There are also songs, poems, and recipes. Many of the songs and poems were published in the original Chronicles or Legends. But it is nice to have them in one place in easy reach. The recipes range from Gully Dwarf Stew to Otik's spicy potatoes. This book is definatley an entertaining companion to the Dragonlance world. People looked for it everywhere when it out out-of-print. So what better time to get it than now when they are publishing it again.

Johanna bachfrom@netvigator.com

Knight of the Rose
-Est Sularus Oth Mithas-

Once again Brown explores the lives of drunk white trash, this time in the dusty small towns near Tupelo Mississippi. The novel has three main characters: Joe, the aging, proud, divorced, hard-drinking ex con who contracts to poison trees for income, and who hires young Gary on his work crew. Gary is about 15 years old, but is not quite sure cause as has no birth records and in fact no legal address. His dad, Wade, is a horrific drunk who moves his family around squatting in abandoned houses while he puts the kids to work foraging for cans and bottles to collect deposit money. When that doesn't generate enough, Wade steals any meager earnings the kids may make on their own.

The budding relationship between Joe and his best worker Gary is the core of the novel, as Joe slowly learns the extent of the horrors of the kid's home life. Of course what would a novel of the south be without a few humerous diversions involving brothels, gambling, green policemen and inept hunters, etc.

I think my only real hesitancy in giving the novel five stars revolves around the ending, which for me was anticlimatic and unsatisfying. I know writers are sometimes criticized for tying up all loose ends too neatly, as if they reached their pre-ordained page limit and had to run, but the ending of Joe was a little too open-ended for my liking. Anyway, for fans of Harry Crews, William Gay (and I am Gay's biggest fan) or Tom Franklin, give Brown a shot he consistently delivers a solid punch.

joe is a mess, and his arrangement is a mess, and yet brown pulls it off. with time to spare.

magic. sheer magic.

There is an interesting twist at the end that caught this reader by surprise. I found the book a fast read as each particular segment of the story seemed to launch me into the next. There is excellent descriptive detail, for example, demonstrating how the slightest change in the facial expression of a juror can create havoc in an attorney's mind. There are the racing thoughts of a prosecutor versus a defense attorney that expose everything from pride to paranoia and the vicious extents an attorney will go to to defend his or her position.

I found the story quite interesting, while the use of the author's first hand experiences over time, his detailed observations, perhaps his own anxious moments, contribute greatly to the effectiveness of his ability to bring the reader directly into the story.

Having read and enjoyed all of Scott Turow's works, and being a native Chicagoan, attorney and avid reader, I thought that I'd give Larry Axelrood's book a quick read. My mistake!

I found this to be an incredibly gripping novel from start to finish. Axelrood's character development was impressive, descriptive and fixating; particularly between the the "Advocate", Darcy Cole, and the "Doe" boys. Their dialogue through out the book will leave the reader anxious to find out what they'll do next, with fabulous "one-liners" that could only have come from Axelrood's personal experiences.

The book reads quickly, flows well and has twists and turns that compel the next chapter. Anyone that has lived in or visited Chicago will appreciate the scenes, landmarks and other "local elements" that Axelrood incorporates in the storyline. The finish is fabulous, unpredictable and left this reader hanging for more.

This one goes on my holiday gift list!

As an attorney I have met every single one of Larry Axelrood's characters at one time or another in my career. They are written as three dimensional and quite human. Axelrood does an especially good job at portraying his gay character Patrick as a real person who happens to be gay. He does not stereotype Patrick or make him a victim. This is a refreshing change from the typical gay character who is written as either a monster or a wimp.

The book is fast paced and does not inundate you with overly descriptive narratives. Axelrood gives you a glimpse of the Chicago legal community and how it works without boring the reader or losing him in overly technical lingo.

The ending is a real surprise and from someone who prides himself on always being able to call the plot two chapters into a book I was thrilled to be caught unawares.

This is a great book to read on a plane because you will become so engrossed in the adventures of Darcy Cole you will have landed before you know it.

Bravo to Larry Axelrood and as I said earlier, Run ... do not walk to buy this book!

Construction is a way of life in Manhattan, which makes the discovery even more startling. A Native American burial site has been uncovered amidst the excavation. Anthropologist Dr. Paula Fox extracts a delicate document that clearly describes a land deal between a tribe and a colonial governor. Paula takes the deed to Native American attorney Steve Drum, an individual who left his Montana reservation for Wall St.

Steve investigates the paper, which if valid, means that the Canarsu Indians own a piece of the rock. As he continues his inquires, an unknown assailant blackmails him for his affair with the daughter of the local Don. Though his life is in danger, Steve pursues what he believes is in the best interest of his people, claiming their heritage and building a massive casino in the middle of the big Apple.

SOUNDING DRUM (Steve's Native American name) is a fast-paced tale centered on an engaging supposition. Fans will find all the characters appealing, but especially will take pride in Steve's courage to insure justice happens even when the odds seem overwhelming. Bang the drums for Larry Martin who soundly demonstrates he provides his audience with a one sitting, entertaining novel.

Harriet Klausner

The author's presentation of the concepts is illustrated with numerous examples and exercises to allow the reader to quickly absorb the ideas. My advice to my partners: know this book inside out. My request of my opponents: pay no attention!

Those interested in a somewhat different valuation style should look into losing trick count originally popularized in Britain which has been around for some time.