I took this book off the shelf hoping that it would teach me something new and/or fun about zinemaking and the world of zines. Instead it's mostly a how-to, geared towards those who are interested in investing serious money and technical skill into their zines. It tells plenty about distribution, dealing with stores and the postal service, and gives advice on layout and putting the scene together.

For someone who's going to work on a large scale, this is good stuff (I was going to give the book two stars before I remembered that it wasn't necessarily geared towards me). But for someone in my position- making a zine with a print run of under one hundred- this is extraordinarily impractical. I should spend HOW MUCH on a postage meter/saddle stapler/hot glue thingy? If you're broke and making copies secretly on a faculty copier, it's not much help.

The other thing I disliked about the book was that it gives the impression that it's a surefire way to make a great zine. Not true. I struggled along for four years before my zine finally started becoming something I could be proud of. Just following instructions does not give the same result as a couple years of practice; beyond that, let's face it, a lot of zines are simply not well-written. I'd rather have a single readable, simple zine than a dozen gorgeous-looking zines with writing that lacks clarity and effort.

In short- some good advice. I recently found myself drawing on the comments about burnout, but for the low-key zinemaker, I suggest you look elsewhere.

This book is a wonderful introduction to the zine world for those who have little or no knowledge of desktop publishing or graphic arts. It was instrumental to me in the launching of my own zine, Beyond Bizarre. The only reason I do not give it five stars is that the references to sex and rebellion (the author spends some time elaborating on his "philosophy" of zines) is a bit gratuitous. Overall a very good book for adults.

Ask anyone who works for a magazine -- it's a job. Ask anyonewho works on their zine -- it's a passion. This is true and I wouldlike to confirm these words from the first page of the Make A Zine!

20 years ago, when I was young and the Soviet Union was still struggling for communism, I co-published with my friends a jazz zine. It was real SAMIZDAT -- an illegal self-published independent zine. We printed it on the electric type writer with print out of 50 copies or so. It was dangerous but it was passion. Today I am working for a popular computer magazine -- and it is just a good job, not more.

This book is destined to be the starting point of an independent magazine self-publishing. You will find the answers to virtually any question you have regarding how to self-publish zine or e-zine. And it's fun to read even if you don't want to publish.

Bill Brent gives the best introduction to layout, typography, stats, and design I've ever seen. But he also pays too much attention to his sex zines. In appendix of the book there is a good directory of stores and zine distributors (esp. sex-positive), but valuable in the USA only.

Now, in the time of the e-zine explosion, veteran and novice zine editors alike are discovering the joys of paperless publishing. With Internet pulishing everyone is absolutelly independent and free, and there are no expensive print or postage bills.

So, make your zines, ladies and genlemen. And I believe computers & Internet someday destroy any ...totalitarian state.

Many people, myself among them, were initially turned off by Carrie Fisher's Postcards from the Edge. Oh no, here comes another Hollywood star who thinks she can run the gamut of the arts. Even though the book was a bestseller when it was released, I couldn't change my initial (and, admittedly) biased opinion--50 million Elvis fans can be wrong. Even when Surrender the Pink, Fisher's second novel, appeared and garnered acclaim, I wasn't satisfied. But then Postcards from the Edge was made into a film with Meryl Streep, and, needing a film to see, I went. And what transpired on the screen (from a screenplay by Fisher) was enough to break through my bias.

Postcards from the Edge is quite different from the movie, however. The movie has a linear story that is quite clearly autobiographical for Fisher--Suzanne Vail is a young star undergoes a stomach pump, then drug rehabilitation, and it all is the result of early fame, and a famous mother that the star has yet to really come to terms with. The book, although similar in parts, has a "postcard" feel. The early section is told through the diary entries of Suzanne and Alex, an addicted young screenwriter. Later sections, told only through the point of view of Suzanne, range from entirely dialogue through more traditional third person narrative.

