This is the third installment of Steven King's fantasy series, The Dark Tower, which follows the story of the Gunslinger Roland, the equivalent of an Arthurian knight in the world King has created, and his quest to reach the Dark Tower in order to make the world right again. In previous books, Roland met three people from our world, two of whom accompanied him on his quest.

This installment includes three important separate stories: (1) the "drawing" of one more person from Earth, the child Jake whom we first met in the introductory book in this series; (2) the companions' travails in the city that lies in the path of their quest; and (3) the beginning of the companions' encounter with the mad monorail. Each of these stories is compelling in its own right, although I do not suggest reading this book before reading the previous two because, although you would be entertained and intrigued by King's alternate world, you would be missing the full story.

Along with the interesting plots, we also learn much more about Roland's world. Part of this new knowledge comes from the tales Roland tells his companions, but much more is a by-product of the plot. We learn more about how the world has changed from Roland's youth, and we are treated to an imaginative post-apocalyptic vision of a city ruled by gangs whose original rivalry was rooted in a generation gap. King treats us as visitors to this world in much the same way that Roland's companions are. Rather than explain every little detail as it comes up, he prefers to let us discover the world as if we were really visiting it.

Finally, King makes even more explicit the fact to which he alluded in earlier volumes that the villains in Roland's world are the same villains patrolling our world in Steven King books. In his other works, King usually drops a reference to other books he has written--e.g., several of his books allude to the dog who ran amok in Cujo. In the Dark Tower series, however, rather than making oblique references to other books, King has made it clear that the boogie men from other books inhabit this world as well. Fans of King's horror works should, therefore, also read this series in order to learn more about what King thinks of his villains.

Yes, Stephen King's epic Dark Tower series is worth continuing, although The Wasteland isn't without shortcomings! King gives us a distinctly different style with each book, and has succeeded thusfar with the exception of the first half of this book. After the cryptic and mysterious Gunslinger and the rip-roaring Drawing of the Three, King hits a little bit of a rut trying to reintroduce Jake, the boy you should recognize from The Gunslinger. The first half is a bit of a drag, plodding through a lot of half-baked, formulaic filler before returning to the real meat of the story - Roland's quest. Fortunately, King makes up for it with a memorable and exciting second half, wherein the weary travelers brave a Mad-Max like post-apocolyptic city with some VERY unfriendly inhabitants. A worthy, if flawed read.

I loved this book. It is better than the first two and the first two were great. They are a real marvelle of story telling and allegory. I love the journey aspect of the story. The will to risk all to get to place, in hope of better answers. The readers are taken on this journey as much as the characters are. And the characters are taken on a fast pace, break neck ride. I am going to start reading #4 imediately as I must know what happens. I just hope that King gets the rest of the books out soon, but I also don't want him to rush it. Great art takes time to develop and this is great art. It is by far my favorite of King's works as his characters are funny, twisted, and inteligent. They all play off each other very well, and we learn about them through how they treat each other. Roland is developing into a solid leader who now is developing interests outside the dark tower in Jake, Eddie, Susannah-his posse. And they all bring something to the story. This book made me think. And then it twisted my thoughts intop a fury of paradoxes that turn inside out. Trippy stuff. Read this book!!!

A very powerful book this is! Mr. Peretti's descriptions are bold and clear, and his strong dialogues flow from one page to the other as he takes us in a whirlwind of spiritual warfare. 'This Present Darkness' is a novel that's guaranteed to keep many a midnight flask burning. It's hard to explain how captivating this book really is, you have to read it for yourself. The story is set in the small town of Ashton, and its inhabitants are the target of an evil, spiritual kind: demons. They have one mission and that is to take over the entire town and bring new world order. Except for the prayers of a young pastor, his wife and a few firm believers of God, the others are prey to the clutches of evil, leading to demon-possessed lives. The action and description of the fight between good and evil spirits, the angels and demons, is solid, and covers detailed accounts that will keep you page turning and amazed! A must read!

I read these books several years ago and the experience changed my prayer life and the way I look at the spiritual world. This may be a work of fiction but it also reinforced my faith in God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I have more courage now because I know that through prayers I can always count on God'ss protection in whatever I do and wherever I go. Just the thought of the angels' swords blazing and them eager to fight away the evil spirits whenever I would say my prayers is a very comforting thought in a world full of unexpected dangers and temptations.

