The Upsydaisy makes regular voyages from Earth to *Venus* not Mars as I wrote below. Sorry about that.

A couple of years ago I had the luck of finding a hardcover edition, (in pristine condition I might add) to replace my badly worn paperback copy. Our narrator is sergeant at arms aboard the merchant spaceship Upskadaska City, known to seasoned spacers as the 'Upsydaisy', making regular voyages between Earth and Mars until holed by an errant glob of space debris that sends the Upsydaisy hurtling directly into the sun. The ship survives thanks to her captain's navigating, the skill of her rather unusual emergency pilot and the grit displayed by all hands. As a reward captain and crew are given the new interstellar explorer ship 'Marathon' and sent to explore 'strange new worlds' all of which prove somewhat inhospitable to aliens. Our band of brothers is augmented a staff of government experts and a smart mouthed official photographer. And includes a Martian repair crew, goggle eyed ten tentacled beings who frequently complain about thick air, human odor and want to play chess at the most inopportune times. Dispite frequent interspecies bickering and banter when the chips are down Terran and Martian alike know they can depend on each other to the bitter end.

I got a copy of this book when I was about 9 yrs old and have probably read it so often that I've nearly memorized it over the last 30 yrs. What draws me into the book are the unforgettable characters---Jay Score (was he the inspiration for Mr. Spock?), Capt. McNulty, the chess-fanatic Martians---Kli Yang, Kli Morg, Sug Farn, et al, and the narrator, the sergeant at arms who is never identified by name. The stories are told in the first person and in a way it lets the reader become that character. The only downside of the book is that, as far as I know, Russell never wrote any further stories about the crew of the Marathon.

Mr. Matagrano spins verbal webs that no psyche can escape. His work will leave you welcoming his literal cocoon like an L.L. Bean Vintage Stripe Yarn-Dyed Blanket on a rainy, mid-October afternoon. Pure essence!

Frank has a way of putting words into your mind that somehow paint a weary picture of a fragmented scene that picques your interest and captures your intellect. You may find yourself questioning how it affects you, and I think that in and of itself is the essence of good words. Frank's got a few of them.

Without wasting a syllable, Frank Matagrano creates multi-leveled visions as pure and deep as the human imagination can go. The beauty is absolute, sharp and at times downright painful. A brilliant collection from someone who I hope to read much more from in future.

Buy it. Read it. Revel in the impression it leaves on your humanity.

Though the delightful The Patchwork Girl Of Oz (1913) may be the overall favorite of dedicated Oz enthusiasts, L. Frank Baum's The Scarecrow Of Oz (1915) is very likely his greatest Oz novel, as its story is warmly and enthusiastically told, moves forward superbly, and the only padding found within its pages is the straw that stuffs the Scarecrow's body.

Baum wanted to transfer characters Trot (real name: Mayre Griffith) and her much older guardian, Captain Bill, of his non-Oz titles The Sea Fairies (1911) and Sky Island (1912), into Oz permanently, and they are the apparent stars of the book until the Scarecrow is introduced on its 173rd page. Though Trot, like Betsy Bobbin before her, is almost identical to Dorothy Gale in manner and appearance and would in later volumes largely fade into a pale replica of her, Baum here allows Trot to command the narrative and display a number of admirable, heartening qualities. Perennial lost boy Button - Bright (real name: Saladin Paracelsus de Lambertine Evagne von Smith), who is discovered buried face down in a small mountain of popped corn, is also a key player.

Caught in a monstrous whirlpool that appears out of nowhere while sailing on calm American ocean waters, Trot and Captain Bill awaken in a strangely lit underwater grotto. Though the narrow, claustrophobically confining passage they are obligated to enter and follow does not lead them directly to Oz, it does lead them to another of Baum's fairytale kingdoms. As in previous titles, readers may question whether Trot and Captain Bill have died and passed into the afterlife; certainly their early travails have a purgatory - like quality. In a hilarious episode, the twosome find themselves trapped on a small, lush island with the most cantankerous man living, who complains that the trees are too green, the water "dreadfully wet," and that the sun, which unpleasantly "shines in the daytime," is useless, because "it disappears just as soon as it begins to get dark." This "little old man of the island" is in exile, and certainly seems to occupy his own tiny circle in hell.

