This novelization of the mediocre sequel to one of the most successful independent horror movies of all time is a mixed bag. It is filled with spooky, late night atmosphere and tries hard to build tension and suspense from the filmsy story delivered by screenwriters John Carpenter and Debra Hill. On some levels it does succeed where the movie failed in sustaining suspense and atmosphere, but the lack of a strong story to anchor the events renders the chills meaningless. Jack Martin is a pseudonym for Dennis Etchison, who wrote the excellent novelization of Carpenter's ghost story classic The Fog.

This novel, the adaptation of the horror film, was quite a fine read.

The story: The continuation of part one, right from the second that it ended. The shape, Michael Myers, murdered several teenagers after escaping from a mental assylum the night before. He now follows the sole survivor to the hospital where she is brought. His psychiatrist, Sam Loomis, is hot on his trail.

The characters were extreamely believable and easy to relate to. The drugged up Laurie running from the killer. The psychiatrist slowly going mad in his quest to stop a patient. An unenthusiatic skeleton crew at a nearly abandoned hospital. All were handled well.

The author's prose was excelent. He went into fine detail throughout the novel, giving it a more believable feel. Unfortunately, this detail does not apply to the last few chapters. They seem rather hurried, as if the author just wanted to finish.

The terror, the violence, the suspense...all will appeal to readers whether a fan of the film series or not.

I can hear the eerie John Carpenter theme now. This book was actually cool. I've read all of the novels, including the three young adult titles, and consider this one to be one of the best. Try reading it after watching a news story on TV about gun control or gang violence in school and then you'll get the irony. This isn't as bloody as it should be, even though it was a novelization of the movie, but it still ranks as a terrific read. Other titles, if you can find them, to read: "Pretty Maids All In A Row," "Jason Lives: Friday the 13th part 6," "Blood High" and "Funhouse." By the way, Ana Alicia was the sexiest girl in the movie. Yowza!

In the Preface Beasley-Murray (B-M) asks why yet another commentary on John's Gospel and answers, "It seemed that there was room for an attempt to pass on some of the treasures of modern study of this Gospel and with them to combine one's own findings and convictions." To this end he remains faithful throughout the Introduction and commentary proper. We are treated to some of the best insights into John's Gospel, both B-M's and many an eminent scholar's. His enthusiasm for the project shows up again when in the Introduction he describes some of the commentaries on the Gospel in the past fifty years as "among the greatest expositions of the Word of God that have ever appeared" (liii).

The 61-page Introduction is important. It covers the literary sources, development of the traditions, religious relations, authorship, date and place, selected aspects of theology, purpose, and structure of the Gospel. It is rich in theological ideas. It was "as if scales falling from the eyes" as B-M listened to his mentor, C. H. Dodd, explain the structure of the episodes of the Book of Signs (chapters 2-12), each episode consisting of sign plus discourse, and each encapsulating the whole Gospel. He realized that that was probably due to the Evangelist's preaching, as the Evangelist expounded the significance of the traditions in the light of Christ's death and resurrection. Now a familiar observation in Johannine studies, the concept that much of the Fourth Gospel was the product of preaching must have been a creative thought then. New insights have continued to flow unabated as scholars delved into the depths of this Gospel. Nowhere is it more apparent than in the discussion of the Gospel's dual nature, simultaneously depicting the historical ministry of Jesus and the situation and faith of the Johannine community some 50(?) years later. "The Evangelist sets the historical ministry of Jesus in Palestine in indissoluble relation to the ministry of the risen Lord in the world" (xlvii). If Luke traces the origins of the Church in two volumes, one [his Gospel] of Jesus and the other [Acts] of the risen Christ acting through his disciples, John presents the historical Jesus and Jesus the risen Lord together in one book and a single perspective. B-M masterfully sketches in succession how each of several scholars has treated this theme, in the process displaying a fascinating interplay of ideas.

Several other important themes that recur in the commentary proper make their first appearance in the Introduction. While the Kingdom of God is scarcely mentioned [only in vv. 3:3,5], "every line of the Fourth Gospel is informed by it" (xxxiv). The Paraclete actualizes the words and deeds of Jesus in the life of the Church -- the Fourth Gospel itself "is a supreme example of the truth and application of the Paraclete doctrine which it contains" (liii). The concept of Son of God (closely associated with Son of Man) is the prevailing characteristic of Johannine Christology. The glorification of Jesus coincides with his crucifixion (unlike Isaiah's Servant who is exalted because and after he had suffered). The realized eschatology of John is not to be divested of its future aspect (contrary to Bultmann). All these, and more, are elements that B-M uses in the commentary discussions of John's theology, which turns out to be largely Christology. In the end you have to agree with him, "The theme of the Fourth Gospel is Christ" (lxxxi).

