Les Miserables will be a tough read for some. Victor Hugo, in typical Nineteenth Century prose, is exceedingly verbose. His character introductions go on literally page after page, covering minute details that some modern readers will find tedious. Not only are they long, but they break the modern writing rule of "show rather than tell." When he presents new characters, we don't hear them converse or see their actions to form our own opinions. Hugo simply regurgitates a ten or twenty-page biography on them.

But this was how books were written then, and he did it as well as it could be done. The language is marvelous and rich, the characters interesting and complete, and the story sweeping and classic.

Jean Valjean, freshly released from a French prison, is caught stealing silver from an extraordinarily pious Bishop. Amazingly, this Bishop denies the silver is stolen, allowing Valjean to go free. Valjean, brutalized by nineteen years of life in "the galleys" and suffering poverty and maltreatment as an ex-convict, is so affected by this merciful act that he vows to reform. Seven years later he has changed his name and transformed himself into a righteous and contributing member of society, now a prominent factory owner and town Mayor. Life is good as he shares his profits and kind heart with the poor and unfortunate--until his past catches up with him. Valjean is then faced with an incredible predicament whose genius and complexity can be appreciated only by plowing through the full text.

Historically, this is an important literary work. Much of its political and religious sub-text may be lost, however, on those unfamiliar with the basics of the French Revolution. Like Valjean, readers will be better people for making the journey through this book. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

I love the film adaptions and musical of Les Miserables, but they can't even compare to the greatness of this piece of literature. It's such an epic story, covering such topics as justice vs. the law, and ultimate love and self-sacrifice. Everyone can find something to relate to, something to learn from, and something to enjoy in this novel. The characters truly do come alive in this novel, from the center and hero of the story, Jean Valjean, to the minor characters. I particularly was touched by the story of Fantine, a "minor" character but easily my favourite. This character falls from innocence, and eventually makes an ultimate self-sacrifice for her daughter. I found myself unable to put the book down on many a late night, but especially so on the chapters concerning Fantine. Of course, perhaps my love for "classics" and "epics" and "historical romance" may have helped me enjoy the book so, as I know many people who could barely get through the first 20 pages of the 1400 + page novel. Some people may not have the patience to go through the Waterloo part, etc. It is a quite detailed book, and it does go very much "off-topic" a few times. But I still enjoyed every single word. I hope the size of the book won't make people think twice about reading it, it really is best unabridged. I have read the abridged version and it is quite confusing, and you miss several moving scenes. In my own opinion, everyone should read this book, unabridged...and prepare to be amazed!

Les Miserables is one of the greatest novels of all time. It doesn't just have an intriguing story-it has a dozen intriguing stories! That's one of the great things about Les Miz--it has something for everyone. It starts out with the reformation of the saintly convict Valjean and his moral battle with the fanatical policeman, Inspector Javert, but the books picks up many more characters along the way. First comes Fantine, a down-on-her-luck single mother, and her sweet young daughter Cosette, later adopted by Valjean. There's the godlike young revolutionary leader Enjolras, and his quirky band of followers, Les Amis de l'ABC. The villain (contrary to popular belief) is not Inspector Javert, but a greedy con artist named Thenardier. Two other main characters are Thenardier's children, (thankfully nothing like himself) the snarky, golden-hearted street urchin Gavroche, and the lovelorn waif Eponine. And my personal favorite, "Baron" Marius Pontmercy, Cosette's brave-but-confused young suitor/stalker.

The novel is packed with everything a reader could ask for--suspense, drama, romance, action, and plenty of crazy twists and turns to keep you on your toes. In addition to being a moving work of fiction, it teaches a good lesson (well, several good lessons, actually). For example, Les Miz does a great job of showing how some "bad guys" are victims of society (Javert) and some are just natural scum-buckets (Thenardier). It also shows how people can get past the circumstances they were born into and become wonderful people (Gavroche). I could go on for hours, but you probably don't want that...