As in Sky Island, readers are given excellent expository information about Button - Bright; this is important, because Button - Bright, when appearing later in the Oz chronicle, was often portrayed as an annoying idiot with a tabula rasa for a mind ("Some folks think I'm stupid. I guess I am," he goes so far to say in Sky Island). However, in the Scarecrow Of Oz, Baum explains Button - Bright to his audience in almost Zen - like terms. Button - Bright is "almost as destitute of nerves as the Scarecrow...nothing ever astonished him much; nothing ever worried him or made him unhappy. Good fortune or bad fortune he accepted with a quiet smile, never complaining, whatever happened." Is Button - Bright a young wandering Buddha? Button - Bright, who has an exceptionally hardy appetite, is enthralled by both the beauties of nature and of happenstance. A junior lord of unforeseen contingency, an open meadow, a hedge of berry bushes, or a fluttering butterfly is all that is necessary to send him dashing off blissfully into spatial oblivion. In the Scarecrow Of Oz, Button - Bright, who lives purely in the moment, seems to possess the secret of happiness, if no longer his magical umbrella, and makes a perfect counterpoint to the more responsible, rational Trot.

The Scarecrow Of Oz is also one of the several Baum - composed Oz titles that concerns itself with witches. One of the book's three main antagonists, Blinkie, who, like the Wicked Witch in the first book, has but a single good eye, is a traditional European folklore witch: she is old, wrinkled, eccentric, power hungry, toadying, and spiteful. Interestingly, as in medieval drawings, Blinkie and her fellow witches ride their broomsticks with the brush portion forward. Baum even raises the possibility of witch burning, though, as bad luck may have it, it is the easily consumed Scarecrow and not Blinkie that is eventually tied to a stake and threatened with fire. Baum counters Blinkie with Gibson Girl look - alike sorceress Glinda the Good, who, the opposite of the witch in every way, is lovingly described: "No one knows her age, but all can see who beautiful and stately she is...her hair is like red gold and finer than the finest silken strands. Her eyes are blue as the sky and always frank and smiling. Her cheeks are the envy of peach-blows and her mouth is enticing as a rosebud. Glinda is tall and wears splendid gowns that trail behind her as she walks. She wears no jewels, for her beauty would shame them." Strangely enough, illustrator John R. Neill consistently portrays Baum's sorceress supreme wearing an unusual headdress conspicuously crowned with what looks like a cross between a healthy, long-stemmed, large-capped mushroom and a vigorous phallus.

Here more than in any of other Oz title, the Scarecrow shines, as he rightly should, though the novel is more than half over before he makes his appearance. Baum tended to dilute even his most popular characters over the course of the series, and in too many Baum titles the Scarecrow is depicted as little more than the Tin Woodman's "heterosexual life partner," though of course the Scarecrow bills and coos with the Patchwork Girl as well as with best friend Nick Chopper. The Scarecrow, sent by Glinda to rescue Trot and her cohorts from an evil king, is certainly the hero of the book: "As a conqueror I'm a wonder," he says before single - handedly but futilely demanding that King Krewl abdicate his ill-gotten throne. Happily, the sometimes Christ-like Scarecrow survives both burning at the stake and drowning in a waterfall, but not without the help of less overconfident friends.

Gorgeously illustrated in both color and black and white, the Scarecrow Of Oz is excellent in every way and belongs at the very top of the multi - volume Oz heap.

In this delightful story, a young girl named Trot and her long-time friend, the one-legged sailor Cap'n Bill, are drawn into an adventure that takes them to the magical land of Oz. Readers who are familiar with the works of L. Frank Baum will recognize these two characters from two previous novels that are set outside of Oz, The Sea Fairies and Sky Island. While it is not necessary to have read these two works prior to reading this book, the three novels taken together outline the close relationship of this optimistic and courageous young girl and her pragmatic companion, the worldly retired sailor who lost his leg at sea.

