I don't know what book the reader from Wilmington, De., was reading, but it doesn't sound like the same book that I read! Seeds of Fire is a fast moving, engrossing story that goes places I would never have expected to be taken. It's peopled with three dimensional characters -- intelligent women with wit and heart -- who must deal with their own weaknesses as well as injustices fate and villains have dealt them. Like her other stories, Seeds of Fire plays with magical elements in thoughtful, interesting, and often touching ways. I've read all the books that Karin Kallmaker has written under the Adams pen name and think they are some of the best lesbian fantasy stories around! Adams creates worlds just slightly different from our "ordinary every day" and in addition to entertaining, she often prompts me to think about things like the nature of time, the soul, good and evil, reincarnation and the power of the love. I can't wait for the third book in the Tunnel of Light trilogy!

A strong warning to would-be readers: begin with the first book
of the sequence: Sleight of Hand.

This wonderful book continues the story of a dozen women,
who are introduced as we go along, and prove to be pivotal
along the way. Two of the most identifiable characters are
the richly portrayed Ursula, and the mischievous and lusty
Hilea, who are respectively reincarnations of St Ursula, and
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen. [If you like Hildegard, this is
probably a trilogy you shouldn't miss.]

The idea of a set of present-day individuals re-treading paths
they have tread in the past is not new. However, Karin
Kallmaker raises the device to attain new heights of poetic
power. The constant theme of the story is the tension between
the conflicting desires of the women, and their transforming
love for each other, and the focus of their existence, Ursula,
which is sometimes a battle, but at othertimes in blissful alignment.

The mythic tone of the narrative comes from the fact that the
women remember their numerous previous encounters only
imperfectly. They sometimes seek someone or something they
only know vaguely, from dreams. So their discovery of each
other is alway new, and ever more poignant. And sometimes they
proceed on a path despite painful intuitions about its futility.

In places, though, the author is juggling up to three
time layers at once, with the action in each affecting the
outcomes in the others, and we lose sight of the cause-and-
effect factor, the motivation, the triggers. Should Kelly
pull, or push? Why? Why should A shoot at B? (Was I too
sleepy when I read that page? ;) In once sense, their
motivations leak between the layers. On the other hand, some
of them are more aware of the other layers than others, making
it nearly impossible for the reader to make sense of the action
except that it was horribly and tragically necessary.

In spite of its minor weaknesses, I can honestly say I enjoyed
the two books very much, and I pulled out my Canticles of
Ecstasy (since I do not have 11,000 virgins) and wallowed in the
wonderful feeling of exaltation both the book and the music
Of Hildegard Von Bingen evoke.

There is a scene in book one, when the women are together, that
sets a mood of great innocent delight. It is like the kiss of
an angel, and I keep reading in the hope that such bliss will
be found again, perhaps in the final book of the trilogy!

Arch

It's almost always true that second books or trilogies are never as good as the first or third, but Laura Adams has broken that rule -- along with a bunch of others in writing this "lesbian" fantasy story.

Where are the weakly-developed characters, the vanilla plots, the good and true goddess loving women who overcome everything by the power of love? Or who solve all their problems by being wizards of technology and science? Not in this book!

The Tunnel of Light Triology features women who are strongly developed, deeply flawed, plagued by their darker impulses and not at all sure that love will help them overcome an evil that has hunted them for 1500 years. As they live out the patterns of pursuers and pursued, of lovers and enemies and seekers and finders, they lose memories of their past knowledge and awareness of where their moral lines must be drawn to survive.

This is a great series with a full range of human emotion -- not just what lesbians are "supposed" to feel. These women can hate each other, and hurt each other, and love each other -- sometimes in ways so erotic that this easily qualifies as romance.

If you like fantasy, lesbian, gay, straight or otherwise, you will like this triology and this middle book. Laura Adams (an alter ego of Karin Kallmaker) must be doing something right -- unlike book 1, this middle book has been nominated for a Lammy Award. Like the rest of her readers, I am on the edge of my seat for book 3.

