This is the best time travel series in a realistic timeline ever written. Before these books, L. Sprague De Camp had held that title for decades with his "Lest Darkness Fall", but it was too short. Mark Twain may be the most famous with his "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", but that is more light hearted than serious, and disappointing at the end. The Conrad series delivers on all the promise, and even after 5 books, it still leaves you wanting more. (There is a sixth book now, but Conrad is a minor character, and I've reviewed it separately.)

I say realistic timeline, because Conrad isn't really from our timeline. I was a little suspicious right from the start, but it wasn't until Conrad reminisced about the Mongols invading France that I thought "Hey, wait a minute". It turns out that it didn't happen to us (even without Conrad). But the historians I read agree that it would have, except the great Khan died and the Mongols had a war of succession which they never recovered from. This is often used as an example of the actions of one person changing history. I never even heard the story, until Conrad got me to look it up. Go figure.

This is an action story, with fighting and sex, where Conrad overcomes insurmountable obstacles, and usually has a good time along the way. The author doesn't just ignore the time travel though. He writes a science fiction sub-plot about that too. In fact, the author is obviously an engineer, not just because it takes an engineer for Conrad to build the things he does, but also from the way the books were planned out and crafted. Obviously the author planned the Mongol invasion and built the series around it, but he also foreshadows romantic sub-plots 3 books in advance.

I love these books, and share other reviewers disbelief that they haven't been reprinted since 1993. If you've already read them, and love them too, you might want to try "The Misplaced Legion (Videssos Cycle, Book 1)" by Harry Turtledove, about elements of one of Caesar's legions travelling into Rome's future of the Byzantine Empire. Only it's not the real Byzantine Empire, it's a parallel universe where magic works. Aside from that, it's Byzantium during the 1100's written by a Byzantine historian. And of course you'll want to read the "Island in the Sea of Time" series by S. M. Stirling, about modern day Nantucket going back in time to the Trojan War. These works are different, but also 5 stars.

This is the best time travel series in a realistic timeline ever written. Before these books, L. Sprague De Camp had held that title for decades with his "Lest Darkness Fall", but it was too short. Mark Twain may be the most famous with his "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", but that is more light hearted than serious, and disappointing at the end. The Conrad series delivers on all the promise, and even after 5 books, it still leaves you wanting more. (There is a sixth book now, but Conrad is a minor character, and I've reviewed it separately.)

I say realistic timeline, because Conrad isn't really from our timeline. I was a little suspicious right from the start, but it wasn't until Conrad reminisced about the Mongols invading France that I thought "Hey, wait a minute". It turns out that it didn't happen to us (even without Conrad). But the historians I read agree that it would have, except the great Khan died and the Mongols had a war of succession which they never recovered from. This is often used as an example of the actions of one person changing history. I never even heard the story, until Conrad got me to look it up. Go figure.

This is an action story, with fighting and sex, where Conrad overcomes insurmountable obstacles, and usually has a good time along the way. The author doesn't just ignore the time travel though. He writes a science fiction sub-plot about that too. In fact, the author is obviously an engineer, not just because it takes an engineer for Conrad to build the things he does, but also from the way the books were planned out and crafted. Obviously the author planned the Mongol invasion and built the series around it, but he also foreshadows romantic sub-plots 3 books in advance.

I love these books, and share other reviewers disbelief that they haven't been reprinted since 1993. If you've already read them, and love them too, you might want to try "The Misplaced Legion (Videssos Cycle, Book 1)" by Harry Turtledove, about elements of one of Caesar's legions travelling into Rome's future of the Byzantine Empire. Only it's not the real Byzantine Empire, it's a parallel universe where magic works. Aside from that, it's Byzantium during the 1100's written by a Byzantine historian. And of course you'll want to read the "Island in the Sea of Time" series by S. M. Stirling, about modern day Nantucket going back in time to the Trojan War. These works are different, but also 5 stars.

