I really enjoyed this book, Would love to read the rest of the series. definitely a Keeper.

this third of the series was fantastic, could not put it down until finished. when you dream of a book that you just read,and feel like you are there,this is what reading is all about.

This book is a real page-turner. I read it in just two sessions.

Summarizes all the technologies in call centers that comprise a customer relationship management solution.

"The Duel" by Anton Chekhov, is a classic exploration of the human mind. One reason I would recommend this book is it's moral. This book is an incredible story told through the eyes and minds of many completely different people all striving for the same thing; to forget the days they lost and make the best of the days they still have. This is a good wake up call to all those who waste time, telling then to appreciate the little things and not waste life on petty squabbles. But most importantly, it's intriguing story. Anton Chekhov pits a general, an adulterous doctor, a zoologist, a deacon, and a mistress against each other in a small town in the Caucasus. He tells the story through their eyes, and the reader find out all of these people, whether they are in love, friends, rivals, or just acquaintances, all just wish for wings to fly away and escape the tediousness of everyday life. All this centers around the hatred between the zoologist and the doctor which eventually explodes into a duel. When faced with possibility, the doctor comes to reason with his faults and his future and in the face of death, he resolves his life and what he must do to make his life right.

Those seeking a dramatic duel should go for A Hero of Our Time. This, like the best Russian literature, is about how to live, a drama of outlooks on life and love. The superficial couple at the story's centre are less offensive than most of the "respectable" figures. The zoologist in particular, is truly shocking in his callous view of "inferiors". Only the character of the doctor is absolutely likeable. In its evocation of the stultifying atmosphere of a time and place, this is both lyrical and profound. ...

Following "By King's Decree" and "Lord of the Manor", Shari Anton's latest literary work tells us the story of the youngest Wilmont brother, Stephen. Having never read the predecessors to "Knave of Hearts", I can safely say this book stands alone. And better yet, it's a medieval romance definitely worth reading.

Stephen of Wilmont and Marian de Lacy became lovers at the age of sixteen and carried on a brief affair. Stephen, unaware of the fact that he'd made Marian pregnant, sets off to find himself and explore the world after their time together comes to an end. Marian, meanwhile, leaves her father's home under his threat of banishment because she won't divulge the name of the noble that has impregnated her.

Six years and a lot of maturity later, Stephen meets Marian's cousin Carolyn and, not realizing them to be related, begins courting her because he believes the beautiful Carolyn will make him a sensible if not particularly endearing wife. When Stephen claps eyes on his first lover again, however, it isn't long before his thoughts begin straying toward and remaining on Marian.

At the same time, Marian begins to entertain doubts that she had made the correct decision six years ago by not telling Stephen about his twin daughters and giving him the opportunity to do the right thing by them. She wonders how long it will take before people begin to notice the resemblance between them and also wonders if she can bear to watch her own cousin marry the only man she has ever loved...

The plot is suspenseful, and the primary and secondary characters are intriguing...definitely worth reading.

(Sexual content = PG-13)

This is the third book in the Wilmont brothers series...By King's Decree is the first and Lord Of The Manor is second.

I usually end up reading these kind of series out of order, which is the case with this book, but you don't really need to have read the previous two to enjoy this one. While they do make references to things that happened in the hero's past, it's usually only enough to make you think...hmmm, I need to get those books to find out what happened!! This story is a sweet story about a woman who is raising her twins which she had out of wedlock and a man who discovers that there is more to life than wenching & wandering! Not much sex here...but a nice story indeed!

I agree withthe high praise given this book by the previous reviewer, but I would not give the book five stars. While it covers many areas often neglected in tour books of Great Britain, it does not give the detailed information which distinguishes a truly invaluable guide.

Twenty walks are included, though some are in the same location: Bath (2), Cambridge (2), Canterbury, Chichester, Church Stretton, Dorchester, Hay-on-Wye, Knole, Oxford (2), St. David's and Solva, Salisbury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Tenby, Wells, and York (2).

Each walk is covered in eight to ten pages including a one or two page map (labelled with main thoroughfares only). The tours lead one to enchanting sites and draw one's attention to architectural and historical points of interest, but the narrative is minimal and so may detract from one's enjoyment of a place. No information is given about the approximate length of a walk or transport to and from the walk, nor niceties such as refreshments available along the way, but museums are listed with times (not phone numbers). There is good index.

I would rate this book three-and-a-half stars but that is not possible. I will round up to four because I think that the spirit of this book is not to document every step of your way, but rather to help you enjoy the underdiscovered path; in that it succeeds, and would make a lovely supplement to a more traditional tour book.

