This is the timeless story of a man who grows to love a woman during a turbulent time in history. They share a forbidden love, painted against the backdrop of a bitter and bloody war. When Michael has little else to keep him going, in the depths of a terrible jungle, there is the vision of his love, his Sabby. The author has created a wonderful work, well written and woven through with many background elements, history, culture, romance, war... My original copy is worn beyond repair, yet I will treasure it always. "Though on the sign it is written, don't pluck these blossoms, it is useless again the wind, which cannot read..."

It's good to see Chaosium getting back to topnotch books again. This one along with Unseen Masters, represents a "new wave" of Call of Cthulhu - as good or better than any of the stuff released in years.

You can't really go wrong with this package, it's got background resource material for the Goatswood area and a nice bundle of scenarios that look like fun to run (I can't wait to spring some of them on my group! HEH HEH HEH) I don't want to give away any spoilers but there's an S&M club, and the "GUARD" at the club is such a wicked idea not to mention the dude who runs the place. Good to see Ramsey the man himself giving the introduction, read his Silent Children book if you really want to get chills!

The artwork is decent, and lots of it. Plenty of handouts too, which are really important as far as I am concerned. One thing I could do without though is the side illustrations, they take up too much room that could maybe be used for information. But that's a small jibe compared to the value.

I'm a longtime Cthulhu keeper but new to Ramsey Campbell (other than the material in the rulebook). The first half of the book is devoted to resource material covering magic, monsters and locations in the fictitious Severn Valley (well the Severn Valley itself isn't fictitious of course). The second half is devoted to a campaign of 7 or 8 scenarios. Everything is well written, well thought out and seems very playable. I'm looking forward to running it!

I've waited a long time for this one, and the wait was worth it! It's chock full of scenarios (forming a campaign which you can ignore if you want), and lots of background material on Ramsey Campbell's Severn Valley. I wish there'd been more maps and maybe more info on some of the locations but all in all, this is a COOL package!

I really enjoyed this book.There is sure to be a massive wave of new found interest in the suprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the events surrounding it due to the upcoming movie, and anyone who wants to get a feel for what it was really like to be there on the deck of a battleship dodging bullets and bombs, this book is unequaled anywhere. What really makes this an outstanding book is not just the gripping account of the attack itself, but also of the time period just beforehand. Mr Mason does an excellent job of relaying the false sense of security and invincibility that we as Americans held before we were thrown headlong into the most savage and trying war in the history of mankind. Mr Mason's portrait of the life of a sailor in the days of the pre-war "Old Navy" is something to be treasured and preserved especially now that our population of veterans from that period is inexorably fading. I thought that the author could ease off on some of the "50-cent" words, as constantly having to consult your dictionary can interfere with your enjoyment of this book. Overall, a great read, and a must have for anyone interested in Pearl Harbor or naval history.

My Dad was assigned to the USS California from 1936 until she was sunk on December 7th. The book reads just like the stories he would tell. My Dad past away Nov 2002. He spent 30 years in the Navy and most of the stories he told were when he was on the "Prune Barge". He played football and baseball on the ships team. I always wondered if the sailor Mr. Mason spoke to when he was touring the ship when first assigned was my Dad - he was a MM3 - "snipe" - worked in the engine room. It sure did sound like a response my Dad would give. One of the sailors awarded the Medal of Honor, Robert Scott (Zeke) was my fathers best friend on the California. They were "Battleship Sailors".

I couldn't lay this book down, once started. Ted Mason put me back in Hawaii during those dark days of 1940/41. He vividly describes how it was to be a sailor in the rigid "pecking order" of the "Old Navy." As a Pearl Harbor Survivor myself, he made that day come alive. More important, he reminded me of the days of the fleet at San Pedro in 1939. Read it if you have any interest in how it was to be a young bluejacket in the pre-war Navy.

This was a far better book than I thought it would be. I recalled vaguely the rather anaemic film of the same name, and thought that if it was different from the film, a novel of this vintage, with a story line about a Hong Kong prostitute, would be a sickly romantic fantasy, pulling all its punches.

