In the futuristic world of Avatar, Jake, a wounded ex-marine is thrust into an elaborate scheme to mine an exotic planet for its rare and valuable natural resources. Scientists have created Avatars -- bodies designed to look like the planet′s alien inhabitants that have to be operated by a human consciousness. Walking in his Avatar body, Jake finds himself drawn to the planet′s way of life. But as the threat of war grows ever closer, Jake finds himself torn between his human roots and the new friends he wants to protect.
Ages:3 - 7
Dirk Mathison is a journalist whose work has appeared in Life, Time, and Self, among others. A former bureau chief for People magazine, he has covered many of the major news stories of the last 15 years, including the trial of O. J. Simpson, the Unabomber story, and the Chuck Stuart murder case in Boston. He is currently a contributing writer for both HotWired and Wired News. He lives in Los Angeles.