"Train travel animate my imagination and usually give me solitude to order and write my thoughts: I travel easily in two directions, along the level rails while Asia flashed changes at the window, and at the interior rim of a private world of memory and language. I cannot imagine a luckier combination."

The words are from Paul Theroux's book The Great Railway Bazaar, where he takes us on a train journey through Asia. The book has excotic chapters, starting with The 15.30 - London to Paris, taking us via The Direct - Orient Express, The Night Mail to Meshed, The Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpus, The Trans - Siberian Express and so on. Names and places I dream of, and would like to go to - one day.
Paul Theroux has been there, and he has been there with an open mind and his pen and paper to take care of this world of memory and language.

This is fun reading. Some people call Theroux a rasist, but I don't agree. Theroux travels with an open mind and really see people and places where he goes. The way he shares his experiences with his readers is so rich and funny, you almost can feel the smell of the meal of old onions wrapped in a dirty piece of newspaper his travel companion is having, or you feel the dust in your eyes from the dry countryside you are passing.

I bought this book at an European airport when I was out travelling, and has read it as a "travel"-book, reading on planes, railways, busses, in cars and so on. And my eyes have been opened to see the people around me - not as grey everyday fellow travellers, but as all different human beings. And from Paul Theroux I have learned that strangers are not actually strangers, but people who can show me more of a mixed world when I take the time to start sharing part of my life with them.

Britt Arnhild Lindland.

One long railway journey from England to Turkey to India to Japan to Russia and back to England passing through various countries along the way. If you like to read about lands and their people, this book is not for you. If you want to experience the customs of Asian countries, you should skip this book. In fact, if you expect anything other than a description of a railway journey, trains and a few co-passengers, you are bound to be disappointed. When you have finally convinced yourself that you are going to get nothing more out of this book other than trains and passengers, you can settle down to read it and find it fairly enjoyable. Paul Theroux describes some of the passengers characteristic of each country well, but omits describing some of the customs and traditions of the people themselves which would have made better reading, thereby loosing the 'travel' flavor I was expecting.

One of the off-putting things about traditional travelogues is the litany of thing-descriptions (buildings, markets, clothes, hills) which just don't make for compelling brain food. Theroux focusses on people, and more specifically personalities. As an Indian, I can say that he captures the essence of different ilks of Indians with an incisiveness that I have not seen in any other American writer. I wish I had gotten my red, white and blue wife to read this before we visited. Many of her questions are answered episodically. Questions such as Why are some Indians so free with information about their digestive state? Why is an ailment worn like a badge of honor by some? Why do Indian travel guides always mention how far a book store is from your hotel? Isn't it admirable that somebody of such high stature is so unassuming? The incomprehensible extremes of know-it-alls versus humility amongst those with great erudition..He makes equally astute observations about Afghans, Burmese, Ceylonese etc., but I'll leave you to read the book to enjoy these.

Some may find this book insulting, as it is fairly blunt about the people's idiosyncrasies. I for one do not expect literature to be politically correct (and vice-versa).

the cover of 'group' reads like dominick dunne goes to psychotherapy. what the book actually does is move beyond the superficial 'fabulousness' of this hand-picked group and explore those very human pains that cause these 3-dimensional people to do irrational and destructive things. as the members 'take on' their lives, their experience becomes a universal experience. solotaroff gives us the opportunity to feel compassion for all seven of the people (therapist included)even though you as the reader, and perhaps solotaroff himself, might not even like them. and he transforms the idea of group therapy from the arena of psychobabble self-absorption to a place that answers a primitive, human need to express oneself and to care for others. i felt like a participant in the group and found myself rooting for each member as they attempted to reactivate. it read like a 'whodunit' but it was more like a 'who's going to "just do it".' it was very enjoyable.

As a practicing group therapist, active group member and teacher of group therapy, I was delighted to read Paul Solotaroff's account of one group's experience in therapy.