Fisher understands the process of addiction, that searching for escape, then denial, then endless justification. Her portrayal of drug addiction goes beyond drugs--I've never taken any, but I could see the patterns of addiction in terms of my many vices. She also understands the glad-handing movie culture enough to be able to depict it as glamorous, while also showing the pimples underneath. Bret Easton Ellis has nothing on her one scene of Suzanne going shopping: the brand names, the non-sequiturs, the endless vagaries are all things he would have died to write.

Carrie Fisher has a way with words. She's not the next Dorothy Parker, but there is a fine example of wit in Postcards from the Edge. It's a wit measured by the 80s, by her experience, and by her personality. Ellis can't match it, because he hasn't lived her life. And that's what makes Postcards from the Edge special: it is a book that was written by the only person who could write it. That is, it is unique. And, frankly, that's more than can be said for many books published these days.

Ever had issues with your mother, your looks, your career, your self-esteem, your depression? Ever just thought you hit rock bottom, but pulled yourself out of it? Carrie Fisher takes readers on an unbelievable ride where she writes her main character as a very somber, yet sarcastic hero in a world full of drug users and Hollywood actors. The two often become the same thing.

The text is full of a number of very, very witty one liners, but reaches a great subtext about human bravery in a time when people give other people very little credit for just getting out of bed each day.

This is Fisher's finest book so far.

You will laugh. Trust me.

This book is one of the best books I have read. It is funny and sad, and although I share none of the experiences that the main character, Suzanne Vale, and the author, Carrie Fisher have, I somehow feel as if I am the author, and I am the character. Carrie Fisher's writing speaks to me like only a couple of other books ever have or ever will.

This unique book - a stylistic cross between "News of the Weird" and "In Cold Blood" - is a fascinating exploration of a popular urban legend, the alleged "death" of Beatle Paul McCartney. I am neither a Beatles fanatic nor a student of contemporary myth, but I loved this book! Intelligently-written and comprehensive, "Turn Me On, Dead Man" is a witty, trippy walk down memory lane for those of us who remember hearing the rumors of McCartney's demise - and simply big fun for everyone else. A nifty case study on how urban legends are born and how they can take on a life of their own

"Turn Me On, Dead Man" is an excellent book and is very interestingly written. While the story is a historical account of a slice of life from our musical past, it reads like a novel. I am not an avid Beatles fan, but I was totally captivated by the book. Andru Reeve obviously spent a lot of time researching the background for his book and talking to the people who actually lived through and participated in some way in the Paul is Dead hoax. It is delightful reading and is a book that I would heartily recommend to anyone, but especially to those fans of the fab four. My only complaint is that this is the only book that Reeve has published. The guy has the talent to be recognized as a first-rate journalist and novelist

Beatle fans always knew that someday there'd be a whole book on the subject, but this book surpassed my expectations. Before reading this book, every written account of the 'Paul Is Dead' rumor seemed the same to me...not much more than a list of the 'clues' and the Beatles' explanations. But Andre Reeves' book is not just a listing of clues...in fact, he saves that for the very end of the book. Instead he wisely gets behind the origin and evolution of the rumor, showing how a college student's tongue in cheek newspaper article snowballed into a national obsession, almost like a small fire gradually getting out of control and turning into an inferno. Reeves puts the reader right into those crazy weeks of October 1969 so that he/she can get a glimpse of a world unsure if the baby-faced Beatle was still walking the Earth, barefoot or otherwise. The accounts from the rumor's key players provide information previously unavailable in any Beatle books, and shed new light on many areas. Those who continue to profess that the Beatles concocted the whole thing really need to read this book before uttering another word about it. If you just want a fun-to-read listing of clues, there are many web sites that provide one. But if you are looking for some true stories behind the rumor that put it in a whole new perspective (in other words, if you truly wish to learn something,) 'Turn Me On Dead Man' more than satisfies.

