Heavy Gear is a great game -- both in its rules system, which is simple and easy to pick up, and its background and story material.

The main rulebook comes with a full set of rules for both the RPG and the tactical combat game, plus a good amount of detail on a likely setting for an RPG (Peace River), and a slightly smaller section on the world as a whole (which is expanded on in the Life on Terra Nova sourcebook that can be purchased separately, and is also excellently written).

Heavy Gear takes place 4000 years in the future, on the colony world of Terra Nova. Heavy Gears are one-man mecha, something between an infantryman and a tank. The planet is divided into two polar leagues separated by a vast desert known as the Badlands, poised on the brink of war after years of uneasy peace. The game has an ongoing storyline that leads from this starting point and is continued with storybooks and through the sourcebooks. The storyline is planned out in advance, which gives it a great leg up on other games.

One note -- the computer games and cartoon should not be used to judge the pen and paper game; the computer games are not really in the best spirit of the game and the cartoon...has nothing to do with the pen and paper game other than the name really.

In addition to the rulebook, you will probably want to hunt down the Life on Terra Nova sourcebook if you plan to run an RPG game (or if you're just interested in reading more about the game world).

The year is 1934... 1934 TN, that is - make that 6132 AD, or thereabouts. The planet is Terra Nova, one of several planets colonized by mankind after it survived a minor ice age and discovered a net of space anomalies connecting about a dozen planets. Unfortunately the Earth government collapsed some centuries back and left the colonies to fend for themselves...
On Terra Nova, a planet without oceans divided into two hemispheres by an inhospitable desert girdle, several nations have developped since that time. The southern nations have been subjugated by the Southern Republic, which in turn caused the northern nations to band together for their own protection. Now these two power blocks, armed to the teeth, are gearing up for war once more, with the unhappy inhabitants of the desert Badlands in the middle, seeing their home become a battleground.
And then there's the fascist Earth regime, come back to claim its own...

This is the Rulebook for the Heavy Gear system, Dream Pod 9's most exciting and best game system ever. At the core of it all is a game engine called the "Silhouette" system, a well thought out system of rules equally useful for roleplaying and tactical combat, for simulating space, submarine or ground environments.
HG offers you the opportunity to step into the future and see the world through the eyes of the inhabitants of mankind's new home, wether you want to do classical roleplaying or fast paced mechanical combat, or both at the same time.

The rulebook is very well written and contains lots of examples illustrating the realistic, yet easy to understand and use rules system. Talking of illustrations... those are there as well, *lots* of them, and very well done, too.

But you get more than just a bunch of rules. At the beginning there's a gorgeous colour section showing the planetary system and a world map, followed by a short but thorough introduction to the world of Terra Nova, covering the various nations and regions. There's even a short source book on Peace River, a huge desert city/arcology/weapons factory, allowing you to start playing right away if you wish to.
Of course you get the necessary character creation rules, an exhaustive list of skills, some equipment and weapons, and rules for interaction, skill tests and, of course, combat. You also get archetypes and some animals to populate the wilderness, not to forget the enigmatic desert nomads known as Sand Riders...
Plus you get the complete tactical combat rules, if you like that kind of thing. If you prefer hex-maps or miniature games is entirely left to you. The Silhouette system allows you every imaginable freedom while covering all the necessary aspects.

Some people have called Heavy Gear the heir of Battletech (you know, the combat game with all those giant robots... what serious Heavy Gear fans refer to as "that other game"). Fact is, HG is much, much more.
The trademark of the game is the Gear, a roughly humanoid combat machine of the future - but that 's where the similarity ends. The tactical system is hugely superior to that of BT, allowing for opportunity fire, sensor detection, communication and ECM, while the roleplaying system is not just an afterthought, but an inherent part of the game (if you want to, the main part - if not, it's a nice background. Your choice.)
HG is incredibly detailed (there's a huge range of sourcebooks, covering every imaginable aspect, if you feel like it - but you don't need them if you don't want) and quite realistic, plus it's got an overarcing background story similar to Babylon 5. And there's no need to read through stacks of badly written novels. Conflic is certainly a constand of the HG universe, but the system doesn't force you to concentrate on war, like the other game did, but allows you to explore the future any way you like.

In short, HG is my favorite game of all times. And I've tried out quite a number.

This hardcover edition of Dream Pod Nine's Heavy Gear Role Playing and Tactical Game was one of my first pruchase of the game line.

