I was born and raised in Hudson, N. Y. (class of "52") and witnessed the Dewey raid on Columbia St. In fact our back porch faced about 3 brothels on Columbia St. and I have memories of the working girls waving to me each morning. The author did not capture the full spirit of the town as this was a town that had a great big heart. Neighbors cared for and respected each other and it was a great town to grow up in. I think if the author had interviewed my grandfather who ran a neighborhood bar and backed the "numbers" he may have been less critical of Hudson and it's townspeople.

Having grown up in Husdon, I found this little book a delightful afternoon read. It was interesting to catch a glimpse of the history of my little town...my goodness, what a history it was! I heard stories from my dad about making 25c runnning for beer or watching a door. Little did I realize what he was watching! I found it eye-opening recognizing the names in the book of places I remember as a child...shopping at Marsh's or Richmann's for school clothes, buying my dad a birthday present at Kritzman's, learning about electricity (finger in electrical outlet) at Rogerson's Hardware, frequenting Sam's Market for devil dogs's after school, going downtown and getting a soda at McKinstry's Drug store to name a few. The author's desrciption of the volunteer firehouses brought memories of my dad racing off, having been a member of Edmond's #1 across from 7th Street Park. I have pictures of myself and friends sitting on Spook Rock and swimming in Keeler's Creek where it sits! I totally enjoyed this little ride into my town's history. The author's way with words often put a smile on my face and a giggle out loud with his descriptions of activities and the dry, wry humor he possessed telling these tales of Diamond Street and my hometown of Hudson.

Im a current teenaged resident of Hudson, New York and I am quite surprised at this sleepy towns, colorful past! My grandfather told me about how it was, but I never knew it was like THAT! Walking around now its hard to believe Hudson was ever the place to be.

I have always enjoyed reading books that look at the UFO Phenomenon from a "historical" perspective. I was, therefore, looking forward with great anticipation to reading Wendy Connors and Michael David Hall's "Summer of the Saucers". The book claims to be both an account of the great UFO flap of 1952 (the greatest year of UFO sightings in American history) and a biography of Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, the legendary supervisor of the US Air Force's Project Blue Book. Blue Book was the code name for the US government's official investigation of the UFO phenomenon. Although the Project spent most of its twenty-year existence (1949-1969) debunking UFO sightings, Ruppelt did preside over a "golden age" from 1951-1953 when Project Blue Book took UFO sightings seriously and investigated them in an objective and fair manner. Ruppelt managed to investigate some of the most famous UFO sightings in history - the famed "Lubbock Lights" in Texas, the UFO home movies shot in Utah and Montana, and the great "invasion of Washington" in July 1952 when UFOs were seen above the nation's capital and were picked up on radar at two airports in Washington. Although Ruppelt's story and the 1952 sightings provide the basis for a great book, "Summer of the Saucers" sadly isn't it. The book has the feel of being a hastily put together, self-published effort. The editing is poor - there are numerous spelling errors, the photos are often grainy and difficult to discern, and the author's writing style is simplistic and about on the level of a high-school senior's research paper. Letters from Ruppelt's relatives are simply printed verbatim in the text, without any commentary or analysis from the authors - and the letters often take up several entire pages. Ruppelt himself was certainly a leading figure in ufology, but the book relentlessly praises him and offers few real insights into his career or his feelings about the UFO phenomenon. As a biography, "Summer of the Saucers" is simplistic and shallow; as a study of the greatest UFO flap in American history, it provides some newly declassified government files but little else that is new or original. For a serious student of ufology the book may be worth buying just for the new material it provides, but for those who have enjoyed reading the works of J. Allen Hynek, Jerome Clark, and Kevin Randle, this book will almost certainly be a disappointment. In fact, the best book written about the early fifties and ufology remains Ruppelt's own memoir, "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects" - I would recommend reading it over this latest "biography".

Hall, Michael D., and Wendy Connors. CAPTAIN EDWARD J. RUPPELT: SUMMER OF THE SAUCERS--1952. The authors, 2000. Large-format softbound, xxiv, 285pp, bibliography & references, index, photo-illustrated. Edward Ruppelt served as project chief for USAF investigation into UFO phenomena from Novermber 1951 through September, 1953, a tenure which would take him (and us) smack through the center of the most intense UFO wave yet recorded in the U.S., and would make the terms UFO and "Blue Book" a part of American language and history. Michael Hall and Wendy Connors have written not only a biography which commemorates Ruppelt's skill, patriotism, devotion to duty and scientific rigor under conditions in which many a lesser talent would have failed, but a history of the 1952 saucer wave which in itself is nothing less than marvelous. With full access to Ruppelt's private papers and unedited writings, and reinforced by personal interviews with many persons who knew and served with Ruppelt, the authors bring an already fascinating period to vivid life here. It is to be eternally regretted that ufology has suffered so much degradation as it has over especially the last 10 or 12 years. But 50 years ago we lived in simpler and more trusting times. And it is to that era that ufologists are now returning, relieved to escape the oppressiveness of contemporary ufology for a time in which contamination of the data is minimal, while the hope of reward (in terms of understanding the origin of UFOs remains undiminished. SUMMER OF THE SAUCERS is the best of the new "time capsule" UFO books, and a loving tribute to a kind of American hero who rates a premier and central monument in ufology's Hall of Fame.

