Frank Klement wrote here a fascinating exploration of the various secret societies that either existed or were supposed to have existed during the American Civil War. Perhaps his most interesting idea is that most of them, including the Knights of the Golden Circle (supposed to be a model for the later KKK) never really existed outside the over-active imaginations of its founder and the professional conspiracy-hunters of the day.

Is he right? I don't know. Certain people calling themselves Knights of the Gold Circle WERE active in Texas during the early days of the War. (See, for instance, Donald S. Frazier's BLOOD & TREASURE.) So, some organization calling itself the KGC really did exist.

But was it the Fifth Column that it was said to be at the time? Clearly not, and Klement's take was right on that score.

All in all an interesting book. Perhaps not to be read without some quibbles. But an excellent read just the same.

mjt

The book is an old one,and not really for experts only-maybe the title kept customer away.

But a nice book, easy to read.

Lt. Frank Dickerson (FD) was only 21 when he left his home to be a soldier for the Union army. From the evidence of his letters, he was a devoted son and a dedicated soldier until his death at age 24.

The book is a compilation letters to his father, the Judge Jonathan Dickerson, during his conscription in the Union army. Also included in the book is a forward, preface, and epilogue. Between the letters the editor/narrator, H. Draper Hunt, provides historical insights to assist the reader in understanding some of the events the lieutenant describes (and some he doesn't). It is this reader's opinion that the narrator's comments, while helpful, interfere with the emotional message of the letters.

The style and content of the FD's letters gives the reader a glimpse of the love between the father and son. While the term "dearest" (as in the title) is not present in many greetings, the word affectionate (or an abbreviation for it) is included in almost all closings. It was a secure love; FD was not uncomfortable with the distance between his postings and home, but longed for communication. He often scolds his father for not writing more frequently, but he understands the difference between love that demands presence and one that doesn't. His thoughts on the difference are explained, "You know very well I would like to see you [and you me] but it is impossible, and we don't make a fuss over it (p169)."

FD's initial communications with his father describe a confidence of mission, "The country needs the services of all its sons more now than ever.... (p21)." One knows from the narrator's comments, that the father encouraged such a conception in the son.

FD's initial descriptions and discussions of battle were naïve. While the Union soldiers were victorious, his misunderstanding of the Confederate position was shocking. He expressed moral superiority over the enemy because they didn't stick around to bury their dead, "the barbarous unhuman wretches left hundreds of their dead on the field and...effect[ed] their escape (p28)." One wonders what he thought would have happened had his enemy had not escaped. His understanding of the war and situation matures over time, but his thoughts of superiority over southerners never changes, "...the Tennessee people...are the most illiterate, and shiftless class of people I have yet fell in with... (p181)."

FD's opportunities to witness events are impressive; even in the supporting roles he plays. This reader finds his description of differences between General Meade's and Grant's entourages particularly amusing. While FD doesn't discuss his opinion on the differences, it's clear he respects General Grant.

Even in the early letters, FD hauntingly mentions his own health, "my health is better....(p20)." His protestations of good (and better) health lead the reader along until his tragic death. By his last letter, he is finally convinced that his illness will result in military discharge, "It will probably be impossible for me to remain in the army...on account solely of poor health (p182)." The narrator then describes the "race with death to Belfast." Sadly, the reader is told that he dies in his fathers arms in Boston harbor - never reaching his home in Belfast.

The mystery of what illness FD had was kept from the reader until the end. Consumption (tuberculosis) was the cause. Just as in Puccini's opera, La Bohème, the primary character dies slowly, coughing and loving. After reading all the letters, this reader is left viewing the loss through the eyes of the father. What loss and grief he must have felt from the death of his courageous and loving son.

Former Nam grunt, American Neal Morley, operates out of London for the shrouded government agency, the Bureau. His superiors send Neal on assignment to Brussels, a city where he busted up an international drug ring at a high cost to his own health. He is to interview a puppeteer, Serge Cailleau, who earns a living smuggling refugees into Belgium. Serge believes that his latest party is actually terrorists planning an assault on the participants of an upcoming European Union meeting.

However, during a performance, someone kills Serge. With little to go on, Neal begins to make inquiries. However, he also uses his time to finish up his mess from last year since the head of the drug ring was never busted. Neal realizes he is not quite the superman he felt he was before the drug ring case, but worse yet, his own agency has little confidence in the agent anymore.

DEATH OF A MARIONETTE is the paperback version of a fabulous espionage thriller released in the middle nineties. The story line retains its crispness even though the EU has moved way beyond that of the novel. Neal is a fantastic character who provides insight into the psyche of the Viet Nam vet, which in turn explains why he needs to stay in the "cold." The support cast adds drama and tension as the audience wonders what each one has up their sleeve and if that individual will betray the hero. Frank M. Robinson and Paul Hull provides sub-genre fans with a triumphant thriller.

Harriet Klausner

When I first bought this book, I wasn't sure if it was a collection of articles that simply addressed contradictory point of views on the subjects listed on the cover, or actual transcriptions of debates that occured in the past. I was very pleased to learn that it was indeed transcriptions of live debates that occured in the early part of the 20th century. There are three debates in all:

Has Life Any Meaning? - Between Frank Harris and Percy Ward, Sunday, April 11, 1920, Kimball Hall, Chicago

Debate on Spiritualism - Between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph McCabe, November, 1919, London, England

Is Evolution True? - Between George McCready Price and Joseph McCabe, Queen's Hall, Langham Place, London, September

Though the publishers at a casual glance (of their published books) seem biased towards a particular atheistic/materialistic point of view, they none the less reproduced a fair example of high class debates between learned men of both pro and anti-views on these subjects.

