The identity of the Hobgoblin was a mystery for a long time in the Spider-Man series. There were many red herrings and clues which led readers down wrong paths for many years. The original Hobgoblin stories were some of the most well written stories in the Spider-Man series. Now that it has come time to reveal who the Hobgoblin actually was, it is somewhat of a disappointment. It is almost as if Stern changed his mind several times before settling on who it actually was. Considering the high quality of the early Hobgoblin stories, this is a big letdown, especially as Hobgoblin is revealed to be a minor character who didn't really have much impact in the series.

Back when Amazing Spiderman #238 first came out it was the beginning of one of the most exciting Spiderman stories ever. A story that went on for 52 issues, with the reader not knowing who the Hobgoblin was, untill finally in #289 Ned Leeds was unmasked and turned out to be the Hobgoblin. At least, we readers 'knew' that Ned was the Hobgoblin, because in the Spiderman reality it was 'proven' later that Jason Macendale was the Hobgoblin. They never knew Leeds to be the Hobgoblin because Macendale just stole Leeds' gear right after Ned was murdered so he was never 'caught in the act'. Macendale later got arrested and un-masked so now everybody thinks he's the one and only Hobgoblin, and Macendale never denied it.

Now it's 15 years later and it's time for 'Hobgoblin lives' (brought to you by the same writer that brought you the original saga, a big plus in my opinion), a story that takes place just after the Clone Saga thing is all over and done with. It starts of with Macendale being put on public trial to be punished for the acts of crime he committed as the Hobgoblin. When he's being led away he shouts out to the representatives of the press that he ISN'T the first Hobgoblin but that the original Hobgoblin was really the late Ned Leeds ! Then the story kicks into gear. A big scale 'who is it' investigation is started again by several different groups of interest, re-opening the whole question "who IS the real Hobgoblin." You find yourself in a fast-pacing story where the 'nominees-list' and the 'he-can't-be-it' list constantly alters in the eye of the reader (Sort of like when you first watched the movie 'Scream') and where you only find out who actually IS the real Hobgoblin in the very end. Meanwhile you're being taken through the story by good, clear, flowing art and excellent, storytelling, plot-twisting writing. A very good story in the Spiderman history and a more than worthy successor to the original Hobgoblin Saga.

Note though: When you haven't read the original Hobgoblin Saga this is a really hard story to understand and get into. The story constantly makes remarks of what happened in the original story. So if you really wanna enjoy this one you'd do best by getting the issues (or the trade) of the original Hobgoblin Saga first. After that, it's on !

Ever since Roger Stern introduced the villainous Hobgoblin in the early 1980's, his true identity has been a mystery to Spider-Man and readers, and even other writers. After he left, another writer took a guess and "revealed" his identity. Only problem is, he was 100% wrong. Now, 15 years after the Hobgoblin's introduction, Roger Stern is back, with three masterfully written issues. His purpose? To reveal the one, true Hobgoblin's identity once and for all!

To anyone who read the original Hobgoblin stories by Stern, you know that they read as good as the best mystery novel, only serialized and with superheroes. Here, Stern brings back all the old suspects and supporting cast, and successfully recreates the feeling. Ron Frenz also does some magnificent art, making "Hobby" seem quite creepy.

Fortunately, you don't need to have read the original stories in order to understand and like this one, but you do have to have done so in order to fully appreciate it. So I give this 4.5 stars if you haven't read the old stories, and 5 if you have.

I picked up this book because I have always loved Astaire and Rodgers. However, when I started reading, I was dissapointed. The plot seems a little farfetched. I think there were too many characters, and I kept wondering why everybody knew each other. Russia is a large country, but reading this book makes it seem like a small town. However, this book did manage to keep me interested in what happened at the end. I would read it for distraction because it is by no means great literature.

Like many of Baxt's novels, this one goes a little off-track with all the characters and spies, et cetera. However, that, in this humble reader's opinion, is part of the charm. These mysteries were obviously not written for deep, critical analysis, but for simple enjoyment. All the characters, and there are many, are fleshed out, and if the plot lacks bits that are shoved in a bit too hurriedly at the end, well that's just part of the charm. Another three cheers for George Baxt. And for Fred and Ginger.

This is not one of Edmund Morgan's more important books, but it is worth looking at if you like Morgan's writings (as I do passionately), or if you are a George Washington buff. This is a very slim volume, consisting of one very interesting lecture on Washington as a military and political leader (arguing that Washington understood the nature of power better than anybody else in his day in the colonies or the states), and a selection of Washington's letters that provide corroboration for Morgan's arguments and insight into the pertinent topics. Where needed, Morgan provides a brief introduction to each letter. I enjoyed it, but it isn't going to make anybody outside of the two groups I mentioned above very happy.