The plot is familiar to readers of other Oz books. Mortals from the outside world get hopelessly lost, but retaining their determination and good will, they move forward until they find themselves in the fairy land of Oz. All along the way Trot and Cap'n Bill meet fantastic beings and explore strange countries which the author creates with a joy and imagination that seem boundless. On this trip they meet and become fast friends with a strange flying creature called the Ork, who, although featherless, is equipped with a propeller as well as four wings. Together the three of them continue on to the Land of Mo where they inexplicably come across another beloved Baum character, Button-Bright, a boy who is unflappable and prone to getting lost. These four next find themselves in a remote and inaccessible corner of the land of Oz called Jinxland. Here they fall victim to the cruel plots of King Krewl and the magic spells of the witch Blinkie. Discovering their plight, the Scarecrow of Oz decides to go to their rescue. But what can a man of straw do to fight a corrupt king and an evil witch? Find out for yourself and enjoy every minute of it by reading this wonderful book.

The Books of Wonder edition has recreated the original first edition with all its twelve color plates, over 100 black and white illustrations, and a full color dust jacket by John R. Neill. It also includes a three page essay by Peter Glassman that discusses this work as it fits into the writings of the author, L. Frank Baum. This is a must-read for Oz aficionados and a joy to anyone interested in children's fiction.

"The Scarecrow of Oz" is a great book to have on your bookshelf with the rest of the Oz books in the series. You'll love the Ork and his friends, Pon the gardener's boy and Princess Gloria.

I have listened to this tape maybe a dozen times and it has inspired me. Scoblete knows everything there is to know about craps. I loved this tape.

When I bought it over a year ago I figured it would be interesting because Scoblete is an interesting writer and I have enjoyed his books. Now I have been following his advice since then and I have been winning and winning. Not every time but just about. I love this tape. When I travel to the casinos as I do once a week, I listen to it in my car. It primes me to get my head straight.

I think you are nuts if you play craps and don't read and listen to Scoblete. He is the MAN!

I learned a tremednous amount of information about the five count and how to beat this crazy game. This tape was great.

If you want a thorough explanation of the Captain's 5-Count this is the tape for you. The very best gambling tape I have ever listened to.

If you are a fan of Antarctic exploration then this wonderful book should be in your library. Many know the incredible story of the Endurance and the trials those 28 men endured when the ship was locked in the ice and eventually crushed. The beauty of this book is that it documents the story with the remarkable photos of the expedition photographer, Australian Frank Hurley. When you consider the time period of this story (1914-1916) you can only marvel that Hurley produced such amazing images with the equipment that was available at that time. Additionally, the initial introduction to this photo collection is excellent. It presents a good recap of the Endurance expedition with many quotes from crewmembers that have not appeared in previous books.If you are a professional photographer, or even an amateur, the information on Hurley's equipment and the story of his early training will be of special interest. The over 500 photos will hold your interest for hours! I've read almost every book on Endurance and this will rank as one of my favorites.

I was fortunate that I could follow Shakelton on T.V. while reading and viewing these excellent pictures. This book is outstanding and I would urge anyone interested in either Shakelton or photography to get it. I could not help but think that every member of this expedition had story to tell. We have heard only a few. Amazing the limits of human endurance and to think that they had a photographer with them who realized what he was filming, and did so for all of us to see.To Hurley was far ahead of his time, and I am inclined to think that Ansel Adams had probably learned from Mr. Hurley.

This is the most defenitive retelling of Shackleton's adventure in pictures. Frank Hurley was an exceptional photographer who just happened to take pictures of a journey that without them would be simply unbelievable. Any Hurley's picture of the Endurance expedition is a treasure, and in this book are all of them!

