I first heard about this book on the CBS Sunday Morning program, telecast just before Christmas 2000 (write to CBS for a copy of that tape, if you missed it. It features the book's authors and some of the women they photographed. You won't regret it!) I fought Christmas crowds to go to the nearest bookstore to see it firsthand. I was blown away! I'm getting to "that age" when the mothers of the church are wondering when Miss Esteen's girl is finally going to start wearing hats to church. This book is pushing me closer to that day! Don't let the fact that the photos are in black & white, not color, deter you from buying this book. In a lot of ways, the black & white photography helps bring out the true beauty; I think color photography might have actually been a distraction from that. The only thing more beautiful than the hats in this book are the women that are wearing them! Pride, dignity and strength are on each page. If it were only about fashion, I wouldn't recommend this book so highly; it's the women who wear the hats, their spirit and their thoughts and that make this book. To the ladies photographed, I have only one thing to say: I want to be just like you when I grow up!

I live in Atlanta and for years I have driven by African-American Churches getting out on Sunday morning. When I pass these churches I often slow down and gaze at the uniquely dressed women coming out the doors -- all dressed to the nines, and most of them are wearing their crowns. For the African-American churchgoing women hats are not mere fashion statements they are integral expression of faith and cultural identity. The Apostle Paul should be thanked daily by all milliners for Paul furthered the fashion of wearing hats to church by writing "Every woman who prays or prophecies with her head unveiled dishonors her head" (I Cor. 11:5).

The hats in this book are as unique and alive as the women that wear them. Michael Cunningham, using black & white film, has beautifully captured the panache that these women and their chapeau's express. Just as every hat in this book has a woman, so every woman in this book has a story about her hats, and I think you will love their stories. This is a refreshing, original book that is not only is captivating but anthropological educational. Highly recommended.

"Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats" is a genuine treasure and a breathtaking illustration of fine art. Photographer Michael Cunningham and journalist Craig Marberry exemplify the meaning of a queen with their artistry. The first portrait invites you to begin a journey that will lead you page by page through history with the inspirational and candid stories of each woman bearing a Sunday worship service crown. Truly this book extends to all religions by exploring one simple, but ever important symbol of showing reverence to God.

I loved this book, plain and simple. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. My friends had to literally pry the book out of my hands during school because I wouldn't put it down. I can't wait for the final installment to see what happens between Ampris, Elrabin, and Israi.

The Alien Chronicles by Deborah Chester are among the finest books I have ever read. The journey that the characters undergo is so epic and far-reaching that once you experience them, you will feel as though you have lived an entire life within this alien universe. The characters are well-defined, rich and provocative. The story itself is so much more than what it seems to be. Even though those living within these tales are fantasy species with abnormal customs, they are so unbelievably human. The trilogy revolves around the quest for freedom. The abiru -- a race of slaves who possess no rights whatsoever -- are considered greatly lesser than their Viis superiors. They are beaten, sold and killed at the whim of their owners, echoing the horror of our own history of human slavery. The oppression of the Viis leads to in-fighting and betrayal amongst the abiru, making it nearly immpossible to trust another untouchable. But even amongst this reign of distrust lies the hope of long-lasting, beautiful frienships -- as demonstrated by the wily Kelth thief (Elrabin) and the lovely and powerful Auron pet/gladiator (Ampris). The bond that develops between them is almost instantaneous even though it takes Elrabin years to realize how much Ampris means to him. They share a sort of unrequited platonic love. Unrequited in that it's not what they say to each other but what they do for each other. There are also strong antagonists, from the fear driven mad-gladiator Ylea to the tempermental spoiled sri-Kaa Israi (whose ascension to power is far from pretty). She is such a fantastically written villian that you will find yourself wanting to jump inside the book and slap her silly. The decisions she and those before her make in regards to the abiru are often times disturbing and haunting. (The period Ampris spends in the medical testing facility of Vaas Vess is particularly horrifying.) In summation, this book she be heralded as so much more than dime store science/fiction. It should be placed among books such as 1984 and Animal Farm. I know I will be recommending this book to everyone I meet henceforth. Even those who would never think of picking up a science fiction novel. Deborah Chester should be lauded immensely.

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The Crimson Claw

A Review by Bob Berry

I picked up "The Golden One", along with several other books in a store going out of business. It sat around for months while I read the other books. I finally started to read it and about half way through decided I needed Books 2 & 3 right away. I found Book 2, "The Crimson Claw", but much to my surprise Book 3 hasn't been published yet!

