As a teenager someone gave me this book along with a stack of trashy second-hand pulp sf. Unimpressed by its ... cover and terrible blurb it lay unread. But for some reason I kept it while all the other pulp went straight back to the second-hand shop. Then one summer afternoon years later I took it down off the shelf and I couldn't believe what I'd found. This is a dark, desperate story told with brevity and style and I could not stop reading it until it had reached its terrible but inevitable conclusion.

I've read it again many times and have always forced it on friends as some kind of over-looked masterpiece. Do yourself a favour - find a copy and read it. I would also make it required reading for any would be fantasy writer. Before you begin your turgid trilogy read this book, learn from it, and spare us the tedium. It proves that fantasy can be well written and intelligent.

One of the best SF books you're ever likely to read, (if you can find a copy), with a breadth and scope which is spellbinding. I first read this book in my early teens and it made a huge impression then: The effect has not diminished over the last 25 years. I found the book in a bargain bin and imagined that I was probably one of only a handful to have read and appreciated it. It's great to see that the book and the author enjoying a well deserved high status in the SF world. I can also recommend the classic 'Earth Abides' if you enjoy apocalyptic fiction, and both the 'Complete works of H.G.Wells' and 'Marchers of Valhalla' by R.E. Howard for two strange and haunting collections of short stories.

This first novel, written while the author was still in college, would be a remarkable achievement for a writer of any age. The premise: in a war-wracked, decaying future, the building of a magnificent starship is planned in order to inspire the populace and help rebuild society. But what sinister power lies behind this noble plan? Not merely generic Evil, but the empty spirits of Entropy and Despair, suggesting that humanity's striving for something wonderful and uplifting is doomed by its own nature ... or is it the uncaring Universe itself that crushes hope? A powerful, thought-provoking novel that deserves to be reprinted. Highly recommended!

Race car fans, Mark Martin fans, Arkansans. This is an awesome book! It's a mini-biography about a fella from Arkansas who is determined to win! It's a look at what makes a race car driver tick, and how addicting the sport can be. Mark even says that winning is just like a drug -- it's addictive.

I'm quite proud of this book and I'm proud that Mark Martin and I share the same home town. Batesville, Arkansas.

I like how he races his car in every race. He's better than other drivers I know.6 6 6 6 go go go race your car all the way through each race.Being your fan forever.I want you to drive more better than the others.

This book is an insightful look into the life of Mark Martin. Certainly a must read for any Martin fan or fan of motorsports. It takes a special mix of natural talent, desire and tenacity to achieve the pinnacle of success as a NASCAR Winston Cup Driver and "Driven To Race" gives you a forthright look into how he was molded by his father, other racers and most of all lifes experiences to become the gutsy, gritty competitor that he is today. Nothing is held back and you won't be able to lay it down until you are finished.

I would agree with the review that states the authors were working side-by-side with the office development team as this book was written. However, I would disagree that such close input was entirely helpful. While the information contained in this book is a nice introduction to how things are "supposed" to work, as with so much of Microsoft's software, things never quite work the way they were designed, unless of course, you're doing exactly what the folks at Microsoft assumed you would do. Not only do some examples in this book fail to work, most examples are simple and obvious, the kind of thing a person might generate from looking at Microsoft's help information. Often they illustrate how the designers assumed their software would work. They often fail to demonstrate what the software can do--or much more important--how to get around the artificial limitations set by Microsoft. Some simple examples involve such basic building blocks as dialog boxes and menus (commandbars in Micro-speak). Some built-in dialog boxes have over a dozen arguments, but try finding out what those arguments do from either this book or from Microsoft's help information. As for the commandbars, even the examples from the book fail to work.

My advice? If you want to know what Microsoft intended, get this book. If you want to use Microsoft Office in a real world situation, keep looking.

It's very hard to find a book on VBA that isn't based in one application, and doesn't begin at the 'Hello World' level. This book does neither. Instead it provides a good introduction to the object models of the Office applications, and includes well-written code examples. The breadth of content is impressive--from shared Office components to class modules. What a pity it's out of print!

