Site of the Week -- Nov. 9, 1998
n David Brin's Uplift series, the Great Library is the cornerstone of the civilization of the Five Galaxies. It represents the cumulative knowledge of dozens of races and billions of years, and it's considered infallible by the aliens who created it. The Great Library of the Five Galaxies Web site may not be quite that perfect, but it is one of the most comprehensive Uplift guides on the Net. The site provides users with a number of language choices, though terrestrial visitors are forced to use Angelic (since ignorant humans can't understand any of the Galactic tongues). Inside they will find more than one hundred entries on subjects such as "alien races," "galactic locations" and "alliances," detailed concisely and accurately, and complete with extensive links. For anyone who's read through Brin's excellent--but sometimes confusing--Uplift tales, the Library is a must visit.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- Nov. 2, 1998
or readers interested in creating their own aliens out of papier-maché or clay, this is the site to visit. Dave Ducker, a 7th- and 8th-grade science teacher, has put together some short and simple instructions on how to build extraterrestrials of all kinds, and he's also posted pictures of his own E.T.s. Although the site is geared more toward youngsters than older folks, just about anyone will get a kick out of the alien gallery, which features masterworks by some of Ducker's students. Other highlights include a section that invites users to "draw your own aliens using the provided body parts" and a selection of free clip art. The site also includes educational material ranging from an ecology database (dubbed "Aliens Explore Earth") to a distinctly non-SF simulated 13th-century village.
-- Craig E. Engler
