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Book reviews for "Rice,_Michael" sorted by average review score:

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida: The Making of the Broadway Musical
Published in Hardcover by Hyperion (01 November, 2000)
Authors: Michael Lassell, Michael Lassell, and Tim Rice
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A wonderful way to capture AIDA
I saw Aida on Broadway and was impressed by the music, the acting, the scenery, and the dancing. When I discovered this book, I found a way to relive the moment. I enjoyed looking through the photos of this book and showing them to people who have not yet seen the play on Broadway. I also enjoyed reading all the behind the scenes comments by the actors and actresses. All in all, I have found this book a great way to cherish one of the greatest musicals on Broadway.

This is a heckuva book!
This is an excellent book and very informative. It tells you about all of the changes that the show went through. It has wonderful pictures. They're all in color and they bring back memories of the show. I had had the good fortune of seeing the show with the entire original cast still intact. There were no understudies that day and I was so happy. I'm still trying to remember where that scrim in Fortune Favors the Brave came from. My only complaint is that they didn't tell the name of the man who played Radames before Adam Pascal took over in Chicago. Buy this book. You will thank me.


Who's Who in Ancient Egypt (Who's Who Series)
Published in Unknown Binding by Routledge (E) (2001)
Author: Michael Rice
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An excellent resource
This book is an excellent resource for any one serious about studying Egypt. It gives detailed information about every one from the highest pharaoh to the third scribe of the graineries of Amun at Karnak. Each entry is complete with dynasty and occupation as well every other piece of information you could want. The only problem is that it is a resource, and not a great book for beginners or anyone who wants to now how the individuals shaped history. This is not a book you just sit down and read. Its simply biographies, but incredible biographies. It is a must have for anyone who wants to complete their understanding of ancient Egypt.

Good reference for the beginner
This is a good at-hand reference for the armchair Egyptologist, or anyone who needs quick, concise information about numerous and important ancient Egyptians. Because some of the entries are very brief, however, it's probably not as useful for an expert in the field.

excellent reference
Who are the people behind the world's greatest ancient civilisation is the crucial question which drives this great book. From the most famous to the lowly people, from Egypt's heights of prosperity to its depths of despair, the people behind the names, both in their original and their Greek transliterated form, are revealed in an English language alphabetical order. Many of the museum collections have been examined and elaborated on. The first entry in the book is a scribe, Aakheperkare-senb and the last one is Zoser (aka Djoser Netjerykhet). Although there are no illustrations, it is an excellent and well-written reference, a must for students and scholars.


Egypt's Legacy: The Archetypes of Western Civilization 3000-30 Bc
Published in Hardcover by Routledge (1997)
Author: Michael Rice
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READABLE
Strongly influenced by C. G. Jung, founder of analytical psychology, the author argues that Ancient Egypt was a great coherent yet primitive society. Divided in three parts, this book first outlines the main historical events of the Egyptian kingdoms through chronological sequence of the royal dinasties. The author then explains the importance of the dissemination of Egyptian history to the Western world. A refreshing concept, it is a readable and fascinating book for the open-minded.


Egypt's Making: The Origins of Ancient Egypt 5000-2000 Bc
Published in Paperback by Routledge (1991)
Author: Michael Rice
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Excellent, yet much influenced by Jung
Excerpt from a review written by Francesca Jourdan and Michael Brass, published in World Archaeological Bulletin, October 1999 : "Rice is not a professional Egyptologist nor a prehistoric archaeologist involved in studying Predynastic and early Dynastic Egypt. He is archaeologically concerned with the Arabian Peninsula. [...] The first chapter discusses the geography of Ancient Egypt and particularly the influence of the Nile on the developing civilisation. A brief outline is presented of the history of Egyptology, with the main emphasis on Sir Flinders Petrie. The second chapter deals with the typological industries preceding the First Dynasty: the Badarian, Naqada I, Naqada II and Naqada III times. The discussion of the concentration of sites, as well as the artefacts excavated, from these periods is concise and informative. Problems creep in, though, in his analyses of these artefacts. [...] The third chapter describes the development of hierarchy through the Predynastic and the way it manifested itself through societal expressions. Hierakonpolis is discussed in depth and the origins of the ideology of kingship. The development of maceheads and palettes are traced in parallel, as are the early tombs. [...] The fourth and fifth chapters deal with the Third Dynasty until the end of the Old Kingdom. [...] The final chapter deals with Rice's psychological mentor - Jung. Jung himself expressed great interest in Ancient Egypt, a factor that heightens, in Rice's view, the validity of using Jung's philosophy in interpreting the development of the Ancient Egyptians through "analytical psychology". [...] A lot careful and hard work has gone into producing this very lucid text. [...] While there is much useful information for both academics and interested scholars of Ancient Egypt to take note, Rice's text is littered with factual errors which makes the book problematic. The book should be read with a critical but open mind."


