"Tears of Rage" is a compelling look at John Walsh's tragedy and triumph as an advocate for missing children: the legal and personal heart break he and his family had to endure after his only son, Adam,6, was kidnapped from a Florida shopping mall and murdered. The charismatic Walsh proved that one person can make a difference. As host of "America's Most Wanted" he has been a crusader for children and adults alike, making this a safer world for all of us. "Tears of Rage" will remind you just how important it is to stay close to your children and family, remind them how much you love them and always be there for them and to protect them. John Walsh is an exemplary role model and a man's man, as he has proven in keeping America safer for all of us. One man who made a difference through his own personal tragedy and has gone on to triumph.

America first became aware of the plight of missing and murdered children through the TV movie "Adam", but the movie, excellent though it was, only outlined the story and didn't tell it in its entirety. In this book, John Walsh speaks frankly about his family's tragedy and their never ending, heartrending grief, but most of all, it chronicles their determination not to let Adam die in vain, and the various ways in which they have worked to achieve this, most importantly by using their son's example to save the lives of countless thousands of other children.

All violent crime damages people, and it is a marvellous testament to the resilience of the human spirit that two people who have been damaged in the worst way, can become knights and use their loss and their pain as weapons in the fight , not only for children's rights, but for the rights of all crime victims everywhere.

Besides being a long overdue story of the impact of violent crime on victims from a victim's perspective, "Tears of Rage", through the many salient messages it delivers, will undoubtedly save the lives of many more children, both now and in the future - and that would make Adam, as he looks down from heaven, extremely happy. God bless him, and God bless his parents. They all deserve it.

An amazing book that gives a raw, honest account of a man's struggle to solve the mystery of his son's death, and then to institute measures to facilitate others' similar searches. Walsh's narrative is painful to read, yet essential to communicate the depths of his feelings and to explain the intensity behind his search and chosen life's mission. He is driven beyond words, and has done an incredible amount of work throughout the country for missing persons and abducted children, not the least of which is the program he is know for creating (America's Most Wanted).

This book is shocking in its exposure of the police incompetence and lack of statutory law Walsh faced throughout his quest, and in its description of the lengths he had to go to in order to get assistance and, ultimately, (some) answers. A salient point is that Walsh discovered (and describes in the book) a wealth of legislation and safety measures afforded to criminals, yet an appalling lack of the same for victims and their families. Walsh took it upon himself to make things happen for the sake of victims, including helping to enact legislation regarding missing children, assisting with the creation of nationwide databases of missing persons and unidentified corpses, and instituting the dissemination of missing kids' images (like the faces seen on the back of milk cartons). Walsh continues to run himself ragged pursuing his life's work of helping missing children and their families, seemingly at the cost of everything else.

In addition to the telling of an incredible tale, Walsh is an exciting, and surprisingly witty, narrator that keeps the reader entertained amidst the recounting of tragedy. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. Simply put, without people like John Walsh, change for the better is impossible; anyone with kids should be grateful that he was able to turn his bitter tragedy into something so positive.

Every teen and pre-teen girl should read this book. It's not like other teen books, and that's one of the reasons it's so good. Emily doesn't really have a boyfriend, she doesn't go to a big high school where she's the most popular and pretty girl, she never says "as if," and she doesn't wear clothes her parents would be ashamed of...in fact, the book is set a long time ago in a place called Prince Edward Island, the author's favorite place in the whole world.

Anyone who has not read this book is missing out on making a new friend -- Emily seems so much like a "real" person, and is explained so well, that you will feel like you have made a new buddy in the process of reading this book. By the author of Anne of Green Gables.

I adore Anne, but Emily is a Kindred Spirit. I've read all of L.M. Montgomery's books, and this one is, without doubt, the very best. And yes - it IS better than Anne of Green Gables.

Emily of New Moon has all the elements of a well-written novel. It has tragic scenes that aren't overly dramatic: the quiet death of her father makes me cry no matter how many times I've read it. It's inspiring: even as a young girl, she struggles with ambition. It's endearing: who could forget the happy, childish adventures of Emily and Ilse? Most of all, it has a sense of humor! (Though, I must point out, LMM's funniest scene ever is in Emily's Quest, where she reads the reviews of her first novel.)

