This series was really not very good at all, but this book did stand out as a better book than it's predecesers. The characterizations are a bit better, though not by much, and it seemed to have a touch more Star Wars feel than the others, which hardly seemed to be Star Wars books they were so far from what the characters are supposed to be. The plot was a little more believable too, though some parts of it were still very silly. It had a higher sense of drama too, in that it actually HAD a sense of drama. This would be a good series for kids twelve and under, though older fans probably won't like them.

There are the same characters and also new ones in The Rebel Alliance and in The Empire.Read it now!!! Start from Book One, but this is the best!!!

I have been reading, like, five books in this series up to this one, the Davids, Paul and Hollace, they are the author. And now I got the climax of finding out about who Ken really is. We knew he was a Jedi Prince but he didn't know his parents, just like Luke didn't know he was actually the son of Darth Vader! And Ken thinks maybe he's the son of Obi-won Kenobi and that's where the Ken in his name comes from. But he's wrong, and I won't spoil the surprise but WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT! INCredibly cool!! But read the other five first if you can.

I had to read the book for my English literature class and I was impressed by the way the characters were depicted -- described through their deeds only, not their thoughts. That the author remains detached from the world of his characters even in the moments when he should say no to indifference, cynicism, sefishhness made me like the book even more. And I could not help symphatizing the male character because I could not hate him for he did see the world this way.

Al

This book is a modern day masterpiece/classic, John Braine examines in one little book the meaning of life the meaning of love,reasons for living and presents 50's English culture very well Icouldn't stop thinking about thi book when I had finished it The filmis excellent too with Signoret & Harvey

Charles Paul Conn has written a laughably one-sided book, and tries to present it as unvarnished fact - the phrase 'yellow journalism' keeps popping into my head.

If you're already positive that Amway is the best thing since sliced bread, this book will probably be just what you're looking for - a pleasant, Pollyannaesque romp through the fluffy clouds and green meadows of Amway's public relations machine. To the outside observer, however, this book is just another example of propaganda work-for-hire.

It is worth noting that the word 'obviously' in the text invariably appears whenever Conn has run out of facts and wants to make some breathtakingly irrational leap of logic. For an example, read the first paragraph on page 53, where Conn states that the solution to Amway's leadership problem (his words, not mine) "lies obviously with the children of the co-founders..." Or look at the last paragraph on page 55, where he declares that the Amway founders' children are "obviously destined by birth and training for higher things." It's a shame he doesn't have any footnotes or a bibliography or anything to back up these interesting statements.

In all fairness, however, the book is reasonably sturdy, making it an excellent coaster or candidate to shim up a short table leg, and is, therefore, worth the nickel this book may cost you at a yard sale.

-- Jake Boone

Charles Paul Conn has written a dispassionate look at the AMWAY phenomenon, with facts, figures, insights, and observations about this incredible organization. Unlike a previous reviewer who thought it was "Pollyanna" writing, nothing could be further than the truth, and maybe the movie Pollyanna isn't such a bad movie, either. The fact remains that if you're looking to do valid research (Conn is a newspaper reporter), this book will not gloss over anything and will answer many of the questions you may have about this company.

Highly recommended, even if you aren't a distributor, or what they called a "business owner" now.

I have married into this business. Promises to Keep has been a very informational tool in helping me understand what our business is all about. The facts about the day to day functioning may be dated, but the book is not about facts, it is about the foundation of a large corporation and the fundamentals of keeping a great business going. I am purchasing this book for family that may only have a snapshot of what we are involved in. I cannot wait to share it!

Even the biggest Paul Thomas Anderson fan will admit that his scripts don't read that well. He makes basic spelling mistakes and tends to run on with his incoherent, "realistic" monologues. His movies are salvaged by good actors, and his sense of sound and visual storytelling. In any event, this book is a big disappointment. If you're expecting something comparable to Newmarket's Magnolia script book or even Faber and Faber's Boogie Nights script book, think again. The gimmick here is that the multi-colored script revision pages are published, instead of a single draft. The result is only 90 pages and, since many of the pages are script revisions, some of the pages are half empty. Also, unlike the previously published PTA scripts, there's no introduction. Unlike the Magnolia script, there are no stills. Hell, there isn't even text on the back cover of the book. This is as bare-bones as script books come. As far as I can tell, PTA doesn't really care about his fans anymore. He's stopped recording commentaries, writing introductions, or soundtrack liner notes. At least he still makes good movies.

