FOREWORD . . vii 
PROLOGUE . . 1 
1 AN END AND A BEGINNING . . 7 
2 TRAINING FOR COSMOLOGY . . 31 
3 THE STAR MAKERS . . 60 
4 HOYLE'S SECRET WAR . . 81 
5 THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE . . 108 
6 LIVES OF THE STARS . . 142 
7 CLASH OF TITANS . . 167 
8 ORIGIN OF THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS . . 197 
9 MATTERS OF GRAVITY . . 223 
10 MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB . . 255 
11 THE WATERSHED . . 277 
12 STONES, BONES, BUGS AND ACCIDENTS . . 293 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . 324 
NOTES . . 326 
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . 345 
INDEX . . 354