It was money well spent.

The book itself sports quality binding and paper. The printing is clear, legible and easy on the eyes. There is plenty of excellent content, spiced generously with outstanding pen art.

Even if not a fan of Role Playing and Tactical Miniatures Gaming, Sci-Fi fans will enjoy a depiction of a futuristic colony world both at war with imperialistic conquerors and with itself.

It is a stark, hard sci-fi story of human settlers that have braved harsh desert conditions, isolated from the rest of humanity and struggling not only for suvival, but also for cultural identity.

Role Play and Tactical Game Players will also find Heavy Gear to be a refreshing change of pace from the tired Sword and Sorcery Genre. And, they will find this high quality rulebook to be a perfect collectors and players peice in any library.

Enjoy!

The ideal audience for this book really has a large range; it is ideal for anyone wanting to experience a "trip" from a hallucinogenic drug without the actual drug. High Priest is an excellent piece of art, it is an encyclopedia of Leary's 16 most life changing "trips" when under various forms of hallucinogens. It is filled with strong imagery to support Leary's want to tell the world about the wonderful hallucinogenic "trip". His style is very unique in that especially in a series of short stories, he can in essence connect them, just as he does in his life with situations. He uses a very intense tone, and style becomes rapid as he submerges into a hallucinogenic state, almost as if you where there with him. Then as he's coming out of it his style loosens and becomes slower, and drowsy. Its almost as if there were two extremes one is cold and gray, and the other is vibrant and full of life. This book will definitely stir your interest about psychedelic drugs and the life behind it. Leary's intense flavor and swirling style can sometimes almost be frightening especially when he discusses his inner emotions about death, and his chilling way of expressing his views on the "life changing trips". I think this book is very educational depending on your view of education, and can teach people, things about other cultures that may not be their own, a counterculture if you will. I recommend High Priest to anyone with a thirst for knowledge and an open mind.

essential reading for the humanist, the individualist, the psychedelicist and the lover of freedom.

Tim Leary reminds us what it means to be American.

A simultaneous explanation of why, and why not. The depiction of an appealing experience that within itself shows glimpses of why it may be best left wonderment.
You can get so trapped in the micro while reading this book that it's easy to forget that these thought processes helped shape this country, and etched themselves in time to never be forgotten.
Basically Dr Leary takes us through several "trips" in different settings, and with different participants and hallucinogens. If you're waivering on whether or not this book is for you, I would say the entertainment value alone is worth it. If the subjectmatter is of some interest to you, you'll love it.

First of all let me compliment Francis on a job well done. This book was a masterpiece. The storyline has shown that true love between two stubborn minded persons can develop into a beautiful, fun-filled relationship. Jake, better known as Hunter was willing to not let his feelings or his anatomy *wink* get in the way of his work. He was determined to solve the case without falling victim to the strong attraction between himself and Erin. Erin, determined not to let her pride be destroyed by Hunter's touch soon realised that it was no use hiding from the affectionate feelings towards Hunter growing inside of her heart. I also love the way the story ended, what Hunter was avoiding was exactly what happened...i.e the woman who cared for him was willing to risk her life to save his. I'm also glad that Hunter was able to react quick with Scanlon. Great story and i can't wait to watch in on film.

I am presently a member of the arabesque book club, I have several books written by Francis Ray, I loved them all. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read Incognito, but I did get to see the Movie version on BET, and I enjoyed it just as much...Please continue to bring to life more of the wonderful arabesque love stories to your readers. "Keep up the good work". And please "Continue" writing those wonderful Novels.

WE ALL HAVE OUR DIFFERENT WAYS OF ATTAINING/ GETTING THERE, BUT MS. RAY HAS DEMONSTRATED A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN REACH THE MOUNTAIN TOPS OF JOY BY JUST PICKING UP ANY BOOK SHE HAS WRITTEN.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT HUNTER AND ERIN'S STORY OF LOVE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THAT WORD CALLED ECTASY.

I'LL ADMIT THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS BOOK, I GOT ANGRY AT THE WAY HE CHOSE TO SHOW HIS ATTRACTION TO HER. I SAID THIS "_____" HAS GOT TO BE CRAZY.