Initially, I expected little, but within minutes I was transported. Mr. Solotaroff has provided the interested reader with a fascinating portrait of the guts of group therapy. He has a keen eye for detail, a sure grasp of language and a great feeling for the drama of group life. Vividly depicting his subject's self-destructive impasses and the group's healing power, Solotaroff should be commended for his contribution to the very small literature of what group therapy actually "looks like."

To be sure this is not everybody's group therapy experience. There are many approaches and styles of doing group. But this book captures something beyond theraputic ideology. It gets at the root forces which move people to seek groups as pathways to growth and change. For that alone, this book deserves five stars.

This is a fine book, tracing the progress of group therapy involving six participants and the group leader, a psychiatrist qualified as a psychopharmocologist. The author is an acute observer of human behavior and offers deft sketches of these intelligent and troubled people and of their equally intelligent and equally troubled leader. His exploration of the dynamics of the group and of the actions of its members is acute and compassionate and his writing is fresh and articulate. This is a richly-drawn,carefully observed sketch of human pathology and recovery. It will be hard to avoid recognizing aspects of yourself in all of these characters. The writing is clear and unobtrusively elegant. Read and enjoy.

I read A Garden in Lucca just after finishing Spanish Lessons--a similar, but more interesting book by Derek Lambert. Paul Gervais writes in a style that merely skims the surface, never getting to the heart of either gardening or life in Tuscany. Garden descriptions are wordy with details that don't give any indication of the effect created. I also was disappointed that Gervais seemed to name-drop (and live) extensively in the ex-patriot community, rarely giving any insight into Tuscan life or culture. By contrast, Spanish Lessons, a novel about an English family's move to Spain, was so alive with insight into the experience of assimilating into a small town in Spain. Perhaps a true gardener would have found this book more interesting.

In A Garden In Lucca, Paul Gervais presents a delightful account of his transition into life in the most beautiful part of Italy. Moving from ignorance to expertise in the field of gardening, Mr. Gervais makes the reader a partner in his acquisition of new skills and knowledge.

The book also deals with the high and low drama of a possible sale of Mr. Gervais's 'Italian Paradise' as well as personal elements of the author's life. Even readers unfamiliar with the Latin names for plant species come to feel the passion Mr. Gervais has brought to his new life.

The book is a great read.

I really loved this book. A nice variation on the 'foreigners move to exotic locale and meet charming locals' theme. It's much more than that, too. I nearly cried when I thought Paul and Gil were going thru with the sale......whew! Never thought I'd read a garden book, but as a fan of Tuscany, I had to pick this one up. Glad I did.

This book is based on the original 1818 version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but is geared toward the reader who wants a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of this work of fiction and the writings of Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and Dr. John William Polidori, Byron's friend. The reader will find abundant annotations which help to explain the context in which it was written. A map is provided which helps to locate many of the settings described in the book. It also includes a section of reactions to various versions that have been published. Twelve contemporary authors have submitted essays which supply a variety of perspectives on Frankenstein. The book offers an authoritative text, contextual and source materials, and a wide range of interpretations in addition to a bibliography of other works on the topics.

If you think you know Frankenstein because you have seen the classic 1930's Hollywood movie, then you really don't know Frankenstein. The short novel upon which the movie is loosely based (so loosely as to be almost a different story)is a morality tale on the creation of life and the obligations of the creator and the created. Mary Shelley was only twenty when she wrote the novel, begun when a house party attended by the poet Byron and Shelley's husband, the poet Percy Shelley decided to swap "ghost" stories one evening. Only Mary Shelley completed her story and this is the 1818 text presented in this book.
One main objection I have about this book (and the only reason that kept it from getting 5 stars) is basically the plot itself. If you think that a tight plausible plot is needed, then this is not the book for you. There are too many holes and too many times I found myself asking, Why would the character do this? But if you read for language and philosophical thought, then Frankenstein is a perfect short read. The monster is very erudite and able to express his emotions perfectly. Why was he created and how can he endure if all he receives is the scorn and hatred of those around him? What is the obligation of the creator-to please his creation or keep him from doing harm to others? This is the true core of the story and the contrasting feelings between Victor Frankenstein, the creator and the monster fill the pages.
While not a difficult read, it is one that is totally unexpected if you have no prior knowledge of the novel's difference with the movie. While the movie is rightfully a classic, the book delves more into the spiritual and emotional realms of creation and its affect on all. I would highly recommend this book for those who are intrigued by the beauty of language and thought. J

