The conspiracy theorists are right: the government is hiding something from us. According to Christopher Buckley, the big secret is this: the government is responsible for the reports of alien activity. The super-secret organisation known as MJ-12 flattens fields and abducts lonely housewives.

One night, Nathan gets fed up with his lack of advancement. Drunk, he decides to abduct John Oliver Banion, a successful political talk-show host. After the second abduction, Banion goes public with his experiences, resulting in the loss of his entire life. Banion is approached by other UFO abductees, all of whom he vaguely feels as if they're just lonely people who need some excitement in their lives. However, he can't deny his own experiences, and continues to attempt to force Congress into conducting hearings. Finally, he organises a march on Washington.

Watching the monster he has created, and disgraced from MJ-12, Nathan tries to fix the situation. He and Banion team up and take on the government's only secret.

In this book, Buckley skewers everyone from the government to UFO fanatics. Although his targets are relatively easy to take to task, his deft handling of the story has laugh-out-loud results. I devoured this book overnight. When I was finished, a friend immediately borrowed it after noticing how hard I was laughing. It is a great light-hearted read.

Thanks to TV shows and movies like The X-Files and Independence Day, public fascination with conspiracies and aliens has probably never been stronger. Naturally, satirist Christopher Buckley would turn his talents towards spoofing trend that is long overdue for parody after so cleverly mocking the tobacco industry and Washington D.C. politics in his brilliant "Thank You For Smoking".

Buckley's protagonist is pompous Sunday morning talk show host John Oliver Banion, whose arrogance annoys a government employee whose job is to arrange for the government to kidnap average people and make them believe they were abducted to spread hysteria and justify the defense budget. Abducted, Banion becomes a believer in the abduction cause and fights to expose the government's complicity in the abduction conspiracy. From politics to the media to the conspiracy-theory ridden alien abduction movement, Buckley's targets for ridicule richly deserve his wrath.

"Little Green Men" isn't quite the laughfest of "Thank You For Smoking", but it is still a richly entertaining book that will entertain admirers of Buckley to no end.

Unlike Christopher Buckley's "The White House Mess" and "Thank You for Smoking", "Little Green Men" is a book that goes beyond Washington into the world of paranoia that is the modern-day UFO/abductee movement.

Much has already been written about the transparent nature of the Will/Banion character, but there are other Washington heavies being satirized here, particularly Vernon Jordan as a fixer more concerned with protecting his long-term power base than any short-term friends. Not to mention Pamela Harriman, Strom Thurmond, and a few others (such as a few shots at Buckley's arch-nemesis Tom Clancy, both under Clancy's real name and at a Clancy-like character with a quite off-color name).

Buckley's work is clearly the product of a lot of in-depth research. Those familiar with UFO lore will recognize the Stanton Friedman (the goateed nuclear physicist), Budd Hopkins, Shirley MacLaine, and Colonel Phillip Corso characters, though Friedman is portrayed as much more diabolical (plus Buckley mixes in a bit of Jim "face on Mars" Hoagland).

He understands the fringe of the UFO movement quite well (Linda Howe, under her real name, and her obsession with supposedly alien-caused cattle mutilations provide numerous comic moments).

I found myself laughing quite frequently throughout this book, because Buckley knows his both his central topic as well as the power game that is played in Washington.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that Buckley posits a comically realistic (if untrue) scenario where the abductees aren't all crazy and there aren't any greys or Nordics running around grabbing people off the road and invading their nether regions. The book climaxes with an OJ-style trial, with a Gerry Spence character representing the defense.

Among the highlights are the explanatory footnotes, some of which are useful, others of which are comic. For instance, recounting an attempt to smear a witness by implying that a murder victim had a copy of a porno mag called "Juggs", Buckley adds the following footnote: "* A glossy magazine devoted to large-breasted women, begun as a color insert in the Atlantic Monthly".

For those liberals out there, relax, none of Buckley's novels push any sort of conservative agenda and all three may be read by those across the spectrum without any concern about the politics inherent in the book.

Read this book. You won't go wrong. Then go to your library and find "The White House Mess", a strangely prescient set of White House memoirs written 6 years before anybody ever heard of George Stephanopoulos.