"There is no United Federation of Planets. There are no Vulcans." This is one of my favorite lines from this book. The aliens are coming, and some of them are Not Nice. Sharon, a visitor from a female-only species planet called Pallas, tries to tell Amanda this bitter truth. Sharon herself makes lots of mistakes, not the least of which is how she treats Amanda from their first meeting. Raised as a human on Pallas, Sharon can forge mental contact and doesn't know how to turn it off, even when Amanda begs her to.

I have become a total fan of this author's work. The Dawning starts off looking like it's an alien meets human romance in a sci-fi package, but the depths plumbed in this novel go far beyond that. COnvincingly real is Amanda's grief and near-suicidal state after the Challenger explosion, and then her sheer terror when she learns exactly what Sharon is. Just when Amanda has successfully forgotten that Sharon is not quite human, she is reminded -- usually painfully -- of the truth.

I got goosebumps when Amanda gets her chance to rewrite history, and I so wanted her to succeed! The novel ends with all possibilities left open and I hope that there are more in the series. I am reminded of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover books, which don't have a set chronology or order. I would love if it this series (which began with Night Vision, another bravura novel from Karin Kallmaker's Laura Adams persona) ends up with as many books to savor, to puzzle over and to get fabulous goosebumps from.

The aliens are coming, and some of them are Not Nice.

Amanda Martin has spent thirteen years reliving her role in a tragic explosion that cost the lives of seven people. Her self-imposed exile in the hills of New Mexico ends when Amanda stumbles upon someone bearing an exact resemblance of one of the people who died. Suppose she offers Amanda a means to travel through time and possibly change that tragic incident. Will she do it? What price is she willing to pay? "The Dawning" is a fast paced blending of romance, science fiction and action packed adventure. Writing as Laura Adams, Kallmaker has displayed her alter ego's talents again!

The Dawning is another winner for Adams, aka Kallmaker. WhileI have enjoyed almost every book she has written and would rate mostof them as peak experiences, I was especially impressed with theamount of accurate information contained (incidentally to the story) about the Navajo nation. Being a descendent of First Generation Americans, I am impressed by this attention to detail. Plus, the story was wonderful, with very real and very believable characters exploring for us the range of human emotions not usually covered in a 'romance' novel. I can hardly wait for the next novel which will carry on the general story line of the Daughters of Pallas. END

I think that this book is really fun because Adam Joshua cheats on his math test by making someone else do it for him so he can finish his science project. In the book they take away the skeleton they have in the science room and . . . read more to find out what happens!

I think that Serious Science is a good book for a lot of kids. It might be a little hard for people and it might be a little easy for people. But, it's perfect for me!

The Salon.com Reader's Guide to Contemporary Authors is one of the best books on contemporary literature I've ever read. With the notable exclusions of writers John Nichols, David James Duncan and Arundahati Roy, the book is a comprehensive (though it claims not to be) and witty guide to all books not yet considered "classic" yet well on their way.

I am a college writing and literature instructor, so I first browsed the volume as an interested teacher (always looking for ways to get students to like reading), but ended up unable to put it down because I so loved its insight and humor about all the writers I've loved or hated over the years. I was delighted at the validation I received for not really liking trendy writers such as A.S. Byatt, Edwidge Danticat or Brett Easton Ellis, and thrilled that authors Jim Harrison and Salman Rushdie were finally given the fair criticism they deserve, not based on scandal or hype or Brad Pitt. In fact, I found Salon's criticisms generally accurate with regard to books I've read already. Never nasty, the critics sum up the influence the writer has had and honestly discuss whether or not the influence is justified.

I also learned much about the writing of authors I have always meant to check out and I learned about writers I've never heard of but now want to read desperately. I wish this book had been published years ago.

I am definitely going to recommend it to all of my reading friends and my students and I eagerly await the second edition (for surely there must be a second edition now that Jonathan Franzen has written The Corrections?)

Thanks, Salon.com, for filling a void so humorously and honestly.

