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Book reviews for "Bettenbender,_John_I." sorted by average review score:

Cyberpunk: The Roleplaying Game of the Dark Future
Published in Paperback by R Talsorian Games (August, 1990)
Authors: Michael Pondsmith, John Smith, Colin Fisk, and Derek Quintanar
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Parts are Parts, Dead is Dead, Dead Guys are Parts !!!
My one line summary is my current group motto.I have been a GM in this game since the original 3 black books. I have ran this game for conventions and VIPs in the entertainment business. The 2020 book is the great basis of grim dark adventures to save humanity and the theory that in any society a person can make a differnce. This game is very flexible to have any type of person play a character and be able to anything. This game and the configuration and concept of this game brings one vital part of human mind out - IMAGNATION!!!! So my opinion is that everybody should play this game.

Cool Choomba Jack Into this if you dare !
I love this game it would have to be one of my favourite roleplay games I've played it alot, and each time just gets better and better . I do have 1 problem however; Our GM has moved to England and he took his books with him , I've been boosted into the hot seat . Now I have the origional source book but I cannot find the Chrome books any where . I have been told they are out of print and thought Imight find them here at Amazon .(no luck) HELP A STRUGGLING GM FROM OZ.

Best, best, best roleplaying game ever
I am 22 year old girl from northern Europe. I have played many games. I am GM of cyberpunk and i have found it's game system exciting, flexible and open. Cyberpunk it's self is facinated me many years. In early days in my life i read only science fiction books. I definetly want courage girls play roleplays, their insight is so different than mans.


Green Team (Rogue Warrior Series)
Published in Hardcover by Pocket Books (March, 1995)
Authors: Richard Marcinko, John Weisman, Paul McCarthy, and Paul McCarthy
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A great read with eerie similarities to today's headlines.
The weirdest thing about this book is that the beginning is so true-to-life. The book was written several years ago, but the story is very much in sync with what is going on in the world today. This is my fifth Marcinko book and it's one of his best. It's his second fiction work, a follow up to Rouge Warrior: Red Cell, which is the main reason I didn't give it five stars. The action scenes in Green Team are much more exciting than Red Cell, but the plot just doesn't stand up to the latter. It develops at a break neck speed, but its quality fluctuates right up to the end. First time Marcinko readers will probably get hooked, just like I did with Rogue Warrior: Task Force Blue, only to be more pleased with the discovery of his first and second books. Marcinko's crossing of the thin line between reality and fiction might annoy some readers who are not used to his style, but I think it's a very original welcomed breather from the "2+2=4" formulas of other action books. Marcinko is not the writer Tom Clancy is, but then again, Tom Clancy is not the warrior Marcinko is.

Hold on to your skivvies, it's time to ROCK 'n MARCINKO...
Marcinko lives large and plays hard. This book, along with the rest of the Rogue Warrior Series, is hard hitting and action packed. This dude does it all, says it all, and doesn't take crap from no one. Execellent reading for someone whose tired of the slow moving far fetched action of most fiction books out there. I read Red Cell just three months ago, and I've read almost all his books to date. It's KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) read the book and get hooked!!! Anyone for a Bombay?

100% pure testosterone.
I'll admit to this guilty pleasure: I love the Rogue Warrior books. Not because they're great literature, but because they're just plain fun. I'm a Marine combat vet, so I can usually detect the (very) fuzzy line between military fact and fiction, but with Marcinko's books I throw up my hands in the amphibious salute and just go with it. Demo Dick's literary swagger is intoxicating, and his larger than life character is THE male archetype. All of us guys want to pump iron at Rogue Manor, throw down the double Bombays, and go shooting and looting with the SEALs' best.

It's not "the best book I've ever read," nor is it the SPECWAR primer that Rogue Warrior is. But for some unadulterated macho fun, Green Team (like the others in the series) can't be beat.


James Bond: The Legacy
Published in Hardcover by Harry N Abrams (October, 2002)
Authors: John Cork and Bruce Scivally
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The goose with the golden eggs
Like the Beatles at the same time, the popularity of the James Bond films of the Sixties simply steamrollered criticism. The quality of the individual flicks ranged from near-schlock to iconic, but the Bond style always set them apart. This coffee-table book digs deep into the history of the series, from Ian Fleming's books down to the most recent Pierce Brosnan vehicle. And the authors gathered comments from practically everybody, from the stars to the producers right down to the guy who wrote the famous James Bond guitar riff. An enjoyable look into the past, through the barrel of the Walther PPK.

