So, my first comment about this honker was as follows: "I am in a house consisting of three very large rooms and several smaller rooms. All of these rooms
are entirely empty, except for a single locked chest. I have been exploring for 45 minutes. The chest is still locked. Am I having fun?"

I tell you lies. My actual first comment was "I don't understand the setup of this story." The game begins in the middle of World War One, which seemed a
little... subtle... for a story ostensibly set entirely in ancient Roman Pompeii. By "subtle", I here mean "Say what?" But the narration quickly zips through
some business with oaths, love, the goddess Ishtar, and a horrible fever, and dumps you in Pompeii before you can reach for the Tylenol. It's five days
before Vesuvius erupts, and you have to find your girlfriend, who has been dumped here also.

None of this makes any sense, but none of it makes any difference either, so I guess that's okay. Underline the words "You have to find your girlfriend", and
"five days before Vesuvius erupts". Go on from there.

As it turns out, the key to the locked chest is lying on the floor nearby. I happened not to see it. Thus, 45 minutes in a totally empty house. It's a nice house,
if you like realistic depictions of Roman architecture.

After you open the chest, some characters show up and give you some plot directives. Then you go outside and two more characters beat you to death
while arguing over a mule.

I really shouldn't spend so much time lamenting Timescape. It's just that, um, lamenting is more fun than actually playing... ahem. I didn't hate playing this
game. A bunch of characters and plot threads are woven together. The storylines are acceptably complex. They're not acceptably well-written; a lot of
what happens makes no sense at all.

The game design is one of those setups where, whenever you're stuck, the answer is to run all around the city, looking into every corner and crevice,
because some character is hanging out somewhere waiting to push you along. This is tedious, so I used a walkthrough frequently.

You can also die, as I mentioned. You can die in timed puzzles; you can die and not know it for a couple more moves (so you can save the game in an
unwinnable state). None of this adds to the game in any significant way. It's just frustrating. (Sometimes very frustrating. Such as the chase scene in which
walking the wrong way produces the message "Game over -- you cannot complete your mission." Say what? Perhaps the starship Enterprise crash-landed
on your time-displaced nouveau-Pompeiian heinie. I like to imagine that's how the game ended, anyway.)

Everything is very realistic, though. Realistic Roman architecture. Realistic Roman politics. Realistic Roman characters. Realistic Roman events (bar the
occasional prophetic vision, and, oh yes, you were sent back in time from World War One).

I don't like realism that much. And that's why I'm going to stop typing now and boot up Myst 3.

This is a great book, if you are too lazy to even walk around in Riven. I had completed everything, except for 2 of the last 3 puzzles, and all I wanted was a couple of general hints to point me in the right direction. Instead, the first half of the book, which is supposed to do just that, was more of a smoothed out walk through - not every step, but it pushed you through the whole game and revealed all of the secrets and solutions. The real walkthrough in the back is basically the same thing, just bulleted and put into command sentences. Don't buy this book if you want to take your time and figure things out on your own. If you just want to beat the game quickly, with no respect for the beauty of the programming and the story, this will do fine.

On the brighter side, after I bought this and read it, I stopped hitting my head, solved the puzzles again for myself, and finished the game in 2 hours. I would still be playing around in the ceremonial chamber and with the marble puzzle if I didn't get this book. I missed the small things, which made so much difference, and I couldn't make the connections, which is what this is all about. Please, try Riven on your own first, and if you are really stuck (I mean really), then get this book. It will alleviate your headache.

This is the best book. It is a lot like the Myst srategy guide.

I was hoping for a children's book that would help to explain the concept of God in a fun and interesting way as the author promised. What I got instead was a very disturbing and extreme literalist view of God. Concepts in the book are misleading or misrepresented. Definitions for agnosticism, pantheism, and others are excessively biased and incorrect. The author writes that agnostics think faith, believing without proof is foolish. When in fact, agnostics actually argue that belief in the divinity can rest only on faith. Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam are discribed as false beliefs. The author goes on to write that because of Adam and Eve's bad choice, nature is dangerous. Predators kill, bacteria cause disease, etc. How unfortunate that this harmful discription or our world attempts to wipe out the wonderful and miraculous idea of balance in nature. This book should not be shown to children lest your intent to is distort, disturb, and misinform them. A book about God should focus on the wonderous quality of a being we cannot fully comprehend. It should not attempt to prejudice children against the thoughts and views of others.

