Having heard so much about this saga-type novel I sought it eagerly & finally broke down & bought it via amazon uk (after a long & fruitless hunt stateside). Rather expensive for this paperback w/lots of typos & editing problems, I thought. But the book, I judge, was worth it in the end. The tale of Orm Tostesson & "friends", this book follows the adventures of this typical late tenth century viking through nearly all the high-points of vikingdom in the period. From raids & servitude on the coasts of Moorish Spain, to visits with Irish monks and dinner with the Danish King, Harald Bluetooth, and his assorted guests, including no less a worthy than Styrbiorn Olafsson, the Jomsviking and claimant to the Swedish throne about whom E. R. Eddison wrote so brilliantly in his own viking novel, STYRBIORN THE STRONG, this book takes us through all the paces. Orm ends up with a very noble wife living in a backwater part of Scandinavia (the borderlands between Sweden and medieval Denmark) but even there he gets no peace since his enemies and adventures pursue him. And in his maturity another and final adventure comes his way when he is summoned to the eastern reaches of far Gaardarike (the country that was to become Russia) to claim an "inheritance" of great value. Along the way, Orm makes some good friends, some bad enemies, participates in some (but by no means all) of the great events of viking history in that period, and finally mellows to become a better man who embraces the new way of thinking while yet feeling at home in the old.

I did think the book a bit too episodic though this is no indictment of it since the sagas themselves are nearly always such and the "voice" smacks very much of the sagaman's art. However, a close reading makes this very clearly a modern novel for the humor is quite bracing and alone marks this tale out as one of ours and not one from an earlier time. I especially appreciated Orm's hypochondria, despite his courage in the face of battle, a very human and humorous touch! And the fighting is all very realistic, no great superhuman feats of derring do (except occasionally as we find in the real sagas). Some of the literary technniques used, besides the marvelous sense of tongue -in-cheek humor, are also quite contemporary. I did think the tale a bit slow in places, especially at the beginning, and rather more predictable than not.

And, more, it is not, in my opinion the best of the viking or saga novels despite what others have said here. For tautness and action, none have yet done it better, in my opinion, than H. Rider Haggard with ERIC BRIGHTEYES. For the pure poetry of style, Eddison's STYRBIORN THE STRONG still has my vote. And for the resounding greatness of the tale and the power to move, no modern author has ever penned a better saga novel than Hope Muntz did with THE GOLDEN WARRIOR. But Bengtsson did a very nice job and deserves five stars for it. I take my hat off to him and to those here whose reviews obliged me to obtain and read this fine viking tale.

(For those with an interest in the saga as novel, a few other good ones I'd recommend include Cecelia Holland's very modern and psychological TWO RAVENS, a glimpse into the hot-house environment of an Icelandic farm, and Jane Smiley's THE GREENLANDERS which tells of the final days of the the Norse settlement in Greenland as the cold and the Eskimos closed in around the settlers. And if you still have any patience and want more, perhaps you'd want to try my own small effort, THE KING OF VINLAND'S SAGA, which I wrote to be the saga I'd always wished had been written and preserved about the Norse excursions to this part of the world. All, I believe, are available in some form or another on-line. Mine I know is.) -- Stuart W. Mirsky

