In "Harmonizing Europe," Duina and his unique perspective facilitate his ability to do a splendid job of concentrating on the intricacies involved with the merger of Europe into one, more uniform, entity. His detailed analysis of the effects of equal pay and environmental issues on the EU is enlightening. As we move into an era of more political, economic, and social mergers between nations along the lines of NAFTA, ASEAN, CARICOM, etc, this book serves as a model for understanding these phenomenons.

It is not easy to understand a totally new experiment like the one putting together many States with so different racial and cultural background. There are no previous examples to use as reference. Duina decided to take a very detailed picture of a moment in the EU evolution. If we had more pictures like this, that would allow the assembly of a movie, the closest thing man has devised to link together actual information and time. The book is very clearly designed and assembled, an excellent example of normative science implementation.

Jak Jinnaka has a reputation for getting a job done, and for doing it well, even if he has to betray a good "tove" along the way. Nothing is more important than following Hive Intel's orders and successfully completing his objective: Not loyalty, not love and not misplaced scruples. A good agent knows when to toe the line, however, and when to break free from it. It's too bad there's so little room for interpretation and improvisation in Jak's latest assignment, one that promises to be needlessly complicated, and has political and religious overtones to it.

A recent archaeological dig on Mars has unearthed the lifelog of Paj Nakasen, founder of the Wager, a prominent religion practiced by billions, and a man revered for his beliefs. Of course, rights to the lifelog are heatedly contested, spurring on a clamor to claim it -- and Hive Intel's insistence that Jak be the one to do so. Naturally, there are a few provisos he'll need to comply with, and a slew of obstacles he'll need to overcome before Jak Jinnaka can consider this particular mission to Mars a complete success...or a total failure.

No doubt, many of you are thinking John Barnes's novel, In the Hall of the Martian King, is a peculiar choice for a romance reader. Science fiction is a spectacular, out-of-this-world leap from pleasant romantic fantasy, after all, with its emphasis on alien cultures, surreal possibilities and technological jargon. At first, I wondered why the publisher had sent me a copy to review. As I cautiously turned the pages, however, the whys and wherefores no longer mattered. Suddenly, I was spiraling light years into the far-flung future and the fully realized worlds of Mr. Barnes, and there was no turning back. Joining a series-in-progress is always a little challenging, though -- but never mind that fish out of water feeling: it will soon pass.

An outrageous space adventure, spy thriller and sci-fi fantasy all rolled into one, the three tiered plotline is in constant, ever-changing flux, but nonetheless has a focal point to concentrate on: Jak's super spy and/or double agent status for Hive Intel. Strong hints of humor contrast nicely with the darker underbelly of this story, and Jak's helpless obsession with (and his conditioned response to) his evil ex-girlfriend, Princess Shyf. To be perfectly blunt, Jak has a sexual fixation for the Princess of Greenworld, which he has next to no control over. Yikes! And with his uncle and " toktru toves" -- or very good friends -- helping to further muddy the Martian landscape, so to speak, Jak's Mission Impossible is bound to experience a setback or two.

Yes, indeedy, tough choices are in store for Mr. Barnes's fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants, always-look-out-for-number-one, never-say-die hero. Paj Nakasen's lifelog is a very hot commodity, you see, and has the power to not only make or break Jak's career, but also to inspire an all-out interplanetary war. An action-packed, humdinger of a read (if you're looking for something new and different, that is), In the Hall of the Martian King will entertain readers on a grand, intergalactic scale. Keep in mind, however, that this gravity-defying adventure is light years away from romantic fiction, and doesn't really a heroine to root for or a happily-ever-after to speak of. Jak is too much of a space cowboy to settle down and embrace routine, I think. He has ambitions to fulfill, a legacy to carry on, and a great, big universe to preserve and protect, after all.

Reviewed by C.L. Jeffries

By the thirty-sixth century mankind has spread all over the universe. Jak Jinnaka has finally graduated from the Hive and was employed by the Protectorates Administrative Service Corps, stationed on Mar's outer moon Deimos. He is actually a double agent working to further the Hive's interests and goals. When his supervisor leaves him in charge of Deimos, he is given a mission that will take him to Mars.

In the ruins of Chrysepolus, an archeologist finds the lifelog of Paj Nakagen, the founder of the interstellar religion known as the Wager. The Martian king possesses the diary that Jak must retrieve by persuading the monarch to turn it over to him on behalf of PASC (actually, the Hive). Others will do anything to get their hands on these priceless records, but the most dangerous is Jak's ex-girlfriend the evil princess Shyf of Greenword. She conditioned him to love her unconditionally and give her anything she wants, an obsession that he has not been entirely erased which makes success for Jak quite difficult to achieve.

If one can imagine a futuristic version of the TV series Get Smart, than readers will have a very good idea of what IN THE HALL OF THE MARTIAN KING is like. The hero of this fast-paced, action-packed space romp is an adorable man who tries to do his job and ends up alienating even more people than he did in his last caper (see A PRINCESS OF THE AERIE). John Barnes has put the fun back in space opera and readers will love him for doing that.

