Brilliant! While the first three NJO books have concerned themselves with the Jedi forces, in particular the Solo children, Luceno has revived the stale Han Solo character.

In previous books, Han has been left out of the story, but here he is thrust into the spotlight, as he slowly comes to grips with the loss of Chewbacca. During the course of the story, Han takes small steps to move on with life and to allow his healing to begin.

I feel that Luceno truly captures the Han Solo that we all remember him from episodes 4-6--a wise cracking, dashing, risk-taking scoundrel. In addition, Luceno also introduces us to an alien, Droma, who I have a sneaking suspician will replace Chewie as Han's first mate (In later installments, that is). The sarcastic banter between the two spacers made me pause during the reading to chuckle at the friendship being forged.

Luceno is a splendid author who truly captures the Star Wars spirit. I recommend this book to anyone who loved the original trilogy. You'll feel yourself fall back in love with the setting just like I did.

Well, the New Jedi Order keeps on truckin' and so far it doesn't seem to be running out of steam. While not as good as the Dark Tide series, I'm still having the most fun reading Star Wars since Heir To the Empire came out! This new installment features Han like we all love him, gambler, scoundrel, and master pilot. After all the pathos Han's been going through since Vector Prime, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book brimming with humor, most of it from the interaction between our smuggler and his new Ryn buddy, Droma.

Also interesting is the reappearance of Vergere, the Jedi that Obi-Wan and Anakin (Skywalker, not Solo :) were serching for in Rouge Planet. I hope more comes out of this storyline in the future. I mean, wouldn't it be great if Vergere could hook up with Luke and tell him about the Jedi of old and how his father was as a kid? Great possibilities!

James Luceno does a bang up job continuing the series and I, for one, can't wait to see what he puts Han, Droma and the gang though in the next installment.

James Luceno has written a fabulous tale in the proud footsteps of Brian Daley and A. C. Crispin about everyones favorite SW Character: Han Solo. I have read every SW novel to date, but at first I was a bit leary about another new Star Wars author since R. A. Salvatore was just tollerable and Greg Bear was barely readable, but James Luceno actually managed to capture the essence of Han Solo, and more importantly, the spirit of Star Wars.

In this book Han finds himself called on by an old friend, Roa (he hasn't been heard from since A. C. Crispin's trilogy) to help him track down a mutual friend that has hooked on with the Yuuzhan Vong as a mercenary. Han agrees, and of course winds up in a series of wild near-death experiences, and meets a new sidekick type along the way. Fear not, the sidekick isn't a predictable replacement for Chewbacca. It's not even another Wookie.

Also, James Luceno has obviously done his homework on the Star Wars Universe, since he has many references to the past Star Wars books althroughout. He even has Lowbacca in it for a few pages and - as one reviewer put it - *mentions* Tenal Ka (Who is one of my favorites.)

Vergere, the Jedi that Anakin and Obi-Wan were searching for in Rogue Planet is also in this book, but with the Yuuzhan Vong...or so it may seem. Also heartening is the fact that Mara finally makes some progress on the Virus she's been battling. That's all I can say without dropping any spoilers.

As I previously said, this is a wonderful book, mainly about Han Solo and is a great addition to the New Jedi Order. I eagerly await the sequal.

"And Eternity" serves as a good ending to Anthony's excellent Incarnations of Immortality series. Throughout the series we are given hints as to the role of God. His position has been described as aloof, even to the point of doing little or nothing to counter the machinations of Satan. This book attempts to answer the question of God's laissez faire attitude. The story revolves around three main characters. Jolie returns from the last book in spirit form. Orlene, daughter of Gaiea also returns. A new character, Vita is introduced. Vita is a troubled teenager, trying to make ends meet through prostitution. Orlene and Jolie show up in an attempt to save Vita, for she is supposed to play a role in the fate of humankind. The trio wind up on a grand adventure in an attempt to replace the incarnation of God. The story climaxes with appearances by all of the incarnations, culminating in a marvelous plot twist. The end is a satisfying conclusion to the series.

If you like Piers' writing style or not is up to you. If you like the fact that he didn't even wish to write this book is up to you. But to deny the fact that the book had some power of its own. It finished a series with a somewhat surprising twist. Even if you can tell right from the cover whats going to happen, if you actually read the series, the soap opera of a series, this is a nice surprise ending. I have to say that I was happy with this ending. It would have recieved 5 stars if he only enjoyed writing it thus adding more magic to the story.

