This is the sixth or seventh book that I've read in the M:TG series. I really enjoyed this to other books because it takes a much different approach. It is about Belbe, Emissary of Phyrexia, who much chose one of the several would-be-kings, a new Evincar of Rath. The book is very interesting and gives you a much more in-depth look at the intricacies of Rath than the previous book "Rath and Storm". Everything is handled extremely well from character traits, to the plot and storyline, to minute details. My only gripe is the fact that one of the candidates was pre-chosen and continuously gains more strength and grows insanely powerful throughout the book. The others never had a chance; including an old face who appears later. I won't ruin any of the story for you, but if you've played the card game you probably already know the outcome as I did. It's still a wonderful read. Highly recommended. Overall I give this about a 9 out of 10.

Paul B. Thompson's Nemesis novel is very unpredictable. If you are tired of reading Magic the Gathering books only based on a war, rejoice! Nemesis isn't only about a war, but the descision of the new evincar of Rath. To do this, Eladamri's daughter ( Avila ) is murdered, brought to Phyrexia, Phyrexianized and is a "lense" of Phyrexia. This unusual character is renamed as Belbe. Ertai's physique changes throughout the novel. Interesting fact: the powerful Magic the Gathering card, Lin Sivvi, is spelled as Liin Sivi in Nemesis. You will enjoy this book.

No book even comes close to comparing to this. The story tells how new evincars are chosen to lead Rath. Ertai, who is a former weatherlight crewman, is up for the post against his "friend" Crovax. The Phyrexian emissary, Belbe, comes to choose but a 'slight' mishap slows down her choice. Each contestant is set on a task, Crovax to quell a rebellion and Ertai to develop control over flowstone. But torwards the end Greven il-Vec and a mysterious figure named 'Furah' interupt the naming of the new evincar. That became the best fight in the whole MTG series, better then Gerrard and Volrath.

Hint Hint.

Bull Run, by Paul Fleischman, is a fictional story about the Civil War told by sixteen different people. The book was written so that you could see the war from different perspectives. Some of these characters are from the South and some from the North. There are both men and women, as well as a few children.
I thought that the book was an interesting way to read about the Civil War. I was able to easily read it and it held my interest. My favorite character was Toby Boyce. He is an eleven year old boy from the South. He joins the war by pretending he is a musician.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs some information about the Civil War. I think that teenager readers and up would get the most out of this book.

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman is a very good book. It takes place in Bull Run America in the early 1860's during the civil war. The characters are 12 everyday people durning the civil war that have different stories. I feel the important message in this book is that depending on your role in the war you were treated differently,and you hade a different perspective of the war. Some exeamples of this are:Gidion Adams was a negro trying to hide his race so he could pertisipate in the war.Toby Boice was a 12 year old boy wanting to join the war but was to young so he joined a band playing at the war. My personal opinion on this book is that it is a great book. It was a good book because of the way it was written and the characters. I liked the way it was written because of the way it left you hanging. I liked the characters because you can see how every day people get involved in a war. I recomend this book to anyone who likes the civil war.

Have you ever read a book about people and their perspectives of war? You would think that reading about history is boring, but the way that Paul Fleischmann describes the characters and writes the story line is great. Bull Run takes place at the battle of Bull Run in Virginia in the 1860s.
There are twelve main characters, all with different views on the war. For example, there is a boy, Toby Boyce, who just wants to kill a Yank. Others think that the war is crazy and does not want any part of it, like a young lady named Lily Malloy. Her brother is sent off to war, and all she does is sit in a spot on the grass and wait for him to return. She thinks that the whole idea of war is wrong. The book contains heartache, drama, and a lot of action.
I recommend this book to readers 12 and older because it would probably make more sense to them since they already know something about the battle. The book only has a few weaknesses, which are that it jumps from character to character, making it hard to remember the last thing they say. Since Fleischmann made the book "short and sweet", it is an easy read, but it could use a little more information about the war and less about what the people think. Everything else about the book is great. The author writes the story line very well, making it more interesting to the reader. I like the way the he writes the book in vignette-like format.
Overall, Bull Run is great and should be read by everyone who wants to be informed about the Battle of Bull Run. Reading this makes me feel more appreciative toward those who help us fight in times of trouble.

