This book was actually my introduction to Dorothy Sayers. Her life, her passion for excellence, her humanity and wit were inspiring. I loved this book.

"You were right in supposing that it is a husband that I really want, because I become impatient of the beastly restrictions which 'free love' imposes. I have a careless rage for life, and secrecy tends to make me bad-tempered..."
- Sayers in a letter to John Cournos after their breakup, mid-1920s

Personally, I prefer this biography to that written by Janet Hitchman; while Hitchman was one of the first to uncover certain information about Sayers' personal life - most notably her blood relationship with her adopted son - Hitchman's _Such a Strange Lady_ has less meat in it. Where Hitchman drew much of her analysis of Sayers' character from her published writings (hard to say, since Hitchman's biography has neither references nor footnotes), Coomes draws more on Sayers' vast correspondence of private letters, and *does* identify his sources, without becoming boring.

Coomes wisely lets Sayers' own words speak for her as much as possible, so quality writing and zest are both present.

Coomes' opening chapter offers to beguile the reader - not with the predictable gambit of Lord Peter, nor even jumping to Sayers' last and next most famous project, translating Dante. Instead, we're treated to the controversy surrounding _The Man Born to Be King_: Sayers' dramatization of the Gospels in modern idiom for the BBC, broadcast beginning in December 1941. Offstage, Sayers did battle with the Sunday Children's Hour team who were first responsible for producing the plays, then with organizations like the Lord's Day Observance Society, who worked themselves into transports of outrage based solely on rather misleading newspaper reports - without having *read* a single script. Needless to say, Sayers not only carried the day, but had the satisfaction of seeing most of the protesters slink quietly away after the first broadcast.

But this is the same lady who in 1936 lectured upon "The Importance of Being Vulgar", and in a private letter in 1944 discoursed upon "the distinguishing marks of True Bedworthiness in the Male" - no milksop, she. Even when earning the equivalent of a First Class Honours with Distinction in Modern Languages at Oxford in 1916, she wasn't burying her nose in dusty academic tomes. (Women didn't actually *receive* degrees until 1920, when Sayers was one of the first.)

When Coomes, having secured the reader's attention, moves on to Sayers' youth, he draws on two of Sayers' unpublished manuscripts (_My Edwardian Childhood_ and _Cat o'Mary_, autobiography with and without a veneer of fiction, respectively) as well as more mundanely available sources. She herself, having grown up as a vicar's daughter saturated in religion rather credited Chesterton's later influence with making Christianity interesting for her.

In a later chapter, we receive more insight into the solemn rituals of the Detection Club than one can get out of _The Floating Admiral_'s introduction, when the members, including Chesterton and Sayers, created a mystery by writing successive chapters without revealing the planned solution. The Club's oath would have been hard luck on Leslie Charteris' vintage Simon Templar years, and positive death for Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu; those who renege are cursed solemnly with "may other Writers anticipate your Plots, may your Publishers do you down in your Contracts, may Total Strangers sue you for Libel..." :>

We get our expected and obligatory material on the creation and feeding of Lord Peter, but not merely in one large expository block, particularly when considered in light of things in her life that served as raw material. I warn the reader that as Lord Peter was abandoned by Sayers halfway through her writing career, the last of Lord Peter is seen at about the halfway point of the book. However, Sayers' own personality and character are interesting for their own sake. For those who have read other writers of Sayers' acquaintance, their interaction in correspondence is an added bonus - notably with C.S. Lewis, not merely about religion, but about her take on nuts-and-bolts authors' concerns with _The Chronicles of Narnia_.

David Eddings is one of the most captivating authors I have ever read, and the Elenium is his best series. Unlike the Belgariad, the hero in this book is not young or particularly handsome. Sir Sparhawk, however, is my favorite Eddings character of all time. The characters in this book are vividly written, and you really get to know and love (or hate) them. The dialogue is witty and will make you laugh for hours.Once you pick up the first book of the Elenium, you can't stop reading until you get to the last book of the Tamuli. The series is wonderful and engrossing.

This series even more than the Belgariad and the Malloreon immortalized the Eddings' in my mind. This beginning was great, this intro is haunting and hypnotic. Sparhawk is NOT Garion the whiner. Now I love and own every single Eddings book there is, but this series while I don't know if I can say it's my favorite, the Belgariad has a special place in my heart being the first series by them that I read, it is definately better written. The dialogue is sharp, the characters memorable and beautiful. The story is epic set against and land full of intrigue and violence. Smarter is another way I could compare this to the Belgariad, it's just more real to me. I don't know why. It's like the Belgariad was written to be a "legend" and the Elenium is as if we are experincing everything all at once for the first time. Everything has a sense of immediacy. If you don't know David and his wife Leigh Eddings, if you've never read a story by them, this is a great place to start. If you love epic fantasy, this IS what it's all about and no one in our day and age does it better. No one.

