Ms. Conant once more brings a tale of suspense and murder. As well as bringing into play another purpose for dogs in Ruffly the hearing aide dog. Thouse of us who love dogs appreciate her efforts to help educate people who thing "Rover" is just a pet!

A dog in the story is no longer a "gimmick". Conant has presented a dog serving a real purpose, and the usefullness of this task is an integral part of the story. I have passed on copies of this book it is so relevant, and a darned good read, too

It was with some trepidation that I started reading Steven Havill's latest book, SCAVENGERS, knowing that it was the start of a new direction in one of my favorite series. Bill Gastner has retired as Undersheriff of Posadas County, and Estelle Reyes-Guzman, his young protegee, is taking over. Havill is about as good at bringing the small world of a Southern New Mexico town to life as anyone could be. My fears were soon set to rest as I was reassured that he can also write well and convincingly from the point of view of a female, and a Latina at that. SCAVENGERS is just as sound in its police work, real in its evocation of the desert, and touching in its portrait of one busy woman in a small town. The U.S.-Mexico Border has many facets, but this series realistically portrays one of them, where the mixing of cultures is constant and taken for granted. A sound detective story in an endlessly fascinating setting.

Posedas County is a wide-open range between New Mexico and the Mexican border and for the most part it is a quiet place. There are some areas that are patrolled rarely because there is nothing there. One day a pilot flies over the area and sees what she thinks is a body. She returns to base and the local authorities are on the scene almost immediately. A man is lying in the dirt, his faced so smashed in that they can't obtain dental plates.

Now that Bill Gastner is retired and the newly elected sheriff Robert Torrez is in Virginia taking a law enforcement course, the case is headed up by Under Sheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman. Even with her ailing and aging mother and her son down with the flu, Estelle copes with the investigation just fine until they find a second body buried in a shallow grave located a few miles near the first. Estelle thinks the two deaths are tied to together and Eurelio Scener, a person who acts like he knows more than he is telling, might have some answers but he has disappeared, perhaps involuntarily.

Anyone who likes to see an investigation played out from the beginning to the end will definitely like SCAVENGERS, a police procedural that has heart. Watching the Under Sheriff balance her home life with her work gives the audience an appreciation for the police performing duties that sometimes can be at the expense of their own families. Steven F. Havill continues to write excellent crime thrillers as his series keeps evolving with a true time line.

Harriet Klausner

Unfortunately, Rene Char is not as widely known as he should be. It would be insufficient to merely deem him a surrealist or an incarnation of Rimbaud's genius,so it must be known that his world of poetry is slightly beyond any established form or category. His poems combine nature, beauty, and absurdity, to the point where distinctions decline and sentences seemingly tremble with their newfound power. In many lines of his poems, the disorder present in all minds makes its presence known and by some strange beauteous force, what one is resolved to call confusion, Char, creates, or rather uncovers as an inherent recognition.

Though highly respected by the International Avant Garde, Rene Char's poetry is not as widely available in English translation as it should be. Part of this is probably due to a reputation for obscurity or difficulty. But, as this volume shows this, has been exagerated. There are many poems of amazing simplicity - not to mention beauty. As this selection contains poems from all periods of Char's life one is able to make a full assessment.

Char wrote mainly prose poems and free verse. He had a gift for imagery that is often conveyed lyrically, though this is fractured by occasional violence. Many also have a zen-like simplicity and compression. This is especially so in nature poems such as "the Swift" or "the First Moments" . This violence is often elemental but also revalatory. This makes for an interesting contrast with the English poet, Ted Hughes. Except Char believes that human beings should engage with nature both by being friend and opponent rather than just resigning to it.

Char's vision is essentially that of the great Tao, or the Unknown as he calls it. He sums this up with the phrase "How can we live without the unknown before us?" This also appears in many of his very sensual love/muse poems. As with Graves, connection with women has an almost mystical significance for Char. There is a particularly beautiful prose piece about an encounter with a woman on the Paris Metro. This, to him is confirmation that he is in full connection with reality at that moment. A confirmation of his strong sense of vocation.

