Porcupine Tree began in 1987 as a solo project for Steven Wilson writing and recording music in his bedroom, but became a four piece band when Steven was joined by Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, and Chris Maitland (later replaced by Gavin Harrison). Their first live gig was in a pub in High Wycombe, England in 1993 but by 2010 the band had toured Europe and America extensively and ended up playing to thousands of fans at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall in London. The band was nominated for two Grammy awards, and their last album 'The Incident' charted in the top 30 in both the UK and the US. Although often labelled as a progressive rock band, Porcupine Tree constantly innovated, and changed style. Beginning playing psychedelic music, Porcupine Tree experimented with space rock, dance, trance, melodic pop as well as prog rock. In their last few albums, the band created a new hybrid of progressive metal riffs, melodic strength and rich vocal harmonies, with strong lyrics and powerful concepts. This aspect of the band has provided their most enduring legacy. This books analyses Porcupine Tree's ten studio albums and two EPs in forensic detail, illuminating them for existing and potential new fans alike.

The Crusades shook the world. But why did they happen? Their origins are revealed in a new light. As part of a medieval world war that stretched from Asia to Europe. At its centre was an ancient empire - Byzantium. Told for the first time as a single, linked narrative are three great events that changed history: the fall of Byzantium in the eleventh century, the epic campaign of the First Crusade and the origins of modern Turkey. Nick Holmes not only presents the First Crusade in a wider global context but he also puts forwards new interpretations of the original sources, suggesting that its success was in fact largely accidental, and that the central role of Byzantium in the Crusades has been underestimated.