A Year of Adventures
Average customer rating:
- Running out of steam?
- Best of the series so far
- Worth waiting for...
- 1634 and beyond
- The beginning dragged, but the rest was great
|
1634: The Baltic War
David Weber , and Eric Flint
Manufacturer: Baen
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Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
- 1635: Cannon Law (Ring of Fire)
- Grantville Gazette III
- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
- 1634: The Ram Rebellion (Assiti Shards)
- Off Armageddon Reef
ASIN: 141652102X |
Book Description
The Baltic War which began in the novel 1633 is still raging, and the time-lost Americans of Grantville¿the West Virginia town hurled back into the seventeenth century by a mysterious cosmic accident¿are caught in the middle of it. Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden and Emperor of the United States of Europe, prepares a counter-attack on the combined forces of France, Spain, England, and Denmark¿former enemies which have allied in the League of Ostend to destroy the threat to their power that the Americans represent¿which are besieging the German city of Luebeck. Elsewhere in war-torn Europe, several American plans are approaching fruition. Admiral Simpson of Grantville frantically races against time to finish the USE Navy¿s ironclad ships¿desperately needed to break the Ostender blockade of the Baltic ports. A commando unit sent by Mike Stearns to England prepares the rescue the Americans being held in the Tower of London. In Amsterdam, Rebecca Stearns continues three-way negotiations with the Prince of Orange and the Spanish Cardinal-Infante who has conquered most of the Netherlands. And, in Copenhagen, the captured young USE naval officer Eddie Cantrell tries to persuade the King of Denmark to break with the Ostender alliance, all while pursuing a romantic involvement with one of the Danish princesses.
Customer Reviews:
Running out of steam?.......2007-06-13
I loved the earlier books in the series, but in this one, the action slows down and the character development falters. I thought that it needed a good editing to tighten up the story.
Best of the series so far.......2007-06-12
This was great! Good stories, fit together well......I'm ready for more (please!!)
Worth waiting for..........2007-06-11
When the Gallieo Affair hit my 'Buy it as soon as it appears' list on Amazon I was hoping it was the continuation of of the Baltic plot line of the series. Alas, I was forced to wait. When 1634: The Baltic War hit my mail box I sat down and read the book from cover to cover.(Not being currently employed gives you that opportunity). Many, but certainly not all of the on going plots were addressed in this novel, but many remain outstanding. This one was a lot of fun and I looking forward with an open wallet to any future installments that Weber, and his guest writers, decide to grace us with.
1634 and beyond.......2007-06-06
OK, I really like series, like to get to know characters, how they intermingle with the other characters, How their paths cross and lead to unexpected events, etc. Second, my favorite genre is historical fiction - great way to tell a story and keep history alive. So this book had all the initial indicators for a worthwhile read.
So it is my fault I bought this book. 1632 was an interesting idea and some of that shows through in this book. What went wrong? First, it is a looooog book. Too long, by about 400 pages. Second it is a bit disjointed, this book has so many storylines it is hard to keep track of them, especially since they are not very compelling story lines. Last, but the most important - many of the characters are jerks. There, I said it (I had another phrase in mind but jerk tells it well enough and the language I planned on would offend many of you). In 1632 the characterizations were interesting, you could understand that they were establishing a premise and some characteristics were amplified so the "good" guys looked good and the bad guys looked like jerks. Now, the main characters just act stupid and it ruins the book. No, not all of them but many. I find it hard to believe that characters such as these could have really influenced history.
Unless you are a really desperate and dyed in the wool 1632 fan, save your money. This is another Baen formula book. It does a disservice to both authors who have written much better books.
The beginning dragged, but the rest was great.......2007-06-02
I really, really enjoyed 1632 and 1633. I enjoyed the Grantville Gazettes. This installment wasn't my favorite. It took me a long time to get through the first 1/3 of the book. I typically read at a very fast pace, but this one just wasn't doing it for me. Then, last night, it all turned around. I was up until 2:30am to finish it off!
I think the change had to do with the later part of the story focusing more on the characters I grew to love in the first books and less on historical figures which, to be honest, I often can't keep straight in my mind.
I recommend that folks who love this series read this one. If the beginning isn't working for you, HANG IN THERE!
Average customer rating:
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
- Provocative, appealing and controversial
- pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
- Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
- Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
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- They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies
ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Provocative, appealing and controversial.......2006-08-02
Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
Islam certainly was no "new religion" in the X-century. That the highly cultivated Al Andaluz ruler Mohammed-I could have been "mirrored" down in time into some myth about the "illiterate" founder of Islam itself is highly speculative. Nevertheless, Fomenko convinces me about the processes that were involved in forging a christian history. Intriguing and controversial as his books are, I recommend them as to rethink our current position in time and space and simply verify what was claimed. It is a "good" book, but not for bedtime reading... Mundus vult decipi, the world wants to be cheated. Fomenko's readers will understand why.
pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.......2006-02-16
Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
It can be interpreted as a contribution towards New Chronology theory that pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.
Average customer rating:
- I'd like to start with $80,000 a year too!
- Great Book - Makes me want to do it!
- on target
- Not much substance
- RV Trip Review
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Live Your Road Trip Dream: Travel for a Year for the Cost of Staying Home
Phil White , and Carol White
Manufacturer: RLI Press
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ASIN: 0975292803 |
Book Description
Where would your dream take you if you had a whole year to just travel? But perhaps you're thinking, "if I only knew how to start planning my adventure!" This detailed "how-to" guide will get you moving from the dreaming to the doing in no time at all.