Essential to understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ is an understaning if the times in which He lived. There are a lot of unanswered questions as you read any of the Gospel authors. What ever happened to Joseph? Frank Sheed doesn't know for sure but he speculates and reasons. There is a lot of this in this book but he's always careful to warn you when he's doing so. Reading this book you get a feeling for the times and customs of this period of time. Part theology. Part history. Part archeological. This book brings a fullness of experience to Gospel reading. A warning though, its not a quick read. And at times the theological discussion can get a little deep, but Sheed is careful not to let these sections drag on. Take your time and read this book.

Any person who wants to grow in devotion to Christ should read this book. Sheed relates a picture of Christ in his social, political, and religious environment without all the stuffiness that you might find in a history book. Also, Sheed writes extremely well, and you won't get bogged down in detail by reading this book.

In reading this book, you will get to know and understand Jesus better. I've read it twice, and I'm planning on picking it up again real soon because I need Sheed to remind of Christ's love just once more.

Frank Sheed's brilliance shines through in "To Know Christ Jesus". Mr. Sheed not only tells the story of Christ's life beautifully by weaving the four gospels together seamlessly, but does so in a profoundly sound theological way. Let me share with you a typical passage from the book, yet one which shows the tremendous insight that Mr. Sheed brings to his writing:

"Let us look steadily at him. He was a carpenter in a town which, even in insignificant Galilee, was despised as insignificant. He was not playing at being a carpenter, as Marie Antoinette and her ladies played at being shepherdesses at Versailles. He was a carpenter; the household depended on what he made; if trade was bad his mother had to go without. The locals hired him to make and mend in wood. He would name the price and it would be a just price. They would haggle as is the way of the East, beating him down, asking doubtless if he thought they were made of money. In a better mood (having got the price down, perhaps) they might offer him a drink." "And he was omnipotent God, the second person the blessed Trinity, by whom all things were made, including the wood of his carpentry, and the drink, and the customer who was arguing with him about the price: including his own human body and human soul -- that human soul which had to sustain the wonder of his divine self and not be blinded by it."

One should be able to see from this small passage, not only the joy with which Mr. Sheed writes about Christ, but also the love and the reverence he feels for Him. It may be subtle in the passage I quoted, but Mr. Sheed also deftly injects a little humor to round this book out and make it a truly brilliant work.

Author Frank Forencich takes exercise and health from the viewpoint that we are species Homo sapiens, and if we go back to our hominid roots, we can live a healthier life. Forencich looks at hominid life--roaming the savannah (is this why we suburbanites plant lawns and are soothed by tree-lined vistas?), climbing, playing and eating a "mosaic" diet--a diet of whatever is to hand and probably not often high in sugar, salt or fats.

There are exercises of a play-like nature--a team practice with medicine balls and baskets--your team tries to fill the other team's basket with balls before they fill yours up. Or passing medicine balls through hula hoops and playing rope-a-dope on one foot with a partner. Yank him off balance and have a blast. Good for your neurological system and a hell of a lot more fun than the NordicTrak.

If you are interested in biology and want a more natural approach to exercise and health, you will find this interesting reading, and maybe it will give you ideas for a novel new fitness routine, something different than video-led routine or gym aerobics classes.

I've always been quite active, but I have wanted to add pizzazz to my otherwise gruesome workout routine. Play as if Your Life Depends on It is an excellent guide that helps the reader integrate unconventional workout and play moves into our ordinary lives. Frank Forencich gives workout and exercise a whole new meaning by explaining how hunting and gathering is relevant to everyday physical activity. This book is as essential as it is insightful. I for one look forward to play as though my life depends on it!

This book is fun to read, thoughtful, and inspirational. Frank Forencich has figured out how fitness got boring and why "working out" really seems like work: we've forgotten the importance of play. This book is satisfying on a number of levels -- intellectual (it discusses the importance of function in an evolutionary context), emotional (it reminds us how fun it USED to be to exercise), and practical (it gives us good, simple roadmaps to recapturing the love of movement we had as kids). Forencich gives the reader a great paradigm: focus on function, and the other benefits of fitness will come naturally. The title isn't just tongue-in-cheek -- by the end of the book you realize that not just the quality of your life but your life itself might really depend on your playing as if your life depends on it. This book goes way beyond your typical exercise book. It's the only one of its kind I know of. As a fitness book, though, it's definitely the best I've read. Ever.

if it were anyone else it would be five stars. not quite as intricate or as evolved as dune but just as enjoyable. highly imaginitve at any rate. we do see recurring themes in his work though. the ideas of religion as a human nessicity and the struugle for surrvival against enviroment. all set to a intelligent and imaginitive sci fi background.

