There is an evil, boneless, and immortal king that of the powerful dragon cauldron with the soul of a powerless human soul. The soul of Thorn depends on a dragon princess, Shimmer. She is the last hope for Thorn's soul. Thorn is trapped inside an all out war on the dragonkind. The king(known as the "Boneless King") wants to use the cauldron for evil causes.First he wants to boil the seas. He is ready to also destroy the entire dragonkind if he has to. Else where the Dragons prepare for war agfainst the the Boneless king. The princess of dragons, Shimmer, is fighting to save her home. For this she has to ally with Promfet. It is a respite from
sword-and-sorcery stereotypes. The dragon princess, a wizard monkey and ,another human cihld Indigo transform themselves into guards, horses and even fleas to elude the Boneless king. In desperation they return to the kingdom of high kings to recruit with her kinmates in a fight for their lives and to save the inland sea. Thorn later becomes a part of the Cauldron to restore the home of Shimmer, the inland sea. They complete the task, but loose one of their mates in the battle. Then they flee. This is a wonderful ending to an even better series.

this story is constantly twiting and writhing or you my just call it twiting.for a gragh of this stories high and low piont it would bea zig. one of the stuborn characters has gotten a new image except the hiar due is still the same. im not sure if it s the end when this book comes agian because the author left it so it go either way. i wont spoil the ending but i will tell you its pretty good. o and look out somthing slithering is not to be over looked

Well, I have to say that this book finally pulled it off, it gave the entire series a fine and exciting closure with plenty of action, yet not losing its powerful sense of characters. The whole saga together combines fine mythology with a highly original sense of magic and plenty of action scenes balancing it all perfectly with the cast of characters. Anyway, in this final installment of the series, Monkey tells the tale once again as they continue to try to regain the cauldron (holding the spirit of their friend Thorn) so they can use it to restore the Inland Sea, and fight against the evil Boneless King. One thing I loved was that this was possibly one of most unusual fantasy stories I have ever read (where else would you find main characters that include a dragon princess, a magical monkey, a teenage witch, and two human children?) and yet, none of the characters fall into stereotypes and they all maintain their unique personalities throughout the book. Also, this is one of the few books I've read where male and female characters treat each other with respect, and their doesn't seem to be any prejuduses among the main characters. Anyway, all I can say is that if you love fantasy, definitely read this book, though it would be better understould of you've read the previous three (all of them just as good!).

I wonder if the good folk at the end of the 19th century when this poem was originally published were just too obtuse to understand the gist of Rossetti's work; if so, we have an innocent artifact that has evolved into something erotic because of our twentieth century sensibilities (we have dirtier minds than our compatriots from the past).

Don't let the word "erotica" scare you away. This is not a blatantly sexual work in its language; it is not a "dirty" book. Just understand that despite what anyone else says or writes, this is about as unambiguously EROTIC as you can get. With phrasing like "Eat me, drink me, love me; Laura, make much of me; For your sake I have braved the glen; And had to do with goblin merchant men."

Since the original work is now in the public domain, if you want to read the full text online just do a search using most standard search engines with the terms "Christina Rossetti Goblin Market" and you should turn up a number of links to the actual poems, go read it, and decide for yourself about it.

This makes a wonderful gift for people you are very close too. However, it is also a very personal poem, and if given inappropriately could actually scare someone away!

A children tale for adults. It's a light and thoughtful reading. The story of two sisters and lewd goblin men. Innocence, temptation and emotions all together. This inspiring story has wonderful work of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

This tale is not about sexuality but about redemption and the need to help others. Read deep into the story to find the meaning that Rossetti intended.

Having spent a busy weekend sightseeing, shopping and eating in Lille thanks to this amusing and shrewd guidebook, I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone else travelling in France and Belgium. The book had all the information we needed for using public transport, getting to know the locals and seeing the sights without ever making us feel like hicks or gawping visitors. We will be in Paris this Easter and have already chosen our hotels and at least two restaurants from the same book. Does this guy write about anywhere else? If he knows other cities like he knows this one, I want to read about it.