Mary Shelley's early 1818 text of Frankenstein is free of the revisions she made when she became an older woman, wearier of the world. This novel is not the horror story Hollywood has told us in Boris Karloff's portrayal of the Frankenstein monster, Kenneth Brannaugh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (a disturbing departure from the text) and the satire Young Frankenstein. The horrors Shelley comments on in the book include the dangers of man playing God and then not taking responsibility for his creation by abandoning it.

Up and foremost let me state that F. Paul Wilson writes in a fantastic prose and makes his characters come to life in a way so natural I've seen few writers do. He even makes the bad guy totally believable and sympathetic. And that's something that rarely happens in these 'page-turner' kind of thrillers!

But all that isn't the problem with IMPLANT.

It's just that there isn't any excitement in this book. The plot is SO straight forward. It is revealed early one what's going on and what the motives and means of the antagonist are and that doens't change. There's no plot twists, no big suprise in the end. From page one on I knew where this was going to end. And in all of the almost 400 pages nothing happened that even got me a little excited or had me (at least partially) entertained. I HATED THAT!

I won't bother going into the plot (not that there is much to spoil or anything), it's silly and farfetched and not worth to mention. I mean, what are the chances of an evil doctor just happening to be asked to perform cosmetic surgery on the president of the USofA? A doctor with a shady past, I must mention, who happens to be under investigation by the FBI for the deaths of a few US senators. I think the secret service will go around him with a hoolahoop!
And I won't even begin about the lovestory subplot between our heroine Gina and the handsome FBI agent....puh-lease!
I think you get the point.

I'm do give this two stars because of mister Wilson's writing skills. When his plotting skills improve I'm sure there will be a higher score.

On the plus side, IMPLANT got me interested enough in this writer for me to go and buy some of his other books. I recently purchased both SIBS and THE SELECT and I hope they'll be able to entertain me a little more. This one was totally forgetable though.

From such a great writer as Wilson, Implant cannot help but be a disappoinment. The main problem is the character of Duncan Lathram. As a bad guy, he just does not work. From a narrative point of view, his motives for his actions were too understandable. He had a reason, and a good one. (What's a few dead senators?)

He is therefore entirely too sympathetic to despise as a villain. And, anyway, how can you hate a guy who likes a good cup of coffee? Only when he turns on our heroine, did I feel any animosity toward him, and even then, he felt so bad about having to do it, I just pitied him.

Suspension of disbelief is a little trying at points and there's a line of dialogue at the end that just took me right out of the book. It was a quick read, however, and I enjoyed being taken on the ride, I just didn't like the scenery.

I love medical thrillers and nobody writes them better than F. Paul Wilson. Implant is one of the most intelligent and enjoyable books in this genre. The characters are well-developed and interesting. The plot is suspenseful and inventive. Dr. Lathram is positively chilling. I would definitely recommend this entertaining book to anyone. I agree with another reviewer that said this book would make a great movie.

In many ways, Stephen J Cannell defined action-adventure series television in the 80s, so it's surprising that it took him so long to create a series character in prose. In Shane Scully, though, he's created a winner. Hollywood Tough, the third installment in the series, represents something of a departure for the series. In it, we see Scully, preparing to return to duty after the events of The Viking Funeral, caught up in a couple of separate investigations. His wife's close friend's fiance has Shane suspicious. And former snitch Nicky Marcella, now running a small-time movie studio, has asked Shane to track down a former small-town New Jersy beauty queen to appear in a movie. This being a Stephen J Cannell story, nothing is what it seems. As usual, watching a bunch of ordinary joes stumble up against the bigger picture is half the fun.