Pilots Manual for Northrop P-61 Black Widow Airplane
Published in Paperback by Aviation Book Co (1973)
Author: Michael S Rice
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A useful book for the historian (military or pilot).
This book is more than just a manual in that it starts with a brief history of the P-61, then goes to the actual manual which emcompasses an introduction to aircraft systems, then basic operations from walk around check to flight characteristics to release of external stores. In this age of poorly written manuals I was surprised at how clear this manual is. It will add a dimension to your understanding of the P-61 unavailable in (but complimentary to) other sources. It will be appreciated by military historians and pilots (who could compare aircraft operations with their modern "twins"). Very "large scale" modelers might also find the detailed cockpit photos useful. If you are very interested in the Black Widow you should own this book.


The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering (We Are Still Here: Native Americans Today)
Published in Paperback by First Avenue Editions (1992)
Authors: Gordon Regguinti, Dale Kakkak, and Michael Dorris
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The Sacred Harvest
Very good and clear to know how to harvest wild rice and what wild rice means to American Indian.


Land That Time Forgot
Published in Audio Cassette by Audio Book Contractors (2001)
Authors: Edgar Rice Burroughs and Michael Russotto
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Not good literature, but great reading.
It may not be Edgar Rice Burroughs at his best but, The Land that Time Forgot is great adventure. This book contains the three Caspak novels; The Land that Time Forgot, the People that Time Forgot, and Out of Times Abyss. Three stories that chronicle the adventures of three different men on the Antarctic sub continent of Caspak; a volcanic depression that supports a diverse and dangerous prehistoric eco-system. Bowen Tyler, the hero of the first story, leads a disabled German U-boat and English survivors into the isle of Caspak where they need to fight for survival and try to find a way to back home. In the second story would-be rescuer Tom Billings crash lands in Caspak and meets the prehistoric woman Ajor. Together they fight their way back the Ajor's home territory. The final Story, and perhaps the best is about English lieutenant Bradley and his capture by the highly evolved Weiroo men. His story shows the best of Burrough's rolling adventure style complete with unbelievable coincidences and narrow escapes only to be caught again to prolong the story. So suspend your disbelief and plunge into the world of 1914, fighting the Kiaser's men, Dinosaurs, and strange cavemen. The back drop and story line more than make up for the dated romantic ideas. Not as tight and focused as Tarzan, but where else does one get submaries and dinosuars?

The Land That Adulthood Forgot
It is hard to know exactly how to review this trilogy by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I remember being given the first book, The Land That Time Forgot, by my father and devouring it, followed quickly by the next two volumes. My tastes were not sophisticated but my eagerness was in the extreme and these three books took me away to a place of dinosaurs, evil Germans, stalwart heroes, beguiling animal-skinned beauties and a mystery that defied evolution (or, more precisely, any known logic or science). I was truly in the land before time: childhood. Imagine my joy on discovering all three very short books wrapped in a modern new package that I could feel confident reading on a commute to work without undue embarassment. These books are still fast paced and have a truly pulpy, nostalgic feel to them. They can grow repetitious read all at once and perhaps the border between pulpy and musty is a fine one. They are more adventure and action stories than tales of the imagination (although the third installment does conjure quite a number of interesting images). The writing is simple and the dialogue is ludicrous. But the whole experience is still a delight as I was transported back and for that I am thankful for this wonderful new edition.

