James Moore has compiled a fantastic account of the earliest history, exploration, mapping, mining, politics and geology of the Seqouia - Kings Canyon National Parks area. This book, more so than any other that I have read on the Sierra, provides insights into the people, the origin of geographic names and the forces and interests that drove the people into the high Sierra region. A fascinating look at the barometric and surveying tools that were lugged to the top of the highest peaks is given and a historical account of the ever increasing accuracy of the maps and just how close the original estimates were. True to his profession, Moore then goes into an in-depth discussion of the current understanding of the geologic history of the region. This discussion will be a great interest to those with a casual to serious interest in geology and will provide a greater awareness for your next trip into the area. It held me, a retired geologist, captive and will remain on my shelf as one of my most treasured references.

Moore's book is the result of a lifetime spent studying and mapping the geologic structures of the Sierra. It is an incredible achievement and an important contribution to a detailed understanding of the geology of the Sierra for the amateur naturalist. As literature and science, it's a worthy successor to Matthes's Geologic History of the Yosemite Valley (USGS Prof. Paper #160). He includes terrific chapters on the work of the first scientists to study the range and then describes current knowledge about the creation of the Sierra: from the collision of tectonic plates to the retreat of the last glaciers.

As an added bonus, Moore includes an appendix with detailed geologic comments for stopping points along several roads and trails in the Sequoia-Kings area: Highway 180 from Clovis to Cedar Grove; Highway 198 from Visalia and over the Generals Highway; the Mineral King road; the High Sierra Trail from Lodgepole to it's intersection with the John Muir Trail near Mt. Whitney; and, the John Muir Trail from Mt. Whitney to where it leaves Kings Canyon in the Evolution Valley region, 100 miles north.

Although Moore concentrates his narrative mostly to the area of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (where, as luck would have it, I work as a ranger), anyone interested in the geology of the Sierra would find this book useful for its explanation of the major granitic and metamorphic structures we see throughout the range. It's large format makes it unlikely you'd want to slip it into your backpack as a field guide. It's also probably of interest only to the serious amateur, though I think it's photos and organization make it accessible to a beginner who might just want to skim some of the detailed sections.

This is an excellent book! The geology portion is easily understandable for the layman, yet still interesting enough for the professional geologist. The great historical and geological infromation make this a wonderful resource for anyone spending any time in the Sierra Nevadas. If you have any interest in geology and history, and you intend to spend any time in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, then you really Need this book!

Most people think of the Spiders as working for the Weaver. The truth is they work as all parts of the Triat to correct it. The only confusing thing about them is that their aren't enough rules about how to kill a Spider swarm. This makes them nearly unstoppable and VERY hard to notice when they sneak up behind you. To make things even more unbalanced they can eat a persons brain and take over their body! That really isn't to pretty. All in all this book was well written stressing RPing over Rules.

This book rates very highly on the 'I want to play one scale'. Whereas werewolves are designed as warriors, the werespiders are the regulators, taking on the tasks that the three primal forces of the universe have screwed up at. They serve all three and are dominated by none.

The alien perspective (spiders are a lot further from humans than wolves, reptiles or even sharks) is explored well. Werespiders aren't evil as such, just very detached and callous about others (if it's a choice between sacrificing their best friend or failing in their mission, well, time to look for a new best friend).

Their worldview is also explored with lots of interesting bits and pieces, such as the Ananasi-hunting monster stalking Australia and the dark fate of werespider metis (those with two shapeshifter parents) The retelling of world history is worthy of note, mainly because it's told from the point of view of the werespider goddess, Ananasa, who was actually there to witness it all.

Character templates, and non-player characters are also given (including the builder of the first human city and a collector whose hobby is the corpses of serial killers). Overall, a good, comprehensive book, and well worth a purchase.

Talk about aracnia phobia. This book tells you how to build and play a were-spider, now how cool is that! This should put the fear back into you world of darkness games

I am a great Julian Simon / Björn Lomborg fan, but this book has a limited number of mostly useless diagrams, especially from non-US perspective. But any other Simon book.

It is fashionable to bemoan the state of the world. The conventional wisdom is that global warming, Terrorism, drug abuse, crime, AIDS and all the rest of the crises threatening humanity lead us to the conclusion that the "good old days" were somehow better, safer and saner than today.