The novel is a romance, telling of the growing relationship between the British painter Robert Lomax and the prostitute Wong Mee-ling ("Suzie Wong"). However, it contains much of interest despite the fact that one could be hyper-critical and question the plausibility and originality of the plot. Small sections of the writing are very below par - I thought the court scene in particular was very poor.

On the positive side (which outweighs the negative, in my opinion) the world of Hong Kong prostitutes is depicted in a sympathetic but not a naive way: the sense of hopelessness, brutality, disease, violence, poverty, and exploitation are all covered. Men too are treated sympathetically, but by no means uncritically. All of the male characters are lonely and inadequate - one (the American, Rodney Tessler) is seriously unhinged, even dangerous - another is manipulative and pathetic (the married Briton, Ben Jeffcoat). Mason does not spare the British expatriates and colonial adminsitrators - their petty class-consciousness and overt racism are depicted graphically.

In spite of the flaws I mentioned above, I thought that Mason's writing was on the whole stylish and controlled - it held my attention throughout.

Read this book not for its story but for its descriptions. The "hooker with a heart of gold" is arguably the oldest and most flailed to death device in Western literature. It's a trope all the more stale when told through the eyes of the chivalrous man who saves the sweet girl from her sordid fate.

However, "The World of Suzie Wong" is worth the read not for its obviously silly plot but rather for its amazing descriptions of Hong Kong, from the seedy Wan Chai to the sophisticated snobbery of the Peak, in the 1950s. With its detail of chaotic streets, lecherous sailors, and the noble [people] themselves, it's less a bird's eye view of the port city than a roach's perspective, but sometimes the roach gets a more accurate portrait than the bird.

Mason has a meticulous eye for detail, and that's what has made the book a classic. The minitae of outfit and carraige, the lighting and seats at a late night restaurant, the layout of a shop window, the drinks and predjudices at a cocktail party...these are the things that old Hong Kong alive to the reader.

Credit is also due to the author for mostly avoiding, and often forthrightly criticizing, the racism of the time. The book works ultimately because Suzie is a multi-demensional character, not a characature of the Chinese Doll. She's not even sympathetic much of the time, although we're made to understand what the narrator sees in her.

Ultimately, what matters of this book is not Suzie Wong herself, but the world she inhabited, and which we get to visit for a few brief hours.

I have never read, nor ever expect to read a novel as beautiful as this one. The World of Suzie Wong reads like pure song. Richard Mason takes an oftentimes tawdry subject matter and delivers a charming novel. If any novel could be classified as poetry, this novel would qualify. Upon completion the reader will feel as though he or she has just finished the most satisfying of meals, complete with dessert, cigar, and cognac. This is one that you will return to again and again; it will never let you down. I can not recommend it enough.

This terrific guide to one of my favourite places in the world is an inspiration to all first time travellers to this sceptered isle.I particularly liked the third chapter which discusses my favourite part of Bali,Its a really beautiful place that all people should attempt to visit.

I used this book to tour Bali in 1991-ish and found it an outstanding guide to the culture of Bali, a very unique Indonesian island. The best features are the excellent maps which illustrate the small, unpaved, unmarked roads. Although phone numbers and such may be out of date, these are not important to having a great time in Bali.

This book is a great introduction to the history of Japan, as the liner on the back of the books says. It suffers a little from the obvious problem of trying to squeeze two thousand years of civilisation into 370 pages, and as such is basically a fleshed out timeline. There is little elaboration on events and presents the reader with an endless string of historical characters, places and dates. However, there is a good focus on the development of the arts in each period. It would seem the authors have a great liking for Japanese verse, so the seemingly often appearance of poetry excerpts can get a little annoying if one is reading it purely for historical information. The book also glosses over recent Japanese history, from about the beginning of the occupation by American forces. As a turbulent time, there would be a lot to write about but if you're interested in that, try John Dower's "Embracing defeat" or a number of other books on Japan's modern history. If you are planning on making a visit to Japan this may be a good book to read so that you know when "that castle" or "this temple" was built, by whom and why.

