In this reissue of 1988 Jose Farmers' The Dungeon .. not only does Richard Lupoff write but also Bruce Coville whose talents are worth an extra review. His contribution "The Dark Abyss" leads us to believe that Neville can be found and everyone can find a way out, his journal is leaving unsuspecting messages and clues but hope is short lived. Major Clive Folliot and his companions accompanied by new allies including his great-granddaughter Annabelle Leigh and friends will descend through a trap door in a cave with the help of Shriek.. a large spider woman that can change her inner self (which makes her a deadly addition to this group) spins a silk line to descend upon a world of vast oceans were there are people who live beneath the surface of that great body of water and there are islanders' populating a tiny portion of land. Here they meet Mr.Green who will reveal to Clive a key to the mysteries of the Dungeon and ancient races who play a game beyond rational comprehension. During all of this Sidi Bombay has been incorporated with a worm that feeds on what a person is, in return they make that person part of them. He is rescued and discovers the experience has made him young and vital again. Yet despite the fact that they have survived this long the worms are the only creature powerful enough to travel within the tunnels of the dungeon and they will learn to use that ability.

This reissue of Jose Farmers' 1988 romp through a labrynth so wonderfully imagined and illustrated (originally) by robert gould , "The Black Tower" written by Richard Lupoff, brings to us a gripping tale of brother searching for his twin lost after a trip to the continent. He embarks on a journey following a strange pattern of stars' with his faithful companions, Sergeant Smythe..a master of disguises', Sidi Bombay..spiritual advisor and user of the mysteries, User-Anne..who really rocks/rolls and Finnbogg..a massive dwarf with doggy like eagerness. Together they will descend level after level experiencing all the strange beings trapped in this multi-layered world.
This exciting new series reissue will delight all fans of fantasy who liken to Dantes'Inferno sense and multi-facet themes. Come along and try this, you won't regret it !!!!!

"Bruce Coville's Alien Visitors" combines a wonderful blend of science fiction, fantasy, and alien stories all in one. It tells past, present and future stories of far away worlds and extraterestrial happenings right here on Earth. For example, you'l hear a story about a boy who gets a job at a local diner working the graveyard shift and ends up meeting some of the weirdest aliens in the galaxy. Or you'll hear about space pioneers who start a settlement on Mars only to find out that some mysterious virrus is turning them into the very aliens they are looking for. If you are in to science fiction or anything about alien life on other planets then this is most certainly the book for you!

Bruce Coville's books are extremely popular and well-written. Take, for instance MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN and JEREMY THATCHER DRAGON HATCHER. This book is no exception. Bruce Coville's story in this book, THE METAMORPHASIS OF JUSTIN JONES, is about a lonely and abused boy who finds wings in Mr. Elive's Magic Shop. When he flies to escape his uncle, he finds an island where there is no hate, misery or pain. However, the old lady who makes the wings that lead to the island tells him that if he chooses to stay, he will never grow up. If he chooses to go back, he will face the same problems as before, but he will be able to, because no matter what happens he will remember that once--he flew. Does he stay or return? It's all in BRUCE COVILLE'S BOOK OF MAGIC II-an excellent book from an excellent author. (The story THE METAMORPHASIS OF JUSTIN JONES also appears in Bruce Coville's newest book ODDER THAN EVER, another 5 star book.)

this review is by THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COVILLE FAN

When I started it, I couldn't stop until I finished. The plotkeeps thickening until you can fit an elephant in! It is also veryfunny.

This was an excellent book, and a great ending to the AI gang trilogy. This book wrapped up all the loose ends quite well and had several interesting plot twists. It solves the mystery of Black Glove's identity. I can say that I wish this incredible series was not limited to 3 books. A surefire read!

I have read other consulting how-to guides, but this one really puts me on the path of more satisfied customers and greater profits. Besides going over contracts, it covers useful elements for websites, strategic marketing plans, and even provides methods to market your services (with examples too)! I should have bought this book when I have my first consulting gig in 1992 it would have saved me thousands.

If you can't afford this book right now, get a used copy while they are available, go to the library, but what every you do get this book. Consider that my free advice to consultants, if you would like to discuss this further, consultations are available.

shenson was the consultants consultant

this book tells you how to do it but also gives you the metrics you need to make sure that you do it right

this was the first full coverage consulting book. there was a groundbreaking one some years earlier by another author but it did not cover as many considerations nor give any solid numbers.

this book covers all the aspects you need to be successful. if it does nothing more than keep you from charging too little then it was worth the price.

i have used the advice when i was a consultant and found that it works.

if you have an interest in being an independent consultant you must read it. if you are only a contract employee you could still gain by reading it.

ted nicholas is a master marketer and his inputs strengthen a book taht was already the best. . .

Generally IT consultants do not have extensive marketing experience. This books provides excellent insights to indirect marketing techniques that work. Consultants, IT consultants in particular, will derive keen marketing insights from this book. The book is written in an easy-to-read style and structured very well. When bulleted items are presented, they are immediately followed by an explanation, one for each item.

