Sean A. Moore has done a fabulous job of capturing Conan's charater and has written a riveting story. You won't be disappointed with the latest of Conan's exploits. Robert E. Howard would be proud of this one...

I just finished reading Conan the Hunter, and I must say it was a great tale! I loved it! It was filled with edge-of-the-seat action, and Moore portrayed Conan's character more realistically than any others I have read. I especially found it refreshing to read that Conan made several mistakes in the story, and had to deal with dire consequences, as opposed to the many other stories where he seems more like a flawless machine in battle. Each of the many enemies and creatures he encountered were all very original and easily came to life from among the pages. I was also able to get deeper into the story because there was no love story incorporated to get tangled up with. Just pure adventure! I anticipate reading Conan and the Shaman's Curse and Conan and the Grim Grey God in the near future. Moore is a brilliant author of Conan! I look forward to seeing more of his work!

If you are looking for an intellectually stimulating book you can use to sound intelligent at your next cocktail party, do not read this book. If you want to spend months reading a grossly over-written multi-volume fantasy series that involves characters traveling around the world a few dozen times doing the same thing over and over, do not read this book. If, however, you are looking for a quick and rousing read, this book fits the bill. Fast paced, well written, with a good mix of action, intrigue and old fashioned blood and guts. Its great.

I havn't read the book all the way through, but from what I've seen, its an excellent book, good illustrations, straightforward info. This particular area of biology - using developmental genetics to elucidate evolutionary processes and relationships, is in my opinion one of the most exciting areas of biology today. I've had some advanced level classes in developmental and evolutionary biology myself, and I would probably have to say that for the lay person, the book may be somewhat out of grasp.

In regards to the mouse/fly eye develompent experiment, it is simply showing that the genes that regulate the most fundamental levels of development in the eye (or any part of the organism) are the same for fly and mouse... over the years, the end results have evolved to be much different, but at the deepest levels, the the genes that regulate the most fundamental develpment are still the same. ie. eye gene in mouse = mouse eye, eye gene in fly = fly eye. eye gene does the same thing in fly our mouse.

This is a beautiful book with an attractive
illustration on almost every page.
A book review in Nature writes this intriguing statement,

"Despite more than 600 million years
of separate evolution of flies and mice,
the introduction of the [Pax6] mouse gene into flies
can induce new eye tissue -- not of the
camera-like eyes of mammals, but of the
insect compound eye!"

I wanted to understand this better.
I'm a nonbio major who spent all my spare
time in the past year reading biology books.
So I went to the bookstore and spent three hours
with this book. I found that I didn't have enough background
be able to gain a deeper understanding on the intriguing quotation.
Hopefully I'll be able to handle it after another year of preparation.

As a professor of English at a Swedish university I devoted several years to studies of British history of ideas, leading up, eventually, to a book about the general public's reception of Darwin's evolution theory in Mid-Victorian Britain. The subject has fascinated me ever since. I have naturally followed with interest the subsequent debates on evolutionary biology, including its philosophical implications, in the pages of such journals as Science and Nature. Therefore the title of the present book appealed to me. It seemed to promise an introduction to aspects of the Darwinian theory which were certainly unknown to Darwin and his times. At the same time I realised that knowing more about genetics was a must for me, if I was to keep abreast of the debate about Darwin.

I must confess I found it hard to assimilate the text, in spite of a clear style, and excellent illustrations. The sheer weight of unfamiliar facts and concepts made the reading laborious, to the point of exhaustion. But about half-way through the book (and helped by excursions into some undergraduate biological textbooks) I found that I had after all assimilated enough of the content to see that , for instance, the geneticist's seemingly perverse interest in the banana fly, Drosophila melanogaster, was indeed a rational choice. Many of the basic genes of the banana fly, especially those responsible for the early development of the fertilized egg onwards, are the same, or nearly so, as those that build up man. Not only are individual genes similar: their interactions with each other and their functions are also similar. For instance, though the banana fly's eyes are constructed entirely differently from those of man, their development, from egg to adult, are still controlled by genes that are clearly related to each other, and interact with other genes in similar ways.

These fundamental similarities between an insect and a human implies that their common roots must lie some 500 million years back in time, presumably in tiny organisms existing in the oceans at that time. Moreover, it seems that the genes in question, to be found in the DNA of the chromosomes of both insects and humans, probably come from even tinier organisms, namely primitive bacteria, which the multicellular organisms had incorporated, at first as parasites or symbionts, in their own more advanced cells. If so, we are carried back even further back in time, perhaps to a billion years before now. We seem to be on the point of uniting the biological and physical (and chemical) evolution of our planet. Darwin surely would have loved that prospect, far beyond his own reach. This book is not an easy read. But it will yield a rich reward to the persistent reader. Incidentally, such a reader might do worse than go on to read an astronomer's view of the same wide panorama: Delsemme's 0ur Cosmic Origins.

