Memoirs may often cure insomnia, but not this hefty chunk of history. Travel back in time with John Salmon "Rip" Ford. Saddle the horses and hitch up your britches, you'll be heading out to the Texas of a newly independent republic. Ride from the Red to the Rio Grande and beyond with the doctor, lawyer, surveyor, journalist, trailblazer, legislator, and celebrated soldier of numerous wars.

Ford takes the reader from the earliest days of the republic to statehood, secession, and on into reconstruction. Meet the intrepid Texas Ranger Jack Hays. Ride from Matamoros to Mexico City with the "Los Diablos Tejanos." Trailblaze a trade route from San Antonio to El Paso with the Ford-Neighbors expedition.

Brilliantly edited by Stephen B. Oates, this personal narrative of a time, place, and adventure, all larger than life itself, is a must read for all who are interested in Texas and its history.

I live in Lubbock, Texas, where much of this story takes place, and I happen to know some of the people Dr. Ford mentions. But that was hardly the only reason I wanted to read this compassionate biography. Dr. Ford shows how her brother bravely faced AIDS and the bigotry related to it.

Despite its subject matter, this book is never depressing. Instead, Dr. Ford captures the inspirational aspects of her brother's life and how it touched the lives of people around him. I found her poems about his struggle especially touching and hope she'll share more of those in another book.

This book is a very well organized catalog of all FoMoCo vehicles (except truck based vehicles) from the company's early years to 2002 models. Each model is listed with a good description of options, engine choices, production numbers, historical notes, etc. Overall the book is informative and interesting. Having all this info in one place makes "Standard Catalog of Ford" a must for any Ford fan! Go buy it!

Often when people think about folklore, they picture quaint villages populated by storytellers and quilters. John Dorst seeks to dispel those stereotypes with his postmodern analysis of the hidden ideology and power behind the serene façade of a middle-class elite suburb, in this case, Chadds Ford, PA, home of the Wyeth family of artists. In doing so, he pushes folklore studies into an intriguing new direction. The Written Suburb introduces 4 key concepts: 1.) post-ethnography-the reading of institutions, printed materials, and events such as museums, historical societies, arts and crafts festivals, diner menus, and AAA brochures as postmodern texts; 2.) postmodern vernacular-a particular "dialect" of postmodernity characterized by self-reference without the ironic sense of humor as found in MTV and comic books; 3.) auto-ethnography-the self-generated texts of a literate society capable of observing itself. The folklorist's job is to collect and read critically these texts; and 4.) Site-a suburb as an assemblage of texts and ideology. Dorst also questions the rhetoric behind museums (in this case the Brandywine River Museum) and the concept of tradition. The unique combination of the works of postmodernists and semiotics scholars such as Frederic Jameson and Dean MacCannel with American folklore scholarship is truly stimulating.

Being so theoretical, The Written Suburb is not an easy book to read, nor can its concepts be easily grasped in one reading. But it is a valuable book for folklorists who are serious about the evolution of the discipline and who enjoy finding connections between folkloristics and postmodernism.

"The Final Reflection" is an extremely interesting addition to your Star Trek collection. I had originally picked this one up more as a completist/collector's item. It's one of "The Original Series" books I planned on getting to sooner or later. At the advice of another fan/reviewer I pulled this one off the shelf. To no surprise at all, this was extremely sage advice. This is an excellent "TOS" novel that I would suggest, if you've not read it yet, do so immediately.

The premise: the "Enterprise" is at Starbase 12 for shore leave and several of the crew members have started reading a recently released book called "The Final Reflection." Dr. McCoy gives a copy to Captain Kirk. After getting settled back into his quarters, he begins to read it. What follows is a tale covering the time period of approximately twenty years past the federation's "first contact" with the Klingons and later. The primary character being a young Klingon named Vrenn, whom shall later become Krenn. We are afforded the opportunity to see him go from being a lineless orphan to the Captain of a warship. His honorable actions put him in place to carry out the mission which inspires this novel. He truly becomes, in the end, a "Thought Admiral."

In this aging, yet very well written Star Trek novel, we see a very well thought out and structured idea of the Klingon culture. Of course, Star Trek novels being non canonical, much of the author's perceptions on Klingon culture were later disproved by the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek The Next Generation. This is not to say though that the Klingon culture wasn't like this at the supposed time this "novel" was written that Captain Kirk is reading. As Commander Worf stated in "Trials and Tribbleations, when asked by Chief O'brien about the difference between twenty third century and twenty fourth century Klingons, "We don't like to talk about it." Once again, an excellent, well thought out, well written novel. I would recommend "The Final Reflection: to any and all Star Trek fans. Many thanks to Chapulina R for the reading suggestion.