Included is step-by-step, real-life information on planning the trip you've always wanted to take -- along with generous doses of humor and advice on topics such as:
* How to pay for a year away from home * How to unravel all your current commitments - to family, work, and organizations * How to plan on the fly and enjoy every day * How to pack in 3 small drawers and 24" of closet space - for two! * How to handle the emergencies that crop up along the way * And the most asked question: How to enjoy your traveling companion on a 24/7 basis!
Once you've decided to "leave it all behind", Live Your Road Trip Dream takes you along on an action-packed, whirlwind tour of the authors' trip - just to help you visualize what months on the road might really be like, and to offer a glimpse into how decisions and discoveries are made along the way.
This is the ultimate road trip planning guide.
Customer Reviews:
I'd like to start with $80,000 a year too! .......2007-03-09
My family and I are preparing to spend a year full-timing in our 5th wheel camper and thought this book would be helpful in some regards to that. Unfortunately, there were no real bits of information for us to use in planning for our trip. Actually, there was not much at all that was helpful for our purposes.
Great Book - Makes me want to do it!.......2007-02-04
My husband and I have been planning a similar trip for when we retire (in 4 years) but this book actually gives a step-by-step guide to preparing and planning your trip (even a master budget). Carol talks about things that I hadn't thought about (mail, voting, income tax filing, etc.). I couldn't put the book down once I started. It made me wish we could leave sooner. I love the idea of a theme - National Parks. Can't wait to "Live My Road Trip Dream."
on target.......2006-12-19
I am a seasoned Road Warrior with my own book ("HIT THE ROAD, Across America in a Topless Car") and I loved Carol's book because even tho I'm not an RV'er I picked up information on making life easier on US highways...and also how can you financially DO this amazing thing! And I am inspired by her--she kept going even with a cast (not of thousands...but on her foot!)
Alyce Cornyn-Selby
Not much substance.......2006-12-18
The book is well-organized, well-written, and a smooth, easy read. Carol writes well, and obviously put a lot of time into it. But there is very little substantive information in it. This is not a book for RV'ers. Although they used a Class B RV (basically a full van conversion), they stayed in motels most nights. Their RV advice was to buy one of the excellent books on RVs already out there. Sadly, their trip seemed rushed. I think they were more interested in being able to say that they visited every state, than enjoying where they visited. The whole last half of the book is just entries from their journal. These are cryptic, and offer little help in choosing where you might want to visit yourself. Financially, the book assumes that you are retired, and that you sell or rent your house and use that money, along with your retirement income to pay for the trip. In all, the book reads like a day dream, and doesn't give much more information than the obvious. If you are just looking for inspiration and confidence to do the trip, this may be a good book for you.
RV Trip Review.......2006-08-07
I really enjoyed the second half of the book more, when the trip actually got started. However, for non-experienced RVers the first part of the book would be very helpful.
Average customer rating:
- Better than Into Thin Air
- A Unique Mountain Adventure
- The Dreams in the Acidhouse
- what an adventure!
- Fantastic!
|
The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest
Bear Grylls
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
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- Facing the Frozen Ocean
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- Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest
ASIN: 1592284930 |
Amazon.com
"Everest," writes British climber Bear Grylls, "is no place to prove yourself. The likelihood of reaching the summit is so slim that you're inevitably setting yourself up to be disappointed."
But, Grylls continues, mountains are most definitely an arena where alpinists express their deepest drives, and he had more ambition than most. Badly injured in a parachuting accident in 1996, he resigned his army commission and cast about for a new career--a decision he succeeded in putting off by enlisting in a climbing expedition to the world's tallest mountain. Now, Grylls points out, the odds of a well-conditioned climber's making the summit of Everest are something like one in a hundred; for climbers under the age of 30, who lack the experience and conditioning that age brings, those odds slim down to 1 in 1,000. Twenty-three at the time, Grylls took his chances nonetheless, despite the "sinking feeling that I had just made a commitment that was going to drag me a little too far out of my comfort zone."
He fulfilled his commitment, though surely not without discomfort, scared but determined, making his way up deadly obstacles such as the Lhotse Face Icewall and its deep crevasses. Other climbers were not so lucky, he writes in this you-are-there account of his time on the mountain, and death is a constant presence on these pages--which may deter readers who seek to follow in his footholds. For those content to travel up sheer rock and ice walls vicariously, though, Grylls's book is a spirited exercise in adventure writing and a promising debut. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
Eighteen months after a parachute fall, Grylls overcame extreme weather conditions and months of limited sleep to reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain.
Customer Reviews:
Better than Into Thin Air.......2007-05-20
As a fan of Bear Grylls I ordered this book after having read Into Thin Air. I have to admitt I enjoyed this book much more. I found it to be much more personal with much less arrogance than Into Thin Air. Bear admitted his fear throughout his journey to the top of the world. I cheered as he stood at the summit of Everest! I highly recommend this book to younger readers. I found it much easier to read and formed a bond with the author after reading it.
A Unique Mountain Adventure.......2007-04-10
This adventure is unlike any other mountain climbing story you've ever read. The sense of humor and unique outlook really make this story fresh.
