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Book reviews for "Biek,_David_E." sorted by average review score:

Borderland Jaguars/Tigres De LA Frontera: Tigres De LA Frontera
Published in Paperback by Univ of Utah Pr (Trd) (November, 2001)
Authors: David E. Brown, Carlos A. Lopez Gonzales, and Carlos A. Lopez Gonzalez
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Jaguar realities in the U.S.
This timely and useful book collates and summarizes in handy paperback form what is known about the northernmost population of the jaguar in the U.S. Southwest and adjoining parts of Mexico. I couldn't put the book down and recommend it highly as an authentic learning experience about the jaguar in southwest history, ecology, and culture. The authors are to be commended for undertaking such a thorough attempt to gather and assess all manner of pertinent information about this animal, past and present. In the recent era, jaguars have been in rare and marginal numbers in Arizona and New Mexico as northern outliers of a larger Mexican breeding population in northern Sonora. Currently, it doesn't look good for these nearest breeding populations--where the two lone jaguars photographed in 1996 in southeastern Arizona most likely came from. The size and structure of this nearest jaguar population (about 120 miles south of Arizona)is largely unknown scientifically and likely in serious decline now. According to the authors' survey results a continual number of animals in the population (including lactating females) are apparently still killed each year in response to livestock predation. Hopefully, improving research efforts like this will lead to a more informed public (here and in Mexico), to timely and more effective conservation measures, and a more certain future for these animals. Otherwise, we may learn all too soon that the presence of but another magnificent creature has quietly, permanently winked-out and will no longer enrich our common borderlands.

"Borderland Jaguars" by D. E. Brown & C. A. L. Gonzalez
With „Borderland Jaguars" David E. Brown and co-author Carlos A. Lopez Gonzalez have continued the investigative writing tradition Brown started back in 1983 with „The Wolf in the Southwest" followed by „The Grizzly in the Southwest" (1985).

While the previous books are considered classic references of the imbalanced struggle between man and predators in the past, the recent spectacular sightings of jaguars in the remote Baboquivari and Peloncillo mountains of Arizona have refueled the public's interest into the present status and future of „tigres" north of the Mexican border.

Brown and Gonzalez show that jaguar visits from the south are not accidental events but follow a complex pattern. One important issue in this respect is the biotic communities of the borderlands providing jaguar habitat, and which are thoroughly discussed. The natural history of the jaguar is highlighted by a carefully up-dated listing of jaguars reported from Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua between 1900 and 2000, many supported by photographs and behind-the-scene information from eyewitnesses. Through on-site investigations in Mexico, Brown and Gonzalez were able to locate the possible source(s) of those jaguars that periodically show up in AZ.

The ancient symbolic power, as well as the elusive beauty of the jaguar, which trigger our imagination, are omnipresent throughout this book. And, the tension and personal reports of the few lucky Arizonans, who have actually come across jaguars, make this book extremely exciting reading. Putting the reader down in a comfortable armchair in pursuit of a jaguar in an abandoned minetunnel, with only four shells and a dim flashlight, is simply not offered by regular wildlife references!

By giving attention to the large predators of the Southwest, Brown has brought us a long way, covering the Mexican wolf, the grizzly, the cougar (in a foreword for Harley Shaw's „Soul Among Lions") and now the jaguar. These fine books should be considered a series, and appreciated as a totality. The concept of a jaguar reserve in Sonora as proposed by Brown and Gonzalez has set a high goal for conservation efforts. Until then, the vast majority of us will have to live with Brown's cold comfort that „the thought of such a cat's presence is enough in itself".

Not the usual jaguar !
Change your mental image of the big, spotted cat crouching in leafy jungle shadows and enter the world of jaguars living a hundred miles or so south of the US-Mexican border in dry, rugged mountains. "Borderland Jaguars" gives a fascinating overview of these cats: the threats by man's presence and development of its shrinking habitat, and the possibility that the animal may be threatened to the point of extinction in the region. The well-researched book includes sections about how man, from pre-hispanic times to first explorers, hunters and settlers viewed the jaguar. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in these endangered cats, and especially conservation in the borderland region.


