Dependable Sage publications once again provides a classic reference volume with insights and guidance from classic authors/researchers in research methods.

Like Byers says in his comments, this book shows vampirism for exactly what it is. Instead of the aristocratic counts with the Romanian accents these vampires are truly walking corpses that exist by extracting the blood of the living. A truly great read!

A very interesting book by M. Owen Lee. Gives a good background on how Wagner developed the Ring. Interesting details of Wagner's life, his life style during this difficult life time, how the Ring evolved and became the superb masterpiece of Wagner's new style of Opera. The ring is difficult to understand however Mr. Lee gives a good explanation of the ring, which makes it much more enjoyable.

I loved it :) being one of those kids who ended up as a librarian myself hehehehhe. The section on "Library Fauna" I found especially funny! Wish there was more like this!

Zoonauts: The Secret of Animalville is the freshest children's novel I've read in decades! It begins with a gangbuster science fiction "school report" by Jen, the teen youth of the Stroud Family - the "keepers" of Animalville. Through an incredible story by a talking parrot we learn the secret of this top-secret research facility for very smart animals.
It was only September, but Jen could see it was already turning into a bad school year. Perhaps it was fun for her younger brother, Cody, but having animals cooking, cleaning and doing taxes made it so hard to have any friends. Plus the whole place was top secret! How could she NOT tell even her best friend Sara anything about her family?
Truth is, no children had ever grown up in the kind of family as the Strouds. While their non-human nursemaids took care of them and taught them things no human children had learned, Jen was getting tired of telling other girls that they couldn't visit her at home. Oh, sure, she went to their places, but usually with some animal, watching everything she did. She felt like she was being spied on. It was too much to bear. Jen was deep in gloom as she left school that day. But you are certain to have a smile on your face as you read this amazing tale. The text, by renowned Hollywood scriptwriter Richard Mueller, is illustrated by Dal Chele - known for Scooby Doo, Spiderman, Robocop, The Real Ghostbusters, Fat Albert and The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest, to name just a few!

Let me say first that I haven't bought a Forgotten Realms novel in a few years. I'm glad I bought this one though. I agree with the otehr reviewer that Erevis Cale is the coolest (congratulations Mr. Kemp), but the rest are cool too, except only the father. Ed's story didn't do anything for me. The youngest son and daughter are probably second and third best. Most of the stories are dark, even grim, with interesting stories and fast-paced plots. The city of Selgaunt really came to life for me, and I got into each of the characters when their story came along. On the strength of this book, I've decided to give FR novels another shot.

I've been a Realms fan for about ten years. Some books are hits, some are misses, and some have been awful. The Halls of Stormweather is great. Granted, a couple things were predictable, and there was one glaring discrepancy in character relationships (reread the Patriarch and Matriarch stories and see if you can find it). The authors did an excellent job provoking interest in the main figures of each story--I'd even get the books about the characters I didn't like just because I want to know what happens to them. Shamur, Tazi, Cale, and the maid whose name I can't recall are my favorite characters. They've got the most depth. Overall it's a fun read and great if you've only got a few minutes at a time to spend on a book.

All right. Two things: 1. Erevis Cale kicks serious arse. 2. This novel kicks serious arse. This is one of the few anthologies that I've ever read that actually worked. And this one worked well. This family is the best thing in fantasy since...I don't know what! Each character is fully developed, there's no cliches, and each story, while it does stand independently, interacts nicely with the others. Sembia is finally explored for FR fans, and the explanation is grand. Noble infighting, commercial espionage, thieves guilds, curses, a ton of action, you name it!

Now back to point one: Erevis Cale, the butler/manservant in this novel, is now my favorite FR character. This guy is a walking contradiction, but it works perfectly, effortlessly. Tension spills from the pages as he tries to reconcile his past with his present. This characterization job is all the more impressive considering that the author has only thirty or forty pages to work with.

I should add that everything I just said is true of the rest of the characters too, but Cale just sticks in my brain. This guys is unbelieveable! I can't wait to read more about him in Shadow's Witness this November.

This is a must read for any admirer of all those great television variety shows, as well as the many fans of Rat Packer Dean Martin. The ONLY book written by anyone who EVEN MET Dean Martin, author Lee Hale spent nearly two decades with him as musical director and later his producer. Aptly titled, "Backstage at the Dean Martin Show" is an exciting and loving inside look behind the scenes documenting this great top ten show and its star, with fascinating anecdotes of the biggest names in the business. I caught myself laughing out loud, then I would turn a page and be totally blown away by something that I didn't expect.

Mr. Hale divides his book into one chapter for each TV season, with extra ones going beyond to 'The Golddiggers', 'The Roasts' and 'The Specials', with over 200 color and b&w photos of great stars, most never before seen. The index itself lists hundreds of celebrities from Hank Aaron to Ed Wynn.

As chairman of the current 'Dean Martin Fan Center', and someone who was actually there at NBC during those golden years, I was lucky to have a firsthand look at the Dean Martin Show phenomenon, but Lee Hale uses a magnifying lens... and no one can get closer than this! It is truly a wonderful story from the bizaare beginnings to the touching end. I can't say enough!

