The Independent Literature Institute is proud to announce that Christopher WunderLee's "A Wanton Gyre" has been chosen as the winner of the 2002 "Ulysses" Award for Superior Fiction. The "Ulysses" Award is given annually to the best independently published novel of the year. "A Wanton Gyre" was chosen due to its literary merit and socially provocative subject matter.

The regular, Oprah book club reader will not appreciate "A Wanton Gyre". There is nothing simple about this book. I consider myself a well-read person, this book recalled so many great works of literature (never mind the allusions and references that literally hide within the words) that I found myself pulling down book after book from my shelves to find why it occured to me. It wasn't because of similar style or that the author used the same words, it was because of the classical construction. I know that Camus and Kafka are important influences, also Hesse and Mann, but "A Wanton Gyre" is not a reflection of them. It is not an updating, a homage, it simply reminds while forging forward into a new place. This book is the author's fullest expression, a warning, a challenge, a retreat, and a duel (with the reader).

I found Maxwell Taylor to be an abhorrent protagonist, one that I could not ignore. I hated him, but I also was intrigued by him. He is an existentialist who isn't aware that it's out of fashion. He is a Modernist who doesn't know that post-modernism exists. He is a hedonist that blatantly expresses it. He is the Marquis de Sade in today's world. Maxwell Taylor is a vicious, unforgiving, and powerful figure. The only true criticism I give of this book is that he's too important, too powerful. None of the other characters are capable of competing, they fall into the backdrop even when a scene does not include Maxwell.

The setting of "A Wanton Gyre" is exploratory, it is not now or then, it is a jumbled collage of times. There is almost a mystical sense of time, a hallucagenic quality to the events, we read them as though they are simply happening. Like Maxwell, we don't seem to have the capacity to feel anything about them. This book captures the psychology of the main character so well it shrouds the entire work in his mood.

The plot of the novel is as the title suggests, great swooping gestures that never seem to go forward, but seem to circle the main theme like birds of prey, ready to attack at any moment. We read as he's arrested, then we read about his childhood, then we read about his arrest, then we read about a date he's recently had, then we read about his arrest. Yet, none of it seems out of place, it is the confusion, the clastrophobia of the protagonist in every word.

Book II breaks free, for the most part. It differs greatly from Book I, strutting forward in a clash of ideals and beliefs, between lawyers and victims, priests and atheists, men and women, between the reader and the writer. I think that is remarkable. I had a girlfriend read it and she couldn't go on, she grew so upset. And that is the genius of it, the book forces you to dislike it, to argue with the narrator, to question everything being said and described. And this is when you learn your limitations, can you see passed your own convictions and acknowledge the injustice? Can you accept the truth even if it makes you vomit?

"A Wanton Gyre" is such a well crafted chronicle that we will be studying it for years. It will continue to challenge us until we acknowledge the hypocricy in our own beliefs. We are not ready, I don't think.

I know that I shouldn't love this book, but I do. I know what other poeple have said about it, but I think they're near-sighted. This is better than "The Corrections," better than "Infinite Jest", better than "Ya Ya Sisterhood", better than anything I've read in years. Why? Because Christopher WunderLee does not live in the twenty-first century, he lives in eternity, like he already knows that his work will be immortalized. The characters are immortal, the writing is beautiful, the shocking fear of it is almost pyschic. I love this book, I know it is scary for many, but it deserves far more attention than it's received. I just wish America would pay attention to real authors. Thank you Mr. WunderLee, this is true art.

It must all be true. At least, that's what you think when reading Chistopher's poems--they are fantastic, but they seem to be factual (you want to believe that Houdini could dog paddle under a sheet of ice for 2 hours looking for his escape, and you want to believe that John Dee could speak with Angels). This is one of his gifts and failings: his writing is beautifully flat. "Flat" must be counted a pejorative when speaking of writing; but in this collection it is exactly this quality that suspends our disbelief. Granted it must be that Christopher has found subjects that "work" within this framework. All this sounds ambivalent, and I don't mean it to. This is a wonderful book, especially for those not normally poetry readers; it is accessible--one reader has said there's something in it for everyone, and this is surely true.