The intro materials in this book reveal that the authors were working side-by-side with the office development team as this book was written. Such direct access to the people who know the most about the product is unusual and it shows in this book. A collection of truly "useful" information and sample code. This is not a rehash of online help or a collection of the "basic" programming info found in a lot of reference books. The discussion generally gives you useful information and, the part I like the most, gives you sample code that works just the way it is in my own programs. This is not sample code of the type "MyControl.Backcolor = Red" that I see so much of. It appears that a real effort was made to write code that not only illustrates a concept, but that is usable in other contexts without much, or any, modification.

Thanks for the resource....check it out - you will not be disappointed.

I read half of the book, but I realized that it is NOT really a practical guide as he titled, rather boring textbook. He spent a lot of space as describing the topics with many tables, and it made me boring to read this book continuously. What is a practical guide? It might be different from a reader to a reader, but what I am thinking is that he should have provided more practical examples instead of providing tables of describing menus or options. We can know them by reading manuals or man command.
If you are a beginner and are looking for a practical book, then you need to be careful to choose this book.

Having just worked through a class that used another book as text, and having "picked through" Sobell's chapters to supplement that material, I'm now going through chapter by chapter. I can only say that I'm enjoying Linux for the first time. Finally, a text that's well written (as well as having other virtues); an author who responds to questions sent via email.

There's no one-size-fits-all in the textbook world (this from a former academic), but I give Sobell high praise from the student's point of view. There are other places to learn more advanced techniques and Perl programming.

For the past several years, I have been using Mark Sobell's previous Linux book for an introductory UNIX class I teach, but it was getting out of date. So I'm very excited to have this new edition. But he has done more than just update it, he has added several new chapters and somewhat reorganized it.

The first section, GNU/Linux Basics, is a perfect introduction to UNIX, everything you need to begin using it. Mark doesn't waste a lot of time getting started, but after a useful historical chapter to "set the stage" and give some idea why one would want UNIX rather than alternatives, he jumps right in with logging in, changing passwords, and getting documentation. Installation is left to way later (and mostly referring to web documentation, which will stay more up-to-date.) Pico is used to be able to do simple editing, without taking a lot of time learning vi(m) or emacs too soon (but he has references to the chapters on both those editors, if the reader already knows them.) Then the book covers many basic commands (I'd probably leave out gzip and tar this early, as well as write, talk, and mesg. I'd also choose one of who, finger, or w, so as to concentrate on more critical commands.) He introduces pipes very early, which I think is necessary (many books don't introduce them until a late chapter on shells). I'd also introduce redirection before he does, but it doesn't mean much without understanding files and the filesystem, which he covers next. These first 5 chapters really cover all one needs to get started.

Each chapter also has a summary and some exercises, both basic and more advanced. The answers are (or will be) on Mark's web site. He includes sidebars with tips, warnings, security suggestions, and other things that would be missed if they were buried in the main text (or, sometimes, should be skipped.) He's good at defining terms, and there is a glossary in the back.

The next chapters cover various topics, and cover them well. In my UNIX II class, I cover the Bash shell, how it works and how to write scripts, both covered in separate chapters here. The book also has a good chapter on Networking and the Internet, and a very complete chapter on System Administration (almost 200 pages!) Rather than taking up time with vi or emacs in class, I let my students choose which they want and read the appropriate chapter themselves. There are also three chapters, on X Windows, GNOME, and KDE which seem to be a complete coverage of three very useful items not usually covered in UNIX books, and which I don't like to cover directly in my class (not enough time), but think students should have access to.

The final section of the book is a command reference manual in itself, with lots of examples. Due to the size of this book, I would have preferred it to be published separately, but this way allows Mark refer to details later instead of taking up space in the main text.