Having heard so much about this saga-type novel I sought it eagerly & finally broke down & bought it via amazon uk (after a long & fruitless hunt stateside). Rather expensive for this paperback w/lots of typos & editing problems, I thought. But the book, I judge, was worth it in the end. The tale of Orm Tostesson & "friends", this book follows the adventures of this typical late tenth century viking through nearly all the high-points of vikingdom in the period. From raids & servitude on the coasts of Moorish Spain, to visits with Irish monks and dinner with the Danish King, Harald Bluetooth, and his assorted guests, including no less a worthy than Styrbiorn Olafsson, the Jomsviking and claimant to the Swedish throne about whom E. R. Eddison wrote so brilliantly in his own viking novel, STYRBIORN THE STRONG, this book takes us through all the paces. Orm ends up with a very noble wife living in a backwater part of Scandinavia (the borderlands between Sweden and medieval Denmark) but even there he gets no peace since his enemies and adventures pursue him. And in his maturity another and final adventure comes his way when he is summoned to the eastern reaches of far Gaardarike (the country that was to become Russia) to claim an inheritance of great value. Along the way, Orm makes some good friends, some bad enemies, participates in some (but by no means all) of the great events of viking history in that period, and finally mellows to become a better man who embraces the new way of thinking while yet feeling at home in the old. I did think the book a bit too episodic though this is no indictment of it since the sagas themselves are nearly always such and the "voice" smacks very much of the sagaman's art. However, a close reading makes this very clearly a modern novel for the humor is quite bracing and alone marks this tale out as one of ours and not one from an earlier time. I especially appreciated Orm's hypochondria, despite his courage in the face of battle, a very human and humorous touch! And the fighting is all very realistic, no great superhuman feats of derring do (except occasionally as we find in the real sagas.) Some of the literary technniques used, besides the marvelous sense of tongue-in-cheek humor, are also quite contemporary. I did think the tale a bit slow in places, especially at the beginning, and rather more predictable than not. And, more, it is not, in my opinion the best of the viking or saga novels despite what others have said here. For tautness and action, none have yet done it better, in my opinion, than H. Rider Haggard with ERIC BRIGHTEYES. For the pure poetry of style, Eddison's STYRBIORN THE STRONG still has my vote. And for the pure greatness of the tale and the power to move, no modern author has ever penned a better saga novel than Hope Muntz did with THE GOLDEN WARRIOR. But Bengtsson did a very nice job and deserves five stars for it. I take my hat off to him and to all those here whose reviews obliged me to obtain and read this fine viking tale.

(For those with an interest in the saga as novel, a few other good ones I'd recommend include Cecelia Holland's very modern and psychological TWO RAVENS, a glimpse into the hot-house environment of an Icelandic farm, and Jane Smiley's THE GREENLANDERS which tells of the final days of the the Norse settlement in Greenland as the cold and the Eskimos closed in around them. And if you still have any patience and want more, perhaps you'd want to try my own small effort, THE KING OF VINLAND'S SAGA, which I wrote to be the saga I'd always wished had been written and preserved about the Norse excursions to this part of the world. All, I believe, are available in some form or another on-line. Mine I know is.

I was fortunate to be given a copy of a British paperback edition by a Swedish friend, re-awakening the joy I experienced reading this book thirty years ago. When I received this gift, it looked like a fairly ordinary paperback with a ludicrous cover illustration. The worlds within are amazing. It's exuberant and beautiful, indeed.

Michael Zak's book, "Back to the Basics for the Republican Party," is at once a splendid history lesson of our nation and an illuminating dialogue of our political system. Mr. ZaK begins with the events and the ideas that gave rise to the Republican Party. He goes on to explain how the fundamental tenets of the party enabled the Republicans to save the Union, rid our country of slavery and lay the foundation for the modern American economy. Mr. Zak then discusses how the GOP strayed from its principles, allowing the Democratic Party to gain the advantage. Finally, the author provides, through his own incisive analysis, the framework by which the Republican Party can regain the moral and political high ground, and lead America to even greater accomplishments. Nonetheless, this book is neither a dry nor a pedantic study. It is a thoughtful, well-written, compelling and entertaining discourse in the realm of politics. Most importantly, "Back to the Basics for the Republican Party" is a clarion call for the GOP to return to its roots. I highly recommend this outstanding book.

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party" is a timely manifesto and historical overview of the ideas that define the Republican Party. As we feel inundated these days with media sound bites and empty symbolism in politics, it is easy to lose sight of the underlying organizing principals on which political parties are formed and how the parties differ from each other. The author agrues that most Republicans misunderstand or are out of touch with the party's founding ideals and therefore are not successful in promoting the party to a wider audience. He takes us through a tour of what began as "The Party of Lincoln", emphasizing individual freedom under the rule of law. The immediate political outcome was the abolition of slavery and its enforcement by war. The tour concludes by demonstrating how those underlying principals have evolved today--namely, an abhorrence of tyranny worldwide and a continuing vigorous effort to decentralize government by bringing it closer to the people.