I owe my good health today to MSP. In 1994 I became ill with what I thought was the flu, turned out to be Lyme disease. It never got better. I lost my ability to work, I was a court reporter, because I never knew how I would feel from one day to the next. I slept 15 to 20 hours a day, fevers, joints became so painful I had to use a cane. This lasted for a year. Took antibiotics but then felt even worse, because of the Candidiasis. Someone gave me an 800 number for MSP. I had nothing to lose. I figured I would end up in a wheelchair. I ordered a bottle, and the book. I was not too impressed with the book, I must say. It wandered a bit. Before I started the MSP, I insisted on speaking with Dr. Farber. He called me and described my symptoms and exactly what I could expect. Within in four days I noticed a difference. My fever broke. I did not need to sleep all day. Within two weeks I was able to walk without problems. I was off antibiotics. Within three months, I was able to lift weights, do everything I had before my illness. Dr. Farber saved my life. I was saddened to hear of his passing. If you have Lyme disease, you must try MSP. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I call it my miracle, and there are so few these days.

I have read the MICRO SILVER BULLET no less than four times. Each time
I read this book I have gotten something else out of it. I think the
author put too much of his personal life in the book including baby
pictures of himself. What I really liked about the book is that it is
written so the average person can understand its contents and learn
about all the good health tips Dr. Farber had for his
readers. Dr. Farber once told me, by reading his book it would be like
sitting down and talking to him for the past 30 years. I once told
Dr. Farber that he had more degrees after his name than I have on my
thermomter in my medicine cabinet. Dr. Farber wrote this book after
winning a battle with Lyme disease. Only after exhausting all of his
normal holistic healing methods and that of regular medicine and
antibiotics did he find the answer to the Lyme disease. He found this
answer in what he called The Dead Sea Scrolls of Modern Medicine. His
research led him to find colloidal silver. The silver raised his body
to the highest degree of homeostasis and the Lyme disease left his
body. He wrote the book so his story could be shared with the
world. For the most part, the book reviews have been very good. There
has been one who has called the contents of this book a con-job. It
seems funny that those that do, don't seem to share any credentials
with us as far as holistic or medical background. Are they self
appointed experts? From personal experience my wife and I take the
silver everyday and we never have colds any more nor do we catch the
flu.

Dr. Farber who was murdered on November 13,1998. He took large
doses of silver for over five years. His autopsy revealed that all of
his organs were clean. As you can see even in his death Dr. Farber was
still doing research for mankind. He proved the silver worked and that
there was no build up in his body of the silver. Also guess what?
Dr. Farber never turned gray from what some agencies call
argyria.

If you haven't already
guessed, I am related to Dr. Farber. He was my younger
brother. Dr. Farber was a brilliant person who was always 20 years
ahead of his time. Things that he brought into being 20 years ago are
now used on a regular basis by both holistic and medical practioners
today. Paul once said the only thing stronger than two brothers
fighting with one another is two brothers working with each other. It
was an honor and a pleasure to have had the opportunity to work on
this project with my younger brother. All I ask is that you read this
book. Dr. Farber presents his experience and knowledge, you
decide. Thank you for reading this review and I hope you enjoy my
brother's book.

Suppose there was a substance that you could buy for a few dollars a pint, or make in your home for a few cents a gallon, that kills every known bacteria and virus ever discovered. Suppose that you and your family would never have to have a cold or flu again, or ever worry about more serious or fatal pathogens such as the AIDS, Ebola and Hanta viruses. Suppose this substance not only was completely non-toxic at any level, but also no pathogen could ever become resistant to it, unlike antibiotics. This substance exists, and is called colloidal silver.

What percentage of the world's economy is related in some way to health-care? What percentage of the health-care business is related to "treating" (not necessarily curing) viral and bacterial infections? What percentage of the drug companies business involves drugs that "treat" such infections? Since colloidal silver cannot be patented and is completely effective against viruses and bacteria, it represents an extreme threat to a significant portion of the world's economy. Any wonder very few people have ever heard of it? It is a documented fact that the medical establishment has attempted, so far unsuccessfully, to get colloidal silver banned. You would also expect there to be vicious attacks on this substance by the health care "powers that be". You can observe this for yourself by reading a couple of the reviews posted here. I note that one individual posting such a vicious attack on this book also has posted other such reviews regarding other works on colloidal silver. Gee, I wonder why? By the way, I personally consider anyone that deliberately attempts to suppress knowledge that would significantly ease pain, suffering and death in this world to be pure evil, and subject to unimaginable consequences for their souls. If these "skeptics" were scientifically competent, they could go into a laboratory and observe under a microscope the effect of colloidal silver on any pathogen they choose to test.