Casca: God of Death (Action/Adventure Series)
Published in Audio Cassette by Dh Audio (August, 1900)
Authors: Barry Sadler and David Elias
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Great story, great characters
As with most of the early Sadler books, this one is a great story of adventure and war. The main premise here is that a band of vikings, led by the main character, reached Central America long before Cortes, and become embroiled in a petty war. Casca's immortality helps him win over the people who regard him as a god but there is a price to pay, as Casca finds out in the end.

This would have been a epic movie!
This series came out before the movie Highlander did, and if Casca were made right, it would blow highlander away! Read these novels and you will see.

Caska God of Death
This is one of the best book I've ever read.


The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics 2000
Published in Hardcover by Overlook Press (01 December, 2000)
Author: David Wallechinsky
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The Golden Book
At the first time (1992) I bought The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics it impressed me with details. The 2000 edition is my third and I do not have any doubt: this is the most complete guide about the Olympic History.

The best book on sports I have ever read!
When I first bought this book, I thought it would be like all of my other Olympic Resources. Giving some imformation, but not every detail you could want. This book replaces all of my others when it comes to stats, politics in the olympics, drugs, and others. Although not having many pictures, it makes up for all of the wonderful info it contains. Tell me that you knew that only 1 country entered in the, get this, a team parallel bar competition in 1896. I reccomend it to anyone.

DON'T WAIT-BUY IT NOW
If you are interested in the history, politics, rules of the games, and human-interest stories of the modern Olympics, this is the book to have by your side while you watch the games this September.

I bought this book to research a trivia question, started reading it, and couldn't put it down. Never having been too interested in sports or the Olympics, I was surprised how quickly I was caught up in Wallechinsky's book. Now, I can't wait for the games to begin.


Complete Guide to Book Marketing
Published in Paperback by Allworth Press (October, 1999)
Author: David Cole
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"How to" instruction in every aspect of publicity
In his The Complete Guide To Book Marking, marketing consultant and author David Cole offers a well organized and presented compendium of "how to" instruction in every aspect of publicity, promotion, and marketing of books designed specifically for the self-published author, small press publisher, regional and speciality house marketing staff. All facets of presenting books to the marketplace are covered including trade distribution, the libraries, direct-mail and direct sales marketing, selling books on the Internet, through non-book retailers, premium sales, and more. Of special value is the chapter devoted to subsidiary rights (serial, paperback, foreign, book clubs, audio, film, electronic formats). Cole does an especially fine survey of book publicity basics and creating an effective sales campaign, including guidelines and examples of effective PR and media kit copy. The Complete Guide To Book Marketing lives up to its title and is very highly recommended, invaluable reading for anyone seeking a commercial success in today's highly complex and competitive marketplace for book sales.

One of the best books I have read on Book Marketing
I've been doing book publicity for 25 years and let me tell you- this is a great book. Clear, simple and with great tips that every author can use. Go out and get this book today!...

A must for new authors
This book is mainly targeted at small publishers and self publishers, but every starting-out author should read it. Writers often think that if only they could "get published," their career would take off. But getting published is only the first step. It is no guarantee against a book fading away, ignored, before its first bloom. This book educates writers about what they can do, on their own or with their publisher, to get their work publicized, recognized, onto bookstore shelves, and into readers' hands.


Dad & Mama's Fat & Simple Fixin's (Book to Cook)
Published in Ring-bound by Quick Draw, Etc. (08 August, 1998)
Authors: David W. Southwick, Charlene E. Southwick, and Stacey L. Southwick
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Creative and Delicious
What a fun little cookbook! What I used to dread, I now enjoy from following these easy and fun recipes! The graphics are very funny!

YUM!! Best cook book in the land, folks!!!
After seeing this cook book, I was totally ready to jump into my apron and get into the kitchen!! The recipes are wonderful and are sure to tickle your taste buds and yummy your tummy!! I may not be Betty Crocker, but I feel like that cookin' queen when using this book!! Thanks for such a great book:)

Easy and Simple!
This cookbook is perfect for the "on-the-go" cook. It's recipes are fast, fun, and simple, and DELICIOUS!!!! The illustrations are very funny and creative!!!!!