The author brings to life the personalities, both old and modern, who shaped the Republican Party. Both history book and political essay, "Back to Basics for the Republican Party" weaves together an impressive amount of facts and anecdotes that will make you think about Republican ideals in new and interesting ways. It is a well-written, lively, and lucid contribution that will be of interest to anyone who wants to better understand the Republican Party and its roots. The book is also peppered with witticisms and "zingers" that will make you cheer or shake your head depending on where you stand.

Michael Zak's book, "Back To The Basics For The Republican Party," is a wonderful achievement. "Back To The Basics" is at once a splendid history lesson of our nation and an illuminating dialogue of our political system. Mr. Zak begins with the events and the ideas that gave rise to the Republican Party. Mr. Zak goes on to explain how the fundamental tenets of the party enabled the Republicans to save the Union, rid our country of slavery and lay the foundation for the modern American economy. Mr. Zak then explains how the GOP strayed from its principles, allowing the Democratic Party to gain the advantage. Finally, Mr. Zak provides, through his incisive analysis, the framework by which the Republican Party can regain the political and moral high ground, and lead America to even greater accomplishments. Nonetheless, this book is neither a dry nor pedantic study. It is a thoughful, well-written, compelling and entertaining effort. Most importantly, "Back To The Basics For The Republican Party" is a clarion call for the GOP to return to its roots. I highly recommend this outstanding book.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love this book, the copy I have is all ragged, the pages are falling out, because it's like "It's a Small World" ride in Disney World -- there's so much in it to see you can't go through it once.But the downside is, it only half-heartedly covers the KTMA episodes (actually some of my favorites are from there Phase IV, and some of the first MSTings of the Gamera movies), and being written while season Seven was in the planning stages, it stops there, giving it the same half-hearted treatment as the KTMA's.Yes the book is in depth for season's one thru six giving all of the short and movie summaries, as well as the host segment rundown and reflections on each episode. IT IS A GREAT READ, but still incomplete.As enjoyable and highly rated as it is, I think the guys should do a revised version covering all eleven seasons (yes boys and girls, the boys at Best Brains don't consider the KTMA's as a season, or if they do break down and admit it, they call it Season Zero).Yes I enjoy "The MST3K Amazing Colossal Episode Guide", I'd give it two thumbs up (if my thumbs were working), and would reccomend it to anybody who even has a vague intrest in the series, but I'll also note the fact that something is missing.

First off, I would like to say that MST3K was the most brilliant, hilarious and creative show ever produced. They were snubbed by TV Guide in their top 50 shows of all time article.
Now on to the book:
This book has summaries and memories of all the episodes form seasons 1 though 6, the hayday of the show. The summaries of the films themselves rival the actual show for laughter value. Whether the synopsis was written by Mike (who I think is one of the funniest writers on the planet), Trace, Mary Jo, Kevin or Paul, they will make you heave with gutteral belly laughs. The memories of each episode are also very funny, and beyond that, pretty informative.
The book also features a ton of other things, such as the story behind the creation of the series, answers to the top 50 questions asked, the making of the MST3K movie and much, much more.
The only complaint I have about this book is that it only goes up to season 6. Although I think the show never regained the edge and hilarity of the the Comdey Central era shows (specifically seasons 4-7), I would still love to have a companion volume that takes care of seasons 7-10 and the movie.

I highly recommend this book for all MSTies out there.

Well at least it was back when Mystery Science Theater 3000 was in its sixth season.

This is THE book for any fan of MST3K whether you became a fan of the show during its early days at the local station in Minneapolis, or just found it on the Sci-Fi channel during the final reruns. The book offers a peek into all of the 120 episodes that can only be seen on a fan's tape. Each episode area has descriptions of the actual movie, all of the segments, and one of the writers reflects on the episode. In fact the style of how each episode is described in the book was so much loved by the fans that the cast continued to describe the 8th, 9th, and last season at Scifi.com. It also chronicles the conception and birth of a revolutionary comedy.

Running through the book are poems, reflection, and suggestions on how to discuss "Your Area" which will leave your sides in pain. In fact the introductions of the book are enough to rip out a few stitches so be careful.

Even if you do not really care about all of the old episodes that you may never seen, the reflection and other writing in this book are enough of a reason to buy this book. Trust me.

The Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh...in his 100 Acre Wood Eden...are celebrations of friendship and loyalty. Maurice Sendak's WHERE the WILD THINGS Are, startlingly glimpses into fun; adventure and beckoning unknown dangers inhabiting the seemingly guileless imagination of children. THE VELVETEEN RABBIT might be thought to complement these major modern works of CHILDREN MYTHOLOGY. "How Toys become Real..." is subtitle and theme of this superbly crafted fable about LOVE: its promise; pain and overwhemling power to miraculously transform. Like all great fairy-tales, cuentoes and parables, the story is Once-upon-a-Time simple. It can be read to any child over three, and read by any child eight or older(3.5 g/e). It is told from point of view of a "really splendid, fat and bunchy Velveteen Rabbit...with coat spotted brown and white...real thread whiskers...and ears lined with pink sateen." The toy rabbit "quests" the love of his playmate master(BOY)that can...according to Mentor and friend THE SKIN HORSE...grant REALITY.
"When a child loves you for a long, long time...not just to play with...but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL."

Adorning this story is the wonderous art of illustrator Donna Green. In this 1995/98 edition, the "picture book" is illuminated with beautiful oil, acrylic, and lush pastel paintings that glow, and shimmer Life-like and LOVE-like. It is beautiful art work intrinsically conveying Margery Williams' mythical message to the young and young-at heart. (10 Stars)

Daughter Anna (now 19 years old) loved this book. It was her favorite above all others. As we sorted through some old kid things for give-away purposes, we stumbled upon this old, well worn copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit." She insisted we keep the book for HER children.

This was her book that Mama (me!) had to read to her again and again and again. As soon as the last word was read on the last page, it was "Mama, please read it again!"

(how I miss those days, by the way!)

The book also has a powerful message about Love that children understand and cherish.

This is a wonderful book. No child should be without their own copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit."

This is a heartwarming story about a toy rabbit filled with sawdust that wants to be real. He realizes what the meaning of "real" is when his owner, a young boy, gives him the answer for which he searches. My wife bought this book for me last month. I missed it as a child. I've learned the lesson in this book in traditional ways, by trial and error. I would have loved to have this treasure as a child and thank my beautiful wife, Lori, for giving it to me, now. Only real love has any meaning or longevity, at all. I ask you readers to not pass up this gem of a book. It is a must for children and adults alike.

I have no kids (unless you count my cat and my husband) but I bought this book originally for a friend's little boy's first birthday. I loved it so much I had to get my own copy. The songs are a scream and I love how some of the most serious actors in Hollywood are singing them. Come on, Meryl Streep singing "Nobody Understands Me"? What's not to love about that? I just wish all of the words to the songs were in the book, not just the first verse.

I think our children and grandchildren will regard Sandra Boynton as we and our parents regard Dr. Seuss. As usual, her stories are adorable. I saw highlights on the today show this morning and had to go buy it today. My daughter's a little young for it (7 months) but her 2 year old friends loved the music. It's a children's CD I like and do not find annoying (such as those by that purple creature).

The book is well done. There is a page for each of the songs with an illustration. There is also sheet music and lyrics for each song in the back of the book.

I'm sure we'll cherish this one for years to come!

The CD is wonderful. It has become the top car request now...and we like it almost as much as our daughter, who just turned 4. The range of musical styles, and the amusing lyrics make it a true winner.

My daughter loves having the book to go with the CD, and can study the illustrations, turning the pages with each song, for an hour at a time during long car trips.

Unfortunately, despite her fairly gentle treatment of the book, the pages all started falling out during the first hour of a 4 hour road trip last weekend. Somehow we got the book away from her without a meltdown! We have owned the book for less than a month, and are very disappointed with the binding.

Buy the book and CD anyway -- you can always tape the pages back in (my next task)!

Originally published in 1988 it took twelve more years for a commercial following to gather for the Liaden Universe. The first three books, "Conflict of Honors", "Agent of Change" and "Carpe Diem," were then compiled into a single volume and sold as "Partners in Necessity." During the mild aftermath of their first being published, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller continued to write, but mostly for themselves. If the general public didn't embrace what they wrote, at least they enjoyed writing it.