Aside from its effect on my spiritual growth and prayer life, these books are also very easy to read and can give readers hours of escape. I almost didn't put the books down while reading them and was really hooked until the last pages. But I was reading these books while looking after my grandmother after her eye operation and had to check on her often.

I recommend that you first read This Present Darkness to under the Piercing The Darkness better.

...This book was truly a blessing to me. It opens your eyes to the spiritual warfare going on all around us. If you are not a praying Christian, after reading these books you will be! The Bible tells us to pray always, and believe me you will know why when you are reading these books. I haven't been this excited about a book since I was a young child. While you are reading these books you will cry, get mad at the devil, be happy during victories, say a prayer for the characters, feel joy for the Angels in battle, and shout hallelujah at the end of the book. Pray for understanding when you are reading so you can get the message. After reading the first book in this set I didn't think the second book could get any better, I was truly amazed when the second book was better than the first! What a joy it was to read this book, I look forward to reading them again in the near future.

How are some students dying at Baker High School? In Hangman's Curse the Springfield's work to solve the mystery. The undercover investigating team consists of Nate, his wife Sara, and their twins Elisha and Elijah. The code name for their efforts is Veritas (Latin word for truth). They work to investigate mysteries, crimes and strange occurrences. They look beyond the facts to find the truth behind all the problems.
The Springfield family is hired to work undercover at Baker High School. The school has had some students come down with an unexplained illness, leaving them hallucinating and mumbling "Abel Frye". Elisha and Elijah go into the school and become friends with as many people as they can. They discover the tension between different cliques at the school. Many students are treated as outcasts and would like revenge on their tormentors. Are these students the cause of the weird occurrences?
This book reveals what really goes on in schools and the need to fit in. You won't want to put this book down! I would highly recommend this book to all readers and especially to high school students.

I am a Youth Services Librarian. I have always enjoyed Peretti's work. This title is no exception. It is a very good story for middle and high school. The Vertias Group, Mom, Dad, and twins, Elisha and Elijah are undercover looking for the truth of strange happenings. Their job, should they decide to accept, is to discover the real truth. Well written, speaks well about school campus life and gets the reader involved int the plot. Football jocks are attacked by a strange disease and before the reason is found two girls have died. What and who are responsible? You will enjoy the suspense and truth from start of finish. Looking for excellent reading with high interest? This book will fill that need.

I bought this book for my teenage son, started reading it and couldn't put it down. I've read other Peretti books and knew that he was an excellent, Christian author whose books are never "preachy." This book lives up to his standards. Even as an adult who has long forgotten the trials and rejections of adolescence, I felt like I was transported back into that time and could truly empathize with the kids who were getting picked on. This book really helps you to understand why there is so much violence in schools today. Plus, the story line has so many twists and turns that you're constantly on the edge of your seat. You can't put the book down until you find out what's going on -- and the ending is really a surprise. I loved this book and recommend it to both teens and adults!

L. Frank Baum's enduring story is wonderfully presented in this elegant edition and the Washington Post called Lisbeth's The Wizard of Oz "the loveliest edition imaginable."

However, the assessment of the local kids is the drawings are "weird." Perhaps intended for a more adult audience, the illustrations are beautiful--I enjoyed them--but their idiosyncratic style may not appeal to the younger set.

The characters pictured in the illustrations are dramatcially reinterpreted by the artist, however this may disappoint some viewers. The Scarecrow will look nothing like any scarecrow you've imagined. The Witch of the North is difficult to identify. This fresh point of view will be enjoyed by some but is sure to disappoint others.

I also felt the illustrations don't tell the story as well as the edition by Michael Hague or the original edition with W. W. Dinslow. (This is more important to the younger, read-to crowd, than the older, I can read it myself crowd.)

My daughter asked that we return the book and get a different edition for her. I would urge you to carefully consider the sample pages, except the sample pages don't cover a broad range of the illustrations included with this edition. The sample pages do include an image of the dramatic and striking cover. Unfortunately, in the judgement of several reviewers from 4 to 40, the other illustrations were noticably more "weird" than the cover and I don't think the sample pages represent the overall reading/viewing experience scrupulously.

