Shirley Streshinsky, the author of "Audubon," makes several mistakes common to authors, especially authors of biographies. A good editor at The University of Georgia Press could have and should have helped the author overcome these problems.

The book--over 400 pages--is over-written. It would have been far more interesting and readable if the manuscript had been trimmed by a third. The author, having done extensive research to gather hard-won facts, succumbed to the comon temptation of using facts because she had them.

The result is that what should be the theme and focus of the book is often buried in tedious and repetitious detail about travel plans, for example.

Here is a man of amazing genius. Able to things with his pastels and paints and pens that no one has ever been able to match. A facinating, driven man. Arrogant. Egotistical. Tireless. Obsessed. Willing to suffer every hardship, and sacrifice himself, his wife and sons, financial security, friendships his comfort and health--everything to achieve the single-minded purpose of producing the best, most complete pictures and words about America's birds.

All of this is covered in this book, but it is often buried under a so much minutia that the reader may lose focus of this brilliant man who accomplished so much with so little.

Another mistake the author and publisher make is to assume the reader has knowledge which the average reader may or may not have. Much of the book is about Audubon's extensive travels in the U.S. and Europe to sell subscriptions. But as near as I can tell from my careful reading, we are never told exactly what it is Audubon is selling subscriptions to.

We are told repeatedly about double-elephant folios, apparetly an over-sized paper for presenting Audubons's illustrations, but nowhere is a double-elephant filio described or defined.

Same goes for subscriptions to "the new octavo edition." What exactly is an octavo edition?

There is lots of discussion of the work of engravers, colorists, lithographers. But specifically what are these craftsmen doing? We are never told exactly. Whatever it is it apparently involves dozens of craftsmen working full time for years. Are they copying by hand Audubon's drawings onto metal plates? If so, how much of what we see is the faithful work of Audubon, and how much the art of engravers, colorists, lithographers?

You had better have a good memory for names as you read this book, or else makes notes as each of the dozens of new characters in the story are introduced. People brought into the story early often appear later with no reminders of who it is being talked about. The author remembers; the readers may not.

There is a section of illustrations in the book, all in black and white, all but one of people and places. Amazingly there is only one example of Audubon's brilliant artwork--a black and white sketch, unquestionably originally in color, of "A Robin Perched on a Mossy Stone." How can a book be presented about Audubon without including color examples of his brilliant work?

I was seriously disappointed by this book.

I agree that this book is indeed over-written and reads at time like a class assignment; the author simply ticking off facts without much coherent thesis. However, this recital does bring off a charming story interesting enough to hold the attention of the casual historian with only a passing interest in wildlife. For anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the American wilderness and the struggles of the early settlers, it is a pleasure. Just skip over the boring bits!

For latest on ornithology- see her 8 page article in Apr. 2001 American Heritage Magazine...Shirley visited birds on Midway Island,now a refuge in Pacific. On the Wings of Victory..also memorial to sea battle won by US Navy.

"Black Butterflies" is a short story collection from horror/science fiction author John Shirley. Shirley, who also wrote the excellent gross out tale "Wetbones," is quite adept at charging his stories with equal parts sex, horror, and suspense. It seems that Shirley spends more time working on science fiction novels, but occasionally, he churns out something like "Black Butterflies." When Shirley delves into horror, look out. He likes to write them lean, mean, and sick as you know what.

"Black Butterflies" is divided into two large sections. The first section is entitled, "This World," probably because the stories deal with everyday reality (I use the term "everyday reality" loosely in reference to some of these stories). The type of stories found in this part of the book varies widely. One story tells the bleak tale of a cop with profound suspicions of his partner. Two tales show the importance of screening people before fooling around with them. Stories about a horror film that is a little too real, an answering machine message one hopes never to hear on their own machine, and the after effects of an earthquake round out the first part of the book.

The second section, entitled, "That World," deals with stories involving supernatural elements. Arguably the best story here is the first one, concerning a little girl and her imaginary friend viewing a side of family life that is both disconcerting and extremely gross. Other stories deal with the end of the world and its aftermath, a sculptor looking for inspiration, an encounter with alien beings who pick up victims in bars, the grim results of mixing [narcotics] with industrial strength insecticide, and a funny story about a battle between good and evil that takes place in a heavy metal/thrash bar.

Again and again, Shirley digs deep into the depths of depravity and despair with this collection of stories. What becomes most apparent as the book unfolds is the intimate knowledge Shirley seems to have with the dark side of human existence. When Shirley writes about the dangers of [narcotics], it seems like he knows about it from first hand experience. There are many authors that festoon their books with endless pages of violence and gore, but few do what Shirley does: create the starkest, grittiest atmospheres in which violence and gore not only unfold, but seem natural to the environment.