This book makes an excellent introduction to Japanese history, as it covers the whole spectrum of history and does not focus in on one part too much. About two thirds of the chapters cover political and general history, and the other third look at cultural and religious developments. My only problems are that it doesn't seem to go in-depth in Buddhism enough and it seems to move past the civil war in the 16th century too quickly. It is especially good at developing the ideas of Shiki land rights and how Buddhism developed in Japan. A good general history or introduction to Japanese history.

I used this book through out medical school. It helped me with developing and then fine tuning my skills in history taking and physical examination. It is a must buy for every medical student.

This book has been for many decades the bedrock of clinical skill education for many medical students and residents alike particularly with British oriented education. It is next only to the stethoscope in the must-have category. I find the layout in the recent editions particularly refreshing. The book maintains it's unique ability of providing useful and in depth background for clinical examinations as well as their various interpretation, while not overburdened you with unnecessary details. It played a significant role in my medical education and continues to provide useful and practical tips even in my practice.

And that is descriptions of longer treks.
There are a few described as 4-8 days long in this book, but when walking I found that that would have been at a snail's pace and the times given had to be halved. Even a quick look at the regional maps will confirm that all hikes described only cover relatively small areas.
So those planning a longer trek through the backcountry of Japan might be disappointed, but I understand there aren't many of those.
On the other hand, those looking for advice on short hikes in national parks or near the major cities will find lots of good ideas, and practical details that tend to be amazingly correct by guidebook standards!

I found that you really don't have much of a choice if you are going to Japan and are interested in recent comprehensive English hiking guides. There is a lot of information once you get to Japan on day hikes available from the tourist information places in each town. I found that for a survey trip, this book was just extra weight in my pack. (I ended up using this book thrice for 1-2 days trips on a 3 week trip to Japan, and that was pushing it.)

I did read it and looked at the pretty pictures to get an idea of where to go during my Japan trip planning phase. It is useful to the person focused on hiking around Japan. This may seem obvious, but it's basically a trail guide. It gives great information (including translations of hiking signs) that isn't found in other more general guide books. It tells you how to get to a trailhead, and where to go once you get there, and has some sections on floura, etc. native to Japan.

Although they are great (just because they exist), I found the trail maps lacking at times, especially (and surprisingly) for the everybody-does-it Mt Fuji trek.

Good reading if you're thinking about multi-day treks. Otherwise, skip it for a more general (regular Lonely Planet) guide since it will just weigh down your pack.

Very well written and detailed description of the trails of Japan. Excellent resource to prepare potential hikers and walkers for the task of exploring the hinterlands of Japan...

I strongly recommend this book as well as any other Tom and Scott mystery. Mark Richard Zubro always weaves a web of mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the end. And you would be hard pressed to find a more perfect example of gay heros.

Well, you always knew that when high school teacher, Tom Mason and baseball ace pitcher, Scott Carpenter ever decided to officially tie the knot, you should get ready for the media event of the century. And that's what happens in this the ninth book in the ever-popular Tom and Scott mystery series.

The grandest ballroom in Chicago has been rented for the ceremony with a multi-denominational band of clergymen and women set to officiate and all the family, friends, political and sports elite and a multitude of irate and uninvited protesters in attendance. Unfortunately, one of the unexpected guests is Tom's first gay lover, Ethan Gahain, who says he has to talk with Tom. Their affair had taken place when they were both seventeen, and before Ethan dumped him two years later.

The ceremony itself went without a hitch other than the intended one. But before Tom can talk to Ethan and the planned indoor fireworks can take place, fireworks of another sort go off in the men's room when Ethan is found brutally murdered. As you night expect, Tom is the one to discover the body and in the process he get properly bloodied. Everyone knows Tom couldn't be the murderer, and Ethan's parents ask Tom and Scott to investigate the murder.

Along way Scott's teenaged delinquent nephew gets involved, as well as hidden camera pornography and blackmail. Tangled webs have been woven and Tom and Scott have to unravel them.

Though the series is growing a little old and the book is lacking in the surprises of the earlier episodes, Zubro still has a great way with words and his wit and realistic style get you through the book in a totally interesting manner. But it might be time to put more emphasis on his Paul Turner series, or to explore possibilities of a new series.