The Wizard of Oz is about a girl named Dorothy who is a farm girl from Kansas. One day Dorothy is carried away by a cyclone to a magical land called Oz. While she is there she meets a tlaking scarecrow, a man made of tin, and a cowardly lion afraid of his own shadow. Dorothy and her friends follow a yellow brick road to the Emerald City where they hope to find the famous wizard that can grant each of their wishes. But the wicked witch keeps trying to ruin their trip to the Emerald City.
The setting of the book is in a magicla land full of little people called Munchkins, flying monkeys, and a wicked witch that will melt if touched with water. The characters have their separate reasons for wanting to see the wizard. As the story goes on, the reader can not help but fall in love with them.
The text gives great detail as to what everything looks like and with those details the whole world of Oz can come to life in the readers imagination.

The Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum is a wonderful book about a young girl who goes on an adventure full of excitement and fun. Dorothy the main character lives on a small country farm in Kansas with her Aunt, Uncle, and small dog, Toto. One day a twister comes over their country farm and whisks Dorothy along with her little dog away to a make believe land called Oz. There she is greeted by the people who live there. She asks them how she can get home to Kansas. They tell her that the Great Oz will help get her home. But before she heads on her way to Oz the Good Witch of the North kisses her on the forehead and says that with that kiss no one can harm her. So she and Toto head on their way to Oz. On her way she meets The Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Woodman made of tin who wants a heart and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. These four new friends eimbark on an adventure to the great city of Oz. Will they all get their wishes? Find out when you read the Wizard of Oz. I loved this book because not only did it have fantasy but it is a great book for all ages. I recomend it to anyone who loved being a child.

Frank Scoblete has written a very intelligent approach to craps based on the supposition that most shooters lose the player money. He discusses a method called the 5 Count which is to be used to decide which shooters to risk money on. It is a brilliant system and a relatively easy strategy to employ in the casino. After reading this book several months ago, I made five trips to the casinos and won on four of them. The 5 Count was a wonderful preserver of my bankroll and I was around for the hot shooters on four of the five trips. This book is the best craps book I have ever read and I look forward to reading his follow up book about the Captain's Craps Revolution.

This is the first book by Frank Scoblete I read (the second is his Captain's Craps Revolution which I am also reviewing). The book introduces you to the Captain a man who has created several very unique methods of playing craps. The book is really very informative and has much to offer. Craps players should learn the 5-Count because this will definitely save you a lot of money when you play. You can read this book without needing to read Scoblete's second book but the two of them make a great one-two punch against craps. I think this Captain must be a genius.

I have read or listened to all three Scoblete craps books and tapes that are available from Amazon. and they are just amazing. The system that the Captain has developed is no doubt the best craps system ever devised and although it takes discipline it is well worth it. I have changed being a losing craps player into being a winning craps player!!! It isn't easy but it can be done with discipline and applying the 5-Count, the most amazing technique for picking shooters to bet on. Get this book and get Scoblete's Captain's Craps Revolution and Sharpshooter Craps - they will save you a lot of money in the long run and like me you might even come out ahead!!!

This is a great book. I attended a 3 day Pelz clinic two years ago and now have a much better short game. I think too, that Pelz' techniques, in some peculiar way, helped my longer game by subtly transforming the way I think about golf. The book is well written, clear, and useful. You must, however, adopt his intially awkward techniques and hold faith in them. At first the methods will feel overly scientific and rigid. Soon they will feel natural and smooth. The longer you use them consistently, the better your game will get.Read the book, or some portion of it, over and over until you fully incorporate the methods into your golfing thought process. Use it like a bible, ignore everything you've learned heretofore. Buy the book, attend a clinic, USE the method, have fun, and win.

I took the Dave Pelz 3 day short-game course a few years ago, and got great benefit from it. As helpful as that was, I found this book to be a big additional assist. It explained the Pelz principles better than the school did, and it also looks like he has learned quite a few things since I took the school. There's a lot to learn about the short game, and it is helpful to have this as a reference. If you don't know if you want to get his videos or attend one of his courses, this is also a good introduction.

I found out about Dave Pelz by accident. I was playing golf one day at La Quinta with a woman who hit one amazing pitch shot after another close to the pin. The rest of her game was below average, so I asked her where she had picked up the pitching game. She told me that she had just finished Dave Pelz's short game school at PGA West and said it had helped her a lot. Remembering that caused me to take the course.

Dave Pelz is the ultimate golf engineer. He measures everything, and that has led to new learning. For example, he has found that 60-65% of all shots occur within 100 yards of the hole. More importantly, "about 80% of the shots golfers lose topar occur within 100 yards." In further measurements, he noticed that the largest errors in missing the target occur with wedges (for amateurs and pros). These misses are usually in distance, rather than left and right variance.