One slight problem with the stories in this collection is that many of the stories aren't very original. The horror film story concept has been done, along with the bad relationship/horror story. This tends to blunt some of the book's punch. Shirley certainly has the right to attempt to redo a certain storyline that's been done to death in the past, but more originality in doing so would have elevated this book above the merely average.

... But for a quick dip into this author's eerie work, "Black Butterflies" will certainly do the trick.

This dark collection of stories was very interesting. Take a nightmare, and imagine it being warped, twisted, and then shown to you in print. John Shirley had one or two stories in there that I've read again, simply because they were so powerful. Others, I read, and promptly flushed from my memory banks... If you're looking for spooky, violent and fairly sexually themed stories, this is good. If you're easily offended, or have a weak stomach, skip this...

_Black Butterflies_ by John Shirley is a collection of a decade's worth of dark short stories by Shirley, the author of _Wetbones_ and writer of the screenplay for "The Crow." Half of the stories involve the horrors of "this world," the dark streets and alleyways of our existence; the other half of the stories involve "that world," the strange and supernatural.

Shirley's stories are dark, intense, imaginative and will often sear images into your brain. Recommended for fans of dark fiction, perhaps along the lines of Clive Barker.

"Silicon Embrace" is a demented alien invasion story and one of the better cyberpunk novels of the 1990s: loopy, graphic and ambiguously funny, drawing on fifty years of flying saucer lore and--ingeniusly--making it all interesting in unexpected ways. Shirley's hyperkinetic vision of a fractured, anarchic United States steeped in the mythology of the late 20th century is terrific. This novel is an overlooked must-read for students of that nebulous field we call "ufology." Like Robert Anton Wilson, Shirley bravely opens doors for the sheer literary pleasure of seeing what's on the other side, waiting and ready to pounce.

Silicon Embrace was read in great, nourishing mouthfulls and satisfied my voracious
appetite for all that is Shirley. Although by the book's end it had subtly notched
by degrees from 'plausible' to 'fiction', that didn't really disappoint me because,
after all, the "Truth" is simply unknown to us, and perhaps, as Kant suggested, *unknowable*.
This didn't detract from the book's believability nor its sheer entertainment value.
The scenes with Sol, the remote-controlled ex-lover of Anja, brought the real Shirley
back for his avid fans, albeit somewhat brief in the overall narrative.
I also feel that the Zetans (or 'Greys') were not fully explained as to their overall
intentions quite enough. The gist was there; they needed us humans for a kind of
"bacteriological breeding ground", but I felt Shirley could've gone further into
their malevolence and microgenetic atrocities.

The prairie-squid "Ceph" was a nice touch, and the many references tieing
the plot into previous author's works (such as R.A.Wilson, Philip K. Dick, etc.)
were well thought out if rather brief. The bottom line is that Shirley has penned
a 'cautionary tale' about our government's involvement with extraterrestrials,
and it is with a sense of relief that I read Silicon Embrace as it exposed
our highest government officials being duped by the Zetans.

John Shirley has been one of my favorite of the 'new' writers
because he can cut through to the marrow of experience, translating it
into terms and sentences that not only can the average person relate to,
but more importantly, that the "not-so-average" (read: talented & gifted;
drug-user; conspiracy buff; etc.) can also relate to, oh-so-well.

He is one of those rare writers who can journey into the "dark heart
of the soul" *and* return to write about it coherently. I recommend John Shirley
to anyone looking for "something more" in their fiction; something most writers
are too afraid to confront openly on the naked page. Silicon Embrace: Buy it; read it.

Shaun Lawton(thorngrub@worldnet.att.net)Portland, Maine

John Shirley's Silicon Embrace is a great book with a lot going on. The story begins with both a nervous public-relations man, and a group of outcasts on the lamb. Between this and the quiet and somewhat happy ending we have: several aliens, a human hybrid being, a collapsed United States, UFO's, Jesus, secret facilities and enough attitude to knock you off your feet. John Shirley blends a plethora of conspiracy folklore with wit and style. He creates a story that invites both wild applause, and occassional stomache-churning despair. All in all, I liked it better than Cats!

I did enjoy this book, I would recommend it to be read, but in comparison with Shirley's other books, it's a bit lacking. It has the same wonderful characterization Shirley always shows, the right combination of drugs, sex, tense moments, and action that he always delivers, but I felt that the second half of the story was a bit rushed, the ending especially. If you just want a good, short read, then by all means, pick this book up, but if you're looking for one of Shirley's better works, I would recommend the Eclipse Trilogy or Demons.