Is this book perfect? Nope. However, the value of any work that documents the effectiveness of this miracle substance cannot be measured. The author discusses his own cure from the results of advanced Lyme disease that resulted in his paralysis from the chest down. After all "establishment" treatment failed, colloidal silver cured him completely.

I have personally done research on colloidal silver for years, and can attest to its miraculous qualities. I have not had a cold or flu since I started using CS (when symptoms start appearing, gargle with CS and use it as a nasal spray until all symptoms quickly disappear). I also was able to eliminate warts I had had for twenty years that no "establishment" treatment was successful against. It is the real deal.

Henry Kaufman is one of the most important figures in the development of world credit markets in the last 40 years. This book is part biography, part history of the post World War II period in the financial markets, and part prescription for the financial markets in the next two decades. The book is written in a lucid, qualitative, approachable way that makes it accessible and interesting to almost any reader. In a foreword by Paul Volcker, the highly regarded former chairman of the Federal Reserve, you will learn that the on-going, difficult financial problems of the current age mean that "On Money and Markets should be prescribed reading for all those whose future and fortunes are tied to the performance of our financial systems."

Dr. Kaufman's influence has evolved through his studies of the credit markets, role in developing them as head of research at Solomon Brothers, commentator on the credit markets and Federal Reserve policy, and forecaster of financial market trends. He is well respected, even by those who do not agree with him. Perhaps his most influential moment came on August 17, 1982 when he called the turn in the interest rate environment that kicked in the bond and stock market boom in the United States that has lasted ever since.

Let me briefly describe each part of the book. The first nine chapters are primarily a biography of Dr. Kaufman. Despite the fact that I have been following his thinking closely for over 20 years, much of this was new to me. He is modest in speaking about his accomplishments, which makes the story more appealing. The story of how Dr. Kaufman became "the" Henry Kaufman is well worth your time. Born in a small rural town in Germany, violence against Jews in his own town caused his family to emigrate to the United States in the 1930s. During the time in Germany, he suffered from polio, and had two operations as a result. Speaking almost no English when he arrived in New York, he was back to grade level performance within a year . . . after the humiliation of being put back into the first grade. You will get many interesting glimpses of how important mentors and families are to the accomplishments of any one.

Chapters three through fifteen also serve as a partial history of the world (and especially the U.S.) financial markets. The length of the period covered and the breadth of view make his perspective very valuable for the casual observer of the subject. Most will be surprised by how great the changes have been in the last two decades, for example.

But, to me, the most valuable parts of this book were the prescriptive elements of what needs to be done now that build from material in chapters eleven through eighteen. I agree with him that regulation is falling behind the shifts in the financial markets. For example, new types of financial institutions are being created that have essentially no regulation, yet contain great risks for the whole society. CitiGroup is an example. The banking part is regulated by the Federal Reserve but the Travelers insurance portions are regulated by the states. The investment banking part of the company is primarily regulated by the SEC.

He also warns against the excessive use of derivatives, financial leverage, and decreased care in overseeing these practices compared to their size and importance. In good economic times, this works well. How well will they work in bad economic times? Probably not very well. The near collapse of the bond market during the Russian debt crisis in 1998 is an important warning here.

More significantly, although the Federal Reserve knows that there is a stock and real estate speculative bubble in the United States, it is at a loss to know how to handle that bubble. Dr. Kaufman predicts tough times and greater volatility in the markets ahead that will make the one-day fall in October 1987 look like a walk in the park. The collapse will be abetted by the low savings rate, the growing importance of other strong currencies, high debt levels, incomplete regulation of speculation, and greater growth abroad while the Fed fights back by only being able to lower interest rates.