I took the very first edition of "Turn Left at the Pub" with me on my very first trip to Britain in 1972, when I was a graduate student on a limited budget. Rather than doing the usual tourist stuff, I wanted to get a "feel" for what Britain was, and had been during the medieval period I was studying. This book was terrific: the authors offered fresh perspectives on popular destinations such as Bath and the Cotswolds, and their recommendations for "off the beaten track" walks in Cornwall were superb. The descriptions were informative, thorough, and great fun to read. Later editions of the book have updated the contents while remaining true to the spirit of the original. This is one of the best guidebooks I've ever used, and it has much to offer to the seasoned traveler as well as the person making a first trip to Britain. I highly recommend it.

Tony Adams writes the definitive book for those interested in the history of the Mexican-American War. He provides the political and strategic setting of the war, as well as great tactical accounts of the battles.

Of particular interest is his detail on the Order of Battle, uniforms, tactics, weaponry and leadership for both the American and Mexican Army.

The Naval War is covered in suprising detail as well.

This is one great book, in my opinion. It has good maps, orders of battle for each engagement with unit strengths in many cases, chapters on each army and its weapons and tactics, and chapters on the uniforms of each army. Good campaign and battle descriptions too. Good descriptions of the generals for each side. I just can't say enough good things about it. If you have any sort of serious interest in this war, do yourself a favor and get it.

This book would be really good for someone who has never been exposed to the writings of Hyatt and DuQuette before. It has a lot of good info on sex magick and the psychology of sexuality. The problem I had with it is that it really doesn't contain much information that isn't available in their other books. If you're a big fan of the two authors, look it over, but it's basically a rehash of older material.

a delightfully insurgent work that reminds those of us who live in basic freedom what is so good about it.

Taboo really dabbles in the realm of exploring your inherent right to use your body as you see fit (in gentle consensuality with chosen others). This is not for the NFL/Lonestar beer set that just wants to get their groove on. This work is for those who consider sex to be a highly sacred, enlightening experience worthy of the most assiduous effort and unbridled, maximum joy.

Intelligence and ritual do play an intrinsic role in fits of ecstasy. This book deftly bridges the gap between "Masters and Johnson clinical" and "in your face indulgence" rendering a delightful and accessible (not to mention highly mystical) middle ground available to those with the proper focus and stamina.

If anything, the book provides keys to becoming more sensitive to the finer nuances of human beings' favorite pastime.

Enjoy!

The following is a review of this spicy little bombshell written by Leticia Marquez of Magical Blend Magazine:

Robert Anton Wilson says of "Taboo"...

"I assure you that what you are about to read is obscene, lewd, blasphemous, subversive, and very interesting, and that all right-thinking people will agree that it should be banned, bowdlerized, censored, suppressed, and burned by the public hangman...I think it is safe to predict that almost every organized group of idiots in this country will regard this book as extremely dangerous."

Wilson is probably right, Taboo's challenge to unite sexual and religious practices probably won't go over well with the New Right. But for the rest of us, the authors present a roller-coaster of a read complete with case histories, theories, and secret sex rituals of interest to both "adepts' of esoteric sex cult societies as well as "ordinary" people. Full of interesting quotations and anecdotes from alchemists, sex magicians, and vampires--not to mention old Yawey himself--this is a fascinating a colorful work that seems predestined to upset many people in our sex-negative society. Those who believe that taboos are made to be broken, however, should find Taboo and enjoyable and entertaining read.

I hate to pan a R.A.W. book, but this is, by far, his weakest effort. Some of it reprints material from 'Trajectories', even more of it is material from his website . The original material has been bulked up by silly full-page illustrations that add very little to the book, and even more pages are spent on quotes, many of them from Ezra Pound, so that the book should almost be credited as "Edited by" R.A.W. instead of authored. Wilson doesn't put a lot of effort into maintaining his "Tsarist-Occupied Government" argument beyond the short introductory essay (which, itself, is Wilson at his conspiracy-theory best), so the title of the book is a little misleading; this is more like a sequel to _Coincidence: A Head Trip_, filled with much shorter writings on Wilson's familiar themes; Satanic Panics, religion, uncertainty, drugs, UFOs and archetypes.

The last ten pages are a preview of his next book to be published, _Tale of the Tribe_, advertised as being about the Internet (by which I assume New Falcon means the World Wide Web). Given that so much of _TSOG_ looks like an amateur website captured on paper, one can hope that a book on contributions to cyberspace models by Rennaisance thinkers will work out better.

It seems to me that the state of the U.S. gov't needs to be critiqued in the way that Robert Anton Wilson does. It's unfortunate that, as the need grows, his power to voice that critique seems to be failing.

TSOG is political satire at its most entertaining high - something far beyond your wildest dreams. Capable of evoking hysterical laughter and revelation all in the same quip, Wilson delivers punch after punch of thoughtful thrills. TSOG is rapturous, raucously humorous, and pleasurably mind-boggling. What other book takes you from the exciting works of luminaries such as Ezra Pound and Alfred Korzybski to side splitting sections on unidentified flying virgins and why Hannibal Lecter would be suitable as President!