Overall, I would say "A Philadelphia Catholic in King James's Court" was a good read with a few minor flaws. The story centers around a catholic boy named Michael who goes to Kentucky for the summer because his father died. Their he is faced with the pressure of the Fundamentalist Christians trying to convert him to their religion. First of all, Michael is faced defending his Catholic roots many time. One of the problems I found with this is that it seems a little far fetched that he would be able to come up with some of the arguments he has in the short time he is given. On a good note though, his arguments gave me further insight into the Catholic religion, enlightening me on many aspects of it that I never knew before. Next, I found that it was a little too unrealistic that his prophetic dreams actually would come true. After that, I would also say that I think that the book makes the Fundamentalists look to much like bad guys, and it seems that often they go a little too far in an attempt to convert Michael. Even Michael's own Uncle is constantly pressuring him. I felt as if he should just let him be, especially since he just lost his father. Lastly, an aspect that I really enjoyed was the effect that Michael's defending of his religion had on some of the Fundamentalists. In conclusion I really enjoyed "A Philadelphia Catholic in King James's Court" and found myself coming back again and again to see how Michael would defend his religion, being that I am a Catholic to. If you are looking for a book that successfully and accurately delves deep into the Catholic faith, then you will be sorry if you pass up this wonderful story.

In the novel Philadelphis Catholic and King James's court, a teenage boy travels from his home town of Philadelphia to his uncles roral area of Kentucky. I felt that the book showed its reader, Catholic and Non-Catholic alike a different view upone what Catholics believe. Not only can you learn from the book but you can also get a different account towards other views of the Bible. I felt it was a good read for all those people who are interested in understanding the many differences between the many Christian Denominations. It not only shows the average person an easy way to learn about faith, but it also throws in an interesting plot line to move everything alone. I would say that the book could carry its plot with the story very well, but there were some points in the novel where the plot may have conversed with true fact and caused a unrealistic effect. Over all it was a good read for a person with an elastic understanding towards the different views of Christian denominations.

"A Philadelphia Catholic in King Jame's Court" was a pretty good book, nothing spectacular, but I did enjoy reading it. It's a story about a young Philadelphia Catholic (obviously), who finds himself forced to defend his faith against Kentucky Fundamentalists, including his Uncle. The author presents very good apologetic arguments, which are welcome to this reader. I've had to deal with the anti-Catholic barbs of some Protestants before, and this book responds well to the classic arguments. The story was interesting, and I eagerly read ahead, wondering how Michael refute the next attack. I have only a few complaints (hence the 4 stars). First off, it is unrealistic that a boy as naive and ignorant as Michael could suddenly parry any argument with Bibilical quotes after such a short period of time. Secondly, Michaels' strange prophetic dreams seem alittle too far-fecthed. Finally, the Fundamentalists are just too type-cast for my taste. For example, they act like "ignorant, self-righteous Bible Belt Christians" a little too much (they're the "bad guys" of the story). Besides these faults, a Philly Catholic is actually a good book, and if you're at all interested in the Catholic Faith, you'll be sorry if you pass it up.

Maybe it is just me but I am so tired of reading overhyped, overexposed, sensationalized depictions of women's lives that are riddled with violence, poverty, abuse, and depression. The Book of Ruth clearly fits the Oprah bookclub mold of novels, written by women, which, in prurient detail, discuss women as victims. I find this incredibly boring and uninspiring.

The main character Ruth suffers from a horrible home life--an abusive mother who lavishes all her attention and affection on her son. Ruth, as a character, demonstrates no motivation, no desire, and generally no sign of life. She makes erroneous choices and then pretends not to understand why her life falls apart--I could say more about this but I prefer not to give the novel away.

Furthermore, I simply do not appreciate Hamilton's style as an author. First, her novels are in-your-face depressing. Second, her prose is not as "poetical" as other reviewers have described it. However, I do not think she is a bad writer.

As an alternative, I would suggest Connie May Fowler's somewhat autobiographical novel Before Women had Wings. This is another Oprah bookclub novel that is truly inspirational and truly poetical. The main character in this novel actually strives to rise above the abuses and poverty in her life. And Fowler is, quite simply, a better writer.

I've also read Hamilton's A Map of the World and found it just as uninspiring and depressing as The Book of Ruth but that is another review.

I listen to a lot of books on tape commuting back and forth to work. I have read books by Jane Hamilton and enjoyed them, but for some reason was never able to get into this book. I tried it on tape and found it difficult, as well, for the first twenty minutes or so. But then it grabbed me and I couldn't wait to get back into the car to continue "reading." Ruth is a fascinating character, one who seems to know that her life will lead to a disaster but doesn't know how to prevent it. She makes the most out of her miserable existence, making herself believe that love and happiness are and will be hers. The ending was inevitable and I found myself becoming nervous as the end neared.

Mare Winningham read the book on tape and it made the book even better I believe. She was the perfect voice of Ruth. Her voice carried the appropriate emotions at the right time. She WAS Ruth. Very often those who read the books are not right for the reading -- but in this case Mare was a perfect choice and made it more enjoyable.