It teaches a lot of history as well. A lot of readers have complained about the long tangents, and I tend to agree on some points. I recommmend skipping "The Intestine of the Levithan" and just skimming the Waterloo section for first-time readers. However, there is a lot of info on nineteenth century France mixed right in with the plot. You get to learn about the severity of the justice system (Valjean), and how politics could divide families (Marius), and how tough life was for Gypsies (Javert). Not only that, but the Paris Uprising of 1832 was a real event, and most of the characters were based on real people. Valjean and Javert were both based on Inspector Vidocq, Marius was based on Victor Hugo himself, and Enjolras was based on the real leader of the uprising. Hugo really manages to bring the time alive for you.

In short, this is a great book all around. And I'm not just saying that because it's my Bible (hehe). The book isn't nearly as difficult to read as it looks. If you're like me, you'll get so into it that you won't even notice the length. I strongly recommend Les Miserables to every literate person out there.

The Crown and Court Duel books have to be some of the best I have ever read. Countess Meliara, a young girl, swears to her dying father that she and her brother will protect their land, Tlanth, from the king, who is planning to overthrow them. However, with no army, few supplies, and little money, she and her brother are sorely prepared for the war that begins. Eventually Meliara is captured, but when an unexpected ally joins their side, the king is finally overthrown. After the war, Mel must learn a new way to fight. In the courtroom in the second book Court Duel. Little does she expect that one of her oldest enemies will become her greatest friend, or that one of the seemingly most innocent of them all could become the deadliest of foes.

Buy it, read it, now. That's all I can say for this book. It's what you dream about when you think of living at Court--all the intrigue and dangerous plots, complicated by fan language, an enigmatic Marquis who is by turns ally and foe, and verbal fencing that is downright enjoyable.

I just loaned this book to my cousin, and I'm thinking she'd better read it quick because I want it back :)

Crown Duel is a wonderful story about Countess Meliera and her journey to overthrow the king, while keeping the Hill Folk, her country--and herself--safe. She soon realizes that the war is much more than she had bargained for, but she keeps the promise she made to her father on his death bed, and so--proves it to herself and the rest of the kingdom that she is worthy, confident, and overall, a truly amazing person. Where she least expects it(war), she finds love and her rightful place in the world.

Crown Duel is one of the best books I have ever read...full of adventure, creativity, and really wonderful characters. I would reccomend it to anyone that enjoys historical fiction--or fantasy. It's a little bit of both, which makes it interesting.

I borrowed this from a friend at Orycon.

Two days later, I want my own copy. What a variety pack! Old-fashioned science fiction with modern ideas and interesting characters are too hard to find these days, but I found them in the stories by Lawrence Fitzgerald, Justin Stanchfeld, David Levine, and a couple others. Science fiction humor in Christopher Rowe's story and the long one by Robert Roggoff. Science fiction folk tale style in the one by Paul Bates. Science fiction fantasy by Cheryth Baldry.

Really pretty stories by Kiel Stuart and Beth Bernobich.

But the weirdest one is by Lawrence Connolly. It alone is worth the price.

Got this one as a Christmas gift...

The Premise of Beyond the Last Star is just that--our universe is gone, something else has replaced it. The "what" is left to the imagination of the editor and the twenty-five authors. Most of the stories involve non-human protagonists in some finely crafted stories, and some of them even contain fairly outstanding writing, to boot.

Worth mentioning are Beth Bernobich's short work about non-human interspecies love, Paul Bates' well-told-tale of how wolves got their religion, Brian Springer's wonderful yarn of robots seeking their roots at their own peril, Lawrence Connolly's adventure of an undersea people preparing their escape from a dying world while being stalked by an ancient evil, and Susan Kroupa's moving account of how music from this universe touches the lives of beings from the next.

A few are a bit long and drawn out for my taste, but most are crisp and to the point in a wealth of styles and possibilities. I highly recommend this collection, as well as the previous books in this series.

