NATION

A Short Course In Miracles

The inside story of how accused terrorist John Walker Lindh cut a deal to avoid life in prison--and why the government went along

WORLD

Al-Qaeda's New Hideouts

Chased out of Afghanistan, bin Laden's fighters are lying low--but are hot to strike back--in Pakistan

SCIENCE

How Life Began

Microbes at the Extremes May Tell Us... They thrive on boiling heat, freezing cold, radiation and toxic chemicals--and they have triggered a revolution in biology

SOCIETY

The Playtime Killer (Crime)

After a California girl is kidnapped and murdered, a shattered neighborhood helps nab a suspect

Massage Goes Mainstream

No longer the province of ladies who lunch--or men who pretend to--a good rubdown is now one of America's favorite hands-onexperiences

TECHNOLOGY

Beyond the Rubber Bullet

The Pentagon's effort to create nonlethal weapons that hurt but don't kill has set off its own fire storm

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

BUSINESS

Wall Street's Verdict (Economy)

While Washington dithers on reform, investors are pushing the stock market down, down, down

And Then There Were Two

Forget synergy. With Bob Pittman gone, AOL Time Warner focuses on its individual businesses

Drug Lord (Also In This Issue / Profile)

Fluent in management and cross-cultural P.R., the head of Novartis is the very model of a modern global CEO

Mister Lean (Time Global Business / Technology)

A high school dropout's inventions help tech firms make DVDs and solar cells more efficiently

The Bulls Are Abroad (Time Global Business)

Emerging markets offer investors relief from the pain of U.S. stocks

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Women Who Run Hollywood (The Arts / Show Business)

The boys' club that dominates the film industry is making way for three women with attitude--and a string of hits

Books: Mystery Meets History (The Arts / Books)

Bored with beach books? Want something fancier than Clancy? Try these sophisticated Euro-thrillers

YOUR TIME

Look Who's Running Drugs (Personal Time / Your Health)

Americans are going to Canada--and Canadian websites--for cut-rate prescriptions. Bad idea?

PEOPLE

LETTERS