The Dreams in the Acidhouse.......2007-03-13
I wanted very much to like this book. But as I was reading, it all fell apart. Sherpas routinely die acting as porters for the mountaineers who climb Everest. One Sherpa died at the beginning of this expedition. Six Sherpas died so a Japanese guy could ski down Everest. Look, News Flash: Everest has BEEN CLIMBED. No further climbing of Everest is necessary, nor was ANY climbing of Everest necessary and it certainly is not worth continued loss of life. Mountaineering of this sort is cookie-cutter adventuring: going where many a man has been before. One climbs Everest not because its there, but because you lack the imagination for more meaningful and creative adventure. Oddly, a book by an adventurer who took twenty hits of blotter acid - because it was there - would not have the same "wholesome" appeal as one about the climbing of Everest. But at least Acidguy isn't having some Sherpas tripping just as hard as part of the ride.
what an adventure!.......2007-02-26
At 23 Bear Grylls decided that he was going to seed and needed to do something so he and a buddy went off to Mt. Everest. He wrote a book about the experience and it left me alternately laughing and awed. First, forget what you think you know about mountain climbing. Getting to Everest is an experience in itself that requires close encounters with bathrooms that are really just huts with mountains of other people's poop on the floor, diarrhea (inevitable-- the locals are none too clean and unless you want to offend them by not eating or drinking with the them you will get a stomach bug and/or a severe respiratory infection) and air sickness which can kill you if you don't attend to it right away. And because there's no place to bathe you will stink and after awhile even the female yaks will avoid you. Vomiting plays a big role in attacking Everest. On the very first night getting acclimated Bear was serenaded by the sounds of his buddy chundering into his boots. It's not romantic and not a bit like the adventure movies.
Still, Bear has a sense of humor and being 23 at the time he made the absolute grossness of it all incredibly funny. He starts out as a sweetly goofy kid (much "younger" than I was at that age)and gets more serious as he goes up the mountain. He has a couple of nearly deadly close encounters and life in the Death Zone of the mountain is not cute at all.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was sorry to come to the last page.
Fantastic!.......2006-08-02
I could not put this book down...finished it in 3 days, and I work full-time! I am a non-climber, but have read many books on people's experiences on Everest. This is one of the best accounts I've read...I was riveted and felt like I was right there with Bear on the mountain. Well done!
Average customer rating:
- The most easy to use, comprehensive course available
- Mormon and Pyschic based program
- Innovation Meets Shoddy Production Values
|
Power-Glide Spanish Ultimate Adventure Course Year 1
Robert W. Blair
Manufacturer: Power Glide
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1582042004 |
Book Description
Created for learners 7th grade through adult, the Power-Glide Ultimate Spanish Course leads the pack in independent study Spanish training. This course includes a wide variety of learning methods and activities, keeping every kind of learner motivated and having fun. Our unique methodology also utilizes the same techniques as natural native language acquisition. Learners finish the course with a remarkable ability to not only read and understand the language, but actually communicate. This course includes the course workbook, an academic guide with additional instruction and testing tools, audio CD's and a set of CD ROM's. Because Power-Glide is accredited, learners can also receive High School credit for completion of certain requirements.
Customer Reviews:
The most easy to use, comprehensive course available.......2006-12-27
The most easy to use, comprehensive course available
Go from beginning to advanced levels in one course
Speak the language, not just pass the test
Puzzles, games stories, and music
Activities for all types of learners
No boring rote memorization
You-are-there adventures
Memory aids
Diglot weaves
This course really works. I've wanted to learn a foreign language for a while, and I'm glad I found this. The first lesson starts out:
"It's just before dawn. You and your companion are intelligence officers assigned to parachute onto Isla de Providencia, a tiny island in the western Caribbean. It has been seized by invaders from an unknown place of origin. Your mission is to discover why this tiny island was singled out for capture. What is there on the island that is of such value? A submarine is to pick you up in ten days at midnight at the north point of the island."
The people on the island speak Spanish. As you continue you meet people who help you to learn the language. You do Puzzles, games stories, and music etc. etc. And then it reads "The adventure continues" and tells you what happens next. For example the invaders are searching the area so you are told to go into a basement to hide and are given a note that says:
"Hidden on esta isla is a treasure of great value, one that may give wealth and fame. The invaders seek this treasure to steal it. The invaders do not know the location to this treasure. Since knowledge of its location is closely tied to and understanding of the Spanish language and culture, chances art that they will not fid it. Hidden in this room is una mapa that will help you in your search for the treasure. To learn the location lf el mapa, complete the puzzle that begins on the next page."
After you finish then "The adventure continues"
Mormon and Pyschic based program.......2005-10-19
I was shocked to find out that this program is filled with Mormon theology. It is based on such theories as Suggestology, which is listed under Pychic studies in Amazon search. This is just not a program that I think any child or adult should expose themselves to.
Here is a list of the other theories this method is based on and where the information can be found:
Suggestopedy by Loranov
Total Physical Response by Asher
Silent Way by Gattengo
Comprehension Approach by Krashen
*As described in Dr. Blair's book Innovative Approaches to Language Teaching.
Innovation Meets Shoddy Production Values.......2004-04-09
Dr. Blair has gone out of his way to discover and invent unconventional methods for language learning. His Power-Glide course is a rich collection of fresh ideas, some of which should be suitable to any person's learning style.
The set comes with a thick course manual, slim academic guide, 9 audio CDs and one computer CD. The course consists of 160 or so lesson segments that build upon each other and get progressively harder.
Lesson 1 gets off to a good start, opening an adventure in which you are a secret agent sneaking into a strange island to solve a mystery. The language learning is woven into the story, but the story soon degenerates into a series of lame excuses for you to do an endless series of drills and exercises.
