Don't be fooled by the title- although it focuses on the dark side of every Wraith, this outstanding book contains tons of important information on all sorts of subjects- from exactly what your Eidolon IS, and when it comes into play, to roleplaying romance and love.

Other important topics covered include exactly how Castigation affects your Shadow- and while your Shadow is by definition your adversary, the isn't always your enemy. There is a lot more to Psyche/Shadow interaction than just "I'm the Good Guy, he's the Bad Guy."

Every Circle of Wraiths should have this one- you owe it to yourselves... and to your Shadows. :)

This is the story of the All American Boy. Born and raised in middle America, Kansas, Sam takes up marching in the school band. He meets a young girl named Annette, who will later play a intregal role in his life. His love of the discipline and regimentation, leads him to Missouri Military Academy, where he excells in all his classes, and knows that he wants to be a career soldier. By the time he graduates he is accepted in one of the nations most prestigous private military colleges, The Citadel. He advanced throught the ranks to become one of the highest ranking cadets. He joins the Army in 1961 and serves in Korea, as an aide to the commanding general, and is appointed to go to the Presidential Honor Guard The 3d United States Infantry, The Old Guard, at Ft. Myer, VA, where unbeknownst to him, he will become one of the most recognised soldiers in modern American history. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy is assasinated, and it is LT. Sam Bird and members of the military honor guard who will accompany and escort the body of the fallen president from Air Force One continuosly until he is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A few years later, while serving in Viet Nam, CPT Bird will be greivously wounded in an enemy ambush, where many of his men are killed and he will loose half of this skull and brains to enemy machinegun fire. Miracuosly Sam survives and while living at home recoupperating from the massive injury, Sam meets his old friend Annette, who falls for her former schoolmate,even though his is only part of the vibrant young man she once knew. They spend the next 15 years together enjoying life to the fullest extent that life can offer Sam, even though he is almost completely confined to a wheelchair. Sam's last visit to his old duty station at Ft. Myer, is met with honor and dignity as he is the guest of honor. This is a story of inspiration, devotion, dedication and courage, of a Real American Patriot and Hero.

This study was actually given to me in a beginner Bible Study for adults, those who have never really studied the Bible. Although it is written for 9-12 age it has some great basics about the Bible. It covers what the Bible is, how it came about, it breaks down the Old and New Testament into catagories, has a great maps, diagrams and charts and even a who's who in it. It is a great place to start to find out the basics about the Bible and how it came to be and what is in it. I am currently leading a class on basic beliefs and we will use it for teaching. It really is a great place to get kids to look at the Bible plus have the visual in front of them, the pictures/diagrams help make the stories of the Bible come to life. Then they can refer back to it to share with others too! It's nicely done!

I was not expecting this book to be a Sunday afternoon photo shoot for reanactors. It lacks reality and substance.I returned this book out of disapointment.Seeing the same faces in every picture but in diffrent uniforms takes a lot away from this book. However, the color photos were nice. Better luck next time but a A for effort.

A MUST have for anyone interesting in WWII - from the casual history buff to the serious reenactor. The colour photographs breathe new life into the lives the men led, and give a much clearer picture of what they had to put up with (a LOT of those items were heavy and/or bulky), as well as the uses of their equipment. If you've ever had a question about 'how did they ever do _____?', then this is the book for you. From mud-spattered uniforms to the ubiquitous Lucky Strikes, this book will give you a view into the past... and in colour :)

Here is one superb research material for all collectors and modellers who are interested in American WW2 uniforms and equipment. Photographs are superb, clear, and sharp! Sure, the models are re-enactors, but they were posed and modeled realistically.

As an American WW2 militaria collector in the Philippines, where information does not abound as much as in the United States and other countries, I would say that this book lessened the burden of research and saved me a lot of time and effort.

I would highly recommend this reference material to all!

RICHARD STEVE C. PAZ
PHILIPPINES!

This version of the Canterbury Tales (Everyman) contains all of the tales (including the rather tedious prose tales), and is in the original language. As anyone planning to read the Tales will be aware, old English is not easy! This book takes a lot of time to read. Is it worth it?

Yes. But a qualified yes. As an insight into life during this time in history, and particularly as a demonstration of how little humans have changed over the centuries, this book is very useful. Many of the tales are quite amusing and interesting. On the other hand, many tales are filled with rather drawn out, tedious sections, and a couple are just plain boring.

For a person who wishes to read most of the major English classics, this book must be read, and I think the only way to really appreciate it is in its original form, not in modernised English. For this purpose, the Everyman version is excellent, as it features convenient gloss on each page, so looking up difficult words can be done at a glance, which disturbs the flow a lot less. I would highly recommend trying to read the book in as short a space of time as possible, though, because you do get used to the grammar and vocabulary, and while it is fresh in your mind, it allows you to read the rest of the book with a lot less glossing.