Before Eddings,I hated fantasy.The only reason I picked up another fantasy book,which by chance was Eddings was because of the illustration on the main cover of the Elenium.However I have not regreted my decision in the least.When I read this series,it transports me to the Eosian continent.A door literally opens and I'm there,beside all the characters,seeing what they see and feeling what they feel.Eddings managed to describe everything vividly and in rich detail that I am convinced at that moment all the characters exist and are real. His characters are diverse and well developed to the point you feel you know them.He also makes you experience emotions and I rate any book that can make me sniffle at the end a superb book. I would gladly reread his books any number of times as I find myself never getting bored.
I would firmly recommend The Tamuli to anyone who's read The Elenium. There in that series, you will be reunited with all your familiar characters that you so love, you will chuckle along as they crack their dry sarcastic jokes and most of all Eddings will lead you into another whole new world beside the Eosian continent and let you experience new thrilling adventures. Kudos to Eddings!

I read this book after getting interested in Everest by reading Jon Krakauer's excellent tale "Into Thin Air". This book explores the search and subsequent find of George Mallory who disappeared on Everest in 1924. The book is told from two perspectives: Conrad Anker's who was the climber that found Mallory's body, and David Roberts who gives historical background on Mallory and his expedition. I was most impressed by Roberts' descriptions of Mallory and the information he provides on the man and his trips to Everest. The comparisons between the folks of Mallory's time and the self-aggrandizing climbers of today's generation was especially interesting. I found Anker's descriptions of his trip to be very egocentric and off-putting when compared to Mallory and his quest for exploration. A telling example was Anker's recount of the rescue they performed for a Ukrainian team caught in a storm. This coupled with the photos they took of Mallory's body for what seems to me to be pure sensationalism only confirmed my lack of respect for these Everest glory hounds of today. All in all I enjoyed the historical accounts of Mallory by Roberts but could have done without Anker's ego trips.

David Robert's depiction of the last days of the 1924 Everest expedition based on his research, Conrad Anker's candid recounting of his and Dave Hahn's successful summit attempt and perilous descent, and Anker's educated guess as to what actually may have happened to Mallory and Irvine: couldn't put it down! Less enthralling, however, from earlier in the book: quotes from men who knew Mallory in his university days who seem to have had a more-than-platonic admiration of him. Thankfully, the book is more about Mallory's passion for climbing Everest than the passion other men had for him!

I became interested in finding out more about George Mallory after watching a television documentary describing the discovery of his body in May,1999. When I learned that one of the climbers on that expedition had co-authored a book describing the historical find I knew I wanted to read it.

By reading it, a lot can be learned about climbing, even by a "grounded" reader like myself. Being a non-climber, I really wasn't aware of the mystique and high regard in which Mallory is held within the community of men and women who challenge themselves to the extremes of mental, emotional and physical endurance by pitting themselves against the unforgiving mountains "because they are there".

The book provides extensive insight into the psyche of Mallory and Conrad Anker, the man who found his body. The talent to climb, the courage to confront the ultimate challenges and the respect and awe held for the mountains, especially Everest, seem to be shared by both.

In my estimation the book accomplished what it set out to do. Most importantly, it preserved Mallory's legend. He was treated with reverance and his feats and accomplishments become more mind boggling when you consider the technological limitations with which he worked.

It helped provide insight into why people climb mountains. Mountaineering taps into the competitive nature of man; Everest is seen as an opponent that needs to be conquered. It is the proving ground that measures a person's mettle and stimulates the instinct for self survival.

The book spends time desribing Andrew Irvine, incredible in his own right, and sheds light on why he was chosen as Mallory's partner for that fateful climb.

The book also addresses the question on most readers' minds, "Did Mallory summit?". Anker followed in Mallory's footsteps and attempted to duplicate the climb. That helped him theorize that Mallory did not make it to the top. He explains clearly why he reached that conclusion and identifies several points that justify his conclusion. He even hypothesizes how Mallory and Irvine died and where Irvine's body might be located.

Finally, this illuminating book offers several anecdotes that both entertain and educate about the most dangerous and exhilirating sport known to man.

The Belgariad series ends with a fluffed up book. While the finally apocalyptic battle between Garion and Torak is exciting, the end of it is somewhat cheesy. The worst part of the book is the useless fluff written in order to extend the ending into a full-fledged novel.

