It was very exciting. Once I got started I couldn't put it down. I have started reading all of the Star Fleet Academy Star Trek The Next Generation books. This is a must for any Star Trek fan.

I am now 13 years old, and I still read this book (even though most of the time I read novels). It is an excellent book that any young Trekkie should have in his/her collection. Read it. You'll like it. :-)

This book is very appropriate for the stated reading level. It is very beautifully written and is most probably the best of the series. I enjoyed the intricate use of various phrases and how the plot slowly developed to allow the protagonists to overcome any difficulties that they faced. If you read this book, I would suggest other books by the same author. The style persists.

This is not a guide book for treasure hunters. What it is is an entertaining read. It details several stories of buried treasure from Cocos Island to Mahe in the Seychelles. Providing a good deal of background information on the area and characters involved in each story. Tantalizing details are presented, that almost make you believe that the stories might be true.

The reality is pirates didn't bury treasure, they spent it, some few invested it and retired wealthy, but the vast majority squandered their riches on booze and women. Never-the-less, the lure of money for nothing, just waiting to be dug up, will always have some pulling out a shovel and pick to go hunting. And let's face it, we all dream about it. P-)

I was once telling my Dad, a sea captain, how much I wanted to become a treasure hunter. The story of Mel Fisher was so compelling to me, all I needed, I told my dad, was a few million dollars to get started and some good maps.

He laughed and teased me, then, upon a return trip from Florida, he brought me this book, and old "treasure" map and some fake "tourist" treasure all to get me started.

I was completely fascinated by the accounts in this book. It is a couple of hundred pages long and each of the eleven chapters covers a different treasure. The book covers the history behind the treasure as well as accounts of people trying to find the various hoards hidden, it seems, forever. Or perhaps the treasure was never left behind in the first place, but the idea that "some" of it may still be there is enough to make any treasure hunter feel a bit driven to want to go and see for themselves.

This book is history and story, it is not in any way a guide to go looking for treasure nor do the authors give encouragement to the reader that if they are lucky and resourceful they might make history themselves. But for anyone interested in the history of some great pirate stories and modern accounts of treasure hunting, or for dreamers like myself, I recommend this book. It is fun and well written.

In brief, I would not recommend this book. The map of Cambodia, the chronology of events between 1953 and 1998, and the prologue by the author, all within the first part of the book alluded me to think that this was a book rich with historical context. I could find none in the book. No, I stand corrected, there were historical facts: the chain of events the author experienced first hand, but no more.

If you are looking for what the Khmer Rouge was, who its leaders were, what the leaders thought, or even who Douch - whom the editorial reviews trys to make us believe to be the second protagonist of the book - is, look elsewhere. Bizot simply goes on and on with one minute detail after another, never violating the direction of time, never even once shifting perspectives. Granted, the author does a very good job in describing his encounters with various people, the agonies he felt, etc, but what should we make of these descriptions when devoid of context? Most likely I will forget, and think it plausible that the majority of other readers will do the same.

Le Carre's introduction, as other reviewers of this book do not fail to notice, is nothing short of brilliant, and served as one motivation for me to purchase this book. Unfortunately the introduction remained the best part of the book.

The author, Francois Bizot, was a rare Khmer-speaking non-Cambodian (he's French) who survived the bloodiest years of oppression in that country. His melancholy, measured style of writing makes it easier to believe the fact that he stayed on in Cambodia of his own free choice when the blood-letting began. His refusal to abandon the autonomy of the ability to think for himself forms the spine of his tale. Heroism is balanced with fear; understanding balances anger; the senselessness of tragedy gains a measure of the majestic when rendered by Bizot.
A very worthwhile read from an insider's perspective.

In the final chapter of "The Gate" Francois Bizot writes, "There are experiences that make us reappraise everything." In large part this book is an accounting of those experiences of the nightmare which was Cambodia in the 1970's. It has taken 30 years for Bizot to get this personal narrative out to the reading public and it stands as a significant contribution in the literature.

While I truly enjoy the WoT books, I have to say this was a "Show me the money" book by TOR. The information in the book was primarlily a rehash of things readers discover or can infer through reading the series. In other words, for those that have read the complete series up to the date of this book there was not a whole lot of new information. For those that are just starting the WoT series, this book could spoil a lot of the suprises. I also have to admit that I thought the art was terrible and question wheter the artist even read the series.

On the plus side, the Guide provides a handy reference for hard core WoT fans. It also provides a number of maps that the books have lacked.

I would suggest buying this only after you have completed reading the series up to book 8 and have read the short story in "Legends." This is a good reference book to have if your re-reading the series or just trying to pass the time until the next book is out.

"The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time" (hereinafter "World") is a good companion book for any fan of this great series. Filled with helpful and original material, this companion book gives readers a look at the geography, society, and present & past history of this highly detailed fantasy world. This is a must read book for fans of this series.

However, there are two important caveats. First, the original artwork contained in this book can be described in one word: dreadful! Hideous, terrible, yuck, ugly, and other negative adjectives are also accurate. The artwork in this book is on the level of bad fan art, except most fan art I've seen is better than what is contained in this book. When compared to the cover art of Darrell K. Sweet, which is also found in this book, its enough to make you cringe when looking at the pathetic interior illustrations of Todd Cameron Hamilton. But bad as the artwork is, and it is BAD, it does not overcome the information contained in this book.