What a thrilling conclusion to an absolutely magnetizing series. I read the series at least three times a year. Conrad is the thoughtful, generous, thrilling, competent, and manly guy that all men want to be. Don't we all wish we could have the heroism that he has? Not to mention Francine, Cilicia and aaaallll the others! What a wonderful series!!!!!! (By the way, is the rumor true that another book is coming out?)

this book had facts that i never knew about Leo befor

This is a wonderful book!!! I recemend this book to anyone who LOVES-juicy facts,Titanic,Leo,and more!!! It's filled with great colored pictures and fun facts!!! Get this book right away!!!!!!!!!

this book has it all!! rumors, facts, bio of leo, well the whole is like a bio with all this other stuff mixed in with it, its just soooooooooo well written,i have all of leos books, cause i'm his #1 fan!!! always and forever. but yes its a great book, and you have to read it! =)

This book is constantly reprinted and it's no wonder. We first used it in an (authentic) high school CCD program in the mid- 1970's. Its simple, straightforward style, depth and clarity have me coming back to it every 4 years or so for a "refresher" on the basics of the Roman Catholic faith. This book is a must for anyone who wants to know why he exists, where he is going, who God is, etc., in addition to the nuts and bolts of Mother Church. I read a lot in this area--in addition to apologetics and all the usual suspects in that area and this book is a stand out and has stood the test of time. I'm ordering more because I'm always giving them away to all sorts of people and I never get "negative" feedback--it's always completely positive. A very readable book!

Very easy to understand and will answer numerous questions regarding Catholic faith. It should be required reading for all believers of the Bible, for it explains it in an easier way, leaving no room for speculations or assumptions. Highly recommended...

When I was given this book I thought there was no way an author could explain the Christian faith very well in a single book of this size. Then I read the first few pages, and the language was non-academic and easy to understand, so I thought there's REALLY no way the author could do a decent job expaining the faith.

But the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways! This book works through biblical text and gives creative analogies, making the often hard-to-understand mysteries of the Catholic faith reachable for a layman like myself. If you want to understand the Catholic faith, READ THIS BOOK!

This is an enchanting book, so well written and beautifully illustrated and it includes a CD narrated by the author and his niece and nephew. It has a very positive message of the value of perseverace in the face of obstacles. I love this book and have given it to every child I know!!!

Our three-year-old son received this as a gift from Grandma and has been requesting it for reading sessions or listening to the CD version several times a day for the last week and a half. And amazingly, I am NOT sick of it yet.

Very enjoyable encouraging story but not at all preachy. The CD story is one of the best quality pre-read stories I have heard. It has music, sound effects, and several different and very expressive voices participating. At the same time it is not over-the-top detracting from the story itself.

My only critique is that on the CD the page turn signals are very subtle. But my son quickly memorized the book anyway and learned exactly when to turn the pages. Also, unlike some the books-on-tape there is no audio version without page turn signals. Both very minor issues.

This is a great value for both a beautifully illustrated hardcover book and an audio CD. A great gift!

Charming and delightful, Leo encourages self-confidence and perseverance while entertaining its audience. Children that don't usually enjoy books can play the CD, follow the pictures, and hear the story--good for those beginning to read and visually impaired. (Parents will enjoy it too.)

Great as the film is, Herlihy's book is even greater. Joe Buck, the naive Cowboy with dreams of making it big selling himself to the women of New York City, comes off better via the written word.
What the book drives home so well is Joe Buck's thorough feeling of loneliness, and filling that void in the most unlikely place, and in the company of the most unlikely character. The "country boy goes to the cold, sprawling metropolis" theme has been done over, and often with a one-dimensional viewpoint. Herlihy illustrates Joe Buck as a young man who is plagued by shallow and aloof folk from his hometown in New Mexico to the City of Houston to New York City. Ironically, it is New York City where he encounters the one person he truly can be himself around; the explanation for Joe's comradery with Ratso Rizzo is more effective on page than on screen.

This is definitely a heavy read, but James Herlihy was an excellent storyteller. His writing paints such a colorful and tangible setting, you almost wish you were hanging with Joe through his misery just to catch the scenery and backdrops! Herlihy's writing reminds me of the films by director Kar-wai Wong; no matter how dismal the situation, it is portrayed so wonderfully that you wish you could hang around the scene.

This is one underrated gem.

I couldn't put it down, simply breathtaking!