This book was really good.... my 6th favorite in the series, and my 6th favorite book ever. (My seventh is Being a Green Mother) This book was a good completion to the series. I just wish I hadn't read the reviews first, someone gave away the ending and ruined the suprise. I would've liked this book better if Anthony had shown some of God's powers.... what makes him so special. That and repitition are the only drawbacks of this book. I think that For Love of Evil was a lot better than this book, it added something to Satan's character. This book does not add much to God's character.

When I first read this book some time ago I was very impressed with the information contained within it. I felt that there was something fresh and different about it and that it could possibly be THE TOOL to change my life forever.

However, experience has taught me over time that a book like this, aside from the hype and fanfare surrounding it, can only offer you hints at improving the self- it's up to the reader as to what they feel they can use from the material presently in their lives.

The author is a self-made man, so to speak, and indeed is a model of how one can achieve much success in a particular endeavor. Though he lacks academic credentials, he nevertheless has aggressively pursued his dreams and lady luck has smiled upon him. He is a natural-born speaker and seems able to synthesize a lot of information into a useable form for the masses.

Again, however, reader beware because while it is easy to get totally sold on a book like this there are bound to be ideas, philosophies and techniques presented that one would disagree with. My advice is to trust your instincts. I, for example, found that NLP was not a good strategy for me to follow. How could I model the thinking patterns of someone I admired but could never meet? How could I possibly find the time to get into someone's head more locally to be able to model something they can do as effectively? The rub is that we each are unique and we inevitably produce results in our own way. Unless you are blessed with a mentor who will show you the ropes of something first hand, you may find yourself paying someone else to do so.

The other oddity in the book was the author's shift to a diet plan geared towards optimizing your energy levels and brain power. These are nice thoughts but the advice was severely flawed at best. This turn was away from the book's focus and would have been best left out.

It is overall an interesting book to read but is best read with an objective eye. Glean from it what you find useful and be open to other ideas and philosophies.

I was impressed by Tony Robbins from the first moment I read what he meant by "personal power"..namely WILL POWER. He was up front. If you want to change, then use your will power to practise the material. Some of the reviews seem rather strident. Perhaps these folks felt that by reading a book all of their poor habits would automatically disapper. Personally, I enjoyed and benefited by both books and his tapes. Hey, it's true, if you want to become successful then be prepared to be attacked by the bottom feeders.

Robbins is a leader in the field of success motivation. His own experience proves that he's mastered what he teaches. The methods he advocates are sound and workable and his writing is clear and forceful. I was impressed by his acknowledgement of the researchers and practitioners that helped him with the insights he explains in his book as well as in his seminars. Anthony Robbins is a powerfully qualified teacher. This book is not a fast read, rather it is a textbook that should be studied and put into practice. The man is bigger than life.

Anthony Bourdain admits cheerfully to selling his soul to the devil [television] in order to carry out his childhood James Bond world adventure fantasies. Along the way he experiences joy, fear, awe, and nausea. Those looking for recipes will be disappointed: those looking for hilarious and insightful descriptions of how food is cooked and served around the world will be thrilled. Bourdain never forgets the importance of food culturally; he packs the book with interesting tidbits on how a cuisine is shaped by necessity [what kind of livestock can you raise in an enclosed town?] Many of his experiences, particularly in Mexico and Vietnam, leave the reader with a feeling of loss. Food in the United States frequently consists of a fast food hamburger eaten alone in front of a television set. The "third world" may be poor but they haven't lost the ability to make food a source of shared joy.

Anthony Bourdain has fallen pray to the same trap as Bobbie Flay and Emeril Lagasse (as he will remind readers of the book throughout in small segments describing the pains he went through to help the TV series), but at least he is honest about it.

The premise of this book, and the TV series that it is a companion to, is for Bourdain to travel around the world looking for the perfect meal. His travels take him throughout asia, into Europe, Africa and even parts of the US, as he looks for culinary delight. He describes with admirable detail the food, people, and culture of the places he visits, often with vary favorable comparisons to our own culinary culture. He regrets the US' "refridgerator culture" and how we have lost track of where our food comes from. Mixed in with the food talk is some other random rantings and ravings, as can be expected from him. The paragraphs on Henry Kissinger, and the comparison of Cambodia to Vietnam are probably the most off topic in the book, but you can tell that he wrote them which a lot of personal feeling.