I Want To Know About God is an excellent resource. This book was wriiten at an level where children, teens, and adults can absorb this rich theology. I am going to buy five of these books to give away. In a day and age where sound doctrine is ignored it is great to see such a profound work. The use of apologetics was superb also. Thank You.

Derwin L. Gray

I use Rick Osborne's "I Want to Know" series as an excellent resource for how to explain spiritual topics in a language elementary-aged children can understand. I've found the series Biblically accurate and theolocially sound as well as very visually appealing for children.

Never saw this book because I hate starategy guides. They tell you how to win. isn't the whole point of the game to figure out how to win. It also cost to much. Jedi Knight is the coolest video game ever but all strategy guides are horrible.

The book has maps of all levels, it has many easter eggs (like Max from the comic and cartoon). It has strategies for beating bossess, and for attacking enemys. It also lets some thingsfor you to figure out. It has info about the multi-player mode and strategies for it. It also gives you info on if you are having trouble with the game or hardware. Overall, this book rocks.

This book is wriiten very well and covers all aspects of what gamers are looking for. It gives plenty of maps for reference, and is excellent to user for either getting past a rough bit or finding all secrets. It begins with statistics for all the enemies and general stats for weapons, etc. Then ofcourse are maps and write-ups for all the levels; including help and secrets. Since it was written with the help of the creators, everything you'd want to know is included and seems accurate. A great buy for help or just good 'ol cheating.

This book is about a man who runs away from his father because the father does nothing but yell at him. This book is one of my favorites, even though I gave it a four, because it had a lot of action and it made me want to keep reading. Although I still think that the orignal was one of the better ones that have been written.

The book "Rip Van Winkle" is about a guy named Rip and his father, Dame, who thinks that Rip can never do anything right. Dame is always yelling at Rip. Dame really got mad when Rip sold part of the family property, so he went away for awhile and met some strangers and started to drink quite a lot of beer. You have to read the book to find out what happens next.

Several of these other reviews are for a different version of this story. The one I am reviewing is an "All Aboard Reading" version. It is definitely written for beginning readers (1st-3rd grade)

This version is a good introduction to the classic Washington Irving story. I do not like the way Rip's wife yells at him to get to work or how Rip is only "maybe...a little" sad when we finds out that his wife has died after his long sleep. Neither Rip nor his wife were the most exemplary characters! :-)

Still, that is the way the story was written and can be a good launch into a talk about character.

Practice questions were too easy and too few in number. Sybex has a lot of good study guides out there but this is not one of them. A better subject review can be found in the back of the excellent full sized study guide "SQL Server 7 Administration," by Christopher Wille et al., New Riders, 1999, ISBN 0735700036.

While I'm at it I'd also recommend the following texts for the 70-028 exam:

"Teach Yourself SQL Server 7.0 in 21 Days," by Richard Waymire and Rick Sawtell, Sam Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0672312905; and,

"Transact-SQL Programming," by Kevin Kline et al., O'Reilly & Assoc., 1999, ISBN 1565924010.

Both of these texts will also help with the 70-029 exam should you volunteer for the punishment.

I was both disappointed and pleasantly suprised when I finished reading this book.

As a study guide for exam 70-028, it doesn't go into enough detail all the time. In some parts it's very general, giving a high-level overview and in other parts it goes into great detail, telling you the exact menu selection (Tools - Replication - Configure ....) You need to have some experience with SQL Server to get the most out of this book. As I said, it will certainly supplement another more detailed study guide.

However, I believe this books strength is that it WILL be used as a reference guide to working with SQL Server. The chapters are well laid out and topics are easy to locate. I use this book in the "real world" quite a bit.

All in all, a very good book to have, but not the best source when you're studying for the exam

I've read this book twice in addition to Microsoft Books and Online help, with good SQL hands-on experience, and passed the exam with a good score. As usual, Sybex publications still one of the best material for certification from any company or organization (e.g. A+, Network+, MCSE, etc.).

Enjoy!