The years 1947 to 1953 were the golden age of UFO research. Within that long-ago time frame, our military and intelligence agencies did not yet have in place the "watertight" policies that researchers today must contend with. UFO or "flying disk" research was not yet treated with derision by the majority of media, and researchers like Donald Keyhoe, with his many military contacts, brought to light cases involving military encounters that today the public would never hear about.

After several previous UFO projects initiated by the U.S. Air Force, the Blue Book program took shape and form under a young Air Force officer by the name of Edward J. Ruppelt. In retrospect, the Blue Book project is considered by most modern-day researchers to have been nothing more than a public whitewash by the Air Force during the 1950s and '60s, yet at its inception, Ruppelt's Blue Book was a genuine investigation that attempted to get to the bottom of the saucer controversy. Captain Edward J. Ruppelt: Summer of the Saucers-1952 takes the reader directly into the middle of this fascinating milieu.

The year 1952 was a "flap year" for UFO sightings, arguably the most astounding of the last century. Authors Hall and Connors researched the fact that between March and September of 1952, American newspapers across the country reported that more than 30,000 individual sightings of UFOs had taken place. This did not reflect what was happening in the rest of the world! The magnitude of the summer of 1952 "invasion" has never again been duplicated.

Edward J. Ruppelt was known as a dedicated Air Force officer. A decorated World War II combat veteran of the Army Air Force, he returned to school after the war and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1950. Married and expecting his first child, Ruppelt was recalled to active duty with the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. In early 1951, Ruppelt was assigned to Intelligence at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

If you're interested in the subject of UFOs, you need to be aware of what was transpiring during this extremely important period, for this is when the groundwork was laid for military and intelligence activities connected with UFOs. For example, the first known military project to examine the flying disk reports was known to the public as "Project Saucer." The project's real name, however, was "Sign," and under Project Sign the "Estimate of the Situation" was drafted and completed. Though its existence was originally denied by the USAF, the "Estimate" is now legendary in UFO research circles. It allegedly stated that some UFOs could possibly be of interplanetary origin. After General Hoyt S. Vandenberg refused to accept this report, almost overnight the subject of UFOs became politically "incorrect," if not downright taboo. Project Sign and the "pro" proponents were "out" and the new project "Grudge" and the anti-UFO reality faction were in. The cases that were "investigated" under Grudge were laughable, but changes were coming. They came in the form of Ruppelt and the new Blue Book.

One reason that Ruppelt: Summer Of The Saucers is such a fascinating read is that authors Hall and Connor give an almost minute-by-minute account of the most famous UFO case of all, the overflights above Washington, D.C. In hindsight, these sightings were the "straw that broke the camel's back." As the days leading up to July 19, 1952 show, reports of unknown aerial objects were filling the offices of Blue Book. The project had neither the budget nor staff to handle such an influx of data, and analyses of the reports that have been located today show that many of the more important sightings did not even make it into the Blue Book files. When the sightings over the nation's capitol began, Ruppelt was out of town. In fact, he may not have been aware of the overflights until the following Monday or Tuesday. Over all, Blue Book's coverage of this event was abysmal.

Looking at the situation in the late 1940s through the 1960s from the military's perspective, a strain of schizophrenia is clearly apparent. If the reader is familiar with any of the books written by Donald Keyhoe during the 1950s, that author made this point time and again. Here, Hall and Connors imprint it in stone. In some ways, Project Blue Book seems, to this reviewer, to have been set up to fail. While highly motivated and dedicated, Ed Ruppelt was a junior officer thrust into a job with limited resources and at times questionable backing.

Today, it seems beyond belief that the American military, with the horrible memories of Pearl Harbor very fresh in their collective minds, could have denied that "something" was flying around in American skies with impunity, while seemingly under intelligent control. Yet there was a faction in the military and the CIA that apparently held no interest in the origin or purpose of these devices. They were more interested in shaping public perception (read: propagandizing the public) to ignore these objects, using lies and deceit to cover up these events on a worldwide basis. Later, the Robertson Panel, under the auspices of the CIA, would "formalize" these tactics of debunking, lying, propagandizing, and in some cases destroying the reputations of citizens who dared to buck the "company line." Not much seems to have changed in the last 50 years.