My biggest complaint about the product is the poor quality of the voice talent. Dr. Blair often seems to think we'd rather listen to his obvious American accent than to a native Spanish speaker. I'll avoid the temptation to make fun of the other voice actors (most of whom suspiciously have the same last name as the course creator). I'll go as far as saying the voices on the CDs quickly degenerate from (unintentionally) comical to unbearable.
They obviously saved some money by not bringing in professional voices, and the result is a shoddy, unprofessional-sounding package.
Power-Glide gets points for originality, and has a wealth of ideas for teachers. But as a consumer product, the awful audio gives it limited use, making it hard to justify the hefty price tag.
Average customer rating:
- NOT the original books
- Paths Too Short
- My 9-year-old LOVES these
- The Never-Ending Adventure
- great set at a great price!
|
The Abominable Snowman/Journey Under the Sea/Space and Beyond/The Lost Jewels of Nabooti/Mystery of the Maya/House of Danger (Choose Your Own Adventure 1-6) (Box Set 1)
R. A. Montgomery
Manufacturer: Chooseco
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Binding: Paperback
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- Choose Your Own Adventure - The Abominable Snowman
- Lost on the Amazon/Prisoner of the Ant People/Trouble on Planet Earth/War with the Evil Power Master (Choose Your Own Adventure 9-12) (Box Set 3)
- Mystery of Ura Senke/The Case of the Silk King/Beyond Escape/Secret of the Ninja/The Brilliant Dr Wogan/Return to Atlantis (Choose Your Own Adventure 13-18) (Box Set 3)
- Mystery of the Maya/House of Danger/Race Forever/Escape (Choose Your Own Adventure 5-8)
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ASIN: 1933390913 |
Product Description
This Choose Your Own Adventure 6-Book Boxed Set includes the following storied titles from the classic, interactive, children's series: The Abominable Snowman * Journey Under the Sea * Space and Beyond * The Lost Jewels of Nabooti * Mystery of the Maya * House of Danger.
Customer Reviews:
NOT the original books.......2007-04-20
My children have been enjoying some of my old Choose Your Own Adventure books from the 80's, so when I saw this rerelease of several classic books for such a reasonable price, I bought it for them. Well, apparently R.A. Montgomery wasn't able to get the rights on the original illustrations, so he had a bunch of freelance designers from Thailand draw replacement pictures for each of them, and they are AWFUL. Not just 'different,' but shockingly, unignorably BAD -- they look like cartoons drawn carelessly by teenagers, with no sense of proportion, anatomy, lighting, or anything else. The drawings in "Mystery of the Maya" are not bad but most of the others are so terrible they render the books unreadable. Leaving them unillustrated would have been better than this. Find used copies of the originals (most of which are for sale cheap on Amazon) or just pick something else to read.
Paths Too Short.......2007-03-30
You make one or two choices and the book is over. They should only have a few endings and make each path longer.
My 9-year-old LOVES these.......2007-01-10
We bought these books for our son because we remembered how much we loved them at his age. They are much quicker reads than I remember, but he loves them, so they get 5 stars. One book takes him less than 45 minutes to get through. He hasn't gotten to the stage where he goes back and makes different choices yet, but I'm sure he'll become even more fond of them then.
The Never-Ending Adventure.......2006-11-30
Choose your own Adventure books are unbelievably exciting! Who doesn't love a book where you can choose what you want to do? And you can die twenty different ways! You can also triumph too! This is a great book series for kids of all ages- even adults who are kids at heart!
great set at a great price!.......2006-10-14
i've been a fan since i was a kid, and this is a great collection. the box came a little bent up, but the books were fine.
Average customer rating:
- VERY funny
- Hilarious!
- A must-read for anyone beginning a shift in Paris
- Hilarious, witty, and so much fun to read!!
- Fun for Francophiles
|
A Year in the Merde
Stephen Clarke
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
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Binding: Hardcover
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- In the Merde for Love
- Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French
- Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France
- Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French
- Into a Paris Quartier
ASIN: B000NJ0QZM
Release Date: 2005-04-21 |
Customer Reviews:
VERY funny .......2007-06-18
("Merde" means shit in French) A VERY funny bk. It tells the story of the 1st year of an Englishman (not spkg much French) working in Paris - how he dealt with the arrogant Parisians, rented an apt, dealt with his cunning boss and strikes of various kinds in Paris, and dated diff French women. The author is good at writing in a humorous way. It has a sequel "Merde Actually".
Hilarious!.......2007-06-08
Wonderful book. Very funny, intelligent and informative. I look forward to reading Stephen Clarke's other books.
A must-read for anyone beginning a shift in Paris.......2007-06-08
After many weeks working in France, much of the first half of this book was very relatable to my own experience. The next half is less impressive, largely because it becomes less realistic, but still worth skimming through for the one or two good bits.
Who would like this book? Anyone who finds it amusing that "A Year in the Merde" was translated to "God Save La France" to title the French-language version, or any French person wanting to understand an outsider's first impression, although much of the humor may be lost to the latter. I haven't read the French version, but cannot imagine how a translation could do this book any justice.
Hilarious, witty, and so much fun to read!!.......2007-06-02
This book is excellent. I actually read the sequel first (which is also wonderful!) and then serached or this one. It certainly didn't let me down and kept me laughing throughout. Stephen Clarke writes beautifully and his depiction of French life, especially from the viewpoint of a foreigner, is right on target!
