This book is a verry well and verry informative book. I am just starting to go in the direction of Wicca even though i have been away from Christianity for so long, and this book is verry good for the young beginer like myself. It gives you a-lot of insite into the matter of alternate regigions. I am verry certain that Wicca is the way i will go.

also this was the first book in my library of "odd books" as my friends say, that i have on the subject, i have gotten a bunch more since then[about 10-20 books]

I am not Wiccan, though I am sympathetic and exceedingly interested in this fast-growing religion. As such, I wanted a book that would be informative, easy to absorb and broad. This book was actually recommended to me by a high priest in my area, and it did not disappoint. I learned everything I needed to know, which is not to say that I've learned it all...but I think I have the broad strokes. Were I ever to aspire to be a solo-practitioner, this book would no doubt guide me quite adeptly.

Highly recommended. I have been told that the late Paul Tuitean and his wife were (and are) extremely well-loved and highly respected in the Wiccan/pagan community. From what I've gleaned and what I've learned, this book is accurate, fair, and a reference you can trust.

Peace.

I am not Wiccan. I am a Shaman; but Wicca was one of the many faiths I explored.

I have several positive, negative, and neutral things to say about this book, so I will seperate them into three lists.

Here are some of the things I like about this book. I am limited to 1000 words. ;-)

1. The altar layout illustration on page 64 is nice and complete. (You should not allow this to cause you undue concern. Start where you are; even if you have nothing more than a birthday candle, matches, and use your finger to cast a circle. You can always add tools as you find them, or feel the need to add them.)

2. This is one of the very few books to correctly identify the invoking, and banishing pentagrams. (I can count the number of books that got something this simple correct on one hand. Banishing prntagrams are always drawn widdershins (counter clockwise).)

3. I HIGHLY praise this book for teaching the shielding exercize on page 77. (I wish more authors would teach simple shielding techniques to assist against psychic attacks.)

4. I praise the authors for discussing the belief factor on page 82. (It is impossible to have faith in something you do not believe.)

5. I HIGHLY praise the authors for discussing the perils in some forms of divination as in Ouija boards, spirit tapping, etc. (If you are interested in divination; I would HIGHLY recommend that you set up a shield (as described on page 77) before practicing divination to protect you from evil and negativity in the area.)

Here are the problems I have with the book.

1. The book is heavy and cumbersome. (I would have preferred for the book to be in a smaller format with more pages. The wide pages put a lot of stress on the wrist when trying to hold the book.)

2. On page 108; the authors claim that Wicca is a nature worshiping religion. (Uh... ahem... er... ;-) I don't think so. I have never heard of or saw a Wiccan worshiping a tree or a stream. They always cast a circle and invoke Deity.)

3. On page 74; the authors discuss white and black magick. (In my opinion; magick is simply magick. the white or black connotation only comes in depending on the magickians intent.)

Here are some of the things I am neutral about, and I hope you will consider.

1. On Page 75; the authors discuss a visualization of roots growing from the base of the spine into the ground. (I would recommend you switch the visualization of roots from the feet growing into the earth (because your feet are already on the ground).)

2. On page 80; the authors talk of cleansing the athame with salt water. (Salt is corrosive and could lead to the blade of the athame rusting. I would suggest that you channel your energy into the athame to bless it and raise it's level of vibration, or smudge it by passing it through the smoke of a purifying incense as in Copal, Frankinsence, or Sage.)

3. On page 116; and others; the authors refer to the energy used as chi. (Ch'i is only one of the dozens of names this universal lifeforce energy has been called over the past 5,000+ years. Here are some of the more common names (Akasha, ch'i, Itaki, Ki, Mana, Manitou, Nuwati, Orenda, Orgone, Prana, Qi Ruach, and many others.))

E-Mail me if you have questions or comments; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

A page turner that sailors will love. Lot's of action and appealing characters.

If this is not the perfect Summer read, I don't know what is. Take a young man at a crossroads in his life, put him on a sailboat with a mysterious, wealthy old salt of dubious ethics. Then add a murderous clan of robber barons with endless resources and a motive to pursue our unlikely heroes who may or may not be in posession of a trillion-dollar industrial secret. Mix in a romance and more wild weather than you've ever seen and you'll be hoping for a rainy day just so you can finish it!

This is a good action book that I highly recommend mostly because it is not as predictable as most of the books that one normally encounters these days.

Buried at Sea has a good pace and the characters are well developed. It is an especially great book if you like sailing adventures.

The review of Paul Garrison's new book, Fire and Ice, intrigued me so I purchased it. However, although the plot developed rapidly, the reader was required early on to endure an abundance of technical sailing jargon/maneuvers to bridge to the more meaningful parts of the plot. The miraculous ability of the lead character to overcome all obstacles in his path, including natural phenomenon, was very unrealistic and annoying to this reader to the point of sometimes being even ludicrous.

The book was mediocre reading with a lot of potential action to play on, but I found the plot underdeveloped, incomplete, and some very unbelievable solutions to, and some very 'casual' escapes from some BIG problems.