In common with other scholars, B-M accepts a four-part structure of the Gospel: (A) The Prologue; (B) The Public Ministry of Jesus, otherwise referred to as the Book of Signs (Dodd, Brown); (C) The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, also known as as the Book of the Passion (Dodd) or the Book of Glory (Brown); and (D) Epilogue. He expresses a reservation, though, concerning the nomenclatures "Book of Signs" and "Book of Passion/Glory", since he considers that the WHOLE Gospel may be viewed as a book of signs and as a book of the passion and glory of Jesus. As he interacts with the established figures of Johannine scholarship, B-M does not hesitate to disagree as well as to cite approvingly, for he is a Johannine expert in his own right. He argues his case very well indeed, but to get the benefit of it you have to read thoughtfully. B-M is never shallow and merits careful study. Knowledge of some Greek will help, but you can still gain a great deal without. Running to about 600 pages, as compared for example with Brown's two-volume, 1200-page work (Anchor 29, 29A), this commentary is necessarily less detailed. But as a presentation of modern Johannine study coupled with the author's independent understanding, it is certainly a noteworthy effort.

The second edition (1999) is identical with the first (1987), with the addition of supplementary bibliographies and reviews of a number of significant books on John that had appeared since the first edition (for example, John Ashton's important "Understanding the Fourth Gospel"). The commentary follows WBC's usual format. Some find the format "unfriendly", but it is not so. The usual gripe that references are given in line with the text (not in footnotes) hardly deserves notice. If you are ready to go beyond introductory expositions of the Fourth Gospel, give this book serious consideration.

I have both the original 1987 edition and the "revised" 1999 edition. To the publishers credit, the 1999 edition does state flat out that the only thing new is 50 pages of updated bibliography and reviews of major book on the Gospel since the original publication. This is all located in one new section in the introductory material. Otherwise, the two editions are identical page for page (even the numbering). If you have the 1987 edition, don't get the 1999 edition unless you need/want an updated bibliography.

If you are looking for a secondary commentary on John's gospel, then Beasley-Murray's is the one for you. Not as detailed as the others like Morris, Schnackenburg and Brown; but detailed enough for Bible study and message preparation. The Do not purchase it as your main commentary for you will soon need to go out and buy one of the others mentioned above. I have not seen the second edition as yet.

At a time in history when we think we have heard the lowest of the low when it comes to our spiritual leaders, this book just fell into my lap. And what a book it is! Not all Catholic priests; but all spiritual leaders, it is tragic how human so many of them are -- and how easily we give them the power to judge our human frailties. How easily their victims trusted them! How tempting it is to take advantage of, and betray that trust.

Perhaps it is we who are to blame for giving any one human being the power of God in our lives. If anything will make you rethink that paradigm, this book will.

"For I have sinned - True storied of clergy who kills" contains eleven horrible stories of pastors, priest, ministers, and nuns who commit the ultimate sin : they kill! In each story Mr John Glatt explains the perpetrators and their victims backgrounds, the act of killing, and what happens afterwards - all in vivid detail.

The victims range from a 22-year-old woman to a couple in their 90s. In one story the murder weapon was found next to the Bible and in another the murderer later delivered the victims graveside eulogy.

Mr John Glatt has done an excellent job with "For I have sinned". He pays attention to many details and he writes in an easy-to-read manner. It is one of those books that is extremely hard to put down. If you think you know your priest, then read this book. The victims thought they knew their priests....

With 8 pages of photos.

It is a wonderful idea to make available recordings of great speeches. I hope we have more of this in the future.
In the case of older speeches, the selection is very good, considering the restraints of time, and the readers are uniformly excellent.
As for the modern speeches, it is a marvel of technology that we can hear these speeches as delivered. It is incredible that we can hear the voice of William Jennings Bryan. I can listen to Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" a thousand times and never tire of it! How I wish I could listen to the voice of Patrick Henry! But this selection is too heavily weighted to the modern, and many of those do not deserve billing as the GREATEST speeches of ALL TIME. Also, some of the modern speeches which are included are abridged, e.g. Reagan is cut off in the middle of a sentence, while lengthy and undeserving speeches are played out in their entirety.
Also, with only a few exceptions, the selection is almost entirely American. It is hard to understand why Jimmy Carter's lengthy speech on energy policy is included, while Pericles' funeral oration is not; or why only a small portion of a single Winston Churchill speech is included; why while Bill Clinton's complete 1993 pulpit address, in excess of 20 minutes, is included.
It would be helpful if the complete list of speeches were available to online buyers, as it would be to shoppers in a brick and mortar store.