People love Anne because of her sweetness. Emily isn't sweet--she's real. As the narrator writes (I'm paraphrasing) "Many people liked her, many disliked her; no one was ever wholly indifferent to her." My very favorite book.

And yes, like others have said, it's better than Anne.
The Emily series( New Moon, Emily Climbs, Emily's Quest) trace Emily Starr's voyage through adolescence to early adulthood.
It's probably best for older readers as it contains references to sexuality and the supernatural that may be inappropriate for kids or just not appreciated by the younger reader.
I've read almost everything by Montgomery that's published(except for two books), and this is, in my opinion, the best series. Anne of Green Gables is a tour de force of a book, but the series as a whole isn't that great. The Emily series is a sheer masterpiece that's not to be missed, especially for older readers. I read it when I was twelve and read the entire series every year.. it's better every time. Don't skip this one... trust me.

T.D. Jakes is an amazing author who has truly been blessed to speak to women and heal their hearts. THE LADY, HER LOVER, AND HER LORD talks about how important it is to be a woman of virtue. I remember reading one passage in the book that spoke of how God intended for all women to be like the priceless masterpieces found in museums--beautiful, full of grace, and respected by all that walk past. This book will open up your eyes and make you realize how important it is to be that masterpiece in the museum God intended for each woman to be and will motivate you to make virtuous choices in your life. This book is perfect for any woman--whether physically or emotionally abused, or just insecure about who she is. This book was by far the best I have read and I recommend for every woman to read it just once, and then pass it to another woman they care about.

Once again, Bishop Jakes has spent time talking with God and relaying it as only he can and in such a way that all can relate and understand. This books looks into the hearts and soul of many women, including myself. Healing is what it's all about...learning how to get beyond and to really be free from those things that hinder us from going forth in this world. Bishop shows us how to balance our lives and achieve this inner peace that we all long for.

I am not married but this book showed me how we as women should treat our husbands. At this point in my life, God is my husband and my Lord. I have learned how to worship and adore God as I would the mate that he will bring into my life. That book is an encouragement in itself in that Bishop Jakes tells us that we can have it all spiritually and emotionally.

I recommend this book to any woman who has a desire to grow and to really know what it means to be whole. I would also encourage all women to attend the Woman, Thou Art Loosed seminar in July. Last year it was breathtaking. This book really follows behind that whole seminar. I thank God for using Bishop Jakes in such a way. Bishop really has a deep compassion for women and for that I am thankful.

Keep up the good work Bishop!

Words can not express the feeling I had while reading and after completing this book. The words used in this book reaches to every exposed as well as hidden area in ones life. You can no longer hide what is within once you read this book along with the others. It ministers to the past, present, as well as the future. God has truly anointed Bishop Jakes. Read this book and share it with a friend. Women of the world will be better if each one reach one.

This is the first of Anne McCaffrey's books that I've read. I was completely surprised and overjoyed when I discoverd how mant books she has written! I can't wait to read them ALL! As for this book, I've read it three times in a row, so far. I am totally captivated by PERN and it's story. As a music lover, I can understand how Menolly (the main character) feels. I love her firelizards, the Harper Hall, and all of her friends! This is a GREAT BOOK! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it! Anne McCaffrey does a superb job in making you feel what Menolly feels. It's sad, intriguing, and funny! Keep up the AWESOME work, Ms. McCaffrey!

I first read this book in the early 1980s when I found it in my elementary school library. This was the only time I have ever been justified by judging a book on it's cover! I devoured the whole series by the age of 12, and though I enjoyed all the books, this one stands as my all time favorite. There is real emotional depth in McCaffery's characters. Unlike a lot of fantasy and SF novels you can really relate to all her characters. Menolly in particular is as "real " a person as you can get in fiction. Her isolation and depression as a result of her neglect are all too common among young women everywhere. It is not fiction that girls are passed by in favor of men still. Her eventual rise out of her depression and acceptance of her own talent was encouraging to me as a creatively stifled young artist. When I had no Petiron or Robinton in my life it gave me hope. It has always been my favorite novel. I strongly recommened it. I am reading it again right now!!