I would recommend this book on tape to everyone. But remember when you get close to home after driving an hour and you are in a good place in the book, you will need to drive around the block a few times@

I, for one, did not feel sorry for Ruth. She was a hoot - had a great sense of humor about all the squalid things happening around her. I did not find her mother as objectionable as the bookcover blurb implied, either. However, I did find the characterization of the mother one of the book's flaws. I just couldn't "see" her, for all of Ruth's talking about her. Maybe it's because she did just that - talk ABOUT her. She was just too much of a cartoon for me - not human enough. Still, that didn't spoil the book for me.

As for the previous reviewer who complained about Ruth's (and Hamilton's) jaundiced views on organized religion: MORE POWER TO THEM! Praise God (who is probably amused as Hell by organized religion) for Great Writers. Most of them, throughout history, have presented us with a clear view of the sham - the hypocrisy, the abuse of power, the ignorance bred in the institution.

After having seen the movie version of (and then read the book of "Map of The World" ) I am a real fan of this author and look forward to everything else she brings us in the future.

I read the book "A Divine Revelation of Hell." Why are so many people so offended? Should we continue to walk around in such a "I" "me" world and continue to think that we can do anthing we want when the true reason we're even here on earth is for God to see which of us will be HIS soldiers or follow HIM? But of course we have gone off so far to believe that just about every sin we commit is justified. I thought it was ok to commit suicie. I heard someone who was a Christain say that once you give your life to Christ you can't loose your salvation, well up their on the freeway where I was trying to take my life I was escorted off the freeway by a gentle man who told me that Jesus told him to come and talk to me and that I could go to hell if i tried to take my life. I was very insulted. (I was homeless with a 5 month old baby at the time)....but I was told I could still go to hell. I was a nice person you know, loving and still is considered to be...but the guy told me that I've already given my life to Jesus so it's not mine to take,..... I turned to thank the man after talking with him for a couple of hours and he was gone, dissapeared. Where could he had went?...so I thank God an angel came up on the freeway to tell me the truth even though I did get insulted and ebven shakened up. Just like if I give my life to Jesus, I'm required to obey his word, do his will what ever it is that he tells me. Not because I'm scared, HIS people will automtically want to do HIs will, we just love HIm like that... and hell is real to us, it's part of HIS personality if you can understand, but He is a loving God too but one who'se getting His kingdom together and knows who's going to follow Him already and mentionedthat lots of people are going to hell some who has already given their life to HIM sad to say Matt 12

It sounds like the people that Mary K. described in her book were people who either gave their life to Christ and decided that they were going to do what they wanted on their terms or He was asking them to give their life to HIM (I'm sure with a good loving purpose, but they didn't think much of THE MAKER OF ALL THE HEAVENS AND UNIVERSE) to do so.

Look at the big picture

If Jesus is going to come back and rule on earth one day (some time after the rapture) and the meek and humble people are suppose to inherit the earth....and he said to THOSE WHO FIND THEIR OWN LIFE (particulary those who gave their life away to JESUS, WILL LOOSE IT, but thoss who loose their life (not continue to make their own agendas after you've already given your life to Jesus.) WILL FIND IT...in other words allow HIM to establish your stay here...that's what were suppose to be here for RIGHT?...BELIEVER? to come to the knowledge of Christ and follow HIM.

If you're going to continue to do your own thing and belittle or even mess up God's plans for you, then how in the world is HE going to set up a kingdom of meek, humble saints.

Where else can self-centered, self willed, arrogant, "I" "me" people who don't believe go?

How will He ever establish His kingdom where He will reign forever? Do you think he's going to continue to let little personalities like that take over forever WHO'SE GOD HERE?

If you think that Marry K. is foolish or even 1/2 illiterate

1Corinthians: 1:27, BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE WISE; AND GOD HATH CHOSEN THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY.

So Please read Mary K. Baxter's book "A DIVINE REVELATION OF HELL" It can/will save your life.

I have read a lot of books on the revelation of Hell. I have heard a lot of sermons on its existence, but nothing had prepared me for what I was about to read between the covers of this book "A Divine Revelation of Hell."

The author, over a period of forty days, is given visions of hell and the people who are trapped there for eternity. I cannot begin to tell you the horrors that she saw and reported, but if you really want to know what is there, this is the book for you.

However, I will warn you, she is faithful to reporting exactly what she has seen and if I were you, I would prepare myself before I opened the pages of this book ,because if what she is saying is true, and I believe it is,
than we all must reevaluate our very existence and motives in this life before it is too late.

A very good read that I hope will reach many so they will turn to Jesus and never have to be trapped in this place we call Hell.

