Ok, I admit taht when I first read ELIDOR as probably an 11 year old I liked it the least of Garner's books to date. It was "ok" but the idea of a magical fantasy being set in the urban wasteland of post-war Manchester just didn't click. Maybe it is a comment on the last quarter century, maybe it is just a matter of growing up, but going back the book all these years later I found myself absolutely enthralled. Garner makes the transition from everyday life to the realm of Welsh mythology & back seamlessly and flawlessly. His characters are remarkably "real" -even those with "bit parts" like the parents of the protagonists. The language is lyrical, and there are scenes that will haunt you for years. My one complaint is that it is more a "novella" than a novel -at this re-reading I would gladly have kept going for another 200 pages, but what we get is great.

Alan Garner is an extremely underrated fantasy author. Elidor is a perfect example of the magic he can weave. The plot is simple enough - the four Watson children must save the world of Elidor, one step removed from our own. To do this, they are given four magical Treasures that guard Elidor from harm. But doing this may be more trouble than they think...

Garner is a lyrical writer. Such sentences as "The blade was like ice, and the hilt all jewels and fire" would be impressive in even an adult's book. The books have lots of adventure in them for the younger set, and fine prose for adults. I recommend this to all readers, even those that don't like fantasy.

I read this book 18 years ago, when I was 10 years old. It was one of the best books I ever read - as good as Mark Twain's 'Tom Sawyer' or Jules Verne's 'Mistery Island'. But in a way, it was better. The atmosphere of Elidor was magical, dim lit, eerie - something I found only in Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'The Mists of Avalon' or in Stephen King's work. This is definitely a great fantasy book.

The Anonymous Author of this rather remarkable text has done the public a profound service. (S)He has managed to sweep aside the cobwebs of mystery-mongering-occultism, and unlock the fetters of will-to-power-magic. Sound Philosophy and Theology combine in this work revealing the integrity of its author. In citing not only Christian, but Kabbalistic, Magical, and Occult traditions, the catholicity of these meditations becomes apparent. The only negative aspect of the text is that it tends to get preachy and Dogmatic in chapters 7 & 8. However, if apparent dogma is read mystically, these chapters, too, shed valuable light. A must for Christian Contemplatives and for all Hermeticists wether they place themselves under this rubric or not!

I found this book in a public library six years ago, and have been studying it almost every day since.To say that it has changed my life is an understatement.In the final chapter the Dear Unknown Friend invites the reader to complete the book that he has started and continue with the minor cards - I have dedicated my life to doing this.

The cards of the tarot are a little like an encrypted message from God. The message is to be found in the images on the cards, but we have to decode them to understand their meaning.In other words, we see the message but do not register its meaning in our brain. This is the wonderful mystery of the cards which this author suceeds in revealing. Any one who thinks that all Tarot books are the same, should read this one. They will be amazed to see how much depth can be found in seemingly simple picture cards.This work goes very deep, but not quite deep enough.

I thoroughly recommend this book, despite some differences of opinion of the meanings of certain cards.This work is more than half way there I believe.I hope to bring the "other half" to light, with the Lord's help. 23/01/2001 H

Mr. Tromberg's work was favorably reviewed by both Joachim Illes and Urs von Balthasar, two of the most important theologians of the Vatican II Council. This work reveals aspects of an ancient Catholic Mysticism and the deep relevance that the Tarot has always had to that tradition. In its exposition it clarifies concepts in Eliphas Levi's Transcendental Magic and expounds on themes given in outline form in Papus' Tarot of the Bohemians. In addition, it confronts other modern concepts which challenge the traditional concepts of moral responsibility, creation from nothing, and the power of ritual sacraments. In all a book that punctures the misconception that such studies cannot be Christ centered.

This is the first serious novel I ever read. (Before that I was only reading Doctor Who tie-in's.) After seeing the BBC adaptation on TV I wanted to read this book. I got it when I was 11 and have cherished it ever since. This was the book that made John Wyndham famous: the overnight destruction of civilization by "comet debris", the world overrun by flesh-eating plants called triffids.

One could look at this book as a war between man and nature on a grand scale. When mankind was the species that dominated all others, nature was driven back, "suppressed", or killed in the name of progress. When the tables are suddenly turned, it looks as if mankind is in decline. As the years pass, dead cities are slowly disappearing, turning into jungles as nature takes hold. In a matter of time nature will take over completely and the triffids will be the new inheritors. Unless the human race can fight back and reassert itself.

