This book was a gift to me. I would never have purchased such a stodgy looking guide if I saw it in the bookstore. I actually got the larger Hawaii Handbook covering all of the Hawaiian islands. This book is the Big Island section of that book and includes comprehensive general Hawaiian island information as well. If someone is planning a multiple island trip they should go for the bigger book. Even if you are not going to Hawaii but want to know about Hawaii get this one. I devoured this book during the long flight to Hawaii and must say it was by far the very best travel guide that I have ever read and used to any destination. (And I have read them all.) It is so comprehensive and the writing is so well done that reading all of the information was almost like reading a page turner novel for me. I could not get enough. Once we were in Hawaii we found this guide totally indispensible. We traveled with a few other nice guides but, with all of their color photograpy and fancy maps, eventually this one was the only one we felt was worthwhile. (You can get all the maps you will ever need once you get there.) After touring extensively I read it with even more interest on the long flight home. We plan to return to tour just the Big Island and this is the one we will bring. It is not glitzy it is the real thing. Enjoy.

What I like about this one is its emphasis on local specialties and culture. This is a hallmark of Moon's guides in particular, and this one is no exception. The only thing missing is color photos. Buy it!

I used J.D.'s guidebook to all of Hawaii last trip in '92 and I'm glad that he's written one specifically for the big island. I've bought this one in preparation for this year's trip to the big island. If you want to know more than which of the big resorts are the best then this guidebook is great!

This book was about the first rocket ship to go to the moon in 1969. Two men were chosen to walk on the moon,Neil Armstong and Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong made the statment "That,s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind". They collected moon rocks and did experiments. The walk on the moon was televised so everyone could see what was happening.

This book was not very exciting because I already knew what was going to happen. I wish they talked more about about how it felt to be wieghtless. I also thought the problems ended to quickly. I guess I wanted more details about what was happening. I didnt really enjoy this book.

For readers who love true adventure stories, this is a beautifully illustrated account of the first lunar landing. With a carefully researched and dramatic story by Lisa Combs and detailed artwork by award-winning illustrator Robert F. Goetzl, Rocket to the Moon will hold readers spell-bound.

This is a very beautiful and very informative picture book. My son, who is interested in attending Space Camp, thought it was great. We read it together, and I even learned a few things. It reminded me how brave the astronauts are!

The principal story bears the title of this collection of short and not-so-short Heinlein tales, most of them a part of his "Future History" timeline.

Delos Harriman, an aging business mogul with the dream of traveling into space, makes good his childhood hopes by creating the first moon shot through commercial and private ventures rather than with government or military support. His pursuit of this dream against opposition on all sides makes for a wonderful tale of legal chicanery, innovation, and genius. Through commercialization of space, Harriman opens the final frontier to humanity and establishes the basis of many Heinlein stories to come.

A later story in the book, "Requiem," brings Harriman's tale full-circle as the founder of all space travel finally achieves his personal dream of reaching the moon; legal wrangling and fear of his health had kept him earthbound for decades after the first moon mission.

The stories in this book all make up a portion of Heinlein's "Future History," but the order they are presented in is not logical. "Blowups Happen" and "The Roads Must Roll" should be among the first tales and "Requiem" one of the last, but as a timeline for the Future History is included, one can see where the tales are supposed to fit in.

Some of the technical details are indeed dated as Heinlein penned many of the stories during the Golden Age of science fiction; he decided upon attempting revisions to "Blowups Happen" that such changes actually detracted from the stories as continually revising them for new developments was counterproductive. Read them for what they are and the ideas they contain, not necessarily for the scientific aspects.

Readers wishing to see the Future History unfold in their logical order and entirity should consider the book "The Past Through Tomorrow," another Heinlein anthology devoted to the stories of that series--but this book is a good place to start.