Writing that cuts to the bone of lonliness. If only Joe Buck had been born a hundred years ago he could have taken his beauty out west and lived among a gang of horse-rustlers and been considered a romantic. I never saw the movie and hopefully never will.

I think that this is a great book for a young child to read, it is also a book that some older adults would probably like. I think that this is one of my favorite children's books. It has colorful, detailed pictures. It is a good story. It will keep children interested and wondering what will happen next. Alexander has a great friendly personality that kids will relate to. Alexander is lonley and wants a friend. Whenever he leaves his home to go find some crumbs to eat, the family that lives in the house catches him and chases him back in his hole in the wall. One day he runs into a wind-up mouse named Willy. He befriends this mouse and he decides that he wants to be a wind-up mouse too. He meets a lizard in the backyard and tells him his wish, the lizard tells Alexander to bring him a purple pebble. So Alexander goes on search for this pebble. He searches everywhere and finally finds one. But then he changes his mind and decides that he wants Willy to become a real mouse. So he wishes then goes back to his house. When he gets in his hole in the wall, he sees another mouse and asks who he is. He discovers that it is Willy, so they then live happily ever after and stay friends. I really liked this book out of any others I have read. Thats why I give it four stars and reccomend it to anyone who is looking for a book to read to their child, or to read themselves.

The Book Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse was a great book to read. I thought that it was easy to follow along and to understand it. The pictures and drawings in the book were very cool too. I hope that if you decide to read this book, you will feel the same way about it that I do. I think that you will like reading and find it a very neat book to enjoy.
In the story, Alexander wants to be like the wind-up mouse because the wind up mouse gets more attention than he does. He meets the wind-up mouse one day and starts to talk to him. He finds out how he can become a wind-up mouse too. If you read this book, you will be able to find out what Alexander does. Will be ever become a wind-up mouse or not??
Brandon M.

My mother started reading this book to my brother and I when we were about 2 maybe younger. It was one of our favorite books. By the time we were about 3 we could recite the book as the pages were turned. We still have the book and I now read it to my children. I still love the book and hope my children enjoy it as much as my brother and I did.

This book is a very clear introduction to programming and the stack. The cartoons are very entertaining and descriptive, and the book would make light reading even for beginning programmers. Those who program, but not yet in Forth, will also be happy with the quick introduction.

Why on earth is this fabulous book out of print?

Somebody REPRINT THIS BOOK!

"Starting Forth" is the only Forth book I own. After reading it, I was able to implement a Forth runtime system, compiler, and interpreter, from scratch, in 8086 assembly - the results can be found at home.earthlink.net/~jknapka/jkf.html . I credit this mainly to Leo Brodie's skill as an expository writer. The book is a gem; if someone were to reprint it, I for one would buy several copies, just in case.

The reason no one will reprint "Starting Forth" is that Forth is not sufficiently trendy. If we rename the language "JavaForth", we'll be drowning in reprints...

Sigh.

A wonderful book. I bought mine in 1980, and a week later I had an old Northstar Z-80 computer running real-time behavioral experiments in FORTH at (so it seemed) blinding speed.

We need this book!

In order to create the fictional town of Steven Falls, the author has created an alternate world where the political boundaries and political organization are different, two towns have disappeared (replaced by the fictional town in a different location), the state police have taken over the county courthouse, and the sheriff's office is no longer in the county seat. Readers familiar with the real location may have problems with the novel. For people from outside the Puget Sound/ Olympic Peninsula area, it might be an interesting cops and robbers tale.

Seattle PI Leo Waterman has a friend who has acquired property to start a small resort and work as a fishing guide. He is an outsider in a small town, where locals have their own ideas for the property. Conflicts with the local red necks and power brokers turn lethal. Leo brings in an assortment of street people, thieves, and shadowy individuals to exact retribution. Leo is not a nice guy when you get on his wrong side.

The novel starts out on a different case before getting to the main plot, and meanders at some points. It is hard to say if anyone wins in the end as everyone, including Leo, gets banged up, and we seem to be left with a trail of broken bodies and shattered dreams. At best, the story would have a PG-13 rating.

I love the Leo Waterman series. Everyone of them has been great. But I think I can safely say that this is my favorite yet.