Laughter and good food make an excellent combination. This book is full of annecdotes and gossipy tips and snippets, yet it also is as mouthwatering as a recipe book. The author reviews restaurants without resorting to fashionable cosmopolitan cliches. Your mouth waters as he remembers succulent sauces and naughty desserts, you smile as he gossips about the waiters and restaurant owners, you want to linger on the salivating detail of every favourote dish and each evocative evening spent in cellars and dining rooms. Yet, when he talks of history, you are as enchanted by the true human nature of kings and artists that he conveys. I love his casual and very individual approach to sightseeing. He can give equal status to a shop selling haute couture for dogs as an art gallery or monument, and he seems to know where all the good stuff is hidden away from the coach trade. I have queued for hours at the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay in Paris, yet this guy knows of a private house with dozens of Monets on view. And best of all he knows where to find the best meals in town without breaking the bank. This book is hot on the practical side of travelling as well. Following his tips, I found out how to travel first class on Eurostar for less than the price of a second class ticket. My only complaint is that this is not part of a series. I travel all over France and Europe and would love to listen to this author's advice on the rest of the country and the continent.

Don't read this book when you are hungry. the food descriptions will make you drool. I used this guide when friends from London came over for the weekend. Mouth-watering restaurant reviews and spot-on opinions and advice about Paris. Useful, good value and sometimes very funny. The book also has full sets of city maps and subway guides, and give very clear directions with every listing. I reckon it would be a great read on the train or the plane as well.

A lot of quote books focus on the timeless and famous or the "witty" and not-so-meaningful. Peter's Quotations is a clasic among public speakers and essayists because it focusses on what these people are likely to need. It addresses broad, abstract topics such as "kindness" but also lays out the lawyer jokes. The topics are a good mix of the immortal and the current and, while often witty, are never ridiculous or campy (well, almost never campy). I've used it for years as a debater and public speaker, as a coach, and as a teacher. The best indication I can give you of its outstanding usefulness is that I buy a new copy for my speech team every year because a graduating senior always steals the old one. I'm on my third personal copy because I've worn two others out.

Not a "real" quotation reference like, say, Bartlett's, but a great compendium of mostly modern quotes. The book has a sharp, sassy, punchy, pointed sensibility (which only lags, unfortunately, in Dr. Peter's own added asides which are uniformly below the standard of the rest of the book). This is a quotation book that you will read cover to cover. Organization is handy so that when you want to find that pithy bon mot that struck you the last time you read the book, you'll be able to locate it easily. Highly recommended.

I have had this book for 9 years and it continues to be my favorite. I have several other quotation books, but I always keep coming back to this one. It covers many topics that are categorized in a user friendly format which makes searching for the perfect quote a breeze. I recommend this book for the quotation fanatic!

Who me? I'll never be desperate enough to pay for a personal ad! If you've ever made that statement, you haven't read what these two professional copywriters have to say about it. This book is loaded with ideas that work. Even if you never place a personal ad, you'll find this book enlightening and entertaining. I especially liked the Foreword, he said, with his tongue in cheek!

Finding a soulmate in a newspaper ad or out in cyberspace is dicey enough, but without a guide it's like trying to find a golf ball in a snowstorm.

After reading 25 words or less I feel all warm, fuzzy, and safe...no more barking up the wrong tree or running down blind alleys... this book helps you clarify your objectives and takes all the guesswork out of writing, and placing your ad, as well as helping you along once you decide to meet that special someone.

The thing that impressed me most was the personal "personals" experiences, they were honest, and fascinating. Having true-life excerpts made it very easy for the reader to feel comfortable. I felt like I was getting advice from a friend, unlike other how-to dating books that lecture or talk down to the reader making you wonder if the authors ever dated at all. Wonderful work! Kudos to Emily Calvo and Laurence Minsky!

