There's no better reason to own this book than the fact that it contains William Broyles' essential essay, "Why Men Love War." That the editors, Francesca M. Cancian and James William Gibson were astute enough to include Broyles, speaks well for the rest of their selections.

This superb chronicle is the author's lovingly crafted memoir of his family. Although structured around a requiem mass, the book becomes a universal meditation on love, marriage, family, and death. I did not want this book to end. It is a book to be cherished and read many times.

This play tells the continuing story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan as Helen excels at Radcliffe and Anne meets her first love, John Macy. However, their involvement with the men in their lives changes them forever and strengthens the bond between them.

I highly recommend this book for a novice magician who would like to perform proffesional tricks within hours. It's a magic book that is more than just a book on magic. The book contains more than 36 complete instructions tricks as well as 16 pages that can be cut out to make apparatus for actual tricks. The book emphasis on deception rather than elaborate sleight of hand. The book holds sections on mental magic, impromptu magic, card magic, table magic and oriental magic

With stories like "Ferryman" (Eric Brown), "The White Stuff" (Peter F. Hamilton & Graham Joyce), and "A Night on Bare Mountain" (Graham Charnock), anthologies don't get any better than this. My only quibble is with the experimental narrative "Thirteen Views of a Cardboard City"(William Gibson) which rounds out the volume with a whimper, not a bang. Otherwise, this is Hugo & Nebula territory.

Gibson's thesis is that we could never have won the war because we tried to see the Vietnamese on our terms instead of theirs. The Vietnam War was what he refers to as a "Technowar" -- since strength in the Western world has its basis in technology, we often have a tendancy to assume that is the same everywhere. This is what we did with our enemies in Vietnam -- we could not recognize their strengths because they were not like us. Because we had a stronger technological base, we thought there was no way we could lose the war, and ironically this way of thinking was a great contributer to our failures in Vietnam.

"Of Human Bondage", a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, is about a man's bondage to love or passion. It depicts in a clear and unrelenting manner the thralldom of one man to a worthless woman. This story is laid in England, Germany, and France in the years between 1885 and 1905. Philip Carey is a club-foot orphan, his mother dies when Philip is at the age of nine. He then goes and lives with his Aunt and Uncle. He is sent to school, to study clergy. As a cripple he does not have an easy life at school nor in his dealings with people in general. He is a lonely, introverted boy, sensitive and intelligent. At the age of twenty five he meets Mildred. She becomes the obession of his life, and the major part of the book is devoted to his relationship with her. Even though the love is not returned, Philip will do anything for her. He looks after her even when he discovers she has become a prositute, but when Mildred turns the tables and tries to seduce him, he spurns her, and she leaves. He feels free at last. Philip's fortunes drop and he loses all his money. He works as a shopwalker, but after the death of his Uncle he inherits enough to continue his medical education. He then falls in love with the daughter of his dearest friend, and marries her. This is a brutally frank story, and a very moving one. This is not a novel to be casually read and tossed aside. I recommend this novel to College students and older audiences.

Maugham proves that one doesn't need to write complex or flowery prose to evoke poignant emotions and admiration for the author's brilliance. Although he's evidently extremely knowledgeable in a host of subjects, Maugham's chief genius as I perceived it is in his ability to acutely describe how an individual (in this case a sensitive young man named Philip Carey) emotes and reacts to the influence of other people in his life. How do I know that Maugham's portrayal of emotion is accurate? Because I've been there as most of you have.

Growing up we've all had our insecurities (or still do): things about us that we were overly sensitive about and wish we could extinguish. For me one of these was my childhood asthma that gave me a tough time in middle school and early high school because it sometimes inconveniently hampered my athletic performance and made me stand out as abnormal. For you it's something else, unless you're one of the tiny minority that sailed through your formative years with *all* associated events and people bolstering your self esteem.

For Philip Carey it's his clubfoot (deformed foot) that is his physical and psychlogical burden. It makes him limp ungracefully and hinders his participation in athletics but doesn't cause him any pain. Carey also becomes acutely conscious of any reference to it by other people. Of Human Bondage is partly a story of how Philip is cursed by his clubfoot to become an overly sensitive young man but eventually matures and largely conquers the impact of this birth defect on his self image. One turning point near the end of Philip's maturation process is when he realizes that everyone has a failing whether they're aware of it or not. He's almost thankful that his was just a relatively minor physical failing and feels sorry for those who remain unaware of deficiencies in their personalities that are glaringly obvious to himself.

Of Human Bondage is a rather sizable fictional account of Philip's life up to about age 30, but I flew through it in next to no time. You probably will too. I'm not sure how absorbed women would get in this book since it's the story of a man's life, but I highly recommend it to everyone! It's simply one of the greatest classics of the 20th century and will undoubtedly be enjoyed for centuries to come.