Still holds up well after all these years...
While Burroughs was denigrated as being a "pulp" novelist for most of his literary career, he was clearly a better writer than the vast majority of genre writers who publish today, and he was also a better story teller than most. The complaint of a reviewer that Burroughs was an obsessive racist would be hilarious if it weren't so ignorantly misguided. Similarly the complaint that Burroughs had no ear for dialogue is drenched in ignorance. The dialogue of early 20th century America is not the dialogue of late 20th century England, a fact that should not need explaining, but unfortunately explication is needed for those who who lack the most rudimentary of analytical faculties. I find Hemingway to have a tin ear for dialogue because the people I grew up with didn't speak like Hemingway characters at all, but I don't criticize Hemingway for that and suspect that he accurately recorded the cadence of his fellows. Burroughs had a good feel for the common man of the early 20th century, which is one reason his books still sell.

The Land That Time Forgot is a great adventure by a very good fantasy writer. Check it out while it's still in print.


Pilots Manual for F4U Corsair
Published in Paperback by Aviation Pubns (1974)
Author: Michael S. Rice
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Dry, but hey, its a manual
This is a reasonable compilation from an early Corsair variant. The drawings are of good quality and scale modelers will benefit from the detailed cockpit sketches, complete with item labels.

Corsair Pilots Manual
This Manual is a great for any F4-U Corsair junkie, it is complete with detailed sketches, as well as the procedures on flight, taxing, takeoff.It also has other Corsair procedures Excellent.


Servant of the Bones
Published in Audio Cassette by Arrow (A Division of Random House Group) (07 August, 1997)
Authors: Anne Rice and Michael Cumpsty
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Azriel's Journey
Imagine being handed over to the torture of being boiled in a cauldron of gold by your father. Azriel went through this in Anne Rice's The Servant of the Bones. This is a story told by the spirit from ancient Babylon. Azriel has been condemned to being the Servant of the Bones for all eternity. After defeating his strongest master, Gregory Belkin, Azriel goes to the mountain to find Johnathan, a college professor hiding from reality. Once he finds Johnathan, he insists on sharing his entire life story from before his horrible death , to his life with his two favorite masters Zurvan, and Samuel of Strasborough. He then tells in great detail how he defeated his strongest master, and became a free spirit. This book has a slow beginning, then it works it's way into a compelling story of one spirits fight to freedom. Anne Rice does a magnificent job bringing her spirits to life and telling details of their past, and present situations. I recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers, suspense or even drama; there's a bit of each in this masterpiece.

One of the Best Books I've ever Read!
I am very young, and I love books. Anne Rice is my favorite, and is a god-send to book readers. Her latest tale is about a ghost, phantom, whathave you, Azriel. He tells a gripping story about the gods of Babylonain, and how he was chosen by the god, Marduk. It is a very well paced, and thought out plot, that leaves the reader gasping for more. I hope that this will become a trilogy, for it is superbly written and gripping. The only complaint that I have, is that she goes on and on about the scenery and what he's thinking, and she's thinking. Well, that's a very minor flaw, and I tried my best to find another, but to no avail!!!! Hurray for Mrs.Rice, for she is the best writer of our time. -Ben Petiprin, age 13.

Another Riveting Tale
This is another great masterpiece by my favorite author, Anne Rice. Again, she weaves a world rich with life and death, joy and sorrow.

Azriel is the main narrator of this heart wrenching tale. A story that begins in our time line, taking us back through Ancient Babylonian time and ending in modern day New York City. Azriel tells us of his days as a Hebrew mortal, and his time as Servant of the Bones. A genie if you will, but not exactly. A gentle born Hebrew who was forced to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his people. Refusal would have meant that death would surely flow. Azriel would be forsaken and than deceived. Living from one master to the next, Azriel does their bidding until becoming his own master, controller of his own great power.

Asleep for centuries, Azriel is awakened to witness a horrific murder. Unbeknownst to him, he would take action that would change the future of mankind. Who is this Servant of the Bones, who was created out of madness, with the purpose to serve evil?

