This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in orca whales. It has mass amounts of great information, it's easy to read, there are great photographs, and the ID catalogue of orcas is nothing but the best. This book is a must have for any whale-lover, researcher, or someone with just a general interest.

May I first say I have never encountered a better identification book then Killer Whales and Transients. Both books are written by THE wild orca authority in the Pacific Northwest. Catalouged pictures and organized information of each individual in every pod along the coast from WA to northern BC along with accurate info on feeding, behavioral and other habits of the pods in Puget Sound and British Columbia. Truly a great book, and as I plan on researching these animals in my adulthood, it has been a great boost to my knowledge on them.

I just returned from a kayaking trip in the Johnston Straight just East of North Vancouver Island known as the inside passage. We had first hand views of the Orcas. This book was used as a reference manual to identify some of the whales. It has wonderful reference pictures of the known pods (families) in the area. It goes into great detail on their eating habits, language, and family history. It also explains their social behavior, and the differences between the pods. It is a wonderful book full of pictures, and details.

The 1981 editors of Asimov's magazine use stories from their own periodical to illustrate some excellent points about how to write good science fiction. Do not worry if your stories do not involve robots and aliens, any fiction writer would find plenty to help here.

Despite the outdatedness, as the editors lecture on how to set your typewriter in order to produce clear manuscripts, using the short stories is a great idea. Even the stories' authors admit their work is flawed. Throw in a great bibliography and reading list, and some very funny observations from the editors about submissions (they are rejecting papers you typed on, not you personally) and this is a quick read and very informative. I highly recommend it if you can find it!

This book is not only suited for people preparing their break-through as a science-fiction author. It
is as well suited for all who care about books and do not just simply want to consume them.
Instead of reading tons of boring theoretical papers on literature, those people should rather
consider reading this book. Besides a theoretical introduction, it contains commented short-stories.
A very good mixture.

After chatting informally with George Scithers a few times in the rec.arts.sf.written newsgroup, I decided to get the book and read the answers to all the questions that I didn't dare blurt out in the newsgroup, primarily "how do you get published! "

This book did a wonderful job of showing me the other side of the desk, of what editors are looking for when they look at manuscripts and how to ensure the story you tell is the one that they absolutely must have. (It's not a formula book; it's showing how to shape your story so it fits the -story's- needs, rather than a preconceived notion of what the editor wants.)

Highly recommended.

At LAST a collection of Ford's far-flung short masterpieces! Ford, to me, is like osetra caviar: nobody knows the name, and only true caviar devotees know it's the best. And boy, is this the best. Gaiman hits it in the foreword: Ford is a writer's writer, and you can't pin him down to one particular spot. The collection is rife with brilliant masterpieces, little jewels where the title alone will get you (i.e., "Scrabble With God", "Secret Hamlet Man"), or his retelling of the Orpheus story in a blues setting ("Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail") or a Thomas Dylan-like verse piece about the dreams of satellites ("All Our Propogations"), a long verse version of the Illiad in different cinematic styles ("Troy: The Movie"), and another one of the Shakespearean Wars of the Roses history cycle with showtunes and Gilbert & Sullivan ("A Little Scene to Monarchize"). Do yourself a favor: buy it, horde it, and dole out the pieces one at a time when you need a REALLY good read.

And believe me, I'm an editor, no one EVER raves about how a book is edited--but in this case, I simply can't help myself. Paul J. Giguere's sinuous and sensual editing shapes every story. I'm sure John M. Ford is a fine writer and all, but truth be told, this book wouldn't be this book without the bountiful talents of young Mr. Giguere. I'm no science fiction fan, but I'm founding the Paul J. Giguere Editing Fan Club and Ogling Society, and I expect many readers will join--the second they can tear themselves away from this divine work! In fact, I may dedicate my life to following the teachings of heartthrob and dreamboat Paul J. Giguere. Anyone know if he's single? A girl can hope...

While other books try to teach the selling process, this piece of art helps you understand all the issues underlying in a sales force area, it's administation, the relationship with pre and post sales areas and the way to succeed in a managing position. One of the best books I've read on this subject.

I teach in one of the finest schools of Mexico, MBA Marketing and Field Force management topics, and was really tired of looking for comprehensive, complete and reasonable readings that covers the most important areas of managing a Sales Force. Churchil is a must-have text for both, college and high level (superior / undergraduate) students, since it really takes you through every important aspect of the topic.

This is the best book available regarding the little-known and mysterious transient orcas. In addition to having a detail catolgue of each transient whale in B.C waters, the book analysis and discuss the distinct behaviour and hunting styles of the transients, which are completely different from the salmon-eating resident killer whales.

Futhermore, there are numerous rare and spectacualr photos showing transients launching into the air and attacking their preys. This shows why Killer Whales are called "killers". For while these whales do not attack or eat man, they are highly efficient predators, no marine mammal is safe from transient whales. Read this book and you will understand why.

This is the definitive source for information on the transient or mammal hunting race of killer whales of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. If you are serious about learning what there is to know about these fascinating superpredators-this is THE book to buy. I am a naturalist on a whale watch boat in the San Juan Islands and we use this book constantly to inform our guests about the "alter egos" of our salmon eating Resident Orcas. Fabulous pictures and incredible stories.

I'd love to read a weblog about Neil writing American Gods. How did he forge all those sources into a new story that feels true? But this is a weblog about an author going on tour. Honestly, who cares? Neil's a genius, but this is not what he's a genius for. Stick with the stories. Skip the blog.

Margrave poured dark rum into a shallow glass. "All right, we're self-referential beings, and the quality of mercy is not strained either. But I know where that reference comes from, and it's not some vast collective."

...

Vogel said, "We've always defined memory in terms of memory, while forgetting -oops, pardon me, but you see the problem- that memory is subjective. . ."

and absolutely blows me away with their Discworld supplement. before i read the Gurps books, i had never even heard of (let alone read) the Discworld book series or their author, Terry Prachett. now, of course, i am in love with the Disc. SJGames had disappointed me before with their attempts to adapt things for GURPS (the World of Darkness adaptations, in particular), but i could have read Gurps: Discworld, ignorign the rules, and still have laughed my ass off, marvelling at the imagination of Prachett and the beauty with which they condensed a huge (14 book) novel series into about 200 pages of humour, drama, adventure, and yes, stats. this is, of course, not to mention the absolutely GORGEOUS art littered about the insides. i don't know where they found Bill Kidby, but i hope they paid him enough to keep him interested in doing more work for Steve Jackson. basically, if oyu want a good sourcebook for the Discworld, well...world, if you want a book full of fabulous (and hilarious) fantasy art, or even if you want another GURPS book, make this it.

For ANY Frequent roleplayer, ESPECIALLY A GM, when combined with the GURPS basic set, the Time Travel rules are a thrilling vehicle for linking your campaigns together, allowing the possibility of realistic character development, as your pc's travel from each universe to the next! Highest possible recommendation!

"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.