Fun for Francophiles.......2007-05-30
If you're familiar with Peter Mayle's works this parody is hysterical. I've traveled thoughout England and this is really how they see the French. A great travel book.
Average customer rating:
- As engrossing as the first in the Grail trilogy
- Historical Fiction: Well done again!
- Tepid Drama
- Thomas' quest for the Grail begins
- The closest encounter with the Middle Ages you are likely to find anywhere
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Vagabond (The Grail Quest #2)
Bernard Cornwell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
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Binding: Paperback
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- Heretic (The Grail Quest #3)
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- The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Chronicles Series #2)
- Excalibur (The Arthur Books #3)
ASIN: 0060935782
Release Date: 2006-01-03 |
Amazon.com
Vagabond, the second entry in Bernard Cornwell's Grail Quest series, has been eagerly anticipated by those who read the first book, and it doesn't disappoint. Thomas has managed to survive the battle of Crécy. Still nursing his wounds, he is dispatched by the king on a mission to look into the matter of his father's inheritance, which is obscurely connected to the Holy Grail. This most precious relic of the Christian faith is a much sought-after object, offering the power of total victory in war to its owner. But Thomas finds himself in the middle of a battle against an army invading the North of England, and other shadowy forces pursuing the grail are prepared to slaughter anyone who stands in their way. In the ruins of his birthplace, Thomas discovers more about his father, and a dangerous voyage to France brings him up against his cousin and arch-enemy, Count of Astarc Guy Vexville. The stage is set for a merciless showdown.
Thomas is a protagonist drawn quite as pithily as his much-loved predecessor, and the sheer verve of Cornwell's storytelling here is irresistible. We are plunged into a distant age: bloody, colourful and dangerous. Roll on, volume three! --Barry Forshaw, Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
In 1347, a year of conflict and unrest, Thomas of Hookton returns to England to pursue the Holy Grail. Among the flames of the Hundred Years War, a sinister enemy awaits the fabled archer and mercenary soldier: a bloodthirsty Dominican Inquisitor who also seeks Christendom's most holy relic. But neither the horrors of the battlefield nor sadistic torture at the Inquisitor's hands can turn Thomas from his sworn mission. And his thirst for vengeance will never be quenched while the villainous black rider who destroyed everything he loved still lives. </p>
From internationally acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell comes the spellbinding second chapter in his Grail Quest—the majestic epic adventure of duty, war, and destiny that began with The Archer's Tale. </p>
Customer Reviews:
As engrossing as the first in the Grail trilogy.......2007-06-24
VAGABOND is the second book in the Grail trilogy, following THE ARCHER'S TALE. It continues Thomas of Hookton's duel mission - to lead archers in the English king's army and to find the holy grail, if it exists. Thomas is skeptical about its existence because he has never seen it, and because his father was thought to be a bit crazy.
As with the first book, VAGABOND accurately reflects the history of the Hundred Years War. Because the characters develop throughout the trilogy, it's best to begin with THE ARCHER'S TALE.
Don't miss the third book, HERETIC.
Historical Fiction: Well done again!.......2007-02-10
Bernard Cornwell has continued "The Grail Quest" trilogy with book 2 of the series, "Vagabond". This book continues the story of Thomas of Hookton, master archer in the English army, son of a "crazy" priest, and apparently, heir to the family burden, grail-keeper.
Book 1, "The Archer's Tale" in the U.S. (Harlequin in the U.K.), begins the story and the first battles of the hundred-years-war, but if you don't read the first book, you can still read "Vagabond" and be kept up to speed. This is both a positive and a negative. The positive is that, due to the fact that there is so much happening in the first book, Cornwell must recap alot of the information as backstory in the second book; the negative is that, having just finished the first book, I was a little bored with the redundancy of the backstory because I wanted to move on with the current storyline. The book was good nonetheless and I was never too put off by the inclusion of the backstory. I STILL DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THAT THE FIRST BOOK BE READ BEFORE THIS ONE. The "Archer's Tale" ("Harlequin") was wonderful and, obviously, all of the first book cannot be included in the second.
This is well written historical fiction, accurate concerning the battles, the cities and the major players (i.e. kings, lords, dukes, etc.), that were all part of the beginnings of the hundred-years-war. Cornwell is meticulous in his descriptions of the battles and the reasons for why each commander did what he did during the battle, providing interesting insight in to the nature of man and the causes of the war.
Cornwell also delivers the information with surprising candor and does not present the story from the side of the French, the English, the Scottish, or the many other countries who had men fighting in the war.
Most surprising and liberating about this book, as with the first, is Cornwell's blunt portrayal of Catholicism, The Inquisition, priests, and the greed of the church during this time. Cornwell again leaves nothing to the imagination and removes any shroud of solemnity or respect that is often offered the medieval church, but truly not deserved.
This book continues the story of Thomas of Hookton, his travels from France to England, back to France, his capture and torture by The Inquisition, his return to his love from the first novel and, ultimately, the acceptance of the burden that was presented to him in the first book; he is responsible for recovering the grail, the cup of Christ, and restoring his family, which was wiped out by the French aristocracy and the Catholic church as heretical, to their proper place in the world. His family, the Vexilles, were lords and members of the Cathar religion that was wiped out by the early Inquisition due to their growing numbers and their defiance to the Catholic church. They were, according to Thomas of Hookton's father, the chosen ones of God, responsible for protecting the grail and using it's power to bring peace to the world. Thomas was given the burden of recovering the grail after his father was murdered in the first book.