The best book yet written about the James Bond films.
There have been a lot of books written about the James Bond films and phenomenon; I should know because I've read them all! That's why I feel uniquely qualified and very confident in saying that this latest book (written by the two gentlemen who produced the special edition James Bond DVDs) is without a doubt THE best book yet written about the James Bond films! If you're baffled as to which book to add to you movie library, look no further because here you will find information and photos that you will not find anywhere else.

What makes this book so good? Well, first off, it's HUGE in size! A great coffee table book to be sure. The graphic layout is extremely well done and all the films are given equal time (not the case with some of the other books which tend to fixate on the Connery era). Also, for the first time in any official publication, we have coverage of the two "unofficial" James Bond films: NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN and CASINO ROYALE. Up until now these two "rogue" films have been missing from all official publications for legal reasons. JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is the first book to be published after MGM took ownership of these films, so now we are able to learn the fascinating stories of how they came to be made and, most interestingly, how they impacted and influenced the official series. Great stuff!

But what I like most about JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is how the authors look at each film within the historical context of when it was made. They focus not only on what was going on with the Bond producers at the time, but also what was going on in the world; what socio-political and even cinematic trends the Bond films were keying into. This really brings a new understanding to each film and helps explain why James Bond has endured while other "pop culture spies" (Matt Helm, Derek Flint, xXx :)) failed to connect beyond their time and have long since disappeared. Most people think James Bond films are "all the same", but you will discover here that they are not. In this book I learned how throughout its amazing 20-year history the Bond filmmakers made subtle--and sometimes very bold--changes in the tone of the series and to the character of James Bond himself. This is much more than a simple look at the production and plot of each film, this is a major work on one of the most famous fictional characters of the 20th century. Oh, and the book also gives a detailed look at the new Bond movie, DIE ANOTHER DAY, with some pictures that lead me to believe this could be the best Bond movie of them all! This alone makes it stand above the rest as definitive.

JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is a must buy for all James Bond fans and anyone interested in 20th century popular culture. Again, if you buy just one book about James Bond, make it this one.

The #1 Biggest and Best James Bond 007 Book Ever!
There have been countless amount of book on the films, book, culture, politics, comics, toys and anything and everything about James Bond. But, let me tell you that this is the best 007 book ever! You will notice that when you first see it because of it's huge size! It is the largest 007 book I own. Written by two authors who researched their facts and are excellent on the subject of James Bond.

What makes this book so unique? Many, practically all 007 books explain about the movies and books alone. This book does that, but includes how what was going on in the world and popular culture influenced many of the decisions in the films and books. All of the films, including Die Another Day, Never Say Never Again and Casino Royale are reviewed in equal amounts. These two official films have always been a little more difficult to read about, but now because MGM has recently added them under their ownership, they are explained in great detail. The best part is how the author's include not only the focus of the film, but what was going on in the world at the time. A great example is the dangerous choice to expose African Americans as the villains in Live and Let Die. This is a great way to see what was the pop culture during each film. Learn all about the Bond Family, and how they made many changes to the series such as increasing the authority of women, how Bond acted, amount of humor in the films and the way they were presented to the public. A great way to look at all of the thousands of people that have contributed to the series, enhanced with hundres of rare photographs and pictures. The best book to look back at the history of James Bond over the 40 years it has been around. The end of the book features great text information on the films. And, finally there is a quote from people that have worked on or in a Bond film.

The definititve Bond book. The Best. That covers it all.


Sunwing
Published in Audio Cassette by Recorded Books (February, 2002)
Authors: Kenneth Oppel and John McDonough
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Sunwing Review
This book is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. There is never a dull moment. In the book, cannibal bat Goth, who was struck by lightning in 'Silverwing', flys off in search of the jungle, his homeland. Southern bat god Cama Zotz heals his scars and burns, and tells Goth to go back to the Humans. At this place, Goth and enemy Shade meet again. When Goth gets back to the jungle, he finds out he been crowned King of all the Vampyrum Spectrum (cannibal bats). An eclipse is coming up, and sun-lover Shade Silverwing must come up with a way to stop Goth from stealing the sun forever.
It is a beyond amazing book, so don't delay and read it now! I stayed up all night reading it, and it was all I could think about. Don't hesitate! Read 'Sunwing' today!

