"The Scandinavian Invasion offers an important and timely interrogation of Nordic Noir. Putting the concept under a microscope in a series of diverse chapters, it reveals that Nordic Noir is still teeming with vigorous life as it has emerged, proliferated and travelled across borders, becoming in the process a cultural phenomenon that has had significant implications for global television in the new millennium." (Sue Turnbull, University of Wollongong) You might think you know what Nordic Noir is. Brutal crimes. Harsh landscapes. Brilliant but socially dysfunctional protagonists. Stylish knitwear. Yet, as a generic category and cultural phenomenon, Nordic Noir has always been far more complex. The story of its success owes as much to adaptation and evolution as it does to geographical migration or cosmopolitan curiosity. But how did this happen? What was it about the genre that struck such a chord with international audiences and readers? How did it build on previous trends and influences? And how has the category changed in order to survive in a cutthroat commercial landscape? Has it become less "Nordic "? Less "noir "? Has its proverbial moment in the sun passed? Featuring twelve original chapters and an editorial introduction, The Scandinavian Invasion brings together leading media and literature scholars from the UK, Denmark and Australia to critically examine how the phenomenon took shape and what we can learn from it. By exploring the cultural, aesthetic and industrial forces that propelled Nordic Noir across borders, the book provides a kaleidoscopic look at a disruptive cultural phenomenon in transition. Nordic Noir is dead. Long live Nordic Noir!

In 2012, Disney purchased Lucasfilm, which meant it also inherited the beloved Star Wars franchise. This corporate marriage sent media critics and fans into a frenzy of speculation about what would happen next with the hugely popular series. Disney's Star Wars gathers twenty-one noted fan and media studies scholars from around the world to examine Disney's revival of the franchise. Covering the period from Disney's purchase through the release of The Force Awakens, the book reveals how fans anticipated, interpreted, and responded to the steady stream of production stories, gossip, marketing materials, merchandise, and other sources in the build-up to the movie's release. From fears that Princess Leia would be turned into a "Disney princess" to collaborative brand management, the authors explore the shifting relationship between fans, texts, and media industries in the context of a crucial rebranding campaign. The result is a fascinating examination of a critical moment in the iconic series' history.

Trypanosomes cause medically and economically severe diseases such as Sleeping Sickness and Chagas' Disease in humans and Nagana in cattle. They are also inherently interesting scientifically, being single-cell eukaryotes under constant, strong diversifying selection. The publication of the genome sequences of two key trypanosomes, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, in 2005 has provided an exciting new resource to improve our understanding of the molecular and cellular biology of these important parasites and aid the development of new drugs and vaccines. The genome sequences, allied with useful genetic tools and easy molecular manipulation, will consolidate T. brucei as a eukaryotic model organism. As a model, it has the added advantage that studies in this area are directly applicable to understanding and prevention of disease. Research in this area has never been more exciting. In this book international experts review the contribution of trypanosome research to our understanding of eukaryote biology. Chapters are written from a molecular and genomic perspective and contain speculative models upon which to base future research efforts. Topics include: The genome of T. brucei, reverse and forward genetics, genetic exchange between trypanosomes, chromosome structure and dynamics, DNA replication, recombination and repair, transcription, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, cell structure, cell division and cell cycle, intracellular transport systems, cell surface architecture, antigenic variation, and comparative genomics of metabolism. The book provides an important resource summarising our current knowledge of trypanosome molecular and cellular biology.