I finished "The Golden One", and thought, "I'll save "The Crimson Claw" and wait until I get Book 3 to read it", as I hate to be left hanging, waiting for the next book in a series to be published. That thought lasted at least two days after I finished the "Golden One". So, now I have almost finished "The Crimson Claw" and I don't even know if Deborah Chester has started writing Book 3!

If you read these reviews, Deborah, please respond with a timetable for your third installment. Since Lucasfilms is associated with this, could we also be in for a real treat in the form of a "Star Wars" type saga once Book 3 is complete? That would be wonderful!

One thing I have noticed in the first two books. Deborah Chester has reversed the scale of beauty and ugly. If you go to the Alien Chronicles web site you will see a picture of Israi, the "beautiful" Viis princess. Beauty most certainly is in the eye of the beholder!

These books carry another message, one that history teaches also. Governments usually fall due to corruption from within. Although the Viis Empire has not fallen yet, it is on the brink, and all that is needed to give it that final push is a rebel force, ("Star Wars" again). It appears that Ampris is that rebel force.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I can't wait for the third book. Please hurry, Deborah!

You may not wish to print this last comment, but I will make it anyway. It might be helpful for some of your reviewers to type their reviews on a word processor with a spelling and grammar checker and then cut and paste their completed review into your review space. I grew up in an era where spelling and grammar were more important than they appear to be now. Using a spelling and grammar checker might expose your reviewers to some of the more common misteaks (Ha Ha), and their reviews would be much more readable.

Thank you Amazon.com for providing us with an opportunity to present our thoughts to others.

I was a big player of the old AD&D system in highschool and only recently returned to Dungeons and Dragons. Have been learning the D20 system and have been quite impressed with the changes. One of the problems I always encountered with AD&D was finding many of the hirelings and townsfolk completely two dimensional with no clear definition of their abilities and skills other than a name, hit points and an armor class to await slaughter by the next attack of bandits/orcs/or chaotic PCs.

'Experts' is awesome. Everything I always wanted to have back in my AD&D days, providing detailed skills, career development paths and background information on a host of professions that will often interact with players as hirelings and NPCs. Actually the book has a tremendous potential for Dungeon Masters who want to develop a thinking man's dungeon in which the use of NPC or even PC experts is the initial plot hook or required for the successful completion of the adventure.

The book is a great resource and I HIGHLY recommend it. The perfect cure for the cardboard NPC... and even offering a unique challenge for PC's who want to try their hand as an expert character on a special adventure.

If your game group wants more choices in character types and skills, if you want to whip up an instant population of craftsmen before or even during the game, if you want more depth in the nonplayer characters (NPCs) you play, or if your players' visits to towns and cities have become a long, non-roleplaying chore, then this book is for you. This volume is packed with an incredible wealth of gaming aids and ideas. Everything is here to let you, for example, quickly look up an exact remedy and price from the town herbalist or alchemist, play a prerolled Sage or Craftsman instantly, set up your own specialist Expert in a few minutes, set up a Guild, let a player train/practice in a craft or play an unusual Expert, or determine whether a city even has certain Experts available.

The book outlines five broad types of Experts (Craftsmen, Scholars, Entertainers, Professionals, and Tradesmen) and under them, details 28 types of Expert: Alchemists, Physicians, Courtesans, and more. Many, such as the Armorer, Physician, or Sage, would usually act as "services" in town; some could be important NPCs, such as the Steward of the local castle; others, such as the Guide, the Artificer, and the Slaver, could easily become the center of new adventures. A great amount of supplementary and background material supports these Expert types: medieval work area and laboratory descriptions, a whopping list of about 110 new skills, three new feats, and Guildmasters (as a new prestige class) and their guilds (including several tables for quick random generation of guild structures and availabilities in any given town/city). Table contents include effects of unsound construction, ship design flaws, sages' libraries, herbal remedies (with availability and properties), mineral availability, device complexity, Experts as spell casters, Experts' prices per level, and more. A second prestige class, the Militiaman, is also offered, and suggestions are given on use of the various Experts' materials as part of a campaign or for player character use.

The 28 ready-to-go NPC Experts (one of each kind) have enough background and personality to get going the moment you need them, without being so detailed as to require major rewrites for your campaign. The worst you'd need might be a name change for the person, their city of origin, or their god. A few of these characters have enough back story (ranging from humorous to sinister) to potentially springboard some side-quests for the Dungeon Master. Linked to several of these NPCs are some of the book's 17 brand-new magic items (all items are tied to the Experts theme, such as the Everfull Brewpot, Fireseal Wax, and the Mini Mecha Golem); these could be easily written into side-quests as well.

Highly recommended.

