Future Cities

A pioneering exploration of four cities where East meets West and past becomes future: St. Petersburg, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Dubai. Every month, five million people move from the past to the future. Pouring into developing-world “instant cities” like Dubai and Shenzhen, these urban newcomers confront a modern world cobbled together from fragments of a West they have never seen. Do these fantastical boomtowns, where blueprints spring to life overnight on virgin land, represent the dawning of a brave new world? Or is their vaunted newness a mirage?

No metropolis has been more loved or more hated. To its official boosters, "Los Angeles brings it all together". To detractors, LA is a sunlit mortuary where "you can rot without feeling it". To Mike Davis, the author of this fiercely elegant and wide-ranging work of social history, Los Angeles is both utopia and dystopia, a place where the last Joshua trees are being plowed under to make room for model communities in the desert, where the rich have hired their own police to fend off street gangs, as well as armed Beirut militias.

An eye-opening investigation into how our ever-expanding urban highways accelerated inequality and fractured communities—and a call for a more just, sustainable path forward “Megan Kimble manages to turn a book about transportation and infrastructure into a fascinating human drama...

America's most storied urban underdog, Brooklyn has become an internationally recognized brand in recent decades - celebrated and scorned as one of the hippest destinations in the world. In Brooklyn: The Once and Future City, Thomas J. Campanella unearths long-lost threads of the urban past, telling the rich history of the rise, fall, and reinvention of one of the world’s most resurgent cities.

This manifesto for the next food revolution by acclaimed environmental historian Kate Brown speaks to nature lovers, food activists, social-justice warriors, urban planners, WOOFers, and the climate-concerned. Ever since wage labor in cities replaced self-provisioning in the countryside, gardeners have reclaimed lost commons on urban lots. They composted garbage into topsoil, creating the most productive agriculture in recorded human history, without use of fossil fuels.

Immerse yourself in the visionary world of "Cities of Tomorrow," an insightful and thought-provoking eBook that transports you to the cutting edge of urban innovation. As our world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, the concept of smart cities has evolved from a futuristic dream into a tangible reality. This riveting exploration takes you deep into the heart of modern urban living, offering a panoramic view of the technologies, designs, and philosophies shaping the metropolises of the future. Embark on an intellectual journey through the intricacies of smart cities, beginning with ...

"The Future Grid: Navigating Smart Cities" is a comprehensive guide that explores the intersection of technology, urban development, and sustainability in the context of smart cities. This insightful book delves into the evolving landscape of urbanization, presenting a roadmap for navigating the complex challenges and opportunities facing modern cities. From the integration of cutting-edge technologies to the promotion of equitable growth and resilience, "The Future Grid" offers a holistic perspective on the transformation of urban environments. Readers will discover in-depth analyses of ...

WINNER OF THE AUGUST DERLETH AND ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARDS A masterpiece brimming with scientific splendor, magical intrigue, and fierce characters, from the author who “has reshaped modern fantasy” (The Washington Post) “[China Miéville’s] fantasy novels, including a trilogy set in...

In the year 2035, homelessness in the United States had reached catastrophic proportions. With the country overwhelmed by the crisis, the President of the United States covertly planned that a secret “Homeless City” would be built to take care of the exploding homeless situation. The city was built and the homeless began being rounded up and taken there by force. As the last phase of the city was being constructed, a secret underground room from an old abandoned military base was unearthed. The room was empty except for a shimmering mold that coated its cement walls. The mold, when ...

ANYONE CAN GO THERE... COMING BACK IS ANOTHER STORY. The first in a four-audiobook series, Otherland: City of Golden Shadow is a complex suspense novel of the near future, where virtual reality has expanded to encompass all aspects of society -- and national, physical, and mental boundaries are...

Cities define the lives of all those who call them home: where we go, how we get there, how we spend our time. But what if we rethink the ways we plan, live in, and move around our cities? What if we didn't need a car to reach the grocery store? What if we could get back the time we would have spent commuting and put it to other uses?

In a dystopian future, a high-tech city named after the French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir was supposed to be a utopia where society and technology flourished outside of government control. Step into the neon streets of Noir City, a realm reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077, West World, and Sin City, where shadows conceal secrets and technology holds sway over every aspect of life. As an enigmatic signal looms ominously, threatening to disrupt the delicate balance, the lives of its inhabitants become entwined in a web of mystery. Initially appearing disparate, each story holds a sinister ...

How the emerging field of speculative futures can help us dream--and build--better, sustainable, and more equitable cities for everyone. Speculative futures--design approaches that help us visualize new and potential worlds--move us beyond what currently exists into what could one day be...

Jarell answered the call of his ancestors and proved that he's a worthy defender of the kingdom of Ulfrika. But with time running out, will he find the tools he needs to defeat the evil wizard?

From the bestselling author of Killing Kryptonite and The Bait of Satan comes the newly revised edition of John Bevere’s classic Under Cover. This impactful examination of leadership and authority will answer questions like: Ever wonder how to respond to a difficult boss? Why you should listen...

"Narrator Susan Ericksen's performance vibrates with energy as she portrays old and new characters in this series." —AudioFile on Desperation in Death The #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a gripping new thriller that pits homicide detective Eve Dallas against a conspiracy of...

"The 50th book proves this series truly is the gold standard.” — Associated Press In the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas investigates a murder with a mysterious motive—and a terrifying weapon. Pediatrician Kent Abner received the...

"Whether this is the listener's first or fiftieth In Death story, they're guaranteed an enjoyable listening experience."-AudioFile on Abandoned in Death Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance—in the new In Death novel...

The homicide cop with a passion for justice returns in the captivating crime thriller series by the #1 New York Times bestselling author. It was a glittering event full of A-listers, hosted by Eliza Lane and Brant Fitzhugh, a celebrity couple who’d conquered both Hollywood and Broadway. And...

Cities are birthplaces of civilization; centers of culture, trade, and progress; cauldrons of opportunity - and the home of 80 percent of the world's population by 2050. As the 21st century progresses, metropolitan areas will bear the brunt of global megatrends such as climate change, natural resource depletion, population growth, income inequality, mass migrations, and education and health disparities, among many others.