But, if things are so bad why is infant mortality going down around the world? If things are on the edge of anarchy why are proportionately fewer of us hungry, or sick today than one hundred years ago. If things are going to hell in a handbasket why is our life expectancy steadily improving?

These are inconvenient questions. The answers are tough on the prophets of doom.

Luckily, the conventional wisdom is wrong. Stephen Moore and Julian Simon prove this convincingly. Facts are often inconvenient. But, if you want to know the facts, this is the book for you.

It's Getting Better all the Time is an upbeat statistical reference consisting of factual text and colorful graphs.

Fascinating and fun, the book is an essential reference for authors and speakers. It is a treasury of statistics.

And the book has a great title.

As a publisher, author of 28 Books, 109 revised editions, six translations and over 500 magazine articles as well as a consultant to the book publishing industry, I spend much of my time doing research. I will refer to this book again and again.
Dan Poynter, Para Publishing.

Horror fiction, like so many genres, is frequently dismissed because of the repetitiveness of themes that plague the genre. Sturgeon's law, of course, ensures that most "typical" vampire or post-apocalypse novels do more damage to the genre's reputation than good. But every once in a while, one of the top authors takes a classic plotline and tells a tale that makes you completely reconsider everything you know about the genre. James Moore's Under the OverTree is one such novel.

Moore's tale is a variation on the classic power-comes-with-puberty theme explored so well in Stephen King's Carrie and Bentley Little's Dominion, and which has become cliché thanks to the likes of John Saul. But Moore takes this classic theme and twists it in some truly unique ways, and his vision turns a familiar subject into one of the most original and enjoyable horror novels I've read.

Under the Overtree tells the story of Mark Howell, an awkward teenager who has just moved to the Colorado town of Summitville. He's not exactly the most socially adept teen anyway, and the local bullies are naturally drawn to him. And, of course, the beautiful girl of his dreams isn't. With the usual teen desires of revenge and sex, he's the perfect conduit for a supernatural force that wants revenge.

That's when Moore adds an urban fantasy (although, given the small-town location, count this as another argument for Windling's "mythic fantasy" term fazing out UF) layer to things, as, instead of the usual suspects -- the ghost of a witch, or a Manitou, or Satan -- we have the local Fae, awakened by the spilling of Mark's pure blood. They help Mark get all that he wants, as they groom him to be their instrument of revenge, eliminating anyone who gets in their way.

Although the various twists and turns are always enjoyable, what makes Moore's novel really shine is his ability to create intriguing and original characters. Mark is aided in his journey by P.J. Sanderson, a local horror author (tempting as it is to play guessing games here -- is Sanderson an avatar for Moore? Is he a nod towards a fellow author? -- Moore makes him a fully-realized character in his own right) and John Crowley, a magical troubleshooter who is the only one who knows how to defeat the Fae. The entire supporting cast, down to the last bully, is fully realized -- each of them is someone you could easily know (well, maybe not Crowley). The essence of a great horror novel is making sure that the characters encountering unbelievable situations are themselves believable, and Moore accomplishes this with craftsman's precision.

Jim Moore has come a long way since his early White Wolf days. With Under the OverTree, he has leapt into the forefront of the horror genre, establishing himself as a writer to be reckoned with. He has told one of the best horror stories of the last few years, and proven that a good author can turn a clichéd plot into something truly special. Anyone looking for a change of pace from the typical horror novel would be well-rewarded by picking up this novel

When I recieved my advanced copy in December '99 I sort of wondered how this book could keep screaming to be read without losing it's voice. Now on the shelf, it's still vocal. Moore offers in this tale the power of wishful thinking and the revenge that follows when served cold. Thinking of how Carrie opened doors that have become one of many for Stephen King makes me wonder if the reader public is prepared to build Moore his own hall of doorways. This book is excellent on many levels. It has a message for anyone who wonders back to the time when they made wishes that were good, bad or ugly. Even if you never revealed it, this tale reminds one to think about wondering if you did would it still could come true. This tale allows the wish to be expressed in prose that at the end feels like the moment after blowing out the last candle and know it can, does and will. Great story for beginner's to the genre, if they ever ask what they grew up reading in horror, this would be the answer. Excellent vacation for those seeking to read something King-like but new and early. Moore is not a new writer, he's been gracing the pages of this genre for ten years. This tale is the result of a great steak that has been marinating in the best wine and spices. Enjoy! King took Carrie to the prom. Find out where Moore takes you!

