The Ballad of Sly Black is a wonderful page turner. You never knew what was going to happen around the next bend. That made it really hard to put the book down. You just wanted to keep on reading about Sy. The erie descriptions of the land and of the people are not to be missed. This book really makes you think... What is Fate? Do we really know? Well, buy the book, read it and find out about this author's unique view on this subject. You will not be sorry you did!

Overall a good book. I actually read the whole thing.It does a good job combining humor with serious moments and is pretty action packed as well. Plus great simile's thoughout.

Mark Early's first try at publishing is a very unique story. It's set in a middle world where Sy Black has been tasked by Fate herself to protect the border between the living and the dead. An easy read, this story is fun, a great short story even people who don't read this genre could easily enjoy this book.

"Russian, Cuban and Mexican troops invaded America in a joint effort to overcome the United States. The U.S. government was caught unaware and by the time the fighting was stabilized, the Federal troops maintained control of the Carolinas, Florida, Virginia, Washington D.C., Louisiana and Kentucky. The rest was enemy territory."

Did you miss seeing this breaking news story on CNN? Did you miss reading this headline news in The New York Times?

"Out of this chaos, many different people would arise to fight back and regain the America they once knew. In the Midwestern state of Wisconsin, one group would rise to legendary status overcoming all obstacles as they battled the invading armies."

No, this was not headline news in the New York Times nor was it a breaking news story on CNN. It was taken from the foreword of Mark Haeuser's novel, Battleground USA - The Beginning. The year is 2015.

Mark has created a world that is so realistic, I still find myself wondering if perhaps I did miss that breaking news story on CNN. After terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, it no longer seems so unrealistic that America could be invaded by foreign forces and taken over.

Battleground USA - The Beginning is the first novel in The Battleground USA Series. Battleground USA2 - Las Vegas is the second novel in the series. Mark has plans for a total of fifteen novels in the series.

Move over Tom Clancy, Mark Haeuser is coming up behind you - and fast!

I highly recommend this book and the series if you want a fast paced and realistic action/adventure read.

Reviewed by Kristie Leigh Maguire (for MyShelf.com), author of Emails from the Edge, Desert Triangle and contributor to Calliope's Mousepad: Women Writers Online
[...]

what an exciting action filled book. the author provides and exciting as well as scary plot as he sends his wild eyed characters into the thick of action. He also does one of the best jobs reconstructing realistic comabt scenes that I have ever read. I feel proud to be an American after reading this book.

Mister Haeuser has created a story line which is both believable and exciting. It is a story that once you begin to read it you cannot put it down. The characters and story are beleivable and make you feel good about being an American. Truly well done. On a par with Tom Clancy and Richard Marcinko.

The Best of James H. Schmitz is a selection of stories published by NESFA as the first in their "Choice" series. Its genesis was a panel conducted by the editor, Mark L. Olson, during Boskone 27 "which proved that Schmitz still has fans out there". It contains an introduction by Janet Kagan and a bibliography of Schmitz's SF works in addition to nine stories.

The introduction provides a rather good analysis of Schmitz's characters, plots, and style, but doesn't much address his environments, probably due to length considerations. A more extensive analysis of these environments is provided by Eric Flint in the Baen editions of Schmitz's SF works.

"Grandpa" is a story of a Colonial team that found a surprise in the ecology of an unexplored planet. "Lion Loose" is a Quillan tale wherein he gains an unusual ally. "Just Curious" is about a unique mental ability and the reaction of a man who has been subjected to it. "The Second Night of Summer" tells what Grimp and Grandma did during summer vacation. "Novice" is another summer vacation story, in which Telzey drives her Aunt Halet to hysterics. "Balanced Ecology" is the story of an environent that adopts a human family. "The Custodians" is a tale of a hijacking and a man's conscience. "Sour Note On Palayata" is a Psychological Service story about consciousness and wisdom. "Goblin Night" is a yarn about Telzey, Chomir and a spook.

This collection is a fairly balanced selection of the author's short works, ranging from the quite familiar to the fairly obscure. Although not necessarily the "best" of his short stories, all are interesting and enjoyable and have that characteristic sense of wonder. While this is a good starting point for readers who have never before encountered this author, serious fans will also want to buy the Baen publications, which contain so much more.