Captain Edward J. Ruppelt: Summer Of The Saucers-1952 is a fascinating book and one that I highly recommend to the informed readership. As an important piece of history, covering perhaps the most important time in UFO research, this book details what was occurring behind the scenes at Air Force and intelligence agency headquarters, and with the officers and men who had a thumb on the UFO phenomenon. Hall and Connors have done a wonderful job of research on this project and I am grateful that they have. Not since Rich Dolan's UFOs and the National Security State has any other book convinced me to continue to "watch the skies!" -Don Ecker

The author writes a clear summery of the case falling prey to repitition in places. However, I cannot be persuaded by the author's conclusions. It seems that the auther should have paid more attention to the "Iago of the Vestry" who had a previous affair with the murdered woman, was bitterly dumped by the murdered woman, just happened to be on the scene the night the murder happened and whose car mysteriously went up in flames shortly thereafter. Also, what happened to Daniel?

What was the cause of those murders? Why did it occur then, when the affair was going on for years? I have a suggested solution.

It happened a few days after the Halls came back from their New England vacation in the mountains. I think something happened there, where Mrs Hall had a narrow escape from a fatal accident while with the Reverend. She thought about it, and realized that if she had an accident, Reverend Ed would inherit her fortune, and be free to seek another rich wife. Eleanor would be dropped like yesterday's newspaper. Mrs Hall discussed this with her brothers, and they decided to confront the Reverend while he was with Eleanor, so he could not deny the affair, and would be forced to end it. The emotional interaction escalated beyond reason, and the deaths occurred. The best laid plans of mice and men still go astray.

The case was not solved so justice would triumph over the law. The Reverend Ed messed up his own marriage, and destroyed the Mills' marriage. Alive, he would break up another marriage. It was all for the best. When someone poor falls in love with a rich person, the poor person often comes to an unhappy ending. The rich have many resources to accomplish their ends. This is the moral of "Love Story", that love does not triumph over material facts. No matter how hard you wish it were different. Love conquers all? Forget about it!

This newer compilation was written after everyone involved had died. It lacks an index to its many photographs, and complements Kunstler's book. Page 71 mentions the curious phone call from Eleanor; doesn't it sound like a coded message? The posed photo on the cover lacks the letters.

Chapter 12 ridicules the "Pig Woman"; is this just class bias? He says "her story changed"; but is this unusual? I believe her story to be true since it dovetails with other known facts. Tomlinson says her story was made up because of the "Oh Henry" cry; yet this just happened to be her brother's name! (Or was it her version of "Oh Hell"?) You can test if a khaki coat (or pants) looks gray in the moonlight.

Many times the author questions statements made by the people involved, as reported in the newspapers. Then or now, how reliable are newspaper stories? Page 217 uses the word "katzenjammer". Think of a cat when it wants to go outside: frantic and nervous. Page 226 tells how fingerprints could be forged in the 1920s. On pages 236-7 Tomlinson commits the folly of trying to analyze someone from a long ago newspaper account; it doesn't convince me, and seems like a smear of the chief prosecution witness. Why use the comments of Salome Cerenner when there is no corroboration? His description of psychopaths' "grossly inflated sense of their self-worth and importance" sounds like many managers found in the corporate world. Jane Gibson's story was checked out by the detectives; Kunstler's book explains this. Does her story sound too good to be true? Is it very different from other eyewitness stories?

Chapter 23 shows Tomlinson doing a better job than Kunstler in analyzing Willie's testimony (p.253), and in the story of the examination of Reverend Hall's checkbook (p.271). His comments on Simpson (p.300) seems to be just a whitewash of the trial. On page 309 Tomlinson rules out the Stevens as not the type to murder to avenge family honor. Were they from South Carolina where that was more common? On page 313 Tomlinson mentions Jeffrey MacDonald; he needs to read "Fatal Justice".

Chapter 29 provides "One Man's Solution" which makes Willie the sole perpetrator. He talks about the failed marriage of the Mills, but says nothing about the Halls; why not? After earlier rejecting Jane Gibson's story, he adopts it as his solution! His comments as to a blood-stained Apperson and Willie's suit are very good! I believe his solution is wrong because he previously rejected Jan Gibson's testimony but adopted it for Chapter 29. The straw hat covering Reverend Hall's face says somebody wanted to keep the crows from pecking at and disfiguring the face; I think this says Mrs. Hall. The throat cutting and excision of the tongue and larynx suggests jealous hatred; I think this says a woman used to cutting up chickens. Some say the 1926 trial was bungled because of the 'not guilty' verdict. But it also succeeded in preventing the Stevens from ever being prosecuted!