Wilson's mind is razor sharp but as thrillingly imaginative as ever with delightful intellectual surprises around every corner. The reader marvels at Wilson's uncanny ability to interconnect the Church with the U.S. government with the Mafia and sundry other human folly.

The author openly bashes the hypocrisies of "faith-based organizations" and the many dangers of orthodoxy.

A lively account of a trip to Cannabis Cup leads to various wonderful uses of the "f" word.

Bungling idiots in office are skewered like never before in parodies that challenge the best of Hollywood's comedy writers to hyperkinetic runs for the money.

Mainly the thrill of reading Wilson is the uniquely acerbic but always light-hearted and comedic tone which reminds you what is so important about freedom. In the end you may not have created a rupture in the power structures but your mind has roamed through dimensions that are constantly considered off-limits.

Wilson shows all of us that thought processes are not heretical -that we are free to use our minds as we see fit. In this spirit exists the only real hope that while living in an increasingly more restrictive society we, the people - and not our Tsarist government - will ultimately be victorious.

Bob keeps getting better and better. Loosely following the pattern of Dante's Commedia, Bob travels from Amsterdam to the hellish inner workings of our government, with some wonderful tidbits about Faulkner and Ezra and bears, oh my!

Perhaps I should begin this review by saying i'm an Atheist, not a Christian. With that out of the way, let me tell you a bit about LeVay's book.

Here you have the primer for those interested in pursuing Religious Satanism. Religious Satanism is not Gothic Satanism - that is to say it's not the pretend Satanism you hear the media talking about. Nor is it Biblical Satanism... LeVay named it Satanism because of the sharp contrasts between it and the teachings of Christianity. LeVay feels that the only things that are really important are pursuing pleasure in the here and now. He talks about how restrictive Christianity is, and spends some time speaking of pursuit of the "Seven Deadly Sins" with other consenting adults. Not a bad idea.

I loved it when I read it in highschool, but shortly after I was exposed to another author... one who published a bit before LeVay. Ayn Rand. And after reading Ayn Rand's works I went back and reread some parts of LeVays works. He speaks of his respect for Ayn Rand and her ideas within the Satanic Bible - and well he should, for many of "his" ideas are rewritten Objectivism (Ayn Rand's Philosophy).

Those ideas, combined with some - unnecessary - Christian hate comprise about two thirds of the book. The last portion is mostly "black magic". I found this especially strange as most Satanists are atheists or agnostics themselves (worshiping Satan as a concept, not as an actual creature) and I would think this portion fo the book to be totally unnecessary. Perhaps LeVay included it to make his book appealing to an even wider audience - I don't know. It doesn't add anything to the philosophy and you can skip over it without missing a thing.

In summation, the book isn't half bad. There are a lot of good ideas presented within, and the "questing" the book has many people do is excellent. However, the unnecessary elements and borrowed ideas force me to rate the book lower than it could have been.

The Satanic Bible is by far the most intelligent book ever written. Dr. Anton LaVey was an obvious genius. The word "Satan" causes many people to shun this book, which is it's exact intent. Those who can not think objectively to religion are angered by the book, yet many Christians have probably bought this book for the interesting shock effect. In this book, those who are looking for horror are sorely shot down, as it contains only ways of living in an un-Christian society. Far more philosophical and realistic than the Holy Bible (a great fiction novel), The Satanic Bible shows the way to live life to the fullest extent and in happiness. Truly the fathers of our country would have deemed this book "EXCELLENT," in this day and age of Christian Fascism that would be impossible. I think people should read this book and the Holy Bible as the combination of the two creates an objective viewpoint of reality vs. spirituality-Two complete opposites. The Satanic Bible also creates an optimistic view on life as you create your own situations to fulfill your needs, not worshipping an obsolete "god" that demands for you to abstain from all of man's desires.

This book has a very special place in my life for two reasons:

1. It surprised me with it's lack of hype or madness;

2. I could almost believe, with some grammatical variation, that I had written it myself.

This book made me aware that I was not "the only one who felt this way". High Priest Anton Szandor LaVey has here written a text that agrees with my own nature.

I was actually in the process of cleansing the ridiculous bonds of ignorant additions from the Magical Arts when I finally read what I had previously assumed to be a fraudulent, hyped up jest. My only motivation for reading the Satanic Bible initially was purely amusement. I was both surprised and exultant to find that this work was expressing my own feelings and goals. In addition, I was surprised to find it had been written (just) before I was born!

This is a text that details True Magic and Natural Religion. To authentic Witches and Warlocks it conveys that feeling of "coming home". My only regret is that I shall never meet the author personally.