From these observations, Pelz developed a four wedge system with 3 lengths of backswing that will give you much more distance precision with wedges within 100 yards. The reason this important relates to putting. Almost all 2 foot putts are made, but pros only make half of the 10 foot putts (amateurs do worse). Beyond 10 feet, the odds drop way off. This means that if you can get your wedge shot to within 10 feet you have a good chance of finishing the hole in one less stroke.

I still haven't converted to four wedges, but reading the book convinced me that I should. I didn't realize how much scoring I was missing with only 3. I can get the ball to 15 feet most of the time, and then 2 putt. Maybe I'll get that extra wedge today and get a lot closer.

There's a lot of other good information on sand shots, chipping, trouble shots of all kinds (including how to hit the ball out from under water and stay reasonably dry).

You'll need more than this book to really improve though. If you like the book, you should begin doing the drills in the back. I would suggest you also try the videos. If that is all helping, consider the golf school. You will get a lot of individualized diagnosis of your weaknesses and instruction on how to improve. I still refer to the notes I got, and find them helpful. One strength of the book is that it has a measurement exercise in it that you can use to diagnose the weaknesses in your short game, so that you can concentrate on those parts of the book that will help you the most with your practice.

If you are like most golfers, you love to belt the ball. That's great, but I'm sure you've heard the old saying "Drive for show, and putt for dough." This book will add the perspective of the short game as essential to that dough as well. You'll have to give up two long clubs (he makes recommendations) to put those two extra wedges in your bag.

Use this book to overcome your stalled thinking about how to improve your golf game. Despite better equipment and balls and a lot of instruction, the score of the average golfer hasn't improved in the last 30 years. With the Pelz approach that can change.

As much as I liked this book, I liked his new book, Dave Pelz's Putting Bible, even more. I strongly recommend that you read that one as well. You can implement it without attending the Pelz course. These two books are the first two in a planned series of four. I'm looking forward to the rest of them.

Donald Mitchel

Dropped a heavy hint and got this as a gift. Pelz teaches a swing technique for short-game shots that takes a little time and practice to master. Of course, just practicing your short-game that much can also help a lot. Pelz also offers information on playing different shots, including judging flight/roll, using appropriate clubs for a given shot, trouble shots, and so on. There's also persuasive data that you should drop a long club and add another wedge to your bag.

Overall, I took the information to heart, replaced my 3-iron with a 60* wedge, practiced 3x weekly -- and saw my average score drop 6-8 strokes.

This is a differnt book. It starts out with magnificent discription telling of sea creatures attacking the GunSlinger, as he escapes, gravely wounded, he dicovers a portal to another world in another time. We are introduced the three characters -The Prisoner, a story that is wild and nerve racking. It is centered around a great character, Eddie. The next chapter -the Lady of Sadows, is truely disturbing and difficult to read, but bear through it is worth it as the final chapter -The Pusher, makes -The Lady of Shadows very cool. It is like eduring through a difficult race to feel incredible at its completion because the prize is unbelievable. The three storys are subversively intertwined in much deaper detail that what King reveals to the reader, I was blown away at the end and instantly began the Waste Land -Dark Tower 3. An increadible story.

...The truth of the thing spoken by the boy,Jake. Our Gunslinger, Roland, injured by the Lobstrosities struggles and hallucinates his way down the long beach of his world to a strange door. Credit to Huxley here where it is due. A Door of perception. THE Door for Roland. It's where the rubber meets the road for the true journey to the Dark Tower. The imagery here is superb. Stephen King leads us into a long, strange trip with the Gunslinger rattling around in the heads of dope-smugglers, schizophrenics, psychopaths... what all else? Despite his weakened, even dying condition our hero perseveres and brings a crew of unlikelies together for what I feel will be a hell of a journey. The desolation of Rolands world... whatever the hell happened to it.. is highlighted by the tales of surviving high-tech gadgets from the world past. Read this book... Detta Walker and Odetta Holmes-Good God- Eddie, Every character in this installment of THE DARK TOWER is crippled, even to Roland whose tools of the trade, his bullets, his hands and his wits are ruined, addled or brutally ravaged. Shuffle and Shift... Take Heart, Constant Reader... SK manages to heal a lot in this offering, but he leaves us wanting. REALLY BAD!!!! Keep it up, my Friend. See You Soon?