Everyway you can meet someone I've tried and this covers just about all of them and all the good ones. Lot's of realy good examples of the real deal. It's like having a bunch of friends telling you how to do it.

Hercule Poirot was a short, fat, dapper detective who solved his cases by exercising his "little grey cells".

"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" was Christie's fourth Poirot novel, while "Murder on the Links" was her second. In both Christie adopts the motif of narrating the story from the point of view of someone who undertakes to assist Poirot in the solution of the mystery. Christie introduces the cast of suspects, gives each of them a dark secret and a motive to lie, and piles up the circumstances in such a way that the flying fickle finger of suspicion points to every one of them at some time or another. She compounds the confusion by supplying false leads and deliberatly glossing over hot clues.

In each case Poirot holds his cards close to his vest, tantalizes the reader/listener with cryptic comments, and finds the most inconsequential-appearing facts to be highly significant. Eventually Poirot airs everyone's dirty laundry, explains his chain of deductive reasoning, reconstructs the crime in all its improbable complexity, and gets a confession. The stories are less mysteries than they are sliding block puzzles. Though extremely short on realism, they are long on entertainment value.

Although the BBC radio play had excellent production values, audio cassette may not be the best way to enjoy a Poirot mystery. I listen to radio plays as I drive on business, and I find the Poirot plays hard to follow because of the large cast of characters and the complexities of plotting. Poirot could probably be enjoyed more readily in print. You could then read, re-read, take time out to mull over the complexities, and follow the story much better. Probably the best way to enjoy Poirot would be to read the story first, and then listen to the radio play.

The mystery is beyond our imagination. The background and characters truly victorian, and above all the narrative very gripping! Oh! I am re-reading and every time I enjoy even though I know the mystery! Once again, Poirot at his best with his passion for order and method.

As a Christie addict, having read all of her Poirot and Marple stories many times over, I can only say that "Roger Ackroyd" stands out as the best of the best. Even now, knowing the ending, I enjoy rereading the book, with all the delicious and subtle (but misleading) hints to the grand conclusion. And to the first-time reader, the ending comes as quite a surprise. The fabled Miss Christie leads the reader down so many lovely garden paths before the perfectly logical denouement! Delicious! The audio version is beautifully performed, and does proper justice to the book.

If you can't get to the stream, river, lake or ocean to angle for the fish of your choice, this book is a great way to pass the time. There isn't an angler alive who wouldn't enjoy spending a few hours (or days) in the camps, cabins and dens shown in this book. If you love to collect fishing related items, the book will be a true delight. Buy it. Read it cover to cover. Then put it in handy place to pull out when time and circumstance don't permit a trip to your favorite waters with rod and reel.

In its syndicated "Gift Ideas" column for Dec. 11, 2000, Washington Post reviewer Annie Groer wrote: "For those whose motto is 'I'd rather be fishing,' THE ANGLER'S LIFE: COLLECTING AND TRADITIONS should not be the one that got away. Author Laurence Sheehan and photographer William Stites have created a paean to the art and artifacts of piscatorial endeavor....This book could make you grab your rod and waders and head for the nearest stream."

My husband and I received a copy of "The Angler's Life" as a present, and we just love it. If there is a fisherman in your life, this is a must-have gift. When this talented team produced "Living With Dogs", another title I love, I spent hours scouring flea markets for dog art, dog bronzes and dog plaques---I even got a dog! Now with "The Angler's Life", I find myself scouring flea markets for fishing signs, fishing creel baskets, fishing postcards and lures. The decorating ideas for displaying fishing paraphernalia in the book are endless, and aesthetically pleasing. My husband, who fly fishes in the Gulf of Mexico, keeps it on top of his book stack for easy access.

My six year old son adores this book. The illustrations engage the mind beyond the text the way a good metaphor does, while remaining appropriate for this age. His imagination is clearly being lured by the illustrations so that he interacts with the possibilities of the story and the subtext of the illustrations in immediate ways. And of course it is funny, bizarre and poignant as well.