Considering this collection was written in the late 30's and early 40's, and was, in fact, the first volume of Heinlein's now-famous Future History, it has actually held up quite well throughout the ensuing years. However, some of the events in the stories have been inevitably dated. It is still well worth reading, though. Heinlein's quick-paced writing style and caustic wit, not to mention lovable characters, always make his stories worth reading, regardless of when they were released. Also, the stories here, for the most part, focus not on the scientific aspects of the technologies in question, but rather the sociological and political sides of them. This is what Heinlein brought to science fiction. He showed us that the key ingredient in good science fiction is story and characters, not the technology being showcased; and by focusing his stories on the characters within and their aspects, his stories are usually just as readable now as the day they were released, even if some of their inherent technology has been dated by subsequent advances in science. Aside from being the first volume in the Future History series, this book is also notable for containing Heinlein's first ever published story, Life-Line. I'm sure you all know the premise-a man invents a machine that shows when people will die-but it is an interesting read if you haven't, and an epoch in the sense of it being the starting point in the career of one of science fiction's greatest writers. Blowups Happen and The Roads Must Roll (does this story remind anyone else of H.G. Well's The Sleeper Awakes?) both focus on technologies that are now fundamentally debunk in the modern day world, but they both focus instead on the people running these technologies (atomic factories and rolling roads respectively), and are an interesting look into sociology and psychology in science fiction. Let There Be Light is a short, decent piece. The Man Who Sold The Moon novella is the title and longest piece in this collection. It is almost totally devoid of actual science, as it has a rather unique, in fact, plotline for science fiction; but has as it's protagonist a seemingly rather crooked, dishonest character who is not particularly of the usually lovable Heinlein kind. It's still an entertaining story, as the writing style is excellent and fast-paced, and the dialogue is exquisite. Requiem features the same main character, and shows a seemingly total different side of him. This story is quite a bit different from most Heinlein, as it is primarily and emotion-based bit, reminding me of something more along the lines of Arthur C. Clarke. Interesting. Although not his best stories, the ones contained in this collection are worth reading, and a must, eventually, for any Heinlein fan.

The Man Who Sold the Moon, the first entry in Heinlein's Future History, assembles six of Heinlein's earliest short stories from the late 1930s and 1940s. All but one of these stories deal either directly or indirectly with the moon and the means of getting there. Certainly, most of the scientific ideas Heinlein espouses here are obviously dated and untenable, but that really doesn't matter to me. The excitement over the idea of leaving the confines of earth and traveling to the moon and planets is downright infectious and stimulating. Mankind set foot on the moon a year before I was born, but Heinlein's stories really convey the passion and desire that yesterday's dreamers must have felt about an idea that was patently absurd to many people in 1950. This amazing spirit, willful determination, and lifelong obsession to reach the moon are revealed most powerfully in the person of D.D. Harriman. Harriman is the proverbial man who sold the moon, a man whose presence and influence is felt throughout the entire book. The title story, almost the size of a novella, is an account of Harriman's bold plans and even bolder strategies for getting to the moon. His wheelings and dealings for funds make for an enjoyable read; he has endless ideas for promoting the project and securing funds from any number of sources. Here he is the embodiment of commercialism and steadfastness, but then, in "Requiem," we see the human side of his character. This story is a touching tribute of sorts to Harriman-stripped of all business guises, we see Harriman the dreamer, the little boy who looked up at the moon at night and swore that some day he would set foot on its surface. "Requiem" is a more than appropriate title for this tribute to Harriman and his vision.

One thing you are going to need in order to reach the moon is fuel. "Let There Be Light" describes the development of an unlimited power source. "The Roads Must Roll" warns of the new kinds of dangers to be expected in a world of rapidly advancing technology; abundant energy does not eliminate the sometimes negative effects of human nature. "Blowups Happen" is centered around the preeminent nuclear power plant in the world. Any slip up here would lead to incomprehensible disaster, and workers there, especially the engineers who single-handedly keep the atomic reaction red-hot yet under control, are subject to total breakdowns caused by stress. Each worker is supervised by a psychiatrist who has the authority to yank the guy from the job at the slightest hint of a mental hiccough. It is here, though, that the rocket fuel needed for space travel is discovered, tying the story in nicely with the rest of those assembled here. "Life-Line" is notable for being Heinlein's first published story; published in Astounding in 1939, the author received a rather impressive figure of $70 for it. Its protagonist claims that he can scientifically foretell the time of any person's death, an idea which does not go over well with either academics or insurance agents. The contempt expressed toward professional sciences is rather curious here.