Spooky creatures, goofy parents, gross-out illustrations, and a pretty good surprise twist-- your kids will want you to read this to them all year round-- expecially boys!

One of those books you'll save and re-read as you grow up, like Milt Gross, Charles Addams, Tove Jansson.

Good, not too-scary, story, and detailed, funny illustrations that reveal something new at every reading-kids will want to read it over and over again.

Let's have something from these guys for every holiday!

Halloween Motel is a rare Halloween Treat that captures the color and fun of Halloween. Sean Diviny's story is hillarious and spooky in all the right places. You'll wish you had a reservation at this hotel when you see the wacky cast of characters created by Joe Rocco. There are many delightful nooks and crannies in this book that make you want to look at it again and again.

I really enjoyed this book on Travler's tales from Ireland. It had some great stories. You really got to know about the country, and it's people from reading this. I highly recommend it.

This book consists of a wide variety of stories from the humourous to the profound to the historical. There are stories that you want to sit down with a friend and read it to them: specically, "A Pub Fairy Tale" by Pamela Ramsey tells of a visit to an Irish pub by the author who wanted to take in the "ambiance" of the music and dancing. She hoped that she would be asked to dance, but as closing time drew near, her hopes seemed slim. Then an energetic old gentleman finally asked her, and she describes it this way: "I could feel the other dancers watching us, nodding, laughing, giving us encouragement, but the old man and I had eyes only for each other. We were two odd strangers caught in a moment of tenderness. A moment of magic. I was Cinderella, the belle of the ball, dancing with my Prince - an old, almost-blind man, wearing a black beret." Beautiful. Another story tells of the estrangement of a son and his father when he married outside the faith, and how, when the father died, a reconciliation of sorts was established with his brother with they go hiking on the hills where there father had hiked with them, and how he came to understand his father's secret strength and connection with the isle: "Walking the Kerry Way", by Tim O'Reilly. This brief description of Mr. O'Reilly's story does it a gross injustice, because there is a depth of feeling that only the author can convey. The brief biographical descriptions at the end of each story are informative and to the point. At the end of the book, there is an extensive, "The Next Step" which includes a number of websites, and a good bibliography. The book is well put together, and succeeds very well in conveying "true stories of life on the emerald isle."

Like other books in the Travelers Tales series - this book gives excellent insight into the Irish way of life and provides excellent reading (I am slightly biased, having written one of the short pieces that is included - titled Cycling to Dun Aengus). The overall quality of the book is excellent and the descriptions pull you right into the landscape and geography of Ireland - from sitting in smoky pubs to driving past weather beaten coasts. Some of these pieces are also hilarious. Highly recommended not only as a prerequisite to a visit - but for a great read. TJLMullen@cs.com

This is a superb book. It is written particularly for Rolfers, but is essential reading for any other body worker as well. Since studying this book on my own, I have become much more confident doing pelvic massage with male clients. Having detailed knowledge of the underlying structures allows me to explain to men what I'm doing and why. Clients can be informally instructed at the same time they are made more comfortable with touch in this area. For this reason, the book is valuable for all men who want to learn about their own bodies.

The text is clearly written and technical terms are explained. A particular strength is close-up photos of the genital areas of a variety of men. Each of these is paired with a line drawing of the same scale based on that photograph and showing the underlying anatomy. This arrangement makes it easy to relate what one sees on the table during a session with what one is feeling beneath the skin as one works.

Other chapters on foetal and juvenile genital development, posture, and sexuality are also very informative.

I have no hesitation at all in giving this excellent book five stars.

The author has written an intelligent, frank and provoking book about the area of the body least talked about in an intelligent, frank and provoking manner. I consider this book essential for anyone in the "body work" field. It is a well written authoritive work by a scientist well versed in anatomy, physiology, and somatics. An excellent and important book for any Medical Doctor, Psychologist or Physical Therapist yet easily understood and enjoyed by someone with a less scientific mind. In fact, I consider this book a "MUST READ" for P.T.'s, Massage Therapists, and all body workers, consultants and trainers who work with men. I would also consider this book an excellent primer for any one (woman OR man) involved in a sexual, romantic, or loving relationship with a male. It is the equivalent of the famous "Our Bodies Our Selves" only about men. I recommend this book with highest praises!