The strange thing here, is that those three novels were excellent. It's a mystery to me why it took so long for them to succeed, as they should have from the first day. The book market can be an unpredictable battleground. If it weren't for all the positive ratings awarded on Amazon.com, even I would not have read these quality novels.

Written in the vein of space opera, each of the Liaden Universe books, six so far, centre on the Liaden clan Korval. A non terrestrial but human family that ensures its survival in a universe of cut-throat politics with commercial acumen, a fleet of ships and a generations long breeding program aimed at producing pilots, (a rare bread of individual that has the reflexes of a cat and the courage to match). Each book tends to concentrate on one couple, typically as they meet, fall in love and life-bond. All this tends to happen under adverse circumstances; running from secret government agents, duelling with mad ship captains, targeted by a futuristic crime family or just being attacked by a mindless race of aggressive aliens known as the Yxtrang.

The Clan Korval is not always fighting alone however. One of their more fascinating allies is the Clutch Turtles, linked to Korval through an unspecified and mysterious adoption. These aliens are an old race, long lived, slow to act, fascinated by art and possibly the most deadly creatures in known space. There are so many factions, families, races and species involved in the Liaden universe that we need every book these talented authors can produce just to scratch the surface. I just hope their growing popularity gives them enough reasons to continue writing.

First, let me state up front that I am NOT the Steve Miller who co-wrote these novels, so I'm not singing my own praises here. I AM a Steve Miller who's also a writer (and who may have chosen a different variant on his professional name if he had been aware of the other Steve Miller who also writes sci-fi/fantasy, but for now I guess we have to share... :) ), but we are two different guys.

With that aside, I'll just say that I greatly enjoyed "Partners" and that I hope to start "Plan B" (the follow-up novel) next time I have a trip I have to take. In fact, "Partners" is one of the most enjoyable books I've read so far this year.

Lee & Miller write with the kind of style I wish I could. It seems breezy and effortless. Their tales are populated with likable characters whom the reader almost can't help but care about. The adventures are exciting, the romances touching, and the action fast-paced and exciting.

I highly recommend this omnibus of the first three Laiden Universe novels to anyone who enjoys sci-fi that's focused on characters rather than tech. The section about the 'hows' and 'whys' of this particular volume is also interesting reading.

PARTNERS IN NECESSITY is one of the greatest compilation volumes I have had the pleasure of reading for a good many years! It is actually three novels CONFLICT OF HONORS, AGENT OF CHANGE and CARPE DIEM originally published in the late eighties. How I could have possibly missed them back then I don't know but now I have found them I will never let them go!

Classic space opera! Interesting plots, wonderful characters, and enough action and romance to keep you turning the pages fast enough to have to worry about paper cuts! I read these books quickly and reread them and reread them again trying to memorize it! I'll admit I have become a Liaden Universe addict! Please don't try to rehabilitate me!

This is a keeper! One of the few that actually ended up on my library shelf rather then the local library.

For those of you who like adventure and romance I can't think of a better place to spend your time. It's worth it and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you get a copy...

The biggest danger posed by this book will be your inability to put it down and the immediate need for another fix of Liaden Universe novels! I don't know how this series escaped my attention back in the 80's, but I started with Partner's In Necessity (omnibus of the first three novels, Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change and Carpe Diem) and was instantly in love. I read the whole book in under a week and immediately had purchase all the available books, including Plan B, which follows hard on the heels of Carpe Diem. I spent a weekend reading them all together in order, and even though I think Plan B is well-crafted enough to be read on its own, the background information and hints that you pick up in the earlier books makes it worth your while to start at the beginning and work your way to Plan B.

I was impressed that Plan B fit so seamlessly with the previous novels. The action picks up right where it left off, and the characters words and deeds are so consistant with what has been written before you never would have guessed there was a ten year publishing gap between them. The strengths of these books is in the wonderful cast of characters. Val Con, Shan, Nova, Anthora, Priscilla, Miri, Edger...they are all so well drawn with their own mannerisms and speech. Part of the dramatic tension in Plan B is getting the various members of Clan Korval all in the same place/space at same time since many of them haven't even met each other. You just know that Shan will approve of Val Con's lifemate Miri, but you want them to meet and talk to each other and interact, though perhaps it would be better to save Aunt Kareen for later...