This is one of the great picture books of the century, along with "Rotten Island" and "Where the Wild Things Are," and I'm thrilled to see this (and anything by the great Renaissance man Mervyn Peake) back in print.
This is particularly welcome as the only previous American edition was hindered by the addition of ugly rounded frames around the pictures and the splattering application of yellow over almost everything. And I believe most of the original British edition was lost when Nazis bombed the warehouse! Everyone should buy this beautiful, hilarious book while it's around.

Captain Slaughterboard was a mean and ferocious pirate who made hundreds of men walk the plank, and along with his nasty crew, Billy Bottle, Jonas Joints, Timothy Twitch, Charlie Choke, and Peter Poop, the cook with a cork nose, he traveled the oceans looking for battles and adventure. Then one morning, while looking through his telescope, he spied a beautiful pink island inhabited by "preposterous creatures." Once he and his crew had landed, they captured the "Yellow Creature", and took him back to their ship. And that, as they say, was the beginning of a beautiful and unusual friendship..... Though Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor was originally published in 1939, it's as fresh and entertaining today, as it was over sixty years ago. Mervyn Peake's magical and whimsical text transports children to a pirate ship on the high seas for a once in a lifetime adventure. But it's Mr Peake's amazingly detailed illustrations, full of imaginative and engaging characters, that really makes this picture book stand out. Together, word and art create a timeless masterpiece. Perfect for youngsters 5 and older, Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor is a wonderful read-aloud classic the entire family can enjoy, and a treasure to share with friends and pass on to future generations.

Every one who drives should know about the possible effect of Auto Accident Trauma. The Hellers did a brilliant job of bringing cutting edge trauma symptom resolution to what has been very mysterious and elusive in the past. This book breaks new ground. If you've ever been in a serious auto accident, please read this book, make it a gift to yourself. It can reduce suffering and be a facinating read at the same time.

We found this book extremely useful in a practical day-to-day manner. Offering clear and direct instructions on what to do, and when and how to do it, Crash Course leads one through the healing process in a way never available to the public before. The simplicity and yet power of this book, and its ability to help one enact positive (and not re-traumatizing) change makes it a treasure for anyone who has been in an automobile accident.

This book is very well written and informative for helping anyone recovering from an auto accident. There are lots of useful examples and practical exercises for people to refer to. I've given Crash Course to several of my friends and they were able to use it effectively to support their healing process. I recommend it to anyone suffering from any type of trauma.

Nemhauser is a great professor and this book is text book for IP. But this book requires that you are familiar with Linear programming. So read this book only after you had LP. Bertsimas book is really good for Lp. Or even Bazaara's book is a goo start.

This book starts with the mathematical basics behind linear programming and develops on these introducing new techniques like Bender's decomposition, various cuts, etc. The way the mathematics is dealt is flawless but I thought the methods required more examples for better understanding. But ofcourse the book had to be concise....

I have no opinion on the combinatorial optimisation part.

I first used this book as a text for a graduate course in Integer Programming. At first it seemed to be a very poorly organized book, but as I read it and grew familiar with the subject, I realized that this is a hybrid textbook-handbook. Though the title says "Integer and Combinatorial", the authors go a step ahead and present topics in advanced linear programming, computational complexity, polyhedral theory in a fashion appropriate to the learning of this subject. The exercises are challenging and it has a very good list of references (only up to 1988). Our professor had to supplement the text with recent papers to cover the latest advances. My only complaint is that model formulation could have been dealt with in more detail. You might want to use HP Williams' "Model Building in Mathematical Programming" to look up good Math Prog models.
Though this is an excellent book in all respects, I would recommend Papadimitriou's older book on combinatorial optimization for a good discussion of P, NP problems and decision / optimization problems.

Don't let the title fools you. This book goes beyond Integer and Combintarial optimization. While there are many books talk about NP and proof, this book makes you "understand" it! Still, I agree with others that this book is a reference tool for Integer and Combinatorial optimization. I'm so glad this book published in paperback so it will be more affordable for others.... still expensive though :(