The Silverwing Saga books, are my all time favourites!
I remember a few years ago that i purchased the book "silverwing" from my school's book order, not expectly that the book would turn out the way it was. It was so captivatng, i really am still wondering how Oppel can see through the eyes of a bat the way he does.
Once I finished "silverwing" after not being able to put it down and vowing to buy "sunwing" right away...I didn't. These books seemed a lot more than just books, it was more like a life of Shade.
About 3 years had passed when one day I saw "sunwing" at my school library...I grabbed it right away and was done it just as fast as Silverwing. It was just as captivating and answered all the un-answered questions from "silverwing". I've never really read a book from an author that writes the same way as Oppel, his writings are full of twists and turns that leaves you guessing and best of all reading to find out!
Now if I can just get my hands on "firewing"...

The Echo Continues
If you've read 'Silverwing,' then you are familiar with the magic that is used to enthrall readers inside the book's depths. 'Sunwing' is no different. You just want to read it again and again, and each time, you find something new to be excited about.
Shade and Marina are on another journey, but this time, they're not alone. Frieda, Ariel, and even Chinook, are accompanying them in order to find Cassiel, Shade's father, at a mysterious Human building near Hibernaculum. Once they reach the building, however, harmonious bat voices lure them inside, where they are trapped in a man-made 'paradise' filled with other bats.
Naturally, Shade is struck with questions. Why are the Humans doing this? What was this forest made for? And, most importantly, where is his father? On a quest to find the answers, Shade and Marina encounter the vampire bat from their nightmares: Goth, a descendant of Cama Zotz. The plot deepens as Shade is 'captured' by the Humans inside the building, and sent to the worst place imaginable: Goth's homeland, where thousands of cannibal bats like Goth, the Vampyrum Spectrum, make their dwellings.
Now, Shade must strive to rescue his father, help his colony, and save the sun from an eternal night.


Belfast Diary
Published in Paperback by Beacon Press (1999)
Author: John Conroy
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Excellent portrait of life in Belfast
I have done a lot of reading on Belfast and the IRA during my work on a novel about a musician who grows up in Belfast and moves to Minnesota. During the course of my own writing I have had many many questions about what his childhood would be like and if I am being realistic in my portrayal of this character. This book was an excellent resource for me, and based on the information in it, I have made some revisions to my character.

Belfast Diary gives the reader not only a "factual" picture of life in the war-torn city, but also evokes the spirit of the place. Many times, as I read, I found myself with tears in my eyes at the extreme conditions Belfast natives accept as "normal."

Conroy lived with Catholics in a Catholic neighbourhood as he wrote this book, so I have to admit it has a republican slant to it. I admire Conroy for putting himself into the poorest parts of the city and experiencing life there for himself. This is an excellent book.

A realistic, eye opening look at life in Northern Ireland!
Belfast Diary is a moving, eye opening experience. John Conroy takes you from the viewpoint of a questioning American to an insiders look at life in Northern Ireland. As a part of the Belfast community he takes you through important events with insight and understanding. He helps you understand how a community learns to accept violence as a way of life and how they survive it. This is a MUST read for anyone who is interested in understanding the "troubles", and anyone who cares about the people of Northern Ireland

Extraordinary Reading
For anyone interested in or ignorant of "The Troubles" this book is a must read. Written in a clear, concise and straight forward manner this book gives a brief background of the conflict in Northern Ireland, then provides a "snapshot" of life in the war torn city of Belfast from the a first person point of view/reference. Mr. Conroy must be applauded for having the courage and determination to immerse himself in a part of the world and into a subject, which it seems most (American and British, especially) journalists are unaware...by choice. One can only hope that the concept of "equal justice under law" will be the next permanent "fad" to invade Northern Ireland.