Wow. I just finished reading this for the second time (I'm rereading the whole series) and that is all I can say. Wow. This really is an amazingly good volume in the Dark Tower series. I was put off of it at first when I read The Gunslinger. I thought it was wierd, outlandish, hard to follow, and totally unlike Stephen King. Of course, it is all those things the first time you read it. The second time it is still all those things, excluding hard to follow, because now you know where the book leads. It leads to this book (and beyond of course). Speaking of this book, and after all, this book is what I came hear to talk about and what you came to read about, it is absolutely jam-packed with adventure, action, and anything else you could want.
The Drawing of the Three continues the story with Roland, the last gunslinger taking people from our world into his own. The first one is the Prisoner that Walter foretold in the end of the last book. The prisoner is Eddie Dean, a very funny character, but also a very strong character. It is really cool how the gunslinger is actually inside Eddie's mind and can "come forward" and take control of his body. This section of the book is the best in my opinion. There is a shootout at the end of the "Prisoner" section which is definately not to be missed.
The next person to be drawn is Odetta Holmes/Detta Walker. She is a rich black woman who had her legs amputated via a collosion with a subway train (which turns out to be no accident). She is also schizophrenic. I think this was the worst part of the book because it dealt too much with Susannah's (as Odetta comes to be called) background. This is probably necessary in order to understand everything that happens, but that still doesn't make it that interesting.
Last and least comes Jack Mort, who is actually not drawn at all but proves to be usefull because Roland uses him to get some medecine which he sorely needs because back in his world, he is dying. Jack Mort is a very sick individual to say the least. It is him that Susannah has to thank for the loss of her legs. Good old Jack gets his kicks by pushing people in front of cars and dropping bricks on their heads. At the end the gunslinger gives him what he has coming though, and that provides some satisfaction. This part is as riveting as the beginning part where Eddie is drawn. It includes some more gun battles which I just can't get enough of. There is one thing though. During this part, Roland two unconscious police officers guns and straps them around his waist so that he can take them back to his world for Eddie and Susannah to use. Mr. King seems to forget about this, though, because when Roland returns to his world, there is no more mention of the guns and the only guns they have are Rolands two revolvers. What gives?
Anyway, that aside, this is a wonderful chapter in the Dark Tower Saga. I suggest also getting The Waste Lands and Wizard and Glass at the same time, because once you read this, you will want to continue the journey along the path of the beam.

Many people believe in angels. Some believe that they guard us, some believe they direct us, and some believe they watch over us. Frank Peretti shows that angels do this and so much more in his book "Piercing the Darkness." Peretti tells the story of a woman, Sally Roe, trying to sort out her ugly past, while a town goes through spiritual warfare and their connection to one another. Peretti discusses a variety of themes in his book including hope, love, demons, and angels. Peretti shows the hope that every one has through God no matter how lost they may be. He shows the unconditional love Jesus has for all sinners. Peretti also demonstrates the presence of demons and angels in this sinful world. Demons and people from her past harass Sally while angels do their best to protect her and bring her to a life in Christ. Demons come and attack the small town of Bacon's Corner for something that one person created. He shows all of this in a loving Christian perspective. Peretti gives hope to all people who are in a similar situation as Sally Roe and the whole town of Bacon's Corner. Peretti thoroughly researches his subject. He gets all his information from "The Bible." Peretti shows the fact how they are. He portrays everything in a sound and right manner according to "The Bible." Yet whether a reader enjoys this book depends on if they believe "The Bible" to be true or not. Peretti blends action with suspense as he tells the story of a lone sole, Sally, searching for truth, and the town of Bacon's Corner suffering because of her past. Peretti does an exallent job convincing the reader that what he says to be the truth by leaving no questions unanswered. Peretti creates a sense of well being in the reader. The reader can really connect to the idea that some one as great as God loves them and cares enough to send angels to guard and protect us. Peretti's novel helps the reader start to comprehend the reality of God. Frank Peretti's "Piercing the Darkness," helps Christians in all stages of life to understand what is happening in their lives. All Christians and non-Christians alike must read this novel.