I will write yet another time concerning this book, you people need to read your bibles before you start taking this book and Mary k Baxter through the third degree. If you don't think God could throw people into hell or kill anyone. How about when Ananias and Saphira dropped dead. God Pulled their number for lying. People are gonna be cast into hell and many of them at that. So it is up to people like us, to get in the word, get de-pussified, stand up, stand 2 feet from the gates of hell and scare people away from it. Love is the motivator above all, but some people just need some good ole fashioned hard teaching. So as for the rest of you, just shut up, stop being a whimp and living in your own comfort zone, and stop people from falling into hell's fire. the bible says to "Behold the goodness, AND Severity of God", he is a Just JUDGE, and saying that people wouldn't be punished would simply make him a lier. But God is not a God that he shall lie now is he? Now eveyone stop this doctrine written by an immature 3rd grader, and realize that God is Just, people will be condemned to hell's fire, i don't care what you say, the bible says that he will do it. and you better repent and get your facts straight, or else i may very well be you that gets cast into the fire. God Bless, i am done arguing with you people. And i Salute the people who are in favor of this book, as for the rest of you though, read your bible, the whole thing, even where it talks about how severe God gets and can get. Buh bye

The book A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain is told from the view of Hank Morgan, later on known as The Boss. Hank Morgan travels back in time from the 19th century to the 5th century, in King Arthur's Court. Hank learns from a man dress in a knight's armor that it is the 5th century, he doesn't believe that he traveled back in time, he thinks he is in an asylum. Suddenly Hank remembers that the day that he was told also happened to be the same day of the first recorded full Solar Eclipse. Hank finds that he has wandering into a place where they are hanging innocent people. Hank has some fun and tells the people that he will put the world into total darkness very soon, he hopes that if it truly is the 5th century, the people will believe him. Sure enough the eclipse does happen, all the people are in awe. For the rest of the book Hank is then on known as The Boss.
Throughout the whole story, Hank gives King Arthur tips about how to be more successful. Hank goes on a venturous journey with King Arthur and he helps the King train Knights and create a large army. Hank gets a seat at the round table even though he is not a knight. Hank uses his knowledge to reinvent things that were a new invention from his time. After King Arthur dies, Hank must help the empire live on.
I recommend this to people who are 13 or older and enjoy long, very detailed books. There are also some great pictures included in the book, from portraits of Mark Twain to pictures of King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone.

Well, the perfect companion to La Morte d'Arthur...

Twain completely dissects the "good ol' days" of Arthurian Britain by exposing the vicious social practices of the time: white slavery, le droit de seigneur, confiscation of property in event of suicide, the complete lack of impartial justice, the degrading influence of the Church on the mass, etcetera etcetera etcetera...

The Arthurian legends are wonderful tales, but they are a mythic literary production; Twain deals with the brutal reality of daily living in the Dark Ages, and points out that the good ol' days were not so good, anyway.

As for its applicability to modern America, I am not fit to judge. Perhaps it's there. But "The Connecticut Yankee" is a wonderful tonic for those prone to romanticizing the past. Twain seems to agree with Tom Paine that the English nobility were "no-ability", and simply the latest in a series of robbers.

And, of course, the book is stuffed with wonderful Twainisms... My favorite is his observation that a conscience is a very inconvenient thing, and the significant difference between a conscience and an anvil is that, if you had an anvil inside you, it would be alot less uncomfortable than having the conscience.

Twain also mentions the beautiful mispronunciations of childhood, and how the bereaved parental ear listens in vain for them once children have grown.

You'll never look at castles the same again...

