Former NASA astrophysicist Jeanne Cavelos examines the scientific possibility of the fantastical world of Star Wars. She explains to non-technical readers how the course of science might soon intersect with such fantasies as interstellar travel, robots capable of thought and emotion, habitable alien planets, bizarre intelligent life forms, high-tech weapons and spacecraft, and advanced psychokinetic abilities. She makes complex physics concepts, like quantum mechanics, wormholes, and Einstein's theory of relativity both fascinating and easy to comprehend. The Science of Star Wars does for Star Wars what Lawrence Krauss's bestselling The Physics of Star Trek did for the Star Trek universe.

Cavelos answers questions like:

* How might spaceships like the Millennium Falcon make the exhilarating jump into hyperspace?

* Could a single blast from the Death Star destroy an entire planet?

* How close are we to creating robots that look and act like C-3PO and R2-D2?

* Could light sabers possibly be built, and if so, how would they work?

* Do Star Wars aliens look like "real" aliens might?

* What kind of environment could spawn a Wookie?

* What would living on a desert planet like Tatooine be like?

* Why does Darth Vader require an artificial respirator?

* Can we access a "force" with our minds to move objects and communicate telepathically with each other?

An all-new anthology of stories featuring THE ORIGINAL VAMPIRE HUNTER.
Bram Stoker's "Dracula" is one of the most famous novels in history. Both Dracula and Van Helsing have become icons: the vampire and the vampire hunter. Yet while the character of Dracula has been endlessly examined, Van Helsing is arguably one of the most well-known yet least explored characters in literature.
Now, Van Helsing gets his due as the stellar masters of horror and fantasy contribute their own unique take on the original vampire hunter.
The tentative list of original stories featured in this unique anthology include such authors as:
Katherine Dunn
Christopher Golden
Elizabeth Hand
Brian Hodge
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Graham Joyce
Kathe Koja
Tanith Lee
Gregory Maguire
Kristine Katherine Rusch
Steve Rasnic Tem & Melanie Tem
Thomas Tessier
F. Paul Wilson