Bourdain is a pretty engaging fellow, and his writing, while not some stellar example of perfect prose, has a very personable feel to it that makes the book quite the pleasant read. What comes out more in the book than the TV series, was that this was his plan to exploit his fame from "Kitchen Confidential". He knows full well that he has become that which he has professed to despise, but his open and honest acknowledgement of it deserves some respect. It's hard to fault the guy for taking this opportunity when he could, for it's plain that he truly enjoyed touring the world, and most of the food that he found.

Bourdain's book A Cook's Tour is an exceptional tour of strange and interesting cuisine spanning the globe from Mexico to Portugal to France to Vietnam. He tells of a pig feast in Portugal, from the slaughter to the table. Of a full, entire sheep in Morocco. Of a bar-cum-shooting gallery in Cambodia with live grenades and AK-47's for sampling. And, of course, of the infamous cobra feast in Vietnam.

Bourdain's style makes the book a quick and enjoyable read; his descriptions leap off the page (for better or worse--I could almost have done without a vivid characterization of eating natto or of the questionable French food Tete de veaux) and bring to life the exotic foods, locations, and people he meets. His gritty, no-nonsense approach makes everything seem all the more real and alive.

Television fans may have seen Bourdain's show on Food Network and thus already be familiar with his culinary adventure, but the book is so much more and reveals every facet that failed to make it to the screen. If you enjoy travel or food writing, A Cook's Tour is a must-read.

At first, I was a little confused as to how Hardy could stretch what seemed to be a simple plot into such a long novel--especially because the story in blurb on the back cover happened within the first 50 pages. But the story is more than the blurb on the back cover. It is about betrayal, last wishes, the "evils" of drink, and how one mistake can affect you 21 years down the road. Hardy's fatalistic view, seen through Henchard, is, at times, enough to drive the reader crazy.

Like many of the other reviewers here, I cried throughout the book. There are constant turns in the story line that at times uplift your soul, and then crash it into the depths of depression. This book is not an easy read though. There are sections that you will struggle to get through because it is dry, but then there are others that will keep you up at night rushing to finish.

I liked this book slightly less than I liked _Tess_, but it was _Tess_ that made me buy this book. Enjoy!

I read this novel in English class, like most people probably did. It was one of the best assigned to us.

Hardy is a gifted author. He writes in a clear style with vivid descriptions that really bring the setting alive, without making the reader (at least this reader) feel inundated with borning, unnecessary detail.

The thing that I look for most in a novel, however, is quality characterizeations, and this book had them in spades. Dialogue was used effectively to flesh out characters. These are not stock characters, either. These people have flaws and shades of grey. They seem as though they could be real. I found that I could relate to the characters, and I did empathize with them, even when I didn't agree with their choices. Everyone had clear motivations. The characterization of Henchard shows that Hardy clearly understood the notion of the tragic flaw and the tragic hero/anti hero.

Students who have to read this book as part of their English class may find it a bit on the long side. I would urge you to stick with it; once you get through the initial chapters the book will pick up (a commonality that all British classics seem to share). The book is easy to follow and understand. It is a key novel that marks the shift from Romantic Age to the Victorian Age, so it's an important read for anyone who has a serious interest in English Literature.

At first I was forced to read "The Mayor of Casterbridge" in school more than 12 years ago. Reading it slowly made an impact on my life. This book always served a special purpose in my life. It introduced me to the wide world of Literature. It sort of enlighten my interest and liking for English literature. Now re-reading it not only brought back fond memories of my yester school days but also renewed my liking to one of the greatest writer of all time Thomas Hardy.

Through this novel I came to the understanding of Irony and oxymoron. Hardy totally wrote with a sense of awareness of human characteristic and he had a amazing style of mixed humour with tragedy.

His protagonist,Michael Henchard's life was under the microscope of Hardy.

I love the way the story began I quote:"ONE evening of late summer, before the nineteenth century had reached one-third of its span, a young man and woman, the latter carrying a child, were approaching the large village of Weydon-Priors, in Upper Wessex, on foot. " I love the Englishness and the sense of intriguing events that would follow...

