I like this book because two kids win a spelling bee.The winners are Karen and Hank the first one is Karen she wins a lot then she loses a spelling bee and Hank knows he could spell.Then a girl named Debbie wins a spelling bee too.

Ive had this book since 1989. Most collections of short stories have a few interesting stories and the rest are filler but thats not the case here. The sheer number of excellent stories in this one volume is a shock. the common thread being that each had space vessels in it, Though the stories have little more in common than that, except being excellent. My favorites would have to be Far Centaurus by A.E. Van Voght, a moving tale of a suspended animation ship. A Chance Encounter by A. Bertram Chandler, a romantic first contact story. The Oceans are Wide- a really cool novella from Frank M. Robinson on one of my favorite subjects-generation ships. Avoidance Situation by James McConnell
a chilling tale of First Contact with the Dakn Empire. If you can find this collection, buy it!

This will disprove Mark Twain's adage that a claasic is a book that everyone talks about but no-one reads. Not only talk about, read but also enthuse about! A first recommendation for all professionals involved with stroke care, honest, practical and beautifully presented. They don't come much better than this....

O.K., so I'm a sucker for anthologies, but this one is different. The stories range from "Children of Ubasti," by Seabury Queen, first published in 1929, to "The Chronology Protection Case," by Paul Levinson, published just one year ago. By not commissioning stories specifically for this compendium, the editors have shown us the historical development of the supernatural short story in the 20th century, as well as providing an unsurpassed collection of vampires, ghosts, and ghouls that are sure to stir your blood, provided you have not already joined the "Supernatural Sleuths" on the other side.

This book is a collection of short SF stories inspired in biology from the top SF writers. Many subjects appear as genetic engineering, medicine, ethical aspects, ... All the stories are suprising.

Everything you need to install, use, and extend VTK. Detailed examples, installation procedures, developers guide, file format descriptions, how to write imaging and graphics filters, plus data object API details for VTK version 3.1. Includes source code, updated HTML documentation, release notes, data, and PC binaries. User's Guide is 356 pages and comes with the VTK CD.

The VTK Users's Guide is a companion text to The Visualization Toolkit text. While The Visualization Toolkit stresses algorithmic and data structure details, the VTK User's Guide stresses how to use the software. The VTK User's Guide includes a CD-ROM of VTK 3.1.

I know it's out of print, but I gotta recommend this book and its sequel PAY DIRT, collections of Gardner's classic "Bob Zane" stories for the old pulp mag ARGOSY, written in the early thirties. Until the reprint comes, you can usually find these books at your local public library (at least here in the Southwest.)

Gardner truly loved the deserts of Cal, Az and Nevada. His descriptions of them are the best and most evocative I have ever found-- and yes, I HAVE read Edward Abbey's silly, Macho/environmental anti-ranching mantras. Forget that self-important windbag and read these old pulp mysteries instead. I guarantee your time will be better spent!

Bought this book a really long time ago, in fact, I regret to have lost it now. The stories in this anthology were all very interesting and entertaining, I especially like the one written by Poul Anderson on a world similar to ours inhabited by normal people who just happen to be witches, werewolves, vampires and the like. The others aren't as happy as this and will cater to a more blood thirsty and mature audience. The only bad experience I had with this book was that the last few pages of my favorite story got torn out and I never did get to finish it.

An incredible antology of wizardry short stories by Jack Vance, Ursula K. Le Guin and other award winner writers, if you like magic this book will surely put a spell on you, Wizards is an awesome book with 10 charming stories with the warranty of Isaac Asimov's taste.

-to the beholder an advanced science appears to be magic- Arthur C. Clarke's first law

- From Atlantis to California, from the orient to far-distant worlds, come classic tales of wizardry used for evil and for good. from a sorcerous battle where a warlock's only ally is his werewolf, to demons thirsting for the souls of victims and masters alike, to Conan the Barbarian in a danger-filled contest with the forces of darkness, these are spellbinding journeys into Isaac's Asimov's magical worlds of fantasy: Wizards -

Charles Dickens has been one of my favorite authors since I was forced to read him in high school. I had not picked up one of his stories since, but upon reading that David Copperfield was Dicken's personal favorite book he had authored, I decided to try him again. I was not disappointed. Dicken's creates an incredible cast of characters and paints a vivid portrait of 19th-century England. Aside from fulfulling those crucial elements of writing a novel, Dickens tells a terrific story. The initial serialization of the story into 19 monthly parts required Dickens to create many dramatic buildups and twists and turns that kept the audience buying the next installment. When it is all put together the novel is an unexpected roller coaster that has many climbs, dives, loop-the-loops, and sharp curves. In the end everything of course comes together beautifully and the characters all get their just desserts. This is yet another clinic by Dickens in how to write a well organized, though unpredictable, novel that maintains the interest of a reader through approx. 900 pages of writing. It is a wonderful experience that all lovers of good fiction should at least attempt.

David Copperfield, Dickens' favorite child, is an experience. Forget what your high school teacher or college professor told you. Forget all the terribly bad film representations of this book. Forget the glib one-liner reviews about Dickens people being caricatures instead of characters. READ this book. This book is one of the few Real Books in this world.

The great storm scene alone will thunder forever in your memories. You will encounter with Copperfield:
• the evil, chilling Uriah Heep,
• the mental and physical destruction of his mother by a Puritanical,untilitarian step-father,
• the always in-debt Mr. Mawcawber who somehow transcends his economic and egocentric needs into something noble,
• the betrayal of Copperfield by his best friend and Copperfield's shattered emotions by this betrayal,
• the ruination of another close friend's reputation, and her step-by-step climb back out of the mire,
• Copperfield's own passionate step into marriage while too young with an irresponsible, yet innocent child-woman, her death,
• Copperfield's own rise from poverty and orphanhood into worldly success but empty life until mature love rescues him.

Dickens has a real gift for creating people that irritate you, yet gradually you come to love them - just like folks in real life. If you never have read Dickens, come meet David Copperfield. You'll find that your impressions of David from the brief snippets by critics, teachers, reviewers, professors and know-it-alls completely different than the Real Thing.

This is my favourite novel by Dickens and one of my all time favourites.Some of his best known characters are here:the ever optimistic Mr Micawber,the stout hearted Aunt Betsy,the slimy toad Uriah Heep,the troubled Steerforth,faithful Pegotty, honest Ham,the nasty Murdstones, and so on.Even Jip the dog is brought to life with real character.No one has created such characters as Dickens.They are a sheer delight.Dickens has a wonderful sense of humour, which shines in this book.He also has a very readable style of writing.He can be overly sentimental, but this was expected by 19th century readers.Agnes, David Copperfield's second wife and true love is just too good to be believed.We can forgive Dickens these irritations, because he gives us the most memorable characters in literature.Also, there is a great deal of sympathy and affection for ordinary human beings and their foibles in his work.This is a novel which can be read over and over again during a whole lifetime, giving much pleasure with each reading.