5 Degrees is the title of what is a long poem in 35 sections--each section stands on its own but is made stronger and more interesting by its placement within the whole. Odd comparisons are made by way of recurring words, characters, elements, historical persons, mythology, and of course the style. Houdini is the subject of a couple poems, Van Gogh as well, and John Dee, an English mathematician and scientist "friend to Sir Walter Ralegh/and Thomas Harriot." (Harriot and Ralegh are strong presences in Christophers fantastic novel, "Veronica"). We see the Nazi's burn copies of "The Tempest" in one poem and read that "John Davis, explorer and navigator, died the night/The Tempest was first performed in London."; Iron makes its way into several poems as element from the stars that unites us through history, but also simply as the "color" of most of these poems (many seem to take place in winter).

One cannot show you enough here. Each section in this long poem makes you think of a different earlier poem and causes you to reflect upon that poem differently. What we learn throughout is made explicit in section 15: "And Shakespeare, who understood that the hard/facts he pillaged from Plutarch were prefigured in myths--the wellspring of history--". This is exactly what Christopher has given us--a veritable encyclopedia of information (factual, fantastical, mythological, historical), shaken up in his cupped hands, like the bones used to tell fortunes, and let fall to the table under Fate's guiding hand (simply peruse section 25 to get the idea). His is an art of resurfaced truth and rearrangement (he mines for Iron ore and can also seek it in the Pole Star).

This is my favorite of his works (although I did read the novel "Veronica" several times), and of his previous and subsequent work, this is by far the most even. I do also enjoy his first book, "On Tour with Rita"--and find it has poems that would work very nicely within the framework of "5 Degrees".

Nicholas Christopher is truthfully one of the most well-written and introspective poets of the 20th century. Anyone can find something in his poetry that they appreciate and value greatly. "Hibiscus Tea" is one of the most awe-inspiring and beautiful poems full of imagery I have ever read.

Put quite simply, this is the best book of poetry that I have ever seen. Christopher's verse is infinitely compelling and his scope so broad that every reader can take something away from a perusal of it. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

I've searched for years for just the right book that sums up my feelings for lost wilderness and finally found it with this book. I find Mr. Camuto's contrast with William Bartram's descriptions of the mountains both startling and sad. I've walked these mountains for over 30 years and in just the last 10 have I begun to realize the tragic consequences of overdevelopment and urban sprawl. Mountains and streams once largely clean and pristine now are considered off limits for fishing and drinking and I wonder why we have no love for the complexity of our natural environment. Like a Sand County Almanac, Chris Camuto has begun a modern discussion of the land ethic. An ethic our country, I fear, has so far refused to acknowledge or accept.

Another Country is a search for the soul of a land almost destroyed. Christopher Camuto writes a powerful narrative describing his exploration of the Cherokee homeland in the appalachians. He seeks communion, a connection he can sense in what is left of the natural landscape and wildness around him. It is as elusive as the dying Cherokee myths, as tangible as the arrowheads and village sites he finds. Camuto refers to the Appalacians as the Cherokee Mountains, their former nomenclature, because it is to the Cherokees they really belong. The rape and exploitation of their land parallels the rape and exploitation of their culture. Camuto's search for a wildness, that now remains only in remnants, is set in counterpoint to the reintroduction of the red wolf into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The most important clan animal of the Cherokee, it is symbolic of the differences between the Cherokee and the early Europeans. One revered its wildness and sought to preserve it. The other despised and killed it. One honored the wolf's home, seeking harmony with the land and its spirits. The other saw something untamed that must be destroyed. The author's journey begins as the wolves are being set free. Like many of the members of this first Canus Rufus release who step beyond their shrinking boundaries, Camuto confronts the vestiges of civilization at almost every turn. Set against continual references to Native-American mythology, and the history of the area, Camuto's book allows the reader to share his insight into the Cherokee view of the world. Unlike many who write about early culture, he does not attempt to steal it as his own. His statement that he is not Cherokee and thus can never totally understand, adds credibility to the objectiveness of his observations. It also demonstrates humbleness of endeavor, a bow of respect to the Cherokee nation. The book is firmly rooted in place as it combines the ethereal with the tangible landscape. Those who cherish wildness and honor those first here, will also treasure this book. In many ways , it is a sad obituary, lamenting that which was, as it examines what is left. The reintroduction of the red wolf represents one small, but hopeful, step in the restoration of that which is lost.