Doomsday (2099, Book 1)
Published in Unknown Binding by Bt Bound (May, 1900)
Author: John Peel
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This book is awesome!
This is the best book! I love John Peel. The characters and the suspense is awesome! Tristan is 14 and in big trouble. Ever since he fell off his girlfriends roof his whole world has changed. He found out that he is adopted and has a clone! Devon is Tristans clone and is evil! He (Devon) has created a Doomsday virus that will destroy the world. It's up to Tristan to save it! With the help of Genia, an outcast,and Mora, Tristans ex-girlfriend. Can he save them? Read the book to find out! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fiction, especially science fiction!

doomsday
this book is awsome action packed scifi with a twist i read this in 2 days i just couldn't put it down Tristin a boy who finds out that he was adopted and is trying to find his real identity when he alerts his clone of his presence that could be a fatel mistake find out what happens
-podus

This is one of the best books I've ever read!
This is an excellent book! It's about a kid named Tristan who has to fight for his life from a super hacker. You never want to put this book down. It's the first of 6 in an excellent series. I would recommend this book to anyone.


John Dos Passos : U.S.A. : The 42nd Parallel / 1919 / The Big Money (Library of America)
Published in Hardcover by Library of America (August, 1996)
Authors: John R. Dos Passos, Townsend Ludington, and Daniel Aaron
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Soldier's Trilogy
I love this book/trilogy. It's probably my favorite book I've read so far. I would recommend this book to people whom in the past were put off by older literature. This book, although set in the early 20th century, seems fresh and alive. You may have difficulty at first with some of the more experimental sections, like "The Camera Eye", but I wouldn't let that discourage myself from recommending this book. Those sections tend to be rather on the short side anyway. I wish Dos Passos was more thought of today than he is, because he's an excellent writer. I often couldn't believe how many pages I had read in a session, as I got lost in the book completely. Read this book!

WONDERFUL!
This is the true American Epic.

Dos Passos wrote this trilogy almost as a documentary. It is a history lesson, with newspaper articles, biographical sketches, beautiful train of thought prose poems, and, in the midst of it all, fictional but brutally realistic characters who each experience the times through a unique set of eyes.

Since I have read this book it has become one of my favorites, and there are few titles with more meaning to me than _U.S.A_.

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRILOGY
As an author of a debut novel in its initial release, I find myself amazed by these three books by John Dos Passos. 42nd PARALLEL, 1919, and BIG MONEY tell the tale of the growth of America into the greatest and most powerful nation in the history of the world. Mr. Dos Passos pulls out all the stops with experimental techniques as well as traditional story telling. Each time I read one of these books in this trilogy, I realize what a masterful writer Mr. Dos Passos was. These are his best works. No question about it. They may be the best three novels, taken as a trilogy, ever written by an American.


Peter Pan
Published in Audio Cassette by Blackstone Audiobooks (August, 1997)
Authors: James Matthew Barrie and John Chatty
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A Little Scary!
This isn't like the Disney movie! I loved this book but at the same time I was shocked by the violence of the fighting between Hook and the Lost Boys and the Indians. I don't think I'll be reading this one to my nephews and neices, not until I have edited out the violent bits. It wasn't that In-Your-Face violence of the Hollywood movies, it was more insinuated and there was definetly a menacing atmosphere surrounding Wendy's, Peter's and Michael's adventures in Never Never Land. I do recommend it though, just not for easily frightened youngsters. This is definetly in need of a PG rating on the cover. PARENTS: This is no Disney Peter Pan!

Best Audio Book in my ten year search
Driving with young children in the car quickly convinced me that it was unsafe to not give them something to listen to. After ten years I have collected a large (30+) bag of books-on-tape. I have also loaned them to others and asked for opinions. Peter Pan (read by Wendy Craig) is not only my favorite, but also the favorite of my wife and most of my friends. It is excellent for all ages (4 to 80) and even most hardened teenagers. Humour, presentation, ... a prefect 10.

Bittersweet
The book 'Peter Pan' by J. M. Barrie is a truly beautiful work. It is never too cloyingly sweet or too harsh, and the child's perspective of the world is beautifully crafted. It does, however, bring you along on a journey to the Neverlands, and perhaps for a little while we can be reunited with our dreams.

Although Wendy seems a little prim, she is sweet and motherly. John was offhand and brave, Michael was tiny and believing. My favourite character was, however, Peter. The author really outdid himself on this one. Peter's innocent cockiness and love for dangerous adventures endeared him to me at once. He still has all his first teeth, and his first laugh - what more could we ask of him? His frightful happiness in danger reminds me of my seven-year-old self.