In brief, Michael Henchard was a drunk who sold his wife and daughter at the fair. Later he realised his mistakes he work real hard and eventually became the mayor of Casterbridge. His life took another twist 20 years later when his wife and daughter came back to his life plus a few more other characters adding on the complexity of his life.Soonafter events unfolded and many things became to go against his way and then came his downfall. Indeed Michael Henchard's rise and fall were filled with compelling details and his encounters with numerous intestering people.

What I love most about this novel was the way Hardy depicted Henchard's behaviours and thoughts and totally enhanced his weak character and irresponsibleness with dashes of ironies. His sardonic literary style were brilliant and at the same time he also vividly described the scenery and situations. Another greatest of Hardy was his ability to create innovative characters still account for in modern contemporary days and he was a pioneer in analysising human's weakness and blended it into his creation. It's a vintage classic,psychoanalytic and intriguingly written ,a must read for all books lover.

The cover of the book tells you that this is book one of the Corellian Trilogy. Therefore, anyone who has ever read a trilogy (much less one of the several Star Wars novel trilogies) should know exactly what to expect: lots of character development, a slowly building plot, and no resolution whatsoever. That having been said, this book actually does a great job of living up to those criteria.

Let's face it, the writing in this one is not that great. However, it's definitely worth reading. For one, Han is the central character, an automatic plus. Second, we get to see some scene's with Han and Leia's children (what a novel idea!) and some sense of the "Solo family." And we get a very in-depth look at Corellia, too, a planet often referred to but rarely, if ever, seen. All things said, it' a pretty neat book, just not a really great one.

The best thing about it is that it's not about the Empire. I get rather tired of the Comeback Kings surfacing over and over again. Sure, this trilogy may not be of the same sweeping scale as the films or even Zahn's trilogy, but that only serves to work in its favor. It's different, which is something the universe of Star Wars novels needs more of. (Frankly, I don't really see NJO as the saving grace everyone labels it as; the Yuzhan Vong are just the Empire in disguise if you ask me). Read this book folks. It ain't great, but it is fun. Besides, it's a necessary opening chapter to the trilogy, which does get better.

Well, this was definitely an improvement over some of the other Star Wars books. While it's no work of art, the writing style is straightforward and entertaining and easy to understand. Plot wise, the book is excellent, and most of the characters are intact also. Anyway, it's now fourteen years after Return of the Jedi, and it is a time of relative peace in the New Republic. Han and Leia decide they need to get away with their kids for a while, and they go to Han's home planet of Corellia. However, once they get there, they discover (of course) that things aren't as tranquil as they thought. Meanwhile, Lando cons Luke into coming with him on his latest money making scheme: find a rich wife, fast. Altogether as a trilogy starter, this book was pretty good. Not the best series out there, but definitely worth reading. However, I thought Luke was portrayed as being just a little too stiff and formal and akward, and Mara Jade (my favorite character I might add) was just awful. Hasn't she learned anything in the last nine years? She is not the Mara Jade we all know and love, but rather an untrusworthy, half-criminal, and altogether unapealing character. If there is one thing that is Mara Jade, even when she was evil, it was honorable and trustworthy. While she doesn't give her trust often, and she will never give it to just anyone, one she does she would stand by that person to the death. I sincerely doubt this author read the Thrawn trilogy. While naturally not trusting Mara at first, Han and Leia eventually came to like her, and we all know Luke was always her friend, even when she really, REALLY tried not to like him, so why are they so wary of her motives now just because nine years ago she happened to have grudge against Luke for destroying something she was brainwashed from a small child to think was right? Luke forgave her, and they have been friends ever since, so what is the problem. Anakin's character was poorly portrayed as well. The kid is seven years ald and he honestly acts like a three year old, talking in broken sentences and such, and the twins, who are nine or ten now I might add, still play with blocks! Anyway, while casual fans might find this series confusing and silly, I liked it and I would recommend it to any fairly serious fan.