J. Feuer, Boston

I bought this hoping that Smith put a story in, and I was curious what kind of story she would pick. The stories are a broad spectrum, which is the sort of anthology I like. Most of them are very well written. Probably the best written is the one by Gregory Feeley, with Kiel Stuart's a close second. But for impact, I pick the Stuart, the Stanchfield, the Lake, and the Bicks. Best flash piece is by Andrew Burt. The Susan Kroupa story sneaks up on you. After two readings I tried to find more by this author. Same with the Beth Bernobich, with its poetic language, and the jazzy ending. Robert Rogoff's was not just unpredictable but funny. I was glad of the warning at the beginning of the Baldry because after reading a page I thought I knew just where it was going, but I was wrong.

In short, the anthology is recommended. You get a lot of good ideas and imagination for the price of a trade paperback.

Ive heard bad things about some of the previous E:FC books but this one was the first I decided read. I must say it was very well done. The premise was very Season 1' ish for those of you dislike subsequent seasons of the show. Although Boone is absent in this one the story features Auger and Da'an heavily and Dr. Bellman makes a cameo as well which was a nice touch. I dont want to get into the details too heavily but Ill say that this would make a great episode of E:FC and leave it at that. There were a couple of inconsistancies but nothing important. Overall an excellent read and E:FC fans will enjoy it. I hope Heritage is half as good.

I know zilch about the series Earth: Final Conflict, but I immensely enjoyed this book. It isn't at all confusing, and there's a lot of suspense, action, and fun. The main character, Cecilia, is a middle-aged teacher in Los Angeles. Her serene life is shattered to pieces when she receives an ominous summons to speak with a Taelon official (the Taelons are a race of highly advanced aliens who are quietly taking over Earth). Cecilia runs, seeking shelter from a resistance group to which one of her former students belongs. Cecilia doesn't like the Taelons, but when the rebels ask her to assassinate the Taelon leader Zo'or, she refuses--only to be locked up. Hours later she's sprung by Augur, a member of *another* resistance group, and they go on the run together. The plot quickly blossoms into complexity, with mysterious attacks, would-be assassins, sinister plots, and teenage hackers. This book is a romping adventure anyone can enjoy, and which I highly recommend. Buy it, read it, and then go check out some of Sherwood Smith's other books.

The best one yet, and it has all the main characters in it, though the real main character is a teacher, not Augur. It's funny, lots of action, and I especially loved Da'an. Fans like me will see lots of references to eps, but I think it could be read by anyone.

If I had to say anything negative I would only say that there aren't as many details about Augur's past as I'd hoped, but I couldn't put it down. I pulled an allnighter reading it.

Definitely recommended.

This is a book that I have put off reading for years. After fully enjoying the first 2 books in the series, I really didn't believe that the authors were going to be able to keep up the suspense and intrique of the first 2 novels, but I was wrong. This book is a very satisfying read for those that like their science fiction really well thought out and with awesome character development. I would say that Smith and Trowbridge on this project are like the Guy Gavriel Kay of Science Fiction. If you can find copies of these books, grab them!

Wonderful and wonderous...

My comments apply to books 1-3(I look forward, with delectable anticipation to reading books 4-5!). I cannot praise this series enough.

Why read these books?

The pacing is excellent. Nether too fast nor too slow. Science Fiction thriller fans will want to stay with it (and turn pages). Fans of writings on complex, intrigue-bound societies will delight in the almost delicious, subtle and intelligent interactions of the characters. Faultless.

They are extremely well-written; their style has a hint of romanticism; a dash of the lyrical and plenty of originality.

The characters are numerous but the authors manage to make them "rich" enough to be memorable(even the minor players) to the reader. This is handy, since this volume is space-operatic in overtone; the canvas quite large(but absorbing).

One minor criticism I have is the way our chief protagonist(Brandon vlith-Arkad) manages to ride with a zen-like mastership over events both good and evil. Possibly, more cynicism, on the character's part would have been in order. No real criticism, however since he appears like a (mildly inscrutable) but central entity who brings the other rather more 'emotionally-rich' characters into sharp relief(no doubt this style is part of his training) and disperse the attention away, somewhat from him as "hero" (no bad thing!).