This d20 system publication provides the DM or player with a huge store of Expert character classes and sample NPCs for use in fantasy games. Alchemists, blacksmiths, shipwrights, sages... the people that make a town or city more real. New d20 skills and feats help you work out PC interactions when they need an Expert's services - or if you have a PC who wants take a few levels of the Expert class. Highly recommended.

From the first paragraph the reader is held tight to the words here, with feelings created by Michael Vines as he weaves the story of Sarah, Joshua and her life. We feel the purity of deep innocent love in a world of impure morals, and he shows us the depths of evil as forces turn against her because of her beliefs. Michael has created a work of great beauty, deep emotion, and thoroughly impacting on a readers' senses. I would gladly recommend this book to most knowing that it will live long in their hearts. This book while adult in it's maturity makes you feel uplifted, and redeemed in the belief in good vs. evil. I would keep it with me for the "dark" days in my life as I would need his message most at those times. This is a heart melter!

Super book! Theophany is an emotional and spiritual adventure. After reading a few pages, I loved Sarah and Josh. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I couldn't stop reading, except to try to recover my emotions. The story is going along beautifully, and then Mr. Vines sends a jolt to your heart. He does this several times. The humor and evil he adds to the story complete the adventure. Sarah and Joshua will be with me forever. I'm reading it a second time, and finding even more in it. I'd recommend it to everyone. I am anxiously awaiting the next book.

First, let me say that Theophany is not the type of book I would have thought I would find myself reading. My style is more action-based reading, and I prefer mystery novels over anything else. I actually saw Theophany on a bookshelf in the office of a friend who had read it, and I found myself quite intrigued. Reading Mr. Vines' bio on the back cover, I started reading the book, and couldn't put it down. Sarah quickly captures your heart, and you feel as if you are at her side as she embarks on her journey. The book blends humanity and spirituality with conflict and jubilance. Theophany helped me re-identify an inner faith that I thought was long gone. While it may be a fictional story, the effects in has the reader are very realistic. Sarah and Josh will stay with you for a while to come. Read this book...it could be the sleeper of the year!

Michael Rosen's "We're Going On A Bear Hunt" is a cute tale suitable for any beginning reader or elementary level class. It has a repetitive and rhythmic verse. The story is a light-hearted adventure, with a fun twist at the conclusion for childrens enjoyment. The illustrations suited the text well, as they were not eccentric but not dull. I used the book for a lesson on sequencing for a first grade class. It can also be used to foster reading skills because of it's textual predictability and repetition. Overall, a helpful tool for fun activities and learning in the classroom.

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This story has to be one of the more exciting and fun stories for young children. The tempo and rhythm can't fail to grab a child's attention.

It's got the perfect mix of pace, suspense and humour.

A really neat touch from the illustrator (Helen Oxenbury) is the alternation between color and black and white pages. The monochrome pages coincide with the recognition of the various obstacles along the way.

Another attractive effect is the way the early pages are bright and colorful and as the family gets closer to the bear, the scenes become darker and gloomier.

A key scene is where the children's dog comes face to face with the bear. The expressions on the animal's faces are superb.

The link between the story and the illustrations is at its best when the family has to quickly retrace their steps with the bear in hot pursuit. To heighten the pace we now get three frames per page.

The penultimate page is a double spread with everybody (including the dog) safely at home under the covers. Meanwhile poor old bear heads off back to his cave.

With head down and shuffling along the beach despondently you might just think he wanted to be friends with everybody.

Many children's books are a torture for parents of toddlers to reread over and over as this age group requires. This is the exception. Our family of six wore out this book and I am ordering another copy for the up and coming crop of readers. The older ones love to read it to the young ones and my two year old has it memorized. We all love to add our own nuances to the sing-song pattern to the story. I rarely buy books new (we haunt used book stores) but I have bought this one new twice now. It must be everyone's favorite- I have never seen it for resale. A definite must have for childhood!

I first read the trilogy back in the early 80's. These books introduced me to fantasy/adventure and I haven't looked back since. I agree with many of the other reviews that this book should be recommended to everyone not just kids. Like the Harry Potter series it traps you and won't let you go. Don't be mistaken by the thought these are cute stories about children. These are gritty tales of survival and living on the edge, not soft and charming characters like Harry Potter and his friends.

When you have finished one you will crave the next.
These books have been out of print for some time but the news on the web is they are to be re-issued in June 2002. If you enjoy Hobbit's, Wizards and Adventure then you'll love The Borribles.

I read the borribles way back when i was twelve. the story was so compelling that i spent the entire night reading it straight through. it is the best adventure book. for years i woke up- every morning hoping my ears had grown points. what a shame, i'm 26 now, and i cant find the book anywhere. this book cintains some of the most incredible fiction that belongs back in print. Grab your slingshot and sit down to one great story, if you can find it.