I eagerly took this book home, and quickly flipped through the pages to see how many books I've read by the 225 authors listed in this guide. I've got a lot of work ahead of me. What I appreciated the most about the book is that along with literary giants such as Margaret Atwood, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Toni Morrison, and Robertson Davies, the contributors to this guide also mention commercial success stories such as Stephen King, Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and Michael Crichton. For each entry there is a bibliography given, a summary of the authors works, and a 'see also' paragraph that leads you to other great authors with similar writting styles as your favourites. In between entries there are essays and suggestions given by the said authors themselves which are enlightening and entertaining. I don't know much about salon.com, but I've learnt that they're capable of producing a top notch reference that I'll will use frequently.

"The Salon.com Reader's Guide to Contemporary Authors" is edited by Laura Miller, with Adam Begley. It consists primarily of alphabetically-arranged entries on selected writers. Each entry contains a list of books by the author, as well as a critical essay. This collection of writers is international and multicultural, although the selection is (as noted in the preface) limited to authors who write (or wrote) fiction in English and who have had major works published since 1960.

This is a book that I use both to "discover" authors I'm not familiar with, as well as to get new perspectives on authors I already know (either passingly or thoroughly). Each entry is about 1 to 2 pages long. A very short sampler of some of the authors covered: Chinua Achebe, Sherman Alexie, Saul Bellow, Charles Bukowski, Ian Fleming, Allegra Goodman, Ursula K. LeGuin, Amy Tan, Gore Vidal, etc.

The critical articles contain some questionable statements, but that's half the fun of this book: it's a reference work with which an intelligent reader can disagree.

In addition to the main entries, there is a series of sidebar book lists compiled by various individuals. Examples: "Five Contemporary Noir Classics," listed by David Bowman; "A Walk on the Wild Side: Very Original Novels," by Peter Carey; "Smart and Sexy," by Erica Jong; etc. The books are listed with short descriptive paragraphs.

There is also a series of interspersed literary essays: "Every Novel Is a Lesbian Novel," by Dorothy Allison; "Of This World: Why Science Fiction Can't Be Dismissed," by John Clute; etc. If you love contemporary literature, you may find "The Salon.com Reader's Guide" to be a wonderful resource.

Carlos Fuentes true epic surrendered me to tears...Laura Diaz whether a fictional character of Frida Kahlo's assistant, brought me an Argentine born individual to great emotional depts...It is a lyrical novel, which tells truths beyond truths...Carlos Fuentes writes and depicts all of his characters with great intellect, knowledge of the times, and incredible perspective...Was totally aghast at the comment by one of our reviewers that stated that this book was not historically correct and that Carlos Fuentes is a shameful communist...Au contraire, readers, Carlos Fuentes is a poet and a latin, and therefore tells the truths about our countries and the US with a very objective eye...Since the Where the Air is Clear by him as well, no other book has touched my inner being and left me completely breathless...It is a book that is both timeless and reflective, emotional and philosophical...and most of all one of the most satisfying performances by Carlos Fuentes...Viva Carlos Fuentes, un autor con tanta sabiduria!!!

I would suggest that readers re-read his beautiful prose more than once and refer to this book throughout their lifetime, it is filled with the passion, pulse of individuals who are citizens of the world...

Thank you, thank you...Carlos, for a great magnificent book...

This is a novel of great depth, written by a man who has lived his life observing, thinking, asking questions, considering and writing. His great talent lies in speaking for many: for fathers, mothers, sons, lovers, passionate revolutionaries and for each of us.

The Years With Laura Diaz, is as great a mural and testament, and as real and colorful as the Diego Rivera mural that graces its cover. Just as the great mural tells the history and stories of a people, so this magnificently written work shows us the colors and contrasts that richly color our world. Do check out our Guest Reviewer Deborah D/M's full review.