It is not easy to juggle and balance atavistic action with political "manoeuverings" and relationship game-play. To my mind, the authors have achieved this.

Reading (the amazon.com) interview with Sherwood Smith I can see why authors like Austen, Wodehouse and Tolkien(who influences everybody in the world!) are mentioned. Whilst indirect, readers familar with their writings may see the influence.

The publishers really need to re-print this volume(and re-market!) if only so that, at some future point in time,I can buy another set and discard my rather well-thumbed versions!

Fabulous.

Nobody does high society intrigue like these guys do. Incredibly complicated, good sf values, humor, action, everything is there. The publishers ought to get more from these authors.

When I was a child of 12 or 13, I loved the Borrowers books. The idea of a family of tiny people, living in my own house and taking, for the most practical of purposes, things we'd thought we'd lost was quite enjoyable. The best part of the books, for me, were the descriptions of what they did with the buttons and baubles they risked their lives to 'borrow' - (imagine bumping into our family cat late one night while you're trying to lug a teacup back home).

Because I was a young girl who thought girls could do anything, I didn't really appreciate Arrietty's spunkiness. As the only child of the last Borrowers in this household, she's allowed to do many things her own mother hadn't done as a child. And perhaps because she can do some things her mother couldn't, she moves a step further and does whatever any boy could do.

I thought I could read these books to my 8 year old, who loves the Harry Potter series and The Wrinkle in Time books, but these books are too difficult for little kids (even those reading at an advanced level).

The language is very British and there are side explanations that are much too lengthy. Evidently I missed, as a pre-teen reader, the notion that the Borrowers might have been fabricated by the boy who was narrating the stories. (It is rather absurd to think that they were made up - I've lost too many socks and earrings in my lifetime, so I know Borrowers exist.)

Before the John Goodman version of the movie, we watched British video of The Borrowers and The Return of the Borrowers (great for younger kids). It was excellent, even though the special effects aren't where they were in the American version, the British version was excellent.

For those 11 and up (to 111) this is a great series to read.

The Borrowers is a book for losers. Not the modern kind of loser, but people like me who are always losing stamps and pins and pens. The book tells the story of Arrietty Clock and her parents, tiny people who live beneath the floor of an old house and `borrow' the things they need from the humans who live in the house above. A postage stamp becomes a painting for their wall, pins become knitting needles. Even Arrietty's parents' names - Pod and Homily - are borrowed.

Life has never been easy for the borrowers, but now times are changing for the worse. The Sink family in the scullery, the Broom Cupboards, the Rain-Pipes and even Uncle Hendreary and his family have emigrated. Only the Clock family remain, living in fear of Mrs Driver, the housekeeper upstairs. When Pod comes home and says that a boy is living upstairs and that the boy has `seen' him, Pod's wife, Homily, is thrown into panic.

Arrietty, however, is intrigued. While her parents cling to the dubious safety of the life they know, Arrietty wonders about the world outside and dreams of adventure. She persuades her reluctant parents to let her accompany her father on his borrowing expeditions. On her first venture out, she meets the boy upstairs. A dangerous friendship develops. Meanwhile, Mrs Driver stalks the borrowers, full of the sort of cruelty Roald Dahl would have been proud to create. It is only with the boy's help that Arrietty and her parents narrowly escape Mrs Driver's attempts to destroy them. At the end of the book, Arrietty faces the dangerous adventure of emigration.

