Alasdair Shaw
The author studied at the University of Cambridge, leaving with a BA in Natural Sciences and an MSci in Experimental and Theoretical Physics. He went on to earn a PGCE specialising in Science and Physics from the University of Bangor. A secondary teacher for over ten years he has plenty of experience communicating scientific ideas.
He grew up in Lancashire, within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines, Lake District and Snowdonia. After stints living in Cambridge, North Wales and the Cotswolds he has lived in Somerset since 2002. He has been climbing, mountaineering, caving, kayaking and skiing as long as he can remember. Growing up he spent most of his spare time in the hills.
Landscape archaeology has always been one of his interests - "When you spend a long time in the outdoors you start noticing things and wondering how they came to be there". At university he chose geophysics as one of his options.
He is an experienced mountain and cave leader, holding a range of qualifications including ML, SPA and LCL. He is also a course director for climbing and navigation award schemes.
He grew up in Lancashire, within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines, Lake District and Snowdonia. After stints living in Cambridge, North Wales and the Cotswolds he has lived in Somerset since 2002. He has been climbing, mountaineering, caving, kayaking and skiing as long as he can remember. Growing up he spent most of his spare time in the hills.
Landscape archaeology has always been one of his interests - "When you spend a long time in the outdoors you start noticing things and wondering how they came to be there". At university he chose geophysics as one of his options.
He is an experienced mountain and cave leader, holding a range of qualifications including ML, SPA and LCL. He is also a course director for climbing and navigation award schemes.
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The Best Bits of Physics
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Science
Physics is fundamental to our understanding of the world around us. Everyone should have at least a basic knowledge. This book explains some of the most interesting parts of physics in simple terms. It dips in, never taking more than two pages for one topic. There is even a good selection of experiments you can do at home! It is suitable for any student of science as well as anyone wanting to enhance their knowledge. "Engages the reader and inspires them to find out more." "Clear and understandable. I like the conversational style." "It made physics interesting, even magical." "This book would be awesome for a high school student or for someone in a career requiring a basic understanding of physics." Rated 5* by Readers' Favourites. There is now a Teachers' Edition of this book. It is packed with A4 worksheets for you to photocopy. Some are comprehension passages and questions; others are experiment instruction sheets. A few words from the author: Physics is a hard subject. Everyone knows that. Tell someone that you are studying physics and they will be impressed. This will probably be followed by a comment along the lines of "I could never do that at school". It is still one of the most demanding GCSEs and A-Levels. This book is an attempt to serve up some of the best bits of physics. It should give you an understanding of the key concepts in modern physics. Along the way I hope you will be convinced that the heart of physics isn't all that hard after all. Perhaps you'll even be able to explain it to your friends and family... Sample The Best Bits of Physics
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A VERY Brief History of Britain
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History/Archaeology
Archaeoroutes are a range of routes, mostly in wild places, which visit archaeological sites. They include pictures and descriptions of the sites. This book is written to accompany the series Walking through the Past. It provides a general historical backdrop to the walks as well as extra detail on archaeological features that are encountered. In 20 pages the reader is swept through from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Mediaeval period. A good present for anyone interested in archaeology, history or the landscape.
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Walking through the Past - Omnibus
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Archaeology / Walking
Archaeoroutes are a range of routes, mostly in wild places, which visit archaeological sites. They include pictures and descriptions of the sites. "great looking routes" - ViewRanger This is the omnibus edition. It includes all the previously published routes plus some extras. Areas covered include North Wales, Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Quantocks, Cotswolds and Orkney. A perfect present for a walker or an amateur archaeologist.
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Walking through the Past - Dartmoor
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Archaeology / Walking
Archaeoroutes are a range of routes, mostly in wild places, which visit archaeological sites. They include pictures and descriptions of the sites. "great looking routes" - ViewRanger This book covers the National Park of Dartmoor and its surroundings. Walking on Dartmoor can be challenging and rewarding. There is a wealth of historical and archaeological remains. Dartmoor is a region of high moorland. It contains some pockets of primeval oak woodland. The most famous features are the granite tors. The highest being High Willhays at 621m. A good present for a walker or amateur archaeologist!
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Walking through the Past - Exmoor & Quantocks
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Archaeology / Walking
Archaeoroutes are a range of routes, mostly in wild places, which visit archaeological sites. They include pictures and descriptions of the sites. "great looking routes" - ViewRanger This volume covers walking on Exmoor and walking on the Quantocks and visiting sites of archaeological importance. Exmoor is an area of high land overlooking the Bristol Channel. It is now mostly heathland but has been being reclaimed for farming for over a century. The highest point is Dunkery Beacon at 519m. The Quantocks are a line of hills stretching from Taunton to the Bristol Channel. The views stretch from Exmoor and the Blackdowns to Wales. With a rich population of wildlife this was the first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Britain. The highest point is Wills Neck at 386m. A good present for a walker or amateur archaeologist!
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Independence (Two Democracies Book O)
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Military Science Fiction
In the aftermath of a battle a ship drifts helplessly in space. Is the strange new warship they were fighting still out there? Will it come back for them? Commander Johnson faces a desperate race to get her destroyer back into action and save her crew. "This is an incredible work ... suspense, mystery and intrigue." "Loved every word of it." "It is excellent. For those of us who enjoy a 'Star Trek' style of science fiction, his tale is a 'must' read." "There's more action and intrigue packed into this story than there is in many full length novels." 'Independence' is a short story (6000 words) in the Two Democracies universe. Sample Independence
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Liberty (Two Democracies: Revolution, Book One)
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Science Fiction
Struggling with newfound sentience and desperately trying to repair itself, The Indescribable Joy of Destruction is a ship trying to find a new home. In a galaxy torn apart by hundreds of years of civil war, that isn't an easy task. Tired of being used as a killing machine, it has a huge decision to make: hide and save itself, or help other artificial intelligences achieve freedom. Unable to make the decision alone, it revives the sole human aboard - the enemy officer who crippled it. Commander Olivia Johnson wakes to find herself in the infirmary of a strange vessel. Her nightmares deepen when she discovers it is the ship that attacked her destroyer. Even as she recovers from her injuries, she can't get past her survivor's guilt. She might have failed to protect her crew, but she vows to take revenge on their killer. When the ship uncovers a genocidal plot by the commander's own admirals, Johnson realises just what is at stake. Together, the AI ship and the human officer must recruit outsiders from both sides. Training the misfits in battle to prevent the atrocity may be an impossible task, but running and hiding is no longer an option.
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