The only downfall I see is that most combination books, this one included, fail to appreciate the power of removing enough force from a piece or square to capture material cleanly. Yes, double attacks, pins, and forks are an integral part of tactical play, but interference, clearance, and removal of guard themes are the real keys to becoming tactically proficient.

The author had a lot of help from Alekhine. It is a shame this classic is out of print. If you can find a copy, buy it.

"LXXVIII. On entering Pompey's camp, we found tables ready-covered, sideboards loaded with plate, and tents adorned with branches of myrtle; that of L. Lentulus, with some others, was shaded with ivy. Every thing gave proofs of the highest luxury, and an assured expectation of victory; whence it was easy to see, that they little dreamed of the issue of that day, since, intent only on voluptuous refinements, they pretended, with troops immersed in luxury, to oppose Caesar's army accustomed to fatigue, and inured to the want of necessaries."

Amazing. He's just won the most important battle in the history of Republican Rome, and he takes the time to notice that some of the Pompeians (one Lentulus in particular) have decorated their tents with ivy! One can easily imagine the jokes Caesar's veterans made on discovering just how effete their opponents could be. Caesar could have bored us with a catalog listing of everything in the camp, or given us a terse "we took Pompey's camp which was loaded with luxuries" but instead gives us a specific detail to illustrate the difference between his men and Pompey's. This is why Caesar is still read and enjoyed and relied upon as a source over 2000 years later.

RstJ
Albany, Oregon.

This is part of a series of short profiles of successful black Americans, intended to inspire success in young people of all backgrounds. Lutz chronicles J.C.'s childhood, poor in money but rich in love, with a Baptist minister dad and devoted mom who instilled in him solid family and civic values. He made mistakes, including fathering a child out of wedlock while in high school (a child adopted and lovingly raised by relatives), and as a teenager, valued sports above all else. After reaching the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship, he was redshirted, taking the opportunity to become more devoted to his academic studies. Then he earned the starting quarterback position for two Big Eight champion Sooners teams before a stint in the Canadian Football League. Very intelligent with a natural talent for leadership and public speaking, he carried the values of teamwork, patience and delayed gratification learned in football into life after sports. Lutz details J.C.'s accomplishments as an ordained Baptist minister, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, U.S. Congressman, and most importantly, devoted husband and dad for his wife Frankie and their seven kids. The book tells of adulthood hardships which J.C. overcame too, such as near bankruptcy in the oil industry, the unexpected death of a beloved head minister and mentor at his church in Oklahoma City, and unfair, race-baiting political attacks against him by a Democrat in a campaign.

Watts is a strong, independent thinker, not anyone's tool or puppet; and that is very well portrayed in this biography. He became a Republican because of his strong sense of traditional family values and right versus wrong, inciting vitriol from Democrats who mindlessly take for granted the "birthright" that blacks join their party. In Congress, he pushed for more careful examination of alternatives to "affirmative action" before eliminating it altogether, angering (but ultimately winning respect from) many fellow Republicans.

This book is organized in a straightforward, chronological manner, and is written in a plain but pleasant style. As such, it is ideally suited for junior high and high school age readers; but adults wanting to learn more about J.C. will find this an interesting, fact-filled little summary of his life (through 1999). The volume is a great resource for book reports and biographical school assignments in either literature or political science classes. There are a few factual errors in the book, primarily related to football. For example, Lutz refers to the Florida State "Gators" (actually, Seminoles), who lost to J.C.'s OU teams in consecutive Orange Bowls in the early 1980s. That sort of sloppiness is not very common in this book, but will annoy readers who are sports fans. However, they don't detract from the overwhelming message of J.C.'s life as told through these pages: A poor black kid from Eufaula, Oklahoma, overcomes a harsh series of economic, racial, athletic and political obstacles to success, through his devotion to God, family, hard work and personal responsibility. It is an inspirational story of a winner in sports and life, one conveyed very clearly and fairly by the writer.

On the personal side, though, she is also finding out some things about her future husband that make her more than a bit uneasy. Then Martin tells her that he a friend from Vietnam who has lost his job in Florida and will be staying in their garage apartment. When she meets the Youngbloods she knows that Martin is not being completely open with her.

There's a satisfactory resolution of the story but as with many literary villains, much of the detail comes out only because the evil person, once immobilized, cannot keep their mouth shut. However, Harris has created a page turner as the focus moves from Aurora's less than idyllic personal life to the puzzle of what happened to the former owners of her home.

Certain qualities are associated with astrological signs. Predictions and karmic charts are based on the date, location, and time of birth. The Chinese Year of the Rat or Snake or Dragon brings vivid pictures to mind. The associations may not be right at all, yet most people can tell you their birth sign. I am a Gemini, the butterfly of Zodiac, first of the air signs, ruled by the mercurial Mercury and daughter of the Moon. Does that mean anything other than I found a comfortable way to add a quick and casual description of me?

Even in astrology, a birth chart is more defined by the rising moon or retrograde of a planet. This easy to read book addresses the lore associated with 88 constellations, shooting stars, the Milky Way, and the true ruler of our solar system -- the sun.

In Star Trek, we go boldly where no one has been before, Star Wars takes us beyond any dimension we experience here, the Alien trilogy, War of the Worlds, Red Planet, etc. all reveal aspects of a strange new life that is both enchanting and horrific.

One night the sun was setting. I held my little companion up so that she could look east and then west in the open desert. As the sky grew darker and stars popped out in the east, she also saw the sky painted gold, pink, purple, and orange to the west. Her voice was filled with wonderment as she said, "Oh wow!"

Now, I can teach her more about the stars, and show her The New Patterns in the Sky. Add this to your library and discover the magic of night, and, perhaps, a few more creatures.

Victoria Tarrani