"Book of the Wyld" left me with mixed feelings. The book did contain some interesting and useful information; all the new rules would add just the right amount of flavor to any Werewolf story. Unfortunately, this book left me wanting for more; I don't think it was as good as the two previous books about the Wyrm and the Weaver. "Book of the Wyld" could have definitely use some more work, but I think it is worth having in the end if you want add more the Wyld element to your stories.

" and the Wild was off picking it's toes or something." This the general stereo type I held of The Wyld. Yes it's the fountain of creation, but it had not been given the personification that the other members of the triad had.

Well no more.

The down side of this book: It tries to explain the unexplainable.

The Up Side: It gives insight to what is often the most misunderstood element of the WereWolf game. The book has a good selection of Wyld Fetishes and a couple (2) Rites that can work as good background material. The selection of Wyld spirts is good (20 pages worth, and the Gorgans), and can act as excelent additions to any game (be forwarned some are reprints though). It also incluedes a section on The Storm Eater, if any one was wondering more about it, you'll find some answers. The addition of "thresholds" is also something new to me.

And finaly the warning "The Wild is a doble Edged Sword." Under this topic there is a good section explaining the chaos that is The Wyld. As well as an discusion on insainity (The freind of Chaos) and how close association wiht the Wyld can lead your characters to the depths of madness, and how to deal with it as a storyteller, and player.

All in all a good addition to the White Wolf line-up.

As an introductory book its fine but as a 'Most Complete' you want it to expand beyond basic examples into e.g. interaction between the cartridge types, practical implementation advice etc.

I'd have used the money back guarantee if there was one as I expected a bit more from it.

Does a reasonable job of covering Oracle Web Application Server 3.0, but the Oracle Press book is better.

This book does a good job of providing an overview of the architecture surrounding OAS 3.0, but certainly does not hold to its claim as "The Most Complete Reference." Its biggest shortfall is its lack of detail concerning Inter-Cartridge Exchange (ICX). It mentions this topic at least a few times, and explains the premise behind ICX, but doesn't provide any examples of how ICX is accomplished from a PL/SQL cartridge to a C cartridge, for example. A good book for people who are just learning about OAS and want an introduction and then some.

If you know very little about Roman history, and you like to read conspiratorial books about the evils of government, this may be your cup of tea.

No historian, drawing from a few resources, Maybury spins a tale of the genesis of large, centralized governments spawned from fascist Rome, plaguing libertarians such as himself even today.

God help the person whose primary experience of history is books such as this

This is one of a series of facinating books made by Uncle Eric.One very good point he makes is that history can seem like a meaningless arangement of dates unless we have a model to base it on.The book also discuses the history of the roman model and its influence through WWII.A very interesting point in this book is the power matrix. What is the power matrix you ask? Well the power matrix is the main powers that are fighting today. The old power matrix used to be Soviet Socialism vs. US Democracy.The power matrix today is Fuedalism vs. Facism vs. Islam,if your wondering why it has changed I recomend you read the book.It goes in to much more detail. Many more points are brought up in this book and I recomend it to anyone who wants to gain further knowledge of Gov. and Econ!

I was surprise to see so few reviews of this seventh book in the nine book series from Mr. Maybury. It astonished me even more to find a library review that seemed to attack him. This could not have been a person who has given the "Uncle Eric" series a fair and balanced hearing.

To attack Mr. Maybury for presenting a compressed view of history on the grounds that they put forth, proves that they do not fully understand nor comprehend the overall spirit and intent of his books. As a matter of fact I found that review rather childish, inept and unjustifiable.

In any case I find this book no different than all the rest, a good read, informative and thought provoking. Mr. Maybury tells us way back in his first book of this series...that they are all simply one man's opinion of how we have arrived where we are today. It is up to the reader to research futher and consider whether they want to accept his evaluation or not. Surely tolerance itself would dictate he get a just hearing in that regard. Big government does oppress the people, and anyone who does not agree with that is just plain simple-minded.

I found this book thought provoking, challenging and educational on a level that I guess the library in queston cannot comprehend.

As a primer to history, economics, moral issues, government, polictics, money and countless other subjects Mr. Maybury brings a method that should be more widely used to educate our children. At least on the most basic level to spart their interest and bring such matters down to a level of simplification that does not turn the young reader off.

Surly we must instruct them that they should never take one persons opinion as a gospel to the truth or history or anything but to deny them the benefit of his rather extraordiary talents is a much worse sin upon enlightenment than anything Mr. Maybury has perpetrated.