Unlike Dune, this series has been out of print for some time. Shame! No one does it better than Herbert but Dune-Mania has left too much of his best work unread and unknown. Dune was a masterpiece, no question. But the series devolved into action novels - the work of creating his universe did not have to be re-done so the rest was just what happens next (and as Brian continues the series, what happened before). The Voidship series is different. Beginning with Destination: Void, which establishes the premise, each novel must reestablish the world in which it is set. Each set of characters has very new hurdles and new forms of intelligent life(? at least self-awareness) to deal with, each with their own world view. A good marketing bet would be to reintroduce these novels in paperback, capitalizing on the popularity of the Dune series. Let the new generation of sf readers discover the other worlds of Frank Herbert. This review refers to the series - Destination: Void, The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor

This book has all of Dune's intricacy of plot and character development but is a far more concise and elegant presentation. It's actually a sequel to Destination:Void, which I found to be interesting but definitely one of his lesser works. Subsequent books along this story line are pretty good too. I highly recommend that you read this book when you have time to finish it fairly quickly. Otherwise, you'll lose track of the characters and their individual plot lines. I once read through the entire SF section of a library (4 books a week for 2 years, ~400+ books) and this book is my favorite SF book.

in Frank Asch's _Milk and Cookies_ the author introduces the common childhood fears of monsters, and presents a story which helps children overcome that fear.

Mama, Papa, and baby bear are visiting at Grandma and Grampa's house. They spend the night. Baby bear looks through the cellar door to see Grampa feeding "a dragon" in the cellar, which is actually a wood stove. Later baby bear has a dream of a dragon coming upstairs, which eats all his milk and cookies. Crying baby bear is then taken downstairs by his father to see "the dragon." After that, baby bear is no longer scared; he and his grandparents and parents all eat milk and cookies.

My 3-year old son loves this book. He sympathizes with baby bear, and he loves the way the story is resolved, of course. I'd recommend this, as well as Frank Asch's book _Goodbye, House_ as excellent books for children aged 3.

ken32

I used to be a Teacher Aide for a daycare for kids ages 2-4. Every day before naptime the kids would beg me to read this book to them. And not just once but twice! They loved when the baby bear went down to see the dragon. And at the end of the story they would all shout the last line "milk and cookies"!! Since then I have had a baby of my own and would like to get a copy of this book that sure will be a favorite with my daughtor.

The author explores color and shape in it's simplest form to enable childres to absorb the illustration quickly and easily, thus they hear the full meaning of the words at the same time. Excellent teaching reading book for k-2

I love this book. I think this book should go straight to Oprahs Book Club. As my father and my friend, I feel that Frank Dobson has a talent like no other writer today. I love his style and I love him. GREAT JOB DAD! From Jasmin Dobson (your child)

I have just completed reading this novel after having to put it down a number of times to ponder my own feelings and life. I found it to be both haunting and thought provoking. This writer is extremely talented, having the ability to totally involve the reader with all of the characters and their individual pysche. I was both inspired and challenged by this experience. It made me think, it made me pray. It is sending me on a quest to find my own voice.

Reading this reflected so much of my own similar upbringing and struggles. I was truly amazed of the writers' technigue and the ambiance that is developed between the reader and the author. You feel the story flow with ease from the pages to your inner self making you feel like you know exactly where the characters are and what they are dealing with. It is beautifully done and has a melodic sense as the words and emotions are filtered through and sent out to each reader to analyse and discover. The book has great depth and I look forward to many 'new' work done by this fresh new and very talented African American writer. Hats Off to Frank Dobson and continued success. I will pass the book on to everyone I know,and I await his next 'new' release.