Be aware that I read this book for personal interest, not as part of any particular course, so I am reviewing from the point of view of a general reader, not a literary scholar.

In addition to its literary importance, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are an enchanting reading experience. The Bantam Classic edition presents the tales in Modern English translation alongside the Middle English so that one can fully appreciate the tales as Chaucer composed them, or if you're just in the mood for a fun romp you can speedily read the translation. The tales themselves move at a quick pace, so beginners will probably enjoy the modern version much more.

The Canterbury Tales revolve around a group of 29 on a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral to pay homage to the martyred St. Thomas a'Becket. The members of the pilgrimage come from all walks of life, including a Knight, Prioress, Merchant, Miller, the ever-entertaining Wife of Bath, and many others. The Canterbury Tales are the pilgrims' stories and each one reflects the individual character's personality beautifully. One can't help but feel a part of this lively group.

Whether you like a bawdy, raucous tale or a morally sound fable you will definitely find something entertaining in this book. I laughed out loud several times and found Chaucer's use of symbolism, wit, wisdom, and the glimpse into 14th Century life absolutely fascinating.

The biggest hurdle in reading Chaucer is the language. Trying to read his work in Middle English is impossible without really good footnotes, and some of the "translations" are even worse--they're written in a high-blown, pompous style that takes all the fun out of the stories.

All this being so, I was delighted to find the Puffin Classics version retold by Geraldine McCaughrean! The tales are told in an easy-to-read, flowing style that captures the bawdy humor of the originals, without being over-crass (this is a children's book, after all.) I found myself often laughing out loud, and wishing I'd found this version much sooner, because it makes Chaucer fun to read! I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to try Chaucer but feels intimidated by the scholarly-looking versions available in the "Literature and Classics" sections. You won't become expert in reading Middle English, but you WILL see why The Canterbury Tales has such a wonderful reputation!

But you need to have a few comercial plug-ins and this means spend money, instead of this you can learn many tricks other people learn with experience and time. I really don't know if the book isn't good enoght or 3D Studio is very incomplete, filling the holes with expensive IPAS.

First of all, I want to say that I'm from Sweden, so please be indulgence with my language. I've read the magnificant book of 3d Studio & Hollywood Gaming Effects. I used both 3d Studio and 3D max for the tutorials, and I was quite impressed. The book is based on examples and tutorials, made by pros'. The examples in the book are very detailed, and are understandble, even for an amateur like me. And the best thing is that, if you dont understand what they're talking about, just put in the CD-Rom (that comes with the book) find the chapter for the example, and run it. There you have it, step by step, all the exaples in the book on the CD-Rom are explained on the CD-Rom too. A book for both amateurs and proffesionals, that increase the flexibilaty you need to become a graphic artist. And even if you're using 3d Max, the examples in the book - and on the CD-Rom - works properly. Since Max and Studio are based on the same system. The examples in the books are well illustrated, and the layout makes it very easy to find and read. You learn new things every time you browse through the book. And just by watching the exapmles on the CD-Rom, you can load a project - and go through it - see for your self how it's build. And in that way learn some useful hints & tricks. A low cost educational book, that you can get useful hints & tricks from, that you cant get from anywhere else. As I said, my English is bad. I sometimes can't find a way to express my feelings in words. But it is a good book. I rated the book with a 9. Now that, is self explained. Happy rendering, Your Friend In The Jungle Of 3D.

When I first picked this book up I was expecting it to be another book on teaching the beginner how to do simple effects. I could never have been so wrong. Starting at an advanced level, the book assumes you not only have lots of experience with 3D Studio, but some additional software tools as well. Then, it shows you, in detail, how to create certain effects, all of which can be easily adapted to your scenes. Some of the effects include overlaying your animation with video so that it 'fits' together, or extended use of 'Bones Pro' and 'MetaBall Modelers'(which are plug-ins for 3D Studio) to create organic models.

For beginners, I recommend "3D Studio Special Effects/Book and Cd Rom" while this book is more for users with a solid grip on 3D Studio.

I've been a fan of this series since the second book came out. I found the first one slow at times, but they get better (mostly). Then I read a review that said the Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur is a whole lot better, so I tried it. The review was more critical of Left Behind than I would agree with, but it was 100% right about the Christ Clone. Man, that's a series you can sink your teeth into. It moves fast, sticks to scripture, and explains prophecy in a much more believable way than any of the end times books I've read, including Left Behind.