Dragonsinger is the second book in the Harper Hall Trilogy and is the sequel to Dragonsong. It starts right after the previous book ends, with Menolly arriving in Harper Hall a-dragonback. There she begins her musical education with the masters of music. Menolly always thought that harpers would be different and that she would fit in among them, but she finds that people are the same wherever you go. All of the other girls are jealous of her musical talents and do not want her living in their cottage. The boys insist that she has no place with them and her nine fire lizards make her stand out even more. Still, she is Masterharper Robinton's special apprentice and he seems to believe in her and to love her new songs. As Menolly struggles to find her place among the harpers of Pern she will discover much about herself, as well as the remarkable secrets about fire lizards and eventually find an honored place among the Harpers of Pern.

Even though I have enjoyed all of McCaffrey's books, the Harper Hall trilogy has always been my favorite. I first read this book when I was in junior high school and simply loved it. I have read my copy time and time again. McCaffrey has a nice, smooth writing style with great descriptions so readers will have no trouble visualizing the life on Pern. She also does a nice job of throwing in little recaps so that those who have not read Dragonflight and Dragonquest can still understand what is going on. I simply loved the world of the Harpers and think that any reader of fantasy will enjoy this enchanting series.

Its been nearly 20 years since I read the Amber series by Roger Zelazny (RIP good man.) The warning above regards the money your gonna spend (immediately) on the rest of the Amber series and how you will spend your time the rest of the week after you have finished Nine Princes of Amber. In fact, you'll wish there was a 24 hour bookstore nearby after reading Nine Princes of Amber get the next book NOW. Folks, this is a Classic (Fantasy and Science Fiction) in every sense of the word, as you may gather from the reviews on this page. Many of the excited reviews from readers are not exaggerations (including my own). I have only one piece of advice for you potential first time readers of Zelazny (particulary this book). Zelazny will put you immediately in his story so be patient. He dispatches with the spoon-feeding of his stories to the neophytes or the uninterested (godbless him). He treats his readers as a "literary adults". If you want a "Once upon a time" book, the Children,s Books section is over to the right, second aisle... 'Nuff said. This book is written in the first person, and the main character wakes up clueless, as will you be (for a while). You will learn as he does the complicated circumstance of his past, present, and future. Reading the reviews gave me goosebumps all over again. Well enough of my babblings, I'm gonna dust off that series again for another read. I suggest you do the same.

Roger Zelazny was--and still is--renowned as a literary master of speculative fiction. It's easy to see why with this book, which is *not*, believe it or not, considered to be best of his works...only the most popular.

Zelazny stretches the use of words to the maximum. You will encounter flowery, formal dialogue, complete with "thee"'s; you will encounter the contemplative thoughts of a cynical, hard-boiled detective; you will encounter the direct, concise summary of actions taken in quick succession. And they meld together without any objection, submitting to Zelazny's hand to reside in a flawless whole before the reader.

The protagonist, Corwin, begins the story with amnesia. Yes, the typical help-I've-lost-my-memory-I'd-better-go-recover-it setup. But there's nothing to worry about; the plot has been solidly constructed from the beginning of this book to the end of the last in the series, and a diabolically intricate mesh of intrigue and adventure unfolds.

All this takes place in not only an original world, but in an original universe. Earth is part of it, a welcome familiar setting, but the premise behind why our planet is only a part of the cosmos is novel and integrated closely with the story.

Lastly, although the cast of characters is huge--nine princes in Amber, along with a handful of princesses and countless minor characters--each one is distinct and deftly described. The reader is able to reach out to each one and understand them all.

What is there to lose? And there's so much to gain. I strongly recommend this novel as well as those following it in the series, and I can guarantee an absolute lack of disappointment.