These are sobering words and thoughts, and I hope that policy-makers, policy-influencers, as well as ordinary citizens will take them seriously. The time to fix the dike is before it breaks.

If Dr. Kaufman is right, how will you protect the financial security of your organization, business, career, and family? Without knowing what the risks are, you won't know what to prepare for. I suggest you read this book as part of your preparation.

The only people who will be disappointed in this book are those who would like a more detailed and technical explanation of these points. Dr. Kaufman is clearly capable of providing more, but did not want to limit his audience. Despite its general nature, I found the chapter on forecasting to be quite interesting and valuable.

After you have read this book, also ask yourself if you have taken full advantage of your opportunities in life as Dr. Kaufman has. If you have not, ask yourself what you could learn from his example. I suspect that you will start asking for and getting more advice from outstanding people as a result.

Live long and prosper!

Over the last decade we have seen many self-serving autobiographies and memoirs, but Henry Kaufman's On Money and Markets certainly is not one of them. Kaufman is an investment banker, but he is also a scholar and a gentleman. These memoirs capture the mettle of the man from his start in the banking business, through his years at Salomon Brothers and eventually to his own consulting business. The period covered, from pre-world War II to the end of the 20th century, is the most dynamic time in the history of the financial markets. It is Kaufman's insights into these revolutionary years on Wall Street that make this a gripping tale. We [...] recommend this book to all executives and investors, many of whom would benefit greatly from a refresher course in Wall Street history.

Henry Kaufman's book is much more than a compelling saga of a life, a career, and a financial history. It is a reminder of the risks that abound in today's markets, and of the compelling importance of the great values that have led to the strength of the nation's financial system. In the book's most important chapter (16), Dr. Kaufman presents 17 neglected lessons for policymakers, financial institutions, and investors. If we ignore them, the well-catalogued sins of our financial past will return to haunt us. Consider Lesson 4: "..basic fiduciary duty too often has been forgotten in the high-voltage, high velocity financial environment of recent decades . . . the notion of financial trusteeship has been lost in the shuffle." He's right, and readers will profit immensely by taking heed, not only of those words, but the entire book.

I have read this book, and I would say (not being too familiar with the field of "exit counseling/abusive church counseling" literature, though I read Steve Hassan's book (Jew former-Moonie) - COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL - years ago) that it's a pretty good book. If you deal with people who are or were in controlling churches (a lot of the book focuses on the Shepherding/Discipleship movement), or if you yourself were a victim or member of such a group, or even any abusive church, then you should buy this book.

In fact, this book is good to read if you're involved in most conservative Christian denominations/churches/movements, even "good" ones, as it will prompt you to continue to "prove all things [and] hold fast that which is good" as the Scriptures teach us to do, and not just accept leaders' statements or teachings. If you are discipling someone, or if you yourself are being discipled, this book has many good checks and balances and insights that should help you discern between good discipling and abusive or poor discipling. If you are in a small group that is designed to help you and others grow spiritually, this book will also be of value.

We were in a church that had some serious problems, and we finally left it. Skimming through her 6-page checklist at the back of the book of abusive characteristics, I would say that for us at least (I can't speak for the persons in our church who lived together at the "Bible School") we experienced few of these things, at least not in as overt a way as many controlling groups, but I would bet that if I sent Ms. Chrnalogar all my documentation of the things that happened that led to our decision to leave, she would agree that we were in an abusive church situation. She used to be a member of an abusive church or sect or cult (she never names the group) and was rescued by family intervention. She has helped rescue people for 17 years (as of 1997 when the book was written).

She only mentions a few names. She explicitly criticizes several items from the book/workbook EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry Blackaby, a very popular book that my wife and I studied from for at time. She seems to criticize Campus Crusade for Christ, as some of the items she comments on are from their literature (based on the footnotes). One comment, I think, criticizes Navigators literature. She criticizes YWAM at several points. She appears to be an Evangelical Christian (and CCC and Navigators are "favorites" of Evangelicals, so it's interesting that she faults their literature for being unbiblical at points), but I couldn't tell if she is Charismatic.