The strangest thing is that BeauSeigneur does such a good job of presenting the antichrist that you actually find yourself pulling for him. It's weird, but exactly as Matthew 24:24 says it will be. In Left Behind you know that Nicolae is the Antichrist right from the beginning (though the characters seem a little thick-headed in not being able to see what's so obvious to the reader) and there's no way in the world I would ever follow ol' Nick. If I weren't a Christian, though, I'm sure I would follow BeauSeigneur's Antichrist. He's that good, I mean bad . . . oh you know what I mean.

One other big difference is that Left Behind is obviously written for a Christian or near-Christian audience; the preaching is pretty thick and I think turns off many nonChristian readers. (I've tried to get nonChristians to read Left Behind and none have read past the first book.) The Christ Clone Trilogy is written for a secular audience (it even has an occasional curse word) but when the truth is revealed (book 3 of the series) the Christian world view and the presentation of the Gospel is unmistakable.

After reading "Conquest of Paradise" by Britt Gillette, I was instantly turned onto biblical end times literature, and I just started reading the Left Behind series. The first book I read in about a day, but I finished books two and three in about a day and a half.

"Nicolae" focuses on the consolidation of suspected antichrist Nicolae Carpathia's power as he creates the infamous Global Community to consolidate political power, the Global Community Network to oversee the media, and the Enigma Babylon One World Faith to unite the world's religions. Carpathia appoints himself grand potentate of the Global Community and moves closer to becoming absolute ruler.

Meanwhile, the Tribulation Force continues to search for ways to undermine Nicolae's regime. Only they realize his true identity is that of the antichrist, but the Sixth Seal of the Book of Revelation is about to be poured out upon the earth. Will our heroes survive? Will they accomplish their mission to undermine Carpathia?

I can't wait to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading books four through twelve, and I encourage other Left Behind fans to pick up "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller" as additional reading. It's the book that got me into this series, and whoa, what a book! What "Left Behind" lacks in realism, "Conquest of Paradise" adds in abundance. A little less subtle than the Left Behind series, the antichrist isn't readily identifiable from the beginning. In fact, since I wasn't expecting to read a tribulation novel, it totally blew me away. The prose is more advanced and the international politics is identical to the current world scene and the war on terror. Peppered with biblical verses, "Conquest of Paradise" will turn even the most hardened skeptics into believers, or at least it will make them think twice. No one can afford to miss it.

Book four brings the "Soul Harvest". If the Tribulation Force can't stop Carpathia, then maybe they can at least win a few souls for Jesus Christ!

I've read all but "The Indwelling", which I'll read this summer, so I've decided to review the series. If you're a voracious reader you could finish this book in a day, no matter your reading level it is an easy read. You're likely to read it quickly because you'll want to find out what is going to happen next in this apocalyptic vision of Earth's future. This book is one of the best in the series. The action and suspense are spellbinding, so it is very entertaining. The "message" and true intent of the authors is throughout the book, you either believe it or not. The book is entertainment, not a bible study course on the Book of Revelations, so take it for what it is and enjoy the ride. The "evil one" is portrayed magnificently, totally believeable and credible. The world is his oyster and the way he manages to rise to power is slightly predictable but interesting nonetheless. The "heroes" are by now starting to become more dimensional as characters and the reader will be able to identify with them as real people. Whether you agree or disagree with the premise of this book, an interpretation of the Book of Revelations, the book is still a very good piece of fiction that in fact may be based on truth? Better than # 2 and right up there with the original # 1. No matter you're opinion, you will be left thinking about how you live your life and hopefully be a better person for it.

Ok, I initially picked this book up because it sounded like an intriguing plotline (a little like Stephen King's The Stand mixed with his novella "The Langoliers"). What I didn't expect was a thinly disguised piece of propaganda aimed to make readers feel horrible about themselves and basically live in fear for the rest of their lives. But enough of how I disagree with the ideas behind the book. As for the book itself, I can find practically no reason to continue beyond the first chapter. The characters are completely undeveloped and any interesting facets of anyone's personality is lost whenever he or she becomes "saved." I found myself becoming upset whenever one of the characters became "saved" because that meant he or she would no longer be an interesting individual and now would basically be interchangeable with any other of the "saved" characters. Don't get me wrong, I have a few friends that are part of this lifestyle and they are wonderful people who are not preachy or obnoxious in the least, but I would not last a minute with any of these characters - they are too simplistic and annoying to be believed. There's no surprises, no reversals, and everything that happens is completely predictable. This book is so elitist as to be down right insulting to anyone who doesn't subscribe to this particular ethos. I honestly don't understand who is buying all these copies. As for continuing with the series, you've GOT to be kidding. I'm an openminded person and I have no problem exploring lifestyles different from my own, but this book exists solely to make people feel bad about their choices, and to bully them into changing their lives through fear. I cannot support or recommend that.