Beginning as some other Zelazny books, the main character comes to and realizes all is not well (in a similar manner does Coils begin). He has amnesia and is drugged and stuck in some strange place. Effecting a quick escape, he tracks down a familiar name and encounters a few memory-jogging relatives. From there begins quite an odyssey, the five book series known as the First Chronicle of Amber. These five books tell a grand story of the grand conflict within an ancient kingdom ruled by demi-godlike individuals.

Corwin, the narrator and protagonist, is one of these ruling individuals. He is one of the Nine Princes in the book's title, and he is a leading contender for the succession. His brother Eric, however, has his own designs. Corwin works to recover his memory and is embroiled in a conflict for the throne of Amber. There are many mystical aspects to the realm of Amber and the royal family. And considering how darn many there are, he does a great job of personifying them all.

Told in the first person, Zelazny of old did a wonderful writing job in this novel. Excellent exposition, great fight scenes, good atmosphere, wonderful descriptions. Easily among the top notch of his novels. The ending is not as grim as the action right after the climax, which is a good respite. Suffice to say that Zelazny does not always leave the heroes to be the grand saviors with all enemies falling before them.

Sophie, a Czechoslovakian woman who worked as a translator in her native country, finds herself in a totally different world when she moves to the United States...Chicago to be exact. Hating her job as a waitress in a busy city, she soon finds a job in a small Wisconsin town keeping house for a grieving widower, Alec Riley, and his children. What follows is the cutest, sweetest love story. This is definitely Lori Wick in her finest form-gentle lessons about life, cute bits of humor, and a warm love story make this one of those "comfort" books to curl up with. I have read this book three times (whenever I feel the need for a nice sweet read) and have loved gentle, caring Sophie every time. The story of love and family healing is one that you won't want to miss..."Sophie's Heart" will capture your heart!

I don't know when I've read a book that has touched me so completely! I suppose being widowed myself and knowing so many others in that position made me appreciate what the male character, Alec, was going through in that book. It also makes me know what having someone like Sophie come into his life, really meant to him. The insight of Lori Wick into the issues of widowhood and dating again with children, along with instilling Christian values in them, while "moving on" in the Lord is astounding! I'm very impressed that someone knows that much about what "we" are going through. Thank you, Lori Wick!

Lori Wick has done it again! In her novel "Sophie's Heart" she has expertly crafted a fine tale of a young Czechoslavakian who travels from her native country to live and work in America. She leaves her only living relative behind, along with her government position, and finds herself working as a housekeeper for Alec Riley. Alec has lost his wife and is drowning in grief while still trying to raise his 3 children, Rita, Craig, and Tory. I won't reveal any more because this book is so fascinating you'll want to read it for yourself. If you are fan of Lori Wick, Christian fiction, or just fiction in general, this is a must-read story of God's healing love.

Soon, I knew the likely outcome of the story. I knew that it would be filled with sadness; it would be about difficulties of life; about longing to live. I chose to continue reading on because the people in print became people alive. The compelling journey of Bushrod Carter became present, very real in my life as I held those pages and searched the words and the phrases, hoping that the war would turn and these people could be unscathed.

To be in the civil war must have been so; knowing in the back of ones mind the fear that the outcome would not be good, yet walking into battle because it was the right thing to do; to do otherwise would betray principle, human nature, and the affection of companions. Howard Bahr brings us into the thoughts and experience of the people in this novel. They become familiar because Bahr seems to have walked beside them the whole way, observing, listening, letting us touch the lives of ordinary people like ourselves.

The style of prose is poetic, yet natural to read; the scenes are frequently gruesome, yet open our eyes to the depth of the human beings who walked through it and lived; the telling of the story is complete, yet leaves one yearning for more time with these people.

The Black Flower will satisfy the reader searching for deep character studies and those who seek the telling of a civil war story with intense accuracy. But they will also find the writing very compelling, wrought with vivid images, and depth of insight into ones own life and experience.