I love being able to read P.T. Anderson's shooting scripts. His films are fabulous. I believe one of the negative reviewers partially misses the point when harping on the misspellings, the rambling monologues and how PTA's scripts are saved by the actors. The whole point of a script is that it is the first rough draft -- the framework -- upon which a movie is built. Of course there are going to be improvements between the script and the final product. The reason to buy this, or any, shooting script is to see how the project evolved from script to screen. In the case of Punch-Drunk Love -- much more so than Boogie Nights or Magnolia -- it's fascinating to find that almost every important scene was tweaked, sometimes in a major way, before this wonderful film reached the screen. ... It's a great chance to get some insight into the stages of the creative process of one of America's finest directors. ... BOTTOM LINE: Does this book have all the bells and whistles of the Boogie Nights and Magnolia shooting scripts? NOPE. Is it essential for the PTA fan? YUP.

One of my new favorites, "Punch-Drunk Love" is a unique and spectacular story about a man who doesn't know how the face the world around him. That man is Barry Egan. He has seven sisters who have verbally abused him since he was little, causing him to, now all grown up, get into violent outbursts. Barry's a quiet and shy guy, but if his button is pushed things can get out of control. He meets Lena, a very strange and peculiar girl herself. Love falls upon these two, but Barry's even facing more problems after being blackmailed by a phone-sex operator. But when all else fails, he knows that he has a love in his life in this very oddball and dark comedy.

I'm glad they came out with a script version of the film that you can buy. Paul Thomas Anderson has written a magnificent picture that's so easy to relate to , it's scary. The stuff that occurs you can see happening in real life. It's realistic and surreal at the same time.

This is the shooting script, on blue, pink, and yellow colored pages that symbolize when the revisions were made. Technical terms such as camera angels are included as well since it is a shooting script. Even little changes are mentioned as well. I love the dialogue that was written and you can tell that P.T. had Sandler in mind for the part, because nobody else would've been able to pull it off. While it's not your typical comedy, I thought it was hilarious. It pretty much follows the movie, although some things aren't there or changed due to changes that occurred during the shooting. It's pretty much all there for the most part.

"Punch-Drunk Love: The Shooting Script" is a great purchase for anyone who loved the film. It may not had been the most popular movie to come out of 2002, but it's #2 on my list. The pages fly by with ease, and when you're done with it you want to read it again. I can't wait for this movie to come out on DVD. I'm counting the days. A spectacular script for a spectacular film.

this play was ok...it was a little on the freaky side..but it is ok. I had to read it for school and its a lot better than other plays we have read so far...i liked it i guess

This science fiction play by the Czechoslovakian writer Karel Capek (1890-1938) introduced the word "robot" (from the Czech word "robota" for work). Any serious student of science fiction should read this play. A factory on an island produces robots (actually, in today's terminology, the products being made by this factory are androids, not robots) to do man's labor and to grow his food. But, as the years go by, governments misuse the robots, having them replace soldiers. Robots begin to be used in wars everywhere. They rebel and man is exterminated. However, the robots don't know how to build new robots and discover that they are doomed to extinction as well. But, the sole two robots of a later model discover beauty, compassion, and love. They become a new Adam and Eve. Interestingly, one of the characters in the play builds robots so that man won't have to work. Yet, he doesn't build any to do his work since it is something he enjoys doing.