It is hard to know how to evaluate a book like Left Behind. Is it aiming to be a piece of light fiction - easy to read, yet lacking a factual foundation? No - the subject matter is a little too dire for that. Is it then a theological treatise, presenting a case for the Rapture? No - there is a definite 'novel' feel to it. And this, I feel, is where the primary problem lies with Christian novels such as this one - they try to integrate two styles of writing (fiction and theological) which quite frankly is difficult. No doubt there have been some successes in the past (such as Pilgrim's Progress), but Left Behind tends to focus on the 'fiction' (storyline) angle predominantly. From what I see the book appears to be written based on a premise of premillianism (probably dispensational) which shapes how the story develops - though admittedly I have some amillenial bias. Looking at the story itself though, I found the character development very thin, and the real purpose of the first book appears to be to whet the appetite for the second (and following) books - it lacks literary completeness in and of itself. For twelve dollars US I was expecting alot more...

This is the book that set off a world-wide obsession with the Left Behind series. This is the book that started the audio drama series, the kids' series, the movies, the board games, the website. This is the book whose following sequels hit and continue to hit the top of the New York fiction bestseller list.

So what's the big deal about Left Behind? While it differs from many denominational theologies and ideologies, even those who disagree on the Second Coming of Christ still enjoy reading these books. Why? Because it chronicles the fictional yet realistic events following the Rapture of Christ's people from the earth.

Here's the plot for this first book: Rayford Steele is an commercial airline pilot whose life is going okay. So okay, in fact, that he's pondering a potential deepening of his relationship with one of his online flight attendants, Hattie Durham. This, despite his happy marriage to his beautiful wife Irene, and their two kids, Chloe and Ray Jr. Meantime, famed journalist Cameron ("Buck") Williams is on Rayford's plane. Williams gained fame and renown by covering a massive air assault in Israel, one in which all of the enemy forces attacking were killed by a strange firestorm, and yet no casualties resulted on the Israeli's side -an event predicted by the Bible.

Both of their worlds - and the real world - are shaken as, in the blink of an eye, millions of people disappear, simply vanish out of their clothes, and out of this world. Rayford lands his plane safely, despite chaos on the ground, and rushes to his home. He finds that his suspicions are confirmed: his wife and younger child Ray Jr. have disappeared with the rest. Rayford searches for answers at the church that he had never before enjoyed attending with his wife. He finds the assistant pastor Bruce Barnes, who has been left behind, at the church, watching a video recorded by the church's pastor, describing THE VERY EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

The video tells of the disappearances predicted in the Bible, the path to salvation, and foretells of the events to come, according to the Bible. Rayford, his daughter Chloe, Bruce, and a small congregation of others searching for answers find their salvation in Jesus Christ.

Meantime, Buck Williams searches for answers too, as he watches a charismatic Romanian leader rise quickly to the head of the United Nations. He learns from Bruce Barnes' teaching that this leader is predicted in the Bible, and in the video tape. Buck must discover the truth for himself, before it is too late.

BAD:

I enjoy this series a lot, but for those whose theology doesn't line up, it's not an extremely critical aspect of the Christian life as to what manner Christ will return in. The authors, Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye rely on the Bible for their opinions, and the Bible makes it clear that Christ's return is imminent, and that it will occur "in the twinkling of an eye". Even if you don't agree with the pre-tribulation Rapture of Christ's church, this series is still quite enjoyable. Compared to some books I've read, this particular one isn't very violent, but for picky readers, you should know that there are some violent things that take place in the book: a double-murder described in rather gory detail, as well as the chaos and violence that occurs following the disappearances. (Drivers who disappear cannot stop their cars from plowing into houses, people, cars; people cooking on a stove that disappear leave burnings stoves behind them; even other airline pilots who disappear leave their passengers pilotless, to crash and burn)

GOOD:

Jesus Christ is the Messiah, that's the main message of this book. Those who were raptured were taken by God to be spared his great wrath and judgment. Many come to repentance, and faith in Him after the disappearances, and follow His leading thereafter. This book is very enjoyable to read, and it's quite the craze nowadays too.

THOUGHTS:
Jenkins' writing style isn't the best you can find, to be honest. It's the plot that keeps you enthralled. In fact, some of his writing skills seem to deteriorate in later books of this series. Still, the book is a good read, and you should read it some time. But be prepared to buy a boxed set, or perhaps the rest of the series, because you'll want to know what happens next, and there's 12 books in the series! Also check out the Left Behind movies, and the dramatic audio editions.