The translations are placed along side the French originals. For readers with some French this will help navigate some of Char's difficulties of phrase. For those with no French, the translations are usually good in their own right, some outstanding. Perhaps predictably the best of these are by outstanding poets in their own right such as James Wright, WS Merwin and William Carlos Willaims. But all give a good flavour of the this great poet and none are bad.

This collection is essential for all those curious about Char. A voice with much to say in our time who deserves wider circulation amongst English readers.

It has been four months since lawyer Vicky Holden left her high-powered job in a high profile legal firm to return home to the Wind River Reservation. She finally agrees to face her abusive ex-husband Ben at a local restaurant but they aren't together a few minutes before he loses his temper, makes a scene, and walks out.

A mortified Vicky departs from her public humiliation not long after the incident occurred only to later learn that Ben was murdered. The local FBI agent knows that Vicki had motive and opportunity, but no alibi. The gun is wiped clear of finger points except for a clear one that belongs to Vicki. Unless Vickie can find the real killer, she will be indicted for premeditated murder.

Margaret Coel has written an absorbing and interesting mystery that gives readers a glimpse into the modern day west. The protagonist is a feisty determined woman and her friend catholic priest Father O' Malley is her mirror image. Together this unlikely pair gets in and out of trouble so many times it feels as if they are stars in a Wild West epic.

Harriet Klausner

There are many mystery series out today that feature crime-solvers ranging from cooks to cats. Most are good, light reading with interesting twists and turns.
But if you are interested in a more serious and unique line of mysteries, look to Margaret Coel's Arapahoe series. Set on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, Coel's cast of characters include Jesuit priest Father John O'Malley and his friend Vicky Holden, who is an Arapahoe attorney from Denver. These two always manage to stumble upon unusual circumstances that need following up on, including murders, disappearances and mayhem.
Her latest book, "The Shadow Dancer," is the seventh in this group, and this time a charismatic leader of the Ghost Dancers is wreaking havoc on the reservation, with people near and dear to Father John and Vicky turning up missing and dead.
Dean Little Horse, a young Arapahoe with a talent for computers, is missing, and his elderly aunts have summoned Father John for help in finding him. During his inquiries about Dean, Father John discovers a man called Orlando has proclaimed himself the prophet of the Ghost Dancers, a religion promising a new world to come that swept the plains during the 1880's. Orlando is stirring up the residents of the reservation with his new group, known as the Shadow Dancers. Is this group responsible for Dean's disappearance?
Meanwhile, Vicky Holden is having troubles of her own. Her despised ex-husband has been murdered, and Vicky quickly becomes the prime suspect. She turns to Father John to help her find her husband's murderers, and it's during their search that they find evidence that the Shadow Dancers might have had a hand in this crime as well.
Coel is adept at weaving her stories with a flair for suspense that keeps her readers intrigued and enthralled. You can start at the beginning of her series or jump in with the latest, and experience a satisfying read either way. Her research into the subject matter is extensive, and she presents the historical background in her stories in a way that lends much to the tale at hand.
So if you're into mysteries and are looking for a change of pace, give Margaret Coel's Wind River Reservation series a try. You'll find them unique and original.

This was my first exposure to a book by this author, and I was very pleased. The story covers a period of time interesting to me and in an area near my home. The heroes are good people with normal character flaws, and the villians are the kind of people you can easily hate. The story is tied in to real times and real events. The author is obviously very familiar with the Cheyenne Indians and the frontier during the latter 1800's. A spellbinding book.

In 1879, Brad Randall, the Commissioner for Indian Affairs feels ineffectual in his post because he knows how the Indians are being treated and is in no position to help them. When he finds out his wife is cheating on him with his assistant, he leaves her and journeys out west, hoping to help the Native-Americans. He also wants to find Eden Murdoch who he has not seen or heard from in ten years to tell her the son she thought died is very much alive.