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Lee Hale lived, breathed, and helped run the Dean Martin Show for its duration, even when the variety show was no more, replaced by the Dean Martin Roasts. Lee actually played Dino during rehearsals, so got to meet and know all of the stars that guested on his show. If you loved the show, as I did growing up, you will be fascinated by this inside look (Dino's wife Jeannie loved it, as she knew nothing about it either! )into one of the most successful variety shows of all history. A warning, however, is: don't expect to learn a lot about Dino; his manager didn't let Lee (or anyone else) get especially close to him, just small talk from time to time; the only extraordinary insight from Lee regarding Dino was that YES, that WAS scotch in his glass! Actually, Lee, an observant man, made several interesting observations of this legenday performer as he drifted away from his wife and pursued what can only be describecd as a mid-life crisis, "Rat Pack Style", which in the end, he seemed to highly regret. To wrap it up, the book was a lot of fun, its a good read; its chock full of photos of the likes of Duke Wayne, Orson Welles, etc, so you can't lose! Give it a try!

"Backstage at the Dean Martin Show" is a body of work with three bloodlines...

TV variety shows,talented stars, and Dean Martin. If you are a fan of any three, you will find how they mixed together through the 'heart' of the "Dean Martin Show", with the 'eyes and ears' of Lee Hale, musical director-turned-producer.

Starting his internship with the credit "Special Musical Material By...", Mr. Hale was responsible for every note that was heard on the series. He was also the one responsible for choosing every girl that provided the'skin' (Deanís Golddiggers and Dingaling Sisters), and later utilized his 'hands' at editing, which won Mr. Hale an Emmy nomination (one of many).

The 'guts' of the Dean Martin show had a lot of vital parts, and Mr. Hale tells us which ones were kept and which were operated on or replaced. Of course,the heart of the book is in the soul of Dean Martin, the body whom Lee Hale also stood in for six days a week, dancing, singing and joking with EVERY guest star that was admitted through those star crossed doors at NBC.

The whole operation was a phenomenal success and now you can see the itemized bill... from who was admitted, who paid their dues, to the life support and what led to everyone finally being discharged.

This book won't be in anyone's waiting room... it will always be in someone's hands reading it!

This is one of those rare books that has a timeless message and a simple beauty which belie its brevity. You can read this book in ten minutes. And, you can re-read it a hundred times and feel differently about it each time. Consider it the abridged Jonathon Livingston Seagull, but don't think of it as leaving out anything of importance. I particularly like this book because, in a few minutes, it helps me remember some of the simple truths of life - that time and space cannot separate us from the one's we love. Besides that, it has some fantastic water-color illustrations which make it enjoyable to simply view. I wholeheartedly suggest this book.

Bach has defined the meaning of the words "pure" and "simple" in what is marketed as a childrens book. I read this book and it brought tears to my eyes. I read it to my wife and 14 tear old daughter and it held no meaning for to them. Bach has laid a foundation for thought using very simple language that grows and develops with in a mind that is open and willing to see. If you are "ground bound" with no desire to think of or acknowledge bigger things in life don't bother. If you want to feel emotion and provoke thought you must read this piece of work.

My oldest sister sent me this book for my first birthday away from home and family. I read the book and loved it, and put it away for a few years. I found the book again years later and reread it. I loved it even more. I have found that I get something different out of it with each subsequent reading. It is about life, and death, about hope and love. It is a spiritual affirmation about how we endure, and that love truly spans time and space. It is also a love story of a journey not across land and water, but of an opening of the mind to see the true essense of what it means to live and love.
As the author takes his journey of discovery, the thoughtful reader cannot help but be shaped by the beautiful words of the text. When I first received this book, I couldn't imagine what a uniquely special gift I had receive. How incredible, a book that grows with you as you journey through life!

It would be a wonderful gift for someone leaving home (as I was), someone suffering from the loss of a loved one, or for someone you may not be able to see as often as you wish.

It is a truly special book on spiritual growth and discovery, without including the usual character suffering that often preceeds such a transformation in thought..

Being a seasoned RPG player (20 years + exp.) I'm always interested to try new games on the market. Since a few years a buzz had been starting on the internet and among RPG fan about this new vampire horror game. When they put the second edition out, I decided it was past time that I check it out. I'm certainly glad I did! The game is simple (only using 10 sided dice and very easy character advancement)it's also skill based. The greatest achievement of this game is in it's ability to convey a mood of gothic horror "à la perfection (perfectly)" something no other RPG had been able to achieve successfully in the past. This success may be due to the "mature language and content of the game", the terrific illustrations all through the book or to the well written descriptions of the different fiends and all their complex powers.For whatever reason there's a chilling mood of wickedness, perversity and dark horror all through the book.
My only complaint has to do with the long historic background in the book. Having studied history for a while in university, I find that the evolution of vampire through history section at the end of the volume doesn't really add anything, all they do is make a quick resume of all the different time period and adding the word vampire in it... not really necessary...
All in all it still a great book with magnificient illustration and a well written interesting content. I would recomend this game not only to RPG players but to vampire lovers everywhere !!!