I have lost count of how many times I have read this book. I am 23 and the story is just as effective now as it was when I first read it. I like seeing all the different cover artwork that people have done for this book. The fact that it's been reprinted so many times is proof that this novel shows no sign of losing its popularity.

When Bill Masen awakens from his hospital bed to a world bereft of sight he is certain all is not as it should be. This is later confirmed by genetically altered, walking, carnivorous plants running amok throughout London, followed by the emergence of a mystery killer plague.

This is a bleak, harrowing read with few moments of hope, heaps of dread and isolation, and a constant stream of terror. If the idea of walking killer plants doesn't sound overly engrossing and a bit too B-grade sci-fi, fair enough. However, it is an absorbing and frightful read. Frightful in that the situation doesn't seem too far away from what could happen. One reviewer described this book as humanity versus nature, which is one way of looking at it. I see it more as humanity at battle with itself. Humanity versus nature in our interference with it, but humanity struggling with itself, getting ahead of itself, the inability to cope with the monsters that we create.

John Wyndham was the pseudonym of John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (1903-1969). This novel is regarded as one of the classics of science fiction literature and was made into a film in 1963 (poorly made). The book was runnerup for the 1952 International Fantasy Award. It is one of the classic examples of the "disaster novel;" or, more specifically, the sub-genre referred to as the "cozy catastrophe" in which a world-wide disaster is depicted in such a manner that the reader doesn't feel too upset and roots for the main character to overcome all odds. This novel set the pattern for many later novels of other authors: a disaster occurs, a large city is depopulated, panic develops, bravery is seen in the main characters, and a small core of individuals strive to build a foundation from which mankind can reestablish his position. (The synopsis given above with the publisher's comments is wrong. Wyndham is not the father of the disaster nove. There were several prior to 1951.) In this particular story, a series of green showers from a comet's tail (we are later told that this may have been a weapon in orbit that had been accidentally set off by an Earth government) cause most of Earth's inhabitants to become blind. Only the few who didn't see the showers (such as the main character Bill Mason who was in a hospital) can see. Later, a plague (possibly originating from a biological weapon) kills many survivors. But, the main malevolent force in the novel are the triffids: carniverous plants that can walk. Bill Mason believes these plants to have been genetically engineered by the Soviet Union and were accidentally released. Now that mankind is blind, the triffids "day" has come. The word "triffid," first used in this novel, has even gotten into the English language as a term describing any malevolent or obnoxious plant.

It seems the most popular budget classical music label, Naxos, not only makes most of the Western musical output available at very reasonable prices (no top stars who demand absurd fees make this possible), but it has also issued three very nice boxed sets of recordings on cassettes and CDs (I have the latter) that together give you a quick, fairly accurate, and quite enjoyable survey of three major topics. Perry Keenlyside's (NA 314412) is on three tapes or CDs and more or less delivers what the title promises in about 3 hours and 40 minutes. The text is considerately divided into sections--"Mozart, the child prodigy," "January 1762, the first journeys," "Paris and London, 1763-4," and so on--with tracking cues for each section. The narration and quotations from letters and journals of the time are accompanied by the appropriate music drawn from the bottomless Naxos catalogue. Nigel Anthony is the narrator, aided by Paul Rhys (Mozart), Edward de Souza (Leopold Mozart), with David Timson and Anna Patrick in "other parts." I have not seen the original books to see how much of an abridgment this is, if at all, but that is immaterial. The voices are personable, the information digestible, the whole project very worth while, especially at the price. Those last two sentences are true for the other setsas well. Richard Fawke's (NA414012) and (417612) are both on 4 tapes or CDs and read solo by Robert Powell. I am afraid that just a little five hours is not enough to handle the first topic with any satisfying degree of completeness; but it does give a 'Monarch Notes" glance at an enormously wide and complicated topic and is just enough for anyone who wants a head start before plunging into longer works. On the other hand, I greatly enjoyed the Opera set, timed at only 5 minutes more than the other recording. Trying to cover less, it does it better; and it even has room for some amusing incidents such as the one about the famous one-act opera that was entered into a contest (which it won) by the composer's wife who had more faith in it than did the composer. [No, you listen to the recording to learn which opera I mean.] My only objection to the Naxos recordings of books in the low recording level that makes it a bit difficult to hear on a walkman set up on (say) a noisy train. But this should offer no problem to home hearing or even in your car. These sets are really perfect listening for long trips.