If Magic is what you seek - buy this book.

Love, betrayal, drama, and suspense, the makers of a great novel, are all found in Charles Dickens', A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens not only sets a great foundation for the novel but he also builds an illustrious story with great detail. His creativity explodes in this book.

The book is set in the time before and during the French Revolution. It is about the experiences of two French families and how those experiences later collide with their future. Their experiences not only create a great fictional story but they also dipict the true horrors that occured in France at that time.

Dickens makes the plot very interesting because he incorporates fiction and historical facts and events. For example in the storming of the Bastille scene, he brings to life an actual event and adds the fiction of what the peasants found in Dr. Manette's cell and the inside look on how they may have felt. Two other examples include the scenes where the revolutionaries kill the king and queen of France and the many times they use the guillotine. They demonstrate this mixture because they're true events yet, Dickens adds fictional characters and the feelings and emotions the people might have had.

Another great touch that Dickens adds is all the detail. Although at times it is rather long it helps to make a clear picture in the mind of what is going on. One such example where he does this is when he describes fate and death. He makes two rather hard to picture objects visible in the mind as the Farmer and the Woodsman. Another example of his great use of detail is when he describes Mr. Lorry's trip down the Dover mail. His description gives the feeling of actually being there. These are just two but there are numerous of other examples.

One more thing that made this novel fascinating was how Dickens reveals bits and pieces of the plot mixed together, but then ties every piece together at the end. For example he dipicts the Marquis' cruelness first and does not explain his involvement right away. However, by the end he turns out to be a key character. He also does that with the character of Dr. Manette. He introduces the character but leaves the suspense of that character's involvement until later. The suspense keeps the interest in the novel going. Dickens details, mixture of fact with fiction, and suspense makes the novel a extremely enjoyable book. After reading this book a clear understanding is achieved of why Charles Dickens is such a renowned author. A Tale of Two Cities is a unique and fascinating story which is why it is a must for anyone's bookself.

A Tale of Two Cities is set in the two cities of London and Paris, in the fourth quarter of the eighteenth century. A Doctor Manette is brought from France, where he has been wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years, to England where his daughter has been raised. They testify in a trial against Charles Darnay, who is eventually aquitted and later marries Miss Manette. Darnay is really a French nobleman, the Marquis Evremonde, who has left his estate in France to work for a living in humble circumstances in England. During the French Revolution, his representative in the old country is arrested, and the idealistic Darnay goes home to defend this man only to get himself arrested. This occurs during the Terror, and Darnay must expect to be executed as a treacherous emigrant. The final chapters of the book revolve around the effort to save Darnay and his family from the guillotine. The book seems to have two distinct parts. In the beginning, Dickens mainly describes settings and characters, while the plot is mostly invisible. Then, as the end of the book approaches, focus moves to a chain of more or less surprising events, which bind together other seemingly disconnected events in the first chapters. Towards the end, the Tale is almost a Thriller. Dickens reveals himself as a master of the English language, a genius of style and a great wit early in the book. His descriptions rival those of Turgenev, although his descriptions of misery are in a moralizing tone that is never heard from the more subtle Russian. One problem I found with this book is that the characters seem a little too black and white, there is little of the psychological complexity found in, say, the writings of Dostoevski or Ibsen. Two interesting exceptions are Sydney Carton, a family friend with great ability and potential but a life-long lack of self-control, and Dr. Manette, who we find struggling to repress the memory of his imprisonment. A Tale of Two Cities is certainly great literature from a writer who even in the most gloomy circumstances finds something to amuse us. But I find it hard to suffer with his poor virtuous Ms. Manette/Mrs. Darnay with her blonde hair, blue eyes, unlimited loyalty, and talented interior design. She is simply too much, too perfect, too unreal. As for Dickens' description of the Great Revolution, vivid and engaging as it is, it is plagued by the same hyperbolic tendency. A Tale of Two Cities, then, is a highly enjoyable and fascinating read, but it doesn't have the complexity and insight characteristic of the very best novels (in my humble and subjective opinion).

Charles Dickens again succeds in bringing to readers another classic tale - this one about France during the Revolution, and the lives of a few particular people affected by it. Dickens intricately develops the storyline, and creates some of the most memorable and characters and quotes in literature. While leading the reader through a world of drama and suspenseful action, Dickens adheres admirably well to historical details and events. This is an incredible book and a must read for almost anybody. I only gave it four stars, because in the beginning, the story is somewhat confusing, since Dickens is throwing out a lot of strings which he creatively weaves together as the story progresses. This, however, can be justified, for the original publication was in serial form; thus, Dickens needed to keep the readers in suspense in order to keep them reading it. Overall, though, this truly was a pleasure to read.