This book hits on a subject that is rarely ever spoken of. It addresses issues of the male anatomy that I've long suspected were problematic, but on which I could never find any information. The book is informative and eye opening. If you're male, you should read this!

I found this book to be great in all phases that I donated a copy to the USS Leyte CV 32 Association. There it is exposed to thousands of members at their reunions.In Knowing Sean Milligan he has the know how of editing a book.

I enjoyed the rich historical knowledge that is shared in this volume of the Images of America Series which I admire very much. It is full of precious photos of P-51s, B-17s and many other planes. The book tells of the legendary Airbase known to all as Quonset Point, Rhode Island...

This book brings back memories for thoes who served in the military. It is also a useful tool for thoes interested in ecconomic development. You will see how different Naval Air Stations have the same things in common -deep water ports-landing strips-rail connections-access to roads to major cities. They are all perfect for industry or intermodal transportation. Sean Milligan has lots more information to share and there are more books to follow on these topics. The photos are great and everyone I let read my book were very moved. It was like watching someone look at an old school yearbook. I think you or your family will get a kick out of seeing this piece of history. ENJOY

Sean Clancy's Saratoga Days is a must read for horse people, and anyone interested in the beauty and history of Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Springs, New York. Sean takes the reader into the rewarding and unpredictable world of horse racing, as well as the magical town that is so difficult to describe. Sean does this extremely well. The book is truly insightful, realistic and an absolute pleasure to read. Sean, please document additional years.

Sean Clancy cites Red Smith as one of his literary heroes. Well, if writing were a horse race, Mr. Smith would have to look out. Sean Clancy's Saratoga Days is one of the most informative, engagingly written, literate, and absorbing books ever written on racing. Himself a steeplechase jockey, Clancy shows us the world of Saratoga as we've never before been shown in -- it's like having a private guided tour with a funny, humane, intelligent tour guide. There are stars here -- Beautiful Pleasure, More Than Ready, Lemon Drop Kid -- as well as names not known to the casual follower of racing -- Amarettitorun, Bourbon Belle, and of course, the great Succeed. Their stories are the fabric of Saratoga, and this book IS Saratoga in August.

Ever been to Saratoga? Well, even if you haven't, Sean Clancy's Saratoga Days will not only transport you there and give you a feel for the place, but it will also give you a guided tour from the perspective of a professional rider and writer.

The Saratoga Race Course meet may have ended Labor Day Weekend, but the spirit of the meet and the town lives on in the hearts of racing fans everywhere. Saratoga Days is the kind of book that can take you back to those magical August days at any time of the year. Read it after the meet to get that nostalgic feeling - then read it again come this spring to prepare yourself for next summer's adventures.

This is a highly useful book. The information in it can be applied to almost any genre or campaign. The listing of martial arts is comprehensive and there are rules to design your own new ones. I use this book more often than almost any other gurps book that I own. The only downside is the increase in complexity for combat. Extra realism brings extra complexity as usual. Note: you must have the gurps basic set to use this book.

GURPS Martial Arts is a well-written, informative supplement for every serious (or otherwise) GURPS layer or GM. As with so many other GURPS books, however, it is an excellent resources in and of itself, and knowldge of the base system is NOT needed to enjoy this publication. For GURPS, however, this book includes rules for a new type of combat, with manuvers, spin-offs of base skills. There are rules for Realistic and Cinematic/Chambara styles, as well as weapons, history and campaign ideas, making this book one of the best of its kind.

I have been interested in GURPS and Martial Arts for a long time. This book contains tons of styles and the rules for skills and manuvers are very nicely done. Although it doesn't have Every martial art in existance it does have a wide selection and rules for creating/integrating your own. I integrated Taido in and it worked really well. This book can add flavor to GURPS combat even if it is weapon-oriented (a lot of martial arts are.) However I would recommend the 2nd Edition but overall I loved it! The possiblities are pretty much limitless and that is what makes it so good

I was so impressed by this book! Not for the sheer fact that there was a book written about the best TV show/movie in the country, but the fact it was full of pure literary genius. The masses generally think the Jackass crew is chock full of brain-depleted imbeciles who enjoy breaking bones and shreek with joy at the first sight of blood. But what they fail to remember is these guys were writers first (that's "Big Brother" magazine for those who have a hard time keeping up), then jackasses. This book is full of literary analogies. Keep a dictionary handy--you'll need it to look up all those hard words you didn't think the Jackasses knew (and neither do you, for that matter). Buy this book! It's a great behind-the-scenes book for the movie. And if you're like me, you want to know the details.