While Plan B isn't strong on technological details, it is big on heart. The driving force is to preserve Clan Korval from the evil Department of the Interior, a xenophobic and power-hungry shadow organization within the Liaden government. They fear and resent Clan Korval's power and influence and the current clan members' partial Terran heritage. This sets the stage for planetary invasion, conspiracy, sabatoge, family reunions, long-lost heirs, galatic mobs, eccentric ancestors, talking tress, truces with enemies and a host of other difficulties to be overcome and it all makes for great reading.

By my measure, any book that makes you want to buy the sequel and/or prequel(s) sight unseen must have something going for it, and for all the faithful readers who had to wait 10 years (!) to get Plan B in their hands, well, they have my deepest sympathy. Right now I'll be re-reading my copies until I Dare makes its appearance. Thanks to Meisha Merlin Publishing for picking up this series, and let's hope there will be many more adventures yet to come!

First full disclosure: I have fallen in love with the Liaden universe! All these wonderful stories have been a godsend and a comfort. Marvelous tales of adventure, romance and daring do! There isn't a bad one in the bunch.

Now specifically lets look at "Plan B," the third in the Agent of Change series. But maybe it would be better to look at them as two parts of one story separated into two sections each. "Agent of Change" is nothing without "Carpe Diem" and "Plan B" is nothing without going on to "I Dare." "Plan B" is the continuation of "Carpe Diem" so you know where it's been. By the way if you haven't read "Agent of Change/Carpe Diem" do it now! Don't wait. In fact you can buy both of them along with "Conflict of Honors" in one volume called "Partners in Necessity", without a doubt the best buy around. Anyway the whole cast is there as you follow them throughout their various exploits.

I will grant you that my two favorites are "Carpe Diem" and "I Dare" but you can't skip "Plan B." You just can't! You can't skip tot he middle of a book and that's what you would be doing!

Given the total Plan B/I Dare, they really should have been one novel, you just can't beat it. Not only do I recommend this book but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.

"Plan B -- Speak to me of danger, do!" has become a watch-word among certain groups of readers. And now we finally know what Plan B IS----- sort of. After reading (and re-reading) the first three books in this universe, and hooking many of my friends on them, I was thrilled beyond words when the newest edition hit the stands. Action, most certainly. Honor, excitement, romance, intrigue, curious abilities and of course, ten foot tall talking turtles....what is there not to love!?! Val Con and Miri, Shan and Priscilla, all of our favorites from Clan Korval are here, and THIS time, some of them in the same places! If there is anything wrong with this book (besides the fact that it ENDED!), it is the way the chapter-lets, or segments, really, jump from character set to character set. You could get motion sick, if you're not careful, trying to keep track of where you are when. But much can be forgiven where so much pleasure is delivered. And of course, nothing whets the appetite better than knowing there is more to come! "I Dare" isn't THAT far away.... Keep on writing, Steve and Sharon!

This is an absolutely fantastic inside look at the design process of Disney Imagineering. The book details the past, present and future projects along with great anecdotes from the Imagineers themselves. The book is also filled with rich pictures, illustrations, and sketches from projects both built and left on the "shelf". As one who wishes to pursue a thempark design career, this book acts as a great reference tool and both inspires and motivates your creative juices.

-Ken G.

No other text comes as close to capturing Walt Disney's joy and enthusiasm for the creative process. Written by Kevin Rafferty with Bruce Gordon, their text explores the historical context for this remarkable story. Originally known as WED Enterprises (Walt Disney's personally owned laboratory for creating what would later become known as Disneyland), their story details the guiding influence of Walt Disney himself, as well as of the men and women who succeeded Walt in becoming the first generation of "Imagineers".

Having laid that foundation, the development of Disney theme parks is presented with amazing attention to detail. David Mumford and Randy Webster have taken in-depth research and image selection to new heights. Every graphic and illustration makes a strong contribution in documenting the role of Walt Disney Imagineering in expanding Disney's reach to the far corners of the globe.