From Gregorian Chant to Henryk Gorecki (the first living composer to get into the pop album charts), Richard Fawkes' The History Of Classical Music presents the fascinating and informative story of more than a thousand years of Western classical music and the composers who have sought to express in music the deepest human feelings and emotions. Welsh also explains polyphony, sonata form, serial music, and other musical expressions with a text that is illustrated by performances from some of the most highly praised recordings of recent years. Fawkes' superb text is ably narrated on in this four compact disc collection by Robert Powell (Running Time: 5 hours, 20 minutes). The History Of Classical Music is also available on audio cassette. Also highly recommended is the unabridged Naxos Audiobook edition of Richard Fawkes' The History Of Opera.

Architect Robert Powell, a contributor to some of the latest Asian tropical style/garden/architecture books, has written this fairly straightforward book highlighting some remarkable Asian homes of recent design. It is very well illustrated and many of the photos show shadows and light to excellent effect.

It is something of a showcase for several Asian architecture firms, and the range of style is remarkably wide. Powell gets into the philosophy behind each design, discussing such matters as flow, function, exploitation of view or site features, use of vernacular, even local religious or cultural beliefs. Each house (total: 27) has its own chapter, with several good photos, general plans (!), elevations, and an essay about the structure and what each architect was expressing. While the text is sober and without fluff, reader can find in it a pleasing sense of respect for land, nature, materials, culture. (One disgusting exception: the photo of a room in a Thai house which contains several tiger and other exotic animal skins on the floor)!

If you are working with an architect and want to produce a certain effect, this book offers real solutions and helpful possibilities. Amazing variety.

This is a great book and deserves the 5 stars I gave it. When I ordered the book, I was not aware of its contents in terms of photography or writing. But with the combination of beautiful photographs but perhaps more importanly with the writing, the books actually makes you experience the house as though you were actually there. The author's gift for language, combined with his technical understanding of architecture in general and the elements of tropical Asian architecture in particular, will feed your imagination with ideas about the wonderful possibilities of finding design elements that will bring joy to your life. Highly recommended, for looking at, and for reading.

Is this book worth reading? Yes. But beware of the author's biases. Robertson has written several excellent books (e.g., biography of Stonewall Jackson), but this book is NOT one of them. Yes, it contains much new and interesting information about Hill. But the author goes too far in blaming others (e.g., Longstreet, Jackson, Lee, the man on the street corner!) for Hill's own failings. And when Roberston does so, he usually simply states something like, "But of the course the true blame belonged with X." without explaining why he thought so. Robertson does present some of Hill flaws. But he is seldom willing to admit that Hill, whom the author obviously admires very much, made some major blunders - e.g., the 600 yard gap at Federicksburg, which Meade and Gibbon used to effect a temporary breakthrough. So read the book and enjoy. But do not take its portrayals of Hill comrades as accurate - too many other sources tell us otherwise.

My forebears served under Hill from his assumption of the III Corps until their end and his. This work is the best I have found, but Hill remains an enigma in the end. One must wonder why Lee promoted his most impulsive and contentious Mj.General to Corps command, and must conclude that Longstreet was right when he concluded that the three corps arrangement was "too much Virginia." Robertson aptly titles his 2nd Day at Gettysburg chapter "Bystander to Defeat," but offers no real explanation for the usually agressive Hill's uninvolvement on this pivotal day. One is left to conclude that the unfinished grudge with Longstreet and rivalry with R. H. Anderson led Hill to malicious obedience to his orders and noninvolvement in the battle. Similar accusations caused the vilification of Longstreet, yet Hill escapes unscathed. Robertson does do what few others have by showing Hill's conscientious defense of the Petersburg lines. This portion of The War, so much like WWI, is the least covered and least understood period. Robertson is very helpful here. A good read and a valuable addition, but much is left unsaid.

Dr. Robertson the historian teams up with VA. Tech's former atheltic physician Dr. Bullock to determine the cause of AP Hill's famous decline after promotion in regards to health and action after he was promoted to Corps Commander after Jackson's death. While many though of Hill as a case of the "Peter Principal" it is apparent from the descriptions of Hill's physical decline and symptoms that Hill was slowly dying of syphllis. The inability of his kidneys to function properly caused Hill sleepless nights and left him virtually unable to command. This book is the first to determin ethecause of Hill's physoical collapse. Some very good descriptions of the impulsive Hill who starts the 7 Days campaign prematurely when Jackson is late or lost, his famous role at Harpers Ferry, his mercruial temperment with Longstreet and Jackson and his severe failure at Bristow Station where he launches his corps into a virtual ambush without any reconnoitering. His role at Gettysburg is somewhat of a mystery but his illness may have contributed. Best parts of the book center on Hill and his corps at Petersburg where his divisions would swing out of the trenches and into the woods and hit Grant's probing left flanks from vitually any angle. Interesting fact that Hill was burried four times after death due to some unique circumstances. Hill's legacy survives with less criticism than Lngstreet because the south was always kinder to their dead heroes than the living.