The Mythmaker by Hyam Maccoby who seeks to prove that Paul, and not Jesus, was the creator of Christianity and that Christianity, in its Pauline form, has little or nothing to do with Judaism as practiced by any Jewish group in the First Century CE.

It is fairly evident that Mr. Maccoby, about whom neither the jacket nor the book provides any biographical detail, does not like Christianity and desperately seeks to sever it from Judaism, making an attempt to reduce its Judaic roots to almost nothing. Such distaste isn't unimaginable for a Jew, but I think it is reciprocation for past Christian distaste and comes to down prejudice--even if one admittedly displayed in a scholarly and erudite manner.

He makes some excellent poitns but I think his attempt to completely sunder Christianity from its Judaic roots fails. He reduces the appeal of Christianity entirely to the Jesus as divine sacrifice (which is very similar to several pagan religions such as the ones based on Attis, Adonis, Dionysius and Osiris). He fails even to mention other aspects, which are directly derived from Judaism: theistic exclusivity (the First Commandment), emphasis upon morality, leveling of classes, relatively greater equality, especially in moral law, between the sexes, the direct appeal to all, but most especially the lowest strata in society, personal connection to the divine. The "pagan" religions, especially the Olympian Gods of the Graeco-Roman pantheon, were lacking most or all of these features. Maccoby fails to acknowledge this.

Other points, such as the one that Paul was not a Pharisee are very convincing. He also makes a strong argument, from the Biblical text, that the Pharisees were not Jesus' opponents. He also argues that most of what is traditionally regarded as Christian was added essentially by Paul. He also, though much less convincingly, argues that Paul was a pagan convert to Judaims who failed to become a rabbi. He cites as proof of this the anti-Pauline writings an ancient heretical sect called the Ebionites. It would be nice if more proof than just their writings could be adduced. Thus, his argument, here, is much less convincing.

Still, he doesn't rely on only polemic, he also analyzes Biblical texts and quotes, sometimes at length, other authors. His footnotes, while not copious, are adequate.

All in all, this book provides much food for thought and reflection, far more than its slender (200+ page) size would promise. A flawed, though scholarly and eloquent work.

This really should be required reading for anyone who considers themself a Christian or is interested in the orgins of Christianity or of anti-semitism.

In truth, I could not put it down and read it enthusiastically in one go; I found it so stimulating. By the way, I’m just an ordinary lay reader of no particular religion, with no particular axe to grind, except that my readings be well-written, intelligent and worthwhile!

Firstly, Maccoby provides a fascinating description of Jewish religious life during the time of Jesus to argue that Jesus was a vigorous contemporary Jew and that what little we can know about his life, his followers and his sayings are quite understandable seen in this background.

I’d contrast this with the research presented in “The Lost Gospel; The Book of Q & Christian Origins” by Burton L. Mack which has a wonderful chapter on recent research into the Galilee of Jesus’ time, and presents an intriguing Cynic influence in what are identified as Jesus’ most genuine sayings...P>Anyway, on to Paul! I can assure you that what we can know about the historical Paul is much more fascinating and revealing than even the saintly Catholic version, which is interesting enough!

Maccoby closely analyzes the evidence to argue persuasively that Paul personally, radically and very creatively re-interpreted the life of the historical Jesus in order to have a foundation for a brand new mystery religion he himself conceived, heavily influenced by contemporary ancient mystery religions such as the cult of Baal-Taraz after whom Paul’s hometown of Tarsus was named.

This then is the kernel of the book, but I assure you one brief paragraph does not give you enough time or material for all the consequences of this to sink in, let alone the pleasure of reading such a well-written and important expose.

If this does not then lead you to think deeply about many things, I fear nothing will!

Unfortunately Maccoby then ran out of space, funding or his own area of specialty and it is up to us to go off, inspired, and do our own research about the histories and meanings of these mystery cults, one of which has been so influential.

I agree with other reviewers on three counts. First, Maccoby speculates a little too often for my liking. Second, though he refers to the Jewish Mythology, this work comes across as far too anti-Christian while seeming accepting everything about ancient Phariseeism as good and true. (Nevertheless) third, this is one of the most profound books I have ever read.