I've hiked and fished the Southern Highlands for years, especially the area in and around the Smoky Mt. National Park. Reading Another Country has shown me this place in a completely new light. He compares these mountains at one point to a palimpsest--a scraped-over parchment on which old texts leave faint traces. This book records Camuto's efforts to track these traces, which of course are quickly vanishing if not already gone. By giving these mountains back their ancient names, by telling stories the Cherokee told their children about their homeland, by delving into the natural and human history of the places he walks, by honoring the memories of the ones who are gone, and by contextualizing the beleaguered efforts to bring the red wolf back to its former ground, Camuto opens up layer upon layer of meaning for us who seek out the last wild places without always knowing why. An unforgettable book.

I received this book as a birthday present last month. To say the least, I was overwhelmed with all the artwork in this book. I love it! The artwork and production animation is breathtaking! It's a really awesome book, I'd get it if I were you! You can't go wrong with "The Art of The Lion King"!!!

This book is one of the most exquisite things to come out of The Lion King. The graphics are beautiful. Most of the pictures are ones that are used for the storyboard and layout scenes. I reccommend it to anyone who loves The Lion King, or just Disney in general. Order with confidence - the book is worth much more than its price tag. It is also much more convient than the larger, more expensive version which I believe is no longer being produced.

This book is great if you like to see all the art work that was created during the development of the movie as well as the finished scenes. They show you a lot of the concept art that was used so that you get a sense of how ideas developed and gives you a glimpse behind the scenes. The book is mostly pictures with less explanatory text than you usually see in similar books. So it's mostly a book to look at as opposed to reading. It's great if you enjoy looking at animation art.

Christopher Bruce's encyclopaedic work is a magnificent compendium of all of the major 6th to 19th century Arthurian sources.

As a publisher of books and games based on the original Arthurian sources, I have turned to this book not as my 'Bible', but as a sort of 'Bible Concordance'. Which stories can I find Percival (or his many alternative names) occurring in?

I found this book to be worth ten, if not a hundred times its cover price in terms of compiling years of research into a single treasury of Arthurian knowledge.

I was amazed to discover how young this first time author is. He has produced a profoundly complete and thoroughly researched scholarly work that is a "must read" for any student of the Aurthurian Legends. Mr. Bruce has researched even the most obscure references and stories of Arthur and the other characters associated with the legend. Thank you for your excellent work.

Mr. Bruce has certainly done a wonderful job compiling volumes of information into one comprehensive work. It would be difficult to find a more complete reference. A must-have guide for any Arthurian-lover's library, as well as an interesting book for any reader to peruse.

A Taste of Blood belongs in the true horror fan's library sandwiched between David Friedman's A Youth in Babylon and The Amazing World of H.G. Lewis. Taste offers capsulated reviews of all of Mr. Lewis's films as well as interesting interviews with key players. This book is definetly a work written "by a fan, for the fans" and lacks the objective insights to make it a five star work. It is ,however, a compasionate and long overdue tribute to one facet of a multitalented gentleman who deserves the title "Wizard of Gore".

Christopher Curry has done a remarkable job of gathering information and interviews and has made A TASTE OF BLOOD a must-have book for horror movie fans, independent film fans, and of course, gore-hounds! The reviews are informative and entertaining, and never talk down to the reader (a fault found in many film books). The big draw here for me is Curry's personal interviews; not only with Lewis and his longtime partner David Freidman, but also with some of his players, including Fuad Ramses himself, Mal Arnold! This book is a valuable addition to my collection... one I will turn to many times for reference.