Historically accurate, vividly descriptive, with well-developed characters both from the first book and some newly added, and intriguing from beginning to end, I am again desperate to get to the next book and discover the fate of Thomas of Hookton.
Tepid Drama.......2007-02-06
Repetitious wordiness and a slow-moving story line detract from the interesting detail of the tumultuous events covered by this novel.
Thomas' quest for the Grail begins.......2006-12-08
Beginning where The Archer's Tale left off after the battle of Crecy, Vagabond continues the tale of Thomas of Hookton, by sending him back to England in search of the Holy Grail. It may sound a little hokey, but it makes for a great story. During his quest Thomas has to fight against the Scot's at the battle of Neville's Cross, and face his worst memories when he returns to the ruins of his hometown of Hookton. Along the way Thomas meets up with new friends and foes and ultimately ends up back where he began his wanderings in France. Vagabond has it's share of great battle scenes and interesting characters but it is obvious that it was written as part of a series and ends with no resolution. The reader must continue on to Heretic for the conclusion of Thomas' tale.
The closest encounter with the Middle Ages you are likely to find anywhere.......2006-12-03
This continuation of "The Archer's Tale" follows Thomas on his continuing quest for the Grail in medieval France and England. For the first time we meet some Scots, as well - the wild border raiders that a writer once described as "rough-footed Scottys." But one of them becomes Thomas's companion in his adventures, and Cornwell has a good time with Robbie's inability to stop cursing "the bloody English archers". Thomas replies "I'm a bloody English archer." "You're different," Robbie said, and he meant it..." Neat.
What I've come to appreciate is Cornwell's wonderful ability to conjure up a character or a scene in very few lines. Here's Sir William Douglas:
"Sir William's chain mail was battle-torn and patched with newer rings. Rust showed at the hem and at the elbows. His faded shield, like his weather-beaten face, was scarred. He was forty-six now and he reckoned he had a sword, arrow or spear scar for each of those years that had turned his hair and short beard white."
The distant campfires that mean an approaching army:
"...when the hedges about his four fortresses were white with hawthorn blossom and and the petals were blowing from the apple trees and the banks of the river were thick with iris and the poppies were a brilliant red in the growing rye, there was a drift of smoke in the southwestern sky."
Thomas's search for the Grail is dogged by indecision and uncertainty. Some part of him doubts that it even exists. A good metaphor for all of our quests for happiness, justice, or any other great goal - does it really exist, and if so, how do you define it?
A caution: The book is not for the squeamish - it is even messier than the previous one, if that were possible. Cornwell has really gotten into the horrors of medieval warfare and spares us nothing, so take note, because once you start, I doubt you will be able to put it down.
Overall, a heck of a read. I an giving 4 stars instead of 5 because, being an archer who shoots "traditional", I have a problem with one aspect of the story - not going to specify because it would be a spoiler for the plot. But read it anyway!
Average customer rating:
- Could have been much better
- One of my favorite books
- The Reach Exceeds the Grasp
- I loved this book
- Way smarter than your average thriller
|
Year Zero
Jeff Long
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
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- The Descent
- The Reckoning: A Thriller
- The Rift
- Earth Abides
- Lucifer's Hammer
ASIN: 0743406125 |
Book Description
In The Descent, New York Times bestselling author Jeff Long led readers into the darkest regions of suspense and adventure. Now he returns with an apocalyptic scenario that threatens to eradicate mankind.
In Jerusalem, an American archaeologist working on Project Year Zero -- the search for the historical Jesus -- crosses the line between science and theft when he helps plunder an old Roman landfill beneath the crucifixion grounds known as Golgotha. Nathan Lee Swift's crime will have devastating consequences. When an ancient relic is opened on the black market, a two-thousand-year-old plague is unleashed -- and the dying begins.
As the pestilence threatens to wipe out humanity, he finds a chance for redemption -- by finding the cure. Skirting the edges of civilization, Nathan Lee sets out to find his younger daughter and travels to Los Alamos, where a desperate tactic has been adopted: the use of human lab rats cloned from Project Year Zero remains. Now Nathan Lee will come face-to-face with one special cloned human who may hold the key to salvation -- in more ways than one. Patient Zero claims to remember who he is....
And his name is Jesus Christ.
Download Description
In his sensational novel The Descent, Jeff Long created a world of stunning terror and adventure, "an imaginative tour de force" (Jon Krakauer). Now he imagines a scenario so vivid, so haunting, it anchors his place among storytelling masters. YEAR ZERO An archaeological manhunt is raging in the holy land -- a hunt for the historical Jesus. For Nathan Lee Swift, a young American field researcher and expectant father, the line between noble discovery and the plunder of ruins is sacred -- until the night he crosses it. At a Roman landfill beneath the crucifixion grounds known as Golgotha, Nathan Lee yields to his professor's greed and turns common grave robber. His world -- his unborn daughter -- seems lost to him. Hundreds of miles away, on the remote Greek island of Corfu, a wealthy collector pries open his latest black-market purchase -- a fourteen-inch holy relic containing a vial of blood dating back to the first century -- and unleashes a two-thousand-year-old plague. As the pandemic explodes from the Mediterranean basin and threatens to devour humankind, Nathan Lee gets a chance at redemption. He embarks on an Odyssean journey back to the United States to find his family. Skirting the edges of the world, Nathan Lee's path finally leads him to New Mexico, where the greatest minds of science have converged at Los Alamos to find a vaccine. There Nathan Lee meets Miranda Abbot, a nineteen-year-old prodigy. As the cure continues to elude them, Miranda launches a desperate final strategy: the use of human lab rats cloned from the year zero. Nathan Lee, the thief of bones, comes face-to-face with men made from the very relics he looted, one of whom claims to be Jesus Christ, but may also be Patient Zero.