I like this book because of the action. The five planets on Korellia on the verge of Civil War reminds me of the separatist movement in Attack Of The Clones. Anyway! This book is cool. It's cool because i like the kids Jason, Jana, and Anakin. I can't believe that Anakin would have the ability to fix things so they worked! even if he didn't know what they were. That sounds almost like Anakin Skywalker. Lando looking for a rich wife? Wow! that's weird. I'm glad I like this book. It's the first book I've gotten since 1996. Anthony Heald does a good job bringing the characters to life in this book. I highly recommend this to future Star Wars readers.

Tony Robbins is one of my favorite success and personal achievement mentors. He has a lot of wisdom when it comes to understanding how people think and act Even before you finish reading Unlimited Power for the first time, you will be a changed person - it's that incredible. I say first time because you will want to read it again and again. Everytime I pick it up I gain new insight. I believe that I will be learning from this book for years.

Tony Robbins covers all of the proactive bases: smart thinking, system thinking, futuristic thinking, and positive thinking. If you are truly seeking the kind of success and abundance that makes your life 100% livable - you must read this book. Many of his ideas are found in SUCCESS BOUND, another book built on learning how to be responsible and live proactively.

Everything that I have put into practice that Tony Robbins has recommended has worked. The NLP philosophies in this book will bring you success. Read it and you will believe that you can do anything that you set your mind to. My copy is well worn with highliter and pen marks all through it from the numerous times that I've returned to it in order to study it again.

One of the most helpful parts of his book is the section on beliefs. Tony Robbins has studied those that successful people have and he recommends that you incorporate them into your belief system too. They are: 1. Everything happens for a reason and a purpose, and it serves us. 2. There is no such thing as failure. There are only results. 3. Whatever happens, take responsibility. 4. It's not necessary to understand everything to be able to use everything. 5. People are your greatest resource. 6. Work is play. 7. There's no abiding success without commitment.

You will find that this exciting book becomes a part of you. Don't hold back - let it happen. In fact, you should spend 10 to 15 minutes every morning focusing your thoughts on the truths of this book, thereby allowing them to seep deep into your subconscious mind. If you do this I guarantee this wisdom will most assuredly bring you the success and abundance you deserve.

Enjoy the book and your new proactive life!

My best regards, Randy Gilbert

P.S. - I like to review non-fiction books that help people to succeed both personally and professionally. If you have one that you would like me to review please email me at Randy@DrProactive.com

I think Tony Robbins is brilliant. He's simple and very logical in everything I've ever read or heard by him. When I hear of what some of his critics say, I have to wonder if they've ever even read his books. There's nothing spooky here, folks. Most everything he teaches is a "no brainer"--things you can't believe you wouldn't think of on your own. More than anything else, Tony reveals the obvious, things we were probably too busy or wrapped up in our daily lives to see on our own, hence the term "life coach."

"Unlimited" is a classic, probably the most important book written on personal life strategies. (This or "Awaken the Giant Within.) It this book, we are introduced to Anthony Robbins, whom I consider to be the worlds leading authority on self improvement and motivation. He's straight forward and balanced to the utmost. No mind manipulation or emotional hype here, folks. Tony isn't a spooky guru. He's not a cult leader. He's simply a man who has studied and successfully practiced self improvement to the degree that he has become a master in the feild.

Get this book. You'll be glad you did!

More than 5 stars if I could!

Tony Robbins is an absolute genius. While reading this book, I have achieved so much. He taught me how to live a healthy, happy life that is full of goals that I can achieve. I am only half way through this book and I have now started a daily exercise routine that I can now enjoy and a low fat healthy diet that I love as well. I now enjoy every aspect of life like I never have before. This man is a god!!!!!! All of those negative people out there who can even say Tony is a crook should have never purcahsed the book in the first place because they must have been reading with a closed mind. How can he be a bad guy when I am living proof that he is a life saver. He taught me some things that I already knew, but never understood how to apply.
If ou have only fourteen dollars in your pocket, buy this book and I promise it will save your life as it has mine. I would empty out my entire bank account to go to one of his seminars.

Faun and Games by Piers Anthony is about an almost unbelievably decent faun named Forrest. Although, he cannot resist his faunish nature, he endures with two or three lovely creatures on a quest to save a friend's tree. They discover several different worlds to find that one special faun. At last, Forrest finds the spirit to fill in the tree and, also, gets more than he's asked for.