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is an intriguing novel written by Mark Twain. This is a fantastic book for the high school level reader, but would be entertaining to adults as well. I am a freshman in high school, and I enjoyed many attributes of the plot and writing style. In this novel the main character, Hank Morgan, is mysteriously transported from the nineteenth century in Connecticut back to the fifth century in England. During his time in medieval Britain, he keeps a journal which is what most of this book is. The preface and afterwards are both the narration of Mark Twain who writes as if he has found Hank's journal, and is merely writing it down in a book. As the journal starts out, Hank is introduced to King Arthur and after narrowly escaping death and becomes the country's most powerful advisor. Hank introduces many modern wonders to this feudal society. He is hailed a magician, being able to perform wonderful "miracles" and "magic", when it really is only modern science. It is very entertaining to read about how the feeble-minded people of that time react to these feats. In the end, there is a tremendous battle with many exciting episodes leading up to it. If a reader is partial to battle scenes of high caliber, this is a book for him! Of course, Hank has many other battles as well. Once of his biggest enemies is the Church of England. The big question the reader asks themselves during this book is "Will Hank return to his time and if so, how?". It was exciting for me to ponder this question throughout the novel. During Hank's travels through medieval Britain, he meets many people. The people he meets who think a government ruled by the people in Britain (his ultimate goal) would be a good idea, he sends to Camelot where he has schools set up which teach people about modern governmental ideas. Schools were also set up to teach people how to produce his wonders of modern science. These few enlightened people remain loyal to Hank until the very end. I thought it an entertaining notion that people who were trained from birth to believe in one thing, could realize it's faults and begin to believe another things. I really enjoy this book because it brings a lot about human nature into question. It discusses the vast differences of beliefs, manners, and life styles between one hundred years ago and fourteen hundred years ago. I also thought the differences between classic Arthurian legend and Mark Twain's perspective of the time were very interesting. Hanks training of these idealistic people he runs across plays into the large political aspect of this book. Since Hank's ultimate goal is to transform Britain into a country ruled by the people, he starts factories producing modern goods which greatly changes the lives of the Britons. I enjoyed the descriptions of the people's reaction to these modern products of science thirteen centuries before they would be invented. Throughout the entire book commentary and philosophizing concerning the comparison of the fifth century feudal system of Britain and the nineteenth century democracy of the U.S. by Hank Morgan is common. This political aspect is typical of Twain's works. It gave me great pleasure to read this aspect of the book and to comprehend it's meaning. Through Hank Morgan, Mark Twain is able to depict vivid images in the readers mind. Whether it be a person, scene, or sensation felt by Hank Twain describes it in a way which puts a solid picture in the imagination of the reader. I have not seen the movie of this novel, but I have heard it isn't very well done and it is nothing compared to the book. I believe this is because Mark Twain paints such a realistic picture in the mind of the reader, it is nothing compared to what some director can film. From Mark Twain's great descriptions and writing style to the unique ideas presented, the novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a fantastic novel. There are so many aspects of it to enjoy, and it is just an all around entertaining book. I give this book four out of five stars and I recommend it to any one interested in fantasy, especially if they want a different perspective on King Arthur.

Clearly this book was intended to coast on the attendant hype of Daniel Silva's acclaimed debut novel, The Unlikely Spy. I haven't read that book, so I won't go into comaparisons, but, viewed on its own merits, The Mark of the Assassin is a decent book, that probably should have been a lot better. The characters are exactly the sort of people you'd expect to inhabit this sort of book; the right-thinking CIA operative, his smart, tough attorney wife, the rumpled CIA spymaster, the slightly dotty, sixtysomething Republican President (who reminded me of a similar character in the movie Clear and Present Danger, the manipulative White House Chief of Staff, the shadowy, Christian conservative defense contractor, and on and on and on... no surprises there. Silva's writing style, though, is clean and economical; it reminded me of Frederick Forsyth. And he does come up with one memorable character: international assassin Jean-Paul Delaroche, code name "October". I didn't buy his techniques all of the time, but his motivations and character quirks were never less than convincing. All told, an unspectacular second effort.

Some writers run aground as there careers progress, while others find greater depths. Having discovered Silva's writing through "The Dead Artist" and "The English Assassin," I've come to expect subtlety and nuance, with sympathetic characters. Silva is one of my new favorite authors.

Going back to read "The Mark of the Assassin," for me, was a disappointment. While Silva's concepts and characters match those of his later books, he seems less focused here. We watch political maneuverings, clandestine meetings, brutal attacks, yet never really doubt what's going on. We see little of the main characters within the first hundred pages, and when Michael Osbourne and his wife do take center stage, they are puppets in a less than credible play.

The writing is fine. Dialogue moves along. But the improbabilities and coincidences begin to mount quickly. Even as the pace picks up in the last quarter of the book, I found myself doubting the scenes. One example: the KGB trained, world-renowned assassin moves in for the kill by taking the disguise of a bicycle courier(even getting multiple piercings to look the part), but as soon as our erstwhile hero sees him from a distance, the cover is blown. Ah, too bad--all that effort for nothing.

For a fast-paced story and streamlined writing, "The Mark of the Assassin" surpasses many second-rate novels. Clearly, though, with only his second book, Silva was fine-tuning his storytelling, and I had a difficult time getting lost in this tale. Having been spoiled by his newer, richer work, I finished this one with barely a mark.

A good friend introduced me to Daniel Silva with his first book, The Unlikely Spy. While that was a fictionalized account of how the Allies deceived Hitler as to the location of the D Day landing, this is pure fiction. Or is it? A CIA operative who has a strong moral code and a highly competent professional assassin who serves a secret group made up of the worlds movers and shakers are destined throughout the pages of the book to end up in a confrontation that ends up raising more questions than it settles. Entertaining writing, fast paced action, believable characters and enough allusion to actual people or events to keep you wondering where the fiction blends with the present day. It's a dangerous world out there; especially if you are letting Daniel Silva describe it to you.

