Effinger passed away in April 2002. He was at one time married to Barbara Hambly, and they remained good friends; she's mentioned that she plans to complete at least one of the projects left unfinished at the time of his death.

All the stories herein first appeared between 1973 - 1975; this collection first appeared in 1976. The only conjecture I can offer as to why it became hard to find in Effinger's lifetime is that while the stories are all excellent, they're mostly disquieting as well.

"And Us Too, I Guess" first appeared in the anthology _Chains of the Sea_. The viewpoint alternates between the 1st person narrative of Dr. Davis, a scientist, and the 3rd person narrative of Paul Moran, a factory worker. Both men have unsatisfactory lives. Davis is rebuilding his career - not for the first time - after a disaster (apparently) not of his own making. Moran, on the other hand, definitely has a hand in the making of his own disaster: his unsatisfactory marriage.

Neither man knows the other, but they share a common passion: breeding mollies, a particular breed of tropical fish. On the day the story opens, both find that all their pets have died - and upon seeking replacements, that *all* mollies everywhere appear to have died in a single night. Then a few days later, another species - an obscure fungus - is found dead, and an ominous pattern of tragedy begins to unfold.

"At the Bran Foundry" first appeared in _New Dimensions 3_. The annual Key Club outing - 18 teenagers with 2 fathers along, narrated by one of the boys - may first seem to have fantastic elements only in that 1) fathers, not mothers, are acting as chaperones, and 2) the kids are holding still for a tour of the Jennings Raisin Bran Corporation. But anomalies appear thick and fast as the lecture rolls on, both in the things we see, and those we don't.

"Biting Down Hard on Truth" first appeared in _Orbit 15_. Mac, Willie, and Sam (Sam's Willie's wife) are the three protagonists, as 3 of the many people in a giant institution whose purpose is unclear even to them, let alone the reader. It's hard to tell at first whether this is an alternate history - the religion is Mithraism, but modified to allow female participation - or the future. Jennings, the mysterious figure who coaches sports, leads religious rituals, and lectures on various military topics, appears to be the one constant in their lives - at first.

"Curtains" first appeared in _The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction_ (MFSF), August 1974, and appears to have the same setting as Lydectes (see below). Delta Company is a troupe (*not* troop) of soldiers on the battlefields of a future war arranged by the Representatives of Europe and North America, where "theater of war" takes on an entirely new spin, and a unit's reviews by the official critics are its first concern.

"Hard Times" first appeared in _Amazing Science Fiction_ in 1973. Justin, having applied for a lowly office position in Federal Services, is undergoing a battery of psychological tests, but he isn't filling out forms. Instead, a la the Matrix, each test puts him into a dreamworld he can't distinguish from reality - drugged so that he doesn't remember it's a test - to see how he reacts.

"How It Felt" first appeared in Universe 5. As the only person left with true feelings, Vivi is set apart. Her friends, however, are driven to appalling lengths to seek diversion, and often seek it by gauging *her* reaction to their actions. Today, however, she's attempting to create a more sophisticated veneer, and isn't providing her usual satisfactory responses.

"Lydectes: On the Nature of Sport" (1975) My first reaction: 'Hmm. The title sounds like a philosophical essay by a classical author; should I know the name?' As it happens, the text appears at first to be exactly that sort of essay - but it was found in a sealed capsule among some ruins on Wolf 359, Planet B, and for reasons that become apparent as the story unfolds, the dictator of North America found it important enough to forward to a colleague, with his own chatty annotation weaving in and out of the text - which also reveals that he and his colleagues are on the brink of war. (The essay, incidentally, is much more readable than Plato in English translation.)

"25 Crunch Split Right on Two" (MFSF, April 1975) MacDay's working life as a running back for the Cleveland Browns is spent translating such cryptic jargon into plays. But his coaches and fellow players don't know that what motivates him to try his hardest this year is that sometimes, when he's hit hard enough under just the right conditions (he's still working out what they are), he has flashbacks to a night five years ago: a night out with his wife, who died not long afterward. He'll pay whatever price he can even to see her again, but if he can change what happened...