I was extremly lucky enough to have read this book a long time ago ,I am searching for a copy if anyone can help please e-mail me. This book inspired me to read at a very young age.

G Wayne Miller's amazing book the "King of Hearts" is a wonderful book that will captivate people from all walks of life.

For those of us who have been touched by Congenital Heart Defects and Heart Disease the book touches so many chords it is hard to describe.

Reading this book from a mothers perspective( my son had open heart surgery at seven months of age) truly gave me new insight into the brave and courageous pioneers of open heart surgery.

Surgeons of today can truly thank the pioneers such as Dr.Lillehei for his conviction to pursue the development of techniques that have been passed down through the years. Many of our children would not be alive today had it not been for his perserverance and determination.

King of hearts is a book each of us should read.....heart defects and heart disease touch so many lives and it is authors such as G. Wayne Miller who bring the history of heart surgery to the present day with such caring and understanding.

G. Wayne Miller encourages us to remember in our hearts the people whose lives were lost in the pursuit of the answers to the mystery of open heart surgery......the sons,daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers they all were someones loved ones.

Thank you for writing this book.........from the heart of a mother.

Being an adult patient with a congenital heart defect, I was looking for some kind of hope that surgery would be promising for me. After reading "King of Hearts" not only was I amazed at how far surgery had came and how much safer it is now than then. I could not put the book down for wanting to know more about the peoples lives that went through the surgeries and the young Dr.s that performed them. Looking at the faces of the people in the photo's in the book made me feel even more like a part of that history. But what astounded me most was the determination of Dr. Lillihei to continue with reasearch after all his set backs. I can honestly say that G. Wayne Miller has made what some would consider to be an educational history book so interesting that I wasn't able to put it down.

"King of Hearts" is an engaging adventure into the world of heart repair 50 years ago. Mr. Miller tells the story of Walt Lilihei, one of the pioneers of open-heart surgery, with spirit, accuracy and compassion. He is ever sensitive to both the goals that Dr. Lilihei had and the lives that were lost in the process. Instead of viewing these lives as just statistics, we see how they were people, loved and valued by their families, who had no alternative but to try surgery. Their deaths are respected and honored, as they went before the world knew what it knows now about open-heart surgery. But they were instrumental, as was Dr. Lilihei in teaching the world what it knows now about repairing the heart.

Although some stay away from biographies, "King of Hearts" stands alone. It is a fast-paced, exciting exploration of one man's search to radically alter the surgical options for heart disease. Once one picks up this book, it is difficult to put down. I confess to reading it straight through the moment I received it. The reader wants so very much for Dr. Lilihei to triumph, to find a way to save his patients. And Mr. Miller's style of writing is enough to keep any reader engaged. He writes with energy and with a no-nonsense portrayal of this great man. He skillfully avoids the overtly technical and instead writes for the layman reader, though I have no doubt that those in the medical field will also enjoy reading the story behind the facts they learned about Walt Lilihei.

I am reminded of Grisham and Turow in the reading of this text, yet Miller stands quite by himself as well, marking out an aggressive and fast-paced style of writing which tells both the facts and the emotions but never dips into pathos or excessive sentimentality.

As Mr. Miller points out, Lilihei was essentially as human as any of us. His faults and virtues are both explored in this excellent text. He is in essence the quintessential hero, and his story could easily be taken from the great Greek tragedies. As portrayed by Mr. Miller, Dr. Lilihei is man against nature, sometimes trapped by his own failings, and sometimes triumphant in his earnest attempt to better the human race.

And the fact that Dr. Lilihei succeeded in his efforts makes this book both triumphant and glorious. As with the modern day film "Rocky," one gets to cheer the accomplishments of someone who fought against the odds, while at the same time recognizing that these accomplishments were sometimes overshadowed by a questionable personal life.

"King of Hearts" stands as a contribution to the wonderful texts which tell of the indomitable human spirit, of the need for man to reach out and better man. It is as much a study of human nature as it is a retelling of the field of cardiology in the early days and the frustrations which doctors encountered when they had to let their patients die because no surgical options existed. This book surpasses a mere retelling or biography and instead becomes an example by which other biographies should be judged. In other hands, this subject might be dry and overly technical, but in Miller's telling it comes alive and teaches us all a little bit about ourselves and the human condition. Bravo to G. Wayne Miller for his extraordinary talent and for this extraordinary book!

This is a big book, but it really doesn't take long once you get into it. The story line is very good, and it's exciting and holds the attention. This is one of the best books I've read where the characters are travelling. Having two sets of people going to the same place made it interesting. This is my second favourite book so far in the series,:"People of the Fire" being first. This one is more like a prehistoric romance than any of the others.