For the student of Japanese Society, Culture, and language, (or any person interested in Japan or Cross-cultural psychology wanting to pursue the notions of self in a Japanese societal frame or context) The Anatomy of Self is a great starting point. Dr. Takeo Doi explains the psychological and cultural significance of inner and outer notions of the self in relation to others in Japanese society...Doi uses the terms Ura/Omote, Honne/Tatemae, Uchi/Soto rather than 'inner' and 'outer'. While Doi argues that these notions are present within all humans, he also explains the significance of the linguistic phenomenon that allows the Japanese to have explicit linguistic signs relating to these notions, thus making them unique to the Japanese. However, while Dr. Doi does give great insight to how participants in Japanese society relate to one another, he also happens to propound a particular world view of the uniqueness of The Japanese, which has been a source of great criticism by Western and Japanese intellectuals alike. (ie. The Japanese experience of nature as something uniquely Japanese) The Anatomy of Self succeeds at analyzing the complex notion of self within Japanese context, however Doi does make great leaps from one concept to another that may force the reader to re-read throughout several areas of the text. This text, I believe, also falls into the category of Nihonjinron (my translation: Discussions or Theories on Japanese (people) and Culture), which falls inline with theories of Japanese uniqueness.

Dr. Doi has successfully mastered the modern art of synthesis in this book. Not only does he bring together vast literary and intellectual references to create an incisive analysis of the modern human condition, he does so in a way that keeps the reader interested. His style, though serious, is clear and readable to anyone outside the psychological profession, and his content is vital to anyone living in modern society.

Please advise if this book has been translated into Chinese, I will be very interested if you have Chinese version of this book, please advise.

This is the first of RDE's series of mysteries set in modern-day British institutions, introducing Robert Amiss, the unlikely and likeable hero of the series, and his policeman friend Jim Milton. It demonstrates RDE's trade-mark clear-sighted understanding of her settings, in this case the intricacies and absurdities of the British government and civil service. At the same time she does not lecture. She hits the plot straight away (we don't even get to meet the murder victim alive) and does not let up the pace. Amiss is the junior-but-fast-tracked (graduate entrant), intelligent and basically decent Private Secretary to the murdered Permanent Secretary who is recruited by Milton to be his mole and his guide to the complex hierarchy, conventions and personalities involved. Amiss' explanations get a wee bit laboured - I can't believe that a senior British policeman needs to have explained to him what the various "Secretaries" in the civil service really connote - but I guess explanation in some form or another is unavoidable if she is not to lose her non-British readers entirely. As it is, this is a painless and indeed enjoyable introduction to the British civil service by an insider (as RDE has been a civil servant herself).

Another RDE trademark is that believable and distinct (and recognisably British) characters come to life with remarkable economy of words. As usual with RDE the plot is not over-clever, but nonetheless tight and can't be faulted. Her strength really is making everything so true-to-life. Policemen engage in real hard thinking and thorough dog-work, coping at the same time with political pressures. People act true to nature and yet don't always conform to steorotype. Milton and Amiss display real intelligence and understanding of human nature (no glaring oversight of an obvious angle which proves to be the key to the mystery). RDE mixes realism and entertainment to a commendable degree. Needless to say, she writes well; well-paced, articulate and snappy prose.

This books take the point of view of Jim Milton more than Robert Amiss, which is interesting for devotees of the series because Amiss quickly becomes central whereas Milton fades away gradually. For the reader interested in character development, this first book provides an important piece in the jigsaw. Here Milton is portrayed more vividly than in any other book in the series, and we learn to respect his patience and professionalism, and understand a little more of his personal life. Amiss is a bit flat here compared to the following and later books where he becomes more lively. One gets the feeling that perhaps at this stage RDE meant Milton to be her central character rather than Amiss. But this is the only book where he is in real and appropriate employment so for Amiss fans it is a chance to see him on his homeground.

I give this four rather then five stars because some later books in this series (Matricide, Ten Lords, Publish) are more deserving of full honours. She hasn't quite gotten into her satirical stride in this first book, though that's not to say that she's not irreverent. But it is only in later books that her satire gets truly and howlingly wicked, and her comic talent blossoms. I recommend any book in the series; not one of them is a dud.

A well-rounded collection of Robinson's most sincere poetry. His views on people as individuals is apparent, and his mysticism remains romantic. You'll find a little bit of every type of person in his myriad of characters.