All writings, no matter how well cloaked or clothed in the dust jackets of the historian, journalist, constitutional scholar or other famous authors is after all "just opinion" derived at by looking at something someone else has produced, and trying to glean what was in their minds when they put pen or quill to paper or parchment.

Librarians should remember that and not be so harsh upon people like Mr. Maybury for there is no more truth and fiction in his works than in many many others that sit upon the library shelves.

Great introductory book to history as it relates to todays world. I would strongly recommend it to the beginner.

How this book won any type of award is beyond me. The main character's wield of power over local law enforcement authorities is about as unrealistic as they come. I gave this book 164 pages to "grow up" but it let me down. Adios, Mr. Boyer.

This is a very solid read. I'm a little surprised it won an Edgar but it was almost 20 years ago. Standards may have changed.

What stands out about this mystery is the nautical/Cape Cod element. Boats and ships and ship building are the core of this novel. I found this interesting. The plot is a little far fetched, but I'm not a bored guy trying to get through a mid-life crisis by poking my nose into a murder. My middle aged husband has gotten quite a kick out of this book - so maybe it's a guy thing.

Bottom line: a good read - easy to imagine the reader on the beach with this story. I'll check out at least one other Boyer book.

A great book, particularly if you like Cape Cod

First, let me start off by saying that I own and have read this book throughly.

This Official Stratagy Guide presents a walk-through for each of the game's 10 levels, and has several chapers covering:
1 . basic buildings and their uses
2 . research and their relative times to complete
3 . what pisses aliens off, what makes them happy
4 . agriculture bio-deck, and what plant produces what items

The down side of this, is that 90% of what is in this book, you will have discovered by playing the game. What I was looking for in this stratagy guide were specific statistics.

I wanted to know exactly how the Z-Ray scanner Item effects Sick Bay performance. The book does not even mention the Z-Ray scanner.

There are other specifics, such as "just how useless are those Image Views, Bio-Lamps, and Chronometers"?
I wanted to know what quantifiable effect they would have on the alien populace. But guess what? This book sheds no light on any of those items at all. As a matter of fact, if you were to just read this book and not play the game, you would never know that those items even existed.

Want to know how well the bench effects happines? Too bad, its not in here.

Want to know the optimal placement for the garbage cans? Nope, it's not in here either.

(I've found that putting garbage cans around the Dine-o-Matt and in front of the stores cuts down on about 90% of all garbage. The residents seem to drop garbage after leaving the Stores, or after using the dine-o-matt. They seem to be less inclined to drop garbage elsewhere, but you won't find that in the stratagy guide... Though, I may be wrong because I have no numbers to back me up, just my own personal experience playing with the game.... It would have been nice if the stratagy guide actually presented some real stratagy, so we could have a definite answer.)

In conclusion, this book is very vague on specifics, and is basically just a walk-through. I find the walk-through included in this book totaly and utterly useless. Often they present stratagies that I found were not the best over-all stratagy.

One should expect that an Official Stratagy Guide present the most optimal and efficent stratagy and to provide detailed information on how all the game mechanics work. Unfortunately, this book provides neither.

Although perhaps the price is a bit high for a book which needs serious work in terms of layout, the Prima guide to Startopia has all of the basic information inside it that a person would need to get going towards victory in Startopia: what plants grow in what soils on the biodeck, and what do they produce; what do the different races prefer for food/entertainment/biodeck environment; what are good strategies for the missions... etc.

It is clear that the book was put together to match the release of Startopia, but they probably should have put off things until the game was closer to completion. Nothing is different in the guide than in the game, of course, but it seems as though the writers did not spend too much time playing with different possibilities themselves (a few simple strategies for dealing with emergencies, for example, are not covered, even though a person would figure it out rather quickly). One other problem is that the tech tree is not to be found in completion in the book. It appears in the game, and the evolution of your technologies is pretty obvious, so probably it wasn't neccisary anyway, but having it in the book would have given it a sense of completion.

All in all, this book is really only a "must" if you don't want to go through and discover everything yourself, which only takes time (there is nothing in the book a person cannot find out themselves). However, having everything in one place and in print is still very convenient, which may be enough of a reason to buy it.

I believe that the title says it all. I mean, wow!