Customer Reviews:
Could have been much better.......2007-04-24
On the positive side, there are some very engaging plot lines and vivid scenes in this book. the overall premise is interesting, and the characters are well drawn. The beginning during the world-wide crisis is very well done. however, this book could have been so much better. the author leaves many unanswered questions, not just unanswered, but explicitly ignored. Its as if he started some interesting plot lines, then didn't know where to go with them. Overall, a good book (3 1/2 stars leaning towards 3), but its slow in the middle and i wasn;t completely satisfied with the ending.
One of my favorite books.......2007-04-22
I loved this book because it was horrifying, addressed the human element with good insight, and had moments of genius imagery.
The Reach Exceeds the Grasp.......2006-11-28
OK, this was a standout thriller--better than the typical offerings of the genre. But, hey, if you are going to kill everyone at least be more clear about what or why such an event has to teach us? Heavens, I kept reading thinking that there was going to be some profound observation on the meaning of humanity or the philosophy of religion. All I got was a bunch of sick people, in effect, throwing turds at one another.
Long goes to great lengths to create some interesting characters--evil genius, indefatigable parents, obsessive collectors, religious zealots--we pretty much get a wide range of colorful characters. But he fails to paint a picture with them. The story literally went nowhere. (OK, some guy in Kansas planted corn...)
The missed opportunities were legion. Frankly, the story has already been done better by P.D. James in Children of Men, but what remains is essentially Dr. Strangelove. More frustrating was the insertion of religion into the story--though there are some startling subplots, they don't resolve and worse, the author doesn't use them to make a statement. Did he really mean to say that the search for Jesus is ultimately fatal? I think not; however, the lack of respect for the theme was surprising. At least the question of whether involuntary human experimentation was justified by the nature of the crisis was clearly resolved.
All in all, it was a good beach read and I believe that Mr. Long has real promise that is not fully realized in this work. He crafts a better character than Dan Brown and, frankly, presented a much more imaginative plot than can Steve Berry. I look forward to Mr. Long's future efforts.
I loved this book.......2006-09-13
...and couldn't wait for bedtime to read more. It was never boring or tedious, probably due to Long's excellant writing and a great story lne.
Way smarter than your average thriller.......2006-08-21
Not sure how anyone could find fault with this book.It is full of vivid images both wonderful and horrible.It is fanciful for sure but what book about a plague that ravishes the earth wouldn't be.Simply put a book to really lose yourself in for a couple of days.It will provoke thoughts you may not want provoked but as I stated in my review title this book is the result of an imagination that really takes chances the average thriller writer wouldn't dream of,it also really gets you thinking.What more could a reader of popular fiction ask for?
Average customer rating:
- The Musketeers are still swashbuckling twenty years later!
- Clever and filled with manners
- An Excellent Book!
- A Remarkably Successful Sequel - Alexandre Dumas Triumphs Again
- The Musketeers at Middle Age
|
Twenty Years After (Oxford World's Classics)
Alexandre Dumas père
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
- The Vicomte de Bragelonne (Oxford World's Classics)
- Louise de la Vallière (Oxford World's Classics)
- The Man in the Iron Mask (Oxford World's Classics)
- The Three Musketeers (Modern Library Classics)
- The Black Tulip
ASIN: 0192838431 |
Book Description
Twenty Years After (1845), the sequel to The Three Musketeers, is a supreme creation of suspense and heroic adventure. Two decades have passed since the musketeers triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady. Time has weakened their resolve, and dispersed their loyalties. But treasons and strategems still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, while in England Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. Dumas brings his immortal quartet out of retirement to cross swords with time, the malevolence of men, and the forces of history. But their greatest test is a titanic struggle with the son of Milady, who wears the face of Evil. In his Introduction to this edition David Coward sets both the author and his exciting tale in their historical and cultural contexts.
Customer Reviews:
The Musketeers are still swashbuckling twenty years later!.......2007-06-23
It's been twenty years since the close of The Three Musketeers, and only D'Artagnan remains in service to the French Crown. Richelieu is dead and his protege Mazarin now holds the power behind the throne. Anne of Austria rules as regent for her young son, and civil war threatens France.
D'Artagnan is sent to bring the Musketeers out of retirement, but they find themselves at odds between the two sides in the civil unrest. D'Artagnan wants to be promoted to captain and Porthos who wants to be a baron, side with Mazarin, Athos and Aramis with the Fronduers (sp?). However, they soon find that although much has changed, their love and friendship for each other remain intact, particularly when faced with the evil son of Milady, who is bent upon revenge against those who executed his mother.
There's way too much plot to even try to explain, leave it to say that there is much adventure and derring do, from the civil war in France to the conflict between Charles I and Oliver Cromwell in England. I especially enjoyed the nail biting, sit on the edge of your seat excitement during the escape from England and Mordaunt, along with the rescue of D'Artagnan, Porthos and Athos from Mazarin (what fun!). Along with the excitement comes the humor of their constant banter and escapades making for a near perfect read.