THIS LOVE STORY IS ONE FOR THE "ARCHIVES OF LOVE." MS RAY SURE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP YOU BUYING HER BOOKS. HER LOVE SCENCES ARE INCREDIBLE AND SHE DOESN'T SPARE THE ASSAULT ON YOUR EMOTIONS. SHE IS A DIVA OF SUSPENSE/ROMANCE WRITING. HURRY HURRY PICK THIS ONE UP AND ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN OF E C T A S S S S S S Y!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

I have read "Mobile Guerilla Force", "BlackJack 33", and "BlackJack 34" All three of the books are an amazing read, not the typical blood, mud and tears, hovever there is unfortunately a historically real amount of that as well. Not only do you get a sence of what life was like as a special operations operator in VietNam, but the laughs as well as the sorrows of day to day life in VietNam. The author also opened a porthole into the relationship that was built with the indiginous peoples that fought along side the Mobile Geurilla Force whose heroism is nothing short of legondary. As a reader, one can see the author settle into a comfortable writing niche' and progressively make each page seemingly more personal and real ("in the first person" if you will) to the reader. More stories like these need to be told of the triumphs of American Gi's in VietNam.
POW, MIA, VFW, Thankyou, you are not forgotten!
Sincerely Jc

I have read at least 2 dozen books on combat in Vietnam and this is one of the best. The book is very well written. The author really makes you feel as if you are walking in the jungle of Vietnam side by side members of the mobile guerrilla force.

This is one of the most exciting books that I've read about the war in Vietnam. Donahue puts you right there amongst the brave and loyal Khmer soldiers and the cunning and equally committed Viet Cong. Having spent some time in the area written about, I can attest to the accuracy of his brilliantly portrayed environment. This book is going into my permanent collection along with Blackjack-33 and Blackjack-34. Well written book that you can't put down until the end.

This is a very comprehensive book on headache prevention that ties togheter all the different lifestyle factors like food/nutrition, physical activity, and stress. And what is even better as that every tip and every strategy given by the authors to achieve a gradual lifesytyle modification actually works in practice.

My doctor always told me that nutrition had nothing to do with headaches. Was he wrong! I modified my diet as recommended in the book - less fat, less sugar, more complex carbos, etc. Two weeks later my headaches were gone; After all these years of suffering needlessly. I just could not believe the improvement. I am free ...

I recommended this book to a friend who used to get headaches daily. Now he just continues sending me "thank you" messages -- it must be a very useful book!!

I highly reccomend this book to any fan of the Red Wings and their Captain. Some parts will make you smile while other parts will make you teary-eyed, but all of it will make you very proud to be a Red Wings fan. And if you're not already a fan, this book just might make you into one. If you think all modern athletes are selfish and just in it for the money, this book will show you that there are still exceptions. Unfortunately, it was published before the Wings won their latest Cups, so you can't read about that in here, but that just makes you realize how special it is to win the Cup.

When I got the book the first night I could not put it down. To see what he has gone through in his carree, that was amazing. He is the greatest hockey player who ever lived, and now because of the chapionships that the team has won under his leadership, other are now FINALLY realizing it. He has done everything for this team and city, he has given us his heart, and in return we give him ours. He has captured our hearts and through this boook you can get an indepth look at the making of a SUPERSTAR!

I know this is so sappy, but I think the book is so sweet! I've read it many times since I bought it and it brings tears to my eyes to read the heartbreak Stevie Y suffered b/c he couldn't get achieve his goal of hoisting the Cup.

It's a MUST have for all true Steve Yzerman fans and has some really nice pictures in it. :)

Dick Francis does it once again, delivering a solid mystery with a hero who is an honest, intelligent, basically a good guy who tries to solve the mysteries that arise after the death of the hero's considerably older brother, robberies, muggings, and car wreck, and to do so must veer from the straight and narrow path.
Derek is a steeplechase jockey who has broken his ankle when he receives word that his older brother (19 years his senior) has been seriously injured in a freak accident. Derek has to make a hard decision, then, when he learns that he is his brother's heir, he realizes that he got far more than he bargained for. Not only has he inherited his brother's house, car, and gem business (something Derek has no knowledge of nor any interest in), but also all of the troubles as well, including thefts, missing diamonds, secret passwords, troubled friendships and his brother's mistress!
Derek rises to the challenges, hindered physically by his broken ankle but more so by his inability to discover who is behind the subsequent break-ins, assaults, missing diamonds, and a nasty car wreck. All the while, Derek grieves for his brother, copes with his brother's mistress, and uncovers a second criminal element involving horses and horse racing.
The usual humor that I associate with Francis is in this novel, but what I liked most was the greater attention paid to the relationships between the characters (Greville, Derek, Prospero, Brad and Clarissa in particular) and gave more emotional development as well. It is nicely illustrated by Derek's reflection on what his brother meant to him, the closeness of their relationship despite the difference in their ages, and the regret that the relationship ended far too soon and too suddenly without having the chance to say how much he meant to him nor a chance to say goodbye.
Like other Dick Francis mysteries, this one has plenty to keep the reader interested, has the usual connection to horse racing, and enough suspense and action without becoming an ordinary mystery.
Straight may refer to Derek's general moral core (no reference to his sexuality, though), but the path Derek takes to solve the mysteries thrown in his way is anything but straight. Highly recommended.