In summary, I really like his previous "Practical Guide to Linux", and think this new version is even better. I wish it could be smaller (carrying this back and forth to classes will be backbreaking), but it is nice to have so much packed into a single book. Real value for the money!

The book was a compelling read for chapter to chapter, but at the end you feel cheated. While it makes an interesting Fiction, it did not have the makings of a good Mystery. The solution was rushed in the last two chapters of the book.

Nowhere were clues during the read that could lead even a careful, experienced Mystery reader to try and even speculate on who did it. For me, half the fun is trying to deduce the murderer(s) before the author reveals it.

There are clues dropped as to why it happened, but you'll just flat be told who it is at the end. You just sort of plod along, hoping to find something to bite on and BAM the author spills his guts in the last chapters. The author did a great job running a second plot along; although it suffered the same clueless, fast wrap up.

The characters that did do it were really underdeveloped. If they were better developed, and some clues dropped along the way, this would be an amazing Mystery book.

It is, however, a damn good book for specifically [weak] content. A good book, not a good Mystery.

Great Mystery....Mark Zubro has done it again! Paul Ben his 2 children Mrs. Talucci even his partner all came to life again in another ongoing Turner mystery...thank-you Mr. Zubro for continuing this series

This was an very well written mystery novel! I fully enjoyed the suspense that was driven into this book. Being in the technology industry myself the references to computers and technology was great! It fully added to the suspense!

The gist of the book is Chicago homicide detectives Paul Turner (who is gay) and Buck Fenwick (who is straight), in their investigation into murder of Internet tycoon Craig Lenzati, stabbed over hundreds of times in his security-laden apartment. When Lenzati's partner Brooks Werberg is killed and parts of his place smashed into smithereens, the pressure is put on from the Mayor's office.

But these dot-com boys' nack for putting aggressive little startup companies into trouble, and possibly even bankruptcy by stealing their ideas had won them a great deal of enemies.

What could possibly make this story even better? How about a secret storehouse of theirs filled with names, addresses, and tapes of the boys' sexual misconduct? In fact as it turns out, Lenzati and Werberg had enjoyed an ongoing sexual-conquest game, their preferred prey heterosexual couples, including a pair who'd been suing them and another pair who'd been working for them. A freelance "cracker" (a computer whiz who breaks into and paralyzes systems) employed by the boys will die, and Paul will receive boxes of chocolates and scary e-mail from a serial killer targeting police detectives all along Interstate 90.

Before Chicago finally settles down and Paul can reassure his son Brian of his safety and fall into the arms of his lover Ben. Brittle but funny dialogue between Paul and Buck; tender moments between Paul and Brian; sentimental relationship shows between Paul and Ben.

I personally would have liked a bit more drama at the point of the different confessions, but it did not distract from this book in any way.

You need to read this book... !!!

An emotional novel, outlining the attrocities of the Apartheid years and a boy's loss of innocence.
The focus is on the Erasmus family; a white, upper-class, afrikaans family.

In the beginning, we learn that friendship plays a big role in this novel for Marnus. His friendship with Frikkie is dominent throughout the novel. It's ironic how, even though Frikkie is neglected by his parents and Marnus becomes the influence in his life, later we find out that Frikkie's life style is a much healthier one than Marnus's.
In this novel we learn that the father, General John Erasmus, is a domineering character who preeches about high morals and yet fails to adopt any for himself. Leonore Erasmus, the mother, is very old fashioned, in that she listens to everything her husband tells her. Eventhough she makes it seem as if their marriage is alright, she drops hints throughout the book that is is far from alright, yet refuses to see that.
Their daughter Ilse is a high achiever. After her trip overseas, she begins to see the injustice of Apartheid. In a way she is the rebel of the familly.

We must understand that only one voice is being heard: the White, afrikaans voice. The blacks' and coloureds' points of view are overlooked.
However, we start to see that the roles are changing and the new South Africa is on its way. Gloria, the Delport's domestic is a shining example of the new black South African. The way she totters around on high heels beautifying herself all day and speaking with a white afrikaans accent is proof enough in comparrison to the Erasmus's domestic. Doreen does her work without complaint.

