber, and Clifford D. Simak, among others. Established in 1950, Galaxy Science Fiction was a pioneer in Science Fiction magazine publishing. Original editor H. L. Gold was interested in sociology, psychology, and other "soft" sciences, and was also willing to publish humorous and satirical stories. Science Fiction historian David Kyle commented in his book A Pictorial History of Science Fiction, 1979, that "of all the editors in and out of the post-war scene, the most influential beyond any doubt was H. L. Gold". The editorship of Galaxy passed from H.L. Gold to Frederik Pohl and then to Ejler Jakobsson during the 1960s. Look for more editions of MDP'sGalaxy's Science Fiction series, coming soon to e-retailers worldwide.

Explores the figure and function of Mark, the apostolic associate to whom Christians have traditionally attributed authorship of the second gospel. Using a variety of critical lenses - historical, literary and theological - Black examines the images of Mark the Evangelical which emerge from the New Testament and from the writings of the early church fathers. He shows how these images helped the early church in the formation of its religious memory and theological identity.

In this study of early Christian traditions, C. Clifton Black explores the figure and function of Mark, the apostolic associate to whom Christians traditionally have attributed authorship of the New Testament's anonymous Second Gospel and whose very existence has been a controversial issue among scholars. Black contends that in their justifiable doubt about Mark's writing of the Second Gospel, biblical scholars have neglected the development of that ascription as well as its religious motivations. Using a variety of critical lenses—historical, literary, and theological—Black examines the images of Mark that emerge from the New Testament and from the writings of the early church fathers. Black's comprehensive investigation culminates in a fresh appraisal of the relationship between the Gospel of Mark and the legends surrounding its composition. Black concludes that the figure of Mark was carefully crafted as a part of the interpretive framework within which early Christians read the Second Gospel and heard its witness as faithful to their understanding of Jesus. Like the Markan Gospel itself, the image of Mark the Evangelist helped the early church in the formation of its religious memory and theological identity.

A collection of twenty classic short stories by Isaac Asimov, author of the Foundation series, featuring the definitive version of “Nightfall” From one of history’s most influential writers of science fiction comes this collection of twenty short works of fiction, arranged in order of publication from 1941 to 1967. Compiled by Asimov himself, who prefaced each story with an introduction, it begins with “Nightfall,” the tale of a world with eternal sun that is suddenly plunged into total darkness and utter madness. “Nightfall,” published when the author was only twenty-one, was arguably his breakout work, making such an impression that, almost thirty years later, the Science Fiction Writers of America voted it the best science-fiction short story ever written The other stories in the collection span far and wide: A dedicated scientist who whips up his own love potion. Machines that learn to think for themselves—and direct their thoughts to overturning the establishment. The discovery that Earthlings are being destroyed by a mysterious kind of psychological virus. A day when walking outdoors becomes a sign of psychosis. And many more.