The Appendix on the history of the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement is fascinating. A particularly relevant item for us these days, as the "Five-Fold Ministries" and "New Apostolic Reformation" movements are continuing to gain adherents, is this one:

"During this same time [i.e., late 1960's and early 10970's], former leaders of the aberrant 1950s Pentecostal 'Latter Rain Movement' taught that the proper church governmental model was the 'Five-Fold Ministries.' The phrase refers to the presumed hierarchical ordering of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers found in Ephesians 4:11-13. This group taught that the ultimate purpose of these ministries was to unite all believers, and to acquire a divine nature. The Five-Fold Ministries doctrine also held that there are living apostles who are to rule the church and eventually the world."

Chrnalogar's book is such that you could give it to a person in a controlling group and, if they read it, they would be challenged, but not harshly or forcefully or stridently, to examine what their church does and why, and they would be led, if they allow themselves, to do an objective (if that's possible) evaluation of what their group does and teaches - which could result in loosening the hold their group has on them. This book is said to be the foundation of her exit counseling program.

>>... I have read about half-way through the book "Twisted Scriptures" and have recommended the book to no less than a half-a-dozen people. It has been a God-send to me. Ø >>I read "Toxic Faith" about 5 years ago and it helped me to realize that my family and I were in an abusive system. Although the book touched on manipulation of scripture, Mary Alice Chrnalogar's book, "Twisted Scriptures" has really given me new life. The scriptures that used to haunt me no longer do because they are no longer twisted. So much made sense to me. Obeying, sacrificing, not touching God's anointed all now have new meaning because Mary places them in correct context. I pray that someday I will be given the opportunity to teach from this book. .....read the book... you will never, never be the same.

Wow! This is just the book we needed after discovering that our adult children are infact, in a religious cult. We had our suspicions, but thanks to Mary Alice Chrnalogar and the information leading us to this point, we now know with certainty.
This book is a must for active members, former members, relatives and loved ones who have any connection to an abusive church, "the decipleship, shepherding" type of movements.
They have successfully snared so many to a life of bondage and to a never-ending state of works and guilt mentality.
Our heart breaks for our children, as we watch them sacrafice their own personal choices to the whims of a "discipler".
I can not recommend this book highly enough. It is a must read. And I pray that when one who has found themselves deceived and need answers, "Twisted Scriptures" will find it's way into their hands. They will know that they are not crazy or beyond God's grace, but rather find unconditional acceptance and love from a loving and personal God. With correct understanding of the Scriptures, God's word will present freedom and life and the truth will indeed set them free.
Sincerely,
Parents who are praying for their children's deliverance.

From the start Coonts gets your attention. The US Govt. brings a drug lord to America to stand trial. He uses Columbian tactics to be released. Everything from commando teams to an assassin to take out the President. The book starts to flow when the assassin wounds President Bush. The story is great. Well developed...until the end. I would have given this book 4 stars if the ending would have lived up to the rest of the interesting story line. With what we have learned in the book about the assassin, it is hard to believe he would act as he does after being so meticulous.

This was an exciting book by Coonts. This was also a unique concept as a plot. A major drug salesman is arrested and brought back to America to stand trial. Through his wealth the drug salesman hires crack commando squads and an assasin. The assasin wounds President Bush and Dan Quayle has to take over. This is where the action begins. The country is under seige. The government is pushed to the limit trying to deal with the commandos. Vice-President Quayle has his hands full dealing with this crisis. This book also has strong characters. This is a definite read. You will enjoy it.

The book is great and ity is Coonts' best book. The beginning I was hooked and I was waiting for an ending like no other and that is exactly what I got.