The entire series, from "Left Behind" to Apollyon", has held my attention. The fact that I just found out about these books has allowed me to read them in quickly in succession. The only negative thing now is that I must wait until August for the next book. "Apollyon" was action-packed, the most gruesome thanks to the locusts and yet keeps the reader's full attention. Whether it was wondering when Buck would get home, if Hattie or Chloe would actually have a baby in that terrible world, what would the witnesses do next, Tsion's intrepretation of the next event or if Nicholae would destroy more of the Tribulation Force, my attention was keenly focused on this material. Another benefit is that I have found a deeper desire to try and read Revelations again. Thanks for an exciting series and I look for to reading "Assasins".

Other than the morning paper, I have never been one to read much. That all changed when my brother sent me the first five books of the "Left Behind" series. I have just received the sixth and look forward to reading it every day. The story is thrilling and action packed; the message from God extremely clear despite its interpretation of the Book of Revelations, a subject that is anything but clear to most people. I highly recommend these books to all, believer and non-believer. I sense God's presence as I read these books and a desire to get my life in order. I can only wish the same for everyone else. God Bless!

Like the four books before it Apollyon is like sitting watching a really supenseful movie: you are on the edge of your seat. Each page leaves you hanging for the next, because you now know these people and have to know how they end up.

I have read prophetic books before, but it has taken the fictional story of Rayford, Buck and Chloe to bring understanding of what Revelations is saying. These characters and their Tribulation Force give a clear picture of what it is going to be like for those left behind. Ben-Judah teaches the prophecy in way that even the bibical densed, which I consider myself, can begin to connect the verses in Revelations to how it can be played out in the 21st century.

In Apollyon when the Witnesses are challenged and no one can kill them , I feel a sense of pride in my God. When the demons come and torment the non-believers I have compassion on them. It is sometimes hard to understand why such a loving God will allow this to happen. Buck's explanation to Chaim in chapter sixteen about how God had blest Chaim with "wealth of friends, education,"etc. and couldn't get his attention, "what else can He do?", answers my question well.

I thourghly enjoyed Apollyon and am looking forward to next in the series. I hope Mr. Jenkins and Mr. LaHaye won't leave me hanging too long.

I've read all but The Indwelling in this series and found this one to be entertaining but a little drawn out. Besides the continuing saga of good vs. evil as portrayed by Buck, Rayford and other believers against Carpathia and his henchmen, the book continues to move along in its narrative of the end days. The specualtive interpretation, based on Biblical Phrophecy is full of God's message all be it not so suttle at times. If you've read the others in this series you probably will read this book no matter what is said. If you're new I suggest you start with the original to get a complete feel for Jenkin's and LaHaye's apacopalyptic vision. If you just want to jump into the series, don't do it here as this book is a bit drawn out. I found myself saying "OK kill him already"! I thought there would be much more to this installment than there was but nonetheless found it rewarding. For believers and non-believers alike this is a fun book that will at least make you think and hopefully be a better person. There are tons of reviews for this book but I told myself I would review all in the series, so, peace be with you, share the spirit.

For so many years, a Christian's only real option to read quality Christian literature was to read the marevelous C.S. Lewis. I feel blessed in the the last couple of years with the outpouring of quality literature now available. What's more, the different books are all very different. Left Behind is a wonderful introduction to the theology behind the End Times and a great series for all ages. We All fall down is a great book for more mature, intellegent Christians who wsnt to explore the individual ramifications of the End Times and the one on one relationship of a man who has fallen away from God. The Christ Clone Trilogy is a thrilling, Tom Clancey like look at these events, full of unexpected twists and turns. I know some people like to argue the various merits of these books as compared to each other, but I think they are all worth reading and feel lucky to finally have such a wide variety of GREAT Christian literature available.

For all of you that keep talking about the authors of this series getting greedy-- Please rethink this. It really doesn't matter...What matters is the length of this series gives more people the chance to read it. They may hear good reviews or bad reviews about the writing style, the development of characters or the entertainment value. But face it, the important task here is to spread the word. Whether the authors intended or not, the long series does draw more attention than a one time writing. Look at some of the "bad" commercials on TV. People remember the "good" ones but also the "really bad" ones. So, again, does it really matter? I don't think information that may lead people to their bibles to study more needs to be riveting, entertaining or short. The important thing is that alot of people are hearing about this series and telling others. Some are giving the books to their non-beliving friends. How many of you read the Bible expecting to be entertain or to be a critic of the writing style. Don't lose site of the big picture...the acceptance of Christ and being saved. Please don't turn people away from any book that might make them think about God and their salvation. That is what would be a shame!