This is the BEST book I have EVER read. I'm 14 years old and ever since I came back from Walt Disney World in 1999 after seeing the Millennium Celebration, I have wanted to be an architect for Walt Disney Imagineering. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Disney or wants to be an Imagineer. It has inspired and motivated me to be the best I can be and to look at everything as an oppritunity to see and learn new things. I have never wanted to be an Imagineer more since reading this book. It gives you a beautiful and rare collection of WDI drawings and paintings and what it's like to be an Imagineer. They explain the jobs there and tell you what it was like to work for some of their biggest projects. I was sad when I finished this book! Each page motivated me to turn to the next and keep reading until my eyes fell out! There are inspiring quotes from Walt Disney and the Imagineers themselves. The the Best and Only book on Walt Disney Imagineering.

A random search on 'Tintin' on Amazon.com brought back powerful memories of my happy youth, when my brother and I would save up our pocket money every month to buy used copies from local booksellers in the musty streets of Delhi. The books would be marked with pen and sundry stains, but, to us, they were a reminder of what lay just beyond our reach.

We would be fascinated by Tintin's travels through the most exotic places in the world (and beyond!). What colorful characters Haddock and Calculus are! For some reason, King Ottokar's Sceptre was always my favorite one, but almost all comics in this series are classics.

I would especially urge any one with young children to buy every Tintin comic book in existence, but, really, these comics will please all age groups.

My brother and I are MAGOR Tintin fans, and have both read all the books. These three tales are my alltime faves. I like the part in the Land of Black Gold when Thompson with a P as in "psychology" falls asleep and drives the Jeep into the Arabien city! The moon adventures are just awesome. Great, exciting book.

I loved Tintin books when I was a kid, and I love them now at age 37. I know I'm not alone, because a Tintin store in San Francisco sells Tintin coffee cups and ties and key chains (grown-up's items!) I myself have a Tintin tie and key chain! THE LAND OF BLACK GOLD is my favorite Tintin book. It has all the best characters, humor, and an intriguing plot. (That's why adults can like them, because many of the books have reasonably sophisticated James-Bond type plots.) Tintin forever!

I must admit, I was going on a book buying spree and picked this book up because: 1) the title was intriguing, and 2) the book store had nothing else at that time. It took some time for me to pick up the book, and finally did so on a recent vacation. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Michael Datcher brings so much emotion and reality about growing up fatherless and facing the near-reality of bringing a child into this world, and having her grow up fatherless as well. He tells the story of so many young Black men in America, yet gracefully adds his artistic side (through poetry) to bring the point home. I must say, toward the end of the book, I nearly cried... but had to hold my emotions back because I was on an airplane! This book is a must-read!

I truly think this wonderful, and well written book isn't getting the praise it desreves.I love my black male authors,but Michael has taken reading to a whole 'nother level.I got word of it through one of the guys featured it the novel.I figured it to be just a friend trying to promote a friends work.Was I wrong! Raising fences, to me as a black woman helped me better understand the trials and emotional struggles that the men in my life go through.If you for some stupid reason choose not to read the whole book, you MUST at least read the poems from the story.There's one in particular from a little boy that grabs your heart and toys with your emotions. So many authors try to write about life from a black persons perspective in south central, but they normally lack the depth,and realistic ways that we handle day to day life.After reading this I couldn't go back to the same ol'novels that I see in every bookstore,so I'm waiting for a second.

Without a doubt this is the best book I've read in the past 2 years or so. Everything from the characters, to the plot to the writing style was a great gift delivered by the author. His writing is poetic without needlessly waxing poetic. Vibrant words drifting from a very good Queen's English to a very real street Ebonics brought this memoir to life.

Much of Datcher's world is far from mine, but as a black man living in my own skin, I really felt him as he moved in and out of the different situations brothers have to move through just to make it through each day. I like how he showed how some black men hate, how some black me love, how we can carry our fear and can show our courage, and most of all how sometimes we get beat down (physically, psychologically and emotionally from both endogenous and exogenous factors - often at the same time), yet often times manage to get up and carry on.

Thanks for the words Mr. Datcher, but more importantly thanks for the story behind them (for some reason I wanted your wife's book to be a better read than yours - think I just liked her jacket picture better), but I think you edged her out a bit. Hope you pen another piece of prose at some point.