Having spent a few years thinking about the influence of Zoroastrianism on exhilic and post-exhilic Judaism, I turned to New Testament and origins of Pauline Christianity. I'm slowly piece-mealing where the various myths surrounding Christ originated. However, as Paul is undoubtedly responsible for the bulk of the Greco-Roman mythologizing of the Jesus story, I was anxious to find a possible explanation of the mechanics and/or psychodynamics of it all. The Mythmaker presents one possibility. That Maccoby's assertions may not all prove to be true is a given; but his synthesis is the best I've seen so far.

For example, considering the account of Paul's undertaking the purity vow (Acts 21:18-25) --- no one has ever adequately explained why Paul would do such an about-face. Saying he "became a Jew to the Jews" is too simplistics for my liking considering the gravity of the moment. Unencumbered by notions of Pauline apostolicity and convinced of the Princehood of James in the earthly Messianic kingdom awaited by the Jerusalem church, Maccoby offers a reasonable explanation of the interpersonal dynamics that lead to Paul's self-contradictory actions.

I would especially like someone to pick up where Maccoby left off and list all the ancient myths or cultic beliefs that were likely incorporated into the Christian mythology. For example was the story of Bellerophon and Pegasus the basis for the Road to Damascus conversion story? Or was it a combination of elements from multiple myths? Or was it all simply Paul's dreams and imaginative thinking?

Again, do get the book if you can. I'm passing it around to all my thinking friends.

Grace Flint is a detective inspector for the London Metropolitan Police. She is most often used as a decoy or undercover operative. When one of her assignments goes bad, her partner is killed and she is terribly wounded - both physically and mentally. From that point, the book takes off on a wild ride spanning three continents.
There is something that doesn't ring true with Eddy's Flint. Is it because he's tried to make her both SuperWoman and vulnerable, sane and slightly not, reckless and conservative? Whatever it is, Flint is flawed. There is very little character development in the book - the book is not about character development - but the plot is outstanding - the book's strong point. I agree that the book is hard to put down, you may want to read it one sitting. But don't. This book needs to be read slowly lest you miss one of the subtleties the author throws randomly throws in.

both physically and psychologically. The brittle, cold heroine of Paul Eddy's first fiction thriller is worth more than a glance. It is hard to know what makes Flint tick, even though the book explores her life from the viewpoint of an outsider, in
retrospect. Flint's a British operative, gone awol after she is caught in the crossfire of an international plot.

Harry Cohen, trying to find her, gives us the retrospective. Unlike Flint, Harry's almost too real, too wounded, to be given the task. His character, the best developed in the book, sees every issue from both sides; he's devoted to finding Flint, helping her, and righting the wrong that's been done her.

Meanwhile, Flint uses her powers of deception and persuasion to seek her revenge on an international criminal. The reader is absorbed in her risk-taking, all the while learning what makes her tick. Think Marg Helgenberger for the film or the TV movie.

Not a big fan of spy thrillers, I found Flint engaging, well-written, with a few forgiveable flaws. Looking forward to more from Paul Eddy, he has a new and crisp voice.

When a friend recommends a book you politely listen as they talk about it. When they continue to rave about it you get the book.

One might think, "Oh No, another cop story." However, in this case I and my friends haven't seen or heard (audio books) such realistic excitement since Joseph Wambaugh hit the scene. That's because we're cops and we don't get excited unless it's good, it's real, it can happen, it has happened, been there, done that, seen it and it tells it like it is.

While reading this book you become Grace Flint's partner, the one that can only listen and watch. The one wondering how she'll react, how the rest of the team will react. The action, the plot, all of it invokes feelings that can cause you to leave sweaty prints on the pages.

The book moves fast when it should. It has been said to be slow in certain areas, but in those areas you obtain the information you will need to prepare for the action, just like you would on the job.

Paul Eddy has done a splendid job on the book and Grace Flint. I wonder, have the names and places been changed like Jack Webb would say, is it really fiction?

Treat yourself to what will be one of the best books that your likely to ever read. Prepare yourself to read a book that is hard to put down and will leave you wanting more Flint when you've finshed.

My husband and I have always wanted to help improve the world, especially on enviromental and sustainability issues. In the past we have felt overwhelmed to do anything. All issues appeared to big, the gov't too far away and unreachable.

Then we both read the book "Soul of a Citizen" by Paul Roget Loeb, we now know that our efforts do add up and make a difference. We are currently working on a letter writing campaign to get the Children's Enviromental Protection Act passed.

This is an excellent book. Read it today and start changing the world!