The book retains a magical quality right up to the last page. The midnight scene where Peter coaxes them out of the window has always stood out in my mind; there is a kind of magic in an ever-young boy, small and innocently cocky and always up to some mischief. The ending of the book is very sad, for only those who are gay and young and light-hearted can fly.

Definitely a book worth reading. Adults, trust me on this one: you might think you're too old to read this book, but once you do you'll find that a piece of Neverland still resides in your heart.


The Annotated Alice: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
Published in Hardcover by Outlet (September, 1993)
Authors: Lewis Carroll, John Tenniel, and Martin Gardner
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This book is necessary, in all senses of the word
Victorian-era readers of Lewis Carroll's delightful fantasies knew the poetry and song and public figures referred to; we moderns need to have the jokes explained to us, and Martin Gardner does a masterful job of it. We're fortunately past the more bizarre Freudian and Marxist interpretations of Alice that Gardner takes to task in his preface, but Gardner's annotations survive, as they should. The White Knight's encounter with Alice is heartbreaking when you know the background information, the lyric the White Knight's doggerel alludes to. By all means, give this to children at risk of being pithed by exposure to a certain indigo reptile; as children, they'll appreciate the story, and as they mature, they'll appreciate the commentary, and you'll have saved a budding intellect.

A must-read for Alice fans
Alice in Wonderland is an extraordinarily fascinating and delightful story, replete with jokes, puzzles, and nonsense of the highest order. But in order to appreciate it fully, the modern, non-Victorian reader requires some guidance, as well as an adequate background on the man and the times that produced Alice. Martin Gardner, the greatest figure ever in recreational mathematics, provides readers with all the information they need to appreciate this story at its various levels. This book occupies a place of privilege in the library of every serious Alice fan.

Choose this edition for your library.
A joke is always funnier if you understand it, and the Alice tales are so full of inside jokes that you need someone to explain them. The Annotated Alice does just that. Carroll's tales are here, complete and unabridged, and the editors have painstakingly provided every piece of explanation and commentary you could ever wish for. Complete with Tenniell's original illustrations (although, alas, not colorized), this is a book any girl, little or big, can cherish.


The Face in the Frost
Published in Paperback by Ace Books (November, 1986)
Author: John Bellairs
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Wonderfully unique
Prospero, an eccentric wizard living in the Southern Kingdom, has begun to experience something new to him, fear. Nightmares visit him, unearthly shadows dance upon his walls, and dreadful apparitions accost him. When his friend, Roger Bacon, returns from England with shocking news about an eldritch book, he realizes that someone is gaining great power, and that someone wants Prospero dead. And so, Prospero and Roger set off on a quest to unravel the mystery and stop someone who may now be the most powerful wizard in the world.

This book contains one of the most wonderfully unique stories I have every read! It is gothic horror, but one where the protagonist is a wizard. Unlike the wizards presented in many stories however, Prospero often finds that his powers do not help him, and that he must confront the horrors or flee from them, the same as any other man. Through it all, the story portrays a gentle humor that makes it such wonderful reading.

I really enjoyed the black-and-white illustrations provided by Marilyn Fitschen (though this may be only in certain editions), their stark nature adds greatly to this suspense-filled story. I highly recommend this story to any fan of fantasy literature, or player of D&D!

A bit humorless, but still a chilling read
John Bellairs is best known for his children's thrillers, but he also penned one of the best horror-fantasies ever written (a sadly neglected field, only ventured into by a few). My old paperback copy has a quite from Ursula Le Guin, stating that Bellairs "knows what wizardry is all about." Boy, is she right.

The book starts at the home of Prospero, a reclusive, good natured wizard with an obnoxious talking mirror and a lot of very tacky clutter. His friend Roger Bacon arrives at his home, only to find that sinister forces are creeping toward Prospero's home: an enormous moth that gives them a creepy feeling. Gray-cloaked figures lurking outside. A skeletal bird fluttering at the window.

Roger brings news about a strange book; Prospero realizes that there is an old enemy, Melichus, gaining power to destroy him. He and Roger set out on a hazardous journey across the geographically simple land, ruled by a rather unimpressive king, to find and unravel the mystery behind this strange growing force for evil.