When the two ex-lovers meet, Eden is in jail protecting the fact that the Indians are no longer allowed near Solomon Spring, a sacred site to many tribes. He gets her out of jail and takes her to see her son who is not pleased to see her because her husband, Lawrence Murdoch has found him first and fed him lies about her. When Lawrence is found dead, Brad confesses to his murder but the only one who doesn't believe him is Eden who intends to find the real killer before her lover hangs.

SOLOMON SPRING is a great work of historical fiction and an equally good historical mystery. Through the characters eyes we are able to see the plight of the Indians and their courage in the face of adversity. The romance between the two protagonists is quite good but takes a back seat to the who-done it. Michelle Black is a talented writer who will appeal to readers of mystery, romance and history.

Harriet Klausner

I've followed the Calder family for 3 gererations now and am looking forward to reading about the next 2. Can't put these books down.

Webb fought the newcomer's who rushed to claim grasslands where Calder cattle grazed. Lilli is a proud young immigrant married to a man who instigates fights with the Calder's. When her husband dies, she marries Webb and they fight droughts and harsh weather together along with Webb's nemesis Krueger. This man goes mad and kills Lilli. Webb is devasted. The love of his life... he only had a couple of years...is dead. BUT....they had a son, Chase!

Best introductory book on automated theorem proving available. Although it was written in the early 70's, it is written in a very clear, but mathematically precise, manner. It does not drown a reader with an abundance of symbols and definitions. It is a clear and well written exposition on automated theorem proving based on resolution. Unlike some recent text books, it does NOT use sequentzen logic systems. It covers all aspects of resolution-based theorem proving: different forms of resolution, deletion strategies, unification.

If you are interested in Artificial Intelligence or you are one of those crazy guys who likes the Computer theory area this is a good book for you, mechanical theorem proving is an important subject into the AI area, all you want to know is Mathematical Logic, first order logic and predicate calculus. Very good book but very hard too (specially if you have to make some Mechanical theorem provers by yourself as a school project :) )

This third installment in Kate Allen's Allison Kaine mystery series continues to be my favorite. Allison, a Denver police officer and her best friend Michelle travel south to spend a peaceful, long, working retreat weekend on womyn's land near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The weekend takes several unexpected turns as Stacy, Allison's girlfriend and a professional dominatrix, shows up to make peace after a recent argument. Uninformed of the commune's strict rules, Stacy and her best friend, Liz set up "Fun Camp" outside the Land. Well provisioned with caffeine and alcohol, they become the local entertainment and outlet for the less pure retreat members. Predictably, arguments concerning feminism and the leather community flare up in the desert heat.

Despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, Stacy and Allison still manage to find time for... Allison and company do a wonderful job of humanizing that feminist taboo- s/m. In depicting intelligent, caring women with ordinary jobs (except for Stacy . . .), bills, and pets, Allen creates cognitive dissidence for people who demonize the leather community.

Allison and Stacy aren't the only ones indulging their... Away from the strain of domestic life with her girlfriend and their colicky baby, Michelle is expressing more than a professional interest in Persimmon, a fellow glass artist, and one of the commune sponsors.

Soon, Sarah Embraces-All-Things, the commune spiritual leader, a bully, and possibly a fraud, is discovered dead in the sweat lodge. Allison, suffering from a recently diagnosed chronic illness, struggles to sort out her professional responsibility as a police officer and her role as a supportive lesbian. Several members of the retreat appear happy to call Sarah's death an accident. Are they protecting a murderer?

Allen succeeds in poking fun at all the complexities and contradictions of the lesbian, gay, and feminist community without being malicious -- a great temptation, particularly over some of the issues. -- and conveys intelligent ambivalence over controversial issues. As the characters struggle with their interactions, political views, and the question of Sarah's death, Allen points out how very funny lesbians can be while she consistently displays compassion for the women that make up our community. All of Allen's novels are intelligent, humorous, and worth buying but this is still my favorite to date.

Another great dyke thriller from Kate Allen. The characters that she has created, Denver cop Allison, dominatrix girl-friend Stacey, best friend the ever-so PC Michelle, lawyer Liz and all the others are further developed in this great novel. This is coupled with a very exciting plot line which challenges many lesbian hang-ups, particulary those around trans-gendered people.