If your a fan of the mayor you will like this book, gives a interesting tale of how things run in city hall. I wouldnt call it a perfect mystery but it is entertaining

I read this book in a little over 2 hours ... I simply could not put it down. Anyone who has lost someone dear to them needs to read this book. John Edward drives home the point that our lives here on Earth are temporary and we'll all be together again in the Afterlife. It's a very comforting, albeit short, novel that warms the heart and assures the reader that our departed loved ones are still with us, watching over us. Although the story itself was simple, I found myself smiling a lot while reading it. Many of the instances proving life-after-death rang true to me, i.e., feeling a tap on the shoulder soon after the death of a loved one. That happened to my sister-in-law about 5 mins. after my father-in-law died in his hospital bed.

I ordered this book for my best friend who recently lost her husband. She's not a "believer" in psychics, but I'm confident she'll enjoy this book since it's a novel and not the typical "psychic reading" book. John Edward is the best! So, buy this book for a quick, warm & fuzzy read!

Lately, I've become fascinated, if not quite addicted, to watching a late-night program called "Crossings with John Edward." John Edward is a psychic medium who claims he communicates with people who have passed from this life, and from watching his show, I'd say his claims are pretty good - but that's another story. Edward has branched out into the literary world to bring his message of validation in this life in his new novel, "What If God Were The Sun?"

In his story, the central character is Timothy Callahan, a man who hails from a large Italian American family, a typical close-knit family that loves big gatherings. But above all else, the Callahans love one another. However tragedy has struck this boisterious family when Timothy's mother discovers she has cancer.

As the family struggles to deal with this new phase of their lives, Timothy begins to wonder what happens after someone dies, when they cross over to the afterlife. In one instance as the family watches old home movies, he wonders to himself, "As I look over at my mom, I know that she's wondering if all these faces of yesteryear will be the faces of her tomorrows. Will she see them when she crosses over? Will her loved ones welcome her on the other side, as we all want to believe? I hope so."

As his mother's struggles with her battle with cancer progresses, Timothy remembers back to his childhood when his mother explained that God was the sun, an epiphany that becomes more tangible as he wrestles with impending death. As the story comes to it's emotional and dramatic end, is it the death of Timothy's mother we've been following or someone else's journey to the afterlife? Readers will be surprised.

"What If God Were The Sun?" will probably not win any big prizes for being great literature, and at some points it's hard to figure out just who the narrator is talking about, but it's overall message is relatively simple. Edward's main point is to pass along the message of letting the important people in your life know that you care for them in this lifetime. He offers a comforting message that love that can bridge even death.

In his work as a psychic medium, Edward helps survivors work through the overwhelming and sometimes unbearable grief of losing a loved one. I was personally touched by this sensitive story. Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, it's kind of nice to think that the ones we love might be watching out for us after they're gone. I'd like to think my dad and aunt are watching out for me.

Sharon Galligar Chance, Times Record News

"What If God Were The Sun" is an amazing novel. It is one of those books that move you from laughter to tears with a turn of the page just like the passing of days in one's life. John Edward, really out did himself with this wonderful story of family. This is a novel that anyone with a family can relate to. You will get wrapped up in characters like Grandma Rosie and come to love each and everyone one of them. You will feel like you are going through the good and the bad times with this family and enjoy the ride. I give this book 5 stars (I would give it more if allowed) it touched my heart and when it was done I longed for more. John Edward, is amazing all around from his first novel "One Last Time" to his t.v. show "Crossing Over" this novel fits right in at the top. What can I say, I am a true fan and when you give this book a chance you will become one too.

From beginning to end, the Lost Village was a thrilling journey. I found myself drawn into the story with such fervor; I didn't want to put it down. Reading as fast as I could to find out what happens next, then getting to the last chapter and purposefully slowing down to savor every last page. This book has it all! The author meshes horror, magic, love and faith with a whole lot of suspense and a chilling story line. I loved it!

I liked this book a lot. I didn't know what to expect going in, but I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put it down. The Lost village is a great horror story with great characters. It has the classic good-over-evil theme with lots of surprises along the way. If you like epic fiction with lots of things that go bump in the night, please read this book. I own a book shop and am stocking a bunch of copies for my customers.I'd like to see something else soon from Mark Edward Hall.

The Lost Village is 629 pages long and I read it in 3 days. When I was halfway through, the book started to climax and it never stopped! It was non-stop action, no lull time. As a devoted reader of Anne Rice and Dean Koontz, I recommend this book to anyone who likes to be spooked. Beware, you will not be able to put it down!