In my search for a better understanding of the Basques, their place in European history and the reasons for the continuing conflict in their region today, I picked up Mark Kurlansky's book. THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD is extremely well-written in modern journalistic style. That is, nothing is pursued to the bitter end, certainly, nor, sometimes, is it pursued to a logical conclusion. Subjects are touched upon, suddenly turned into something else, or dropped. Objectivity is not a high priority, but love of subject finds a secure place. These qualities may not be praiseworthy, academically, but do make for enjoyment. Any historical event can be the trigger for a recipe, an odd but pleasant characteristic of the book, which is thus full of interesting recipes, from 'hare with walnut and chocolate', to 'Salmí de paloma' (a pigeon dish), to 'alubias de Tolosa' (beans). I found loads of fascinating interludes, for example, the description of Basque whaling and fishing expeditions and techniques; the discussion of the intellectual roots of Basque nationalism; how to make pelota balls; and the course of the Spanish Civil War in the Basque country. Kurlansky has the ability to discuss issues without getting bogged down. I have seldom met clearer (but perhaps they were incomplete) passages on the Carlist Wars that ravaged Spain for much of the 19th century. Rather than be an organized history in the usual sense, THE BASQUE HISTORY....... is a kind of "Whole Earth Catalogue" of Basqueness, of Euskal Herria. I liked it. It is not a work for serious scholars, but it certainly can be a jumping off place. It would be an overly serious person indeed who did not find Kurlansky's work charming. I can easily recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about a seldom-discussed people; a distinct European ethnic group with a unique language who have occupied the same lands for thousands of years.

Sometimes I felt that the author threw in "facts" without checking. For example, on page 138 he talks about the Basque word "jauntxo" and says it has come into English as "honcho". This word entered American English after WW II because it was the Japanese word for "superior officer" and was used to ask prisoners who commanded them. Similarly on page 293, Kurlansky claims that "cipayo", used as an epithet to describe local Basque police, was borrowed from a pejorative word used by Indian nationalists to describe Indian police who worked for the British. The word "sipahi" is certainly Hindi/Urdu, but it merely means 'soldier' or 'constable' and doesn't have any pejorative meaning.

A large section of the book discusses the Basques during Franco's long, oppressive regime, and during its aftermath with the entrance of Spain into Europe, and the rise of Basque terrorism in the struggle to maintain identity and/or become independent. While I found some of this rather diffuse, THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD is the only book I know which can give the reader, unfamiliar with the events of 1970-2000, a background to the mayhem from a Basque (nationalist)point of view. For the most part, the author has done his homework, interviewed many interesting people, and compiled his information in a pleasing way.

The Basques certainly deserve their own history, even if this retelling is highly subjective and not objectively historical. Kurlansky seems more in the business of giving clues to the Basque world without spelling everything out. The importance of home or "etxea" in the Basque mindset is explained, as are the resurgences of Basque languages (there seems to be more than one,) and nationalism. The devolution of some aspect of that nationalism into pure violence, and the terrorism of the ETA, is not developed. But the Basque identities of historical figures like Saint Ignatius Loyola and the writer Miguel De Unamuno are satisfyingly explained, as are the differences between later Basque leaders like Sabino Arano, and the chief executive in exile during WWII, Aguirre. Beyond that it's a bit of a hodge-podge, going from the development of Basque trade and industry with the Americas, the creation of the dish "pil-pil," the roots of Basque theology, and the significance of Guernica both as the center of Basque identity and as the victim of the staggering attack by Franco during the Spanish Civil War. And of course, the other reviewer is right. Ferdinand and Isabella had several children, the most significant of which are Juana La Loca and Katherine of Aragon who was the unfortunate first wife of England's Henry VIII. Kurlansky got that wrong, but I assumed he was oversimplifying.

Like Northern Ireland, the subject of the Basques becomes a division into 2 camps: those who think that the Basques do not deserve independence, and those who think that they do. I was part of the second group before I read this book, and I still am. Kurlansky's account of the origins of Basque nationalism, beginning with Sabino Arana, is very well documented and researched, albeit very biased. But like Northern Ireland, there is no way that one can avoid developing one's own position on this issue, unless one just does not care. I do have a problem with how he sees the modern day ETA in very much the same light as ETA during Franco's time. In my view, the ETA of Franco's time and the ETA of today are two different groups that share the same name. That said, this is one of my favorite books, has a permanent place on my shelf, and I find myself taking it down and reading it over and over. Mr. Kurlansky has shown us why a minority of Basques turned to violence to get their independence, but also the beauty and splendor of a people who are as old as Europe itself.

