Among the rarest things on earth, meteorites carry an air of mystery and drama while having left a pervasive, outsized mark on our planet and civilization. In "Meteorite, " Maria Golia tells the long history of our engagement with these sky-born space rocks. Arriving amid thunderous blasts and flame-streaked skies, meteorites were once thought to be messengers from the gods. Worshipped in the past, now scrutinized with equal zeal by scientists, meteorites helped sculpt Earth s features and have shaped our understanding of the planet s origins. Prized for their outlandish qualities, meteorites are a collectible and a commodity, objects of art and artists desires and a literary muse; and meteorite hunting is an adventurous, lucrative profession for some and an addictive hobby for thousands of others. A richly illustrated, remarkably wide-ranging account of the culture and science surrounding meteorites, Golia s book explores the ancient, lasting power of the meteorite to inspire and awe. "