The end of the book came as a shock to me. It was disturbing, but that's life. The fact that the end portrays real life shocks one. People complain about the end and say it is too graphic. Yet those same people are the ones who complain about there not being enough books that portray peoples' real lives and the dark secrets lurking within them. Behr is one of those who is courageous enough to write about his past experiences.

Apartheid as seen by a child is an interesting theme. You get to see a little of how the system worked, how hatred was bred and looking away was encouraged. The book shows a child losing its innocence. Marnus is not an exceptional child and not particularly likeable. He is just a ten year old, egocentric, insecure, worshipping his father, arguing with his sister. He feels love, hatred, friendship and compassion. The boy's confusion at seeing his hero father being very very wrong is very realistic and heartbreaking.

I like the theme, the characters and the style. But the story and the dramatic plot line were not as good as they could have been. I was annoyed with the Angolan war intermezzo's. I felt I hardly had gotten to know the boy and was not ready to be dragged into the boy's future. I also wasn't finished with the story when the book was. It ended rather abruptly without warning. Maybe my expectations were wrong, having read 'Embrace' and liked that a lot. In 'Embrace' the story of a boy coming of age is much better developed. I missed that here.

The novel, set in South Africa during the 1970s, relates the story of an Afrikaans family through the eyes of the narrator, Marnus Erasmus. Marnus is a child of the white, brutal culture and the system of the apartheid. He lives a seemingly happy life, influenced by his father, who is a general in the South African army. Against a background of racial prejudices, the reader gets to know the reality of the Erasmus family, including the sexual molestation of Marnus's best friend (Frikkie) by his father and an love-affair between his mother and a visiting chilean general.
Although I found the novel's shocking ending less than credible, the gradual uncovering of of the enormous pressures on this family gives this novel a brooding tension.
Mark Behr has created a lyrical and memorable child narrator, along with a really great background-story.

Although I found "Over the Top: The True Story of Guns N Roses" the most complete history, and probably most insightful that I have ever read, I had some problems with the book that left a sour taste in my mouth by the end. First off, somewhere in the middle of the book, Putterford is discussing the declining "style" of the concerts during the Illusions tour, he refers to W. Axl Rose as pulling a Donny & Marie by singing a duet with "female singer, Shannon Hoon" on Don't Cry. His complete disregard for who Hoon really is astounded me and made me be suspicious of his credibility. Also, I cannot stand it when music journalists criticize the Illusion albums. Most fans know that Appetite was the defining album for GN'R, no one disputes that, but journalists rarely give credit where credit is due. The Illusion albums showed a band that no longer lived off of Sunset Strip, I don't think anyone expected them to sing about drugs and alcohol forever, they're in the thirties. In my opinion, the Illusion albums were musically better than Appetite could ever be. Also Putterford's book seems to give a lot of new information, but all it really does is take all the rumors and press releases over the last decade and link them together. He criticizes the band for being in it for the money, but then you have to wonder....what's his purpose in writing this book?

Excellent book, very nice pictures too, fun to read. One of the best about Guns n' Roses. If you're a fan, don't hesitate!

this book is good for fans who don't know much about the band trying to pick up information on them. Since i didn't tune into the band until 5 years or so after their last tour i found it very helpful. it is pretty good and interesting reading if you are really that interested in the band.

This book was a good reading. the author did a good job with crafting the story line. It was good to read SGL Black men supporting one another through Beatings, divorce and etc. He did not make sex a main forcus which was good. It is always good to read about a journey of an individual because It makes the fight more worthwhile

This is a wonderfully written story that has many elements you would otherwise never read about in mainsteam media...Domestic violence in gay relationships and class structure in the african american gay community. Who would have ever guessed that affluence and domestic violence in black gay relationships often mimic those of mainstream heterosexual relationships. My one critism is that the ending was a bit surreal and over the top which causes the story to lose some "realistic quality" which would make it difficult to convience those unfamiliar with the lifestyle and culture that this really happens. The psychology of all of the characters are very complex and full of mystery. I give kudos to Lee Hayes, the best new up and coming story teller in the genre since E. Lynn Harris.