While there are tons of Java books in bookstores, few of them focus on Java design issues. This book offers the authors' precious experiences with simple rules and examples. In stead of talking extensively about conventional OO principles, the authors take readers directly to the real-world design issues and relate them closely with the Java language features. The book is very helpful for people who want to release the full power of Java and master its OOP. It is easy to read indeed. And it is so practical that I can use the techniques immediately in my projects.

I rate this book as 8, because I think this book would be better if the authors put more refinement effort on it. The content is good, but the writing is rather cursory. Conclusions and rules are thrown to readers without much explanation. It seems that Coad and Mayfield did not expect this book to be a classic of Java design, so they just worked out a how-to manual with some examples to exhibit their understanding of the subject IN A HURRY. Therefor, readers should not be surprised with the errors and free-hand figures in the book. Coad and Mayfield are gurus in OO and Java. They have a lot more to offer; they should work on the 2nd edition and make this book a well-written masterpiece.

This is a really good book if you want to learn how to design in java. It's not about java syntax, not about how polymorphism works, etc. It's an introduction to design. This book will get you reading the gof book and get you started on patterns. I read chapter 3 first, then chapters 1, 2 & 4. It's a really good book. I don't understand why others gave it a 1. Perhaps those who gave it a 1 are the those that are still struggling with simple java syntax. This is definitely not for them.

I just got my Java Programmer certification from Sun. I'm now working on my Java Developer certification, the examples given on this book (Charlie's Charters) are similar to the software project that I downloaded from Sun. This book got me started on how I should design the software project.

It really, really, really helps a lot especially if you're working on Sun's Java Developer certification.

The OO Programmers obsession with "extending" every class is finally laid to rest with this excellent book, and the case for "composition" strongly presented. Whilst the C++ jury may be out, Java programmers can get on with it. Easy to read and full of real-world examples this is the best design, object-orientated book I have come across. Anyone can learn the syntax and structure of a language but it's how the code is put together that determines the quality of the finished product. Just like you wouldn't let a builder start constructing your new home without a plan and design, you shouldn't do the same with your Java development. When you purchase Peter Coad book you also get added value. Visit his web site and you can subscribe to a twice weekly newsletter, get addendum's and new chapters to the book, a free Java Design Tool. Yes of course he wants you purchase courses, software and his next book but it does feel that he really wants you to be "Building Better Apps & Applets".

Just how did I manage to finish "The Mark," the 8th book in this interminable series, you may ask? By major PAGE SKIPPING, that's how! This past weekend, not an idle one by any means, I "read" books 5 through 8 of this series. It's easy when you skip the long sermons, and the inane dialogue and wait until some kind of action happens.

That said, I do keep reading the books, though thanks to the American library system, I have not had to shell out a dime for the privilege. Though thin on substance, the first books did have enough meat to be occasionally satisfying. That hardly seems true of the last books, which seem to have hit some sort of time dilation mode where one book can spend hundreds of pages chronicling a few dull days.

What's wrong with these books? For one, outrageous premises. Knowing the level of rabidity of American gun enthusiasts, who could imagine US citizens (militias excluded) eagerly acceding to the removal of 90% of our weaponry? We're a paranoid bunch! We spend more money on arms than the next ten countries combined, and we are still afraid of being outmatched. Yet in Left Behind, we give it all away --- to the UN, of all groups! It's not that this is an impossible scenario, but Lahaye and Jenkins don't even bother to acknowledge the problem.

And wouldn't it be interesting if L&J were more up front with which of our planet's 6 billion souls would not make the cut into the 1 billion who are saved? Why not fess up that practically all Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims would land in hell? How about having Tsion put that in his pipe and smoke it? Did the Muslim children get raptured? Do Christians who were left behind still continue to their pathetic church attendance, not realizing that they are the "wrong" kind of Christians? And how about the wholesale, unimaginative ripoff of the Bible, as when Tsion has a dream that is taken straight out of Revelation 12? Couldn't the mark of the Beast have been something more original than the tired, old computer implanted scenario? And how about a little work convincing the reader that implanting the mark in hand or forehead wouldn't be a colossal tip-off, even to the biblically illiterate?

This entire series is bloated, lazy and offensive. I have been skimming along, hoping for imaginative treatment of the Apocalypse. Yet now that I am 8 books into the series, I'm afraid that even skipping the dreary parts is becoming an exercise in futility. It's really a feat to make the end of the world seem so tedious.

By the way, it's awful to see the supposedly Christian heroes of this series act in such an ungospel manner. Except for the imbecilic Hattie Durham, there is barely a whit of caring for the throngs of the damned. Steele realizes that Carpathia is about to vaporize a whole city, and all he worries about is that his own family makes it out. Steele nurses vengeance against the Antichrist without even an editorial tsk-tsk from the authors. I guess "turn the other cheek" went out the window after the Rapture.