I have listened to this collection twice now, both times with pleasure. Hearing the acutal voices of Amelia Earhart, Rev. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill and Neil Armstrong made a deeper connection than simply reading their words. The collection showcases different subjects and many times contrasts opposing viewpoints of the ideas. This volume is a fantastic introduction to the moving ideals and sometimes sad truths that have influenced Western Civilization.

"It is engorged with gossip, spiced with sex, and utterly obsessed with personality...fascinating to read...vivid images...leap from every page" says the miami harold.This book i recently read for an english class non-fiction assisgnment. I have read many book's on John F. Kennedys years in office and before his term. this book is fascinating in every way. If you want a book that goes into detail about his life in politics,sex,family,royalty,and friends I reccomend this book to you. From Cape Cod as a child to hyannis port sailing trips. In this book there is some parts that go into details in his relationship with his father and two brothers."theres facts that many people don't even know" for example he was on crutches to the end of his life and jackie stayed at the white house after he died.If You want detail I recommend this book for you.

Karl
Pinconning,Mi
Pinconning High School

Ralph Martin's "A Hero for our time" is simply one of the best-written and most engrossing accounts of John F. Kennedy that I have read. Despite its' length the book goes remarkably fast, and I finished it in just a few sittings. However, this book is NOT an in-depth, traditional biography of John F. Kennedy's political career, and those who want to read more about the great events of JFK's political career would be well-advised to look elsewhere. Instead, this is an "oral biography" of JFK's life from childhood forward. Martin interviewed dozens of Kennedy's closest friends, relatives, and political aides to present a vivid account of what Kennedy was like as a person - and of what it must have been like to know him personally, or to work for him. The result - as one of the newspaper reviews above accurately states - is like getting the "People" magazine or A&E's "Biography" version of the Kennedy saga. While often factual and well-researched, this book is also filled with gossip - which, while juicy and fascinating - should also be taken with a grain of salt. Martin includes all aspects of Kennedy's personal life - his sickly childhood on Cape Cod, his wild bachelor days, his courtship of the beautiful and aristocratic Jacqueline Bouvier and the Royalty-style wedding, his sometimes-troubled marriage to Jacqueline, his many extramarital affairs, his serious health problems, etc. But Martin does include more weighty material, such as Kennedy's relationships with his father, his brothers Robert and Teddy, and the inner workings of the family's remarkable political machine which in 1960 "beat the odds" to make him our youngest elected President, and the first (and only) Catholic to become President. This book's strengths lie in its' ability to present what JFK the man must really have been like - the eloquence, intelligence, wit, the ability to have fun (and get others to share in it), and the movie-star glamour and charm are all here. The book's weaknesses lie in its' reliance on gossip for some details, and in the way it skims over the details of JFK's political career without ever going in-depth. However, in my opinion this book's strengths far outweigh its' weaknesses, and if (like me) you're too young to have any memory of the Kennedy Presidency and wonder why he was considered to be so exciting, charming, and charismatic, then this book will help you to understand why. Recommended!

It is hard to tell how a man will do as President based on his experience. Some figures with virtually no political experience became good Presidents, such as Washington and Lincoln; others were failures such as Grant or Hoover. On the other hand, political experience is no guarantee of success: John Quincy Adams and James Buchanan had decent resumes going into office and had miserable presidencies. Martin Van Buren, one of the most politically talented of all Presidents, was not an utter failure, but he didn't shine in office either.

In Niven's biography, we follow Van Buren from his impoverished roots through his rise in New York state government. Although not perfect, Van Buren had enough political astuteness and the right sort of temperment to help create and lead a party machine and elevate New York's prominence on a national level. Becoming a trusted advisor to Andrew Jackson and a member of his cabinet eventually led to his Vice Presidency and then the Presidency. With a major financial crash occurring right as he got into office, Van Buren was struggling right off the bat, and wound up serving only a single term; nonetheless, in an era of one-term presidents (from 1837 to 1861, no president was re-elected), Van Buren was hardly thrown into ignonimy after his defeat; instead, he remained a powerful member of the Democratic party for the next two decades.