I like this novel very much, but am always hard pressed to say why. Philip, the protagonist, isn't very sympathetic. The novel goes on at great length to describe several episodes that seem to be transparently taken from Maugham's own life. And I don't agree with Philip's lack of faith, although I understand it. Perhaps it has something to do with Philip's directionless nature, something most every young man can identify with. I read this first on graduating high school, wrote papers on it in grad school, and reread it again recently at the age of 34. Why? Because Philip is a very believable character. He suffers and endures, rather than swallow his pride when it would definitely be to his advantage. It's very easy to identify with someone who is so imperfect, instead of an idealized individual about whom you couldn't care less. Philip draws you in because he's so very human, flawed but purposeful, cynical yet still in possession of his dreams. Two last points: First, the novel is an _excellent_ look at London at the turn of the century. Reading this will teach you volumes about life as it was lived in this city, from its living conditions and social order to its worlds of medicine and bohemia. Second, the character of Mildred is the most callous, unfeeling individual I've ever met in print, although I've since seen many like her, both male and female, in my own life. Most likely, everyone encounters a Mildred sooner or later: better to meet her here first, where you can study her at your leisure. While I haven't found other works by Maugham nearly as interesting, this one has a special place on my bookshelf.

I'm a sci-fi fan from way back and particularly fond of short stories. I'd never read any stuff by Gibson, so I thought that Burning Chrome would be a good place to start. The blurb on the back of the book had quotes saying "father of the term cyberspace" and "truly original" and "new classic that has revitalized the genre" etc. The funny thing is that all that stuff was true, but I still didn't like the book. I guess the best way to put it is that he's got great ideas, but that's not enough to make a sci-fi story rise to the level of good literature. You still have to be a good writer, and in particular, Gibson's characters stink. They're one-dimensional and poorly realized; he's in love with technology but not so good at people. Maybe Gibson would be better at a full length novel; not everyone can write shorts. (my favorite sci-fi shorts still have to be Ray Bradbury's) His ideas were interesting enough for me to give him another try, though, and read Neuromancer.

From the man who wrote the classic cyberpunk novel, Burning Chrome is a collection of early Williami Gibson short stories, each one breaking new ground in the science fiction world. Gibson fans will immediately recognize the scenery of these dark but fascinating tales of the possibilities of the future. Neuromancer fans will recognize a few names as well: Molly, one of Gibson's most interesting characters, makes her debut in Johnny Mnemonic, the story of a man who stores data in his head but just accepted a package others will kill for; in the title story, where Gibson reveals his awesome vision of the future of data networks, Bobby Quine, hacker extraordinaire who is mentioned in Neuromancer as Case's teacher, decides that the Net isn't big enough for him and his rival. Gibson scores a major victory with these stories, showing us not only what might be, but what will be.

Featuring stories by the "father of cyberpunk", William Gibson, as well as collaberations with many other important figures in the genre, BURNING CHROME, is as good a collection of cyberpunk short fiction as can be found (short of Bruce Sterling's MIRRORSHADES, which has been out of print for some time). First and foremost, the first story in the anthology, "Johnny Mnemonic", will, no doubt, garner the most interest. (Readers of Gibson's NEUROMANCER will easily make the correlation between Molly and Johnny.) Gritty and imaginative, "Johnny Mnemonic" is worth the price of admission alone, spinning the story (made into the movie of the same name), of Johnny Mnemonic, a data courier, and his gal Molly Millions. "Burning Chrome" and "Dogfight" are considered to be two of Gibson's best short stories, showing off Gibson's creative powers at their strongest. "Fragments of a Hologram Rose" is a lyrical masterpiece, exquisitely detailed and haunting in delivery. Gibson's work is prophetic and amazing, rounding out his Sprawl series (NEUROMANCER, COUNT ZERO, and MONA LISA OVERDRIVE). Bordering on poetic at times, crystal clear at others, Gibson is truly a versatile author.

All in all, fans of Gibson's other works or fans of cyberpunk in general will find this anthology immensely rewarding.

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's more gloomy plays. It is downright grim. It starts grim and only gets blacker... ...It is one of Shakespeare's better plays

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's more ambiguous main characters. Motivation is always a big question with him. Sure, he is hungry for power. Yet he also needs prodding from several quarters to take most of his actions.

Lady Macbeth is really no different. She comes off as eager for evil early on, but is utterly shocked by its repercussions. Her attempt to go against nature leaves her absolutely unhinged and thirsting after guidance--only to find despair. In this regard, Shakespeare anticipates the psychology of Dostoevsky.

Macbeth is also one of Shakespeare's most supernatural plays. Regardless of whether one wants to debate the reality of Banquo's ghost, there are forces at work in Macbeth that are often unseen, but which drive the plot. The witches and all the unnaturalness come up against the forces of nature (the trees) and the divinely appointed King.

The most remarkable thing about this play is, for me at least, that it becomes a true tragedy only in its last moments. Only when all the stuff has hit the fan, and he has realized his doom is eminent, does Macbeth show the courage and nobility of a true tragic hero.

Macbeth is a great place to start if you are new to Shakespeare. It is a fun place to return if you're not.