I personally liked the parts in England the best, but I think that's because I have a better understanding of English history than French. Even after researching that period in France and Mazarin online, I still got a bit confused at times, but that is a minor issue in comparison to the rest of the story. Dumas is brilliant (as always) and his dialogue is among the best (as always). An awesome sequel to the Three Musketeers, and I am looking forward to starting the next chapter in this story, The Vicomte De Bragelonne.
Clever and filled with manners.......2006-07-25
When I looked at this book I thought I was going to be disappointed because of the possibility that all of the characters will change too much. After some 500 pages into the book, I realized their change was only natural to that of real life. Alexandre Dumas marveously wrote "twenty year after" as if it was a non fictional story with all of the involvement of history incorporated into the plots and timeline of events.
Of the four the friends, D'artagnan once agian outshined the rest, but that's only in my opinion. Not to mention, all of the old favorite sidekick characters are back. Planchet, Grimaud, Bazen, and Mousten. Together the four friends are seperated and united once agian to answer to the task given by their beliefs and views.
Unfortunately, their was no love plot like that of the first book with D'artagnan and Ma'dam Bonacieux, thus my 4 out of 5 stars for this worthy book.
An Excellent Book!.......2006-04-15
I absolutely loved this book! It now rates as one of my favorites. The complexities and length of the plot were refreshing, and provide an excellent continuation to The Three Musketeers. Too often a wonderful books ends, and then there is nothing but speculation as to what happened to characters in the future. Ten Years After is a wonderful exception, one that kept me at the edge of my seat in the few days I read it (in spite of school work! :))I nearly cried at the execution of Charles, an event I was certain would end differently... the Inseparables were on the case, after all. At the same time it was brilliant and glorious. And Dumas too, while at sometimes bewildering (old enemies become friends seemingly overnight as you see towards the beginning- Rochefort, anyone?)still has refreshing unpredictability. There are excellent quotes, too! I left dog-ear every page with insightful words, and by the time I was finished with this book there was a wealth of thought provoking and amusing thoughts. I sincerely recommend this book- it's fabulous! Read it- you won't be disappointed.
A Remarkably Successful Sequel - Alexandre Dumas Triumphs Again.......2006-02-26
Twenty Years After is the highly successful sequel to The Three Musketeers. Alexandre Dumas did not take the easy route and simply regroup his daring musketeers, D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and send them on another adventure. Remarkably, he ratcheted the time period forward twenty years, aging his characters accordingly. The seemingly inseparable musketeers have moved along different paths and D'Artagnan has not seen his friends for many years. For many chapters Dumas leaves the reader unsure whether these four erstwhile companions can put aside their differences - Aramis and Athos are engaged in a conspiracy diametrically opposed to D'Artagnan's interests - and come together in a new undertaking on behalf of the Queen.
The twenty year gap was not just a whim on Alexandre Dumas' part. Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642 and Louis XIII in 1643. His son, Louis XIV, was only five. The Queen was named Regent and selected Mazarin as her key advisor. Mazarin, by continuing Richelieu's policy of consolidating royal power, angered many elements of French society, ranging from the semiautonomous nobility to the popular masses. Mazarin's unpopularity ultimately resulted in two separate civil revolts, the first and second Fronde. The first Fronde (1648) is the setting for Twenty Years After.
Despite the twenty year gap, there are many similarities with The Three Musketeers. The older musketeers are no less adventuresome, no less courageous, and no less awesome in combat. The musketeers again become embroiled in court intrigues, including a cross channel adventure in England in which they assist Charles I against Cromwell. In perhaps his most audacious step, Dumas introduces Mordaunt, the revengeful son of Milady. Surprisingly, this fictional addition proves quite effective, and contributes significantly to the suspense and drama of Twenty Years After.
Upon completion of this entertaining sequel, I again wondered why there had been no mention of D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis in my history classes. In my view French history is far less interesting without these intrepid adventurers.
Recommendation: I highly recommend the relatively inexpensive Oxford World's Classics edition of Twenty Years After, especially for its valuable supplementary material. In particular, I found the editor's explanatory notes - includes many references to earlier events in The Three Musketeers as well as short historical descriptions of the many, many characters that appear in this long novel - to be exceedingly helpful.
The Musketeers at Middle Age.......2005-01-05
At the end of the Three Musketeers, the reader is left with the feeling that these young heroes can only go on to greater heights. As this book opens, twenty years have passed since the death of Milady. The Musketeer's youthful dreams have not quite panned out. They are now in their forties and the world is much more complicated.
The most brilliant of the four friends D'Artagnan, is still only a lieutenant in the Kings Musketeers. His talents have never been recognized. Although wealthy, Porthos is unhappy because his neighbors do not hold him in high esteem. Although now an abbe, Aramis still is drawn to the world of the sword. Only Athos seems to have found some peace as a country squire.
The four close friends have gone their separate ways. They have not spoken or seen eachother for many years. However, France is on the verge of a civil war. D'Artagnan's desire for recognition and fortune leads him to bring the four old friends back together again for one more grand adventure.
I thought the Three Musketeers was one of the great adventure stories. It is hard to believe but Twenty Years After is an even better book. Dumas has the advantage of creating four great characters in the Three Musketeers. Twenty Years After, gives Dumas another 800 pages to develop these memorable adventurers. What made Dumas such a genius, is that he knew how to build a story to a high pitch and keep that high level of tension and excitement going for hundreds of pages. This is truly a remarkable book. The only down side to Twenty Years After is that I now have another 2100 pages to go before I end the five part Musketeer series.
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