With the exception of "Life-Line," these stories are all interrelated. D.D. Harriman is one of Heinlein's most memorable characters; I believe there is a lot of Heinlein in Harriman, and that is one reason these stories are as enjoyable now as they must have been upon publication. As I said, the fact that man has already reached the moon by different means than Heinlein suggested here takes nothing away from the joy, wonder, and hopeful optimism that pervade all of these pages. In fact, Heinlein rekindles the love of learning and dreaming that led to the types of scientific advancements we take for granted today and will lead to the astounding advances of tomorrow.

This third book in the Howard Moon Deer series deserves 3.5 stars.

I find it very interesting that this novel is billed as a 'Howard Moon Deer' novel, when in fact the character Moon Deer makes up one half of a the detective team of Wilder & Associate. Throughout the novel, while Howard does play an integral part of the unfolding mystery, it is his mentor and boss, retired CA. policeman, Jack Wilder who has just as much action. Even more so, it is Jack Wilder that the P.I. firm is named after, and it is Jack that pretty much is part of the climax and resolution of the overall mystery here.

I purchased this book for its somewhat synonymous genre of modern Native American mysteries as Tony Hillerman would write about in his Jim Chee & Joe Leaphorn novels. Whereas Hillerman mixes in traditional Native American culture, history, religion, and tradition into his novels author Robert Westbrook barely touched on any of this in this novel. Actually our star, Howard Moon Deer, is very educated. He can speak French and English quite well and attended Ivy League schools. He often comments on how far removed he is from 'traditional' Native American life as he has mastered the yuppie slang, has a taste for Café Aulaits and wine, and is involved with an equally educated white woman.

So what part makes this a southwestern novel? Well, events take place in the fictional town of San Geronimo, New Mexico. The author compares San Geronimo to a smaller scale Santa Fe and Taos, as it is centered around an artist community/mentality and tourism. Sure there are some references to Native American culture, but not many.

The story was nothing new. Current mystery revolves around a recent murder and a stolen Georgia O'Keefe painting from years past. As the mystery unfolds, we learn of another murder and mystery tied to it from the past as well, but conveniently all the players from back then are still present today. Overall, the story was entertaining, and you really get interested in the cast of characters. The characters are pretty well defined and all have apparent motivations and definitions that make them fun and quirky. However, the climax was a slight let down as everything happened too fast and wasn't overly exciting or action packed. It was a fairly easy read, as I finished the 297 pages in less than 4 days, and I would definitely read the next one just so I can see the resolution of a few interesting non-essential story threads that presented themselves throughout the tale. Some of these seem to dictate the actions of Howard, his girlfriend, and Jack and the way they perceive each other.

In closing, Robert Westbrook has some very good characters in Howard Moon Deer and Jack Wilder, but I don't think this story utilized their full potential.

I really enjoyed Red Moon. It is a classic, mystery-suspense novel, but is so well written that it belongs with the best of the genre. I especially enjoyed all I learned about New Mexico and that the characters were so well drawn. I found it so interesting that the detective was blind and that we "saw" things through his "eyes" and I enjoyed the protagonist, Howard Moon Deer who is flawed but kind and sexy. The prologue is one of the best I have read with a wonderful description of the rainbow man. I look forward to "Ancient Enemy" which, I believe, is due to be published this fall. If you have not discovered Robert Westbrook I urge you to do so. His books are thoroughly good reads.