I have read many of the "People of" books, and this is so far, my favorite. The book follows Otter, a trader, Black Skull, a Warrior, Green Spider, a spiritual man, Pearl, a runaway and Star Shell, the beautiful daughter of a cheif, as they quest in pursuit of a the Many-Colored Crow's mask. The book is filled with beautiful descriptions, and fabulous dialogue. I started the book on a plane, and didn't want to put it down. I like to try and guess what's going to happen in a story, and in this case, the story line kept me guessing right up until the very end. And, most importantly, this book was very historically accurate. This is a great read, especially for those people who are interested in Native American cultures.

Some of my friends have wondered how I could read a book this long without losing interest-- I tell them to read it! A very enthralling story with the charm of all the Gears' books. Green Spider's hilarity and wisdom are something hard for the great Black Skull to understand, yet in the end, he would give his life for Green Spider. This delightful story has a surprisingly modern tint to it. This book is recommended to everyone!

I just finished reading Michael Pearson's "Dreaming of Columbus." It is such a delightful reading experience that I was sad to see it end. His poignant remembrances of his childhood are written with such skill and pathos that I was deeply moved. Also, his comedic mastery is a wonderful tool that he uses so subtly that I laughed out loud at some of the recollections. All in all, this was the best book I've read all year.....he's a fabulous writer! Mary Ann Wilson

Norfolk's Port Folio Weekly reviewed this book and said: "For Pearson, the world was dominated by the Bronx. And in this beautifully crafted memoir, he has brought that world to life.

His recollections of his literary experiences -- set against his memories of everday life on the street -- create a tension that is sustained throughout the book. One gets the impression that he was forever torn between the small world in which he lived and the wide world of his book-fueled imagination.

Dreaming of Columbus gives us a brilliantly detailed picture of one boy's life in the Bronx. But to a great extent, it also transcends the particulars of time and place. Regardless of where you grew up, this is a book that will help you see your own past in new ways."

"Dreaming of Columbus" is a funny, poignant book -- really nicely written. It gave me a real sense of what it was like to grow up Irish Catholic in NYC in the 1960's. The writing is poetic and sharp.

The human condition head on! Finally psychological help is finding it's way to people! After forty years, cognitive therapy, and specifically, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, are proving to be the most effective means to solve depression problems beyond par. Three Minute Therapy clearly teaches how to do it. Many other cognitive books have broken through, Three Minute Therapy takes off of their foundation. Only three minutes? Michael Edelstein clearly reemphacizes that repeated work is required. But not to be daunted! He shows three minute excercises that can be done by anyone, provided they are a person seeking the truth, with willingness to consistently perform the excersices on a daily basis. And they only take three minutes. The severest depression is lifted, the severest anxiety relieved, the most violent anger assuaged. I have been so depressed that I could not get out of a chair. Congitive therapy changed all of that. Now my life is filled with problems that are predominantly practical, which I enjoy addressing. Three Minute Therapy makes it crystal clear how to do it. As the years go by these methods will become recognized as the most efficient, effective and humane to employ in all people's emotional problems. More power to Edelstein for leading those who suffer away from the doldrums of psycho-babble, into the realm of practical and joyful living. Get it. Do it. Your world will be a better place. Mick Berry

One of things that I like the most about this book is it's simple approach to dealing with complex issues...like anxiety. As the title suggests, this type of work can be practiced in very short increments...say three minutes or so, and can be implemented almost immediately. Which is a lot more time and cost effective than spending months or years in therapy. Obviously, I didn't resolve my anxiety issues in three minutes, but after implementing the practices recommended in this book on a regular basis over a couple of months I was able to change the way I let situations affect me and ultimately reduce unnecessary anxiety. This book is an easy read and offers effective tools for anyone to deal with stressful and anxiety producing situations that occur in the course of everyday life. It's the best self-help book I've ever read!

THREE MINUTE THERAPY is a wonderful book! It has enabled me to overcome my lifelong bouts of anxiety and depression. Two psychotherapists failed to help (although they were warm, caring people). I'm so much more confidant at work, that sometimes I feel like an entirely different person than I was before discovering this book. It's like I've emerged from the dark ages. I do the "Three Minute Exercises" regularly--a small price to pay for the deep satisfaction I'm experiencing as a result.

The concepts are explained so clearly, make much sense, and are so effective, that I wonder how my previous therapists can get away with what they're doing. THREE MINUTE THERAPY is one of those books that you're bursting to tell everyone about. It has the ring of a tract that will be useful and in demand eternally.