Books published by publisher Pegasus Press

Nuclear power is a paradox of danger and salvation—how is it that the renewable energy source our society so desperately needs is the one we are most afraid to use?The American public's introduction to nuclear technology was manifested in destruction and death. With Hiroshima and the Cold War still ringing in our ears, our perception of all things nuclear is seen through the lens of weapons development. Nuclear power is full of mind-bending theories, deep secrets, and the misdirection of public consciousness, some deliberate, some accidental. The result of this fixation on bombs and fallout is that the development of a non-polluting, renewable energy source stands frozen in time. It has been said that if gasoline were first used to make napalm bombs, we would all be driving electric cars. Our skewed perception of nuclear power is what makes James Mahaffey's new look at the extraordinary paradox of nuclear power so compelling. From medieval alchemy to Marie curie, Albert Einstein, and the Manhattan Project, atomic science is far from the spawn of a wicked weapons program. The discovery that the atom can be split brought forth the ultimate puzzle of the modern age: Now that the energy of the universe is available to us, how do we use it? For death and destruction? Or as a fuel for our society that has minimal impact on the environment and future generations? Outlining nuclear energy's discovery and applications throughout history, Mahaffey's brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twenty-first century.

Mowgli, the wolf-child, is famous around the world, read Kipling's original story and meet beloved characters such as Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and Shere Khan the tiger. Follow Mowgli as he tries to discover where he belongs. Plus, become immersed in Kipling's other jungle stories; meet Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the heroic mongoose and Toomai, the elephant handler.

The bees in the kingdom of Bumblonia were doing quite nicely until Malicia, in her glass wellington boots, became the Queen. If being sat on wasn't bad enough, then the idea of being arrested by a friendly local bee collection officer and spending time in a dark, dreary dungeon was certainly a bee's worst nightmare. One misfortune can change life dramatically if it involves little knowledge of how nature plays a pivotal role in everyday life. Surely just because bees are not mentioned in a good book, it doesn't make them demons? If you tell people something enough times, they start to believe you! Even if yesterday they knew better. How can we reverse the impending doom? Maybe a very small person with a gift for polishing may just do the trick.

This series of Bible Stories for children are written in simple language and contain colourful illustrations which enhance the appeal of the text. The truths of the Bible come alive as one reads these ancient yet timeless stories. It contains stories from the Old Testament and the New Testament and all the stories have lessons to be learnt and they call for a lot of reflection.

A New York Times Notable Book for 2012. From a hunchbacked dwarf to a paranoid poet–assassin, a history of Victorian England as seen through the numerous assassination attempts on Queen Victoria. During Queen Victoria’s 64-year reign, no fewer than eight attempts were made on her life. Murphy follows each would-be assassin and the repercussions of their actions, illuminating daily life in Victorian England, the development of the monarchy under Queen Victoria and the evolution of the attacks in light of evolving social issues and technology.There was Edward Oxford, a bartender who dreamed of becoming an admiral, who was simply shocked when his attempt to shoot the pregnant Queen and Prince consort made him a madman in the world’s eyes. There was hunchbacked John Bean, who dreamed of historical notoriety in a publicized treason trial, and William Hamilton, forever scarred by the ravages of the Irish Potato Famine. Roderick MacLean enabled Victoria to successfully strike insanity pleas from Britain’s legal process. Most threatening of all were the “dynamitards” who targeted her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee—who signaled the advent of modern terrorism with their publicly focused attack.From these cloak-and-dagger plots to Victoria’s brilliant wit and steadfast courage, Shooting Victoria is historical narrative at its most thrilling, complete with astute insight into how these attacks actually revitalized the British crown at a time when monarchy was quickly becoming unpopular abroad. While thrones across Europe toppled, the Queen’s would-be assassins contributed greatly to the preservation of the monarchy and to the stability that it enjoys today. After all, as Victoria herself noted, “It is worth being shot at—to see how much one is loved.” A New York Times Notable Book for 2012 32 pages of black & white and color illustrations