I've read this book twice (with about 8 years between each reading), and it still scares me. John Shirley has a knack for taking something I do without thinking about it, such as closing my eyes, and makes me SCARED of doing it. In Cellars, he's got New York City subways, and sub-subways, and psychics, and street urchins, and horrible "blessed" people, and secret societies, and things coming up from drains, and each horrific event is more disturbing than the last--all the way to the last page. Shirley doesn't write many horror novels, but when he does... Well, you have to read one for yourself. The only other book that actually scared me--and I read a LOT of horror stories--was another John Shirley book, In Darkness Waiting.

Jim Rawls's book is a wonderful resource for children to study the reality of the typical mining town from heyday to ghost town. It includes a general description of the hardships endured by the miners as well as several examples of the effects of prejudice (and too much whiskey!) on the many "foreign" miners. I would have liked to see a few more direct quotes from the Dame Shirley letters, but the information is given using age-appropriate language and length. Definitely worth the time to read.

An atypical horror/dark comedy book by sc-fi author John Shirley. A good read but not Shirley's best by far.

Silly! The Kamus of Kadizhar vs. Cute fluffy things. Features "Bob" of the humurous cult "The Church of SubGenius", to which Mr. Shirley is a member of. Cults tend to be bad, but if you want to join a cult you should join one with a sense of humor, a cult like the Church of SubGenius which incourges humor and slack.(Not like i'm a member or anything, though)

This is a pretty twisted book,which blends a kaleidescopic array of mathematical concepts with surreal and enigmatic situations and inncidents.There's some really colourful writing here,and it's very impressive the way Rucker brings to life the various chaos and infinity theorems.VERY out-there cybermetaphysipunk!!

I read a few other titles by Rucker (The Hacker and the Ants, The 'ware series -- All reccommended by me, if that means anything to ya) and I thought I'd bite the bullet and spend the 12 bucks for the flashy cover and nice paper.. It was worth it. I've always been an enthusiast in infinite and chaotic math and found this book to be both informative and a hell of a lot of fun. Definately pick up a copy now and hold onto it (never know when these classics'll go out of print).

with reference to another review, this was my first rucker book and it made me want to read more. finally, a book about a mathematician and a proper look at the ramifications of mathematics. i think rucker must be one of the greatest authors out there today, the reading was fluid and enjoyable. i'm not much for the little sexual excursions, but it didnt seem too out of place or trashy. overall, one of the better books i've read, and i would highly recommend it to anyone.

I don't know why he would call this book really, really, really, really, weird stories. The stories are ok and the writing not so bad. But not worth reading.

Not Shirley's best work but worth the price of the purchase. Some of his stories seemed little more than pointless vignettes, drug or booze addled memories or simple nonsense. But when Shirley is on his game (more misses than hits) its the genuine stuff. I think a little more editing before a rush to publish may have payed dividends or at least discarding half of the stories in favor of quality over quantity.

This was my first John Shirley experience. It has left me both eager and afraid to track down more of his work. I'm eager to read more Shirley because he is master of stories. He can write in any genre. His stories are fascinating. I like them. I'm afraid to read more Shirley because the stories are so engrossing that I lose track of time. That, and the fact, that many of his stories are quite disturbing.

As other reviewers have noted, this collection is not made up of all winners. In any collection of nearly 40 stories, there will be some poorer stories. While this collection does not have any bad stories, there are several short vignettes that perhaps should have been left out of this collection.

Several of the stories in this collection left me reeling. 'Lot Five...' is a marvelous story that really defies description. There are several acolytes of a cult-like leader who are attempting to wend their way through a maze of doors, hallways, and security guards to reach the guru. I loved this story. It was weird and horrific at the same time.

Another of my favorites was '...And the Angel with Television Eyes', a story about a tele-screen actor who's been plagued with bizarre dreams. He wakes one morning to find an iron griffin on his balcony. The griffin tells him that he's being summoned by some sort of ethereal lords. Before the actor can act on the summons he's kidnapped by hideous harpies and taken to a rooftop balcony where a metal man, Lord Thanatos, tells him that the griffin is attempting to trick the actor. A large battle ensues in which the actor learns of his true identity and the large mystery behind the events of his morning. I am excited to hear that Mr. Shirley has recently completed a novel expansion of this story, due in 2002.

As the title of the collection indicates, many of the stories in this collection are very weird. In fact, the stories are organized by their weirdness. The first section is Really Weird Stories. The second is Really, Really Weird Stories...and so on.

Those of us who love weird fiction, and you know who you are, should pick up this collection. It's full of great weirdness. I should point out that many of the stories in this collection contain explicit sexual content, so if that's not your thing, stay away. On the whole, I found this collection to be a mind-blowing trip through the works of a brilliant author, John Shirley. Immediately after finishing this book, I jumped online and ordered several other Shirley titles. I fully expect to enjoy them as much as I did this one. Recommended.