Going into the fifth book, the reader knows that Garion and Torak will fight an epic battle. What the reader shouldn?t have to do is drudge through the micro-management of an army travelling, nor read about how a queen runs a country that has nothing to do with the story anymore. Unfortunately, that?s half the book. Most of the rest of the book is Garion, Silk, and Belgarad travelling. Like usual, they travel, almost face capture or death, and escape. The same sort of thing that happened in the last four books. It seems like Eddings really wanted to extend this series to five books no matter how useless the material was.

Other than that, Eddings does retain his readability, and his imagination is as good as ever. I recommend this book, however, as it tidies up the prophecy nicely.

This review may be abit biased, but in my opinion, those who have slated the book should have another go at it. It is important to read the Rivan Codex to be placed in the proper context of the storyline, characterisation etc. That is onlyif yout have dismally failed to realise the man's brilliance at writing. Granted, David Eddings is not the most prolific writer, but in any creative field, you grow as an artist, and he has shown considerable growth in his other series. Enchanters End Game is a book I shall continue to read, and each time, it will provide fresher entertainment to my eyes. To the reviewer who labels Polgara as a "hag" all I have to say is that you are a mysoginist who is afraid of a woman in power. With your blatant views on females, I do not suggest reading Melanie Rawn's Exiles trilogy. The story is a good one, the ending not to final, but does not leave the reader frustrated. I think the battel with torak is well-written, and was not dragged out for long. The battle of Thull Mardu is a well-written piece and for all the clods out there, it takes precision to stage a battle of that magnitude. I found it delightful reading the battle with the hierachs of Murgodom. So what if the good guys win??? Was Asharak's victory with Garion's parent not enough to satiate a blood lust?? I hav eto disagree with the reviewers who have slated the book. I found it entertaining, worth my time, and would recommend this to anybody who wishes to cut their teeth in the fantasy genre. Thanks

'Enchanter's End Game' brings us the story of how Garion travels towards his final encounter with the god Torak, which he will have to fight in order to save the world from a grim fate. At the same time, Ce'Nedra and the others are gathering an army to meet the threat of the Murgo and Malloreon forces which are converging upon the western kingdoms. I will not give away the ending, but this book is as great as all the other books in the series, and gives a suitable ending to the tale.

This is the sequel to 'Castle of Wizardry', and the final book in the amazing series of five books known as 'the Belgariad'. The series is later followed by another five in 'the Malloreon'. The story is the classic fight between the Evil which seeks to rule the world, and the Good which wants to save it, but what really makes the book so great is the characters. They are all very distinct from each other, with their own personality and desires. Eddings manages to keep them all separate, so that they are not mixed together in a faceless group. Instead they each have their part to play in the quest to save the world.

I have read the entire series at least 20 times by now, and it remains my favorite fantasy. It is lighter than 'The Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, which makes it suitable for younger readers as well, but it is great for anyone from around 12 to 112. I think many, like me, read this series as their first fantasy, and it is a great start to get interested in the world of magic and swordfights. There are other great fantasy series, but this series is still required reading for fantasy lovers.

The Elenium series was definitely one of the best fantasy series I have ever read. Eddings inserts humor in every line; there is a lingering amount of his own wit in every character which I found simply fascinating. My love for enchantment as well as the knights of the Medieval era was realized in this series--no small feat by any means. I recommend this series--Diamond Throne, Ruby Knight, and Sapphire Rose to anyone who appreciates magic, adventure, comedy, and romance in the same book.

I have read all of Eddings books, and many other.
Now I do not know how to live without Sparhawk when I finished the last one. I can strongly recommend anyone to start at the first book, but be careful, you will not be able to stop until the last book is finished to the last page.
I am from Sweden and I have read them all in swedish and now I will buy them in english to see if I missed anything in the translation.

Anyone who likes science fiction will like David Eddings. Just loved all books of the Elenium series.

The problem with using advoates as authors is that you only get one side of the story. In the case of EMDR, for instance, there is research that says a) the eye movements are unnecessary and b) its effects do not last as long as Cognitive-Behavior Therapy based exposure procedures. This really undercuts the second part of the title of this book "for Long-Term Change". Stories and anecdotes are often entertaining but for true treatment help see a professional who reads the scientific research and is not a cheerleader for every fad that comes along.