"Macbeth" is one of Shakespeare's most powerful plays. Without doubt, audiences always remain guessing as they read the powerful speeches of Macbeth and his wife, who change dramatically during the story. The plot is not Shakespeare's most clever or most genius, but beautiful nonetheless!! And the best part is, thru this play, Shakespeare shows us that people are good at heart, even if corrupted within their lives.

Which version of "Macbeth" to buy? Definitely this one. The right pages provide the original play, while the left page provides definitions for old or hard vocabulary. There are also plot summaries before each scene. In addition to page numbers, each page also indicates act and scene, making the search for certain passages extremely easy. The lines are, of course, numbered, for easy reference (if you're reading this as a school assignment.) And of course, the stage directions are included too. A very helpful edition of Shakespeare's work.

Shakespeare's shortest and bloodiest tragedy, MACBETH is also possibly the most serious. Macbeth is a warrior who has just had his greatest victory, but his own "vaulting ambition," the spectral promises of the three weird sisters, and the spurring on of his wife drive him to a treason and miserable destruction for which he himself is completely responsible. The ominous imagery of the fog that hovers over the first scene of the play symbolizes the entire setting of the play. Shakespeare's repeated contrasts of such concepts as fair and foul, light and darkness, bravery and cowardice, cut us to the quick at every turn. MACBETH forces us to question "what is natural?" "what is honor?" and "Is life really 'a tale/ Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/ Signifying nothing?'" Few plays have ever illustrated the torments of Guilt (especially how it deprives one of Sleep) so vividly and stirringly.

I have read this play curiously as a child, excitedly as a teenager, passionately as a college student, and lovingly as a graduate student and adult. Like all of Shakespeare's writing, it is still as fresh, and foreboding, and marvelous as ever. As a play it is first meant to be heard (cf. Hamlet says "we shall hear a play"), secondarily to be seen (which it must be), but, ah, the rich rewards of reading it at one's own pace are hard to surpass. Shakespeare is far more than just an entertainer: he is the supreme artist of the English language. The Arden edition of MACBETH is an excellent scholarly presentation, offering a bounty of helpful notes and information for both the serious and casual reader.

William Gibson does an excellent job in this installment of his Sprawl series. He carefully weaves threads of Neuromancer into this novel without taking anything away from the story of Count Zero. Gibson did an exceptional job at creating an original story while at the same time bringing back some of the favorite quirks. Such as the Hosaka decks and the various cowboys roaming the matrix.
Gibson's ability to construct three seemingly completely different story lines into one novel and then wonderfully bringing them together in the end is outstanding. One immediately gets drawn into the lives of each of the characters simpathizing instantaneously with thier plights. The diversity with which each of his characters is faced makes for nonstop action throughout the book.

Count Zero extends Gibson's elaborate description of cyberpunk technology with a suspenseful story line that explores many future possibilities for an even more gripping story than its predecessor Neuromancer. By reaching out to new characters in the degenerate Sprawl, Gibson follows many unrelated characters through a series of suspenseful plots which work ultimately to a common good.

Some characters and locations are familiar from Neuromancer although some play a bigger role than others. The Finn is instrumental in marketing software to cowboys in the Sprawl. Molly and Case are mentioned vaguely and the Tessier-Ashpools influenced several aspects of the story. The remnants of Freeside remain in orbit and have become almost deserted.

Three separate plots follow three new main characters through their attempts to survive their dangerous lives. Turner, a business mercenary, is introduced in the story as a target for a bombing and barely survives the blast. The wonders of medical science in this time are able to reconstruct his body and reload his mind from a simstim construct. Bobby Newmark enters a run for his life when detected attempting to hack a company's mainframe with a new icebreaker. Marly Krushkova, an out of work art gallery owner, interviews with Joseph Virek for a job after struggling to make ends meet after being disgraced for mistakenly trying to sell a forgery. Virek hires Marly to find the maker of the artistic boxes that he has been collecting and makes his immense wealth available to her in her efforts to do so.

These plots become more and more complicated for the characters as they continue to run into snags and attacks throughout the book. Count Zero will keep you reading to find out just how they will get through the growing difficulties encountered. Gibson in develops each separate plot well and brings them together in the end for an incredible finish.

Well worth the read

Picking up where Neuromancer left off, I can understand why Count Zero was Gibson's favorite of the Sprawl series. He continues to combine cyberpunk with a sense of biopunk, capturing the reader from page one with a description of doctors rebuilding an agent from a description and body parts bought on the black market.

We then watch as three seemingly separate story lines unfold, wait to see how Gibson is going to bring them all together. This book deals with everyone from rising cowboy, to top Hosaka agent, to struggling artist, to super rich vat dweller. I felt that the ending could have maybe been a little better, but did pull all three story lines and almost every major character together for one dynamic finish.

I love to watch the interaction of Gibson's characters, as he is always creating dark and different characters that are often hated by the readers. I guess that is what I like about them. They're real characters they one would expect to find in the slums of the Sprawl, or working for Neotech, not just stereotype heroes.

Throwing in hot cyberdecks, double-agents, lots of drugs, more awesome biotechnology, combined with Gibson's unique characters, this book is a must read for any fan of Neuromancer, Gibson, or Cyberpunk.