Robert Westbrook is the kind of writer you wish you could take on your next road trip: an insightful and witty storyteller with both a compassionate heart and a sharp eye for pretense and absurdity. Certainly he is the perfect guide through the Taos-y town in northern New Mexico which is the setting for his Howard Moon Deer series, where rich and poor, old and new, liberal and conservative, clash with the sudden violence of the weather systems the area is so famous for. In this latest book the art world is the scene of the crime, and like the previous two in the series, Red Moon is successful as a novel with plenty of satire, interpersonal drama, and vivid characters to care about, that just happens to have a mystery driving its narrative engine. It's a sophisticated read, more jazz than the honky-tonk or blues expected from the genre, with a satisfyingly twisty plot, silky writing, and note-perfect dialogue; but in the end, it's the characters you will remember. Westbrook is refreshingly respectful of the women he creates; and does a nice job making even the secondary characters unique and memorable (my favorite character, Howie's great-uncle Two Arrows, appears in just a few paragraphs of each book, but will blind-side you with his sweet wisdom; and The Rainbow Man, the homeless visitor who becomes the first murder victim, is an intriguing mix: dangerous and deranged, yet part visionary angel as well.) Jack is realistic and sympathetic as an ex-detective struggling with the limitations of his blindness, but as usual it is Howie who steals the show. In fact, the most puzzling mystery in the series is how any sane woman would let a guy like Howie out of her sleeping bag for an instant, let alone the rest of her life, as poor Howie's love interests always seem to do. So while I'm looking forward to the fourth book, due out soon, because I'm sure it will be another great read, I'm really going to be buying it to see if Howie can finally find a woman who will stick around!

...into thinking that Bram Stoker is the main character of this book. Even though his name is mentioned on nearly every page and his influence is seen throughout, Bram Stoker is merely the hook used to reel you in.

In Moon Rising, Roberts details (almost painfully, at times) the life of Damaris Stearne. Her thorough description of places and people made this book longer than need be. But Roberts enabled me to really understand her characters, which is why I gave 3 stars instead of 2.

The story, while entertaining, is highly improbable. Since I don't want to give too much away, I'll just say this: the adventures of Damaris are enough for three lifetimes and she is probably the luckiest person this earth has known. So, if you are to read Moon Rising, put away your expectations of historical ficton (which, for me, is to actually *learn* something), turn off your brain and just enjoy the ride.

...is how I'd describe Roberts' book, Moon Rising. The characters, setting and romance are so vividly described, that I couldn't help but be sucked in, transformed back to the time of Victorian England and the coastal town setting of Whitby. The first person narrative works quite well, in a Rebecca, Jane Eyre kind of way. This is not a light read; the book is dark, passionate, intense, gripping...sometimes shocking. Indeed, not for the faint of heart. The intensity of the relationships described, especially between that of Bram Stoker and Demaris, actually left my heart pounding. I applaud Roberts for her thorough research of Whitby and Stoker. Especially, I appreciate her courage to write about the mysterious Stoker, and, through Moon Rising, attempt to provide an explanation for Stoker's character, reasons behind Dracula and his whereabouts during a certain time in his life--it was fun pondering the possibilities!

I usually write reviews on only very good or very bad books. This one is clearly the latter. Gorman is a pretty bad writer, with a plot with a Bates Motel-like ending that is dopey beyond belief. In addition, the two female leads (one is the narrator's sometimes lover) are two of the most obnoxious characters I have read in some time---totally unsympathetic!! Worse than all of that, frankly, is the fact that this author just loves "potty talk", in bed, out of bed, wherever!! Every bodily orifice is discussed in detail. The heroine(?) vomits on what seems every few pages. After making love she asks whether she farted all night while she slept, saying she had a flatulence problem. She also said she smelled at the beginning of her menstrual cycle. The narrator described every pee he took, etc., etc. These are not people I would invite over for dinner. What an offputting book Gorman has written!!

This was the first book that I read by Ed Gorman and I ejoyed it very much. I thought it to be a very fast read and did not lack for excitement. The "profiler" Robert Payne is a compassionate character, but still dedicated to seeking the truth. The female characters are interesting and treated with great respect by Payne. I was not able to predict the many plot twists and the ending was great!

Over thirty ago, voodoo practitioner Paul Renard permanently shook up the town of Brenner, Iowa when he burned down sterling Psychiatric Hospital, killing over twenty people. The killings were as gross as anyone can remember. To the fear of everyone, the lunatic escaped, leaving behind voodoo symbols. Though seen once over the subsequent years, Renard was never caught.

Just when the townsfolk started to feel safe, a new string of voodoo killings occur. TV Psychic Tandy West asks her former lover ex-FBI profiler Robert Payne to help find the murderer. Instead of a simple and clear case, Robert finds a town without pity filled with individuals who want their personal pasts burned away like Renard did to humans three decades ago.