This was the first Dick Francis book I ever read and I am very glad it was. I have read this one over and over and I have yet to pick up a D.F. book that I didn't like.

This is my favorite Dick Francis novel, given to me by a good friend who also loves Francis. It is a book that sticks with me always. Wonderful story, action when you need it (which is a hallmark of Franics novels) but not overshadowing the relationships in this story. The hero is put in a situation where he has to feel his way along and learn his brother's business and life while simultaneously dealing with the loss of his brother and an emptiness in his life. I found it very moving. It is one of the few books that I have read where I have wondered what happens to the characters afterwords--as if they are real people. (Actually, Dick Francis is one of the few authors who has that effect on me. I also have that reaction to the three novels about Sid Halley.)

I strongly recommend this book, even to those who are not primarily mystery readers.

If your a hobbyist architect like me you will find hundreds of tidbits of info on all aspects of building construction, and architecture in this book, all illustrated in superb pencil drawings.

a comprehensive collection of elements and discriptions for whatever peice of idea that has been thought of, a must have for those who really want to understand the details of the profession. Very well organized chapters, and i liked specially the coverage of nearlly all the styles old and new with nearly all the elements included in each style. Photoes are generously included but they could use some color to make them more appealing. it is nice i think if it was available on CD.

As with most of Francis D.K. Ching's publications, this is a fundamental resource to the student of architecture, as well as the practicing professional. The practice of architecture is intrinscially tied to the ability of the Architect to communicate complex ideas to a myriad of persons. To be succesful at this communication, one needs to be conversant in both the written/spoken language of architecture as well as the illustrative language of drawing. The Visual Dictionary exemplifies this concept. Organized around 68 essential concepts of design and construction - concisely written and beautifully illustrated - Francis Ching brings forth clarity in communication rarely experienced in the world of design and construction. I use this book in teaching, in practice, in reference, and in simple enjoyment. Again, a fundamental resource for the reference shelf - although it rarely sits on the shelf.

Life, Love and Laughter by Fr. Jim Vlaun is very interesting and is a fun book to read. Fr. Jim is a very humors character and incorporates this trait in his book. Fr. Jim also uses many life experience to help the reader understand the concept at hand. Even though this is a spiritual book it dose not feel like one when you read it. He combines many different elements in the book, such as Bible passages and personal life experiences.
Fr. Jim's book is all about the Consciousness Examen. He describes every detail about it. For each step of the Consciousness Examen he relates to one or more experiences in his life and a Bible passage. These addition really help the reader grasp the concept of each step in the Consciousness Examen.
The steps in the Consciousness Examen are: 1. A Prayer for Enlightenment 2. Reflective Thanksgiving 3. Survey of Actions 4. Contrition and Sorrow 5. Resolution for the future. The Consciousness Examen traces its origins back to the 16th century. It was created by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Even though this idea is so old it can still be used today.
Overall this is a good book. Life Love and Laughter isn't a must read, but is great to read in your spare time. The content in this book is in no way boring, and sometimes very funny. This book can be read by people 6th grade and up. Life, Love and Laughter would probably receive 4 stars out of five.

I loved "LLL" and just found out the Fr. Jim has a new book coming out in October! Read this book and you'll know why I am excited. Fr. Jim has a gift of being able to communicate God's message in a simple, yet profound way. I listen to him on the radio, and recommend his radio show "Religion and Rock" to everyone. I cannot say enough abou thow great this book and message is!

I personally know Father Jim Vlaun. He was the chaplin at my High School Saint John the Baptist DHS in NY and he was the greatest person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has really affected my life in a very positive way and so did his book which a copy was given to every Senior at the end of school last year. I wish him even more success in this.