I've been using Soul of a Citizen in my Sociology of Empowerment class ever since it came out. Students get it, respect it, and are even inspired by it. Loeb has over the years written outstanding books that are gems of insight and superb calls to action. With Soul of a Citizen, he has done it again.-Gordon Fellman, Professor of Sociology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA

"I've used Soul of a Citizen for the last two years with students taking our new required course on citizenship and social change. They've really been enthusiastic about the book. Loeb's stories of citizen engagement, coupled with his insightful commentary, help them get beyond a personal, individualistic searching for meaning and happiness. It's really inspired students who've done service with groups like Habitat for Humanity and Sierra club, and one who even did her Mission trip (she's Mormon) in the Ukraine last year. Soul of a Citizen challenges students to see that they can find meaningful living by working for the common good and living a life of community."-Melinda Dukes, Professor of Psychology, Tusculum College, Greenville, TN

This book falls squarely into the category of a wonderfully developed "best of class", for it faces the issue of Robert McNamara complicity and lasting culpability for the debacle and aftermath associated with Vietnam. Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, it is only fair to mention my own antipathy for McNamara, and my own belief he (as well as Henry Kissinger and a number of notable others) should have been indicted for crimes against humanity in association with the war in Vietnam. Nonetheless, this book is truly amazing at a number of levels, but most certainly because it puts the lie to the lingering neo-conservative notion that Vietnam was a necessary and winnable war that the nattering nabobs of negativity (read liberals here) and anti-war protestors inadvertently lost for America. Of course, such nonsense has more to do with wishful thinking then it does the reality of the times, as author Paul Hendrickson quickly illustrates.

This is a fascinating character study, one that poses McNamara as an isolated, antisocial figure more at home with the comfortable fictions of number crunching than with the quicksilver facts of everyday reality. His rise from Harvard to the Air Force to Ford won him wide acclaim as a "no-nonsense can-do" kind of guy, and this reputation for being the best and the brightest resulted in him being named Secretary of Defense by Jack Kennedy in what was likely the most disastrous public appointments of the last half of the 20th century. He force-fit his own conceptual perceptions onto the way the Department of Defense assessed itself and its engagements, so that quantitative measures came to supplant local experience and field judgment in the conduct of day-to-day operations in Vietnam. Thus, the most venial sorts of bean-counting by way of number of sorties, bomb tonnage dropped, and enemy body counts became the "meaningful measures of merit" (an actual term, not one I am concocting) the "whiz-kids" at the Pentagon used to determine where they stood in terms of the ultimate victory.

Meanwhile, thousands of American boys, as well as countless Vietnamese of every age, sex and description were lost in so-called "collateral damage". Engaged in the circular reasoning only a true believer in quantitative reasoning could marshal, McNamara fought to maintain the perception the war was being won, even when his raging intellect knew otherwise. Yet even after he recognized the reality of the situation, this self-described man of conscience could not bring himself to do the right and honorable thing. Rather than tell the truth and expose the outrageous situation in Vietnam, he remained silent, allowing many more thousand of young Americans and Vietnamese to die. It is this failure of conscience for which he should have been prosecuted, for his willing complicity in the continuing bloodbath long after he knew the war could not be won and that our efforts there would result only in further loss of life.

The book is also singular in its counter position of McNamara's evolution throughout the sixties and early seventies with five others so dramatically linked with the progress of the war in Vietnam; four Americans and a young Vietnamese citizen, all of whom were fatefully affected by McNamara's moral cowardice and abject failure to act or speak out. Most poignant for me was the story of one former Vietnam veteran turned artist who actually went berserk on a ferry when he discovered McNamara to be a fellow passenger. Finally, the author deals quite convincingly with the self-serving arguments McNamara himself has used to deflect criticism from himself, showing how one-sided and inconsistent they are with the public record. This is a terrific book, and one that provocatively revisits the painful and mind-numbing consequences that the terrible events of the sixties had for so many ordinary Americans. I recommend this book, although I must caution that reading it is hardly for the squeamish or faint of heart. It cuts deep into the heart of darkness that was so central to our venture in Vietnam, and faithfully recalls the depths of heartache and tragedy that piteous, misadventured action caused.

As a Viet Nam vet against the war (before, during and after), I applaud the book. However, I think Mr. Hendrickson is really pretty soft on the SOB. He is too smoothly civilized in carefully, cautiously, respectfully, slowly working up to calling the old man a liar, which in my mind has not been a question for well over thirty years.