Contrary to the opinion of most reviewers, this is an excellent story. This is TYPICAL Anne Rice, but even better. I recommend this book immensely. You will be bewitched.


Tarzan: The Lost Adventure
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Del Rey (1997)
Authors: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Joe R. Lansdale, Gary Gianni, Michael Kaluta, Charles Vess, and Thomas Yeates
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Boring, this one is not worth the time.
Same old sceanrio in a Tarzan story, spend your valuable time reading the earlier books in the series, you'll be happy you did!

Should have picked another writer to finish it
I eagerly awaited this book for about 15 years, ever since I learned that there was an unfinished Tarzan story by Burroughs, but I was quite disappointed by what was done with ERB's manuscript. Compare Lansdale's version with the synopsis of ERB's 80 page manuscript in the appendix to the Porges biography of ERB. Lansdale really butchered many elements already worked out by ERB. I understand it's very hard to match the quality of ERB's storytelling, and I don't like to overly criticize people, but it doesn't seem that Lansdale even tried to write a decent book. It reads to me like a hack job, with little regard for style or the character created by ERB. For example, would ERB have written "Keep your mind off the loincloth, dear?" I don't think so. Nor is ERB's Tarzan a braggart. His character is existential. But not so existential that he would just give up on Jane and enter Pellucidar. In the Dark Horse 4 part serial version of this book, there are so many errors as to believe that Lansdale was half asleep when he wrote this. For example, there are characters in certain scenes which are actually someplace else in Africa in a different part of the storyline. Tell me Lansdale didn't just write this book as quickly as he could. As for the reviewer who criticised ERB's supposedly dense style and praised Lansdale's stilted 3 word sentences and then said, "Well, I've read all the Tarzan, Barzoom, and Pellucidar novels at least twice, so I guess I'm well-informed also"... All I can respond to that is, if you've read Burroughs' Mars books so many times, why don't you know how to spell Barsoom? And one more thing, ERB's style is elegant, the thing which makes his stories immortal. Philip Jose Farmer should have been given the chance to finish ERB's last Tarzan novel (I'm not referring to his Tarzan pastiches A Feast Unknown and Lord of the Trees, which were meant to be humorous, not true adaptions of ERB's character). At least he understands the character better (read THE DARK HEART OF TIME for an example of this). This book gets 2 stars, not for Lansdale's efforts or lack thereof, but because of the occasional glimpse of a paragraph penned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the Master of Adventure.

Very good read, and true to the spirit of the original . . .
I've noted that some other reviewers did not like this book. Actually, I was very satisfied with it. One of my favorite characters, little Nkima, the monkey, has a prominent place in this book. The book also has pretty women, savage tribes, and a very spooky and decadent lost city, which is a setting for much action.

Some have criticized the new author's style. However, Burroughs himself writes a kind of very dense, 19th century style which makes it very hard for me to recommend Burroughs to teenagers. Unless they want to keep encountering unfamiliar five-syllable Latinate words, and 80-word complex sentences. Let's fact it, EGB wrote some pretty dense stuff. Lansdale's style is cleaner, and is more typified by short, direct sentences. The description is good, and the mood is well controlled by Lansdale.

I did think this book is more bloody and graphic in its violence than the original EGB Tarzan books. Tarzan always killed to defend himself or rescue "drop dead" girls, but the graphic details added by Lansdale are a bit grim at times.

I did feel the bad guys through the early book were not bad enough. They just seemed to be violent military deserters with no sinister or evil plans except to steal another safari's supplies. They are just foils, really.

I like Tarzan's new personality. He has a times a biting wit, expressed in the laconic few words that we would expect of him.

The writing surrounding the airplane crash and the "sparks" between the surviving passengers-- these seemed excellent writing.

If Mr. Lansdale writes more Tarzan books, I will buy them for sure. Alas, this was originally published in '96, and apparently nothing more has come out. So perhaps there will be no more Tarzan left to read.

By the way, another reviewer said he has read "everything Burroughs wrote." Well, I've read all the Tarzan, Barzoom, and Pellucidar novels at least twice, so I guess I'm well-informed also.

Try it-- you'll (probably) like it!


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