What sets this apart from the typical Shane Scully tale is the Hollywood film setting. Cannell is clearly drawing on his years of filmmaking experience in his portrayal of--and possibly frustration with--the complex egos and power structures within the industry. With the skill only an insider could possess, he manages to make the whole thing seem both logical and absurd, and we understand how the system could come to exist in its present state, without accepting it as necessary.

Unfortunately, while very enjoyable, Hollywood Tough pales in comparison to previous Scully novels. Shane isn't as personally connected to the crimes as in Tin Collectors or Viking Funeral, and reduces the sense of urgency found in the earlier books. A subplot involving his son Chooch, his former gang ties, and his girlfriend is involving, but didn't seem well-enough set up in earlier books to seem like a natural development. (However, it will be interesting to see how events in this book play out in later installments.) Alexa Scully, fairly well-developed and strong-willed in earlier volumes, didn't have much to do this time around, either. Admittedly, this isn't her series; it's Shane's. Still, it's disappointing to see her get short shrift this time around.

Having said that, a comparatively weak entry for the series doesn't mean the book isn't worth reading. Part of my dissatisfaction with this story may be that it felt different than the previous two books, but I also applaud Cannell for not writing the exact same book three times. I still liked the story, I still like the characters, and I still want to see what happens next.

Stephen J. Cannell would have an impressive resume even if he had never decided to try his hand at writing novels. His tracks are all over television. Cannell has created more than forty television series and it is almost impossible to channel surf at night without running into one of his celluloid children, be it The Rockford Files, The Commish or The 'A' Team. I fully expect to turn on the television one night and find myself watching a new network called The Cannell Channel. Hmmm...wait a minute, while I trademark that. Anyway, Cannell has also been racking up an ever- and always-impressive list of novels. I was amazed to discover that HOLLYWOOD TOUGH, his latest, is also his eighth. It's hard to believe but he's working on his own shelf as well --- he certainly deserves one.

Cannell has carved his own niche in the adventure market with titles that include THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP and RIDING THE SNAKE. THE TIN COLLECTORS and THE VIKING FUNERAL, his last two novels, however, have featured Shane Scully, an LAPD detective who has had his ups and downs. Scully returns once again in HOLLYWOOD TOUGH. Nora Bishop, the best friend of Scully's wife, Alexa, is engaged to Farrell Champion, an A-List movie director who appears ready to give Bishop the happiness she has so long sought. However, at an engagement party for the couple, Scully overhears Champion make an offhand, seemingly joking remark about the deaths of his two ex-wives. Scully's cop instincts are aroused and, against his wife's wishes, he begins investigating Champion. He soon finds that Champion appears to be a man without a past, someone who seemingly materialized out of nowhere.

At the same time, Scully discovers that a New Jersey mobster is attempting to infiltrate the Hollywood film industry's union. Scully, in order to draw the mobster into revealing his real reason for coming to Hollywood, sets up an elaborate sting operation that, in addition to being an extremely interesting plot vehicle, permits Cannell to educate his readers into the whys, hows and wherefores of film production. Cannell does an excellent job of concisely explaining the complex world of film deals, as well as the studio politics that go into the creation of the films that are coming to a Cineplex near you. These same studio politics have Scully's sting operation soon spiraling out of control, both creatively and financially.

Scully also is having difficulty with his son, Chooch, who seems to have secrets that involve an L.A. Gang leader. As Scully and Alexa are drawn deeper into the sting operation and Chooch's behavior draws him into danger, Cannell keeps the suspense level high and maintains for the reader a maximum interest level from beginning to end, making HOLLYWOOD TOUGH, as with Cannell's seven previous novels, impossible to put down.