This book was not the best of Piers Anthony's books. I found the book to be not as alluring as all of his books before, since it just brought some points that seemed rather predictable and unrealistic for me to believe. In the World of Xanth, things can get pretty unbelievable, but in this case, it was ridiculus and needs a change of personality of some characters to make things more interesting than sexually alluring.

I find that Faun & Games would be a fair novel because of the introductions of new and interesting worlds that I find appealing and of the introductions for future expectations of new characters that drew my attention for further novels.

Another trip to Xanth, a new trip to Ptero. The Xanth books always had a fairy tale quality to them. Yes they get predictable, but so does every fairy tale. the good guy wins, the bad guy loses, we have fun along the way, and all's well.

The puns are numerous but do they really detract from the story? Not really, if you can't handle this, then you probably should read any of the Xanth books period. The pun strips are overflowing with puns, but guess what? That was the idea

To the story, we find a decent faun made good by his association with his tree, helped by a nightmare gone soft. Later, he's accompanied by two lovely princesses out for a good time but in the middle of a crisis so the good times will have to wait.
This journey takes them into a series of moons upon moons. The journey was not so much tedious, but the shift of planes gets disjointed. I suppose some people can't handle that. If you require your stories to stay effectively in a single plane of existence then be warned this book travels around.
That having been said is the story predictable. If that above is what you've expect when you pick up a book then I guess yes it is, I didn't. I suppose in a xanthy kind of way however, you can guess certain things. There will be an appropriately goofy manner of resolving the problem and a somewhat goofy problem
... The first 8 books are so detailed a xanth somewhat in strife. The magician trent had just taken over for the storm king, and the dark age of xanth had just ended, soon to enter a new golden era. The earlier books had more realistic problems and quests (search for the source of magic, considering the place is Xanth its not that unrealistic of a quest).
Truly in many ways the earlier novels, not the later ones, were the typical and predictable tales. They took a new world with plenty of potential but used more common fantasy themes, example, the lone warrior fighting dragons and other terrors of the fantasy wild.
Later novels, this time had ended, the tales involve more personal quests of individual characters. The stories became less about missions and more about the journeys, and the quests became by-products of a journey of greater character growth, the quest became a backdrop.
Similarly the character views changed scope. Older novels tended to be scoped from the overview perspective. Newer novels I find to be more based on a single character. The other characters will be crafted and molded around this character. Thus to those people out there who expect the story to tell all, then yes the character in the newer Xanth novels will seem shallow and uneventful. Their true depth becomes evident when you understand how they change through the eyes of the main character of the novel
I think if you view Xanth as you would other fantasy books, you'll think the characters are shallow, as you will be seeing the characters as simply the participants of the quests. But I think Xanth should be approached more from the aspect of the character being the story, and the quest is the backdrop.
This book is somewhat of a fine example of this. Ultimately (sorry to ruin the story) but the quest was meaningless. Forrest Faun's journey did nothing to solve his initial problem. But the journey that his quest took him on caused him to change, and this caused him to find what he was looking for and then some.
If you look to the quest to be the tale, then yes, Faun and Games is a disappointing book, and the ending would be rather empty. The quest leads nowhere
If you look to the faun to be the story, then you see the growth and the depth of characters that was there in all of Piers Anthony's books.

If you have read Yon Ill Wind, you will want to read this book! If you remember, in the end, the Demon Xanth is paralyzed and Chlorine's last tear falls. Well, wait no more to find out what had happened afterwards! In Faun & Games, Piers sort of tells you what happens aftrerwards. Okay, now about Faun & Games. It's about this faun that travels to Ptero(the moon that orbits aroun Ida's head.) to find a replacement for his friend's tree. (His friend fell into the Void.) He travels with Mare Imbri and when they get there, they meet a Princess Ida there and they go into HER moon! It gets complicating because they were in a moon of a moon. Later on, you will discover that they go past some more moons until they finally complete their mission for the Ptero's habitants, in which they can finally go home. However, that is not the end...you have to read about it to discover something really interesting! GREAT BOOK!

Taken one way, Beyond the Pale is an average fantasy. It's got all the hallmarks of your modern-day "epic". It runs to about 600 pages, it's the first of what will probably be a mega-volume series, and it introduces a host of characters that often, as yet, have little or no impact.