I think that this book is very touching and inspiring. It is rare and unique in its theme, but portrays a universal theme of perseverance and hope. I adore the reality that Peretti shows about angels and demons, and how he reveals the truth that spiritual warfare affects our lives. I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the spiritual realm, and one who is hungry to learn more about God and the way that He works in our lives. Peretti is an excellent author who descriptively reveals a depth to Christianity that many believers in Christ have forgotten to see. It was refreshing for me to read a book with the insight and anointing that this book carries. There is a huge part of my heart that is captured by God's mysterious ways and the spiritual realm, and this book truly touched that part of me. It can be pretty hard to try to find a book that reveals spirituality like this one does, and I find it very intense and real. Many would stereotype it as science fiction, but there is a truth to the spiritual message that this book uses through the battles between demons and angels. We as Christians need to realize that prayer is extremely important, and we need to see that we are warriors for Christ. This book is a a mere glimpse of the wonders that exist beyond what our hearts can even imagine. Our God is an awesome God, and He has formed the most intriguing and beautiful things. I really feel that this book showed me that throughout the darkness that surrounds, His light truly shines and the darkness, and the darkness will never be able to overcome this light. I am forever touched by Peretti's anointed writing and insight, and it has revived a reality that my soul has once percieved and made it even more vivid. This is a wonderful book, and if you allow your heart to be open to the adventure and journey it reveals, I believe it will truly touch you.

I've read Piercing the Darkness a couple times, and it never ceases to freak me out. I can't help but check over my shoulder after reading this book. The book deals with the supernatural forces of God and his angels against Satan and his demons. Though they're invisible to the human eye, they see us and direct us for one side or the other. This is the sequel book, following This Present Darkness, which I didn't like nearly as much. The book follows Sally Beth Roe, a burn-out with a dark past, who finds herself caught up in some strange events that only progress to the stranger. Forceing her to flee her home in Bacon's Corner. The book is just creepy! While Sally flees we watch as demons chase her with one goal, to ultimatly kill her. I could write about this book all day, the plot is thick and deep and the characters believeable. But what really made this book stand out is the fact that once you start reading it, you began to wonder, "What if there really are demons? What if they're here in this room right now?" It just creeps you out! A first class creepy book with religious themes, who wouldn't love it?

It may not have been his intent, but fate has made Chapterhouse Dune the last book in Frank Herbert's Dune series. There may be others, and they may even be good (I haven't yet read them), but this book represents Herbert's final words on the subject. Although not perfect, and definitely leaving things open for another book, this is, overall, a worthy addition to the series.

In this book - a direct sequel to Heretics of Dune with many of the same characters - the Bene Gesserit sisterhood is under siege, threatened by the Honored Matres, a somewhat darker version of their own organization, that is sweeping viciously across the galaxy like a barbarian horde. With the original Dune lifeless after a Matres attack, the Bene Gesserit are trying to create a similar world out of their headquarters. Although they don't think of it in those terms, they are really trying to create a planetary ghola, a clone similar to that of recurring character Duncan Idaho. The book focuses on the war between the two sisterhoods.

The book does have its flaws. The rather open-ended conclusion may be forgiven if we believe that Herbert had another book intended. The characters are, as usual, overly serious and everything they do is filled with hidden meanings. Also, there is a feeling that Herbert was making up parts of this story as he goes along, with new movements suddenly appearing (such as the futuristic Jews who have never been previously mentioned although they have supposedly always been around).

In the end, what is the central point or character of this series? Is it a history of the Bene Gesserit, the House Atreides, Duncan Idaho or some combination of all these. My feeling that the center of this saga is the Tyrant Leto, with the first trilogy (Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune) a story of his origin, the central book (God Emperor) the tale of his emperorship, and the final trilogy (Heretics, Chapterhouse and an intended final book) to be the story of Leto's Golden Path.

That is my theory. Whatever your own ideas, if you have enjoyed the previous books, you should enjoy this one also and when you conclude it, you will have read one of the most significant series in science fiction.

This was the last DUNE book that Frank Herbert would ever get to write, and it's a good thing that he even got to finish it, because he died shortly after. The title of the book was given by his wife, Bev, who died before Frank did. I've read all the books in the series, some of them more than once. Although I liked this book, I wouldn't say it's Dune's equal. But it is definitely worth reading and is one of the best endings to a series that I've read. What I mean is that I found the ending very appropriate. THE FOLLOWING MAY BE SPOILING MATERIAL IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ALL OF BOOK FIVE--HERETICS OF DUNE. As you know, at the end of book 5, Dune is destroyed completely. In book six, another planet is being transformed into Dune. Forests and jungles are being stripped away in favor of the desert. At least one sandworm was salvaged from Dune and is being placed on this "new" Dune. But the primary focus of book six is on a new threat known as the HONORED MATRES. These are powerful females, very much like the Bene Gesserit. As in most of the Dune books, the battles aren't so much physical as they are verbal and psychological. Some old characters make reappearances in this book and some new characters are introduced. I'm not sure if Herbert intended this to be his last Dune book, but from what I've read, it's a very fitting ending to a fantastic series!