The fourth Payne tale is an intriguing thriller that stars an entertaining lead protagonist who readers will enjoy observing in action. The story line places elements of the psychological thriller inside a modern day gothic tale. When the plot veers towards a gothic, it seems to sputter, but when talented Ed Gorman stays within the psychological path, the exciting tale is faster than a SST. Overall, the return of Payne, especially glimpses into his personal side, turns this into a fine novel that fans of the series will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner

"What makes a leader truly great?" [reads the back jacket of this book...] "Is it simply a matter of management style or personality?"

No, answers the author -- it is simply a matter of being a good Christian. But what is a good Christian? Why, that is simply someone who believes exactly as Marvin Olasky believes. It's just that simple...

unfortunately, the book also irritated me, and I have never been called a liberal by anyone. While I appreciated Olasky's assertion that private morals DO matter in public office, I thought his approach was simplistic and narrow. If one takes Olasky's arguments to their logical conclusion, one would have to say that there aren't too many people in the history of humankind who have adopted the correct religious view. Olasky's version of heaven is going to be quite thinly populated I suspect...Jefferson, who was a founding father of our republic and doubled its size while in office, is portrayed as a godless, snobby, scheming, screw-up. Jackson, a violent man who defied the Supreme Court and signed the death warrant for thousands of civilized Cherokees seeking legal redress, is portrayed as your favorite god-fearing uncle. I suppose the battalions of left-wing revisionists brought this sort of book upon themselves in a way, but sometimes I just wish the pendulum could settle in the middle for a while. History should be about getting at the TRUTH, not supporting your pet argument at all costs.

Conclusion: the less thoughtful among the fundamentalist Christians will find fodder for their arguments here and will save having to read all the real history in the bargain. The Clinton-esque liberals will bust veins in the heads over this outrage. The true historians will quietly shake their heads and toss this book aside.

I purchased this volume after watching Olasky on C-Span. Being familiar with his magazine, "World," and the Turning Point Christian Worldview Series which he edited, I was impressed with his thesis: character counts. To Olasky, character is displayed by the diligence one gives to daily duty--fidelity to one's faith, fidelity to one's mate, fidelity to one's deepest covenents. Though perhaps simplistic and certainly not an exhaustive list of criteria by which to judge a man, these are fundamental to what a man becomes. Moral vision--character--counts. In this, Olasky is on target.

Olasky's efforts to review the moral and social characteristics of select American leaders, both political and social is clear in its content and abolute in the documented truth he brings to light. A number of the subjects reviewed clearly illustrate the dilemma of American culture - pragmaticism at the sacrifice of ideals higher and more substantive than the needs of the moment. Judeo-Christian ethic, the core of our history, is brought to light in a very real manner. Political history students of all ages will benefit by his illustrations and analysis.

Very disappointing. This poetry is all defense, no rapture. Guest has managed to go from unsung to overrated without a proper period of acknowledged mediocrity.

This is a beautifully produced book that provides the best entry into the strange and elusive poetry of Barbara Guest, one of the original "New York" poets who has only in the past 10 years come to be more widely recognized. Readers attuned to innovative poetry appreciate Guest for her charmed, ethereal elegance and her elliptical narratives. Check out "A Handbook of Surfing" and "The Emphasis Falls on Reality."

This is an excellent starter book for stargazers, and fits into your pocket.

This book starts out with some good overview chapters of Windows DNA-- relating all the various technologies (SQL Server, Visual Basic COM, MTS, ADO, ASP, and DHTML) in an easy-to-read way. It also promises to guide the reader through creating a DNA application (a simple online banking application) through examples and exercises in each chapter (This walkthrough approach was the main reason I chose this title over the Wrox book).

While the early chapters on system design and data stayed well-focused on relating each new concept to the online bank example, the remaining chapters did not. Instead, the authors presented only very basic code snippets, unrelated to the sample application, and many of which contained typos or were otherwise non-working (as of this date, the publisher's website still does not offer errata or fixed code samples for this book). For this reason, I cannot recommend this title to a beginner or intermediate programmer/analyst. Since the content is focused towards these groups, advanced programmers will likely pass up this book in favor of the Wrox title. I sure wish I had!