I found this book to be a remarkable and consise description of a complicated topic. The authors summarized the state of the field of short term dynamic therapy. They held no information back and identified the areas of controversy, particularly conflicting opinions and data on the use of confrontation in the Davanloo approach versus the approach preferred by McCullough and Alpert. Furthermore, the inclusion of EMDR as a dynamic treatment was inovative and exciting. Neborsky and Solomon's chapter on "Changing the Love Imprint" explained how EMDR and the STDP's may have a common therapeutic action, which was helpful to me as was their integration of attachment theory. Finally, David Malan's chapter on the science of outcome evaluation and what we might learn from his career was an inspiration to read. I hope this group continues to write and create more material for clinicians like this!

The recent no-name reviewer from Atlanta who attacked Short-Term Therapy for Long-Term Change's lack of research must have bought some bootleg copy that omitted its hundreds of endnotes and citations. Its dozens of pages of transcribed therapy sessions will hardly be dismissed as "anecdotes" by any mindful reader. The book's six contributors are tops in their fields. Calling them "cheerleaders," as no-name does, is a whooper bordering on delusion. This book is the best available overview of the latest breakthroughs in short-term psychotherapy available.

With the Cisco certification craze in full swing, there are any number of study guides that purport to help one pass the CCIE written exam, the required first step to becoming a CCIE. Most take the approach of following the published exam blueprint, supplemented with excursions into the actual test, then tailoring the content around a best guess as to the actual exam contents.

Not so with the Certification Zone materials. Here a candidate will learn to master protocol behaviour, and to think through the implications of situations posed. One learns to read questions carefully, and to examine the answer choices with a critical eye. Trick questions? Only to those unwilling to take the extra step necessary to become expert.

The Certification Zone materials are not meant to be the only study aids for the CCIE candidate. They are designed to provide the finishing touches to the preparation required to pass this exam. As such, the materials are probably more difficult than the real thing. The questions can be frustrating to those who think they know enough just to get by.

Among the nice features of this CD format are the ability to choose from among several full blown simulated CCIE written exams, as well as the ability to focus on particular topics, such as LAN protocols, WAN protocols, bridging, or routing protocols.

There are plenty of other study materials available. But for those willing to accept the Certification Zone challenge to become a master of networking technology, this CD is a definite must and a valuable part of any preparation effort.

I used the Certification Zone CD extensively in the three weeks prior to my taking the written test, and I passed with miles to spare. I believe I had an edge because I accepted the Certification Zone challenge, and used the materials to help me hone my critical thinking - something quite valuable in a test as challenging as the CCIE written.

I should add that although I did not use the materials for the CCNA, this CD also contains an extensive set of test questions and practice tests for the CCNA exam as well. So an investment by those just starting their certification pursuits can serve candidates well at both the beginning and end of their certification pursuits.

All in all, I have to say that the Study Questions 2000 CD is most definitely a good addition to any Cisco certification candidate's toolkit.

Two unlikelier collaborators you'll never meet -- the red-haired Duchess of York and Madame Vasso, a woman with "blessedhands" from an humble Greek background. Sarah sought tofind her way among the many men who sought to benefit fromher position and the palace schemers who made life difficultfor her. How much of this tale can be believed?? It's hard to tell! Vasso assumes a somewhat petulant, put-upontone at times, and portrays Sarah as a headstrong, willfulyoung woman who could not take "no" for an answer. It'san entertaining read, and will keep you from wasting moneyon fortune-tellers ever again

As I scan the current reviews of Polgara the Sorceress, I notice the same complaints cropping up again and again. It's repititious...we've seen it before...it isn't original. Well, I would like to see how Eddings' could have written this work and NOT have used the old storyline. The premise of this book was to discuss the previous events from a differing viewpoint. I believe that fans of the series will only enjoy learning the inner workings of Polgara's mind during the trials and crisises that crop up during her 3000+ years before the start of the Belgariad. This book makes an excellent companion piece to Belgareth the Sorceror, and a wonderful close to an epic and immensely enjoyable series. It is not, however, a stand alone read...but let's all be rational; it was NEVER intended to be one. The magic of the Belgariad and the Mallorean was special, and finding that type of suspense and mystery this far along is nigh impossible. So, I cannot give this book a higher rating. But, unlike many of the reviews, I found the Arendia plot, the time in the Vale, the love of Ontrose...all of these were excellently done, and elevate the worth of this read. In closing, Eddings' fans should definately add this to their collection. And if you are like me, silently grieve a little knowing that the series is definately over. A good run, Mr. Eddings.