Years ago, in "Best of Trek", I read a fan's amateur reviews of pro Star Trek novels. Her critique of The Final Reflection: "I don't like any book that I have to read three times just to understand what's going on." I believe her comment says a LOT about the simplistic drivel which comprises most Star Dreck, compared with the richness of this novel. Author Ford, a respected science-fiction writer, gives us a fascinating vision of a very alien species, whose culture is based on a bushido-style code of honor and a chesslike Perpetual Game of personal advancement and power. This definitive novel about the Klingons is presented as a book within a book, and takes place some forty years before the famous five-year mission of Captain Kirk. The protagonist is an Imperial-race Klingon. An orphan raised in a militarily-structured Lineless House, six-year-old Vrenn makes his first sentient kill -- an adult Human male -- in the arena of the Years End Games. A skilled fighter in the klin zha kinta, the Game With Living Pieces, Vrenn is noticed by Thought-Admiral Kethas, who adopts him into his Line. He joins the Navy, and through battle-prowess and political maneuvering, rises quickly to the rank of Captain. He begins to make his Name in the service of Empire. Then Krenn is chosen for a mission of great secrecy and delicacy... This is a meticulously-developed novel of strategy, conspiracy, subtrafuge, diplomacy, betrayal, vengeance, and above all, honor. The plot is so intricate, the prose so precise, that the story can be read again and again, and can seem fresh each time. Even people who hate Trek will enjoy this one. By the way, this book also provides the reason why the Original Series Klingons look different from the ones in the modern series.

John M. Ford's brilliant and powerful writing style was always awe-inspiring. The characters are fascinating. the dialogue is splendid. The quality of Ford's Klingons is superior to that of TNG's Klingons.

Not only it awed many people including me but also it influenced Ronald Moore's work on Klingon culture. Mr. Moore admitted he liked reading the book Final Reflection in Star Trek Magazine review.

However, this book may be contradicted and is not regarded as canon but the author's definitions of Klingon culture and Klingon sense of honor is never questioned.

Whereas a Klingon captain named Krenn tries to struggle to understand Human culture, a Human named Tagore attempts to comprehend Klingon culture.

The quote about naked stars in this book is inspirational.

May the Black Fleet salute John M. Ford for his incredible legacy to the world. He deserves to be remembered with no less honor than Kahless the Unforgettable.

An interesting companion to some of the bios now appearing about John Ford. Carey first met Ford when his father worked with Ford in silent movies and grew up with Uncle Jack to have a movie career of his own. Some good behind the scene color to a man of prodigious talent and personality faults.

There have been a lot of books on John Ford, and I hope there are many more, because I think he was the greatest American director there ever was, or will be. He created unforgettable images, tales of strength and tenderness, and characters that we never forget. His best movies remain with you over the years. "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" is a movie that you appreciate more as you get older. Harry Carey's book gives you a view of Ford, in all his tyranny and tenderness, that you're simply not going to find anywhere else. He also has great stories about the early great western stars: William S. Hart, Harry Carey, Sr., and Hoot Gibson. Read it if you're a Ford fan!

A really fine book by someone who has a true appreciation for the giants he worked with. Mr. Carey is a wonderful story teller, sensitive with a good sense of humor. His observations make for what may be the best book about John Ford ever written. But it is Dobe Carey's depiction of all the greats who worked for Ford that makes this book special indeed. They were unique and wonderful screen icons, the likes of which we will never see again. Mr. Carey brings them to life again in a way I shall never forget. Do not miss this book!

This book tells a complex story within a richly and well researched history. Don't expect your basic vampire/sorcerer horror tale. The references to the supernatural are minor to the story at hand. My one criticism is that the story sometimes gets a bit too convoluted.

I read this book, more or less by accident, not particularly famous and was dazzled. Wow. Can't think of what to say, but will try.

The novel is set in an alternate history Europe, where either Constantine never converted to Christianity or Julian established the equality of all faiths, and the Byzantine Empire never declined, but in fact by the middle of the XVth century controls most of Eastern Europe and is trying to get as much of the West as possible. And magic works, and vampires exist also. I don't usually like alternate history, the real historical characters usually look unlikely next to the alternate bits, but this novel handled it perfectly, and the real historical characters of the XVth century (Richard III of England, his mother, and brothers, the Earl Rivers, Louis XI of France, the Medicci, the Duke of Urbino) are a joy to read about if you have met them before.