Meisha Merlin is a publisher to keep your eyes on. Every bookthat I've received from them has been of the highest quality. Icannot find words enough to express my excitement at receiving ARCs of such obviously high standards. Though once I'd started reading, Under The Overtree, I wasn't positive that I would like it. It seemed to be a mediocre tale told often of a nerdy kid, new in town, and all the baloney that he endures. Upon further reading, it became ever so much more with complexity upon complexity. Though listed as a tale of dark fantasy it could be a horror story to chill your bones when your home is dark and you are not quite sure just what is making that noise under the bed. On the surface, but only on the surface, it is indeed the standard tale of a nerd who is new in town and all that normally accompanies such a story. Mark Howell, the nerd of which I speak, has endured much in his life. James Moore is perhaps the most talented writer of this genre to date.END

I initially picked up this book out of curiosity; I don't use the 'dead' civiliazations much in my campaigns, but I usually enjoy seeing how White Wolf creates their alternate histories.

This book was done reasonably well, covering five separate cultures - sub-Saharan Africa, Mesopotamia, Central/Southern America, Greece and Rome, and 'the Arctic'. The sections are all similar, with flavor text at the beginning, a brief overview of history in the middle, and magic from these cultures at the end. Some of the chapters are wonderfully executed, while others seem almost like they were rushed. In a few cases, I would have preferred that the authors and typesetters condensed some information, to make room for more flavor or culture notes (the explanation of the Mayan calendrical system is basic, but could have taken half the space).

Overall, if you are planning on dealing at all with 'dead' civilizations as a mage, then this book (supplemented with real history books) will give you that something extra to make your stories more believable!

This supplement for Mage is an excellent source book for diversifying your games. The main focus of this book is on "dead" magic: the forgotten magics of civilizations of yore. The book has lots of rotes, wonders and so forth, but the bulk of the book is about how these civilizations practiced magic, and how the Traditions (namely your players) can adapt it.
The first section covers the magic of sub-Saharan Africa, with a definate focus on western and southern Africa. Lots of details on the diversity of African culture (and a nice map too), along with how westerners (including most of the Traditions except maybe the Dreamspeakers) have marginalized African culture. Then we are given some sample African rotes, many focusing on fertility, healing and spirit magics, and some pretty nifty wonders. There are also some interesting supertnatural creatures and locations, in case you decide to run a game set in Africa.
Following this is a section on ancient Mesopotamian magic. While I wish they would have toned down the infernalism a bit, this was a pretty nice section. Alot of it revolved around the meta-plot too, tying it in with Hermetics rediscovering Mesopotamian magic. Alot of the Mesopotamian magic focuses on complex divinations and spirit controlling magics. There is also a bit devoted to adapting Mesopotamian magic to the modern Traditions. Although groups like the Hermetics and Verbena usually use these in their ancient forms, modern Traditions have some unique takes on these rotes. Very nice. There are also some Mesopotamian beings (including the Lamassu!).
The next chapter was one of the best, in my opinions, focusing on the bloody magics of Mexico and South America. WW is pretty direct and to the point, stating that the Mayas, Aztecs, Incas and other Native Americans here used human sacrifices and that their magics were not for the weak. A bit of this chapter is taken up by an explanation of the Mayan calendar (which probably could have been briefer). Regardless, the sample rotes (including things like turning into a jaguar, making obsidian almost unbreakable and even causing volcanic erruptions) are all pretty neat and nicely based off Aztec and Mayan mythology (and the Mayan calendar). Further detail is given to some Wonders and mystical locations (including the Andes). Pretty cool.
The next chapter focuses on classical Greece and Rome and their continuing influence on western magic. Everything from Plato to Greek mythology to Roman Hermeticism to "enlightened science" is explored. Its pretty cool if you want to incorporate Greco-Roman magic into your games. This section also has a lot of plot seeds, such as the start of the Ascension War, the "Golden Race" and the Oracle of Delphi, so player's might want to skip this. Some decent rotes, Wonders and mystical locations are given, along with some classic monsters. Pretty neat.
The closing chapter covered the magic of the Inuit and other people of the Arctic Circle. It was pretty decent, going into great details about shamanism and hunting magic in the far north. The rotes, Wonders and spirits given are all very good, and can easily be adapted into almost any shamanic paradigm. Over all, this was an excellent book. I would recommend that if you intend to use any of the cultures in here, you look through both "Guide to the Traditions" and any number of books on history, archaeology, mythology and/or anthropology as well. I already found quite a bit of the African, Aztec/Mayan/Incan and Inuit sections helpful for running all Dreamspeaker chronicles, and intend to use the Mesopotamia stuff in a "Year of the Scarab" centered game. I'm certain other STs will find this book equally useful.