Cannell, with HOLLYWOOD TOUGH, continues to demonstrate that he is a master of whatever media he should choose to partake. Certainly the world of suspense literature is richer for his participation. Perhaps his work will one day become a subgenre unto itself. Even if this does not occur, Cannell's loyal legion of fans will undoubtedly keep reading and growing.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

I recognized the name Stephen Cannell as a producer but did not know he also wrote books. This was the first of Mr. Cannell's books I've read and I very quickly became a fan. I love his sense of humor and fast-paced style. Shane Scully is great and the interplay in this book between Scully and the major players of Hollywood is hilarious. I loved all the zany charaters Cannell introduces in this book, especially Nicky, the grifter who claims to have found Jesus. I like that Scully seems to be reevaluating his life and mellowing. His wife Alexa is one of the best female characters out there. She's strong, intelligent, and warm but can stand her ground with anyone. The fact that she is Scully's boss and he isn't threatened in the least by this shows his strength of character. Now, onto the other works by Mr. Cannell. Great book!

When reading Paul Johnson, one expects a top-notch product. Despite his impressive intellectual scholarship, Johnson fails to adequately describe to laymen how a religion whose leader was crucified nearly 2000 years ago, a despised religion with scant support and whose leadership fell to a small group of non-intellectuals, survived persecution. The religion of Jesus should have collapsed- why didn't it. Johnson doesn't really tell us. Johnson seems to want to preen his superior scholarship at the expense of explaining why and how Christianity grew in popularity with actual people. With regards to more recent events in Christianity, Johnson shows some great weaknesses. He spends more time explaining the failed attempts to Christianize east Asia than he does in explaining the various Christian movements in the United States. In fact, he largely ignores the fact that fundamentalist Protestant denominations in the United States are easily the most vibrant sects in what is historic European and American Christendom. As a Roman Catholic who supports the liberal takeover of the Roman Catholic Church after Vatican 2, Johnson fails to acknowledge the steep decline in the Catholic Church since Vatican 2.

Given the two millennia which the history of Christianity fills, Johnson's work is necessarily limited in what it covers and in the detail it devotes to certain topics. In a book of this nature (one designed for a general readership), much is left out. But the "spine" is there, and Johnson traces the development of the Church from the time of Christ (with some brief background information on Jewish sects before Christ) through, approximately, Vatican II and Humanae Vitae.

The Catholic Church is more the topic of the book than is Christianity in general. Perhaps this results from the age of Catholicism versus the age Protestant denominations. After all, for three quarters of the period covered, the Catholic Church was virtually alone on the scene, at least as far as Western Europe (Johnson's focus) was concerned. But even in the post-Reformation era, Protestantism receives attention that pales in comparison to that given Catholicism. And the Eastern Orthodox churches are mentioned virtually not at all after the 1054 split, except to compare the Church's adherence to Latin while the Orthodox churches accepted the native tongues of its members. All of this is fine, of course, but the title is somewhat misleading in this regard. A better title might have been "A History of Catholicism" or "A History of Christianity in the West."

That said, this is still an excellent book, and the material it includes is examined excellently. Theological doctrine and debates necessarily enter the story (such as the Trinity and the Pope's infallibility), but this is not a history of doctrine and its development. Rather, Johnson focuses on the evolution of Christianity (or, if you like, the Church) as a political, social, legal, and economic institution, one centered in Western Europe but also attempting to radiate outward--through the Crusades, missionary work, and, later, attempting to establish a foothold in North America. A key element of the story is the church-versus-state relationship, which changed over time. At times, the Church was the dominant player, and at other times, it yielded much authority to European monarchs. Much of the history witnesses series of give-and-take between church and state and, of course, concludes with the triumph of the state and also with the virtual separation of the world into two (sometimes competing) spheres.