Looking for the first appearance of the word 'robot'? Look no further! Czech author Karel Kapek coined the term in this classic play. It is not only the first appearance of the word 'robot', (though, not the first appearance of a mechanical man), it is also a great sciene fiction story (although 'science fiction' was not a widely used term at the time).
Essentially, the story surrounds a manufacturing company that makes robots, and continues to make them in mass quantities even with the looming suspicion they are out of control. The robots revolt, and humanity is all but destroyed and replaced.
Very humorous and biting satire, R.U.R. should satisfy virtually any taste for a well written piece of fiction. Essential for sci-fi fans, and this edition, printed beautifully by Dover, at a very small price, is well worth obtaining ownership and then some!

In Rikers, Paul Volponi wants to evoke a gritty underworld of jail, yet never achieves his goal. The protagonist, Martin Stokes, is cut when he is caught in the middle of a fight. As tragic as this may be, it doesn't induce horror in the reader, and Martin deals with just about the same problems as any teen. The title itself is meant to conjure images of an underworld that turns men into animals, but the action occurs in a bubble on a very small part of Rikers Island. In fact, inmates only walk a few feet to school and to the cafeteria each day. Martin tells how he came to jail on a "bubble gum" charge and how a series of events kept him there for five months. We never believe that this is an inmate telling the story. Clearly, it is Mr. Volponi's voice, with jailhouse jargon interjected. Later, Martin is released, earns his GED, attends college, and returns to Rikers as a teacher. For all these life-changing experiences, Martin remains unchanged. He speaks from the same perspective, uses the same jail terminology, and peppers his speech with curses. Also, Mr. Volponi needs to learn the rules of punctuation; he believes that a comma must precede every "and." Additionally, errors appear in print that high school proofreaders would have caught. If a reader wants to learn about life behind bars, RIKERS is not the book to choose.

This is a super novel. I believed that I was behind bars with the protagonist every page. It is incredible to see what youngsters on Rikers Island go through and how school is such an important part of it all. The novel also explores how NYC is a 50/50 split between minorities and Whites, but Rikers is probably 98% Black and Hispanic. I see why this book won the publisher's award for social fiction. It is a must read!

I can easily see why Black Heron Press awarded Rikers its award for Social Fiction for 2002. It was an easy read, with a powerful message. It should appeal to young adults because it is topical. I also strongly recommend it to adult readers who would like to gain insight into the minds and actions underlying adolescent behavior. Overall, its message was up-lifting and full of hope.

My husband and I just toured Wales with this book and bought it because of the evaluations from other Amazon readers. I'd like to add my two-cents -- we were disappointed (probably because it came highly recommended). There is lots of information but no opinions so all items read as "this is the facts" == which is good but missing a "trip must see" or a "don't go out of your way" evauation. With a limited time to tour, we would have liked a guide to some of the must-sees.

In all fairness, all the facts are there and correct.

This was the first Rough Guide I bought for the first of my solo
vacations. I chose it after comparing with various other guides,
such as the Blue Guide and others. This provided an immense
amount of detail on all sorts of historical sites, little towns,
etc. and was of great value in planning out my trip. One thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is that I later discovered that there are a number of "dark age" monuments (forts, inscribed stones, gravesites, etc.) that it doesn't list; it concentrates on larger places. I would have liked to have seen alot of those, as dark age Britain is an interest of mine. To be fair, other guides leave those things out, too, and I had to find the info in archeological and historical references.

Wales is the Celtic country par excelence and the least known and least written about of all of them that remain - Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Cornwall and Galicia and also possibly Asturias.

This book goes a way to redress the balance with Wales more well known neighbours. Of course living in the permanent shadow of England will always draw attention away from it to more easily identifiable tourist interests such as grand museums, big shops, a wealth of historical buildings and emblematic architecture etc.

The Rough Guide to Wales is indeed a joy to read and a delight to use, it follows the Rough Guide philosophy that has worked with so many other locations, and it makes Wales appear to be a very approachable and friendly place that has a welcome for everyone.

If you are thinking of going native Celtic then think of Wales - if you want to know more or you have decided already then this book is for you.