Niven's biography is generally favorable although he doesn't hide Van Buren's flaws. We learn of a man who was not a great ideologue but was one of the most masterful politicians of his era, holding his own with the often more prominent figures such as Jackson, Calhoun, Clay and Webster. He also wound up being a prominent figure in the anti-slavery movement, even running on the Free-Soil ticket at one point.

At times, however, this biography is a bit ponderous and often focuses so much on the political part of Van Buren's life that the personal part is pushed aside. Thus, although this may be the best Van Buren biography available (it may also be the only one), I cannot give it a full five stars. Nonetheless, this is overall a very good book and worth reading if you are interested in this period of history.

This is a very readable and interesting book that deals with the long and highly political life of Martin Van Buren. He comes off very well as a hard-working, fair and moral politician who practically establishes the democratic party as a well-oiled machine for both New York state and the United States. I have now read multiple books about the first eight presidents and he can hold his own with almost all of them so far. Highly recommended.

The title of this book, "Paul Between Damascus and Antioch", is a little misleading. This book is not nearly as much about Paul as it is about earliest Christianity.

Hengel explores the first 15-20 years of the Christian movement in great detail. Unlike many scholars today, Hengel gives the book of Acts a great deal of respect as a reliable source of historical information for this era. This aspect was refreshing.

Unfortunately, I did not come away from this book with the belief that I had learned much of anything about the person of Paul. However, I did learn a great deal about the Christian movement in the 30's and 40's C.E.

A basic knowledge of Greek vocabulary would be beneficial to the reader of this book, but its certainly not necessary. You can know nothing of the Greek language and still learn much.

A much superior book on Paul is by F.F. Bruce entitled, "Paul - Apostle of the Heart Set Free".

Dr. Martin Hengel is currently the top NT historian alive in the eyes of many NT authorities. Here he is at his best. This rich treatment of Pual's early history as a convert has already made a huge impact on Pauline studies around the globe. Hengel's capacity to surface an authentic sketch of earliest Christian history and issues related to first century Judaism sets the standard for leading edge NT scholarship. I recommend this book very highly for anyone serious about the subject matter.

Greek language skills are recommended, but perhaps not necessary.

This adventure is the 2nd part of the famed 'Enemy Within' campaign for Warhammer FRP originally published by Games Workshop. The adventure, set in the small town of Bogenhafen has been described by its authors as a 'Call of Cthulhu' scenario. This means investigation, conspiracies, secret cults, and fateful summonings. Above all, it encourages roleplay since there is a bare minumum of violent action.

While many Warhammer FRP veterans enjoy this adventure and rate it highly, I prefer a more balanced style of adventure design. As it is written, the game features a lot of investigation and interaction, and almost no action. However if your group is fortunate enough to consist of players who prefer roleplay over combat, add one star - this adventure is made for you. Players with way too many weapon specialization skills would probably be unconscious with boredom before the end.

This adventure is not recommended for players who like only hack and slash. SOB is lighter version of Power behind the throne. Player characters are drawn to Bögenhafen by a mistake. There they are faced by a great threat of Chaos. One of the very high persons in Bögenhafen is corrupted and players are to find out who it is. Guilty one is found out quite easily, but problem is: How to find evidence hard enought to collapse him/her? Can players stop the catastrophe? This adventure is the first of The enemy within campaign. So player characters should not be too powerful. Very fascinating and interesting book. I recommend.

90 Days with the Christian Classics is perfectly suited for once a day dosing! For each day there is a portion of the Bible connected to a passage from a Christian author of yesteryear. My only disappointment was some difficulty in identifying the sources cited for each authors. The lives of the authors cited spans over 1000 years, so these are words from history for our age! Pertinent biographical information on the authors is also included briefly. The editors have done well to anchor this work with substantial amounts of Bible excerts. The Bible, which is the best selling book of all time, is truly a treasured echo from history for our age! The hard padded book cover is magnificent and will serve well when readers bring it along on their travels.

Van Buren wrote his memoirs in the 1850s while living in England. The work covers the period from his early political carrer in New York through Andrew Jackson's presidency. Van Buren's own presidency in not covered. His anecdotes regarding Jackson, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Calhoun are interesting and stimulate one to read more of the era. The animosity between the Federalist and Republican parties in the early 19th century is also a common theme. There is a lot of self-serving fluff regarding issues the affected Van Buren the politician as the book passes the halfway point and my interest here waned. Van Buren never mentions his wife--although his sons are mentioned. If you are interested in this era of American history and have a prior grasp of the issues at hand, this work may provide some enjoyable and entertaining insight into the period.