Frank Herbert dedicates this, his last novel, to the memory of his beloved wife Bev who while he was writing the book. Not long after finishing Chapterhouse Dune, we lost Frank Herbert as well. His death ended one of science fiction's best series of novels. His son Brian has created several prequels based on Herbert's notes, but no one really can replace the wonderful writing style that made the Dune series so unique.

Chapterhouse Dune is the final, apocalyptic battle between the Bene Gesserit and their bastard offspring, the Honored Matres. In Heretics of Dune, the previous novel, we meet the Honored Matres for the first time. One of them is captured and converted (but how thoroughly) to a Bene Gesserit. Meanwhile, Darwi Odrade, Mother Superior, fights to save what little is left of the Bene Gesserit planets.

We get a much closer look at Bene Gesserit training from the inside, life on their secret Chapterhouse Planet and a hint of greater forces at work behind the scenes. The ending is equivocal; either Herbert intended another novel to answer these questions, or he deliberately left it open for us to fill in the blanks.

Either way, this is an exciting conclusion to the Dune Series and along with Heretics, one of the best novels in the series. If you are curious which books can be read in what order, you can read God Emperor, Heretics and Chapterhouse as a single trilogy, or just Heretics and Chapterhouse. Of course, if you are impressed by Herbert's Dune series, you will want to read them all in order: Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse Dune. In addition, Brian Herbert has added Dune: House Atreides and Dune: House Harkonnen, which are "prequels."

For a few years, "Call of The Wild" was my favorite book. It's still one of my favorites, and now I finally read "White Fang," which is the book that many people have compared to "Call of The Wild." Both of those classics were wrote by the same great author, Jack London.

"White Fang" isn't as much like "Call of The Wild" as you might think it is. "White Fang" is a classic story of a wolf who was born part dog/part wolf, but who's wild instincts (the wolf side), far outshine the dog instincts. However, life in the wild is tough and White Fang has to learn the ways of humans. Will White Fang ever grow fond of humans, or will he remain a wild creature who only knows vengeance? I recommend getting this book and reading it to find out, and trust me, it's well worth it if you like classic books that are well written.

If you like "White Fang" after you read it, I would recommend also getting "Call of The Wild." I can't really say which one of the two is my favorite because they're both GREAT books!

Masterfully done, White Fang is ultimately a story of love. The cruelty and hardship and bitterness of the Wild, bored into the very essence of a wolf-dog named White Fang, whose heart is turned cold as stone by the cruel hand of man and of the Wild. A killer, more wolf than dog; even his own kind turned against him. His mother taken away before his very eyes when he was only a puppy; reunited years later, even she does not recognize him and turns her back on him, as have all of his kind, growling and snarling at him; the enemy of his kind. Hatred towards every living thing posesses him, until he does not even remember what love is.

It is not until a man named Weedon Scott appears, and saves White Fang from certain death, that White Fang's life is changed. Scott is the opposite of all that he had come to know in life, and very, very gradually, White Fang comes to know love, for the very first time.

This story stays as one of my favorite, and the best, pieces of literature of all time, and anyone who has not read it is sincerely missing out. White Fang, is definately, Jack London at his best.

The book White Fang, by Jack London is a excellent novel about survival, love, and loyalty. White Fang, a cross between a wolf and a dog must learn to survive in the void of the north. He is found by Indians and soon becomes one of their dogs. There he fights often with the other dogs and soon becomes feared because of his fighting ability. He then travels to a place where he is sold to a man that uses him only for fighting. He ultimatly loses a fight to a bulldog, being almost killed in the process. After the fight he is bought by Weedon Scott who teaches him the true meaning of love. The main character is White Fang, a cross between a wolf and a dog. He is big for a dog. He is very capable of surviving in the wild. London has developed him very well and I think that he may be the best character in all of Londons writings. I would recomend this book to anyone and everyone with an interest in reading. I think that many more schools should include this book in their curriculum. It shows the reader that life is not a stroll in the park. Many more people need to realize that. Hopefully, the book will help readers learn that they need to work to survive, no matter where they are.