Great novel, deserving of a far better review than this one.

One of my favourite books,The Dragon Waiting, is a superb blend of history and fantasy. Mixing historical characters from the 15th century and captivating fictional heroes, this is a book that is both engrossing and enjoyable. John M Ford, a much underated author, succeeds in combining in-depth research with a vivid imagination and tweaks history to create a vision of europe where conspiracies lurk behind shady motives and dark characters, vampirism is a spreadable disease and magic a burden to the magician. A truly marvellous book, that deserves reprinting.

I was eager to read this biography because I have seen most of the films directed by John Ford and was interested in knowing more about "his life and times." I learned a great deal. Eyman provides a wealth of information. However, given Richard Schickel's observation that Ford was a director who "delighted in in cruelty, publicly humiliating his casts and crews, a man who carried petty grudges for punishing decades and someone whose wihdrawals and silences profoundly damaged his family," the title of one of my favorite Ford films -- They Were Expendable -- reveals more about Ford's the reasons for so many failed human relationships than it does about a PT boat squadron during the first year of War War II. Does Eyman agree with Schickel? Even if he does, he fails to explain what Schickel calls "the complicated truth" about John Ford in Print the Legend.

In my early 20s I found myself working with John Ford and John Wayne. I spent a lot of time with both men and others who were mentioned in Mr. Eyman's book.

Even if I hadn't known Ford, I would have been riveted to this book as it reads like a novel. It also brought back vivid memories to me by describing some of Mr. Ford's traits. Although I wasn't present at the episodes he mentioned, they (his traits) were vividly and accurately portrayed. I was amazed at how extraordinarily well Mr. Eyman, who never met his subject, was able to capture the character of this complex man and gifted filmmaker. It triggered memories I'd completely forgotten about.

I've recommended the book to people who aren't big film fans and they've found it to be a great read. I obviously can recommend this to anyone without further qualification. After reading it, you'll feel like you knew John Ford yourself.

This book is like a Christmas basket, full of delicacies. Not only do you get Ford, the man, the drunk, the son-of-a-sea-cook, the genius, but you also get Will Rogers, John Wayne, stuntman Yakima Canutt and a hundred other mini-biographies of people whose lives crossed Ford's and were changed by him. Ford fires up the whole thing like a Roman candle. Just when you think he can't top himself, he tops himself, for better and worse, and writer Eyman manages to keep everything in focus. He really knows films, and can tell you everything, from the to-the-penny budget of "Stagecoach" to the kind of film stock and lenses used to get the rich cloud effects over Monument Valley. This is a fascinating book, and not just for film buffs and scholars. It captures the glamor of Hollywood, the huge egos (Ford's not least!) and the money, jealousy, booze and sexuality that somehow combine to make great, great movies. Again, the character of Ford just drives the thing, like a powerful V-8 engine. I hated to fall asleep each evening while reading it

The physics is fine but this is an autobiography. What kind of a man is Wheeler? I got the impression he spent as much time avoiding offending anybody important as he did on physics. He sounds like an amiable sycophant.

Having noticed over the years that Prof. John Archibald Wheeler's name turns up in an amazing variety of physics-related articles and anecdotes, I was particularly primed to read his autobiography. The book doesn't follow a simple from-birth chronology, but rather begins with Wheeler teaching at Princeton and volunteering to meet the ship carrying his mentor, Niels Bohr, at a New York City dock in January of 1939. From that pivotal moment at the brink of World War II, Wheeler fills out his story by reaching back to childhood and forward to his long career in teaching, research, and national service. We learn of his brother Joe, whose body lay in a foxhole on an Italian hillside until it was reduced to bones. Wheeler reminds us that if the Manhattan Project had geared up one year earlier, the lives of his brother and many others might have been spared.

Wheeler's remarkable character pervades the book and helps make it unique and interesting. In a profession legendary for strong intellects and egos, he has achieved and maintained a pomposity coefficient of zero. His judgments of other people are unfailingly generous, but also astute enough to be interesting and revealing. He provides candid firsthand impressions of legendary figures such as Bohr, Einstein, Oppenheimer, Teller, Ulam, Heisenberg, Fermi, Szilard and Feynman . We also learn about many less well-known colleagues, friends and students whom he finds memorable for various reasons. In contrast to the eminent-scientist stereotype, Wheeler has always enjoyed teaching undergraduates and is genuinely interested in the problems and aspirations of the young people entrusted to his care.

