Save your money. I could barely stay awake while reading any of the stories.

Finding an up-to-date travel guide is the never-ending search. So why bother?

The selections in this collection are VERY dated (from 1888 to 1987) commentaries by VERY dated but, in their time, VERY famous artists, musicians, scientists and writers. The editor's introductions to each piece do a great job of connecting the authors and times and setting the scenes.

From D H Lawrence and Katherine Anne Porter to Langston Hughes and Graham Greene to Paul Theroux and John Steinbeck, these portraits of their times in Mexico are valuable comments on the way things were. If you're going beyond the casual visits to Mexican resorts (been there ...) and are interested in the character of the country, this book is well worth reading AND owning.

A truly fascinating book. This is not a travel book one would get to learn about hotel rooms and restaurants and tourist sites, but what a wonderful insight into the fascinating culture of Mexico. And by really good writers! The material dates from 1888 to 1978, but time is not so much the issue as insight and perspective. Top notch armchair travel book, and a good book to read before going there for background on a different culture.

I grabbed this book with joy-at long last,a book on the Troggs!I struggled mightily to get through it,but it is written so strangely,it's really hard to get through.And I don't believe it's just because the authors are English.They've chosen to write in a very off-putting style.I have to rate this a major disappointment.The ultimate Troggs book is yet to be written.

The Troggs are often classified as simple or grandfathers of punk.What they really contributed to popmusic is the power of a good hook or melody. Together with some extra's as the image and the charisma of the leadsinger Reg Presley you can become famous. As they did and they still are touring during 35 years. They work and make the most important element of pop worthwile; being a popgroup that gives their audience the possibility to see them live!. That's what The Troggs are about. Together with some real big songs as Love Is All Around and Wild Thing they are famous and , at last, also recognized as important. Read their history and relive the ups and downs on the road.Excellent.

13 tales of terror with a Halloween theme especially written for this collection by authors such as Robert R. McCammon, Whitley Strieber, Guy N. Smith, Robert Bloch, Bill Pronzini and others. Each story is preceded by an all too brief introduction by Ryan.
Ratings below are out of 5

"He'll come knocking at your door" by Robert R. McCammon.
When a man refuses to comply with a strange request list, a creature comes to visit on Halloween. (4/5)

"Eyes" by Charles L. Grant
A man is haunted by a Halloween tragedy (4/5)

"The Nixon Mask" by Whitley Strieber
Halloween with Richard Nixon (4/5)

"The Samhain Feis" by Peter Tremayne
An evil presence haunts a holiday cottage in Ireland. (3/5)

"Trickster" by Steve Rasnic Tem
A man is troubled by his brother Alex, a sick practical joker (4/5)

"Miss Mack" by Michael McDowell
On Halloween night, a woman is trapped in a night that won't end (4/5)

"Hollow Eyes" by Guy N. Smith
A grisly tale about a Halloween bonfire (3/5)

"The Halloween House" by Alan Ryan
Teenagers are trapped in a spooky old house on Halloween (2/5)

"Three Faces of the Night" by Craig Shaw Gardner
Stranges events on Halloween night lead a man into old dark woods (2/5)

"Pumpkin" by Bill Pronzini
A mysterious pumpkin has an evil presence and must never be picked. (3/5)

"Lover in the Wildwood" by Frank Belknap Long.
A wheelchair bound patient insists on visiting the woods on Halloween night (2/5)

"Apples" by Ramsey Campbell

Children stealing apples for Halloween night leads to a strange outcome (2/5)

"Pranks" by Robert Bloch
Children go missing on Halloween (3/5)

A Patchy anthology that starts well and then peters off because of familiarity. Nevertheless, a fair collection.

I read this book in preparation for a trip to Ireland and am writing this review in Galway, near the end of my trip. This is pertinent since the area around Galway is the focus of several essays in the book. This book is a compilation of essays from 19 different authors. The essays are arranged by time periods, starting with Arthur Symons' impression of the Aran Islands in 1896. Later a follow-up essay on the Aran Islands is by Tim Ryan in 1972. Similarly there are three essays about Galway/Connemara areas by Harold Speakman (1924), H.V. Morton (1930), and Robert Gibbings (1940s), with follow-up essays by Joyne Coyne (1980) and David McFadden (1990s). The value of this collection of essays is to show how Ireland has changed or not changed over time. The last essay in the 1990s leaves a large gap to the present 2000 because of so many changes that have taken place in the last 10 years in globalization and increased prosperity in Ireland. The book is also a good introduction to several great travel writers, whose books may be worthwhile reading in their entirety, if you find you like their style. Especially enjoyable to me were H.V. Morton's description of Galway, Chiang Lee's view of O'Connell Street in Dublin (1948), Heinrich Boll's closely-focussed view of Irish life (1954), Elizabeth Shannon's recounting of her experience as the wife of the American Ambassador (1977), and David Wilson's hilarious description of Irish music. I recommend the book, but it does not help with daily travel details.

This book is not for beginners. Worse ever for beginner not enough to support all the examples. Don't buy this book is your a beginner.

If you are trying to learn from this book - don't! I am sure that there are others that are better.

I'm using this book as a text for Visual Basic 6 class. The further you get into the book, the more mistakes (especially in the code for the exercises!). One Exercise (Chapter 11) was so riddled with mistakes that it was a guessing game.
I don't expect everything to be spelled out.
I do expect the example code to be complete, consistent and correct. Fortunately, I have a great teacher.

Also, most good books/publisher have a website where you can download errata/corrections to the mistakes and typos in the book. Prentical Hall has purchased the book. If there is a correction page, I couldn't find it. I usually can find such pages since I have worked in the publishing business.

I have read many different programing books and most are just too wordy. I find this one to be to the point and direct. Great for all levels.