This is an excellent treatment of Christian history, summarizing in 500 pages what could legitimately fill (and has filled) many thousands of pages. It is more than mere narrative as well, for Johnson includes many insightful analyses and draws thought-provoking conclusions. The book does not assume too much pre-existing knowledge of the subject (although having read the Bible, or at least Acts, would probably be helpful for the first part of the book), and it serves as a very fine starting point for studying the history of Christianity.

Johnson's history of christianity is simply a masterpiece. The book will not let down the reader that not only want to learn about the rise and evolution of christianity but also wants to take some lessons out of it. Written with sincerity, though Johnson is an english catholic, the book describes the most important periods of christianity depicting the major trends and changes in the history of the religion that shaped the spirit of the western culture. Johnson's chronicle starts with the birth of a jew in an obscure corner of the Roman empire and ends when Paul VI becomes pope, and so it leaves the reader without almost the last 30 years of history. However, this book is a must read: the way Johnson gathers the facts of history together in order to describe the main trends and seizures is magnificent. Therefore, through a pleasant reading, one learns, for instance, the evangelization of Europe, the struggle for power between the pope and the european rulers in the middle ages, the causes and consequences of the reform and the wars of religion, how the secularization process started in the western world during the XVIII century, and many other things. The books shows also the evolution of the philosophical and social perspectives on christianity, from Agustin to John XXIII, and through the work of personalities like Thomas, Inocentius III, Beckett, Erasmus, Luther, Pascal, Locke, Leon III, Pius X, among others. Finally, two strengths must be emphasized. First, the book shows how the history of the last 500 years of christianity has been shaped by two antagonical forces: on one side, humanist and liberal forces (developed by people like Erasmus and John XXIII), and on the other side, ultra-conservative and retrograde forces (represented by Pius X for example). The book's second strength is the analysis of the XX century period (up to 1970's). There Johnson condemns brilliantly Pius XII's undersantable but unforgivable cowardness during Nazi rule in Europe and shows the dramatic changes that led to the second Vatican council and the unresolved problems left after the council finished. In the end, Johnson says, the way the catholic church will lead with these unresolved problems (for example about the government and decision-making within the church) will be one of the most important factors shaping the history of christianity for the next decades.

I made of point of finally reading "How I Survived My Summer Vacation, Volume 1" after watching the first season from of "Buffy the Vampire Season" in chronological order, so I could appreciate the attempt of this collection of short stories to answer the question "What REALLY happened that summer after sophomore year?" But it soon became clear that what is involved her is less filling in the gap and more foreshadowing what is to come. It is impossible to read about Giles and Jenny without thinking she is half a year way from having her neck broken by Angelus. The six stories here begin with some notion of continuity, as a demon mage named Absalom has shown up to help the Anointed One after the death of the Master. But that only holds up for half the book. The first story, "Dust" by Michelle West, is the best of the bunch, focusing on Buffy, who is suddenly having visions of the death of everybody she touches, which makes going to live with her father for the summer more difficult than she expected. Nancy Holder's "Absalom Rising" tells of how the Master's minions and Giles, Angel and the Scoobys fought over the Master's bones. Cameron Dokey gets two bites of the apple: "Looks Can Kill" is the second best story in the bunch, focusing on Giles and Angel trying to get along with each other without Buffy to mediate. "No Place Like..." takes us back to Buffy in L.A., where she becomes involved in a nice little ghost story. The last pair of stories try to go for the comedy a bit too much and are hardly worth the effort. "Uncle Dead and the Fourth of July" by Yvonne Navarro finds Jenny dragging Giles to the 4th of July picnic where a group of zombie soldiers show up to have some fun. Then in "The Show Must Go One" by Paul Ruditis has Giles and Jenny going to see a production of "MacBeth" because five of the stage crew are vampires and the other two are Willow and Xander. At the end of this there is but one burning question: Where's Cordelia? Time always stands still between seasons on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," so I am sure we can look forward to future collections of short stories detailing what happened each summer, from the summer Buffy ran away to L.A. to the one she spent in her grave. I am also sure we can look forward to equally mixed bags of good and not so good short stories.