Like all great books for the young, The Borrowers can be read as an enthralling story of adventure, but also contains many layers of meaning. Mary Norton's creation of the tiny race of borrowers is an imaginative achievement in itself, but she does not stop there. She gives poignance to her tale by telling it through the voice of the boy's sister, now an old lady, who tells us at the start that her brother has long since grown up and died a `hero's de!ath' on the North-West frontier. The old lady seems to believe her brother's tale of the borrowers, and yet at the end of the book she provides evidence to suggest that the borrowers may have been nothing but a product of her brother's imagination. The reader is left wondering about reality and truth. On another level, in the relationship between the borrowers and the human world, parallels with the misunderstandings and confusions which occur between different cultures can be discerned. The uncertainties the borrowers face and their final exile mirror the plight of our world's increasing number of displaced people. Long after the book is finished, the characters and the questions their story raises reverberate around the mind. The Borrowers is a book which will fascinate, intrigue and entertain.

I first read this book 10 years ago when I was still in Primary School and I instantly became a fan. I still remember that it was my home tutor , Ms Sim, who introduced me to this book. Now 10 years later, I re-read this book and still love it. I feel that anyone and everyone can enjoy this book, not only the kids.

The Borrowers are actually a race of little people. They believed that the human 'beans' lived to provide for them. The Borrowers loved houses that were very organised. The residents of the house must always follow a pattern of behavior so that the Borrowers could 'borrow' things from the house without being 'seen'.

"The Borrowers" tells the story of a Borrower family - the Clocks. They were Pod and Homily Clock and their 13 years old daughter, Arrietty. Why were they called the Clocks? The reason was simple enough. It's because this particular Borrower family lived under the kitchen floor but the entrance to their home was behind the old grandfather clock. So the last name of a Borrower could be anything, depending on where they lived. There were the Overmantels, the Rain-Barrels, the Bell-Pulls, the John Studdingtons (they lived behind the picture of John Studdington), the Boot-Racks and so on... The Borrowers loved to live a long way off from the entrance to their home.

Arrietty was a curious girl who had dreamed of going out to see the world other than the world under the kitchen. One day, her father agreed to let her go 'borrowing' with him. One that day, she was 'seen' by a boy (a human 'bean' boy) who had gone to lived in that house because he was unwell and needed time to recover. The boy has assisted the Clocks with their 'borrowings' later on. But good things are always not meant to be forever... Things started to happen, creating chaos in the lives of the Clocks.

When I read this book last time, I was sad that the boy didn't see the Borrowers again and I wanted to know what happened after this book. I didn't know that there were sequels to this book then. A couple of days ago, I found the sequels to "The Borrowers" and I can't wait to read them. I really feel that "The Borrowers" has an interesting and orginal storyline that can be enjoyed by all.

Although I'm a lover of historical fiction, especially the 19th century historical romances (read "historical adventures"), I'd never read this one. So I figured I had to finally attempt such a classic of the genre. Well, it was enjoyable but not really first class, I'm sorry to say. Not up there with IVANHOE or THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (which, itself, is somewhat flawed) or H. Rider Haggard's ERIC BRIGHTEYES, to name a few. DUMAS' famous classic is a tale of a young country bumpkin of the lower Gascon nobility come to the big city (Paris) to make his fortune (by joining the king's elite guard, known as the Musketeers). He quickly stumbles into trouble, even before reaching Paris, and never manages to get clear of it again as one thing leads to another. He hooks up early on with three Musketeers of the guard whom he inadvertently offends and then, rather than dueling each to the death as they demand and he agrees to, he ends up, purely by circumstance (and his naive loyalty to the king), on their side. This all leads to further intrigue and mayhem including a somewhat episodic adventure taking D'Artagnan (our hero) to England on the Queen's urgent business, to foil the Cardinal who is the king's highest and most relied-on minister, and the Queen's enemy at the same time. And the king's sporting competitor in matters of state and the military to boot! There is a sub-plot as well with a scheming and avaricious lady who works for the Cardinal and who has her own fish to fry, and lots of kidnappings and sword fights in the mix. But the characters never really come to life. D'Artagnan and his three friends in the Musketeers are cleverly written and bigger than life but hardly full-blooded or anything but one-dimensional. And D'Artagnan, himself, seems oddly simple and yet, inevitably is described as the cleverest of the four companions who are all a good deal older and more experienced than he is. More strange is D'Artagnan's skill with the sword. From the first he is described as being awkward and somewhat untutored, even in weaponry. Yet, from his initial crossing of swords, he inevitably bests all comers, no matter how much more experienced or skilled they are described as being. In fact, he seems to be the equal of, or superior to, his three Musketeer companions, surpassing them in this skill as he surpasses them in intelligence and cleverness. And yet he is an utter dolt in his dealings with women, a veritable mooning adolescent in the face of the the women he falls for. Nor do the women get treated particularly well by the writer, for their part. I suppose it was the convention of the times but they are all either beautiful and helpless (downright simple, actually) or they are beautiful and deadly. But never do they seem particularly real, from the Queen to Milady to D'Artagnan's objet d'amour, to the lovely servant girl who hankers after D'Artagnan, nearly as moon-eyed as he is about his fancied mistresses. All very strange indeed. I suppose the book broke ground in its time and it is somewhat fun to read, especially after the first third which takes rather a long time to set up all the plot dynamics. But I must say I was frustrated no end by the mindless meanderings and utterly frivolous actions of the four companions as they proceed through their adventures. I mean why would trained soldiers gamble away perfectly good, indeed outstanding, English mounts which they had been gifted, knowing how dear these were and how necessary to men like them? My favorite part of the tale, however, was the four friends' picnic under the Huguenot guns so perhaps this was just in character for them. But what characters! -- Stuart W. Mirsky