Deep. Real Deep. Excellen wwriting about a very difficult subject -- domestic violence in the Black Gay/Lesbian community. Comapssionately exposes the self-destructive/self-hating mind of the one allowing the abuse.

From beginning to end, the Lost Village was a thrilling journey. I found myself drawn into the story with such fervor; I didn't want to put it down. Reading as fast as I could to find out what happens next, then getting to the last chapter and purposefully slowing down to savor every last page. This book has it all! The author meshes horror, magic, love and faith with a whole lot of suspense and a chilling story line. I loved it!

I liked this book a lot. I didn't know what to expect going in, but I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put it down. The Lost village is a great horror story with great characters. It has the classic good-over-evil theme with lots of surprises along the way. If you like epic fiction with lots of things that go bump in the night, please read this book. I own a book shop and am stocking a bunch of copies for my customers.I'd like to see something else soon from Mark Edward Hall.

The Lost Village is 629 pages long and I read it in 3 days. When I was halfway through, the book started to climax and it never stopped! It was non-stop action, no lull time. As a devoted reader of Anne Rice and Dean Koontz, I recommend this book to anyone who likes to be spooked. Beware, you will not be able to put it down!

I have spent a long time looking for the perfect superhero RPG and this is NOT it. Not only did I find the book painfully hard to read because of the busy border and cramped looking layout, it tries to pigeonhole superheroes into character classes. I just couldn't imagine playing a superhero that was a 2nd level Costumed Hero and a 3rd level gadgeteer. Go play mutants and masterminds. It may be a bit more expensive for a smaller book, but it is so much better for this genre.

Silver Age Sentinels (SAS) is 336 pages of D20 superhero gaming goodness. It is not, however, like most of the other D20 games that you may have read or own. Instead of trying to jam D&D into a pair of spandex tights, Guardians of Order (GOO) chose to adapt the excellent D10 Tri-Stat version of their game to D20. While most of the core D20 concepts like character class, hit points, armor class, etc. are still intact, other concepts or mechanics might work a bit differently or have a different name. For example, objects have an armor rating instead of a hardness and armor absorbs damage instead of increases armor class.

At the heart of SAS is the flexible power creation system pulled straight out of the Tri-Stat version. Picking powers is a simple matter of paying a set number of points for each level of the power. There is no need for a calculator. You should have little trouble simulating most any super power you will find in comics and the simple power modifier value system allows you to easily personalize each power for your character.

Over a hundred pages of the book is devoted to the Empire City campaign setting (which is New York City with the serial numbers filed off). You get a short history of the world, a timeline and an overview of the current global situation, all of it taking into account the presence of super beings and their influence of course. A mini-atlas of Empire City details sites of interest around the city. As a blessing for the Game Master (GM), the book includes complete write ups for seventeen heroes and villains, and a selection of adventure seeds.

If you aren't adamant that your D20 games have to be completely compatible with D&D and you enjoy superhero gaming, SAS should bring you many hours of entertainment. It has most of the flexibility of a rules-heavy system like Hero, while maintaining the D20 concepts that you already know and love. Throwing in a campaign setting and lots of GM advice makes it one of the best deals in gaming today. Check it out.

This is worthwhile purchase if you like d20. I'm using it for both item design, enemy/GM Char design, AND superhero RPG.

The rules are solid, and I like 99% of this book. And the art is great! It's B&W art, but it adds to the 'silver age' feel. I wish it included a GM's screen, but what books do?

My biggest complaint is that the Index is lacking.

That said, I have seen no other d20 books as nice as this except for the Wizards' D&D books and d20 Modern.