I left reading Powell's "Treason" wondering if his story was really worthy of a book. An meaty article in some highbrow magazine, surely, but a book?

Powell describes his involvement with bringing a Soviet turncoat, GRU Colonel Baranov, in from the cold. Baranov, disgruntled with the crumbling Soviet system, agreed to spy for the CIA. However, before he was able to do much of anything for the CIA, he was outed as a traitor. The book describes Baranov's career, and then Powell's efforts to bring the government into investigating the circumstances surrounding Baranov's arrest, almost certainly the work of a spy in the United States who betrayed Baranov to Moscow.

The main problem with the book is that it ends inconclusively. We never learn who betrayed Baranov. Furthermore, Baranov himself makes for a rather uninteresting subject of study when it comes to espionage, because his career as a traitor inside the GRU and agent for the CIA was over immediately after it began.

Readers will learn something about how spies like Baranov are recruited and operate - both into the intelligence services and then into betraying their countries. They will also learn a good bit about journalistic ethics and espionage (the book's high point). Another strong point is getting what is essentially a street level account of how badly the CIA can bungle seemingly routine tasks.

Overall, the book is well-written, and Baranov's story is a good one. I just don't think it was worth of a full-fledged book, even a short one like "Treason."

THis is an interesting read that raises questions about the lines a journalist should--or should not cross--when dealing with intelligence agents. I'm not sure that issue is addressed sufficiently here, in fact. Though the ending is a bit of a letdown, the story itself does draw the reader in and is unique enough to be of interest both to readers interested in spy stories as well as journalism. AN easy short read, so I recommend it.

What an experience! Hard to believe it'a a true story. I'm amazed by the author's courage.

Actually the full title of this book is Baden-Powell, The Boy-Man. This is a well researched but dry treastie of the founder of Scouting. You get the strong sense that Juel knows very little of Scouting and was writing the book more from the point of having been a fellow military officer. What is sad however is that Juel seems to be taking part in a relatively recent phenomenon in our culture to shatter our hero figures. We now know George Washington did not really cut down the Cherry tree and Abe Lincoln was manic depressive. Juel want's everyone to know that B-P had his faults as well. In much the same vein that some historian muckrakers spend their time in an effort at character assination, Juel has devoted the thrust of his effort into a character assination of B-P. Anyone who is interested in Baden-Powell could find many other books in print that are far more readable than this one (Green Bar Bill Hillcourt's Two Lives of a Hero comes to mind and it is available right here on Amazon). Despite its relatively recent release the book flopped and was quickly discontinued, Scouters would not waste time or money reading it, scout shops would not carry it, and it is, after all, a dull and uninspired effort at best. The Boy Man & the Character Factory (by Rosenthal) are two B-P Books Scouters would do well to skip.

An excellent read. I was impressed at the volume of information Jeal had at his disposal in researching the book. With all the references he had I cannot but think that this book IS the definitive history of Baden-Powell. Yes the book does raise some controversial questions about Baden-Powell but Jeal does not attempt to label Baden-Powell in any way; instead presenting to the reader facts from people close to Baden-Powell including extracts from Baden-Powells own diaries. The reader can draw their own conclusions. I found Jeals book to be an excellent read and an wonderful insight into the life and culture that existed during Baden-Powells life, and in particular, his army career. The worldwide Scouting movement owes Baden-Powell so much and I think every scout leader should read this book. I did!

