Richard Lancelyn Green has examined nearly a century's worth of Holmesian pastiches and collected some of the very best in this book. Stories date from 1920 through the 1980's.

Many pastiches try to parody or reinvent the originals, but theses stories affectionately recapture the flavor and tone of the canon.

In this volume Richard Lancelyn Green has assembled some of the best of the noncanonical Holmes short stories as of 1986. I personally think _The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes_ by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr is a slightly better collection overall, but this one comes close.

Adrian Conan Doyle is represented here as well, the adventure of "Arnsworth Castle" being simply a republication of "The Red Widow" from _Exploits_. (I disagree with the reviewer who thought the story was a "complete failure," but I also disagree with anthologist Green that it is the strongest of the younger Doyle's Holmes pastiches.)

The highlight of the collection is undoubtedly Denis O. Smith's "The Purple Hand." This is the first of Smith's Holmes tales (of which another -- "The Silver Buckle" -- appears in _The Mammoth Book of New Sherlock Holmes Adventures_); in general they are among the best pastiches in the short-story genre. (Smith has published them in three volumes under the title _The Chronicles of Sherlock Holmes_.)

Other high points include "The Tired Captain" and "The Green Empress," based on two unrecorded cases mentioned by Watson in the first paragraph of "The Naval Treaty." The latter of the two cases requires a brief explanation.

"The Green Empress" is the new title of the tale mentioned in a review below under the name "The Second Stain." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of course, wrote a story of that title as well, but the version he published does not match the description in "The Naval Treaty." Some Sherlockians (according to Green) also claim to find a reference to another "Second Stain" case in "The Yellow Face," though I do not happen to know the foundation of this claim. There would thus appear to have been at least two and perhaps three Holmes cases catalogued by Watson under the same name.

F.P. Cellie's tale fills in the details of the one mentioned in "The Naval Treaty." In 1967 it won a contest in South Africa under its original title of "The Second Stain," and its title has been altered for publication in the present volume. End of explanation.

Another highlight: this volume is the only one currently in print -- so far as I know -- in which Vincent Starrett's classic "The Unique _Hamlet_" is collected. In my own view this pastiche is somewhat overrated (being among other things ludicrously easy to solve), but at any rate it's a good one to have; at least it was one of the first, having been privately published in 1920.

And another point which may be of interest to Amazon shoppers: the larger and more recent collection _The Mammoth Book of New Sherlock Holmes Adventures_, edited by Michael Ashley (and with a foreword by Green), does not include _any_ overlap with the present volume. Owners of one may therefore feel safe in purchasing the other.

I've just finished this and am amazed by how much I enjoyed it - I'd bought it expecting to hate it but not so. It's very patchy but no more so than Conan Doyle's original stories, and the only really terrible bit is one effort by his son Adrian which is a complete failure, although a very involved thing about Scotland (which left me wondering, why couldn't he have just put the brooch in his pocket? - you'll know what I mean when you've read it) tries the patience rather. Best are the 'Purple Hand' and 'Second Stain' stories, both of which the man himself would have been very proud of, but all are honourable additions to the mythos, hugely enjoyable and very sensitive to the much-loved originals.

Alchemy has always been of interest to me. The idea that you can take ordinary metal and turn it into gold has naturally got to be appealing - especially in our very materialistic society. St Germain is said to have been a master alchemist who was a favorite of the court of kings and queens, as well as the powerful of the time. In addition to his seemingly magical abilities he never seem to age. In fact, this book makes a good case that it would appear and than vanish throughout the course of over 400 years. There are those who say he was there when they signed the Constitution as well on TV in France in the last decade. This book held my interest -- it makes for both fascinating reading, but is also practical for those wishing to further their occult studies in rejuvenation and youthfulness. There is also a large selection of messages beamed from St Germain who is said to be living beneath Mt Shasta in the underground city of Telos, where he is working with the great while brotherhood of light.

When I first came across this text, the latest work by writer/Professor Arthur Green, I thought, "Eureka! Finally a unified field theory of Kabbalah from a liberal point of view!" Alas, not quite; Mr. Green makes many brilliant points, including the word chosen for the title, which is God saying to Moses at the Burning Bush: "I will be or I am that!" This for Green, is both Man and God saying the same thing: "I am was and will be that I am was will be"

But stating God and man are one is not only Kabbalah, it is all mysticism, and a high level of generality, if not touchy feely syncretism pervades much of this work, which would initially seem more destined more for the advanced than general reader. Green does an excellent job, laying out the history of the Kabbalah's development, the sephirot or Ten potencies of divine power, the relationship between the Torah, the Bible and Kabbalah, and the directions the Kabbalah may take in the future for liberal Jews.