While a fleet of Chinese submarines invading NYC may be a far-fetched plot, it worked for me. Garrison blended some cool action scenes with memorable characters. Thumbs up on how well he fleshed them out. Mayor Rudy Mincarelli is a strong willed guy who wants to handle the crisis on his own. However, I really questioned the man's steadfast refusal to keep the military out of New York. Who the heck else is equipped to deal with an army of commandoes backed up by missiles and deck guns? Reporter Jose Chin was annoying but cool. Cared nothing about his own well-being. Just wanted to get the big story. The mayor's press person, Renata, may be an unlikeable, workaholic witch, but she definitely added to the story. Tugboat Captain Ken Hughes was the blue collar, regular guy hero of the book looking for any opportunity to hurt the Chinese invaders. His girlfriend, publisher Kate Ross, was an independent, tough woman who runs through a harrowing gauntlet of Chinese marines, Hell's Angels and street gangs all through lower Manhattan. Even the main bad guy, Admiral Tang, was interesting. Sort of a Rommel-esque warrior. Totally loyal to his men, wants the best for his country and believes this outrageous act will make him Emperor of China.

Some very cool combat scenes, especially involving the crippled carrier Kennedy, whose crew continues to battle the Chinese despite the damage to their ship. Lots of boat collisions and some wicked battles in the streets of New York.

I do have to take some issue with one reviewer who said the book was an insult to the firefighters and police who died on 9/11. Actually, the police in this book kept on fighting the Chinese despite horrendous loses and a disadvantage in firepower. They come off as heroes in my book. Also, this book was written prior to 9/11.

Mr. Garrison has obviously spent a long time in New York City. He has an accurate read on Rudy Giuliani (thinly disguised here) and his group of sychophants. The Rudy "bunker" mentality is well portrayed here, as is the "New York City vs. Everyone Else school of thought. Even the Rudy Bunker, perversely built in the World Trade Center, is accurately shown for the folly that it is. The police department is realistically shown, except for one small dig at Long Islanders who are city cops, but one can't have everything. The action, once you get past the stretch of imagination required for the 100 Chinese submarines, is non-stop. The New York character is well written here, these are the people of NYC, average, above average, and some decidedly below average. But they're all here, and they all play a part.

If you're looking for deep socio-political thought, go elsewhere. If you want an enjoyable read, something to sit around the pool with, this is the book for you.

I recommend this as a good buy. It's worth the read, just don't go looking for deep thought here.

Tugboat Captain Ken Hughes works the waters of New York City. He combines the intellect of an academia with the pragmatic sleaze of a wharf rat. Kate Ross is a book editor in a major publishing house who concedes she will never meet her life's soul mate until a blind date introduces her to Ken. However, an invasion by an advance Chinese vanguard interrupts the romance.

Admiral Tan leads a force of over one hundred submarines poised to attack the Big Apple. The zealot plans to hold America's largest city hostage until Taiwan is returned to its rightful place as part of the glorious People's Republic of China. If the United States fails to heed Admiral Tong's warning, he will destroy the city. A small group of freedom fighters including Kate and Ken begin the counterattack.

Paul Garrison pumps up the volume with his latest cardiac thriller, RED SKY AT MORNING. This thriller will leave the audience requiring a cool down time to normalize their pulse. The villain is a believable patriot (depending on which side of the fence you sit) who surprisingly will garner much reader empathy. The lead couple makes for a heroic duo. However, there is no question that the thrills a page plot is what makes this a winner for genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

As a former Peace Corps volunteer in Africa (and a Catholic) I found myself identifying with this author. He writes vividly and at times so richly describes landscapes I have encountered I felt I was visiting them again. His male Peace Corps Volunteer was dead-on (not much has changed from the 60's to the 90's in that respect) - many American men I knew in Africa behaved similarly, but with Theroux I was disappointed in his character. I kept wondering - how much of this is real and how much fiction.