The Destiny of the Sword (Seventh Sword, Book 3)
Published in Paperback by Ballantine Books (April, 1990)
Authors: Dave Duncan and David Duncan
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Best of the trilogy
The Seventh Sword is an underread and underappreciated trilogy--a lot is going on under the surface of these three books, but the surface is such a readable story that it's accessible to anyone. The plot, as other reviewers have mentioned, is typical fantasy, but there are major, important differences which reveal themselves in this book and The Coming of Wisdom (2nd in the series). Every time I read these books, I'm swept up in the action, but I also see facets and symmetries I hadn't noticed before. This book, more than the first two, delves into the problems of idealism versus necessity, the proper use of power, what a person's identity really is (body, mind, beliefs, values, memories, reactions, desires?), faith and technology, how people grow and develop, and a lot more. The characters are unforgettable--anyone who's read these books will have an instant reaction to names like Katanji, Tomiyano, Thana, Tivanixi, or Jja.

Read these books, and read them again.

Best Trilogy by a Major Talent
"The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This third book doesn't just follow the first two. It reveals things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for there own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) add facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story. . .

Great fun and engrossing
Book 3 of The Seventh Sword [conclusion]

The final book in this series, 'Destiny' isn't as easily read on its own as the first and middle books ('The Reluctant Swordsman' and 'The Soming of Wisdom'). However, this is that rare thing: a trilogy conclusion that really concludes the story. It's an happy ending, no fear -- and it leaves you feeling good and fulfilled, so there's no need for Duncan to write more. (It *could* be done, of course, as McCaffrey did with 'Nerilka's Story,' but it isn't a foregone conclusion that it will be -- or even should be.) Excellent reading; a real page-turner.

This one's rated 'G' by me.


Fierce.Com: The Exclusive Book for Web Elitists
Published in Paperback by Four Walls Eight Windows (August, 1999)
Authors: Tor Hyams, David Scharff, and Matt Hyams
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Laugh? Only if you're still breathing!
When the news got out here in Australia that Fierce.com had finally landed in the "real" world, I raced out and bought a copy of "The Exclusive Book for Web Elitists" faster than you can say "Happy Hour at Sizzlers". Being a Fierce fan for longer than I care to remember, these guys have made me laugh over and over. And continue to do so now offline as well as on.

Tor and David are two of the craziest, abrasive, outspoken and out-of-control guys (with no particular quality attributed exclusively to either one) it's ever been my pleasure to come in contact with. And Matt is just plain unhinged. But all are hilariously funny and do the best "baffling with bulls**t" routine I've ever come across.

Just buy the book - it'll make you laugh, it'll probably make you cry and it will certainly make you look at the Web as it should be viewed - with one eye on the screen and the other on just how crazy and unreal (in the true sense of the word) this virtual reality world called the "WWW" really is. In other words - cross-eyed. (Well, it's worked for them!)

Fabulous Book
An excellent resource for "The best of the best", websites on the Internet. I will be visiting all of these websites and utilizing this book for quite some time to come. It was this book that brought me to Badpuppy.com, which I find to be the biggest best Gay & Lesbian Portal on the Internet. At the very least I now have a home on Badpuppy where I'm with many others who go through the trials and tribulations and the lifestyle questions the Gay & Lesbian community have come to expect.

Thank you Fierce.com for bringing all of these fine sites to the surface. I will be purchasing your book for years to come.

We should all be so Fierce!
The Fierce-sters have been there, done that, and are eminently qualified to direct us to the ultimate best of the Web. Follow their advice without hesitation. You'll waste less time and find more quality in your Internet surfing. Not to mention enjoying their fascinating reviews.