Nowhere in the book is there a battle map or talk of strategy. Nowhere in the book is a political agenda. The common soldier knew about being lost and confused. The larger issues were far away when lying wounded on the field. Historical accuracy takes the shape of what it must have been like to find oneself, day to day, in the midst of a miserable hellish war trying to maintain a sense of human dignity, and vision of the future, when all around humans are torn and the future lacks hope.

I would have liked to have met Bushrod Carter. I can easily imagine sitting on the porch talking about the important and ordinary turning of our lives through the years. But Bushrod Carter marched into the civil war, and Howard Bahr tells us how it happened.

Scott Hart

Many people who read this book when it was first released by a small publishing company were certified Civil War buffs. It seems that word then began leaking out by word of mouth through their spouses and "regular" (i.e. NOT CW fanatics) friends that this was quite a good book for even "the masses". Four major literary award nominations in quick succession didn't hurt either!

You can count me in as one of those "regular" folks. I've read and adored "The Red Badge of Courage" and "The Killer Angels" but, have not found myself obsessed with the Civil War era genre of historical fiction. I appreciate well written material that will hold my attention and am not a slave to literary trends or best-seller lists. A good friend's constant raving about how great this book was is what caused me to put it on my reading list. Needless to say by my five-star rating, "The Black Flower" did not disappoint!

First and foremost, this 267 page book is just plain FUN to read. It is not over-detailed or dumbed down but, manages to walk the fine line keeping you steadily turning the pages. There are no maps or need to draw a flowchart to remember all the characters, nor do you need a Masters in American History to understand what is going on. The writing style is such that you feel you are WATCHING the events rather than reading a book and you almost become emotionally involved with the events and characters. I drove through the battlesite in Tennessee once on vacation before reading this book and would now very much like to return.

Definitely click on the "Back cover" link Amazon provided above for an excellent plot summary. The average reader will likely find this book to be "5 star". Real literate types will hand out four while the most brutal critics will still give three stars. Basically, you can't go wrong with this book especially now that it is available in paperback! GO FOR IT!!!

Fiction just isn't my style. Why read "made up" stories when the real world of history and science is just so fascinating? In spite of my preference, I picked up The Black Flower based on the Amazon.com Recommendations AI. This book is amazing particularly for the depth of its characters. Rarely do you walk away from a work of fiction feeling that you "know" the characters. Dickens does this for me. So does Steinbeck. No modern writer has come close to this level of character development until now, and the writer's name is Howard Bahr.

The Black Flower focuses on Bushrod Carter, a Confederate soldier in the Civil War at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee. The book opens with the moments before battle begins, mercifully bypasses the bloody gore of the battle itself, then focuses on the aftermath. Mr. Bahr masterfully weaves the imagery of the post-battle carnage and suffering. At some point, you realize that you aren't reading words, you're creating images. You get the feeling that the author really was there.

The story itself is somewhat predictable, but don't let that fool you. This is about the telling of a story more than the story itself. Experience this. It is fiction at its best.

This book is about the life of George Dawson, a remarkable 101-year-old man who is the grandson of slaves. Born in 1898, he tells of what life was like in Texas before integration. He turned away racial hatred by his gentle manner and kept his dignity during the most trying circumstances. He did manual labor from the time he was 4 until he was 90, and at age 98 he began to look for new challenges and so decided to go to Adult Education classes and learn to read. When he was growing up, he was always working,and as the oldest son he was depended upon to contribute financially to his family. His younger brothers and sisters went to school, but he never had a chance until someone knocked on his door and offered him the chance to learn to read. His quiet dignity shines through the pages as his story is told to co-author, Richard Glaubman. Glaubman is an elementary school teacher from Washington who became fascinated with a newspaper article he read about Dawson in a Seattle paper. The two became good friends over the course of the writing of this book and it is told in a narrative style of two friends chatting about the past. Some of the most interesting stories involve Dawson's early years and the times in his 20's when he traveled around the country just to satisfy his wanderlust. This is a wonderful book and in the course of reading it I felt as if I'd gotten to know a very special person

and if you don't believe it, then you need to read this book!