I was angry with his dismissive attitude of women - "anything I want" - and later, his too soon forgiving wife. Women seemed ornaments to him - as were many characters and even locations in this novel - richly described, but only in terms of their utility to him. When no longer needed, the strongest of women looked weak - particulary Eve. In the end, I felt sorry for Andre, but I wanted to read more. Theroux is a gifted writer, despite Andre's (or was it Paul's) treatment of women. I found this book very hard to put down.

Outstanding biographical work by Theroux, couched as fiction to allow for creative license. The book takes you through the world of Andre Parent, a writer who travels Africa and Europe, living the surface life of an upstanding individual, concealing the secret life of an energized sexually charged vagabond.

Chapter 1 (Altar Boy) is about Andre's coming of age, and outgrowing his parents expectations.

Chapter 2 (Whale Steaks) covers his oscilation between his love of a slightly older girlfriend, and his fascination with someone from his parent's generation.

Chapter 3 (African Girls) talks about his adventures in the peace corps, largely oriented around sleeping with the local girls.

Chapter 4 (Bush Baby) is the continuing story of his adventures, including some encounters with a V.S. Naipul lookalike. (Interesting as Naipul was a major influence on Theroux's career)

Chapter 5 (Leaving Siberia) has a double meaning. It is about Parent physically leaving Siberia on a travel writing trip, and an emotional exit from Siberia after learning of his wife's infidelity.

Chapter 6 (Two of Everything) is about the double life that Parent lives - one with his wife, and another with his mistress. It chronicles an identical trip through India with both women. This is an example of him becoming what he had previously abhored.

The book is well written on several levels. It vividly takes you into the peace corps, and through Africa. It also has a lot of subtly, as the character first repeats his own mistakes, and then repeats the mistakes he dislikes in others. The disappointment with his eventual success (be careful what you ask for as you might get it) on both the large and small levels are told with a straight face, adding to the believability of the character.

The book is 500 pages of a quick energizing read. Well worth the time invested.

The prequal to his acclaimed *My Other Life*, *My Secret History* is also a masterful work of narrative and characterization, imbued with grace, humor, and humanity. It demonstrates a young man's coming-of-age stuggles more astutely than any book I've read, and while it's easier to read than the later book, it's just as poignant: we often rather smugly hide behind our baggage and consider younger people frivolous because of inexperience, or somehow incapable of love. Theroux shows that they *do* feel love, of romance, friendship, respect--and these emotions form the measuring sticks by which all our subsequent experiences will be measured. Moreover, the book itself is an act of love--of writing and of living. It has made me value my own life more fully, through pages that made me relate, reflect, laugh, and read until dawn, and then, the better for it, get up and start writing, myself.

And living.

Just read the tender, blunt and beautiful first section, and I seriously doubt you'll stop.

I only give this book three stars because the information contained within is mostly things that you would already know about; how to explore a galaxy? Come on! My 2-year old could figure that out. Yet they give it 17 pages (Stellar Cartography, Ch. 7 and Exploration, Ch. 8) which is just stuff that you already know, if you've played this game. The book is about 50% full of charts giving you specific info on each and every structure in the game. That does help a little. Also, the Tactical Combat chapters and the Production chapters will give you some good insight into how best to proceed in each area. And that's about it. I was upset because I don't think I got my money's worth with this product. If it was only 9.99, I think I would have. But not for 17.99.

The Star Trek Birth of the Federation Strategy Guide is a very useful comprehensive book that outlines strategies for winning and goes more in depth than the booklet that came with the game. It offers a complete listing of the ships and their strengths and also offers information on all structures, races, and charts on game effects and point systems for what each action is worth. Cheat codes and tips are also offered. Definately worth the price.

I originally bought the book because I was somewhat disapponted with the game documentation. I was in for a surprise. The book is much more than a thick tutorial.

I found it to be easy to read or to look up specific information "on the fly" while playing the game.

The listing of the races and units in the game is extremely useful. If you are one of those who hate "cheat codes", they are easily ignored. The stategies and hints will NOT solve the game for you, but will offer some new ideas to try in your conquest of the galaxy.

I feel this is a "must have" for any "Birth of the Federation" player.