One thing's for sure. Paul Garrison knows his sailing, and his oceanography/geography. In this, his debut novel, Garrison weaves a story about an unusual kidnapping that takes place aboard a natural gas carrier. Dr. Michael Stone's wife and daughter, Sarah and Ronnie, are held hostage by a madman named Mr. Jack, who has some devastating plans for his old enemies, the "Japs" as he calls them. His henchman, Moss, is a despicable muscle-bound moron, who takes pleasure in beating up women and perhaps even children?

"Fire and Ice" is a good read, a little technical in spots, that tends to slow down the action and the pacing. However, the story holds your interest and even if the slam-bang ending seems a trifle far-fetched, it delivers.

My biggest complaint is that the novel ends so abruptly; there is one villain we don't know what happens to him, and the heroes future seems up in the air as well.

If the ending had a stronger resolution, I would have gone with five stars. Worth the read, though.

I LOVED Paul Garrison's "Fire and Ice" as the author swept me away to Asia and the ocean and adventures that seemed so gritty and so real that I was desperate to keep turning pages until the end. It's wonderful to find an author who sounds authoritative about such a remote, adventurous background and his take on the steamy, grimy industrialization of China was amazingly real for me. I found the technical "stuff" never got in the way and added to the verisimilitude of the racing storyline. I'm a "bookaholic" who's read thousands of suspense thrillers of all types and this one is one of the BEST I've ever read.

This is an excellent overview of what is involved with setting up and running a layout in limited space. The author gives plenty of options and details of what is involved without preaching. I've read seven books on the topic and this was by far the easiest reading.

Mr. Garrison has obviously spent a long time in New York City. He has an accurate read on Rudy Giuliani (thinly disguised here) and his group of sychophants. The Rudy "bunker" mentality is well portrayed here, as is the "New York City vs. Everyone Else school of thought. Even the Rudy Bunker, perversely built in the World Trade Center, is accurately shown for the folly that it is. The police department is realistically shown, except for one small dig at Long Islanders who are city cops, but one can't have everything. The action, once you get past the stretch of imagination required for the 100 Chinese submarines, is non-stop. The New York character is well written here, these are the people of NYC, average, above average, and some decidedly below average. But they're all here, and they all play a part.

If you're looking for deep socio-political thought, go elsewhere. If you want an enjoyable read, something to sit around the pool with, this is the book for you.

I recommend this as a good buy. It's worth the read, just don't go looking for deep thought here.

While a fleet of Chinese submarines invading NYC may be a far-fetched plot, it worked for me. Garrison blended some cool action scenes with memorable characters. Thumbs up on how well he fleshed them out. Mayor Rudy Mincarelli is a strong willed guy who wants to handle the crisis on his own. However, I really questioned the man's steadfast refusal to keep the military out of New York. Who the heck else is equipped to deal with an army of commandoes backed up by missiles and deck guns? Reporter Jose Chin was annoying but cool. Cared nothing about his own well-being. Just wanted to get the big story. The mayor's press person, Renata, may be an unlikeable, workaholic witch, but she definitely added to the story. Tugboat Captain Ken Hughes was the blue collar, regular guy hero of the book looking for any opportunity to hurt the Chinese invaders. His girlfriend, publisher Kate Ross, was an independent, tough woman who runs through a harrowing gauntlet of Chinese marines, Hell's Angels and street gangs all through lower Manhattan. Even the main bad guy, Admiral Tang, was interesting. Sort of a Rommel-esque warrior. Totally loyal to his men, wants the best for his country and believes this outrageous act will make him Emperor of China.

Some very cool combat scenes, especially involving the crippled carrier Kennedy, whose crew continues to battle the Chinese despite the damage to their ship. Lots of boat collisions and some wicked battles in the streets of New York.

I do have to take some issue with one reviewer who said the book was an insult to the firefighters and police who died on 9/11. Actually, the police in this book kept on fighting the Chinese despite horrendous loses and a disadvantage in firepower. They come off as heroes in my book. Also, this book was written prior to 9/11.

Tugboat Captain Ken Hughes works the waters of New York City. He combines the intellect of an academia with the pragmatic sleaze of a wharf rat. Kate Ross is a book editor in a major publishing house who concedes she will never meet her life's soul mate until a blind date introduces her to Ken. However, an invasion by an advance Chinese vanguard interrupts the romance.

Admiral Tan leads a force of over one hundred submarines poised to attack the Big Apple. The zealot plans to hold America's largest city hostage until Taiwan is returned to its rightful place as part of the glorious People's Republic of China. If the United States fails to heed Admiral Tong's warning, he will destroy the city. A small group of freedom fighters including Kate and Ken begin the counterattack.

Paul Garrison pumps up the volume with his latest cardiac thriller, RED SKY AT MORNING. This thriller will leave the audience requiring a cool down time to normalize their pulse. The villain is a believable patriot (depending on which side of the fence you sit) who surprisingly will garner much reader empathy. The lead couple makes for a heroic duo. However, there is no question that the thrills a page plot is what makes this a winner for genre fans.

Harriet Klausner