One particularly interesting aspect of this book was exactly what was used as evidence for both anti and pro views at that time. As an example, pro-evolutionist Joseph McCabe said the following:

"Now I come to man. There is a general opinion that a vast gulf separates man from the ape. It did one hundred yeas ago. It certainly does not today... Now we have men of the Stone Age carrying us nearer to the ape; the Piltdown man, and one or two others, going as far again in the direction of the ape"

Of course, as most people are aware, and as the publishers themselves noted, Piltdown man was a fraud and was uncovered as such in 1953. But being "undeniable" at the time, it was still a piece of evidence for Evolution.

Being a collector of books on the subjects of the origin and divisification of life and the existence of the supernatural, I was very pleased with this book and the disputants themselves. While the evidences used are outdated, it has quite a bit of historical value, whether one is interested in the discussions or the men debating. I personally highly recommend it, and believe it would make a good addition to any personal book collection.

The book is based on the premise that the performance (good or bad) of a Company is largely dependent on how (well or poorly) the people within the Company decide. Therefore, this book deals with the process of improving the manner in which people in the Company make decisions. This book is about how to assure better decisions.

Essentially, Decision Management includes all aspects that a Manager needs to take into account to improve the quality of a Company's decision. Decision Management involves four tasks or responsibilities viz, influencing specific decisions, supervising decision routines, shaping decision procedures and providing decision resources.

The four key drivers to ensure good Decision Management are to recognize Decision Management as a core managerial responsibility, have a proper understanding or appreciation of decision problems and processes, understand how people in the Company decide, and finally, to learn from decision-making principles that have emerged from research and practical experience.

Every decision problem poses ten fundamental or cardinal decision issues (this is the major theme of this book and 5 full Chapters, out of 9, have been devoted to this ) These are:
„«Need
„«Mode
„«Investment
„«Options
„«Possibilities
„«Judgement
„«Value
„«Tradeoffs
„«Acceptability
„«Implementation

This checklist is useful to carry around when one is evaluating or going through a decision making process to ensure that no issue is overlooked.

Overall a very practical book with lots of examples to convey the underlying issues. Practicing Managers, in particular, would find it quite useful.

This book is created by a psychotherapist. It offers a step-by-step cure for depression. This book explains clearly what is depression and why people suffer from depression. Signs and symptoms of depression are also stated. It gives an easier understanding of depression and people can know whether they are really suffering from depression. A number of coping strategies, practical tips and suggestions are written. People suffering from depression can follow them, so that they can cope with their life. This book can help people suffering from depression to feel more confident of themselves. They can lift their spirits and boost up their energy and get more joy out of their life. As the author is a counselor, therapist, a teacher and had written more than ten books in the psychology field, it made the book more reliable to be used. The easy to understand, step-by-step instructions and explanation enable younger teenagers suffering from depression to cure themselves and to live a happier life.

This book is quite short, but contains a considerable amount of information. It presents the basic history of democratic government systems and provides the reader with brief orientations on the many issues facing democratic systems, including problems of majority rule, methods of fair and useful representation, etc.
Before someone really starts to dive into the science of decided what is healthy and unhealthy for a Democracy, they should take a day out to read this book, so they really know what they're talking about.

World renowned poster artist and pop culture sponge Frank Kozik strikes again, with this, the third installment of his ongoing series of books. For those of you in the know, this is all you need. Buy it now! For those who don't know better, Kozik's appropriation of all forms of pop cultural references (mainly cartoons, pop subculture and propaganda) are a wellspring of intense design and a wonderfully keen eye. Truly a joy to pore over.

Frank J. Finamore has pieced together a rather enjoyable read. His selection of authors could only be outdone with the inclusion of a few others(such as Robert Louis Stevenson("Markeim" would have worked well here)and Lovecraft), but what might have worked even better for this collection would be a progression of stories through the ages. Most of these tales are from authors who lived in the 1800's, which in itself is a pleasure to read tales written in a time less centered on foul language and gory depictions. However, Mr. Finamore, in his introduction, advises that as we near(ed) the millenium, society's fascination with the devil may have an impact on us individually. To back this up, he provides us with tales of devilish deals sealed within the jaws of rats, the devil in the guise of a minstrel and a gambler, and bargains gone awry. Some of the stories I had never read before(such as the re-telling of the legend of Kathleen O'Shea), but most were old favorites, such as the infamous "The Devil and Daniel Webster", in which a patriot abuses old Scratch so badly you almost feel sorry for him. The best thing about this collection is that it brings together some old favorites, and adds a few to the list. Most compilations, however, progress(see any of the Greenberg/Weinberg collections), while this one starts classicly great and stays that way. The only disapointment is in the introduction, where you think that maybe Mr. Finamore was trying to assemble a classroom ready tome and not a study on the literary fascination with the devil. Then again, any collection that includes Caballero's "The Devil's Mother-In-Law", in which we see a demon fearing something more than every married man on earth has feared for centuries, has to be good.