A bit simplistic at times, but got some good discussions going
in our Sunday School class (Methodist). Would recommend it
for Contemporary Adult Sunday School classes or Bible studies.

This is an excellent teaching book on the "next" Ten Commandments for Christians. Dr. Moore's personal experiences and humor make this an enjoyable book for all ages. Real life application with supporting scriptures and examples. Excellent reenforcement with examples.

This is a book that uses official state reports and documents to prove that defendant Dechaine is innocent of the murder for which he is serving life imprisonment in Maine. The evidence of innocence (and of prosecutorial misconduct) is substantial and convincing.

Someone who reviewed this book says that the time of death evidence (which proves the victim was killed when the defendant couldn't possibly have committed the crime) is flawed because there are variations that could affect the onset or rigor mortis. But that person never specifies any "variation" which could have made the defendant's guilt possible. In fact, no variation known to science could have put the time of death at an hour when the defendant could have killed that girl.

Then the reviewer tells us that some people are strangled, then linger for hours or days without expiring. But the state medical examiner testified that Sarah Cherry's neck was constricted to a diameter of 2 1/2 to 3 inches. When a throat is constricted that tightly, NO air can reach the lungs, NO oxygen gets to the brain, and NO ONE can live for more than a few minutes!!!!

It is obvious that some people try very hard to believe that the state got the right man. But their own evidence, which the prosecution carefully concealed from everybody, proves them wrong.

James Moore's "Human Sacrifice" is a compelling and chilling read, and the author, a former ATF agent, impresses with his own dogged investigation into the kidnap and murder of 12-year-old Sarah Cherry and subsequent conviction of Dennis Dechaine. But after thoroughly following leads and closely examining evidence, Moore shows uncharacteristic carelessness when he draws conclusions meant to prove Dechaine's wrongful conviction.
The murder of Sarah Cherry in 1988 shocked the state of Maine for its frightening randomness and its unspeakable cruelty. But the state was also riveted by the accused--Dechaine, a young, attractive, mild-mannered farmer with no criminal record.
Circumstantial evidence against Dechaine was strong: his papers were found in the driveway of the home where Cherry had been babysitting when she was kidnapped; he was seen emerging from the woods the evening of the kidnapping not far from where Cherry's body would be found two days later; his truck was parked near the body; and rope from the truck had been used to bind Cherry's hands.
Four years after Dechaine's conviction (he is serving a life sentence at the state prison in Warren, Maine), Moore agreed to investigate the case for Trial and Error, a group of people convinced of Dechaine's innocence.
Supported by official police documents, trial transcripts and news reports, Moore retells the still-shocking story of Cherry's murder and examines the police investigation and the trial. He then presents evidence to support the Trial and Error group's gut feelings about Dechaine.
The problem is, Moore isn't nearly as thorough with his own conclusions as he is with the investigations done by others. He argues that Dechaine could not have killed Cherry because he was in police custody at the determined time of death. But time of death is not a precise measurement; it typically is offered as a range, which itself is affected by many variables. This Moore addresses intriguingly. Frustratingly, however, he dismisses in just one paragraph and without medical expert support the possiblility that Cherry died some hours after her injuries, by ligature strangulation, were inflicted. In fact, it is not infrequent for strangulation victims to live in a vegetative state for hours, days, even years after injuries are inflicted -- yes, even when the neck is compressed to three inches in diameter, as it was in Sarah's case. An uninjuried trachea, after all, is much smaller than this -- just 1 inch in diameter. Ligature strangulation deaths are usually due to asphyxia, caused not by the act of compression itself but by the swelling of trachea and tongue during or after the assault.
Moore also proposes a preposterous alternative scenario that has the perpetrator brashly taking a break from his assault on Cherry to plant Dechaine's papers in the driveway, then returning hours later to finish her off while police search for her within shouting distance. He even suggests the killer chose to assault Cherry near Dechaine's truck in order to frame its owner. But wouldn't a killer be more likely to avoid a parked vehicle?
Despite these flaws, the book is sharply written and hard to put down. Letters from Nancy Dechaine to her husband and his attorney are especially poignant. And Moore does pose some fascinating questions, particularly about the failure of police to question a pedophile who lived near the home where Cherry was sitting. As writer John Cole put it a review of "Human Sacrifice": "Most of us think of Maine's small towns as idyllic places to live. There are tens of thousands of stories that reinforce this image, most of them told with an exaggerated Maine accent, innocent jokes about farmers, fishermen and old-timers. We are kidding ourselves. Jim Moore's painfully truthful book strips away those Pollyanna deceits and gives us a rural Maine of criminal perversion, dark doings, incest, drug use and a decidedly unromantic look at how the sex drive dominates these so-called quiet, little towns."