Tim Jeal was given unrestricted access to the unrivalled family archive by the great-nephew Mr. Francis Baden-Powell. There are many pictures in this book that cannot be found anywhere else. Tim Jeal spent five years of research prior to writing this book. There are FIVE pages of acknowledgements which include, British Scout Association, Mr. J L Tarr (Chief Scout Executive of BSA) and numerous other sources. Mr Jeal was born in 1945. He attended Westminster School and Christ Church in Oxford. His previous biography of David Livingstone was honored by the literary editors of The New York Times and the Washington Post. He lives in north London with his wife and three daughters. Tim Jeal was cognizant of the gap that existed in Lord Baden-Powell's not having a full and objective biography. He spent five years on research. He was able to obtain unique access to people who knew Baden-Powell and to a huge amount of unstudied private papers of Lord Baden-Powell. This is an EXCELLENT book and the many references from Baden-Powell's Diaries and Letters give candid and honest information that cannot be found anywhere else. A must read for those who are interested in having access to information not normally available and making up their own minds.

This book lacks some of the focus and the sheer joy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but it is a delight nonetheless -- Charlie, Mr. Wonka and Charlie's family take the Great Glass Elevator around for some wild adventures.

It's a sequel, folks. And, frankly, when you are the sequel to the greatest children's book ever written, that's a hard act to live up to. Dahl does a decent job, so I give him 4 stars.

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Visit Willy Wonka's Wondrous World Again!
* * * * * (5 Stars)
I chose this book because when I looked at the cover I thought it was cool. The cover shows and elevator flying up in space, so I thought it would be about space and cool inventions. The book wasn't like that at all. It was about Mr. Wonka, a man who owns a chocolate factory, and Charlie, a kid who will be getting the chocolate factory, and Charlie's family. They go into space and help people from dying and as a reward having a party. Since the book was different from the cover, I do like what's in the book better than the cover and the idea of the cover.

Mr. Wonka, Charlie and Charlie's family got into an elevator and ended up in space. They stayed in a Space Hotel for a day and later had to save it from space aliens. This book is for children 8 - 10. I couldn't put this book down. It is a great way of using your imagination. This fantasy is written by Roahld Dauhl.

I liked imagining what aliens looked like, and how they saved the space hotel.

You'll miss out if you don't read this book!

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is a book for kids for a vivid imagination. Charlie is off again with his new book (after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) that has more excitement and adventure. I would higher hieghts, in space. Charlie has to fight in a vigorous battle, and save his grandma from some far off place. Charlie now owns the Chocolate factory from the first book where Charlie was last seen in the great glass elevator. Roald Dahl made this book you can't put down because of his wording. So run off to the nearest book store, lie down, and prepare for adventure and suspense.

_The Owl Service_ is a book that has to be read twice to be understood--and a familiarity with the myth of Blodeuwedd doesn't hurt either. This novel takes place in the selfsame valley where Blodeuwedd, Lleu, and Gronw played out their tragic love-triangle in times long past, and the spirit of the conflict still haunts the valley. Every generation, the situation crops up again, with different people playing the parts, but always ending badly.

One summer, it is three teenagers who enact the old story; a young girl and her stepbrother, visiting from the city, and a local boy. At first read, it isn't clear what Alison, Roger, and Gwyn have to do with the legend of Blodeuwedd, since their situation is different on the surface. If I'd only read the book once, I might give it two and a half stars. But upon re-reading, the resonances became more apparent, and I began to see the points in the story that correspond to events in the legend.

I want to give it three and a half stars, but Amazon won't let me do that, and my grade school teachers drummed it into my head that something-and-a-half rounds up to the next whole number. *wink* So, four stars. I would have liked it better if the characters had been fleshed out more before the legend started controlling their lives; the spirit of the old conflict started turning them into unsympathetic jerks before I had a chance to develop a liking for the people they really were. Still, a decent piece of myth-based fiction.

Definitely NOT a book for most children. I read THE OWL SERVICE many years ago in part because I had enjoyed Garner's earlier books so much. I remember having nightmares afterwards, and steered clear of it subsequently. At the same time, the book stuck with me, and when I saw it in a used book shop a while ago I picked it up and re-read it. Second time through it is captivating, haunting, disturbing, and yes, very very strange. perhaps the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy autumn afternoon and find oneself going somewhere where the real and the possible somehow get turned inside out and we end... I am not sure where. I'd be reluctant to give this to other than a very mature child, but if you have one, he or she may well be entranced. I know I am.

The Owl Service is an amazing book. It can be read on a series of levels as it explores everyday life, social injustice as well as offering an insight into Welsh mythology. To top it all, it is a phenominally good read and very hard to put down. Garner, as always, researches his background material well and those familiar with his work will know he always relates his novels to some aspect of British folklore. This book still creates the same mental imagery for me that it did 15 years ago when I studied it at college. It deserves every one if its 5 stars.