Mr. Dawson has led an amazing life. Born in 1898, he has seen it all. The grandson of freed slaves, he was taught to be a good man, a man of integrity and he learned it well. He married (4 times! and outlived them all!), had 7 children and put them all through school, all graduated college even though he never learned how to read.

Then one day, at the age of 98, he was offered the chance to learn and he seized it. A hard worker all his life, he attacked his new goal with the same attitude. He's now a full time student.

This book is the incredible story of his rich, not in money, but in more important things like love, pride in one's self, and life. The reason for Mr. Dawson's long life? I don't think it was anything as special as eating a certain way, or exercise per say, but it was love. Mr. Dawson loves life and it shines through every part of his life. There are wonderful life lessons are here for everyone; young, old, black, white, man or woman. A must read!

When a friend loaned me this book, I hadn't heard about it. Once I started reading, I wondered why the book wasn't widely known. LIFE IS SO GOOD reveals, with great poignancy, how an illiterate black man earned his living for most of a century--years of wandering, taking hard labor jobs, following the rules for survival in a white man's world. At an age when white boys were getting their favorite toys, he left home to work on a white man's farm. . .truly a hired "hand," not acknowledged as a youngster who needed family, recreation, education, social development, and nurturing. We follow George Dawson as he hoards the few dollars he earns, never complaining about his plight. Unable to decipher a newspaper, George is oblivious to the progress taking place around him--automobiles, modern appliances, jobs with fringe benefits. He knows little about the historical and social revolutions permeating America. Nevertheless, he survives--and remains content. His greatest miracle, though, comes at age 98, when he learns to read. At this point, he starts to grasp what others have known all along. LIFE tugs at the reader's heartstrings. We grieve as we consider all he missed in life, we rejoice at his delayed triumphs. If you've ever considered yourself disadvantaged, read this book. You'll be blessed by George Dawson's fortitude and gratitude.

This book was superbly written. The pace was perfect and the characters intriguing. However! I agree with the reviewer who pointed out some of the obvious flaws, such as: the press, mafia, and powerful politician in Jennifer's life would, most certainly, have found out about her son since Jennifer was such a well-known media darling.

I thought the ending frankly disappointing. While realistic, it could have been better handled, I think, and not quite so abrupt. I was deeply engrossed in this book and when it ended so negatively it was a major let-down. But, having said that, Mr. Sheldon is certainly a great storyteller and I'm not sorry I read this book.

Always looking for a new author I can get behind, I took the advise of many friends and read this book. WOW! Normally I am a "Romantic, man & woman meet fall in love have a problem get back together" sort of story-lover. This is more like a rollercoaster ride of life. For fear of giving anything away if you read the book but wanting anyone who will listen to read this and be inspired to read this book: Sheldon gives you fantastic character developement. You have a heroine who you can't help but want to cheer on, a supporting hero who you want to like but for the fact that he's married, and a lead hero who you want to hate but just can't because he's to dangerously enchanting. The book is about a lady lawyer and the trials (no pun intended) of her life. During the coarse of the story I kept thinking how is Sheldon going to fix "all this" by the end of the book, and the answer is simple: This is not a story where everything gets fixed. When I first read the back of the book the last line was " they find a love that is more destructive than hate". At first my interpretation was that it was a love that could destruct hate, but now after reading the book the hard part to handle was it meant the love itself was more destructive to the characters than hate was. There are a million love stories that are "Happy ever after", I've read hundreds of them, this is love with some twists and turns, but every bit as fantastic.

This book is very worth reading and grips you right from the start. Sheldon has a way with words that allows you to become part of the story. I hope that you give it a go. I look forward to reading more Sheldon novels! : )

This was the first book that I read by Sidney Sheldon, and I was blown away. I finished it in one day and loved every second of it. His protagonist, Jennifer Parker, is a woman with ambition whose career as a lawyer is nearly terminated by a man who later comes to love her. The twists of the story and the characters make this book a real page-turner, and Sheldon creates well-rounded characters that you'll laugh and cry with. Don't pass up this novel!