To hell with poor schizoid Mr. McNamara and his sad, touching, tragic inability to relate to other human beings- Vietnamese, Americans, his own family... It's a good thing I wasn't along on the ferry that night on Vineyard Sound, because back then I was more than ready to kick Mr. McNamara's teeth in, before ripping his fingers loose from the railing and pitching him into that cold, dark water.

The book hints at the levels of anger and frustration that McNamara personally inspired, over and over again. (The demonstrations, car bouncings, arson at his snazzy new house at Snowmass, etc.)

I think the Morrison connection is relied on too heavily- Hendrickson confirms that Morrison didn't have anything in particular against McNamara, and didn't even know where the SecDef's window was when he burned himself at the Pentagon...

The book does not give voice to the valid view that the super-technocrat was in fact a cold blooded, knowing and unapologetic mass murderer. If his conscience ever bothered him much, it didn't cause him to do anything other than whine a bit, of which the nauseating "In Retrospect" is only the latest example. Even if his wife and kids did get ulcers.

The definitive objective book on the man that, more than almost anyone else, got us neck deep into the idiocy of the Viet war, has yet to be written.

I read the hardback version of this book several years ago when it first came out. I've probably read about 20 books on the Vietnam war, including the Pentagon Papers. I'm well steeped in the literature - and this is one of the best books on the war. I only read it once a few years ago and some of the passages and scenes in the book are still in my mind. Who can forget the Veteran who saw McNamara on the boat near Martha's Vineyard? Or McNamara's breakdown at his go away dinner. Or his realization that the war was unwinnable after the first major engaement of combat troops?

This work by Uber-historian Paul Johnson is short and direct. To write about such an interesting character as Napoleon in a double-spaced 186 pages means that much will be left out, and that indeed is what has occurred. However, for the reader who appreciates being stimulated by history this is a terrific book for learning the salient points in the timeline of Napoleon's rise and fall.

The overarching theme for me is: How did one man starting at 16 years old become ruler of France by the age of 28, terrorize most of Europe, change the geopolitics in North and South America, and do it in such a short span of time? Beyond his military deeds Napoleon also established the French civil code known as the Napoleonic code, created consistancy in weights and measures, instituted major revisions by centralizing the administration of France, created the bank of France, and also the university of France. To say that he could multi-task is an understatement. He was born with uncommon talent, and a will and determination to use it to its fullest.

To merely allege that he was power mad would belie his skill as a military commander, arguably the greatest in world history. He was also a master at using his human resources by virtue of excellent leadership and an unusually keen mind. The book recounts the names and dates of his major battles and campaigns without offering too much extraneous information. The inquisitive reader can take this blueprint and read of each in the many books already in print citing his forays with the seven coalitions which were formed to align against his Grand Armee.

Johnson outlines Napoleon's behavioral and operating characteristics, plus and minus, Within that context it's notable how Napoleon achieved that which made him an enduring historical figure and what in turn brought him back to earth. He is not the first nor the last great man, for good or evil, who will change the balance of power in the world. Looked at through that lens this is an excellent primer on Napoleon and I highly recommend it to the would-be scholar who hasn't the time to study him in depth, but wants to find the nexis of Napoleon's connection to historical events.

Paul Johnson will anger many, deservedly, as he presents this short book on the life of Napoleon for the Penguin Lives Series. It is a brief and easy read presenting clearly and emphatically the conservative view of Napoleon (directly blaming him for Hitler and Stalin did seem stretching things, even amongst the other vilifying). The story is all there and it should interest readers and entice them to learn more and discover for themselves all sides of this complex character in history. With a subject like Napoleon there is no limit to the viewpoints and books out there and this particular book should lead the eager reader to search them out but no where will this specific view of Napoleon be found so succintly and engagingly written.

Johnson's thesis here is that Napoleon is the precursor of such later totalitarians as Stalin and Hitler, whose names recur throughout the book as fellow meglamaniacs interested only in consolidating and centralizing power.