While one reviewer took excessive pains to detail all the circumstantial evidence prosecutors used to fool jurors into convicting Dennis Dechaine, and sneered at author Moore's theory of how the real killer framed Dechaine, that reviewer failed to list the mountain of vital scientific evidence (documented by the author through official records) proving that Dechaine can't possibly be the killer -- evidence which prosecutors concealed illegally from defense lawyers. Prosecutors prevented DNA tests which now show that someone else committed the crime, they concealed evidence about the time of death, they concealed evidence given them by other witnesses, and they totally ignored blatant clues which led cops directly to the door of a pedophile living 1/2 mile from where the victim was abducted, a pedophile they were already prosecuting for a very similar rape of another 12-year-old girl.
Whatever some people want to believe, the scientific evidence and the evidence prosecutors deliberately concealed proves absolutely that Dechaine is innocent and THEY should be sent to prison!
For anybody that doesn't want to take my word, read the book and make your own judgment based on ALL the evidence documented in this book, including the facts the prosecutors hid from the jury!
This is an important book. If they can do this to one innocent man, they can (and will) do it to you!!!!

Former Mayor of Boston and U S Ambassador to the Vatican, Raymond Flynn draws a very personal and intimate portrait of Pope John Paul II. Through the various events, incidents and celebrations narrated with meticulous detail and color, the personality of the Pope comes alive to the reader. The impact the Pope has had on the average American public is truthfully brought out. This book will be of interest to an American Catholic who would be able to identify the personalities from American politics and Catholic religion, at the same time can feel along with Flynn in his admiration for this man of God. Indeed it's a smooth and delightful reading worthy of the Pope as well as of the Ambassador.

I have read many books about His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and this is by far the BEST book I have read about the Pope. It is very easy to read. Infact, once I started to read I could not stop until I finished the book. When I was done...I could not stop crying. Former Ambassador Flynn did an outstanding job in giving his reader a rare and personal glimpse of the Pope, that other authors who have written biographies about His Holiness simply cannot convey. I especially found the stories of the mother who lost her son, and when the Pope offered Flynn money stating it was not church money, but the Pope's own money to help pay for the medical bills of Flynn's oldest son very moving and touching. For those who have never met the Pope...after reading this book you will feel as if you not only met him, but have known the Pope as an intimate friend for years.

Ray Flynn has taken from his many experiences with Pope John Paul II and put together a highly interesting read. This is not your typical biography, although each stage of the Holy Father's storied life is mentioned. This book gives you the Pope up close and personal, in both his public and private dealings. What an absolutely incredible man this Karol Wojtyla is!!