This book is a collection of short stories set between seasons one and two of Buffy. All six of the stories were excellant. In the first one, Dust by Michelle West, Buffy recieves gruesome visions of death every time she touches a person. Buffy must face her own worst fears, and confront what happened the night she died and was revived. The second story is titled Absalom Rising and is by prolific Buffy writer Nancy Holder. A sorceror named Absalom comes to Sunnydale and rallies what is left of the Master's followers. His plan: have them steal the Master's bones so that they can ressurect him. Now Giles, Jenny, Angel, Willow, and Xander must stop Absalom and his followers without the help of Buffy, who is in LA with her Dad. Next up is Looks Can Kill by Cameron Dokey. A shape-shifter who can assume the shape of any living creature attempts to defeat the Scooby Gang by the tried and true method of divide and conquer. His ultimate goal - to capture Buffy by taking on the shape of one of her friends. The fourth story, No Place Like..., is also by Cameron Dokey. It is set in LA and involves Buffy trying to free the trapped spirits of a group of children. Fifth is Uncle Dead and the Fourth of July. At a Fourth of July parade, a group of zombie soldiers try to take over the town, and Giles, Jenny, and Angel must put the zombies back to rest before midnight - or Sunnydale is doomed. The last story is The Show Must Go On by Paul Ruditis. In this story, the backstage crew (all vampires) of a travelling theater group recreate death scenes from famous plays. The gang has to stop the vamps before they kill everyone in the audience. This is a great Buffy book for you to read on your summer vacation. Which, hopefully, will be exciting, but not have any of the horrifying elements of the Scooby Gang's summer vacations.

This book is a collection of 6 short stories set during the summer following Buffy's sophmore year.Buffy has just killed the master and gone to LA to stay with her father. 'Dust' by Michelle West follows Buffy to LA where she has to battle internal visions and demons. As she gets up close and personal with the future deaths of her friends and relatives her death at the master's hands becomes more real. This is the darkest and most distrubing story. In 'Absalom Rising' by Nancy Holder Vampires steal the master's bones from Giles. Jenny, Xander and Willow come to his assistance. Angel offers his help but Giles has trouble trusting a vampire. 'Looks Can Kill' by Cameron Dokey is my favorite story. A shapshifter bent on the slayer's destruction targets her friends in her absence. Angel, Giles and Jenny track the beast but who do you kill when the beast can look like anyone. "No Place Like..." By Cameron Dokey is a sweet story of redemption and love. Buffy sets out to kill a witch and ends up righting an old wrong. 'Uncle Dead and the Fourth of July' by Yvonne Navarro is a silly adventure for Jenny,Giles and Angel once again. Giles attempt at American history are amusing. The last story 'The Show Must Go On'by Paul Ruditis is a hoot if a bit bloody. Theatre buffs will particularly love it.

All in all a good collection that is true to the mood at the end of the first season and the beginning of the second. The stories are enjoyable whether you know the history or not. But for the true fan the references are very will placed. Angel it would seem is staying close to Xander, Willow,and Giles because they represent a way to keep close to Buffy. In the last story he asks Giles to get a message to her since he hasn't heard from her all summer. Giles is trying to distance Xander and Willow from any danger. And Jenny Calender is falling in love with the stuffy watcher.

I recomend you spend part of your summer vacation reading these stories and I hope since this says volume one that another collection for Buffy's junior summer will follow.

A good book over all but lacks the finer points for using the program. I would recommend the book for someone who has not had much experience using AutoCAD.