More than once, Prospero and Roger will hit a dead end, be deceived by an evil illusion, or face the horrifying effects of their enemy. And the final battle in this book is unlike any battle of wizards ever seen before.

This book is very difficult to summarize, as some things simply don't click into place for a long time. It is, additionally, not a book that you can really skim. I read the book once, said "What?" on the last page, and had to go back and reread the climax.

This book lacks, in parts, the humor so necessary in Bellairs's books to keep the protagonists from going insane. Long stretches have nothing funny at all; we do have the irritating, singing magic mirror, the attack of the troll on the mini-boat, and the ridiculous rhyming spells that the wizards often utter: "Trying to find out if/(Hagiographically)/John of Jerusalem/liked almond paste..."

This book also defies fantasy cliches; the world that Prospero and Roger live in is very simple, not filled with dark fortresses and castles, but with ordinary villages connected by roads and woods. Evil, in Bellairs's world, is not something that sits on a throne and gives sadistic orders; it creeps into cracks and crevices and flits out at people. The "moth" scene manages to give an ordinary annoyance a feeling of horror; the scene where Prospero finds the innkeeper, and his subsequent escape are some of the most effectively creepy scenes I've ever read. He does so without gore or gimmicks; half the horror is not knowing what is conjured by Melichius.

Prospero is a quietly likeable character; his quirky house endears us to him, as does his reaction to the magic mirror. Roger is a little less defined, as the real him appears throughout a relatively small amount of the book. Other characters flit in and out.

Wizardry in this book is more than incantations and walking around with a funny hat (which neither of the characters has). I liked the description of the final duel between good and evil; also the effect on a wizard's staff when the wizard dies. Bellairs's wizardry is not flashy or show-offy, but a serious practice.

This book is relatively short, only about 180 pages; some kids may be a bit confused by the complexity of it, though. However, this is a delightful read...

Compulsory and Compulsive Reading
My initial reading of this book was when it first came out in paperback in 1978. This isn't by way of bragging, but simply to point out that it impressed me so much that I still have that very copy of the book, despite many relocations and resizings of my own library. For its time it was so unlike any other fantasy book that it made an immediate impression and has continued to do so to this very day.

Written with a deceiving simplicity that, no doubt, owes its origins to Bellairs' many successes as a writer of horror fiction for young adults, 'The Face in the Frost' is the tale of two wizards who must prevent the completion of a spell so awful it would bring the ruin of their world. When Prospero (not the one on the island) finds his comfy and peculiar home under siege by baleful magick he is alarmed. The appearance of his old friend and co-wizard Roger Bacon (the very one) only confirms that ominous portents are about. Faced with giant moths and a force of giant menacing shadows they make their escape, bent on finding the source of the problem.

In short order they realize that someone is in the process of activating a spell inscribed in a legendary tome. They must face illusion, traps, and even death trying to discover the identity of the book's new owner. And then, once the identity is known they must wrest the book from its keeper's grasp and bring it to destruction. In a trick unknown since Aristotle's Cave, Bellairs manages to fit this detailed and wide ranging quest into a novel of less than two hundred pages. For this accomplishment, if no other, Bellairs deserves a great deal of appreciation.

Bellairs characters are gem-like, as is the world in which they move. The tone of the narrative is quite humorous, with Prospero and Bacon getting much of the credit for keeping up a banter full of strange twists that seems to wander at will across time and place without any disastrous side effects. The narrative, in contrast, is quite chilling. Bellairs shows a fine ability to create suspense and horror without having enormous quantities of gore splattered over the pages. On several occasions I found myself unexpectedly spooked by what on the surface was comparative mild-mannered prose.

For all the time I've had this book I have always been surprised that I haven't come across more of Bellairs' work. It is only recently, thanks to the Internet, that I discovered that Bellairs was pre-eminently known as a writer of youthful fiction, and that he died prematurely. In retrospect, it is probably only a fortunate accident that 'The Face in the Frost' crossed over into adult fiction. It certainly could be read with great enjoyment by anyone who can cope with Bellairs clear but literate writing style. Lest I forget, the story is accompanied by many wonderful illustrations from the pen of Marilyn Fitschen, which the reader will find as pleasant as the story.


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