I am an avid baker, cakes especially, and this book is the perfect guide for anyone who is either a pro or a beginner looking to become serious with a cake pan. For beginners, the beginning of this book is a true kitchen campanion, explaining the obvious and not so obvious points of baking a cake in abundant but very helpful detail. Both the practical and scientific aspects of baking are touched upon in very easy to understand terms. For pros, the recipies are quite satisfying. Every step from pre-heating the oven through measuring ingredients through embellishing and serving is explained for beginners, while many taste and flavor variations are offered for those who are looking for more of a challenge. I highly suggest this book for anyone looking to start or to expand a knowledge of cake baking. My only minor complaint is that it doesn't offer any advice for perfecting cupcakes, especially using some of the great batters on these pages. But regardless, you'll really refer to this book time and time again.

This book contains everything from the basics of cake-making to fanciful decoration and frosting techniques. In between are about 2 dozen recipes for cakes of all types.

Be warned that none are simple to make, though instructions are well laid out for those with baking experienced. I've especially liked the carrot and lemon cakes, so far.

Beautifully photographed and so far I have only made 2 of the cakes and my guests raved about them. One was the white cake and the other was the fantastic coffee cake which was a major hit. I am anxious to try the carrot cake next. I found his introduction very helpful and he has some great hints on how to make the very best cake.

This book made me want to scream, or cry. The characters are beautifully rendered, and some of them are dispicable people. That's what made it so unenjoyable to read for me.

The heroine, Isabel Archer, begins her adventures with much vitality and promise, yearning to see life and the world and not to settle prematurely into marriage and domesticity. Although James shows she's not perfect -- she's naive and somewhat conceited -- it's still pretty easy to fall in love with her. You look forward to seeing what great things her life will bring.

And then it all falls apart. After 200 pages of building her up, James marries her to a scoundrel and spends the next 300 pages suffocating her, one liberty at a time. Others have described this book as "uplifting" and spoken of Isabel's strength and courage; I honestly can't see what they could mean. I found it genuinely painful to see such a beautiful character destroyed. With all credit to James's writing skills, this book made me miserable. I couldn't wish it on anyone.

Henry James is one of my favorite authors and The Portrait of a Lady is one of his greatest works. In it, he creates a unique and unforgettable heroine, Isabel Archer, and then proceeds to let her make all the mistakes the young are capable of making. In fact, Isabel is so sure of herself that, at times, I found it difficult to have much sympathy for her poor choices. But one thing I never felt for Isabel Archer was indifference, all to James' credit.

The Portrait of a Lady is truly 19th Century literature at its finest, but that means it also contains elements that might be distracting for the modern reader. There are lengthy descriptions, the pace is rather slow and James never lets us forget we are reading a book. He makes liberal use of phrases such as "our heroine," and "Dear Reader." While all of this was expected in the 19th Century, some readers today might find it annoying.

Those who don't however, will find themselves entranced by a beautiful story of love and loss, unforgettable characters (there are many more besides Isabel, most notably the enigmatic Madame Merle) and gorgeous description, all rendered in James' flawless prose.

Anyone who loves classics or who wants a truly well-rounded background in literature cannot afford to pass this up.

The best thing about 19th century novels is that they take so long to unwind, you know that you are guaranteed a long and satisfying trip into a story. I initially bought this book after seeing the Jane Campion film, (which I actually wasn't too crazy about)but I always think it's a good idea to read the source material. After a few false starts (warning: one needs to devote all their attention to James in order to enjoy him)I finally got into this book, and couldn't put it down. From the great settings of the novel, to the variety of fascinating characters (the liberated Henrietta Stackpole, the sinister Madame Merle, the beloved Ralph Touchett, Ralph's eccentric mother, the flighty Countess Gemini, the deadly Gilbert Osmond, and of course, Isabel Archer herself... James gives characters great names as well) "Portrait" is a great novel not only of self discovery, but self deception. How many of us in this world have liked to have thought ourselevs as free to make our own chocies, and were excited by a future full of "possibility" only to allow something (or usually someone) to get in our way and make us realize just how quickly we can lose our freedom and be in a cage that we need to get out of. (Pardon my bad grammar.) Those of you looking fora Jane Austen type ending, this may not be the book for you, but I think this book is more of a spiritual cousin to Austen than we may think. It all comes down to making choices, and teh effects of those decisions. Throw off any reservations that you may have because this book was written over a century ago, it's as fresh, funny, tragic and riveting today as it was then. (And hey, buy the film soundtrack which perfectly captures the mood of the story for accompaniment..that was a plug!)