Carlos Fuentes takes us on a sweeping journey of the 20th century as he reveals the history, culture, and political life of Mexico and the world. Fuentes draws on his own family history to weave a tale of love and tragedy and of extraordinary people whose lives and work influenced their times. Laura Diaz, the heroine both normal and unusual in her roles as wife and mother--lover and artist, waltzes through the years with grace and vitality. Her honesty and common sense approach to life make her an example for the many lives that she touches. She married a dashing young man in the labor movement andwas thrown into the political mainstream that coursed through Mexico City in the early part of the century. She also was the lover of more than one dashing and famous man as she joined the high life of Spanish-European society that existed in Mexico City. Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo became friends of hers, and she traveled with them to the United States as Diego painted his famous--and infamous--series of murals celebrating the workers. As a friend of Frieda's, Laura was able to tell the tragic story of the famous painter and her struggle with health and tragedy. The figure of Santiago, first the murdered brother of Laura and later her son and grandson, symbolizes the heroic persona who fights for what is right only to be cut down before his prime. Laura holds her love of these three in her heart, and eventually it sustains her through her life and into her new career. That in later life she became a famous photographer of the poor and downtrodden is indicative of the love she has for the three Santiagos, and for her husband and lovers, all of whom where involved in the people's movement. This novel encompasses all that is important in life, and it celebrates the courage and vitality of those who are willing to spend their lives for other's causes. The tracing of Mexico's history from revolution, corrupt politics and visionary idealism, interwoven with Laura's life, is fascinating, and leaves the reader with a better understanding not only of Mexico bul also of the human spirit.

This is a good book. There's a lesson in this book that tells you that you shouldn't get upset over little things. Another lesson tell us that it's okay to get scared because a lot of people get scared.

I think this book is really good because I like funny characters. Some of the funny characters in this story are Elliot Banks and Adam Joshua. My favorite chapter is called "The Show-and-Tell War."

Great reference for the warehouse manager or project manger. Provides an excellent explanation of the various warehouse activities and equipment. Very useful for project management with good walk-throughs for many warehouse / distribution projects; especially racking, WMS and RF. Also is a good reference for project management in general; provides many examples of project documentation and checklists. Detailed yet information is easy to find. I hope future editions take a closer look at scalability and tecnology that integrates the WMS with the Enterprise system. Overall a great resource for any Ops department...

This is the most boring book I have ever read. Its plot is so infinitely small that it is not worth mentioning. I have read all of the Newbery Medals up till 2002, and although some haven't been that good, this one takes the cake for the worst (Even compared to "M.C. Higgens the Great). Personally, I'm glad it is finally out of print, and I would never suggest it to anyone. Of course, it is an alternative to counting sheep...but never mind.

I do not agree with the review given by Horn. This is a gentle story told with compassion and respect. It does not degrade the Dine nor their culture. Laura Armer respected the Dine and, in turn, was respected by them. They called her "the woman who wears turquiose" (she wore turquiose long before it was popular to do so) and "hard-working woman." This story can be appreciated by children who have secret places and are in awe of the beauty and wonder of nature. There is a magic quality to it that supports many children's belief in the mystical realms. I read it to my son when he was seven and we both loved it. I think it might even encourage some to find out more about the Dine people and their culture and beliefs. I suppose the reaction of the Dine characters when they are in the city could be taken as demeaning by those looking for that particular view. However, these people's lives were based on relating, daily, to important life issues, not the non-essential elements that abound in city living and the art/museum world culture - this could make them appear simple. Yet, if the situation were reversed, and the people from the urbanized world were put on the Dine reservation, especially in the 1930's, they would appear awkward, superficial, and "illiterate" in the ways of survival. I would recommend this book to anyone.

I exchanged about a hundred letters with Armer before her death. From her unpublished manuscripts I edited 10 chapters of her Navajoland adventures for Desert Magazine. These chapters were then published as "In Navajoland." She shared many mystical insights with me and a credo which I cherish: "I will walk with fate / And thus compel / The jade to go my way. / A jackal falling down a well said, / "Here I camp today." I have in my living room the large canvas Armer painted called "The Shepherdess," a scene described in one of her books. I welcome any comment on Armer.