However, he does all of this as a modern Jew who explicitly states that he has no faith and not even concern with, the efficacy of Jewish prayer and practice, or their ability to deliver to the worshipper what it is he or she prays for. Further, Green seems to down play Jewish uniqueness in the work in favor of a "toned down" mysticism, that leaves neither God nor Torah at it's center, but concepts more like "Eco-kashrut" and other spiritual forms of political correctness.

This particular point, "Eco-kashrut" is originally the brainchild of Arthur Waskow, but Green has adopted it as part of his program. Initially meant to signify vegetarianism, this term now indicates an "environmentally aware" life, where the Jewish person avoids all products and items which are made from exploitation of human or animal labor, or that pollute the environment. Needless to say, while this may be an idea implicit in Torah, it is not and never has been a focus of Jewish tradition, and this and other innovations proposed by Green, Waskow and others, leave this writer quite uncomfortable.

Ultimately, the Kabbalah proposed in this book, is weakened by it's very willingness to bow to contemporary fashion, and ignore so much Jewish tradition and history. History in particular, which is one of Judaism's great strengths, is hardly mentioned as an influencing factor in this book, yet without it's history, Judaism would be a shriveled tree indeed. For more traditional Jews, or liberally traditional Jews such as myself, Jewish history is the source of Jewish faith, as I prove in my book, " Jewish History and Divine Providence" available here on Amazon.

As a born and raised Reform Jew, I often felt let down by that denominations absence of systematic theology; now there may be too much of it, but done in the wrong sensibility. Grounded in both the Kabbalah and Jewish history, but with a profoundly ethical sense of Jewish law, "Jewish History" counterbalances the excessive trendiness found in Ehyeh, and read together with it, will give the practicing Jewish liberal, a complete model of 21st century(or 58th century) Judaism.

....to the principles of ecology. This book, if you can find it, is logically organized and very easy to understand. It moves gradually from the foundational dynamics (energy flows, eat-or-be-eaten) to entire ecosystems.

Some readers will be distracted by the dated references to outer space and the cute chapter headings--"Methods for Mission Impossible," etc. Most of the first chapter, Wonder and Anxiety, was a teaching device that seemed to me to take forever to get to the point; other readers less familiar with ecology might find it useful, however.

Bottom line: I'd buy another book from this author. It's always nice to find clear voices in the sciences.

This is a wonderful introduction to the legend of Arthur. The story is told in a nice, straightforward way that doesn't interfere with the wonderful drawings. There's enough detail in the drawings to entertain an older artist, but not so much that a younger person will get frustrated trying to color.

I thought that the Publisher's statment that Nostradamus was an Alien from another world (several times) was just ridiculous. All of his conclusions are subject to interpretation, and in my opinion missed the mark several times. I wonder who the other "reviewers" really are?!? I bought this book on their recommendation. I'm sorry I wasted my time and money!

Years ago I went out and purchased about 6 or 8 books dealing with the prophecies of Nostradamus. A lot of them are pretty unreadable. Unless you are a history buff what happened in France or throughout Europe 3oo or 400 years ago is going to have very little meaning. Also, unless you know French you will have to plow through page after page of translations which - often -- will bring you no closer to making a determination about if the seer actually predicted a particular event or not. UNPUBLISHED PROPHECIES has two things going for it. It gets right to the point, pretty much dealing with the works of Nostradamus that have meaning in our modern every day lives. The editors have sorted everything out for the reader in a reasonable number of pages so you dont have to take a course in French. Furthermore, there are some predictions in this book that supposedly have never been published before. Additionally, I just obtained a recent printing of this book to find out that the publisher have added some material on the terrorist attack on America. In fact the sub title deals with this new threat and there is even a special update you can get by writing to the publisher.

There has been a resurgence of interest in Nostradamus in the wake of the tragic terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Along with a widely circulated hoax prophecy that was quickly unmasked by astute students of the prophet, the authentic prophecy found in Century 6, Quatrain 97, seemed to uncannily predict the World Trade Center's destruction.

The skeptic's response to all such apparent fulfillments of prophecy is to argue that since the actual wording of the quatrain is so vague, it can be interpreted any number of ways. However, it is even less logical to assume that Nostradamus was working totally blind and that future events correspond to what he predicted simply by chance. It has been said that if you put a monkey in front of a typewriter, he will eventually type out the words of Shakespeare. But again, it simply isn't possible for Nostradamus to be as accurate as he is working from within a total vacuum, is it?