Like the brilliant George Gamow, Wheeler has a talent for explaining difficult concepts and illustrating them with whimsically inventive diagrams. The book's autobiographical threads are interwoven with a rich tapestry of subtle but plainly-spoken physical insights on dozens of topics, some arcane enough to leave even the author slightly bemused. I believe anyone interested in physics will find a personal revelation or two among Wheeler's lucid, informal scientific explanations. There are touches of Gamowesque humor too, such as his theory that the fates somehow conspired to entangle him with a string of Hungarian emigres.

The title concepts of the book -- Geons, Black Holes and Quantum Foam -- were all named by Wheeler himself. He began his career at the minute scale of particle physics, moved on to the grand sweep of relativistic cosmology, and finally circled back to the hyperminuteness of quantum foam. Of course there is nothing really disjointed about such a journey, since connections among the nested scales of nature constitute one of the grand unifying themes of physics.

During his tenure at Princeton university, John Archibald Wheeler has served as the mentor to such outstanding physicists as Richard P. Feynman, Kip Thorne and Hugh Everett. He was also great friends with such individuals as Albert Einstein & Niels Bohr. In short, his contributions to physics have been indispensable.

This present work of his traces his life, a life that is (as the cover says) one of science. However, one of the nice facets of this book is that it goes beyond just the laboratory & reveals the personal life of this great man. We learn of the moving death of his brother in WWII, his worries and concerns over nuclear war (as well as the grapples with his conscience that he endured over the invention of the hydrogen bomb) and many other aspects of his life. He also tells stories of some of his most memorable students; not all of these were necessarily his most gifted pupils. Above all, Wheeler reveals a genuine human passion that has characterized his approach to science over the greater part of this century. One of the best biographies of a scientist I have ever read.

One of the great vehicles that Star Trek used to convey a story is humor. "A Piece Of The Action", "Star Trek IV" used humor appropriately and sparingly in their story. Yet, in Ford's "How Much For Just The Planet?" I find the humor to be mundane or almost "British." Pie fights in Star Trek? Yep. Is it funny? Matter of opinion I guess, but I found the humor in a pie fight lacking. I really don't think slapstick humor in Trek suits very well. This is humor that you'd see in a 3 Stooges episode, not Trek. Only redeeming factor that I enjoyed from the book is the Federation survey team that crash lands on the planet. I'm glad to see that not every starship, no matter what size, has access to holodecks (yeah I know pre-generation), rec-decks, and libraries. The boredom that the crew was suffering from was protrayed nicely from the author. Best that Trek has to offer? No, but definitely not the worst.

This kind of parody and self-mockery is rarely seen, nor done so well. Not everybody will like its insistence on not taking itself seriously, or its improbable plot. But it is howlingly funny to those who can appreciate a little physical humor and parody.

Kirk and a bunch of Klingons find themselves on a strange new planet, having to negotiate for a rare mineral. The planet's indigenous population turns out to not want either group there and takes steps to get them both off the planet. This sounds like a fairly straightforward plot, but the twists and turns that arise from it are, to say the least, silly.

This is slapstick at its finest. It is roaringly funny filk songs sung by the most wildly improbable cast one can imagine. It's Klingons in formal Earth-style tuxes and dresses. It's a landing crew soaked in replicated strawberry milkshake. It's a dominatrix leading a Busby-style musical scene. It's Bones totally hung over and a Klingon fed to a laundry chute.

I can well imagine that not all fans are going to get into this. It solidly pokes fun at everything Star Trek fandom has revered for 20 years. It's not serious; it's barely even plausible. But that's part of the fun for me. If you like your SF seasoned with more than the average amount of humor, you may find this to be fun as well. Probably its only detraction is that I didn't know all the songs being referenced. I'm probably just too young!

This has to be the funniest Star Trek book I have ever read ... probably one of the funniest books as well. While some books have a few mildly comic scenes, this one made me laugh do hard that I was a mess. Totally incoherent with tears, the works!

The Vulcan, T'Vey is priceless and I've always liked the Vulcans more after reading this delightful book.

The book has 3 different back stories going on, which all come together at the end. Kirk and the Enterprise arrive on the planet of Deiriedi and their interactions with the local inhabitants form the first part of the story. Then there is the story of T'Vey and the crew of the freighter and their mishap that lands them on the planet. Lastly there are the Klingons who come to defend their rights to the dilithium ore and want to beat Kirk et al to the punch. The locals have their own ideas and play one group against the other. Over it all, in the background, both Kirk and the Klingons try very hard to behave so that the Organians don't zap them for their bad behavior.

It's beautifully written and a joy to read even if you've read it before. Thank you John Ford for a real treat.