Daredevil, in my view, is the greatest and most enticing character in all comicdom. Before all of you go out shouting "Jesse Custer" or "Spider-Man" or "Batman" or "Wolverine," let me explain why. He's real and he's the most relatable in the sense of human conflict with others and himself. What sets him above everyone else is that he and Matthew Murdock are essentially the same character. Look at Peter Parker and look at Spider-Man -- there are big differences between them. One's shy, one's flamboyant. One battles bills, the other battles symbiotic aliens. One's more of a nerd, the other's cooler.

But with Murdock and Daredevil? They're one and the same. They're cocky. Arrogant. A bit of a jerk.

Now how does he relate to us simple people, while he's blindly (heh) jumping off rooftops and facing off against murderers? Easy. He's had mental breakdowns. He's lost loved ones after loved ones after loved ones. You can take everything away from him, and you can still not destroy him completely. He fears God, he reveres his father, and he does lose faith in everything, including the creator of all that is good.

He may be rich. He may be a famous lawyer. He may be blind and he may battle crime vigilante-style regardless of the loss of sight. But all he's looking for is meaning in life, and for love. And, in looking for this, he's been hurt way too many times, way more than he should have been. And how have you been in your life?

Has it been painless?

There have never been any tests of strength?

Have you never been alone?

Have you never doubted everything?

His life, no matter how fantastic, has always been one tragedy after another. That's the case for more people than it isn't.

We're all mentally exhausted, and so is Matt Murdock. Within this collection is one of the greatest showings of his strength and his will, perhaps his best. Out of all the Daredevil sagas, this is my favorite. Buy it and believe.

Ever since the Kevin smith relaunch, Daredevil has been amazing. This Volume contains the both the "Underboss" and the "Out" story lines, issues 26-37. Bendis is amazing at crime stories and he took Daredevil and gave the comic a movie feel more satisfying than the one out in theaters now. His story telling of the gritty crime underground, combined with Maleev's unique style, give the book a sense of feel and texture unique in comics.

The first storyline involves the mystery behind the disappearance of the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, who controls all crime in New York. A man named Silke, the son of Kingpin's former partner, is given a second chance and relocates to New York. He gathers a group of Kingpin lieutenants and attempts to overthrow the Kingpin. This begins a series of events that include it being open season on Matt Murdock and a Fisk family reunion.

The second story, named Out, begins with the headline of the Daily Globe (the NY Post in the Marvel world) on April 17, 2002 declaring that Matt Murdock is Daredevil. A media circs begins as old enemies show up to get revenge on Daredevil and Foggy (Matt's legal partnr and best friend), in a well written speech, implores Matt to retire.

The Bendis/Maleev collaboration is one of the best in comics. They will soon be mentioned in the same breath as other great tandems like Busiek /Anderson/Ross or Ennis/Dillon.

At a cover price of$$$), the format and the artistic quality that will entertain you upon each reading of this edition makes the Daredevil Volume 2 hardcover one of the best buys of the year. Better yet, offer this edition as a present to a comic book collector, a youngster or somebody who enjoyed the movie. The joy you will give is going to be worth every penny.

Brian Grindrod,
Reviewer - FREMTO ONLINE

I'm a physics grad student and needed to frequency stabilize a laser using a rather complicated feedback system. I had no controls theory background but needed to "get up to speed" fast--this book did it!

If you are faced with designing a working feedback system and are not a controls theory expert, this book is the single most useful reference you would ever hope to find. The explanations are intuitive and the practical advice indispensible. This book saved me many weeks on the learning curve. I was able to understand and measure the most challenging aspects of my particular system and clearly see how to predict performance.

It's very streamlined: the emphasis is clearly to deliver the relevant information with the least amount of overhead. As such, the only missing part of the book that I wanted is a list of references. Recognizing the insight of the authors, I would have liked a list of their favorite controls publications!

Here was my assignment:

Make a proof of concept system that points a laser at a moving target.

My problem:
I knew how to write the software, I knew how to put the hardware together, but, I had no idea what to put in my feedback loop to make this thing track.