Which brings us to "Nostradamus' Unpublished Prophecies" by Arthur Crockett. Crockett opens with a crash course for the uninitiated on the life history of Nostradamus, beginning with his humble yet nearly supernatural birth in 16th Century France through his time as a medical doctor working with victims of the Black Plague. Beginners to the subject will enjoy reading about the early years when Nostradamus first became aware of his gift of prophecy and the fame he acheived in his own lifetime, including his eventual championing by the French royal court.

Next Crockett gives an interesting overview of some of the prophecies already assumed to be fulfilled, such as quatrains that seem to predict the rise and fall of Adolph Hitler and the end of the Cold War. The accuracy with which Nostradamus predicted so many future events that are now in our past is the best testimony one can make for him being the real thing.

From there, Crockett moves on to the heart of the book, the prophecies by Nostradamus that were omitted from the seer's official collection.

"The legend goes," Crockett writes, "that shortly before his death, Nostradamus penned a series of prophecies so startling that he never had them included in his published works, too afraid was he of the effect they might have. These predictions were circulated only to royalty and were thought destroyed for many years until they were uncovered in the basement of the house where Nostradamus died. They were sealed behind a wall which only recently was torn down to reinforce the old building which is now a landmark."

So we are given something new to ponder over and wonder about. Many of the unpublished prophecies have to do with the Second Coming of Christ and visitors from Outer Space as well as several appearances by the Virgin Mary.

Also included with the book is a two-page insert called "Nostradamus' Black Prophecies," one of which is a story in itself. Keeping in mind that the book was published in 1983, the insert contains a prophecy that declares, "In the year eighty plus nine, the vast East collapses." You may recall that it was in 1989 that the student revolt in China happened, followed by a bloody massacre and the complete breakdown of law and order in China that lasted for several weeks. It's just such moments that keep students of Nostradamus hooked.

In any case, I heartily recommend "Nostradamus' Unpublished Prophecies" to both the adept scholar and the newcomer to the prophet. Whatever lies ahead of us in the future may have already been seen and documented in the four-line poems of a man who spoke through time itself.

King Arthur and his Brave Knights
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, were a whole bunch of different stories. They were how Arthur was raised and became king, how each of the knights came apart of the round table and how each of the went on their quest for the Holy Grail, and the departing of King Arthur and his kingdom.
The author, Roger L. Green, emphasized some differences to the original tale. For instance, Launcelot never loved Elaine. Elaine loved Launcelot very much but she was sad because Launcelot did not love her back. So Elaine went to Brysen who was a sorcerer and she made Elaine appear as Guinevere (Launcelot's love). When Launcelot saw Elaine that appeared as Guinevere he asked her to marry him and she said yes. The next morning when Launcelot saw Elaine in bed with him instead of Guinevere he went mad and started to live in the forest. Another change in the story was that the author called the Lady of the Lake, Lady Nimue. This book took place in the 6th century and the narrator is in 3rd person. The themes of the book were basically stories of each knight on their quest for the Holy Grail.
I would recommend this book to avid readers and people who enjoy fantasies. This reason because it is hard to understand some of the words are difficult to understand.

The Knights of the Round Table
By: Roger Lancelyn Green

The book King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table include numerous interesting stories. The author, Roger Green, did not only set Arthur on quests, but his knights too. From the adventure of the Green knight to the quest for the Holy Grail, this book keeps you entertained. The king Arthur and his knights were well known for their bravery and honorability. For example, Sir. Gawain kept his promise to the green knight to look for him in one year.
However, the old English and the number of characters in the many stories of this book become very confusing.
I rate this book five out of ten, because I enjoy more descriptive action stories rather than so much talking. I recommend this Arthurian novel to whoever enjoys stories rich in characters and dialogs.

Who hasn't heard of King Arthur and the knights of his Round Table? In this book you meet them all - including the magician Merlin, and the brave knights Sir Launcelot, Sir Gareth, Sir Tristam, Sir Bors, Sir Kay, and Sir Galahad. All the old favorites are included - Arthur drawing the sword out of the stone, Arthur receiving the sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, and Arthur's marriage to Guinevere. But this is just the beginning of excitement - followed by numerous quests and adventures of the knights, including the Quest for the Holy Grail. This book is chock-full of entertaining adventures involving knights in shining armour, damsels in distress, fierce jousting and sword fights to the death, battles against hoards of enemies and giants, tournaments and miracles.

The medieval setting is painted in a rather idealized fashion, limited to the nobility and figures of the court, who embrace all that is beautiful, brave and noble. These virtues are sometimes portrayed rather simplistically, as unknown knights engage in mortal combat, and only after they have virtually killed each other do the introductions begin: "What is your name?" Behind this medieval mayhem is a heightened sense of chivalry more reflective of legend than fact, where knights battle to the death for the sake of a woman - even one they have only just met. But isn't that what the Arthurian legends are all about? Nobody is under the illusion that they are to be taken too seriously. Journeying to Arthur's Camelot is a form of escapism - suspend your sense of disbelief, watch the flashing swords and fearful battles, and enjoy.