Leo and his live in girlfriend visit some freinds who have bought some property in hopes of opening a resort. Beautiful little town, perfect location on the water. But things feel a little weird. After returning home, a few weeks later they discover the husband is dead. Leo being who he is wants to know why.

It turns into almost a caper from there on. Leo bringing in people who can do specific jobs for him to help nail those responsible.

A whole lot of fun to read, and And I would highly recommend this series, but this book in particular.

Jon Jordan

Do not read this book while sitting in the lunchroom at work! It looks very unprofessional to be laughing out loud when you are sitting at a table by yourself. Leo Waterman's unique view of how the system works, and how to work the system makes for a delightful read.

Written at the end of the 19th Century, this short inspirational fable tells the tale of a fourth wise man, or Magi, who, like his three colleagues, bears gifts in search of the baby Jesus.

The back flap of my edition states:
His purpose was the highest -- to find the King. With much torture of soul, he turned aside time after time to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to heal the sick, to comfort the captive. In one last impulse of love, he denies to himself his great desire, Then wonder of wonders, and joy of joys, he finds that his great desire is accomplished in this very denial. This story has the happiest ending that any story could ever have, a story and an ending that can become true in the lives of every man and woman.

The language is a bit formal and the moral of charity to strangers is basic. Yet there is a charm and wonder to this simple story that makes it an enduring classic. I particularly like the beginning where the practice of Zoroastrianism is described.

Well, except for the original, of course. I treasure the 1901 copy I have of this, as it brings to life the real meanings of Christmas to me more than any other fictional portrayal I have come across. van Dyke writes with clarity and succinctness, communicating the wisdom he claims to receive from the Spirit in the manner of timeless myth. It is well known that there were not three wisemen, but an indeterminate number. This story plays with that theme, and brings up something much better, much deeper, than the imagery in the creches we so often see. The story of Christmas doesn't truly end until Easter, if there. For it's not about a sweet feeling, or feeling comfortable- it's about undying love, about service, about feeling positively uncomfortable. The point is not to give the gifts of precious stones as if Jesus were a king, but to give the gift of life as if Jesus were the King.

The Three Kings, Wise Men and Magi are all names given to the first men to see and recognize Jesus. Little is known of their lives except for what we've read in the Bible. Over the years, many stories have been written concerning the Magi, but I feel that this is the most beautiful of them all.

This poignant fable concerns Artaban who was a member of the ancient priesthood of the Magi. He had been watching the heavens and had seen the signs that it was the time for an old prophecy to be fulfilled. "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall arise out of Israel."

Artaban sold his house and all that he owned and purchased three beautiful jewels to be given to the new King of Israel. The gifts were a beautiful blue sapphire which was like a piece of the night sky; a ruby that was even more red than a sunrise; and a pearl as pure as the peak of a snow mountain. Artaban was to meet and travel with three other members of the ancient priesthood, Balthazar, Caspar and Melchoir, so they could follow the new star of Israel together.

On his way to meet with his friends, he stops to help a dying man and is never able to catch up with the other Magi. Artaban spends his life helping others, but always seeking Jesus. The beautiful ending is worth waiting for. A very inspirational story!

In the trade, we refer to this as a book "printed as a remainder," i.e. a book intended to be sold inexpensively. But for an inexpensive book, Leo Marriott's "Titanic" is well worth having. Its selection of photographs is excellent and include real rarities like early construction photos of Olympic (it's worth noting here that a lot of the pictures printed as being of the Titanic, especially shots of her interior and many construction shots, are actually of Olympic. The reason is simple; Olympic was available for photography a lot longer than her sister ship was!), many of the famous Father Browne photographs (Browne, at the time in the novitiate and later a Jesuit priest, travelled from Southhampton to Queenstown on the maiden voyage and snapped away the entire time; Cameron paid tribute to one of his photos in his movie), and shots of the interior of an English hotel which is furnished with interiors torn out of the Olympic when she was broken up. Marriott also discusses the filmography of the Titanic disaster. Ignore the occasional typos; the book is well worth the price.

This is a beautiful book. the pictures are outstanding & the information is total. It is a book you will keep out on the table in sight.

Very good. This book yells out"Hey,read me!". I would recommend this book to you. It has very good pictures that you would love.