Highly recommended to Schmitz fans and anyone who enjoys interstellar adventure with a sense of wonder.

I'm a long time fan of James H Schmitz from when his stories first appeared in the sixties and seventies, and so I was pleased to see his work coming back into print This volume is just a sampling of what he was capable of. It introduces several of the characters that appear in many of his other stories. Telzey Amberdon in here, in both Novice and Goblin Night. Heslet Quillan is in Lion Loose (along with one very interesting monster), Just Curious is not so much a Science Fiction story as a horror mystery, while the other stories show the broad range of his writing. One interesting aspect of Schmitz's writing was the way he wrote about ecology as a major factor in his stories. Grandpa and Balanced Ecology include the life forms of a world as major characters without being preachy or pedantic. In that line I strongly recommend his book The Tuvela (also titled The Demon Breed) if you can find it in used book stores. That book also features Nile Etland, one of Schmitz's very interesting female characters. Schmitz was using strong, and believable, female characters long before anyone else, and they are both realistic and sympathetic, much more so than most of the ones in print today. In case you think he did only strong female characters, this book also has The Guardians, one of his best stories, with a sympathetic, and believable, male space pirate. And of course, Heslett Quillan is here in Lion Loose. The bibliography at the end of the book, as well as the cross-reference of stories and characters is very helpful. But a major character in his stories is the background itself. The Federation of the Hub is a fascinating place. This book gives a glimpse of it. All in all, I recommend this book as a sampler and starting point for those wanting to know more about a very good, and seminal SF writer. And while they were not written as children's stories, their content, and relatively short length compared to the massive books out today, make them ideal ways to introduce young children, especially young girls, to SF.

I've read what I can easily find of Schmitz's longer works and greatly enjoyed them. This collection of some of his shorter works has induced a craving for what's not included here. A bibliography in the back of the book is a great aid for my search. All his stories I've ever read are an enjoyable way to pass an evening.

Warrior Scarlet is one of my favourite Sutcliffs, and Knight's Fee is also a good read, but The Mark of the Horselord beats them both. It's one of those "Wow" books - ones that you keep thinking and thinking about for long after you've read it. Rosemary Sutcliff portrays excellently how a person, even coming from and living through some terrible situations, can rise to the occasion and truly make a difference in the lives around them, making choices not because they are comfortable, but because they are what must be done. I like characters whom I can really respect, despite our differences in situation.

I agree with another reviewer: We MUST reprint this book!

I have been an avid fan of Rosemary Sutcliff for at least 30 years...Her novel Sword at Sunset is,to me,the finest and the most believable of the accounts of King Arthur without all the romanticism attached to most versions..She has such a rare gift that I read this book at least once a year and never tire of it!...Mark of the Horse Lord comes a close second but I have read all her books...even junior novels like The Witches Brat etc...I will be forever grateful to Ms.Sutcliff !

I have read all three of the books in this collection, and they are all really wonderful. Warrior Scarlet is still in print here in the U.S. and is a marvelous introduction to Bronze Age Britian for young adult readers. Knight's Fee is still in print in the U.K., and I ordered it from an online dealer there. It is set in Norman England, and while it is not my favorite of her novels, it is well written and interesting.

I read Mark of the Horselord 30 years ago, and I have been searching for it since 1995. It is set in Roman Britian, and tells the story of a gladiator slave who becomes a king. This book was written for teens/young adults. It is much more challenging than the muck being written today. The characters are well-fleshed out and memorable (I remembered them for 30 years). It is simply the very best of her novels, and I have read them all. Why this book is not in print is a mystery to me. I know there is a market, at one point the only copy I could find was a paperback that was priced at more than $150.00.

I found a library bound copy through Amazon's Z Shops at a very reasonable price, and reread this book last week. The intervening 30 years has not robbed this book of it's power. I read it slowly, and savored every minute. Find this book. Harass publishers ( I have!). Let's get this book reprinted!

This is a really great story; I had a tough time putting it down and wanted to read it again when I finished !

Mark Anderson has a gift; a writing style that feels so real- I could easily visualize his characters and surroundings. His descriptions and wording just flow and keep you thoroughly absorbed.