With my first love of Sci Fi and Fantasy, little else ever seems to hit my reading list. But after being introduced to Francis a couple of years ago, I've made it a point to break things up with one of his books every once in a while.
The formula is predictable as follows: Single, solitary, but extremely honest 30-ish horse guy usually in a period of personal transition gets unwillingly drawn into a mystery far more sinister and dangerous than anticipated. Along the way he meets a girl who surprises him by becoming the woman of his dreams, gets beat up a couple of times, and threatens to give up, but eventually solves the mystery, brings the bad guys to justice (though not usually the police) and discovers that his life is far more worth living than he'd thought.
But unlike most authors, for Francis the forumla works in his favor because the predictability of the plot and the well established personality of his main character leaves him free to focus on the details, which are always vastly different from story to story. In this case, it's photography, which alone probably makes Reflex is one of my favorites thus far. I've never been into photography in the least, but Francis' vivid and detailed descriptions of different methods of developing and creating "hidden images" in a negative made me want to learn more. I also really enjoyed the character of Jeremy, who was much further developed than most of Francis' supporting cast.
As with all Francis' novels, this one is well worth the read.

Dick Francis novels generally follow a set formula: Seemingly random events ensnare a iconoclastic, intrepid protagonist into the vortex of a mysterious and dangerous situation that exposes the lad to various forms of mayhem and violence before he can get a handle on what's really going on and try to do something about it.

Although formulaic, Francis' work often comes across as fresh and innovative. This arises from his ability to develop strong, uniqe characters, his deft craftsmanship, a tremendous feel for suspense, and some sort of technical a subject background that provides a general focus for the whole story.

In this case, that background is photography.

Phillip Nore is a long time jockey who dabbles in amateur photography. When a well known but little liked professional racing photographer is killed in a car crash, Nore eventually, accidentally, comes into possession of the man's body of work and records. Suddenly Nore and those close to him a being subjected to break-in's in their home, apparently random attacks and so on. Nore comes to understand that the records and negatives he holds are the source of the trouble. He begins looking into the photographers past, and finds a nasty surprise indeed. The question is, can he get to the bottom of this mess before he gets killed?

This work is unusually strong for a Francis novel on several fronts. Phillip is a particularly strong character even for Francis-much more intellectual and introspective than is the norm. The technical aspects of photography needed to decipher the situation are expertly presented in an informative and non-intrusive way that takes nothing from the story-indeed, they add to it. And, the romantic aspect is unusually strong and well developed for a Francis novel as well.

On the whole, this is not only one of the best Francis novels I've read-it's pne of the best overall suspense novels as well.

Get yourself into the "picture': read this book!

Dick Francis has a formula that almost all of his books follow, but the details that Francis provides makes it work every time.

In this case, our hero is a jockey. Now, many people may be like me- they never got around to reading Dick Francis because they thought all the books are just about jockeys and horseracing. Well, as it turns out, most of the books written in the past 25 years DON'T have jockeys as their primary characters. So I wound up reading some of those, and then just had to read more Francis. And I came to this one, in which the hero IS a jockey - and I liked it anyway!

Our hero is a jockey and amateur photographer who has led a rather rootless life. Left by his mother with a series of friends all through his childhood, he has no close attachments, and in the course of the book must finally learn to acknowledge emotions and grow close to people. The middle-aged woman in this one is one of the women who took care of him when he was young; he spends part of the book trying to find places from his childhood. There's also the stock character of the cunning, wily, whim-of-iron old lady, who thinks the world is motivated solely by greed, and a few other stock types. There are also some unusual bits- although this book was written in the 80's, before the current trend toward acceptance of homosexuality, Francis has included in our hero's checkered childhood a loving gay couple who give him the most stable part of his upbringing. Our hero is himself quite straight, and falls in love with the middle-aged woman's daughter.

The details about photography are fascinating- maybe more than some people might want, and some of it so obscure you have to suspend disbelief a little to think that an amateur might figure out what was going on. But of course, that's part of our hero's hitherto unrevealed cleverness. Some of the photos have been part of what turns out to be one of the oddest blackmail schemes ever. We also get an unusual scheme for sulphide gas poisoning, one of the odder methods for potential murder... and some arson, assault, and other violence. It's not overdone, though.

If you're afraid of reading about jockeys and racing because you're not interested in those subjects, then this book will cure you of that fear.