That's not to say that the Arthurian tales do not reflect any reality. Arthur's world is in many respects a real medieval world. Medieval beliefs in paganism and Christianity are evident throughout. Witchcraft and enchantment is presented as alive and deadly, and conversely the true religion - in this case the beliefs of the medieval Catholic church - is evident throughout as knights commend themselves to God in prayer, thank him for his help, and even repent from their sins. The whole notion of the Holy Grail is of course a very Christian tradition - although a tradition that represents more fiction than fact. And the moral virtues of justice, truth and right for which the honorable knights fight are still noble ideals of virtue today. Arthur's kingdom is presented as a kingdom blessed by the grace of God, a beacon of light symbolizing all that is good and true and right, and a worthy model for kingdoms in today's world because it revolves around timeless virtues. Tales that promote dignity, courtesy, courage, respect for right, respect for female dignity and purity are as ennobling as they are entertaining.

How much truth there is behind the Arthurian tales will always be the subject of debate. The fact remains that there is an extensive and confusing body of legend to wade through. In this work, Green has essentially followed Malory's fifteenth century classic "Morte d'Arthur." But unlike most other writers, such as Sir James Knowles, Green has made some significant improvements:
1. Firstly, the traditional Arthurian tales are a confusing mass of legends. But Green consciously weaves all the tales together as part of a single pattern. He needs to take some liberties with legend in order to achieve this, but these alterations are minor, and the end result is a plausible reconstruction with a clear development, revolving around the establishment of Arthur's kingdom, its climax with the successful quest for the Holy Grail, and subsequent downfall.
2. Secondly, most other collections slavishly follow the body of legend inherited by Thomas Malory. Green follows Malory in the main, but has researched the legends carefully for himself, and also incorporates some Arthurian legends not found in Malory.
These innovations of Green result in a very readable and successful version of the Arthurian tales, and yet one that does not significantly sacrifice faithfulness to legend. Those looking for a more historical reflection of the Arthurian tales would do well to turn to a version of Malory, such as that by Sir James Knowles. And those looking for a more developed and extensive modern version where the author has taken liberties beyond the original legends, would enjoy the classic work by Howard Pyle. But as a faithful, plausible and enjoyable introduction to the tales, you can't go wrong with this superb effort by Green.

Most readers looking to be introduced to the Arthurian legends need look no further than this collection by Green. It's not as grand as Malory, but it's a better read. There is no end to the accomplishments of sword and sorcery, adventures and quests. To our sorrow, Arthur's kingdom ends in darkness and disgrace, but not before it has shone with a wonderful and memorable light. Along with the tales of Robin Hood, the tales of King Arthur are the most exciting tales that British history has produced. This is the stuff of legend, and it's worth a read.

It was quite a disappointment to find that almost 300 pages of this 400 page book were dedicated to a roster. The roster appears to come directly from the National Archives compiled service records. Only 39 pages are dedicated to telling the history of the regiment. The roster is just the basic information from the Natl. Archives and there is no indepth statistical analysis of the regiment. This book is very basic and would rank near the bottom of regimental histories that I have read over the past decade.

If you are interested in Civil War history I would recommend that you leave this book on the shelf. However if you have a family member who served in the regiment then it might be a nice keepsake. Less than 40 pages are devoted to the history of the regiment and you would be just as well off to read the regiment's reports in the Official Record. Most of the pages are filled with the names of roster of the regiment.

There is very little to grab hold of in this book. Even the roster seems to be limited to what was found on the National Archives Compiled Service Records. Overall a real disappointment and not at all what I was expecting.

This is a well written, well researched book on the men of the 38th Alabama Infantry. It's obvious that the author spent many, many hours of research to produce this work. If you had relatives in the War of Northern Agression, or any interest at all, this is a "must have" for your bookshelf, although it won't be on your bookshelf much. There is interesting facts on hundreds of the men who fought for what they believed in. Very, very interesting reading.

It is hard to believe a book this poorly written could make past the editors! There were so many run-on and incomplete sentences I had trouble reading it to my daughter. I can only imagine what my second grade daughter went through reading on her own. We will keep this book if only to serve as an example of how NOT to construct sentences. There is a year's worth of grammar exercises in this book.

I agree that this is not the finest book written on King Arthur, but it is one that can be read aloud, and easily enhanced by a grandmother anxious to read these legends to a second grader---- finding something appropriate for a young listener has not been easy!

I think this is a very good story because its placed in history. I like when the giant takes off his head. You should get this book for your child.