Why buy it? Well, the story features a lot of action and moves along quite swiftly. You'll not be bored reading it. As long as you don't set your sights too high - this is not literature, nor even a well thought-out story - you might well like it.

Taken another way, Beyond the Pale is exceptional. It is, simply put, the most derivative book written since Terry Brooks's Sword of Shannara. Anthony goes even further than Brooks: whereas Brooks copied blatantly from one source (Tolkien), Beyond the Pale is a veritable hotchpotch of derivations. For example, one of Anthony's protagonists (Travis) is simply a pale rendering of Donaldson's Thomas Covenant. Another character (Melia) talks exactly like David Edding's Polgara. At one point in the story, Anthony has a third character (the bard Falken) deliver a speech to a council of rulers which reads like a poor summation of Tolkien's Battle of the Pelennor Fields. At this junction, Anthony actually steals entire sentences from Tolkien (not to mention ideas). It's really quite remarkable.

I remember that, when Terry Brooks first came along, there were those who delighted in pointing out just how unoriginal he was. Anthony should send such people into a fervor. In this sense, he's really much better than Brooks...

I suspose that the bottom line is that Beyond the Pale is fun to read, whichever way you take it...

Well I finished and I'm writing this as a follow-up to the initial review that I had written after reading the first 79 pages. I still think it is pretty derivitave but after awhile you do get sucked into the plot. The initial similarities of the female heroine, Grace, to characters in both Stephen R. Donaldson's and Anne Rice's works faded into the background once Grace leaves the world of the Denver ER and enters Eldh. However, after several chapters another influence became glaringly apparent; Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series which also features a sometimes confusing array of characters and POV. My biggest complaint with this novel is its sketchiness. I also have a few bones to pick.

When Grace and Travis ride off on a spying expedition Grace, who has never ridden or horse, manages to mount a STALLION, no less, with only a 'small degree of difficulty'. She manages this dubious feat while wearing a heavy woolen gown. Anyone who has ever ridden knows that mounting a horse with ease takes practice. Especially in a non-Western saddle. If the stirrups are in proper riding position they are quite high. You mount facing the back of the horse so you have to place your foot into a stirrup which can easily be at your mid-chest level and swing yourself forward and around into the saddle. Most people need a boost or a stool the first few times and even then it isn't easy. Anthony wants us to believe that Grace, by sheer power of a noble demeanor, is able to control not just any horse, a STALLION! There is a reason geldings exist. It is because a stallion can be a very willful and difficult to control animal except under the most skillful and competent hands.
When I was 13 I spent a summer working at a stable where the owner kept a stallion that was used only for stud services. The other horses in the stable were either geldings and mares this included the two race horses. The stallions stall was completely enclosed for the safety of the nearby horses and any passers-by. He was let out into a pasteure of his own, away from the other horses. I was not allowed to go anywhere near him, nor did I have any desire too. If Grace has some kind of magical power over animals Anthony should have shown that earlier. Instead he waits for this scene to make a passing comment that Grace has always had more of a rapport with animals than people. Than why didn't she become a vet? Why doesn't she have a cat or a dog in her apartment? There is absolutely no evidence given that Grace has even an ounce of feeling for animals until this scene. It's just another example of the laziness of the writing. Anthony seems to have forgotten the golden rule, "A writer shows, not tells." At times he is like child playing Cops and Robbers, making things up as he goes along. Remember when you were a kid and said stuff like, "You didn't kill me just then 'cuz I was wearing a bullet-proof vest." ? It is really bad when I writer resorts to that type of plot-convenience.

I could almost excpet the idea of Travis, whose last riding experience had been a pony ride, doing all the riding he did with no mention of difficulty except a little soreness. He was riding a gentle and easygoing gelding who could easily have been just following the Falken and Melia's horses. Of course that reasoning doesn't hold up to to scrutiny when you consider that they spent a good deal of time trotting and galloping. Riding isn't just a matter of sitting in the saddle and holding on. You have to maintain a good seat or else you will be flopping around in the saddle like a sack of potatoes. You can't just saw on the reins in the direction you want to the horse to go. Most of the guidance is done with the knees and the reins should only be given the most gentle twitch with your fingers. I realize this is nitpicking but most fantasy writers seem to do at least some research about horses if riding is going to be a factor in the story. If he didn't want to spend much time in showing Travis learning to ride, he could have easily made Travis an experienced rider. Since Grace was raised in an orphanage and then went onto college and medical school it would be less plausible that she had ever had time to learn to ride but surely Travis could have spent some time pleasure riding considering he had been living in a Western town for the past seven years. I know this is nitpicking but it is details like this that can make the difference between a skillfuly written novel and one written by a talented amateur. From my understanding, Anthony is not an amateur so this type of laziness is inexusable.