Harriet Klausner

I would rate this book ****** if it were possible. If you are looking for material on how to start a "software metrics program", look no further. This is the ultimate reference on software measurement initiatives. The PSM method is compatible with the CMMI (Measurement & Analysis Process Area) and the foundation for the ISO/IEC 15939 standard. All of the authors are recognized authorities in software measurement and process improvement. Dr. Barry Boehm (COCOMO author) has written the foreword. The PSM process is sponsored by the DoD and the U.S. Army. The book itself is comprehensive, well-written, and easy to read. It provides ready-to-use templates such as "Measurement Construct Template", "Project Measurement Plan Outline", and "Data Verification Checklist". Chapter outline:

1 - Measurement: Key Concepts and Practices
2 - Measurement Information Model
3 - Plan Measurement
4 - Perform Measurement
5 - Analysis Techniques
6 - Evaluate Measurement
7 - Establish and Sustain Commitment
8 - Measure for Success
Appendix A - Measurement Construct Examples
Appendix B - Information System Case Study
Appendix C - Synergy Integrated Copier Case Study

Note: Appendix A provides 14 detailed, complete examples of measurement constructs ("metrics"). Appendixes B and C provide 2 comprehensive case studies (approximately 60 pages).

It would require at least a 2-day workshop to address all the information provided by this book (probably at 10 times its price). You can't afford to miss it if you are more than casually interested in software measurement. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

There is a wealth of material available from the PSM site, including the PSM Insight application and PSM Guidebook. However this book is not redundant because it is structured as a clearly written introduction to practical software measurement, that includes excellent guidance for implementing it into your organization. In addition, the 304 pages that comprise this book manages to convey the information contained in the existing PSM documentation, and does so much more succinctly.

I found the most valuable parts of this book to be the clearly described measurement model, and the way the authors distinguish between data that is useful to projects and organizational data collection and analysis. This material places PSM in context and is a sound starting point for an organizational SQA initiative.

The case studies reinforces the mechanics of PSM, and also contain advice and pointers for implementing enterprise-wide measurement. Although I've been following the PSM initiative almost since its inception and have read all of the copious materials available, I still gained much from this book. If you're establishing an SQA function or striving for CMM level 4 or above you'll find this book invaluable. The URLs provided will lead to even more material, including a free Windows-based software tool that fully supports the practical software measurement process.

Excelent in the away it introduces you to the world of advertising making it easy for a smart student to learn!!! Its also good for professionals as it shows new ways of "doing bissiness"! I recommend it for anyone with the least interest in marketing.

A nice variety of recipes.

While I would not have selected this book on my own, my twin sons have made it one of our favorites. The words used in this book are easy for children to recognize, making this an excellent first book in the process of learning to read. The book's semi-scary pictures capture the imagination of children who are just at the age when Halloween, costumes, and Scooby-Doo are favorites. Luckily, the book is not scary enough to cause nightmares. It also opens opportunities to discuss feelings of fear, care for others' feelings, and what really lies behind the costume.

The Franconia, New Hampshire, farm of the American poet Robert Frost was turned into a museum and center for poetry and the arts in 1976. From that time, "The Frost Place" has been annual event wherein an emerging poet has been invited to spend the summer living in the house where Frost once lived and wrote some of his greatest poetry. The Breath Of Parted Lips: Voices From The Robert Frost Place, Volume One is a remarkable anthology of twenty-four poets, each of whom won that honor of a summer's residency and document the success of the original concept as a means of generating outstanding poetry while nurturing the poet's muse in the rooms and views that were once the inspiration of the great Robert Frost. Poem At 40: Windwashed--as if standing next to the highway,/a truck long as the century sweeping by,/all things at last bent in the same direction./An opening, as if all/the clothes my ancestors ever wore/dry on lines in my body:/wind-whipped, parallel with the ground,/some sleeves sharing a single clothespin/so that they seem to clasp hands,/seem to hold on.//And now that I can see/up the old women's dresses,/there's nothing but a filtered light./And now that their men's smoky breath/has traversed the earth,/it has nothing to do with them./And now that awkward, fat tears of rain/slap the window screen,/now that I'm naked too,/cupping my genitals, tracing with a pencil/the blue vein between my collar bone and breast,/I'll go to sleep when I'm told.

The most perfect book about butterflies in a specific region ever made! It contains the latest information about all butterflies in Canada and it is well illustrated with 32 great colour plates covering all species (I think). This is the only book you need about butterflies in Canada.

For a first time writer this book was entertaining and a real paper turner. I just hope the writer continues to write in this outstanding matter. This book will be the next Harry Potter!!! Hats off to John A. Hall.

Beautiful...a beautiful way to begin the new millennium as we reflect upon excerpts from our most fearless and patient leader.

A priest read a page at a mass during a homily and I was hooked on the idea to make this a daily devotional part of my prayers. These short insights into the human condition allow me to pray for us all.