Regards,

Martyn_jones@iniciativas.com

This book started out with some promise, and I was especially excited because the authors of book three were different than the boring author who wrote book one and two. Let me begin! These authors could have collaborated with the previous books or author for specific info. I would like to know what happened to some characters from the first two books, but instead we get new characters and those stories are not told and forgotton. A crime! On top of that, this book doesn't have an ending! It is like the last fifty pages are gone and several characters and missions and stories in the middle of this book are never addressed or finished! I was completely shocked at the amateur technique of these two authors. This whole three part series was a complete waste of my time! The only redeeming value was....well....I will think of something in the future, right now I can't! Terrible! Shame on these authors!

"The Qualinesti" is definately a great book. Not only is it full of action and adventure. But it come across with actual real emotions that people can relate too. There is jealousy, deceit, sadness and many other emotions filling this book. I had heard mixed reviews about this book before I read it. But, I was pleasently suprised by how good this book actually was. I liked it as much, of not more, than "The Firstborn" (The first book in this trilogy). This book brings about the end of a legacy. It is a little depressing, but it is nice to see the state of the Qualinesti under the leadership of Kith-Kanan and his son. A definate must for Dragonlance fans.

It's a shame that this series is out of print. I had to get mine off eBay for nearly $40.00! Now I know why. Though the series is written by different authors, you would never know it and the series is more about Kith-Kanan than the elves themselves. Sithas (Kith's brother) is featured in the 2nd novel for a few chapters, but it's mostly about Kith-Kanan. The Qualinesti focuses on Kith's two kids mostly but Kith gets some limelight as well. This book presents a very different view of the Elven nation than the one we know from post-cataclysm. This Qualinesti has men, dwarves and elves living together, while PC Qualinesti is inhabitted purely by elves. If you can get your hands on this series, do so!

This novel was fine up to the point where the Antichrist Franco Macalousso's Day of Wonders program has been revealed. The first book of the series had been fascinating. The world was on the brink of destruction through nuclear annihilation, when Macalousso saves the day by apparently causing the nuclear missiles to vanish, and millions of fractious Christians as well. Overnight, the postmodern world turns against Christians, buring their churches and their bibles and torturing any new converts. In this, the second book, Thorold Stone, a police officer, discovers the sinister character of the false Messiah's chief henchman, Overlord Parker, the guy whom I thought must be the False Prophet, and becomes a refugee. Stone hooks up with the very designer of the computer program on which the Day of Wonders depends, who in the end turns against him. He tries to hack into the One Nation Earth's vast computer system and constantly comes up upon one security barrier after another, meanwhile finding that it has something to do with virtual reality, that imaginary digital world which you can literally become a part of by some special feat of programming. You can enter into a utonpian world programmed just for you! Only, when Stone finally cracks the final piece of code, he finds out that for some strange reason, maybe occultic, what happens in Macalousso's phantasy world actually becomes reality. What's worse, it is in that world that one can receive the mark of the beast! Those who refuse are guillotined, and actually die! Those who accept can have their wickedest lusts fulfilled for 24 hours, and are allowed to return to the real world. Blind men, for example, may return to the real world with 20/20 vision. The crippled can be given a new set of legs to walk. However, when their time's up, a tornado from hell sucks in their very souls and they belong to the devil. It is just such a plan that the Beast wishes to foist on captured Christians, and it is just such a plan that must be stopped, by uploading a computer virus. Wake up, guys, this ain't reality. It's science fiction! I give it two stars only because at least it is interesting. Tim Lahaye brings more balance into Left Behind when he points out that even Satan is not omniscient. But in this series, the Beast can read your mind--I'm not kidding. But I should have known; the first book of the series makes reference to Jack van Impe. Besides, when are they ever going to focus in on Israel? When do you ever get to read about the last plagues? The authors leave the true God doing nothing about the suffering of believers, when he should be dumping his great bowls of wrath and sending the scorpion locusts. Basically, what you have is a Christianized version of Johnny Quest.