I'm not really into reading but this has caught my attention. It was bought buy a secret santa and I thank her alot she made my christmas alot better and put me in a good mood. I am really exciceted about reading it it looks really intresting. It has stuff that didnt make the movie,color pictures,behind the scenes,intervies and alot more if your a jackass fan or like anyone in the crew or saw the movie and like it then this is a must!

This book isn't just pictures(which I thought it was), it is indepth stories, interviews with EVERY cast member, CKY, etc.. A MUST HAVE FOR JACKASS FANS.

Read this book for what it is, and you'll enjoy it very much. This is not meant to be a literary masterpiece. That much should be clear from the subtitle of the book: "Erotic Tales of the Vampire". Don't expect an all new and brilliant monster epic, and you'll like this book.

I want to praise the publisher for mixing two well-known names (William J Mann and Micheal Thomas Ford) with two names I am not familiar with (Sean Wolfe and Jeff Mann). The diversity of the stories and writing styles are fresh and keep the reader engaged. Much better than reading a long book with one style from one author.

The two Manns (William J and Jeff) have a similar style. Both of those stories, though decent, are my least favorite. They seem to try to be more than what they are. A little superficial for my taste, but not badly written.

I like Sean Wolfe's story very much. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and is comfortable being a short entertainment piece. It doesn't try to be more than what it is. I was entertained and appreciate the "humanness" that the story brings to erotic vampirism. It is both erotic and interesting. Though I haven't heard of Wolfe before, I'm sure we'll hear more from him in the future.

It is Ford, though, who is the star of this book, and a good reason for naming him as the main author. Most of us are familiar with his non-fiction material, which has won several Lambda Literary awards. His fiction writing here is no less brilliant. Ford's talent for putting the reader in the middle of the story and for character description are perfect. I love his story, and look forward to more fiction from Ford in the future.

If you're a fan of vampire fiction at all, you'd be crazy not to get this book. The variety of stories and writing style is fresh and refreshing. The writing is good. It is both erotic and frighteningly engaging. A must have for serious fans of horror, and especially vampire fiction!

MASTERS OF MIDNIGHT contains four novellas in which vampires play a prominent and erotically gay role. The authors have different visions of vampires leading to highly original and entertaining tales.

"His Hunger" by William J. Mann. Thirty years ago in Cravensport, Maine murders and disappearances occurred with no explanation. Jeremy thinks the story will make a good human-interest piece, but he also has a personal stake in the story as one of the vanished was his father. However, he is in peril after visiting Bartholomew, a vampire who plans to enslave Jeremy and convert the writer's lover.

"Sting" by Michael Thomas Forge. Following the suicide of his lover, Ben becomes head librarian in Downing, Arkansas. He sees customer Titus put his hands into beehives. When the two men become lovers, Titus explains that he is a vampire and the bee venom prevents his blood craving. Titus feels strongly about stopping his kind who kills innocent children.

"Brandon's Bite" by Sean Wolfe. His father was a vampire while his mother was mortal. His father taught him how to survive as a vampire. As an adult Brandon discovered he was gay so his father disowned him. Brandon can choose any victim he wants but fears love because he believes he cannot control his urge for blood.

"Devoured" by Jeff Marin. Three centuries ago two Scottish lords shared a secret passion for one another. When they were caught, Angus was killed but Derek was changed into a vampire. He avenged his friend's death before immigrating to West Virginia. Now an affluent businessman, he finally has a chance to love again but must first take care of Matthew's homophobic enemies.

Harriet Klausner

Unlike a previous reviewer, I AM a fan of gay vampire fiction, and of gay horror in general. I picked this book up because I'd read some of the authors' previous work in books like QUEER FEAR I and II, SONS OF DARKNESS, and BROTHERS OF THE NIGHT (all edited by Michael Rowe, in case you want to look them up). So how does this collection stack up? William J. Mann's contribution is an obvious ode to the glorious old cult supernatural soap opera, DARK SHADOWS, and if you read it that way it's a lot of fun. Sean Wolfe and Jeff Mann are new names to me, and although Wolfe's story didn't grab me, I really liked the second Mr. Mann's ability to bring out the most in his setting. But I have to say, it was Michael Thomas Ford's "Sting" that kept me up way past midnight. I saved it for last, because it sounded the most interesting, and was it ever. This novella is totally unique, not just in gay horror but in ALL horror. His writing is gorgeous, and the imagery he creates is both beautiful and terrifying. I defy anyone to read his descriptions of the Death Puppet and be able to sleep with the lights on. I, too, would love to see this story made into a film, especially if George Clooney plays Ben!