After having read the Belgariad and Mallorean series twice each, Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress were necessary follow-ups that added depth to two excellent sagas. But while Belgarath's "biography" was a great source of missing information and at the same time very funny, Polgara's story fell a little short of the mark. It was a great idea to get a woman's perspective for the sagas, and certainly Polgara was a woman to be reckoned with, but she was portrayed in her own book as being arrogant and conceited at times, and this was very unsettling. Her early childhood story was predictable, since Belgarath had explained a great deal and the two previous chronicles had also dealt with that time quite a bit, and at times I wished that I were there so that I could smack her. Her petulance and childishness diminished her character in my eyes. The description of the bond she shared with her sister was interesting, but this did not offset her bad manners. Her arrogance during her time at court was cute for the first few pages but also grew old quickly. Her attraction to Ontros was a mystery to me, but admittedly I am a man and don't pretend to understodd the female mind. I really liked Killane, and thought he was one of the best characters in the book. Her role as peacemaker in Arendia was nicely done, and of course her role at the Battle of Vo Mimbre. The last section of the book was largely a rehash of Belgarath's explanation of the family line leading to Belgarion, and the smart-aleck comments of the characters, which were supposed to be droll humor, grew quite annoying. These conversations were cute through the Belgariad, became tiring through the Mallorean, and were overdone with the last two books. All in all, the book did offer a new perspective on this incredible epic, but the point was belabored far longer than these fascinating characters deserved.

I understand now why some readers gave a poor review of this book. However, they have forgotten that this book was written from Polgara's viewpoint, not from her erratic father's or a warrior's viewpoint. The reading of this story is absolutely necessary for the avid Eddings' reader. It answers many nagging questions. You finally find out exactly what sacrifices Polgara made to bring Belgarion safely into their world in order to satisfy the prophecy. Her story also completes Belgarath's historical recounting of what had transpired prior to Faldor's Farm. This completion of historical events could only have been told by Polgara. I must change direction here and extend my comments to the authors, Eddings. Please do not end the storytelling here. Your writings are exciting reading. I have not read more enthralling characters or events since the Lord of the Rings. I have been reading your work since the publication of the Pawn of Prophecy in 1982. I feel like I have grown up with Garion. I'd like to know what happens to the Rivan throne and Geran; does Belgarion abdicate or retain the throne (he is immortal)? Or what Garion does after Ce'Nedra dies? Or now that events can begin anew, how does their world evolve? Will other prophecies now have potential to intrude upon them? You are masterful storytellers. Please continue with this world. It fills my imagination.

David Eddings has written what is essentially the same novel four times now, and while it is an undemanding read for those who have enjoyed his previous work, there is a real sense that inspiration was starting to wear very thin.
The writing is lazy. There is too much cutesy author commentary and too many lines and situations being recycled for the umpteenth time, (character X says something outrageous, character Y stares at him helplessly, then gives up and laughs; character X is profoundly shaken by the theological implications of pretty much everything Aphrael gets up to). There is a scattering of teeth-grinding anachronisms ('cookie' 'mom'). The darker themes in this novel - life in an oppressive church run state, religious persecution - do not reconcile well with the cast of familiar, cheerfully bickering archetypes. There's no real tension and no serious threat, since Aphrael is on hand to sort everything out at the drop of a hat. The enemy is unconvincing and there are few significant new storylines - this was the first Eddings book where I found reading a chore. I've read all the other series several times over the past few years, but I only made it through the Tamuli once, and now I'm finding re-reading it drags just as much.

It seems that all you have to do to enjoy a book by Eddings is turn your brain off. It's been some time since I read the Elenium, and I didn't have much expectations as it comes to this sequel, but yes, the man can still write. Some people here complain that the characters never encounter any real danger, but I don't see that as a bad thing. In fact, what I've been missing in many fantasy books is a certain sense of lightness. You can get tired of savage, breathtaking battles for the victory of the good. I mean, we all know the good _will_ win in the end! So why bite your fingernails off for nothing.

Eddings is a humorous writer, of course, but his language is great and makes me laugh very often. Also he has a certain understanding of human nature. This is not great art, but surely there's worse fantasy writers around. I'll be very delighted to read the rest of Tamul.

~The Tamuli is the follow-up trilogy for the brilliant The Elenium, which introduced a hero, called Sparhawk, and followed him on his quest to save his queen, and ultimately his entire world, from the clutches of the e~ details, that might need further explaining. When I first read Domes of Fire, the first book of The Tamuli, I was genuinely impressed, with how well this book took up the very points I had been wondering about... plu~ description of the world thay live in, and of the new continent Daresia in particular. The Tamuli is well worth the effort of buying if you like David Eddings special writing-style. If you have not read The Elenium,