For those trying to read The Musketeers Saga:
In the original French, there are only three (3) books - 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3. Ten Years Later. But when translated, most English editions split the behemoth Ten Years Later into a Trilogy (and some four - which make it all the more confusing!).

The reading list should be 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3a. The Vicomte de Bragelonne 3b. Louise de la Valliere and 3c. The Man in the Iron Mask. Five books - that's the total series!

I highly recommend this series from Oxford University Press containing the complete unabridged and annotated versions of all of these books. The notes are located in the back of each book so as not to slow down the flow of the text. Most of the notes give additional info on historic characters and places. And a few point out that Dumas was a better storyteller than historian, as keeping dates seems to be such a nuisance!

The novel beings by introducing one to D'Artagnan a young swordsman on his destiny to become a great Musketeer under the command under one of the most honored generals who is one of his fathers old friends. Our young Musketeer meets three friends on his way to greatness; they are the well known three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis On his journey to become a great musketeer he runs into some trouble. He constantly falls in love with women, and just when he finds one that he truly loves, the wife of his landlord, the evil and mischievous Cardinal kidnaps her. The four friends become very close and decide to go and save the beloved woman of D'Artagnan. While trying to find D'Artagnan's love the musketeers stumble onto a much bigger conspiracy between the Cardinal and the Queen of France who is secretly in love with the Lord Buckingham of England. But their journey is full of surprises and unexpected turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout your whole book. This is a great book to read if you are a fan of chasses and unexpected action. A lot of times you can't wait to pick up and read the book again because you want to see what is going to happen next and how it is going to turn out. The novels plot is very adventures, always keeping the reader on the edge of his seat. The descriptions the Dumas gives of the many battles and duels that take place are superb, and one of the best parts of the book. The glimpse that the reader gets into the past from this novel is fascinating for it is based somewhat on facts. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, it really is a classic.

This book is an exicting story which moves at a brisk pace. But it is part of a series, and in this book the principle heavies are revised to be ecologists. It does not fir the earlier portrayals of the baldies at all!
In the first two books of the series the baldies were the (ruthless) dominant race of an interstellar empire. The revision of their charactor and motives does not fit the earlier books in the series. That was a very jarring element to me.
Even so, the book was an excellent read.

When archeologists discover a modern earing burried beneath tons of lava, they see an anomoly. Scientists at the time project see something different. A possible attempt by aliens to redirect human history, destroying the modern world. A small team of project agents are sent back to the ancient Greece of Minoan civilization--and Atlantis itself--to ensure that humanity's destiny is not subverted.