Oh yeah, I had to do this in two weeks.

So I read part of this book (my suggestion is start in the middle and read the math section when you /need/ to understand something in more depth) and I completed the assignment on time.

End result: I am not an expert on control systems theory, but by reading this book, I was able to get up and running in a matter of days.

This is truly an excellent book. Speaking as a scientist that uses feedback loops as merely one component of experimental apparatus, this book contains everything you need and nothing that you don't. It contains explanations of analog and digital systems and illustrates these with practical and common examples.

This is the first book I give to graduate students and within three days they are up to speed both with the language of feedback control theory and the principles. Moreover the explanations provide an intuitive understanding of important concepts and as a result are not easily forgotten. I highly recommend it to all designers, builders and users of feedback control systems.

Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay to any author, or any literary work, is not being able to get enough of it. I simply didn't want the book to end -- so I am reading it again.

The post cold-war world is seeming chilly to the Russians, and the only way to save face is to beat the American's at their own game, American football. The (former?) KGB is involved as well with its "arsenal" of secret weapons and programs -- including my favorite secret-agents Bimbova and Bendova. The Americans also have their secret weapons and programs, including a reverse-engineered prototype of an inter-galactic hover craft that crash-landed near Roswell in the 1940's.

This is a hilarious work of creative genius. Kroll is great! The multi-faceted and multidimensional plot kept my interest throughout the book. And since a sequel is technically impossible, I would like see a prequel, with Bimbova and Bendova of course.

An exciting adventure of the day after tomorrow, "Fourth & Gogol" is incredibly detailed, impossible to predict, subversively funny and yet deeply emotional. The scenes, from loading a Makarov automatic to the unique agony of football camp (called a "FULAG," insanely enough) to a horrifying rape of a teenager to a hysterically funny encounter with a cross-dressing ex-president aboard Air Force One to an evil Stalinist eugenics program, one is moved to believe Kroll has been overexposed to Kubrick, Clancy, P. J. O'Rourke and maybe even Voltaire. It's hilariously sick stuff with characters you'll never forget. It's the utter unporedictability of it that makes it such a worthwhile adventure.

Mix one part "The Longest Yard" in with one part "Dr. Strangelove," a helping of "The Hunt for Red October," any Stanislaw Lem you've got at hand and then pour in some marinated (and I do mean marinated) Russian masters, hit "LIQUEFY," and you come up with "Fourth & Gogol: The True Story of Russia's Top-Secret American Football Program."

Who knew that an atom-bio confrontation, eugenics, genetic engineering, Area 51 and a wholesale invasion of the West by Russia could be humorous? I guess Alex Kroll did. And it is.

The Russians are stinging. Licking their wounds for losing the Cold War. So they set their sights on humiliating the Americans by beating them at their very own, most American game. Payback for the 1980 Olympic Hockey upset. They blackmail the NFL's best coach (he's got a betting problem) and arrest some of Russia's best athletes to form a team at football GULAG out in Russian Central Asia. They will take on the Americans at the coming Olympic Games, where football is to be the demonstration sport. The coolest part, possibly, is Russia's secret weapon: A special, central-computer controlled "Head-Up" football helmet system with visor displays showing formations, blocking assignments, pass routes etc.

Meanwhile, Russian dictator Hrapchenko decides to spring west and south -- seeking the direct route to the Persian Gulf and brie in Paris. Not that I'd blame him for it!

It's an insane, well-written read. That's all I'll say.

I think that this was the one of the best Alex Mack book's that I have read. It is different then the rest, and it shows a creative side of the author, even though all her books are creative! It talks about Alex trying to earn some cash, and all the trouble she goes though! As usual though, Ray and Annie, both help her. It's a great book I think, and if you like the Alex Mack series, I would definately read this one! :-)

Alex only wanted a job so she could earn a little cash, but it all turns out into a complete disaster. After morphing into the shops freezer, her body gets stuck when she is trying to materiliase. So there you have Alex looking like a giant popsicle with no one to help her Can Alex get saved, to find out you are going to have to read the book yourselves.