Its been 3 months since millions of people have vanished off the face of the earth. The world was on the brink of destruction and nuclear war, until Franco Macalousso stepped down on to the Mt. of Olives. Macalousso, has declared himself god, and after making literally thousands of missles and bombs dissapear, who wouldn't believe him? One Nation Earth (O.N.E.) a special task force unit, have dedicated themselves to round up haters. Haters are those who believe Macalousso is the antichrist. They are breaking the law by reading the bible, which has been banned, and have recently been convicted of numerous terrorist attacks. One attack has led Thorold Stone and his crew to an abandoned warehouse where a group of haters are having a forbidden meeting. Stone and his men arrest the so called haters, but one of them gives Stone a disc. After the haters have been taken away Stone and his partner search the warehouse for more haters. They come into contact with some people part of the O.N.E. Stones partner is killed and Stone nearly escaped death. With the title now as hater and the death of his partner pinned on him, Stone must run for his life. He meets a Willy Holms, who is a computer genius. Holm is handicpped but know what he is doing computer wise. Stone give Holms the disc the hater slipped him and Holms tries to run it but keeps coming up short of one password code. The O.N.E. is hot on Stones tail, this forces both Stone and Holms to join and underground group of haters. Helen Hannah the most sought after hater in the world is the leader of this group and challenges Stones theory of atheism. Stone does not believe Macalousso is god, instead he belives Macalousso is an alien. Working underground Willy tries to crack the code on the disc. This disc is extremely important and will let them know what is in store for the Day of Wonders. The Day of Wonders is a top secret project that nobody knows anything about. Macaulosso and Len Parker, (Macalousso's right hand man) have been planning this for months. With 24 hours left to crack the code Stone decides he is going to destroy the main computer used in the Day of Wonders. This is located in the O.N.E. headquarters.
Get into the action of Revelation, the book has been opened and people must choose whom they are going to serve. See if Stone lives or dies and see what the Day of Wonders is really about, you will not be dissapointed with this book. I would recommend though that you read the book before you watch the movie. I watched the movie first and as I was reading the book I kept trying to place charcter names with faces, making it confusing at times for me. Overall, the book was easy to read and worth my time. Not once did I want to find another book to read, whether it was because I wanted to see how different it was from the movie or because the book was relly speaking to me. Revelation is very suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat and your mouth hanging open. After you read the book watch the movie, although there are some things that are different, the movie truly will grip your heart and mind, just like the book. You will be faced with the same question Stone faced, Do you believe in God? By the end of the book I hope you do and by the end of the movie, you defineately will. Seeing the book come alive will make your heart pound in some places and you may find your palms sweaty. It is a truly amazing book and you will not be sorry you read it.

REVELATION was a great movie, so naturally I had to read the novellized version, and I'm glad I did. It really rocks, and it's hard to put down. Here everything's more fully developed, at the beginning, for example, Macalousso's followers and what they're like, that's more fully developed. I really love a good villain in a story like this, and aside from Macalousso, that cat Len Parker, man, he's a fascinating SOB. Here he's more fully developed, and we learn more about his background, especially that he's a lapsed Catholic. And that title, "Overlord" -- cool! And the character Cindy, well, here she's more soft and innocent, not cynical and sarcastic like she is in the movie. Here in the novel she even seems to be a believer! I really enjoyed it, and so will you. Bottom line: if you liked the movie, you'll like the book. Read it!

The real complete history of Rickenbacker is found in Richard Smith's "Rickenbacker: History Of The Rickenbacker Guitar," which I would recommend over this book. This book, like most of the Bacon and Day books, is fine, as far as it goes; the only problem is that they never go quite far enough. There's never enough hard info in a Bacon and Day book, and that's true of this one as well as all their others. I will say one thing though, lots of terrific pictures. But that's about it. If you want to know the story behind one of America's foremost guitar companies, you need to pick up Smith's book. This is mostly useful as a picture book.

Lots of useful info on Rickenbacker guitars, but I was disappointed that there was no information of Rickenbacker Electric Basses

I really enjoyed the book. However, I wish the authors had included the company's bass guitars as well. A new updated edition is greatly needed.