What is truly amazing, though, is his candor and bravery in telling of his life experience; this is a true story. We think that we are unique in the way our families function (or disfunction!) and that terrible things happen to us alone, which sets us apart from the rest of the world. But we are all connected; some of us more than others can truly relate. The knowledge that forgiveness is possible and a blessing- even in the face of unbelievable cruelty, is truly healing and inspiring.

A very fine and engrossing story- I cannot recommend it highly enough!

As a psychotherapist and author, I have been telling clients and workshop participants for years about the power of writing. "Keeping a journal while in psychotherapy is an excellent way to deepen and accelerate your progress," I tell them. No doubt the author, Mark Anderson, benefited greatly from writing this engaging memoir (slightly disguised as a novel), but the magic of Black Cloud is in its therapeutic value for readers. Anderson's story is felt at multiple levels --- ranging from simple "good reading" to a poignant testimony that our families' "craziness" does not have to do us in. This book entertains while it instills hope. Black Cloud delivers what its back cover promises: simple lessons of love and the miracle of the human spirit.

I don't know how he got away with telling those touchy details about the abuse and incest in the main character's story (based on a true story?). Yet he does it with no blame or judgment. At some times this family seems very warm and normal, then the unexpected happens. When it was all over I felt very moved and hopeful for the human condition. I highly recommend it!

I read this book in a single sitting, and when I was through, I wanted everyone I knew to have a copy. It's raw, it's honest, and it's heartwrenching and warming. It's living history, and there will never be another project like it. These are real people telling real stories, and giving their time, their energy and even their money to help someone repair their lives after the tragic events of 9/11. I hope many others contribute to the cause by sharing the contributor's efforts in remembering the day.

First I must say one thing. Mark Shepherd is one of my favorite authors, I have read all of his books, and this one by far is the best. While of a totally different genre than his other books, Blackrose Avenue has all of the best characteristics of his other books, and packs a punch of reality to boot.
The book is based in a world where aids is the formost thought on most's minds, and any that are infected (and caught) are set to cocentration camps. The books follows the lives of two men, Derek and Lorn.
Derek is an apparetly model citezen who works for the government as a member of the "Carrier Relocation" Team. The his fiance gets aids, ad he is demoted.
Lorn, who because of poor editing has no sure last name, is an adis victim i one of the concentration camps. As attemps to escapes, his health, ad the search for a cure fail, he solwly despairs.
But hope is not gone, both Derek and Lorn get caught up with Dr. Kaufman, a crazy scientist, who claims to have foud a cure.
I am not going to give away any more of the plot, but i can asure you that this is a wonderful book, apart from editig errors, which are fairly ifrequent.
While there is very little hope for a sequel, I hope Mr. Shepherd publishes many more books in the future.

It's been a long time since an SF novel gave me the shakes, but Mark Shepherd's Blackrose Avenue has managed to give me a pronounced case. Its near and terrifyingly plausible future, where right-wing political agendas are The Law and right-wing religious extremists have The Power has me trembling with anger. Shepherd's gripping, gritty prose and uncompromising look at bigotry should be required reading for anyone who's ever thought "human rights can't mean *them*" or wavered on the separation of church and state. This one has teeth.

This book rocks. I was bulimic, but when I read the book I found out new ways to loose weight that really works without hurting myself. Needless to say, it helped me A LOT.

We teens lead some pretty extreme lives. In between bungee jumping, sky surfing, and looking for new places on my body to pierce, it can be a total bummer trying to eat right. That's why this book is way cool!!!! The 28 day program rocked!!! You gotta give it up for this one!!!!

i'm really very excited about `bodyPRIDE' simply because i have a teenage boy who was overweight and in a lot of despair about it. we used this book on a daily basis and within 4 months, he dropped several pounds. more important, his self-awareness and self-esteem grew dramatically. now, he's trying out for junior varsity football and is more happy about himself. the plan is easy to do and takes you through it, step by step. your kid can do it with you or, better yet, by him or herself. the language talks to them directly, i think. if you have a problem with your kid, this is a good tool. honestly, art richman

I start every morning with an inspiration from this book. I take the time I need to reflect on the daily passage and have found it to be a way of learning about the real person I am. I have been searching for inner peace for so long , this book has helped me to meditate on the important things to make my life and my inner self more complete and at peace. I love this book and want to give everyone I know a copy.