Before the ancient civilization of Kalliste was destroyed in a huge volcanic explosion, it had achieved technological levels not seen again until modern times. Clearly the world would have been transformed had it survived--but would the transformation have been for the better? Authors Andre Norton and Sherwood Smith add a degree of ethical complexity to a science fiction adventure. The project agents think that they are doing the right thing, but so do the two separate groups of aliens that they face.

The Time Traders series formed a part of many baby boomers introduction to science fiction and still holds power today. Norton and Smith's decision to add ethical complexity to the adventure gives strength to ATLANTIS ENDGAME. Young adult readers will find Norton and Smith's style to be approachable while more mature readers will find a deceptive intellectual subtlty. Emotional depths, however, are only hinted at.

Atlantis Endgame is the seventh novel in the Time Traders series, following Echoes in Time. It tells the further adventures of Ross Murdock, his wife, Eveleen Riordan, and his partner, Gordon Ashe. It also adds a new character, Linnea Edel, an old acquaintance of Gordon.

In this story, Linnea has found an anachronistic earring with a modern jeweler's mark in a site on Thera, the probable location of legendary ancient Atlantis. While interesting in and of itself, it becomes extremely intriguing when found to be identical to an earring belonging to Eveleen. This existence of this object in ancient layers of soil suggests that it was lost circa 1628 BC, shortly before the island was destroyed by an huge volcanic eruption. The Project suspects Baldie intervention in the eruption and intends to send a team back in time to investigate.

The Russian time travel group cooperates with the Project to send a small ship with six agents aboard back to Kalliste, the ancient name of Thera before the eruption. There they travel to Akrotiri, the major town on the island, where they discover signs of Baldie tech in the volcano vents both on land and in the sea. Later a group of Baldies are seen on the beach, apparently looking for indications of THEM. They also find a Baldie ship in the sea, but can't locate the Baldie onshore base. They do find a couple of Fur Faces, a alien sentient species encountered only once before; however, they do not seem to be allies of the Baldies.

The natives are anxiously awaiting word from their oracle, but nothing new has been spoken in the past few months. Some Kallistans have left the island anyway, terrified by the frequent earthquakes and the steam, smoke, ash and rock ejected by the volcano. Linnea claims to be an Egyptian Earth-Goddess priestess to infiltrate the Oracle's household and is there when the seer orders the evacuation of the island.

This novel is driven by the imminent threat of eruption, so is more like a hit and run than the almost leisurely exploration in the other tales in this series. The team are all disappointed by the lack of opportunity to study this almost unknown culture, but Linnea, the newcomer, is particularly frustrated by the time limit.

Recommended for all Norton fans and anyone who enjoys tales of ancient societies in a SF setting.

Cyrano de Bergerac, the character, the play, the legacy, is a timeless literary herald due to its theme. Existence in a contrived reality constitutes a standard motif of Romanticism. Literature itself is able to assume the bittersweet but themed predictability that concrete reality lacks. It pretends no circumstance is too outrageous or too wonderful, seamlessly binding the ruthlessly sinister and the impossibly good. A contrived existence in literature can be interpreted as a dream world in which the character chooses to envelop himself, blocking out society's standards and inverting the impossible. This shadow often sadly results in the opposite of the character's original intentions because it is surreal. The main use of this method by Cyrano is in writing sonnets for Christian's dictation to Roxane. In an abstract way, Cyrano vents his own feelings, but credits his the resulting glory to a handsome protégé. A secondary example is the finality in Roxane's tragic statement upon realizing that it was the dying Cyrano she loved, and not Christian. "I never loved but one man in my life, and I have lost him twice". She has finally allowed the vale of deception to be lifted, finding in its place a life misspent. Not unlike a certain Shakespearean character of the same era, she realizes herself to be a woman who has loved not wisely but well. Shaped by a theme of false reality's ultimately unhappy demise, the play is an extraordinary work magnifying life's complications.