Since this is part of the pithy Penguin Lives series, NAPOLEON of course can only go into so much detail about the life of this enigmatic and fascinating little tyrant, but it is an excellent miniature with many indelible moments. I especially like Johnson's portraits of some of Napoleon's subordinates, including Joseph Fouche, his chief of police, who was so terribly arthiritic by the end of his life that he was buried sitting up, and Hudson Lowe, the misunderstood Brit who had the daunting job of watching over Napoleon during his final exile on St. Helena. The battle scenes, encapsulated here for the sake of brevity, are also well done, with Napoleon's defeat by Wellington at Waterloo particularly vivid.

Johnson does a good bit of myth-busting here and finds very little actually to admire about N. Of course he was a military genius on the level of Alexander. Of course he was a charismatic figure who won the allegiance of the French people. Otherwise he comes off in this book as a man without a soul who lived only to accrue power.

A good book to argue over and very entertaining.

If you've never read a novel by F. Paul Wilson, pick this one up, strap yourself in, and don't look down. You're in for a treat.

Repairman Jack is an immediately likable character. He's a mysterious guy who's part detective, part Indiana Jones, part street-wise tough guy. When he's contacted by a man who wants to locate his missing wife, Jack smells trouble. It's bad enough she's missing, but she also hangs out with a "conspiracy theory" crowd, some of them VERY wacky. Jack reluctantly decides to take the case. Almost immediately, he regrets it. I won't tell you why; that's half the fun.

Wilson does a great job of giving the reader colorful characters, breathtaking situations, snappy dialogue, and just enough weirdness. Wilson really knows how to tell a story and keep it moving in an entertaining and intelligent way.

CONSPIRACIES is the third Repairman Jack novel. It's not necessary to have read the first two (I haven't), but it might help. It would certainly help to have read something by Wilson. (His most popular novel, THE KEEP, is a great book that will give you a good sense of Wilson's style.) When you're reading, however, do remember that this is a series and that more books are on the way. (FYI: The hardcover edition contains many typos, which really shouldn't happen, but often does.)

318 pages

Repairman Jack is one of the great characters in horror literature. He first appeared in The Tomb, made a brief appearance in NightWorld, and then reappears in Legacies as a major character. I'm glad to see that F. Paul Wilson has chosen to write additional books Rpairman Jack playing a central role.

"Conspiracies" takes some of Jack's old adversaries, provides conflict and through this conflict explains many of the so-called conspiracies (UFO coverup, assasination of JFK, religion, etc.) of the day. His supporting characters are at once believable, funny, and altogether interesting. An excellent book, don't miss it!

CONSPIRACIES puts Repairman Jack in the middle of a conspiracy theorists convention. That in itself is enough irony for me. Jack has a missing woman case. To solve it, he must subject himself to unbelievable theories and people. But the truth really is stranger than fiction. When Jack stumbles across the meaning of it all, it is one of the best moments in contemporary fiction. The only real problem I had with this book is that the time line is somewhat confusing. Wilson told me that it follows LEGACIES, which followed THE TOMB. He sprinkles mentions of previous Jack novels but it's not exactly clear which one, if any, is which. That aside, I love it that Wilson has another supernatural-type book out, I was getting tired of the medical thrillers he's been writing. The sequel to CONSPIRACIES should be great based on what Wilson has gotten Jack into here. Can't wait! Recommended.

Crystal clear writing. The pseudo-code is great, and Carrano is right that everyone should use pseudo-code. The book takes a look at classes and software engineering and then teaches data structures in a concise and clear fashion. The nice printing and attractive graphic design make you look forward to picking it up and reading it again. It's just "lucid".

The materials in this book are very well organized and easy to understand; Enough for most programmers.

I would not recommend this book to beginners but this book is definately a good book for people with some programming foundation. Advanced data structures are well explained. We are using this book at school and I am totally comfortable with it. I can actually accomplish something that I've never been able to. On thing that reader need to understand is this book is mostly concentrated on advanced data structure concept. Some reviewers said that it is mostly psudocode and it is true because the author is trying to let you understand the concept of advanced programming. Anyway, this book is a good step stone for you to reach highest programming concepts and skills.

The square root of negative one, commonly known as "i" has a certain otherwordly character to it; it is not a real number and is often referred to as imaginary. In its own way, however, i is quite real and an essential part of modern mathematics and the sciences; literally and figuratively, it adds another dimension to the world of math.

Nahin's book on the subject conveys the importance of i, but unfortunately does it in a tedious manner. He has written a book dense with proofs and equations, but rather lacking in history or personality. There is some material in here that of interest to all, but overall, I feel that this book is only for the serious mathematician. Despite his statement to the contrary, this requires more than a high school level of education to understand.