At last a book from someone who understands the program and what you want to do with it.
A good book for those picking up Desktop from AEC. A pity it uses imperial units. I felt that in the rush to beat other books to the market that subjects were not covered. But I agree with the author that missing out the conceptual side of the software was reasonable as this allowed decent coverage of what is covered. So do not expect to find any advice on massing etc. But if you want to learn a way of how to set up architectural drawings in Desktop this book clearly demonstrates how.
I have already recommended this book to others

Keeping up with technology is getting harder every year, almost every day. This book has made it easier for me and my company. As a CAD company, we need to stay on top of it. Mr. Aubin's book has been a great aid in that. You really need to go through the first section, but then you can go to the part of the book that deals with what you are working on in your project. The exercises that are in the book are easy to understand and thorough in their coverage of the topic. The drawings that come with the book are excellent. And the exercises deal with both residential and commercial projects with drawings for each type. One of the great pluses of these drawings are that you do not have to keep building from the first one to the last. Each section has an updated drawing for you to use so that you can concentrate on the topic that you are working on. There is also a completed drawing for you to reference and see the finished result. I created a seperate sub-directory for my exercises. This way, I can keep the original drawings intact and use them again, in case I need to start over or want to try again. I also open both the exercise drawing for the topic that I am working on as well as the project that I am working on at the time. This has been a great help in getting my drawings to be correct and so that I get the finished project done correctly.

If you have no other reference book on ADT R3 or R3.3, get this one. You will have it broke in and dog-eared in no time at all. I made sure that everyone in my firm has one, as well as the architects that I work with.

Set in Dutch Colonial NY State, this tale of homespun courage is gently paced for young readers, with accurate, historical detailing of life during the French and Indian War. When Father departs with the local militia, only young Edward is left to defend the family's humble farm and log cabin. His farsighted mother helps him position and load an old Spanish matchlock gun--just in case the Indians get through. But could a woman and two children survive an attack by Native Americans bent on murder, arson and revenge? What scene of devatation will await their father upon his return to the family homestead? Based on a true story of Dutch/American bravery, this short book is enhanced by Paul Lantz' vivid B/W and color illustrations. The theme--the inborn desire of people to be free to follow their own dreams and pursue happiness in their own way--reflects America's proud heritage of goal-setting and physical hardship in order to carve one's own path out of the wilderness.

Winner of the 1942 John Newbery Medal for most significant contribution to children's literature, "The Matchlock Gun" is one of the shortest--yet one of the most memorable--of all the Newbery Medal books. I've read every one of the Newbery books from 1922 through 2000, and this little story made a big impression on me. The novel covers but a day in the life of a very young boy who is left at home with the huge responsibility of safeguarding his family in the absence of his father.

SYNOPSIS: Edward ("Ateoord" in the story) Van Alstyne's father, Teunis, is a captain in the Guilderland militia and leaves the family overnight to defend their small community outside Albany City, NY against the French and Indians. The militia is unable to hold the Indians at the bridge, however, and five Indians reach the Van Alstyne farm.

Gertrude (Edward's mother) has the foresight to rig up her grandfather's heavy, awkward Spanish matchlock gun through a hole in the window shutter and acts as a decoy, picking beans in the garden, until the Indians reach the house. Edward must then defend his wounded mother and protect his family with the huge, ungainly weapon.

IMPRESSIONS: Today it is quite seldom that extremely young children must bear adult responsibilities in the face of such danger. Historical fiction like this is compelling reading; "The Matchlock Gun" is a very brief but well-written story which should interest any young reader.

The story of this book is about how the courage and bravery of a mother and her young son saves the lives of their family from an indian attack. We get a view of exactly how it was in the 1700's. There are not many stories out there for children or adults that tell it like it was. But this is one of them! The pictures in the book are excellent also, giving pretty good detail of the story as you read along.

The story is wonderful for young children because it tells about an obedient boy who followed the instructions of his mother and father implicitly. Note as you read, that he never touched the gun without his father or mother's command. What a lesson to teach young children! Although he was afraid, he had to be brave to survive in the times in which they lived. His obedience saved the lives of his mother and sister, and his own. On top of that, the setting is in the home of a loving family.

Concerning the savages,exactly who was attacking whom? Were the people to just sit back and let it happen? Let me further add this..there is nothing wrong with loving and defending your own.
Highly recommended with Five stars!