This book is an excellent choice for those with a working knowledge of the West Indies who want a more complete perspective of the area. The chapters are taken from several of the author's other books, written between 1929 and 1955, thus provide a much more enlightening view of the Caribbean during this period than more recently written books

Know those teenage girls you saw in the Mall last weekend? You know, the ones that were continously babbling about everything, unable to hold a single thought for more than 30 seconds? Yep, thats them. Take one of them, put her in a gold mesh brassier and a solid gold g string, and give her a sword and you have our heroine

Told in the second person, Maureen (Dont call her Muffy) travels the Sci Fi universe, popping into the storylines of Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series, to taming the Apes in the Center of Burroughs Earth, Spending Time with Robert Adams Horseclans.

Isaac Asimov and H.P. Lovecraft were some of the others whose worlds were visited by Muffy, all with approval and some by request, as our herione battles monsters and shopping clerks with equal zeal.

In One chapter that sticks out in my mind She travels to Sherwood Forest and runs into Robin Hood and the Gang, and promptly challenges a trial of arms. In fashionable preppie teenage style, the challenge is accepted, and armed with Mommys credit card in her bra, Muffy and Maid Marian do combat in the Mall, seeing who can purchase the perfect outfit.

A good comedic twist on the Sci Fi world, and a good read, once you figure out thats its wrote in the style of a babbling valley girl

This prophet of love and typology is well served by outstanding OT scholar Derek Kidner.

Balanced and biblical based study companion to this minor prophet. Background and Hebrew translation help with vital words to this book such as "chesed" and "ruchamah" are handled accurately.

Maps and addenda will aid the user. Highly recommended.

This book is an important contribution to the study of a period in British Military Aviation History that generally receives little attention. The years between the war saw the gradual development of the biplane fighter from WW1 wood and fabric designs to fast, high-powered all-metal interceptors.

The authors cover all the major fighter designs used in front-line service by the RAF in the years between 1918 and 1939, from the Sopwith Snipe to the Gloster Gladiator.

Each type is described in considerable detail, covering the main technical features, performance characteristics and service history. Highly accurate plans are provided for each aircraft. Good quality photographs are provided on almost every page, together with numerous colour plates.

Despite the technical nature of the subject, an easy and accessible style broadens the appeal of the book. This is evident in the way the authors discuss the aesthetic appeal of the different designs and recount the human elements of the story, most notably the heroic exploits of test pilots.

To summarise, this is an excellent book that sheds light on a fascinating period of aviation history.

This book is an excellent observation of the president's limited focus and capital and shows how he is streched in the very harsh ways of a presidency

A massive masterpiece. Motyer, who is a life long student of Isaiah produces this evangelical commentary that will remain the standard. Written from a conservative stance, yet passionate and convincing. Any one who intends to do serious study in Isaiah must deal with this work.

The book is best at presenting the theory and has excellent discussions of advanced estimation issues. The book, however, is not as useful in conveying the nuts and bolts of how to use LISREL.

This true account of the spree murders perpetrated by Mike Wayne Jackson in Indianapolis in 1986 gives the reader more than just a typical "true crime" story. It seems as if Wilkinson divided the telling of this tragedy into three parts: the murders, the search for Jackson, and the day- to-day stories of the victims following the murders. The stories of each person involved in the crime (including Jackson's mother, the first victim's widow, etc.) are each written extremely well, and each helps us to understand the crime better, as all of the people that were involved in this crime are trying to do.

I was 10 years old when Manchester United became 'Champions, and Alec Shorrocks captures the atmosphere and the passion that was so intense during that time. The book contains indepth interviews with all the stars of that time; interviews that brought back so many good memories; Matt Busby being the most special. The author also offers his own feelings and descriptions of particular games, again bringing back most pleasurable memories of Old Trafford in the late forties and fifties. For football fans this book is a must, for Manchester United fans it is completely indispensible; due to the fact that this excellent book shows the depth of feeling that was so evident around that time for one of the best teams in the world. I live and work in New York now, and I'm planning my trip back to Manchester as we speak. Thanks Alec Shorrocks, wherever you are, for a fantastic read.