John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, they are all here! This is the totally unbelievable story of a man who got transported to Mars basically, because he thought it would be cool to go, so he wished it, and POOF, he's there. Then, there's the fact that the planet itself and the life on it are also completely ridiculous. FORGET ALL THAT! Read it to be swept up in one of the greatest adventure series of all time. John Carter goes to Barsoom (Mars, to the Martians) rescues the most beautiful woman in the universe and (later in the series) conquers an entire world through the power of his will and the strength of his right arm. Handsome, powerful heroes, beautiful half naked captive princesses just panting to be rescued, Villians, so evil you want to go back in time to strangle their parents, Big ugly friends, (What are you laughing at, remember Chewbacca?) strange beasts, stranger aliens, wierd science, epic battles, betrayals, great reunions. This one's got it all. The best of Burroughs' body of work, the most action packed series from the true master of the action story. Edgar Rice Burroughs is the creator of Tarzan. Don't ever pick up his work expecting an intellectual workout. Just get in and hang on for the ride

Princess of Mars is a fantastic, wild ride. I think everyone makes a mistake though of saying it's just a guys book. I'm a woman, and it was my mother who recommended Princess to me! I think any girl who's interested in science fiction or fantasy would really enjoy this book. Yeah, it was obviously written with adolescent boys in mind but I think anyone can enjoy this wildly imaginative page turner.

The characters are all extremely likable. John Carter is the perfect southern gentleman. Honorable, loyal, incredibly brave, respectful to women, extremely handsome; a perfect hero who is never boorish or conceited. Then there's Sola, one of the few green Martians to show compassion and kindness, and Tars Tarkas(aren't these names so cool?)a ferocious green martian warrior with a tragic past who is also able to feel compassion and love. And I dare anybody to tell me that they wouldn't want a Woola of their very own! Dejah Thoris though is mainly for the guys. Carter's love and devotion for her was really sweet. I didn't even know that this was part of a book series until I read it on amazon and now I am really eager to read the other books of the series. And wasn't the end cool? I don't think I've ever read an ending quite like that before. What Carter found in the cave at the end was very creepy and intriguing. (I won't give out a spoiler)

Although this is pulp fiction and sort of like a comic book in a way,(I can see mothers in 1912 scolding their kids, "That Edgar Rice Burroughs is going to rot your mind if you keep reading it!") it's still light science fiction at it's best! (I'll warn you right off though, please don't expect something deep and complex like Dune or Darkover and post a review whining about it. Princess is purely for fun.) And am I the only one that thinks Princess would make a really awesome movie?

You want imagination?..adventure?..a few dabs of science(remember it was written in 1912)?..an ageless hero?..an absolutely beautiful damsel in distress?..a whole new world?..with a language all it's own?..inhabited with strange new creatures?.. friends and foes?..battles royal?..This book, and all 10 or 11 sequels, have it all! ER Burroughs was the early master of science fiction, adventure, and imagination; a man ahead of his time, and he gives the reader a roller-coaster ride of incredible adventures. Join with us now as John Carter meets, rescues,and captures the heart of the INCOMPARABLE Dejah Thoris, Princess of Mars!, and eventually, along with his friend Tars Tarkas, follows suit with the entire red planet, Barsoom to its wild and whacky inhabitants.

Is this intellectual literature?..of course not. Is it non-stop fun and enjoyment, the original page-turner novel?...You bet it is! Pick this book up, start reading, and I guarantee: you won't put it down until you're finished!..and then you'll run out the door and be hunting for the 2nd book in the series, The Gods of Mars, and then # 3, The Warlord of Mars, and on through the series. Be warned: make sure you have access to #'s 2 and 3 before you start The Princess...you'll be sorry if you don't!

I first read the Burroughs Martian novels(there were 10 known to me then) as a graduate student studying Physics, some 40 years ago. They provided the perfect escape from the rigors of courses like Quantum Mechanics and E & M. Now I reread them,and I continue to enjoy. You will too.