One of the other peeves I had with the novel was the total lameness of the names and the magic. "Beltan" sounds like a cheesy 50's robot. For that matter, so does "Kron", the rune for fire which features early on in the novel. Without going into detail about the magic, let's just say, neither did Anthony. It was as if he couldn't be bothered spending the time to create a believable system of magic and spells.

The character of Grace has an annoying tendency toward inner histrionics at the least little social foible. I find very little about her I like. Anthony needs to work on crafting a more believable female character. He gives us no real evidence of Grace's 'noble' character. He just shows the other characters falling all over themselves in awe of her without much more proof other than physical beauty. And yet, about a third of the way through, there is a scene in which an outwardly beautiful character does something cruel and unkind and Grace meditates on the incongruency of this.

He is a little more adept with the male characters in this novel. Or at least he seems to like them more. Travis is a far less annoying character, albeit a bit whiney. There could have been more written about his friendship with Beltan. Beltan is obviously attracted to him but we aren't given very many clues why. There aren't really enough scenes that flesh out this friendship but it's pretty obvious to any savvy reader where it's leading.

My final complaint is with the big 'mysteries' of Travis' and Grace's backgrounds. Anyone with a brain can figure out, almost from the beginning, the secrets that Anthony waits until the last few chapters to reveal in very awkward inner dialogue sequences. I'm not giving anything away when I mention that dyslexia is far more complex than just having a tendency to reverse letters and numbers.

All that being said, there is some real entertainment to be found in the pages of this book. It is surprisingly funny at times. There are some interesting sattelite characters. I just wish Anthony had spent more time fleshing out his ideas. The book at times reads more like an outline or first draft.

I'm incredibly fond of this book and fully intend to get the 2nd one. Where I utterly detested Brook's Sword of Shannara (he couldn't write, I tell you!) I find this book well written and the storyflow engaging, so much so that I can actually ignore the less than original plotline. The only problem I had with his writing style is that I found it rather difficult to identify the characters. Besides the two main characters, whenever a character reappeared after a certain period of absence in the book I had to flip back to the front just to figure out who it was.

It's also true that some parts are terribly derivative. Melia is a Polgara clone, and that part about seals weakening just screams Robert Jordan at you. We've all seen this magic system somewhere before and the "off to save the world" theme is so prevalent it isn't even amusing anymore.

For me, the bottom line is that Mr. Anthony can tell a good story. His descriptions of castle life imparted a certain feeling of reality to that episode, the characters are fleshed out well enough to make them believable. The book isn't profound or soul-grabbing, it'll never make you ponder the cosmos or the meaning of life, but it really reads well.

This "child" doesn't exist; I don't know who wrote this book or why they'd do such a thing, but this publishing house and anyone else who associated themselves with this project should be ashamed of themselves.

I read this book when it first came out. I am a survivor of child abuse, too and found the book too dificult to finish, thinking that it was a true story. Now I find it is a fake. How DARE you fake a story like this! We abuse survivors (and I am in my 40's) have fought long and hard to be believed. Then, someone
writes this. Do you know the harm you do when you write this type of thing??? If you (the author) are a middle-aged woman and have some kind of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, I hope you get help soon. I am infuriated!

Anthony Godby Johnson was one extraordinary youngster and his book reads like an adults. Just wonderful!! He brings to light the devestation of AIDS on not only the family but the victim itself. The boy suffered horrifying abuse, both sexual and physical, from both his parents and the people surrounding them. And yet the book is totally devoid of bitterness. This story is tragic, yet hopeful. I felt strangely sad and happy when I finished the story that I have told all my friends about it and am loaning out my copy! A copy that I will consign to my keeper shelf that is filled with only the truly extaordinary books I have read. I will tell you that few belong to this catagory.