There are very few books in this world which elicit the question 'Why have I such an array of books on this subject when this one would suffice?' The entry of Mark Nepo's Book of Awakening into my life not only presented this question but also initiated an immediate removal of the other six inspirational books waiting in a tumbled line by my bed, making space in my overcrowded life for the simplicity of one source of wisdom.

The Book of Awakening, which is beautifully produced by Conari Press, is in the form of a daybook, having an entry of wisdom for every day of the year. This allows us to take a dip into this vast ocean of insight every day or to dive in at random when the spirit moves us. Each page of wisdom is followed by a short and profound meditation on the topic at hand which helps put the reading into the context of one's own life, and is suggested in such a way that even the meditation-shy could be enticed to participate.

In his introduction, Mark describes his book as 'a companion and a soul-friend'. I agree that this book can act as a soul friend, which is a different relationship than is possible with most wisdom books. And that is quite a gift to give to yourself or a friend. The key reason for the possibility of this almost human relationship with the book is, I believe, to be found in the divinely human writing style of the author.

Mark is born a poet whose eyes perceive the divine patterning within the everyday experiences of life. He has crafted the art of painting that depth so that others may begin to see into and beyond the mundane. Each new entry seems to invite a deeper friendship of the soul as Mark lays himself bare in his truly personal stories of struggle and revelation. He interweaves his own perception with gems of collected treasures from many spiritual traditions, giving us access to his own spiritual advisers in their many forms.

--- Carmella B'Hahn, Sufi Journal, London

Mark Nepo's day book is a wonderful way to remember the importance of enjoying the details that make life a mystery and a gift. The book includes inspirational quotes, beautiful poetry, points for mediationsand heart-warming glimpes of life. Although each day's entry is meant to be savored, I gobbled them all up and now will go back to holding them close to my life one day at a time.

In high school around 1985, I tried to argue with a Republican classmate that US bombers were targeting civilian neighborhoods in Libya. "No," he said, "You see, the A-rabs don't know any physics. They're firing antiaircraft missiles at ninety degrees, and their own bombs are falling back on them." The following year, when our government teacher announced that the Challenger had exploded, another classmate of mine said with a crooked smile and a faux-childlike tone, "Gee, Mr. Duffey, it's a good thing *you* weren't the teacher they chose to go into space!" I only began to understand these incidents--the naively credulous belief in government statements, the postemotional reaction to atrocities--when I read Mark Crispin Miller's essay on "The Hipness Unto Death." MCM exposes the vitiating effects of late Seventies and early Eighties media--the sadism of Jerry Lewis, the subtle thuggery of Bill Cosby, the crazed sensationalism of Dan Rather, the vacuity of Reagan's public face, and the ability of "Lettermanesque irony" to drain everything of meaning are among his themes. Miller is a dissident ironist, in the tradition of his sometime friend Christopher Hitchens and his avatars Michael Berube and Thomas Frank, but he is also a prophet: no one familiar with Boxed In was surprised when audiences began to treat the characters on Seinfeld as role-models, when Sam Donaldson became a Republican spokesman, or when Bill Maher smiled while pantomiming the attack on the World Trade Center. Fans should look at Miller's other books and his articles in The Nation, Extra!, and CONTEXT magazines.

The first 8 or so essays in this book constitute some of the greatest writing on TV and advertising that I have ever run into. Analysis of texts is often so freaking esoteric and bookish that there's no point in reading it unless you want to impress an english undergrad at a department meeting. However, everyone who has any ability for introspection will benefit from the essays in this book, which use the tools of text analysis to help understand american culture and the motivations behind the culture creators. Other than incredible essays about advertisting and TV news, there are also some pretty decent essays about technology and movies and some pretty mediocre essays about music. Notwithstanding that, this book is required reading for all smart Americans, and you really won't be able to read advertising until you've read the opening essay, Hipness until Death, which becomes more and more applicable with each abstraction put out by Sprite or Arizona Jeans. Thank you Mark Crispin Miller!

"Boxed In" is a collection of essays on TV, Elvis, movies and the future. Miller's piercing critical analysis of the world of pop culture is no dry thesis. It contains hilariously colourful, laugh-out-loud, read-to-your-friends, genius (and often biting) observations of the media and the world we live in. There is a cunning essay on the TV game show "Family Feud" as well as a very shrewd essay on the Jerry Lewis telethons that are especially clever and funny. A must read.