Vampire is a very interesting game. When I was in 4th Grade me and my friends used to make up games in our heads but something was lacking a cohesive setting. By the time I was in 7th Grade we decided to buy an RPG book, just to get the gist of things. We ended up buing Vampire, and I must say it is great! I've bought 40 other books by White-Wolf in the last few years.

This game is a modern game in the Modern World, not a D&D type of Fantasy. Vampires are real in this game, they live in all the major cities, they pull the strings of politics. They hide from Humanity though, because they fear discovery. Yet they have to interact with humans, because as Vampires they eternally need blood to survive and even more to power their dark powers.

Vampires are arranged into clans, 13 to be exact all created by Ancient founders. These clans are divided into three groups. The first is the Camarilla, most obsessed with secrecy and having 7 of the Vampire clans. The next is the Sabbat, a group of Vampires who believe they should rule humanity and arch-Rivals of the Camarilla. They only consist of two clans but their are other clan members who have decided to join. Finally their are 4 Independent clans who try to avoid keeping any alligence to anyone.

The Rules of this game are simple as well. All a person needs is a copy of the sheets, a pencil and maybe ten 10-sided dice. The rule system is rather simple and the game doesn't revolve around pointless hours of combat but story purposes. This adds more enjoyment to the game, if your interested in weaving a story.

The Vampire game is a good introduction to White-Wolf RPG's and it is not only an interesting play, it is an interesting read as well. I have bought many books just to read them, and even if you don't have a group, their is a huge online community.

"By becoming a monster, one learns what it is to be human"

I'm probably the only person who bought this book with no intention of using it as it was meant to be used--as a role-playing guide to the "Vampire: The Masquerade" game. I don't play role-playing games--I even have an aversion to games in general (mostly video ones)--but I really love vampires, so I had to buy this book. Probably the thing I like the most about it is all of the beautiful black-and-white drawings inside. They really get the imagination juices flowing.

The beginning part of the book is basically an introduction to VtM, familiarizing the reader with the basic rules, its Gothic-Punk setting, vocabulary, and tips on effective storytelling. Then it goes deeper into dice rolling, character creation, and bloodlines. This latter part is my favorite in the book, describing the attributes and abilities of the seven clans of the Camarilla: Brujah, Nosferatu, Tremere, Ventrue, Gangrel, Toreador, and Malkavian. (But if you really want further insight into these clans, then I'd highly recommend any--or all--of the Clanbooks.) There is also a character sheet at the end of the book you can Xerox, as well as an example story to further help players.

I think I've read this thing about half a dozen times (though not usually from front to back), and it takes about that many times to thoroughly comprehend and memorize all of the above--rules, guidelines, etc.--without having to refer to the book all the time (unless you're a fast learner). If you enjoy role-playing games--or if you're like me and just like anything vampire-oriented--then I highly recommend this book. It's well worth your time and money.

Richard Lee Byers picks up where R.A Salvatore left off and has possibly improved the world of the dark elves. Menzoberranzan is the subterranean city of the dark elf and a place where you can find death at any turn. We have come, from Salvatore's previous books touching this world, to know the dark elves as backstabbing and ruthless to the point of family members scheming against each other if power or position is at stake. This book will allow you to see further into the world of the feared dark elf/ Drow and how they will react when their world is threatened. Will they be able to put aside their plots and plans to defend their city, their very culture? You will have to read the book to find out.

I also recommend The Price of Immortality, a book I recently came across and very much enjoyed!

Richard Lee Byers picks up where R.A Salvatore left off and has possibly improved the world of the dark elves. Menzoberranzan is the subterranean city of the dark elf and a place where you can find death at any turn. The main character and his sword master sidekick are very well defined. Even though nobody in this tale is actually a nice person, you find yourself being on Phauron's side and wanting to see this rogue come out on top, which, at least some of the time, he does. He has a personality that I've been told is uncharacteristic of most Drow in that he has a wit and humor not usually associated with them. Overall I say Dissolution is a very good read. I can't wait to read the next book

Recommended: Anything by Robert Jordan and The Price of Immortality by C.M. Whitlock (an Awesome book)

This was truly a great book! I'm a huge fan of Salvatore and the drow so I decided to give this book a try. Ever since I picked it up I couldn't put it down, it is a very addicting book. Byers did a great job in depicting the drow and all of their sinister ways. There was essentially two stories going on throughout the book, and they both tied in nicely together at the end. Byers probably uses more unique and uncommon words than what was necessary, I wouldn't recommend to people with a small vocabulary, but most people will have no trouble with it. I can't really complain about anything in the book, all in all it was a great book. Would it have been better if R.A. Salvatore wrote it himself? I don't know. The way I see it is that Salvatore was probably busy writing more great books for us avid fans. If you want to save money, waiting for it to come out on paperback in August wouldn't be a half bad idea, but it is definitely worth the money either way. If your a fan of the drow, Forgotten Realms, Fantasy, or R.A. Salvatore I would recommend giving this book a try.