The murder victim is so nasty that you can only cheer when she is killed and Allison's frustration at her attempts to assert patriarchal laws on wimmin's land are well described.

Yet it is the small things that make me long for more Kate Allen novels. Allison dealing with her fears around disabilty and Michelle fighting for independence with a baby in her home are the kind of things that offer insights into the characters and make me want to know more.

This is coupled with a great sense of humour - I have actually laughed out loud while reading Kate Allen. Stacey's and Liz's Fun-camp, Michelle as City Pony, Allison wanting to talk about her cat in Spanish (I've been there!)all make these the funniest series of dyke detective novels I have ever read.

Kate Allen, please, please (I'd bark like a dog!) write more about this fantastic bunch of dykes and their friends.

As you can easily guess from the title of this seventh Mario Balzic mystery, Christmas is threatening Rocksburg, Pennsylvania and it becomes obvious fairly quickly in "Upon Some Midnights Clear" that Balzic has good reason for dreading the holidays. Ed Sitko, the chief of the city's volunteer firefighters calls to tell Balzic about Mrs. Gabin, who was mugged of...in Christmas money and demands to know what the chief of police is going to do about it. But before Balzic can get around to investigating the case Sitko has his men out collecting money for the victim and the more Balzic looks into what happened, the less he likes it. However, Balzic's life is nothing if not extremely complicated and in trying to clean up this mess he has to deal not only with the bigoted fire chief but a newspaper columnist who has little regard for the truth unless it suits her needs, an alienated Vietnam vet and his friends who are tired of being blamed for losing the war, and a small time criminal who always manages to worm his way out of trouble. When Balzic finds himself in Musconi's listening to the old crime boss give him advice, he knows that Christmas is going to be anything but merry.

"Upon Some Midnights Clear" is the Mario Balzic mystery that K.C. Constantine needed to write at this point in the series because the character had been dangerously close to wallowing in self-pity. Certainly he has been ignoring his family way too much in the last few novels, whose plot lines have threatened to consume his soul. When you have a character who able to enforce his sense of justice on those around him not just because of his personality but because of his position of power it becomes important for the reader to feel such a person is connected to the real world and not off rambling around their own little kingdom. Being nice to the wife and kids is important because of the grounding it provides Balzic.

Constantine's approach remains the same. Balzic engages in a series of conversations in order to work his way to the truth of a given situation. This time around he is haunted by more than his usual share of doubts, which compels him to several key moments of self-reflection. Maybe just writing about Christmas was enough to get Constantine to lighten up a bit with regards to both Balzic and what happens in Rocksburg, because I certainly did not have the sense of wallowing in dirt and filth like I had after some of these novels, especially the previous effort, "Always a Body to Trade." Something approaching a happy ending, even if it means justice comes in the form of a man getting away with a crime for which he is guilty being punished for one in which he is innocent, is definitely a welcome relief. Balzic will almost certainly be back in the trenches, but at least this time around he gets the most important thing right.

I read this every year during the holidays and it's a crime (no pun intended) that it's out of print. The theft of an old lady's Christmas Club money leads to. . . well, you'll have to find out for yourself. Constantine's pitch-perfect depiction of a western Pennsylvania XMAS (i.e., gloom, cold and slush) captures a side of the holiday that most would choose to ignore. And his old ladies can't be beat. Usually, they do the beating. (see Grievance, his most recent mystery.) It's time for a reissue.

I look forward to reading this book. One of the stories is reproduced on the Teaching Tolerance website...
The reproduction also includes audio and the site is well worth a visit. It is simply written, but that enhances rather than detracts form the message.

I read the original edition of this book nearly 30 years ago, and keep buying it for friends, and my own daughter - it is a sensitive, whimsical and accessibly deep look at Islam, the nature of life, the Turkish culture, and simple, transcendent morals. The humor, and the points of the fables are all gently made, with a great deal of charm and simple eloquence. One of my favorite books of all time. Great for anything from laughter, to learning about another culture, to simple and timeless morals, to an understanding of the common ground we share with Islam