Max Max : Beyond Thunderdome - The best movie in the series, in my humble opinion...

Mel Gibson, as always, does a great job in the title role, with an excellent supporting role from Tina Turner, as Aunty Entity. The movie shows the final stages of Max's journey of self-discovery, and is a very good blend of a moral play, science-fiction and action.

In the opening scenes, Max is still just surviving, not really living, until his possessions are stolen. Looking to gain revenge on the thieves, he finds Bartertown, and runs head on into Aunty Entity. After a fight scene in a bungy filled cage (one of the best fight scenes I have ever seen in a movie), and a trip on horseback into the desert, he is found by a tribe of children, some of whom are led by Max, back toward Bartertown, to save their lives, having lost their water in the desert.

Max's ability to survive is tested to the max (no pun intended), in this movie, and he finds in himself a lost spark of compassion which enables him to sacrifice his chance to escape to allow his friends to fly away, to safety.

I have loved this film for ages, and I am glad I now have a DVD copy. Well worth the investment.

This last film in the trilogy continues to follow the fortunes of the wandering loner, Max Rockatansky, a.k.a. Mad Max.

This time, Max comes across the desert city of Bartertown. Its rousing slogan hanging over the gate says: "Building a Better Tomorrow." Bartertown is a thriving (but cutthroat) community run by the imperious Aunt Entity (Tina Turner). The action makes its appearence when Max is forced to fight for his life in the arena Thunderdome. ("Two men enter, one man leaves.")

When Max breaks the rules he is sent to the desert to die. But Bartertown hasn't seen the last of him...

This film is a great conclusion to the Mad Max Trilogy. Though not as energetic as the previous film, there are still great scenes of action and an exciting chase sequence towards the climax.

The tribe of children who rescue Max from the desert speak like the characters in the post-nuclear book "Riddley Walker". There is a certain irony in this as the children believe Max is the messiah Captain Walker.

Bruce Spence reappears as the pilot who helped Max in "The Road Warrior". His teeth don't look as rotten this time. Or is it a different character? There were excellent performances by all the actors.

The Mad Max Series and "Gallipoli" are the only films I've seen of Mel Gibson's. I think I also saw his first movie "Summer City" (1977). Earlier in the year I heard a rumour about a fourth Mad Max film without Mel Gibson. I hope it's not true!

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome receives a great deal of bitterness. This is expected, it is a follow-up to one of the greatest of all action movies, with action scenes that aren't as good. Granted, the action sequences in the movie are quite exciting, but they easily fall short of the grandeur of The Road Warrior.

Indeed, as a follow-up to The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome does not deserve a 5-Star Rating. But what Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome does manage to do is build upon the fantastic setting that was only hinted at in Mad Max and The Road Warrior. The wastelands depicted in the first two films are not enough to contain the skyhigh ambitions of the world that director George Miller has created. With the addition of Bartertown, characters like Master-Blaster, and the final jarring vision of civilization presented in the film's closing moments, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is still up to par with its much-loved predecessor.

A viewer expecting another Road Warrior will be disappointed; but a viewer that wants to go back to the nameless, post-apocalyptic world of this film's two predecessors will not be.

I was temporarily drawn in by the plot - despite the cheesy cover. After a few pages I felt I could go the distance with Vicious Spring. But ultimately I just couldn't handle the lack of substance. One of two things happened here, either the author has no idea how to write and develop characters and theme, or the book was over-edited. From some passages that set the reader up to go further only to quickly dump you, I'm assuming the editor got carried away. The book, at 180 pages or so, seems light from the start and is confirmed by the time you reach the end - IF you reach the end. I did and boy am I sorry. Just horrible.

I should earn an award for having the tenacity to finish this book. The thing is full of cliches and at times loses its focus in a most painful way. The only redeeming moments come when Christy, the main character, piles on the self-deprecating humor, which is just enough to get you to turn the pages.

But Hampton-Jones takes the characters too far to the extreme. The mother is too evangelistic and the father is too aloof and too much a loser. It is rare that I hate every character in a story but apparently there is a first for everything. This story could have been captivating. The truth is it is crushed by plain bad writing. It's that simple.

I am actually going to try and return it.

I found this small gem of a novel to be original, compelling, and written in spare but evocative prose. It is, in fact, the diametric opposite of the book described by the negative reviewer who called it cliched and its protagonist unsympathetic. Contrary to the moralizing tone of so much current fiction, Vicious Spring refuses to sentence its characters to horrid fates simply because they use drugs or profit from their sexuality. In Christy, Hampton-Jones has created a complex and credible portrait of a flawed, funny, unfortunate, but refreshingly less-than-tragic young woman. Vicious Spring is eminently readable, thought-provoking, and more than a little bit sexy.

Alma Marceau...