Most readers and performers are probably more familiar with the translation of Cyrano by Brian Hooker. Hooker's translation has much to recommend it but it fails to capture the poetic power, whimsy or grace of Rostand's play. I feel the Burgess translation better represents Cyrano to a modern reader. One previous reviewer suggested that there was something almost absurd about Cyrano as he is portrayed by Rostand. Burgess himself had qualms about translating the play into rhyme. But this convention is powerful because it suggests that the men and women of Cyrano's dramatic world (even the lackwits) were impressed by cleverness, grace and beauty. It is set out in the play that Roxanne is one of the literary precieuse. The type of cleverness that Cyrano portrays in rhyme would appeal to her. At the same time, Cyrano is not a fop but a man of action whose mind is not stilled even by combat. Also this translation shows that Christian's "military wit" was something Cyrano could appreciate for its poetic appropriateness as well as for its courage. I think in some ways Cyrano's chivalry and heroism, as well as the more unrealistic elements of the play, are actually made more vivid and convincing by the use of rhyme. Burgess transports us to Rostand's imagined world of poetry and chivalry directly. . . and does not relent for a moment in portraying it. I think the real Hercule Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac would have appreciated the flair of it all. And if you don't buy that?-- Well, the fight scenes are STILL cool. Happy reading.

This is the best play-book-poetry every written. I sat down, started reading, and didn't get up until I was finished, which was quite a while since when I got to the end I was crying so hard I could barely read. Anyone who doesn't understand Cyrano isn't a poet or an author, OR a dreamer. This is the classic tale of one who finds himself unworthy, but who will settle for NO LESS than true love-- that, and many, many other things it would take hours to expound upon. Truly, the greatest work of all time.

I didn't really like this book.

Objections: language, sex, nasty stuff (like torture), and the book's habit of killing off lots of characters.

I found it (most times) sad, not the most amusing thing, and very mildly depressing. I like happyish books, or (very occasionally ) books where the sadness really seems to have a point. Several times this book tells you about a new character, makes you care about them, and then kills the person. Why?

The writing style, while not bad, is not good. The character development is usually good, but a few people (including some rather important main characters) did not seem well drawn and could have used a lot more info about them...not just this is X, he likes peanut butter and has blond hair and a temper, but why they think what they do.

I guess I expected Sherwood Smith's fantastic writing-quick pace, sarcasm, real, lovable (or hateable) characters who live in your mind, a great, working (this book seems a leetle lacking in this respect) world.

I won't describe the plot since the previous reviewers already did. I will just say that the impression of Brandon one gets from the back is deceiving. He is more serious, isn't bad, in short he's a pretty nice guy which is *not* what one expects from hearing him called a drunken, wastrel son. Such a pity.

If anyone thinks this series is not well written or thought out, they apparently did not read the books but only skimmed them. I have read all 5 books 4 or 5 times already, and will again I am sure. This is a must have series for any serious science fiction reader. I think most hard core sci fi devotees would love the writing. Some neo-sci fi readers may not enjoy it as much because it is very technical in places, very detailed in others.
I will not delve into the storyline except to say there is intrigue, betrayal and surprise around every corner and with each turn of the page. Yes characters get killed. This is not a happy "up" series. It is very real and hits you hard with the emotions it evokes. I found myself caring greatly for all of the characters in the book, except for Eusabian of course. He is one evil person.
I do agree it is very difficult to find all of the books in one place. I even wrote to Sherwood Smith at one point to find out if the final book was written a number of years back. (He answered my e-mail within a day or two by the way). A re-issue would be great. If more people could find it, more people would fall in love with the series.

.... Well this is not young adult fiction but it's the best space opera I have ever read : funny, exciting, intelligent. The characterization is very good, and if characters are not exactly what they appear at first sight, there are quite enough clues for the carefull reader, and it's part of what makes the books so vivid and intelligent.

The only problem with this series is how ridiculously difficult it is to get all 5 of these books. A reissue would be nice, a book 6 even nicer - book 5 wrapps up almost everything, but there is definite room for another sequel.