The second caveat is that "World" was published prior to the release of book 8, "A Path of Daggers". Two books have now been published (with who knows how many yet to come)since the release of "World", so there is some dating to this companion book. But there is enough original material to still make "World" a good purchase for any fan of this series.

Many choose to critisize this book saying the text is general, the typos are many, and the information is the same that you find in the series. As to the typos: it's a first edition! expect typos; that's why people buy first editions. Also, if the text got anymore specific, can you imagine how long this book would be? Some of the information is new and can't be found in the regular series, but most can. Of course! This book wasn't written to give us spoilers; it's a compilation of all the odd facts presented in the books and a useful reference. If a person buys it expecting otherwise they'll be disappointed, but for what it is, it's great! I will conceed that many of the pictures are inaccurate, but no more so than those of the book jackets, and as far as I'm concerned a few (not very many) do seem to be accurate. Overall, it is a good reference and did answer some questions I had about the series. I knew what I was buying beforehand, and it lived up to my expectations.

I will keep this short. Being a police officer with over twelve years of experience, having worked with U.S. Marshals, and having been assigned to a Federal Task Force, I can assure you there is more fiction than truth in this book. I read this garbage and immediately gave it away to a charitable organization as soon as I finished it. I wasted money on this one.

I liked this book, but am seeing from other reviews that a lot of it is made up. I have to say, I was wondering if some of it was made up when I read it. That he alone got Christopher Boyce to confess to robbing banks seemed a little too easy. Maybe he did. But, actually, I didn't even KNOW Christopher Boyce (the Falcon "spy" in the movie FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN) had escaped prison and robbed banks, so was interested in that section of the book for that. But I thought Pascucci was spot on when he states that Boyce didn't sell secrets to the Soviets for idealogical reasons, as he claimed, but because Boyce is a purely immoral sociopath. The one problem I really had with the book is Pascucci states so blithely how he would sign his own search warrants, without ever getting a judge's approval, so he was making all these illegal searches, but figures the ends justifies the means. Uh, the laws were written for a reason. That he so cavalierly forged search warrants--and he does it throughout the book--appalled me.

Mr. Pascucci makes you believe he is this unstoppable, law breaking, law enforcement officer. While I was down at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, Ga, I got to meet a couple of Senior Deputy U.S. Marshals who knew Mr. Pascussi. They basically told me that he was a slime ball and lied about alot of the book. If you want to read an interesting book read this one, but don't believe everything you read. Mr. Pascussi was arrested by the F.B.I for bribing elected officials and was embarrassed in front of a large gathering with Safir's(NYC Police Commissioner) approval. But, you have to do what you have to do, and Mr. Pascussi did. The U.S. Marshals Service will stab you in the back, so it is right for Mr. Pascussi to take a few stabs at them. Thanks to Chief Larry Parker(Eastern District of NY),Inspector Thomas Spillane(OIA),and Assistant Director Wayne"Duke" Smith.

It borrows and expands on the characterizations of Jake and Nog during A Man Alone, The Nagus and Storyteller, still making mischief and growing up, not quite to the point of jake becoming a writer or Nog wanting to join the Academy. Thus, it's an interesting, accurate look from a young adult's perspective at first season DS9 (both Jake and Nog are the youngest on the station, the only recurring kids and in Ms. O'Brien's class), but the suspense and adnveture aren't quite even up to Hardy Boys level. I'd recommend Starfleet Academy (TNG Young Adults) over this.

John Vornholt is a very two-faced star trek author, with the ability to produce ambitious and well written stories, while producing just as many naivé and brainless action adventures.

"Crossfire" is the purest example of the latter.

The main character is the drily portrayed younger version of Geordie LaForge, who works as a roadie for the Starfleet Academy Big Band, where the equally dimensionless younger version of Will Riker plays the trombone.

The book starts with the band traveling to a music competition on Pasifica, the much mentioned vacation planet of Starfleet officers.

The first half of this ridiculously short, but still overstrched story centeres around the question of the band winning or not, with tons of unnecessary and clumsy scenes filling the pages. The action begins as a bunch of Orios kidnapp the band.

Why?

Because they like the way they play, of course; no more, no less.

The band is taken to a planet where Orion troops are fighting as mercinaries in a war they've got nothing to do with, and the band is instructed to cheer them up. And of course the fighting begins just as they get there, leaving LaForge and Riker stranded together in the middle of a war zone.

Needless to say, the book has a discusting 'Happily Ever After'-ending, wich involves a lot of technobabble and a solution any reader can figure out aieons before the characters.

By the end of the book, I was truly perplexed by the question of how such a potential author could waste his time on something so utterly horrible.

Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Mr. Cameron's tome of Lynn Waldorf. Having lived after "Pappy's" reign as a coach and a as a coach myself, I found out, interestingly enough, how little the game has changed. There still is the organization and planning of a program, the intense rivalry and competion, sacrifice, the desire to be a part of something bigger than yourself and the realization that football is just a stepping stone for life. If you know a true "student of the game", coach, player or amateur football "historian", this is a great gift and a fantastic and inspiring read. I wish I played for Coach Waldorf.