Hint to L&J: read a little less of Revelation and a lot more of the Gospels!

'The Mark,' book #8 of the 'Left Behind series' the Beast Rules the World. His Excellency Global Community Leader Nicolae Carpathia is resurrected and indwelt by the devil himself. The Beast tigthens his grip on the world. The Tribulation Force (Rayford, Buck, Bruce and Chloe) now undercover outlaws spread the truth about the AntiChrist. Can they help save millions from being branded with "the mark" that will seal their eternal doom? It is written in Revelation 14: 6-13. It is this time, that Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:14, the gospel would be preached throughout the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come [Matthew 24:15-35].

After reading "Conquest of Paradise" by Britt Gillette, I was instantly turned on to biblical end times literature, and I quickly began reading the Left Behind series. From book one, I was totally hooked, and I've read up through book eight in less than a couple of weeks.

In "The Mark", LaHaye and Jenkins continue their unique view of the prophesied end-times. Having been assassinated in book six, and indwelled by the devil in book seven, antichrist Nicolae Carpathia counterfeits the resurrection when he rises from the dead after three days. The world stands in awe and begins to worship Carpathia as a god, giving birth to a new religion known as "Carpathianism"! Followers of Nicolae must be branded with a loyalty mark on their right hand or forehead, and those who refuse it are put to death. "The Mark" is one of the more gripping and edge-of-your-seat thrillers in the series. It will cause you to empathize with the characters, questioning whether you would accept the mark given similar circumstances.

I can't wait to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading books eight through twelve, and I encourage other Left Behind fans to pick up "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller" as additional reading. That book got me interested in this series, and what a great book! What "Left Behind" lacks in realism, "Conquest of Paradise" adds in abundance. The prose is much more advanced and the international politics are identical to the current world scene and the war on terror. Peppered with biblical verses, "Conquest of Paradise" will turn even the most hardened skeptics into believers, or at least it will make them think twice. It's one lovers of end-times fiction shouldn't miss.

Book nine, "Desecration" continues the adventures of the Tribulation Force, and deals with the antichrist's desecration of the Jewish Temple long ago foretold by Jesus and the Old and New Testament prophets. Can't wait to read the rest!

This book appeared to have lots of potential and I'm sure there is lots of useful stuff in the 1200 odd pages. But finding anything in it is impossible. The index is almost non existant and hasn't helped at all.

Of course if you read faster than I do you might not mind browsing a page at a time through all 1200 pages.

As a reference manual it was a waste of money.

I became suspicious the first time I saw a backslash.

I bought this book as an obvious analog of the excellent
O'Reilly Associates book "Programming Perl". That book
serves both as an excellent guide to its language and also
instruction on its application. Python promised to clean
up a lot of Perl's clutter, and so I had high expectations
for this book.

...Lutz's book has been a disappointment.

First, it's obsolete. Most of the examples are 1.52, and
many of the ways of doing things in that version are no
longer rational under 2.3. Python 2 issues are
generally addressed in footnotes or sidebars. Python's
a moving target
(the meaning of something as simple as "1/2" was just
changed, for example), so instant obsolence of printed
matter is inevitable.

But the book would be worthwhile if the programming examples
were really compelling. But while the coding uses solid
style, I don't think the examples are carefully enough chosen
to succinctly communicate the message. Really -- it's too long.
And the index is insufficient to allow one to find focused
examples on particular issues.

And back to that backslash thing. The book has a clear
DOS/Windoze focus. Linux/Unix is also discussed, but the
book spends too much time on DOS limitations for the taste
of someone who works in a more POSIX-friendly environment.

For learning the language, I recommend the Python
web site. For something to read when you can't be near
a terminal, there has to be a better option.

Dan

I'm not really one for writing reviews, but after seeing quite a few people complain about "problems" with the book that have been guided by their own misconceptions, I felt I had to. Programming Python is great book, the only python book I have in fact purchased. It is the only python book I have seen so far that can not be replaced by python's excellent online documentation.
In short, some of the reviews complain that it is mistitled, a poor reference book, or a poor book to use to learn python. Lets look at the front page. The first thing that I see is "solutions for python programmers" and "programming python". I would think a reference manual would involve the words "reference" in its title. Flip a few pages and you'll see the author explain that this book is on ways to "use" python and assumes you already know the language fundamentals. Flip a few more pages and you'll see in big bold letters, "But It's Still Not a Reference Manual." The back of the book gives you a few more clues.
As far as I can see, everyone who has given this book a bad review didn't even give it one glance before purchasing it. The book covers everything it says it will, and does it well. I would recommend this book to anyone who already has a good base in python, or it willing to learn the fundamentals online to supplement the book. This book is, like the front cover says, on ways to use python after all.