Interestingly, I found that this was the second book I'd read by Nahin; the first one was on time travel. What I remembered about this first book was that the author took an interesting subject and ran it into the ground; he does a similar thing here. While there is enough in An Imaginary Tale to be of interest to a mathematician, and while it does convey the importance of i, this book will remain inaccessible to readers who just want to be introduced to this interestinginly complex number.

This book will introduce you to complex numbers, complex variables, and complex functions and you _will_ be able to make the journey. You'll need a little familiarity with algebra but, like all these modern mathematical expositories, you can completely grasp the subject with diligence. The hard or clever parts are spelled out for you.

Perhaps there are some typos but I wasn't hampered appreciably by them. Some beautiful and elegant mathematics is exposed very sensitively in this book and with a great appreciation for the chronology and history of the process. The demonstration bears out Hadamard's comment, "The shortest distance two points in the real plane oftens passes through the complex plane."

This book really spurred on my interest in complex variables. The continued study of complex math can take you to some stunning and unexpected connections in mathematics. I encourage interested readers to consider this book as a starting place for that journey.

Nahin's text on the history of i is an exciting, comprehensive look into the origins of i and its elementary theoretical applications. It rightfully has been compared to Eli Maor's wonderful book "e: The Story of A Number", which deserves five stars in its own right. I do have to take issue with some of the other reviews posted here. For instance, a few have said that you have to have a "graduate math" background to fully appreciate this book?!? Who are they kidding? Nahin actually *sacrifices* mathematical rigor in order to improve his exposition. Anyone with a real mathematics background knows that complex analysis gets far more complicated than the basic material Nahin presents in his book. To get an idea, you can peruse Walter Rudin's fine text "Real and Complex Analysis". To be fair, I agree with the reviewer who wrote that Nahin should not have omitted material on Klein groups, Julia and Mandelbrot sets. However, I can understand why he did. It is difficult to write on such subjects as groups and fractals to an audience intended to have a (motivated) high school or freshman calculus background. I read this book, understood it, and loved it, long before I had any idea what groups or fractals were. Nahin gives fair warning in the introduction to his book that it is not a "mathematical lightweight". I do think that a solid background in (single variable) calculus, including power series, is crucial to a true appreciation of the book. In particular, one must know these things to value the genius of Euler and others in the section on "Wizard Mathematics". Nahin does tread lightly into other topics, such as differential equations and (advanced) algebra, but to say these are a prerequisite to reading the book is ridiculous. I think even if the reader has never encountered ideas such as the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra before, they serve to enrich, not detract from, the material. In any case, the reader should be pleased to see a leisurely treatment of something so blown out of proportion as FTA, as an understanding of it is basic to anything beyond calculus. Proofs of it are rich in variety, ranging from topology to geometry to complex variables (using the theorem of Liouville and properties of entire functions). One criticism that is entirely justified is the typographical errors that regrettably plague the book. In particular, the theorem of Green, relating double integrals to single contour integrals, a result that is surprising and illuminating. However, the careful reader can usually spot and correct such errors, and he or she should be delighted in their own astuteness, rather than blame the author. He does a wonderful job explaining the conceptual basis of i, and I think this overrides any of the books minor flaws. The book does seem to end rather abruptly, however, and I hope that if the author chooses to revise his work, he will expand upon the material, in particular, a (brief?) treatment of the Residue Theorem, the crowning jewel of complex integration. Perhaps even a section on conformal mapping? I do realize though that this may place the book too far out of reach of his intended audience.

The bottom line: if you want a storybook, this is not for you. If you like mathematics, and have a historical bent, this book will satisfy you. Those with a mathematical background will realize that Nahin has the perfect background to write this book: electrical engineers have a *much better* idea of what's going on with complex variables in terms of getting their hands dirty than mathematicians themselves. This is because most mathematicians insist on strict formalism and rigor, but engineers think more freely, and in any case they are the ones that discovered half of the applications of complex variables. E.g., imagine Laplace transforms even existing without Oliver Heaviside, who was thought to be a fool by the mathematical community in his day!

For those that are curious, I only have a B.A. in math, and no graduate education, though I do pursue math study in my free time. So I think I am in a position to make the above arguments.