A Taste of Blood will surely become a treasured part in the collection of every fan of the Godfather of Gore. The book is a comprehensive guide to the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis and an insightful and candid look into the world of exploitation films. It is one exceptional fan's tribute to H.G. Lewis and a fond look back at some of the defining films of the drive-in era. The author provides a detailed look at each and every one of H.G. Lewis' bloody and bizarre (but always entertaining) films. The book contains exclusive interviews, behind the scenes information, detailed plot summaries, and plenty of great insights provided by H.G. Lewis, David Friedman, and many others. Also, the book is overflowing with tons of rare pictures that you will probably never find anywhere else. A Taste of Blood is an entertaining, educational, and engrossing book for the veteran or novice horror/exploitation fan. If you're an H.G. Lewis fan, this book should already be on your shelf. As a long time fan of the Godfather of Gore myself, I'm in awe of the wealth of information included in this book. Give Christopher Curry some well-deserved credit by ordering his book. You will not be disappointed.

Up there with Steven King. Written so you can follow everything. You feel the edge of the heat of the summer in the south as well as the fear in the characters. Cool book.

Great plot, enjoyed the use of past and present time. Very easy reading, I completed the book in one day. Hope to see more from this author.

Covers two time periods in a family. Very creative story and character building with a suprise ending. There will probably be a sequel. The author led you to the end wanting more.

Very good reading. My eight year old enjoyed the story very much.

Nick and the the Thunderballs can't find a coach for their baseball team so who else offers for the job but NICK'S MOM! Nobody likes the idea at first, but when the team beats the Tornadoes,(Their arch rival) to win the pennant. An extraordinary bookthat teaches you lessons in friendship as well as baseball.

My 7 year old son is an avid reader. He loves many books but most of all, books by Matt Christopher. This book started it all. It is a heart-warming story which keeps a child's interest due to the baseball, but is really about a mother and son relationship. I stongly recommend this book!

I bought a few copies as early Christmas gifts because I know my dad and brothers are big fans. After flipping through just the first few pages of photos and text, I knew I made the right choice. The author really covered his tracks. The photos are fantastic! There's no better time in the midwest than fall -- and this book seems to bring out the best of that season.

This book took me back to my high school years. I was a 320 pound offensive lineman. The 4 years I played high school football were the best of my life. I can never get them back, but with this book I was able to bring back all my memories. Chris and Jen have provided ex-jocks like me something to hold on to. I reccomend this book to anyone who wants some way to recall those glory years of high schoo.
Giles Powell.

Touchdown! This book drives the length of the field to take the reader on a journey through small towns and big cities who live and die for football. The tradition of Ohio High School Football is second to none and Butler's brilliant narration mixed in with interviews from coaches, players, parents and fans captures what Friday night in the fall is all about - a social gathering of sorts where football is the main focus. Rothchild's photography allows the reader to experience every facet of Friday night football from the star quarterback to the mom selling programs to raise money for the band.

Across Many Fields is a must for anyone who loves high school football.

Architectural Acoustics is a must read for anyone that is involved or thinking of a listening space. It is educational, informative, and should be mandatory reading for school boards and architects. It will make you aware of a critical topic that I feel most people do not even think of for the educating of children and our schools. Being able to hear throughout the listening space with proper acoustics. It discusses many aspects from basic acoustics,history,and why projects succeed or fail.

I just recently read Architectural Acoustics by Christopher Brooks. It is easy to read and quite interesting. It kept my attention, and I was anxious to get back to it. Chris is able to explain how soundwaves behaves in rooms in a way that is easy to understand. This book is excellent.

Want to know the difference between proper acoustics for a concert hall and your office? Christopher Brooks takes a subject that would seem to be complex and makes it simple and in language a lay person can understand. There is also included an interesting discussion of many well-known buildings, concert halls, churches, and synagogues, in the world and how they function acoustically. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to improve their listening awareness. Because of reading this book I now listen differently and am more acutely aware of surrounding sounds and how they flow, both in and out-of-doors. A must-read for architects and those they build buildings for, as well as musicians and sound engineers.