Visiting the Ancient Land of the Dead in Le Guin and Riordan

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from The Science Fiction Foundation in Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction (2015), Vol. 44 Issue 122, p. 33

Individualized Justice in Disputes over Dead Bodies

In February 2007, the world had a ringside seat to a truly macabre fight. Under the glare of television cameras, Anna Nicole Smith\u27s nearest but not dearest\u27 battled in a Florida probate court over custody of her body. The parties agreed on only one point: Anna Nicole Smith\u27s appearance was a paramount issue to her. Yet, those same parties denied Anna Nicole after death the beauty she prized during life. Because of their protracted legal wrangling, Anna Nicole went to her grave a decomposed corpse in a closed casket. Anna Nicole Smith\u27s tragic fate is by no means unique. For nearly three months, the body of the self-styled Godfather of Soul, James Brown, lay refrigerated in a secret location while his children, disputed wife, and executors fought over his final resting place

Procedure as a Guarantee of Democracy: The Legacy of the Perestroika Parliament

In this Article, the author chronicles the rise and fall of the perestroika parliament. While Gorbachev\u27s reforms were ultimately unsuccessful in producing effective democratic representation, the author believes that the history of these reforms provides some valuable lessons for post-Soviet Russia. Specifically, Professor Foster concludes that current reformers in Russia should learn from the failed perestroika parliament that a democratic, rule-of-law state requires uniform lawmaking procedures with constitutional safeguards to guarantee their integrity