Child in Time: The Life Story of the Singer from Deep Purple
Published in Paperback by Music Book Services (February, 1999)
Authors: Ian Gillan, David Cohen, and Music Book Services
Amazon base price: $16.99
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What an outrageous life!
Child In Time is the autobiography of Ian Gillan, best known as the singer behind Deep Purple's legendary Mark 2 lineup (responsible for such hard rock classics as "Smoke on the Water," "Highway Star," "Woman From Tokyo," and yes, "Child In Time.") But he's also fronted his own band, Gillan, and Black Sabbath (on one album), not to mention sung the role of Jesus for the original Jesus Christ Superstar. All the while he has lived an interesting life, from his humble beginnings as the child of a divorced marriage, through his early singing days (inspired because he wanted to get into the movies like Elvis), through becoming DP's hard-drinking but always affable singer--and developing a love/hate (some would say hate/hate) relationship with the guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore. In fact the main reason I got this book was to try to get the "dirt" on their relationship. There are some juicy tidbits here, including the time Ritchie smashed a plate of spaghetti in Ian's face because he thought that the singer had put ketchup in the pasta. "Come on!" Ritchie taunted, but Ian just walked out of the room, almost in tears. Eat your heart out, MTV's Real World! But seriously, Ian acknowledges that they're like apples and oranges even if some of their musical collaborations have been magical. Elsewhere, Ian documents his views on drugs, sex, business dealings, and how to deal with traveling in unfamiliar countries. Not to be missed is the hilarious section on his year-long stint with Black Sabbath--pure Spinal Tap if it's to be believed. While there are some egregious mistakes in the book (concerning certain dates), I believe a recent edition has corrected them. Also, some feminists might not cotton to some of his views regarding male/female relationships, even if he seems happily married. Check out Child In Time and learn more about Ian Gillan (and Deep Purple!) than you'll ever see in one single book again (unless the 1983 Deep Purple Illustrated Biography is ever updated and re-released, that is).

SImply superb
If you are a great fan of deep purple or Ian gillan this book is a must have

A must for any real hard-rock fan !
It tells in details the life of this marvellous singer, known by many people as The silver voice ! Ian Gillan is well known as the character of Jesus Christ Superstar in the record of the opera in the early seventies. Ian tells his career in full details, his family, his passion for music and drink !! Deep Purple is part of his life (most of it) and you can see it well detailed over here. A magnificent job by Ian. A complete biography of one of our most loved singers of all time: Mr. Gillan from Deep Purple. Hope you can enjoy it as I did.


Composting Toilet System Book: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Planning and Maintaining Composting Toilet Systems
Published in Paperback by Chelsea Green Pub Co (01 May, 2000)
Authors: David Del Porto and Carol Steinfeld
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The best book out there
I would venture that the authors have forgotten more about toilets than most of the rest of us will ever know. There is no possible toilet configuration that does not receive at least cursory discussion. I only have 2 complaints about the book, both of them minor. First there were a couple of systems that I felt were described incompletely and critiqued a bit unfairly. Second, much of the book seemed to be a compilation of other writings without a lot of editing. Consequently there is significant repetition, and a presentation of information that is sometimes slightly disorganized and confusing.

I definitely think that the book is worth reading.

Most complete and credible book on the topic
After reading a couple of books about composting toilets and graywater systems that were either suspiciously poetic or a little too humorous, I was happy to find this book.

As someone who needs a variety of systems for a variety of high-use sites, I was glad to find a book that deals with this topic in technically and responsibly (in terms of public health). I showed this book to my local health agent, and he was far more amenable to permiting an "experimental system" afterwards, saving me a lot of money.

Also, after experimenting with various systems over the years, I am aware that some systems still described in books and magazines just don't work well. The authors of this book have apparently had the same experience, and I appreciate their researching this so completely.

Impressive, comprehensive, reader friendly, practical.
The Composting Toilet System Book is an impressive, comprehensive, reader friendly, and practical guide to choosing, planning and maintaining composting toilet systems for those seeking an alternative to traditional sewer and septic tank systems. David Del Porto and Carol Steinfeld collaborate to explain the technologies, sources, applications, graywater issues, and regulations relevant to a composting toilet system for the home, whether manufactured or site-built. Highly recommended.


Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Nutrition
Published in Hardcover by G K Hall & Co (June, 1979)
Author: David R. Reuben
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