Frozen Stiff is the best Alex Mack book that I've read. I've read all twelve and I think that this one is really good. The context of the book is based on events that happened in the show as well as the author's imagination. Diana. G. Gallagher is a great author and I think that she should write all the Alex Mack books. I liked how the author put a new dilemma in Alex's gone haywire superpowers. This time she frozen in the supermarket's freezer. This book was exciting and well written. If you are an Alex Mack fan you will enjoy reading this book

Wonderful help. This is a great reference book for everyone to have on their shelf.

This is probably the best book I have found that gives instruction for hand quilting. The color pictures give very explicit instruction for both right and left handed people. I would recommend this to anyone interested in hand quilting, whether a beginner or a long time quilter. Alex Anderson is one of the best teachers and supporters of quilting. She does an excellant job with her program " Simply Quilts". I would recommend all her books.

This book is the best. It's affordable and comes with color pictures that show me each step for quilting. It even has left handed and right handed instructions. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to hand-quilt.

I really liked it. It was easy to understand and made a lot of sense.

It seemed to ring bells in me. Maybe I went to alien school too?

I am recommending it highly! Joan

I couldn't put this book down!!!! i learned more in one page of this book then I have in chapters of other's books!!!

I will be ordering several copies of this book to give as Christmas presents to my friends who are also looking for the path to understanding!!!

OUTSTANDING BOOK 5 stars ++++++++

By now you know about ET schools where humans are enrolled and taught. But what exactly is taught in these UFO high schools? It is time to find out. Lessons is exactly that; Lessons from the ET school, presented in the exact form they are during contact events. The lessons cover such things as: The basic principals of reality, the nature of the Universe, what all the genetic material is being used for,Plus much, much more. Explained with exquisite simplicity. Concepts such as the 6 principles that define true reality are laid before you so plainly, they become so easy to understand that you may wonder why you did not see it all along!

Caution:The book may change the way you look at yourself, your life, your would and the Universe.

There can be no doubt that Sir Alex Ferguson will go down in history as one of soccer's truly great figures from the late 20th Century. His treble winning season with United in 1998/99 was possibily the pinnacle of a long career in the game, both as a player and coach, but in his insightful autobiography he devotes more pages to the early days of his career - as a strapping young Scottish lad trying to overcome the burden of near-poverty and become a professional footballer.

Ferguson writes as he played and coaches - with overwhelming passion and dedication to all aspects of the task at hand. He paints the grim picture of his early days, and introduces the reader to some of the colourful characters he's met over the years both on and off the pitch. It is both entertaining and confrontational - he writes honestly and occasionally attacks the FA and certain individuals in the game, and although he may be blatant at times he cannot be criticised for his truthful and forthright manner.

'Managing My Life' is a remarkable autobiography in that it reveals a great deal of his character and motivation, and unlocks the door to the mind of the world game's truly brilliant managers.

Being an avid supporter of Manchester United I have always been very keen to have an insight into the life and times of one of the club's greatest ever manager.

The book clearly portrays the great mans early days and his tough upbringing by the Clyde in Glasgow. Uniquely, in a city which had major religous differences Alex's parents were from a mixed marriage. We get a great insight into Alex's early footballing life and the tough times that his family endured in surviving.
A fascinating discussion about Alex Fergusans time as a player were amongst other clubs represented Glasgow Rangers. Even as a player we could to realise that he had a volatile temperment which would continue to serve him as a natural football leader.

From success at the unfashionable Aberdeen football Club to the pressures of managing one of the biggest sports clubs in the world Alex remains how much his childhood upbringing continues to be a major backbone of his life.

A truly great read into the one of soccers most respected characters.

A great behind the scenes look at Sir Alex's life.