On the copyright page, a small disclaimer appears alerting the reader that this book consists of one lecture and portions of Washtington's letters and is NOT intended to be "fresh contributions to the scholarship of the American Revolution." I will not argue this but will praise Edmund Morgan on clearly and straightforwardly explaining an his theory that George Washington's understanding of power was far beyond any of his contemporaries' or of any other American historical figure. As examples, shows the reader examples from Washingtons' life and letters with regards to national power, military power, foreign relations and the comperative power of nations and the power that comes with honor or respect.

This is a slim work, consisting of less than ninety pages, but these pages have done a great deal to flesh out my understanding of Washington the person. Morgan has convinced me that Washington is a genius with regards to the understanding of power and the remoteness and aloofness that historians often find puzzeling is less an arrogant flaw than a deliberate calculated example of his understanding of power. While this, as I have previously said, is not a "fresh contribution," it is a contribution which sums up a difficult subject in an extremely well-written and engaging way. I highly recommend it.

As a university student in animal sciences, I bought this book to get a lot of great informations about animal physiology for my 1st grade. I've been very surprised of the quality of the informations mentioned in this book; well explained, easy to consult... it's a great book! Subjects are handle professionally and are written to make everyone who know a little bit about biology understand in details everything about animal physiology. A great book, similar as Neil A. Capmbell's Biology quality... simply a great referance!

This is a virtual 40 page mini-thesis on the mistakes Custer made from the Crows Nest to his final rest. Darling raises good points that Custer's continuous fractionalizing of his force; leaving the pack train, sending Benteen to a left scout at the divide, sending Reno forward at Lone Teepee, Custer's turn to the north all led to his demise in the face of a concentrated enemy. The main premise is that Custer did a wonderful job of proceeding cautiously and professionally in his search for the Sioux until he got within 15 miles. The most damaging charge against Custer is that Darling states that Custer never fully believed his scouts that a large village actually existed on the LBH. The other charge is that Custer ordered Reno to attack only the small village refugees at Lone Teepee (Reno Creek) which was a small collection of 70 - 90 indians with families. And the most serious charge, Custer turned north perhaps only guessing that Reno would go north to chase the Lone Teepee village escapees.

Issues that could be argued against these theories, Custer's Chief of Scouts saw the smoke from the large village at the Crow's nest and the Crow scouts said they could see a large pony herd on the LBH. In effect, it would be hard to argue that Custer totally disregarded the village being on the LBH and that his turn to the left along the bluffs was a calculated guess. Benteen was told to scout on the left but not go indefinitely in that direction to infinity as Benteen later charged. Darling fails to mention that Custer sent Benteen two messengers to keep abreast of Benteen's progress and he was expected to rejoin the main column after his scout. Reno's alledged order to only attack just the Lone Teepee village seems hard to swallow since Custer said he would support Reno with the whole outfit which would be a greater need than chasing 70 - 90 Indians. Besides Scout Gerard, riding with Reno, came back to Custer's adjutant Cook to report the LBH village size and that the Sioux and Cheyene stopped running and were fighting. Custer certianly knew this after Cook reported. Also, Darling fails to mention that Boston Custer, the civilian younger brother, passed Benteen watering his horses on his liesurely pursuit of Custer's trail and that Boston reported and died with Custer . Thinking that Benteen would soon catch up with his battalion, most likely impactd Custer's decisions perhaps causing a delay. Finally, Custer had four Crow Scouts and Mitch Boyer with him that knew the territory and most of which were at the Crows Nest. They knew the terrian and probably offered alternatives to attack the Sioux and Cheyenne using the geography of the land. In Darlings great book "A Terrible and Sad Blunder" Darling offers that Reno strayed from his ordered reconnaissance to determine the direction of the Sioux but also because the scout Mitch Boyer offered an alternative trail to follow. Why isn't it reasonable to presume that Boyer did the same for Custer? If Boyer did the same for Custer providing an alternative attack approach and Reno held and Benteen rejoined the command perhaps the outcome would have been different, perhaps not a Custer victory but survival of much more of his command. Darling invokes a good argument but leaves out some critical points but it is a good read and at times a relatively reasonable argument. Perhaps if Custer had the advantage of hindsight, he wouldn't have made the decisions that he had but in the midst of fast moving action he did so with the information and history that he had at present.

This book basically contends that although the leaders of the two countries acted like school yard bullies squaring off that it was George Bush who kept pushing towards war each time Saddam Hussein tried to slow down the current.