One of the features of this book is a trip Tom and Scott make to Saint Louis. I always enjoy rating authors on their ability to plot their action through the local streets and landmarks. Zubro scored a 9.8 with only two minor errors. Hey, that's better than what a local mystery writer scored on his last book.

This book is a story of two brave gay men uniting in love and life. Unfortunately, many people are still intolerant of the rights of others who do not behave as they think people should and will cause trouble for them any way they can.

I love the books that I have read by Mark R. Zubro. Anything he writes is entertaining, interesting, and a GREAT READ!

In 1886, expert piano tuner Edgar Drake receives an unusual request from Her Majesty's War Office to service a rare grand piano in a remote area of the Burmese Army's division. Surgeon-Major Carroll heads a post of strategic interest to Britain there, and the government has reluctantly agreed to deliver a grand piano to him or risk his threat of resignation. Thus Drake's services are requested and his adventure to Burma begins. As Drake leaves his wife behind, he sets out on his long journey that lasts for months. The reader begins to wonder if he will ever reach his destination. We are rewarded after this long beginning and journey in the second half of the book, with a story that is filled with beautiful descriptions of exotic pre-colonial Burma, its people, and their dramatic history. After Drake finally meets Major Carroll, and finally tunes the piano, the story picks up at a fast pace that will keep you glued to your seats. Drake finds himself more involved than he ever expected in Major Carroll's affairs. When Drake meets a new love interest, Khin Myo, both of them set out on an adventure that is quite surprising, and we are soon rewarded with an unexpected climax to this stunning novel.

I truly enjoyed Mason's debut historical novel. It's a beautifully written story that will take you away to a time when things were so much simpler. It's a great travelogue, and a peaceful way to spend a few hours relaxing. I know I am now definitely a fan of Mason's writing, and look forward to his next endeavor. "The Piano Tuner" is quite an achievement!

Joe Hanssen

I read The Piano Tuner and thoughts of many other books...Heart of Darkness, Passage to India and the Odyessy came to mind....to say nothing of the works of R. Kipling. Nevertheless, this book is an amazing first novel filled with beauty, intrigue, mystics and seers, stories within stories, a journey to self-discovery and uncertain realities. All this in 300+ pages!
The poetry of Mason's language sings, bringing to the reader's eye a foreign world of great beauty, not just the lush green jungles of Burma, but of the people who inhabit this mysterious and dangerous country.
Why Carroll needs a piano tuner from England is never made entirely clear and perhaps it doesn't really matter because the story is really about Drake, the mild-mannered introspecive piano tuner who travels from Victorian England to a tiny village deep in the jungles of Burma to tune a French piano.
Drake undergoes profound changes as he first travels to Burma and then lives in the tiny village of Mae Lwin. My first criticism of the book is that I wanted more of the interior life of Drake, a better understanding of how and why he changed. Mason didn't offer enough.
Secondly, the trip to Mae Lwin took at least half the book. At times, despite the beautiful prose, it was an effort to continue the trek with Drake. I'm glad I stuck to it.
The ending was abrupt but I thought perfect for this book.
Last but not least. The pages were jammed with the author's knowledge of Burma. Depending upon the reader, this could be a
plus or minus.

A Great first Novel!
I was lucky to pick up an advanced copy of this first novel at the library. It caught my attention with its subject matter as I had just read'Tournament of Shadows' by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Brysac about the history of the 'great game' in Central Asia (a great non-fiction book). I found the Piano Tuner's adventure story and it telling against the roll of the British Army in the jungles of Burma an interesting backdrop to this novel set in the late 1800s. The Piano Tuner is going to be a big hit! It is so well written, filled with great visuals and as the Piano Tuner, Edgar Drake, travels from London to Burma just to tune a mysterious piano for a mysterious officer. It's basic structure reads like 'Heart of Darkness'. I really enjoyed this first novel. (I am sure Mr. Daniel Mason will not be able to complete medical school as we will all want to read his next book.) Now I wonder who will make this into a movie.. I see Ralph Fines in the lead.