Although just off the presses, I've reviewed this exciting book as it was being written. I even wrote the forward to it. I've known the author since we were plebes at the US Naval Academy in 1955. We both graduated, went into the Air Force and served in Vietnam. Bill Harris is an unsung hero of that war having over 700 combat missions, perhaps a record. His zest for life and his creative intelligence are poured out in this book. He has combined medicine, science and the criminal justice system in a very plausible, prophetic novel set in Texas. His intuitive grasp of the free radical theory of disease and aging is right on target. He understands it better than most doctors. Creative scientists use and abuse their knowledge to change prison life forever. Romance, sex, adventure and intrigue make this a page turner. A movie to follow is a certainty. This is one of the most compelling fiction books you'll read. The use of state of the art knowledge by the state to minimize crime is frightenly within reach. Bill Harris has woven a tail of intrigue, romance and prison life that will keep you up reading. Read it for education. Read it for fun. Read it for its prophetic insight. Read it for adventure and escape. BUY IT TODAY. READ IT TODAY. IT'S A MUST READ.

I read this manuscript before printing and found it to be engaging and entertaining while focusing on a plausible solution to the overcrowded jail and prison problems existing in the US. Crooked politicians add to the mix with an exciting finale. Great stuff!!

This book is too timely for words. Society can't put those "on-the-fringe" humans away fast enough; those criminals whose only job it is to suck the life ... out of life itself. We've become a society of door lockers, gun carriers and over the shoulder glancers. And if there is not enough satisfaction for the criminal that we victims have become prisoners within our own lives, we must pay to build and maintain the prisions to house them. We are twice victims.

The "Methuselah Solution" promises to return freedom to our lives. For the mere cost of an injection the authorities can administer a sentence to the career criminal and we can watch them age before our eyes. No prison time! No cost! No problem. Society now sucks the life from them. It is the solution, the "Methuselah Solution" and it's the promise of the future. Or is it? Or have the developers of the solution actually become "them"?

Oh yeah! This book will grab you. Go with caution, for it will not let you go.

This is a very good book published right on-time. Covers hot mobile communications topics with good enough detail. Introduces mobile data communication concepts at first and explains mobile VPN's for 2.5G and 3G technologies. Although concentrated on CDMA2000 in stead of W-CDMA, this book is still useful on mobile data comunications and VPNs. Warmly recommended.

I have just finished going through this book yesterday and realized, I
didn't have this much detailed knowledge on the subject (even being a
networking professional for over 20 years). The book is definitely lives
up to the expectations, in fact I am yet to see a better book on
cellular wireless data (though this is not a main topic here). This book
goes quite in depth on some very unique aspects of GPRS and CDMA2000
data services, while presenting fresh view on the problem and uncovering

some of the interesting industry secrets. This book is a must have for
any one who wants to master wireless data and learn what Mobile or
wireless VPN is about.
Shneyderman and Casati do a great job of writing about this fascinating
topic. This book makes a great reference for data and wireless pros as
well as a good (but not too easy) introduction for any beginner. Style
is great and fresh too. Recommend it to all.
- Enjoy

I've heard plenty about mobile VPNs, and I've been looking everywhere for some meat on it. Finally, I found this book. If you are looking for solid, useful info on this topic, this is the book for you.

Yet another excellent annual by Motocourse. Primarily covers the MotoGP tour but also includes SBK and some national racing.

This edition is particular important as Americans topped the 500cc Championship and the Superbike Championship which probably hasn't happend since the late 80s.

Excellent recap and photographs

This book is exactly what it claims to be, a good close look at the year's World Championship Roadraces. It focuses on Grands Prix, but also includes quite a bit of World Superbike (no Supersport, unfortunately). Background, riders, technical evolution of the bikes, and race by race accounts of the season, make for a great read. The photography is brilliant. This is my first Motocourse, but I'll be getting them every year now.

I've read these books for years. Each and every year I get the whole picture of what has happened on the World Gran Prix Motorcycle scene. The pictures are beyond words, and give a clear shot of what it's like to ride one of these bikes at speed. The technical information is very good, considering that all the major manufacturers take secrecy to the extreme making it hard for outsiders whom are interested in the technical aspects kind of shut outs. Overall, though....I can't wait to get my hands on the next edition.