Among some of the interesting items presented against President Bush was the fact that he initially seemed to be pushed around by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who told him at a meeting that he couldn't stand for Hussein's invasion. In the beginning he wobbled and changed stances on the invasion frequently. His public and private statements through diplomatic channels were contradicting. At first he conveyed to Saddam Hussein (before the invasion of Kuwait) that the U.S. didn't care what Hussein did and would not take action if he invaded because it was an Arab problem. But when the invasion occurred he took action against it. Second, President Bush pushed Sadia Arabia to house U.S. troops on their soil even though the Saudi's were against it. Then he announced to the world that the Saudi's had requested the U.S. troops to help protect their land. Third, President Bush announced that the troops in Saudi Arabia would be there for defense of that country only and denied any intention of an invasion force to push back Iraqi troops. This too, turned out to be untrue.

On the opposite side of the spectrum it seems that, initially, Saddam Hussein's grievances were somewhat legitimate, although not for a full invasion of Kuwait. Saddam had come to the U.S. for help and was told to handle it any way he wanted, it was not our concern. You have to understand that in the years before the Gulf War the U.S. government was helping Saddam Hussein in his war with Iran. There was an issue of Kuwait stealing Iraqi oil by a "slant drill" in an oil field. The issue of Kuwait owning islands that blocked the ability of Iraq to transport their oil out of the Persian Gulf (these were given to Kuwait by the British). Atleast four times Hussein had offered a peace agreement and to remove his soldiers from Kuwait after the invasion through many nations, including Jordan and Russia, all to be turned down by the U.S.

Overall I feel this book was interesting and shed some light on some of the causes behind the war. While I believe that these are valid reasons that have been well researched I'm sure there are even more. The path towards war is usually complex.

There must be thousands of books on how to be rich. I don't think it's easy to find one on how to be poor. George Mikes (pronunced [mikish]) Set out to write one and the result was this hilarious yet serious and philosophical essay. In a world where being rich seems highly desirable George Mikes analises the draw backs and miseries of this condition. Any rich man fep up with having so much money and wanting to become poor, could read this book. A lovely book indeed with a lot of wisdom in it.

It is very impressive for doctors to study or practice spinal surgery.

I foun this one a very good book, it doesnt have any photos, but color illustrations are very descriptive and useful.
Its a must have because it covers all kind of trees, even some palm and cacti.

You wont find any problem to identify any tree, differences are very well noted on this book.

I give it four stars because it doesnt have an overview of trees forms, it only shows leaves, thorns, fruits, but not the tree form and dimensions.

Now THIS is where I thot George started seriously slipping (if it wasn't when I saw the small amount of new work in his previous collection, NIGHTFLYERS). There is 1 good new story here -- "In the Lost Lands." It has the mood & magic of so many of George's early greats. Some of the other stories R recycled from George's earlier collections: it's a pleasure 2 C "With Morning Comes Mistfall," "Second Kind of Loneliness," & "Lonely Songs of Laren Door" again, & they certainly brighten up this package. "Unsound Variations" is a pretty good chess story. "Under Seige" is pretty solid, 2. But the others R mostly disappointments. "Portraits of His Children" won a Nebula Award, & tho it's a vivid series of character sketches, I didn't get what all the fuss was about. It's tuff 2 keep crankin out greats at the low rates of pay in the SF field. Is that why George took a 10-year vacation to TV?

Mr. Martin is easily becoming one of my favorite authors. I will admit that I had not read any of his works until the 'Song of Fire and Ice' series was created. I figure you have to begin somewhere though. While reading this book, I found that he not only can sweep you off to other worlds with ease, but also make you teary eyed when reviewing just what his characters are going through and the strength and/or weakness that they reveal. It's a shame that this book isn't more popular. It truly is great. From a group of men playing with all their heart in the last super bowl (only to be replaced with a computer with no emotion to emulate them), to a group of old 'friends' finally confronted with their failures and being told why exactly they came to be, you'll be surprised by just how much you'll be pulled into their lives. There are eleven stories all together, and I'd recommend each and every one of them. All run the gamut of emotions. All represent a different facet of our lives.

On a further note, I don't have a clue what the 'Incest' guy was talking about. The story that is the namesake of the book has a scene where a father and daughter are laying together in bed consoling each other, I assume that he might have interpreted what happened incorrectly (or then again, perhaps I did).

The story "Unsound Variations" was just amazing! a single move in a chess tounament that one of the weaker players made ruins the lives of the rest of the team in ways both disturbing and unimaginable...

The "Ice Dragon" won an award and after reading it and wiping your tears away you will know why... its simply amazing how one man has so many stories that, in just a few pages can cut through a persons layers of bitterness and expose emotions that one may have believed to have been long since dead.
("With Morning comes Mistfall" and "Lonely Songs of Loren Dorr" fit into this category...Not to mention the Title story about a Daughters mystical Paintings...)

For you anarchists out there you will find the story "closing Time" has a pleasent way of dealing with the whole mess out there....

A total of 11 wonderous and magical stories affiriming that GRR Martin was the Master even before the Song of Ice and Fire was Created.

Buy this book! It will be [$$$], but its worth it if you want to laugh and cry again.